DE29910502U1 - Carrier unit for plug-in cards in computers - Google Patents

Description

Markus Hagedom, Grüner Weg 31, D-41468 Neuss, gm11.doc, Page : 1 of 1 Support unit for plug-in cards in computer cases

Description

The invention relates to a carrier unit for plug-in cards for mounting in place of 5.25-inch computer functional units in computer housings.

Generic support units are used in large numbers on a daily basis. In a computer case, according to the state of the art, a one- or multi-part case frame defines an essentially cuboid-shaped volume, which essentially forms the three-dimensional dimensions of the computer. In view of the requirements for low weight, a frame construction that can be covered with case wall parts is preferred. It is well known and common to design individual sides of the case frame over the entire surface, so that a later outside of the case is formed here. The individual sides are covered with case wall parts, whereby the case wall parts can be individual surfaces or even case shells. Usually one side of the case frame is designed as the front side and is either covered with a front wall part or designed directly as such. In the case of the back of a computer case, the case frame is usually designed directly as the rear wall part. Inside the case frame there remains a space that can be equipped with the actual computer functional units. For this purpose, the frame is filled with support or fastening units. The support units often also form part of the housing frame. They are largely standardized in terms of the mounting options for computer functional units and are used to arrange conventional computer functional units produced in large quantities, such as plug-in cards, expansion cards, drives, power supplies and the like, in the housing.

The support or fastening units require openings in the housing wall parts to which they are mounted so that the computer function units can be provided with cables, operated or equipped. These openings in the housing wall parts are adapted to the computer function unit to be used in accordance with the state of the art.

For drives and similar computer functional units, a single or multi-piece installation bay unit is usually arranged as a carrier unit at predetermined locations on the housing frame. This unit has a certain number of installation bays for computer functional units, such as hard disks, streamer or floppy drives in standardized sizes, usually 5.25 inches. It is also known to mount carrier units for smaller functional units, such as 3.5 inch computer functional units, in the carrier unit with 5.25 inch installation bays.
In order to save manufacturing costs, the current state of the art usually uses a single large carrier unit with several adjacent and not separated 5.25-inch installation bays.

The computer functional units are usually attached to the support unit with installation slots using screws, but a variety of other fastening options are also known.

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Corresponding to the installation slots in the support unit with installation slots, an opening is provided in the front wall section so that the drives can be accessed from the outside if necessary.

It is also known to equip the front wall part with a single large opening, which makes almost the entire space behind the front wall part available for the support unit with installation shafts.

It is also known to manufacture support units for computer functional units which are designed to be suspended, inserted or pivoted in and removed.

According to the prior art, it is also known that a computer housing has several supports for plug-in cards. These support units are then arranged next to or above one another on a housing wall part.

According to the state of the art, the carrier units for plug-in cards are one or more side panels of a computer casing. The front panel is usually designed as the carrier unit. There is a large opening in the front panel into which plug-in cards, such as Compact PCI cards, are inserted from the outside. Fastening options for inserted plug-in cards and guide rails are attached to the opening. The guide rails are attached inside the computer casing to a carrier for the connection boards onto which the plug-in cards are inserted. The size of the opening depends on the plug-in cards to be used and their standard. The plug-in cards are standardized according to various standards. For example, there are

VME plug-in cards and Compact PCI plug-in cards,

With the generic carrier units for plug-in cards in computer casings according to the state of the art, various problems arise when manufacturing the computer casing into which the carrier unit for plug-in cards is to be installed. According to the state of the art, a specific casing must be manufactured depending on the plug-in card to be used or the standard of the plug-in card to be used. These special casings can only be used for this type of plug-in card. Since these casings only have a small market share of the entire computer casing market, the quantities produced are comparatively low and the production costs are high. The plug-in cards can only be installed in the computer casing at the location predetermined by the casing and the space provided for installing plug-in cards cannot be used by other computer functional units.

Based on the described prior art, the present invention is based on the object of further developing carrier units for plug-in cards of the generic type and of largely eliminating the described disadvantages and problems with regard to the level of manufacturing costs and the flexibility of fitting a computer housing.

To solve this problem technically and with particular advantage, the invention proposes that at least one carrier unit for plug-in cards has a design and

Markus Hagedorn, Grüner Weg 31, D-41468 Neuss, gm11.doc, Page : 3 of 3

Has a fastening device that enables the carrier unit for plug-in cards to be inserted into the space provided by a computer housing for 5.25-inch computer functional units.

The invention further proposes with particular advantage that at least one carrier unit for plug-in cards has a design and fastening device which makes it possible to make the space provided by a computer housing for a carrier unit for plug-in cards usable for 5.25-inch computer functional units.

This makes it possible to insert standardized plug-in cards into commercially available computer housings and to reduce the costs for a computer with these plug-in cards. It is also achieved that no fixed space is required for the carrier unit for plug-in cards and the carrier unit for plug-in cards can be inserted at different points in the computer housing. In addition, the solution proposed by the invention ensures that the space intended for the carrier unit for plug-in cards can also be equipped with other computer function units or carrier units for other computer function units.

The invention further advantageously proposes combining the carrier unit for plug-in cards with the carrier unit for the connection boards onto which the plug-in cards are plugged into a single unit and fastening it at a location in a computer housing at which 5.25-inch computer functional units can be mounted.
The invention further proposes, with particular advantage, that the carrier unit for plug-in cards be fastened to an opening in a housing wall part for a carrier unit with 5.25-inch installation slots. As a technical solution, the invention proposes, with particular advantage, that the carrier unit for plug-in cards is fastened to the opening for a carrier unit with 5.25-inch installation slots using the same fastening devices as the carrier unit with 5.25-inch installation slots. These fastening devices can be, for example, threaded bores with holes through which the carrier unit for plug-in cards is screwed on. However, it can also be fastened by riveting or welding. A wide variety of other fastening devices are provided for carrier units with 5.25-inch installation slots, such as screw connections, hinges, slide-in rails, plug connections or hooks. The list of fastening devices is only exemplary and not exhaustive.
Furthermore, the invention proposes with particular advantage that the carrier unit for plug-in cards can be inserted into the carrier unit with installation slots for 5.25-inch computer functional units.

As a technical solution, the invention proposes with particular advantage that the carrier unit for plug-in cards can be detachably fastened in a carrier unit with 5.25-inch installation slots using the same fastening devices as 5.25-inch computer function units. These fastening devices can be, for example, threaded bores with holes through which the carrier unit for plug-in cards is screwed on. A wide variety of other detachable fastening devices are provided for carrier units with 5.25-inch installation slots, such as screw connections, slide-in rails, plug connections, pins or hooks. The list of fastening devices is only exemplary and not exhaustive.

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In a further embodiment, the invention advantageously proposes that the carrier unit for plug-in cards has both fastening devices for fastening to an opening in a housing wall part for a carrier unit with 5.25-inch installation slots, as well as the same detachable fastening devices as 5.25-inch computer function units.
The size of the card carrier unit determines how much of the area of the 5.25-inch bay carrier unit opening is used by the card carrier unit or how many adjacent 5.25-inch bays of the 5.25-inch bay carrier unit are used by the card carrier unit.

The invention further proposes with particular advantage that several carrier units for plug-in cards are mounted on an opening for a carrier unit with 5.25-inch installation slots or in a carrier unit with 5.25-inch installation slots.

As a further advantageous embodiment, the invention proposes that the carrier unit for plug-in cards can be inserted into the carrier unit with 5.25-inch installation slots. This ensures that the carrier unit for plug-in cards is easily accessible and replaceable.

As a further advantageous embodiment, the invention proposes that the carrier unit for plug-in cards can be inserted into the carrier unit with 5.25-inch installation slots via guide rails.

The invention further proposes with particular advantage that the carrier unit for plug-in cards has largely open wall parts for good ventilation and cooling.

Further advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description based on the figures.

Figure 1 is a schematic, perspective view of a carrier unit for plug-in cards with
interconnect boards;

Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of a carrier unit with 5.25-inch bays
according to the state of the art;

Figure 3 is a schematic, perspective view of a computer case with a
Carrier unit with 5.25-inch bays according to the state of the art;

Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view of an opened computer case

with a mounted carrier unit with 5.25-inch bays according to the state of the
technology and a mounted carrier unit for plug-in cards with connection boards;

Figure 5 is a schematic, perspective view of an embodiment of a

Support unit for plug-in cards with connection boards, which also have an opening for 5.25-inch computer functional units
can be mounted in a housing wall part;

Figure 6 is a schematic, perspective view of an embodiment of an opened computer housing with a mounted carrier unit for plug-in cards with
interconnection boards;

Figure 7 is a schematic, perspective view of an embodiment of a
Carrier unit for plug-in cards with
Connection boards, which are equipped with guide rails and a connection board;

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Figure 8 is a schematic, perspective view of an embodiment of a carrier unit for plug-in cards with

Interconnection boards with mounted full-height plug-in cards;

Figure 9 is a schematic, perspective view of an embodiment of a further carrier unit for plug-in cards

with connecting boards with mounted plug-in cards of full height with greater length; Figure 10 is a schematic, perspective view of an embodiment of a further carrier unit for plug-in cards

with connecting boards with vertically mounted half-height plug-in cards; Figure 11 is a schematic, perspective view of an embodiment of a further carrier unit for plug-in cards

with connecting boards with horizontally mounted half-height plug-in cards; Figure 12 is a schematic, perspective view of an embodiment of a further carrier unit for plug-in cards

with connecting boards with horizontally mounted half-height plug-in cards; Figure 13 is a schematic, perspective view of an embodiment of a further carrier unit for plug-in cards

with connection boards with horizontally mounted half-height plug-in cards with greater length;

The figures show marked by reference symbols:

1 Example of a carrier unit for plug-in cards with connection board

2 Mounting device for mounting as 5.25-inch computer functional unit

3 ventilation openings

4 Carrier unit for connection boards

5 Carrier unit with 5.25-inch mounting bays for attachment to a housing wall part in a computer case

6 Mounting device for the carrier unit with 5.25-inch installation bays for attachment to an opening in a wall part of a computer case

7 Carrier unit mounting device with 5.25-inch mounting bays for mounting 5.25-inch computer functional units

8 State-of-the-art computer cases

9 Fastening device of a housing wall part for fastening a carrier unit with 5.25-inch installation bays

10 Embodiment of a carrier unit for plug-in cards with connection boards with fastening devices for fastening to an opening for 5.25-inch computer functional units in a wall part of a computer housing

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11 Fastening device of a carrier unit for plug-in cards with connection board for fastening to an opening for 5.25-inch computer functional units in a wall part of a computer housing

12 guide rails for plug-in cards

13 Connection board for plug-in cards

14 full height plug-in card

15 Example of a carrier unit for plug-in cards with connection boards for full-height plug-in cards with longer length

16 plug-in card with full height and longer length

17 Example of a carrier unit for plug-in cards with connection boards for half-height plug-in cards

18 Half height plug-in card

19 Example of a carrier unit for plug-in cards with connecting boards for horizontally mounted half-height plug-in cards

20 Example of a smaller carrier unit for plug-in cards with connection boards for horizontally mounted half-height plug-in cards

21 Example of a smaller carrier unit for plug-in cards with connection boards for horizontally mounted plug-in cards of half height and greater length

22 Plug-in card with half height and longer length

Figure 1 shows a schematic, perspective view of an embodiment of a carrier unit for plug-in cards with connection boards 1. The fastening options for locking the plug-in cards are not shown. You can see the fastening option 2 for fastening the carrier unit 1 in several adjacent 5.25-inch installation slots, the ventilation openings 3 and the carrier for connection boards 4. You can also see the large openings in all wall parts of the carrier unit 1, which are used for ventilation and cooling.

Figure 2 shows a schematic, perspective view of a carrier unit with 5.25-inch installation bays 5 according to the prior art. The fastening device for fastening the carrier unit 5 to an opening for 5.25-inch computer functional units in a housing wall part and fastening device for 5.25-inch computer functional units 7 can be seen.

Figure 3 is a schematic, perspective view of an opened computer housing 8 with a carrier unit with 5.25-inch installation slots 5 according to the prior art. The carrier unit with 5.25-inch installation slots 5 and the fastening devices of the computer housing 9 with which the carrier unit with 5.25-inch installation slots 5 is detachably mounted can be seen.

The schematic, perspective illustration of Figure 4 shows an opened computer housing 8 with a mounted carrier unit with 5.25-inch installation slots 5 and a mounted carrier unit for plug-in cards with connection boards 1. The fastening device 7 with which the carrier unit for

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Plug-in cards with connection boards 1 mounted in the carrier unit with 5.25-inch installation slots 5 are also shown.

Figure 5 shows a schematic, perspective view of another embodiment of a carrier unit for plug-in cards with connecting boards 10. The fastening devices 11 can be seen with which the carrier unit for plug-in cards 10 can be mounted on an opening for 5.25-inch computer function units in a housing wall part and the fastening devices 2 with which the carrier unit for plug-in cards 10 can be detachably mounted in a carrier unit (not shown) with 5.25-inch installation slots. The ventilation openings 3 and the carrier for the connecting board 4 are also shown.

The schematic, perspective illustration in Figure 6 shows an opened computer housing 8 with a mounted further embodiment of a carrier unit for plug-in cards 10. One can see the fastening devices 9 on the housing front wall part with which the carrier unit for plug-in cards with connection boards 10 is mounted on the opening for 5.25-inch computer function units in the housing front wall part.

Figure 7 shows a schematic, perspective view of an embodiment of a further carrier unit for plug-in cards with connection boards 10. The fastening devices 11 with which the carrier unit for plug-in cards with connection boards 10 can be fastened to an opening for 5.25-inch computer functional units in a wall part of a computer housing and the fastening devices 2 with which the carrier unit for plug-in cards with connection boards can be detachably mounted in a carrier unit with 5.25-inch installation slots can be seen. The carrier for the connection board 4, which is equipped with a connection board 13, and the guide rails for plug-in cards 12 can also be seen. Ventilation openings 3 for cooling can also be seen. Particular emphasis is placed on the large openings in the wall parts of the carrier unit through which air can flow. The wall parts with the guide rails also have the largest possible open area.

Figure 8 shows a schematic, perspective illustration of an embodiment of a carrier unit for plug-in cards with connection boards 10 with mounted plug-in cards of full height 14.

The schematic, perspective illustration in Figure 9 shows a further embodiment of a carrier unit for plug-in cards 15. Plug-in cards of full height with a greater length 16 are mounted in the carrier unit 15.

Figure 10 shows a schematic, perspective view of another embodiment of a carrier unit for plug-in cards with connection boards 17. The carrier unit 17 is equipped with vertically mounted half-height plug-in cards 18.

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Figure 11 shows a schematic, perspective view of another embodiment of a carrier unit for plug-in cards 19. The carrier unit 19 is equipped with horizontally mounted half-height plug-in cards 18.

The schematic, perspective illustration of Figure 12 shows an embodiment of a further carrier unit for plug-in cards with connection boards 20. The carrier unit 20 is particularly compact and is equipped with horizontally mounted half-height plug-in cards 18.

Figure 13 shows a schematic, perspective view of another embodiment of a carrier unit for plug-in cards 21. The carrier unit 21 is equipped with horizontally mounted plug-in cards of half height with a greater length 22.

The design options for the construction and fastening devices of the carrier unit for plug-in cards cannot be listed exhaustively here. The invention is based on the principle of inserting the carrier unit for plug-in cards into the space provided in a computer housing for 5.25-inch computer functional units and at the same time making the space provided in a computer housing for a carrier unit for plug-in cards usable for 5.25-inch computer functional units. The exemplary embodiments described are for explanation purposes only and are not restrictive.

This design makes it possible for a carrier unit for plug-in cards to be used at different locations in a standard computer housing, for several carrier units for plug-in cards to be used in a computer housing, and for the carrier unit for plug-in cards to be replaced by other computer functional units or carrier units for other computer functional units without the computer housing having to be rebuilt or a new computer housing having to be manufactured.

Further advantageous embodiments of the carrier unit for plug-in cards are contained in the subclaims.

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Claims (13)

1. Support unit for plug-in cards, characterized in that at least one support unit for plug-in cards has a design and fastening devices which enable the support unit for plug-in cards to be inserted into the space provided by a computer housing for 5.25-inch computer functional units. 2. Support unit for plug-in cards according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one support unit for plug-in cards has a design and fastening device which enables the space provided by a computer housing for a support unit for plug-in cards to be used for 5.25-inch computer functional units. 3. Support unit for plug-in cards according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the support unit for plug-in cards is combined with the support unit for connection boards to form a unit. 4. Support unit for plug-in cards according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support unit for plug-in cards is fastened to an opening for 5.25-inch computer functional units in a housing wall part. 5. Support unit for plug-in cards according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support unit for plug-in cards is fastened to an opening of a housing wall part for 5.25-inch computer functional units with the same fastening devices as the support unit with 5.25-inch installation slots. 6. Support unit for plug-in cards according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support unit for plug-in cards is inserted into the support unit with 5.25-inch installation slots. 7. Support unit for plug-in cards according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support unit for plug-in cards is detachably fastened in the support unit with 5.25-inch installation slots using the same fastening devices as 5.25-inch computer function units. 8. Support unit for plug-in cards according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support unit for plug-in cards has both fastening devices for fastening to an opening of a housing wall part for 5.25-inch computer functional units, and the same detachable fastening devices as 5.25-inch computer functional units. 9. Support unit for plug-in cards according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that several support units for plug-in cards are mounted on an opening in a housing wall part for 5.25-inch computer functional units. 10. Support unit for plug-in cards according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that several support units for plug-in cards are mounted in a support unit with 5.25-inch installation slots. 11. Support unit for plug-in cards according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support unit for plug-in cards can be inserted into the support unit with 5.25-inch installation slots. 12. Support unit for plug-in cards according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support unit for plug-in cards can be inserted into the support unit with 5.25-inch installation slots by means of guide rails. 12. Support unit for plug-in cards according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support unit for plug-in cards has largely open wall parts for good ventilation and cooling.