TWI900331B - Fixing frame and motherboard assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

A motherboard assembly includes a motherboard and a fixing frame. The motherboard has an electrical connector for a circuit board to inserted therein. The fixing frame is formed as one piece and includes a bottom portion, a first wall portion, a second wall portion, a first elastic portion, a top portion, a second elastic portion and an engagement arm portion. The bottom portion is fixed on the motherboard. The first wall portion and the second wall portion stand on the bottom portion and are spaced apart from each other. One side of the top portion is connected to the first wall portion via the first elastic portion. Another side of the top portion is in contact with the second wall portion, and the bottom portion, the first wall portion, the second wall portion, a first elastic portion and the top portion together form a positioning space for positioning the circuit board. The engagement arm portion is connected to one side of the top portion located away from the first wall portion via the second elastic portion. The engagement arm portion is engaged with the second wall portion.

Description

Fixing bracket and motherboard assembly

The present invention relates to a fixing bracket and a motherboard assembly.

In current servers, to free up space on the motherboard for more circuits and electronic components, expansion boards are often installed vertically on the motherboard, if the server's height permits. However, during transportation or testing, the expansion boards can easily be jolted by external forces, causing them to become improperly connected to the motherboard's electrical connectors or even become detached. With this in mind, researchers in this field are working to address this issue.

The present invention provides a fixing bracket and a motherboard assembly, which can ensure that a vertical expansion circuit board can be properly plugged into the electrical connector of the motherboard even if it is subjected to external force.

One embodiment of the present invention discloses a motherboard assembly for supporting a circuit board, comprising a motherboard and a mounting bracket. The motherboard has an electrical connector for plugging the circuit board into the mounting bracket. The mounting bracket is a one-piece component comprising a bottom, a first vertical wall, a second vertical wall, a first elastically deformable portion, a top, a second elastically deformable portion, and a snap-on spring arm. The bottom portion is fixed to the motherboard and is located adjacent to the electrical connector. The first and second vertical walls are separated and vertically disposed on the bottom portion. One side of the top portion is connected to the first vertical wall via a first elastic deformable portion, and the other side of the top portion is used to abut against the second vertical wall. Thus, the bottom portion, the first vertical wall, the second vertical wall, the first elastic deformable portion, and the top portion collectively surround a limiting space to limit the position of the circuit board. The snap-on spring arm portion is connected to a side of the top portion remote from the first vertical wall portion via the second elastic deformable portion, and the snap-on spring arm portion is used to be fixed to the second vertical wall portion.

Another embodiment of the present invention discloses a fixing bracket for fixing to a motherboard. The fixing bracket is a one-piece molded part and includes a bottom, a first vertical wall, a second vertical wall, a first elastic deformation part, a top, a second elastic deformation part, and a snap-on elastic arm part. The bottom is fixed to the motherboard. The first vertical wall and the second vertical wall stand vertically and separately on the bottom. One side of the top is connected to the first vertical wall through the first elastic deformation part, and the other side of the top is used to abut against the second vertical wall, so that the bottom, the first vertical wall, the second vertical wall, the first elastic deformation part, and the top together surround a limiting space to limit a circuit board plugged into the motherboard. The buckle spring arm portion is connected to a side of the top portion away from the first vertical wall portion through the second elastic deformation portion, and the buckle spring arm portion is used to be fixed to the second vertical wall portion.

According to the fixing bracket and motherboard assembly disclosed in the above-mentioned embodiment, the fixing bracket is a one-piece component, with the bottom of the fixing bracket fixed to the motherboard and located next to the electrical connector. The bottom, first vertical wall, second vertical wall, first elastic deformation portion, and top of the fixing bracket jointly surround a limited space. Furthermore, the snap-on spring arm portion connected to the top via the second elastic deformation portion is secured to the second vertical wall. This allows the fixing bracket to confine a circuit board vertically connected to the motherboard within the limited space, ensuring that the vertical circuit board can be properly connected to the motherboard's electrical connector even when subjected to external forces.

The above description of the content of the present invention and the following description of the embodiments are used to demonstrate and explain the principles of the present invention and provide further explanation of the scope of the patent application of the present invention.

Please refer to Figure 1. Figure 1 is a perspective view of the motherboard assembly and the circuit board disclosed in the first embodiment of the present invention.

In this embodiment, a motherboard assembly 1 is used to support a circuit board 2, wherein the circuit board 2 is, for example but not limited to, a PCIe expansion card. The motherboard assembly 1 includes a motherboard 10 and a fixing bracket 20. In addition, the motherboard assembly 1 may also include two locking devices 30.

Next, please refer to Figures 2 and 3. Figure 2 is an exploded view of the motherboard assembly in Figure 1 from one angle. Figure 3 is an exploded view of the motherboard assembly in Figure 1 from another angle.

Motherboard 10 includes an electrical connector 11, two first positioning structures 12, and two locking holes 13. Electrical connector 11 is, for example, a SATA connector. The two first positioning structures 12 are, for example, positioning holes, and are located on opposite sides of electrical connector 11. The two locking holes 13 are also located on opposite sides of electrical connector 11, adjacent to the two first positioning structures 12.

The fixing bracket 20 is a one-piece molded part, such as a one-piece molded plastic part. The fixing bracket 20 includes a base 21, a first vertical wall portion 22, a second vertical wall portion 23, a first elastically deformable portion 24, a top portion 25, a second elastically deformable portion 26, and a snap-on elastic arm portion 27. Furthermore, the fixing bracket 20 may also include, for example, a first guide portion 28 and a second guide portion 29.

The bottom 21 includes two second positioning structures 211 and two through-holes 212. The two second positioning structures 211, for example, are two positioning posts. The two second positioning structures 211 face each other and mate with the two first positioning structures 12 of the motherboard 10. The two through-holes 212 face each other and align with the two locking holes 13 of the motherboard 10. Two locking members 30 pass through the two through-holes 212 and lock into the two locking holes 13, securing the bottom 21 to the motherboard 10 and positioning the bottom 21 around the electrical connector 11.

In this embodiment, the combination of the two first positioning structures 12 and the two second positioning structures 211 helps position the bottom 21 on the motherboard 10 before the two locking members 30 secure the bottom 21 to the motherboard 10, ensuring that the two through-holes 212 of the bottom 21 align with the two locking holes 13 of the motherboard 10. It should be noted that the number of the two first positioning structures 12 and the two second positioning structures 211 is not intended to limit the present invention; in other embodiments, there may be only one. Furthermore, the first and second positioning structures are optional and may be omitted.

On the other hand, the number of the locking hole 13 of the motherboard 10, the through-hole 212 of the bottom 21, and the locking member 30 is not intended to limit the present invention; in other embodiments, there may be only one. Furthermore, the motherboard locking hole, the through-hole in the bottom, and the locking member are optional structures and components and may be omitted. The bottom may be secured to the motherboard by other means, such as welding or adhesive bonding.

The first vertical wall portion 22 and the second vertical wall portion 23 stand separately from each other on the bottom 21. A first guide portion 28 protrudes from the surface of the first vertical wall portion 22 facing the second vertical wall portion 23 and includes a first guide groove 281. A second guide portion 29 protrudes from the surface of the second vertical wall portion 23 facing the first vertical wall portion 22 and includes a second guide groove 291. The widths of the first guide groove 281 and the second guide groove 291 gradually increase toward the bottom 21. The first guide groove 281 and the second guide groove 291 are used to guide the movement of the circuit board 2 relative to the electrical connector 11.

One side of the top portion 25 is connected to the first vertical wall portion 22 via the first elastic deformable portion 24. The minimum thickness T1 of the first elastic deformable portion 24 is, for example, smaller than the minimum thickness T2 of the top portion 25 and the minimum thickness T3 of the first vertical wall portion 22. This enhances the elastic deformability of the first elastic deformable portion 24, allowing the top portion 25 to bend more easily relative to the first vertical wall portion 22.

It should be noted that the minimum thickness T1 of the first elastically deformable portion 24 is not limited to being less than the minimum thickness T2 of the top portion 25 and the minimum thickness T3 of the first vertical wall portion 22. In other embodiments, the minimum thickness of the first elastically deformable portion can be equal to the minimum thickness of the top portion and the minimum thickness of the first vertical wall portion. In such a configuration, the elastic deformability of the first elastically deformable portion can be enhanced by adjusting the material of the first elastically deformable portion.

The top portion 25 may include, for example, a supporting protrusion 251 . The supporting protrusion 251 is located on a side of the top portion 25 away from the first vertical wall portion 22 . The supporting protrusion 251 is used to support the second vertical wall portion 23 .

The snap-on elastic arm portion 27 is connected to the side of the top portion 25 away from the first vertical wall portion 22 via the second elastically deformable portion 26. The minimum thickness T4 of the second elastically deformable portion 26 is, for example, smaller than the minimum thickness T2 of the top portion 25 and the minimum thickness T5 of the snap-on elastic arm portion 27. This enhances the elastic deformability of the second elastically deformable portion 26, allowing the snap-on elastic arm portion 27 to bend more easily relative to the top portion 25.

It should be noted that the minimum thickness T4 of the second elastically deformable portion 26 is not limited to being less than the minimum thickness T2 of the top portion 25 and the minimum thickness T5 of the snap-on elastic arm portion 27. In other embodiments, the minimum thickness of the second elastically deformable portion can be equal to the minimum thickness of the top portion and the minimum thickness of the snap-on elastic arm portion. In such a configuration, the elastic deformability of the second elastically deformable portion can be enhanced by adjusting the material of the second elastically deformable portion.

The buckle spring arm portion 27 is used to be fastened to the second vertical wall portion 23. For example, the second vertical wall portion 23 includes a first hook structure 231, and the buckle spring arm portion 27 includes a second hook structure 271. The second hook structure 271 is used to be detachably fastened to the first hook structure 231.

Next, the process of assembling the circuit board 2 to the motherboard assembly 1 will be described below. Please refer to Figures 4 to 6. Figures 4 to 6 illustrate the process of assembling the circuit board to the motherboard assembly.

First, as shown in Figure 4 , the fixing bracket 20 is secured to the motherboard 10 using the fastener 30, with the snap-on spring portion 27 of the fixing bracket 20 not engaged with the second vertical wall portion 23. Next, as shown in Figure 5 , the circuit board 2 is inserted vertically into the electrical connector 11 of the motherboard 10, guided by the first guide slot 281 (shown in Figure 3 ) of the first guide portion 28 and the second guide slot 291 (shown in Figure 2 ) of the second guide portion 29. Next, as shown in Figure 6, the top portion 25 is pressed downward toward the circuit board 2, away from the upper edge of the motherboard 10, causing the abutting protrusion 251 of the top portion 25 to abut against the second vertical wall 23. The first hook structure 231 of the latch spring 27 is then secured to the second hook structure 271 of the second vertical wall 23. In this manner, the bottom portion 21, the first vertical wall 22, the second vertical wall 23, the first elastically deformable portion 24, and the top portion 25 collectively enclose a retaining space S to retain the circuit board 2, completing the assembly of the circuit board 2 to the motherboard assembly 1.

In this embodiment, the fixing bracket 20 is a one-piece component. The bottom 21 of the fixing bracket 20 is fixed to the motherboard 10 and located next to the electrical connector 11. The bottom 21, first vertical wall 22, second vertical wall 23, first elastic deformable portion 24, and top 25 of the fixing bracket 20 collectively surround a limited space S. Furthermore, the snap-on spring arm 27 connected to the top 25 via the second elastic deformable portion 26 is secured to the second vertical wall 23. This arrangement allows the fixing bracket 20 to confine the circuit board 2, which is vertically connected to the motherboard 10, within the limited space S. This ensures that the vertically connected circuit board 2 can remain properly connected to the electrical connector 11 of the motherboard 10 even when subjected to external forces.

In this embodiment, the abutting protrusion 251 of the top portion 25 abuts against the second vertical wall portion 23. This prevents the top portion 25 from excessively impacting the circuit board 2 and damaging the electronic components thereon when the top portion 25 is pressed downward toward the upper edge of the circuit board 2. It should be noted that the abutting protrusion 251 of the top portion 25 is an optional structure and can be omitted.

When the circuit board 2 needs to be separated from the motherboard 10, the snap arm portion 27 is released from the second vertical wall portion 23. The circuit board 2 can be vertically separated from the electrical connector 11 of the motherboard 10 by being guided by the first guide groove 281 of the first guide portion 28 and the second guide groove 291 of the second guide portion 29.

In this embodiment, the first guide groove 281 of the first guide portion 28 and the second guide groove 291 of the second guide portion 29 facilitate insertion and removal of the circuit board 2 from the electrical connector 11 of the motherboard 10. It should be noted that the width of the first guide groove 281 and the width of the second guide groove 291 are not limited to gradually increasing toward the base 21. In other embodiments, the width of the first guide groove and the width of the second guide groove may remain constant toward the base. Furthermore, the first guide portion 28 and the second guide portion 29 are optional structures and may be omitted in other embodiments.

According to the fixing bracket and motherboard assembly disclosed in the above-mentioned embodiment, the fixing bracket is a one-piece component, with the bottom of the fixing bracket fixed to the motherboard and located next to the electrical connector. The bottom, first vertical wall, second vertical wall, first elastic deformation portion, and top of the fixing bracket jointly surround a limited space. Furthermore, the snap-on spring arm portion connected to the top via the second elastic deformation portion is secured to the second vertical wall. This allows the fixing bracket to confine a circuit board vertically connected to the motherboard within the limited space, ensuring that the vertical circuit board can be properly connected to the motherboard's electrical connector even when subjected to external forces.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the fixing bracket and motherboard assembly of the present disclosure can be set in a server. The server can be used for artificial intelligence (AI) computing, edge computing, and can also be used as a 5G server, cloud server, or vehicle network server.

Although the present invention is disclosed above with reference to the preferred embodiments, they are not intended to limit the present invention. Anyone skilled in the art may make minor changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of patent protection for the present invention shall be determined by the scope of the patent application attached to this specification.

1: Motherboard assembly 2: Circuit board 10: Motherboard 11: Electrical connector 12: First positioning structure 13: Locking hole 20: Fixing bracket 21: Bottom 211: Second positioning structure 212: Perforation 22: First vertical wall 23: Second vertical wall 231: First hook structure 24: First elastically deformable portion 25: Top 251: Abutment bump 26: Second elastically deformable portion 27: Snap spring arm 271: Second hook structure 28: First guide portion 281: First guide slot 29: Second guide portion 291: Second guide slot 30: Locking fixture T1, T2, T3, T4, T5: Minimum thickness S: Space limit

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the motherboard assembly and circuit board disclosed in the first embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is an exploded view of the motherboard assembly in Figure 1 from one angle. Figure 3 is an exploded view of the motherboard assembly in Figure 1 from another angle. Figures 4 through 6 illustrate the process of assembling the circuit board into the motherboard assembly.

1: Motherboard assembly

2: Circuit board

10: Motherboard

20: Fixed bracket

30: Lock Firmware

Claims (10)

A motherboard assembly for supporting a circuit board comprises: a motherboard including an electrical connector for plugging the circuit board; and a fixing bracket, which is a one-piece molded part and comprises a bottom, a first vertical wall, a second vertical wall, a first elastic deformation portion, a top, a second elastic deformation portion, and a snap-on spring arm portion. The bottom is fixed to the motherboard and is located next to the electrical connector. The first vertical wall and the second vertical wall are separated and stand upright. At the bottom, one side of the top is connected to the first vertical wall through the first elastic deformable portion, and the other side of the top is used to abut against the second vertical wall, so that the bottom, the first vertical wall, the second vertical wall, the first elastic deformable portion and the top jointly surround a limiting space to limit the circuit board. The snap-on elastic arm is connected to a side of the top away from the first vertical wall through the second elastic deformable portion, and the snap-on elastic arm is used to be fixed to the second vertical wall. The motherboard assembly as described in claim 1 further includes at least one locking member, the motherboard includes at least one first positioning structure and at least one locking hole, the bottom includes at least one second positioning structure and at least one through-hole, the at least one second positioning structure matches the at least one first positioning structure, the at least one through-hole is aligned with the at least one locking hole, and the at least one locking member passes through the at least one through-hole and is locked to the at least one locking hole. A motherboard assembly as described in claim 1, wherein the minimum thickness of the first elastic deformation portion is less than the minimum thickness of the top portion and the minimum thickness of the first vertical wall portion, and the minimum thickness of the second elastic deformation portion is less than the minimum thickness of the top portion and the minimum thickness of the snap spring arm portion. The motherboard assembly as described in claim 1, wherein the fixing bracket further includes a first guide portion, the first guide portion protruding from the surface of the first vertical wall portion facing the second vertical wall portion, and the first guide portion includes a first guide groove to guide the circuit board to move relative to the electrical connector. A motherboard assembly as described in claim 4, wherein the fixing bracket further includes a second guide portion, the second guide portion protruding from the surface of the second vertical wall portion facing the first vertical wall portion, and the second guide portion includes a second guide groove to guide the circuit board to move relative to the electrical connector. The motherboard assembly as described in claim 5, wherein the width of the first guide groove and the width of the second guide groove gradually increase toward the bottom. The motherboard assembly as described in claim 1, wherein the top portion includes a supporting protrusion, the supporting protrusion is located on a side of the top portion away from the first vertical wall portion, and the supporting protrusion is used to support the second vertical wall portion. The motherboard assembly as described in claim 1, wherein the second vertical wall portion includes a first hook structure, and the buckle spring arm portion includes a second hook structure, and the second hook structure is used to be detachably fixed to the first hook structure. The motherboard assembly as described in claim 1, wherein the fixing bracket is an integrally molded plastic part. A fixing bracket is used to fix to a motherboard. The fixing bracket is a one-piece formed part and includes: a bottom part fixed to the motherboard; a first vertical wall part; a second vertical wall part, the first vertical wall part and the second vertical wall part are separated and vertically stand on the bottom part; a first elastic deformation part; a top part, one side of the top part is connected to the first vertical wall part through the first elastic deformation part, and the other side of the top part is used to resist Leaning against the second vertical wall, the bottom, the first vertical wall, the second vertical wall, the first elastic deformation portion, and the top portion jointly surround a limiting space to limit a circuit board plugged into the motherboard; a second elastic deformation portion; and a snap-on elastic arm portion, connected to a side of the top portion away from the first vertical wall portion through the second elastic deformation portion, and the snap-on elastic arm portion is used to be fixed to the second vertical wall portion.