TWM677519U - Circuit board - Google Patents

Abstract

A circuit board includes a board body, a first card slot, a second card slot and a release structure. The first card slot is disposed on the board body. The second card slot is parallelly disposed on the board body with the first card slot along a first direction. The release structure includes a sliding member, a first engaging member, and a second engaging member. The sliding member is movably coupled to the board body along the first direction. The first engaging member and the second engaging member are respectively corresponding to a position of the first card slot and the second card slot and are movably disposed on the sliding member along a second direction. When the sliding member is located at an engaging position, a first expansion card and a second expansion card are adapted to be respectively fixed to the first card slot and the second card slot by the first engaging member and the second engaging member. When the sliding member is located at a first releasing position, the first engaging member is dislocated with a first hook. When the sliding member is located at a second releasing position, the second engaging member is dislocated with a second hook.

Description

circuit board

This case relates to a circuit board, and more particularly to a circuit board having a release expansion card structure.

Generally, to release a graphics card inserted into a motherboard slot, you would use the graphics card release mechanism next to the slot (commonly known as the whale tail release mechanism) to release and lift the graphics card. However, with the increase in the specifications of related components around the motherboard (e.g., increased CPU tower heatsink size, larger heat dissipation components, increased decorative parts, etc.), most of the area of the graphics card release mechanism is now obstructed after the graphics card is inserted into the slot, making it difficult for the user to press.

Currently, users often use other tools to press the graphics card release mechanism, but this often damages the mechanism, makes it difficult to press, and may even damage components on the motherboard, making it impossible to easily release/replace the graphics card and resulting in a poor user experience. Furthermore, with the improvement of motherboard performance, it becomes even more difficult for users to release/replace graphics cards when the motherboard is equipped with multiple cards.

This invention provides a circuit board that allows users to easily release expansion cards from the circuit board, thus providing users with a better user experience.

The circuit board of this invention is adapted to accommodate a first expansion card and a second expansion card. The first expansion card includes a first hook, and the second expansion card includes a second hook. The circuit board includes a board body, a first card slot, a second card slot, and a release mechanism. The first card slot is disposed on the board body and is adapted to insert the first expansion card. The second card slot is disposed parallel to the first card slot on the board body along a first direction and is adapted to insert the second expansion card. The release mechanism includes a slider, a first engaging member, and a second engaging member. The slider is movably coupled to the board body along the first direction and is adapted to move relative to the board body to an engaging position, a first release position, or a second release position. The first engaging member is movably disposed on the sliding member along a second direction corresponding to the position of the first slot, and the second engaging member is movably disposed on the sliding member along a second direction corresponding to the position of the second slot. When the sliding member is in the engaging position, the first expansion card and the second expansion card are respectively fixed in the first slot and the second slot by the first engaging member and the second engaging member. When the sliding member is in the first releasing position, the first engaging member is disengaged from the first hook to release the first expansion card. When the sliding member is in the second releasing position, the second engaging member is disengaged from the second hook to release the second expansion card.

The circuit board of this invention is adapted to accommodate a first expansion card and a second expansion card. The first expansion card includes a first hook, and the second expansion card includes a second hook. The circuit board includes a board body, a first card slot, a second card slot, and a release mechanism. The first card slot is disposed on the board body and is adapted to insert the first expansion card. The second card slot is disposed parallel to the first card slot on the board body along a first direction and is adapted to insert the second expansion card. The release mechanism includes a slider, a first engaging member, and a second engaging member. The slider is movably coupled to the board body along the first direction and is adapted to move relative to the board body to an engaging position or a first release position. The first engaging member is movably disposed on the sliding member along a second direction corresponding to the position of the first slot, and the second engaging member is movably disposed on the sliding member along a second direction corresponding to the position of the second slot. When the sliding member is in the engaging position, the first expansion card and the second expansion card are respectively fixed in the first slot and the second slot by the first engaging member and the second engaging member. When the sliding member is in the first releasing position, the first engaging member is misaligned with the first hook and the second engaging member is misaligned with the second hook to release the first expansion card and the second expansion card.

Based on the above, the circuit board of this invention includes a board body, a first card slot, a second card slot, and a release structure movable relative to the board body, the first card slot, and the second card slot. When the release structure is in the engaged position, the first engaging member of the release structure secures the first expansion card to the inserted first card slot, and the second engaging member secures the second expansion card to the inserted second card slot. When the user needs to release/replace one of the first expansion card and the second expansion card, the user only needs to move the release structure to the first release position or the second release position to misalign the first engaging member with the first expansion card or to misalign the second engaging member with the second expansion card, allowing the user to easily release the first expansion card or the second expansion card from the circuit board. Furthermore, during the replacement of the first expansion card, the second card assembly continues to secure the second expansion card to the second card slot, and during the replacement of the second expansion card, the first card assembly continues to secure the first expansion card to the first card slot. Therefore, the user has a better user experience.

In addition, in another circuit board, when the slider moves to the first release position, the first expansion card and the second expansion card can also be released at the same time, giving the user a better user experience.

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a circuit board in the engaged position according to an embodiment of this case. Referring to Figure 1, the circuit board 100 of this embodiment is, for example, a motherboard. The circuit board 100 includes a board body 110, a first slot 120a, a second slot 120b, and a release structure 130. The first slot 120a is disposed on the board body 110 and adapted to insert a first expansion card 10a. The second slot 120b is disposed parallel to the first slot 120a on the board body 110 along a first direction D1 and adapted to insert a second expansion card 10b.

Figure 2A is a partial cross-sectional view of the circuit board of Figure 1 from a top view. Figure 2B shows the release structure of Figure 2A actuated to the first release position. Figure 2C shows the release structure of Figure 2A actuated to the second release position. Referring to Figures 1 to 2C, the release structure 130 includes a slider 131, a first engaging member 132a, and a second engaging member 132b. The slider 131 is movably coupled to the plate 110 along a first direction D1 and is adapted to move relative to the plate 110 to the engaging position shown in Figure 2A, the first release position shown in Figure 2B, or the second release position shown in Figure 2C. The first engaging member 132a is movably disposed on the slider 131 along a second direction D2 corresponding to the position of the first slot 120a. The second card assembly 132b is movably disposed on the slide member 131 along the second direction D2, corresponding to the position of the second card slot 120b. In this embodiment, the first expansion card 10a and the second expansion card 10b are, for example, display cards, but are not limited thereto.

Referring to Figures 2A to 2C, when the slider 131 is in the engaged position as shown in Figure 2A, the first expansion card 10a and the second expansion card 10b are respectively fixed to the first slot 120a and the second slot 120b by the first engaging member 132a and the second engaging member 132b. When the slider 131 is in the first released position as shown in Figure 2B, the first engaging member 132a is misaligned with the first hook 11a to release the first expansion card 10a. When the slider 131 is in the second released position as shown in Figure 2C, the second engaging member 132b is misaligned with the second hook 11b to release the second expansion card 10b.

It is worth mentioning that when a user needs to release/replace either the first expansion card 10a or the second expansion card 10b, the user only needs to move the release structure 130 to the first release position as shown in Figure 2B or the second release position as shown in Figure 2C, so that the first card assembly 132a is misaligned with the first expansion card 10a or the second card assembly 132b is misaligned with the second expansion card 10b. The user can then easily release the first expansion card 10a or the second expansion card 10b from the circuit board 100. Furthermore, during the replacement of the first expansion card 10a, the second card assembly 132b continues to secure the second expansion card 10b to the second card slot 120b, and during the replacement of the second expansion card 10b, the first card assembly 132a continues to secure the first expansion card 10a to the first card slot 120a. Therefore, the user can have a better user experience.

The following details the specific structure of the release structure 130 of this embodiment.

Figure 3A is a partial enlarged view of the expansion card and circuit board of Figure 1. Figure 3B illustrates the operation of the latching member of Figure 3A. Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the expansion card and circuit board of Figure 3A. Referring to Figures 3A to 4, the release structure 130 further includes two elastic members 133 (Figure 4), which are respectively disposed between the sliding member 131 and the first latching member 132a and between the sliding member 131 and the second latching member 132b (Figure 4 shows the elastic member 133 disposed between the sliding member 131 and the second latching member 132b as an illustration). During the process of inserting the first expansion card 10a and the second expansion card 10b into the first card slot 120a and the second card slot 120b respectively, the first expansion card 10a and the second expansion card 10b are adapted to resist the elastic force of the corresponding elastic member 133, causing the first locking member 132a and the second locking member 132b to move from the position shown in FIG. 3A to the position shown in FIG. 3B along the second direction D2. Then, after the first expansion card 10a and the second expansion card 10b are inserted into the first card slot 120a and the second card slot 120b respectively, the first locking member 132a and the second locking member 132b are adapted to return to the position shown in FIG. 3A by the elastic force of the corresponding elastic member 133.

The specific structures of the first card assembly 132a and the second card assembly 132b of this embodiment are described in detail below. Since the structures of the first card assembly 132a and the second card assembly 132b are the same, the following illustration uses the diagram of the second card assembly 132b as an example.

Please refer to Figure 4. The first latching member 132a and the second latching member 132b each have a front wall 1323 and a limiting surface 1324 extending from the front wall 1323 in a bent manner. When the release structure 130 is in the latching position as shown in Figure 2A, the front wall 1323 is adapted to abut against the corresponding first latch 11a or second latch 11b in the second direction D2, and the release structure 130 fixes the first expansion card 10a to the first slot 120a and the second expansion card 10b to the second slot 120b by means of the limiting surface 1324.

Referring to Figure 3A, the first card assembly 132a and the second card assembly 132b each have a pushing surface 1325. The pushing surface 1325 bends from the limiting surface 1324 and extends obliquely. During the process of inserting the first expansion card 10a into the first card slot 120a, the first expansion card 10a is adapted to push against the pushing surface 1325 of the first card assembly 132a, causing the first card assembly 132a to move along the second direction D2 to the position shown in Figure 3B. During the process of inserting the second expansion card 10b into the second card slot 120b, the second expansion card 10b is adapted to push against the pushing surface 1325 of the second card assembly 132b, causing the second card assembly 132b to move along the second direction D2 to the position shown in Figure 3B.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2A, the circuit board 100 further includes a bracket 140 disposed on the board body 110, and a slider 131 movably disposed on the bracket 140. Specifically, the slider 131 has two through holes 1313 extending along a first direction D1, and the bracket 140 includes two protrusions 141, each protrusion 141 adapted to pass through a corresponding through hole 1313. Accordingly, when assembling the circuit board 100, the assembler can first assemble the bracket 140 and the slider 131 together, and then use fasteners (not shown) to lock the bracket 140 onto the board body 110, thereby improving assembly efficiency.

Referring to Figure 1, the slider 131 includes a top surface 1311 and a lever 1312, with the lever 1312 protruding from the top surface 1311. Accordingly, the user can use the lever 1312 to move the slider 131 relative to the bracket 140, thereby providing the user with better usability.

Figure 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of the circuit board of Figure 1 along line A-A. Referring to Figure 5, the bracket 140 has multiple through holes 142 arranged along a first direction D1. The release structure 130 further includes a retainer 135 disposed on the slide member 131 and adapted to be fixed to one of the through holes 142. For example, when the slide member 131 is in the engaged position as shown in Figure 2A, the retainer 135 is fixed to the central through hole 142. When the slide member 131 is in the first release position as shown in Figure 2B, the retainer 135 is fixed to the left through hole 142. When the slide member 131 is in the second release position as shown in Figure 2C, the retainer 135 is fixed to the right through hole 142. Accordingly, when the user moves the slider 131 by using the lever 1312, the user can have a tactile feel and clearly know whether the slider 131 has slid into place, thus providing the user with better usability.

Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the circuit board in the engaged position according to another embodiment of this case. Figure 7A is a partial cross-sectional view of the circuit board of Figure 6 from a top view. Figure 7B shows the release structure of Figure 7A actuated to the first release position. Figure 7C shows the release structure of Figure 7A actuated to the second release position. Please refer to Figures 6 to 7C. The difference between the circuit board 100a of this embodiment and the circuit board 100 of the above embodiment is that when the first engaging member 132a and the second engaging member 132b of this embodiment are misaligned with the first hook 11a and the second hook 11b respectively, the first engaging member 132a and the second engaging member 132b can be moved further away from the sliding member 131 by the elastic force of the corresponding elastic member 133. Furthermore, the release structure 130a of this embodiment also includes two repositioning members 134. The differences will be explained below.

Referring to Figures 7B and 7C, when the release structure 130a is in the first release position as shown in Figure 7B, the first engaging member 132a is adapted to move away from the sliding member 131 (i.e., the second direction D2) by the elastic force of the corresponding elastic member 133, so as to abut against the first hook 11a in the first direction D1, thereby fixing the release structure 130a in the first release position. Furthermore, when the release structure 130a is in the second release position as shown in Figure 7C, the second engaging member 132b is adapted to move away from the sliding member 131 by the elastic force of the corresponding elastic member 133, so as to abut against the second hook 11b in the first direction D1, thereby fixing the release structure 130a in the second release position. Accordingly, the user can pull out the first expansion card 10a or the second expansion card 10b without having to apply force to the slider 131, thus providing the user with a better user experience.

Referring to Figures 7B and 7C, the first latching member 132a and the second latching member 132b each have a sidewall 1326 and a guide slope 1327 extending obliquely from the sidewall 1326. When the release structure 130a is in the first release position as shown in Figure 7B, the guide slope 1327 of the first latching member 132a rests against the first latch 11a, thereby fixing the release structure 130a in the first release position as described above. When the release structure 130a is in the second release position as shown in Figure 7C, the guide slope 1327 of the second latching member 132b rests against the second latch 11b, thereby fixing the release structure 130a in the second release position as described above. Therefore, the user has a better user experience. Furthermore, if the user accidentally misoperates the slider 131, causing the first locking member 132a to be misaligned with the first expansion card 10a or the second locking member 132b to be misaligned with the second expansion card 10b, the user can use the guide ramp 1327 to force the first locking member 132a or the second locking member 132b to return to its original position, thereby allowing the slider 131 to return to the locking position.

Figure 8 is a partial cross-sectional view of the expansion card and circuit board of Figure 6. Referring to Figures 7B, 7C and 8, the release structure 130a further includes two repositioning members 134, which are respectively disposed in the first slot 120a and the second slot 120b. The first engaging member 132a and the second engaging member 132b respectively include a bottom wall 1321 (Figure 8) and a protruding post 1322 (Figure 8) protruding from the bottom wall 1321. When the slider 131 is in the first release position as shown in Figure 7B, the reset member 134 is elastically deformed by the protrusion 1322 of the first engaging member 132a. When the slider 131 is in the second release position as shown in Figure 7C, the reset member 134 is elastically deformed by the protrusion 1322 of the second engaging member 132b. Accordingly, after the first expansion card 10a and the second expansion card 10b are pulled out from the first slot 120a and the second slot 120b respectively, the release structure 130a is adapted to be reset from the first release position or the second release position to the engaging position by the reset member 134 pushing against the corresponding protrusion 1322.

In this embodiment, the reset member 134 is, for example, a spring, and this invention is not limited to this. In other embodiments, the reset member 134 may be a spring or a compression spring. Furthermore, the reset member 134 may be positioned, for example, between the slider 131 and the bracket 140 or between the slider 131 and the plate 110, and this invention is not limited to this.

The remaining configuration and operation of the circuit board 100a of the embodiments shown in Figures 6 to 8 are the same as or similar to those of the circuit board 100 of the aforementioned embodiments, and will not be described again here.

In another embodiment, when the slider 131 is in the first release position, the first latch 132a is misaligned with the first latch 11a and the second latch 132b is misaligned with the second latch 11b, so as to release the first expansion card 10a and the second expansion card 10b simultaneously. Accordingly, the user has a better user experience. It should be noted that in other embodiments, the number of expansion cards may be three, four, or five; this application does not limit the number of expansion cards that can be released simultaneously.

In summary, the circuit board of this invention includes a board body, a first card slot, a second card slot, and a release structure movable relative to the board body, the first card slot, and the second card slot. When the release structure is in the engaged position, the first engaging member of the release structure secures the first expansion card to the inserted first card slot, and the second engaging member secures the second expansion card to the inserted second card slot. When the user needs to release/replace one of the first and second expansion cards, the user only needs to move the release structure to the first or second release position to misalign the first engaging member with the first expansion card or the second engaging member with the second expansion card, allowing the user to easily release the first or second expansion card from the circuit board. Furthermore, during the replacement of the first expansion card, the second card assembly continues to secure the second expansion card to the second card slot, and during the replacement of the second expansion card, the first card assembly continues to secure the first expansion card to the first card slot. Therefore, the user has a better user experience.

In addition, in one embodiment, when the slider moves to the first release position, the first expansion card and the second expansion card can be released simultaneously, providing the user with a better user experience.

10a: First expansion card; 10b: Second expansion card; 11a: First latch; 11b: Second latch; 100, 100a: Circuit board; 110: Board body; 120a: First slot; 120b: Second slot; 130, 130a: Release structure; 131: Slider; 1311: Top surface; 1312: Button; 1313: Through hole; 132a: First locking component; 132b: Second locking component; 1321: Bottom wall; 1322: Protruding post; 1323: Front wall; 1324: Limiting surface; 1325: Pushing surface; 1326: Side wall; 1327: Guide slope; 133: Elastic component; 134: Reset component; 135: Fixing component; 140: Bracket. 141: Protrusion 142: Through hole D1: First direction D2: Second direction

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the circuit board in the engaged position according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2A is a partial sectional view of the circuit board of Figure 1 from a top view. Figure 2B shows the release structure of Figure 2A actuated to the first release position. Figure 2C shows the release structure of Figure 2A actuated to the second release position. Figure 3A is a partial enlarged view of the expansion card and circuit board of Figure 1. Figure 3B shows the engagement member of Figure 3A actuated. Figure 4 is a sectional view of the expansion card and circuit board of Figure 3A. Figure 5 is a partial sectional view of the circuit board of Figure 1 along line A-A. Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the circuit board in the engaged position according to another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 7A is a partial sectional view of the circuit board of Figure 6 from a top view. Figure 7B shows the release structure of Figure 7A actuated to the first release position. Figure 7C illustrates the release structure of Figure 7A actuated to the second release position. Figure 8 is a partial cross-sectional view of the expansion card and circuit board of Figure 6.

10a: First expansion card

10b: Second expansion card

11a: First hook

11b: Second hook

100: Circuit Board

110: Plate

120a: First card slot

120b: Second card slot

130: Release Structure

131: Sliding component

1311: Top surface

1312: Button

132a: First card assembly

132b: Second card assembly

140: Bracket

D1: First Direction

D2: Second Direction

Claims (12)

A circuit board is adapted to accommodate a first expansion card and a second expansion card, the first expansion card including a first latch and the second expansion card including a second latch. The circuit board includes: a board body; a first slot disposed on the board body and adapted to insert the first expansion card; a second slot disposed parallel to the first slot on the board body along a first direction and adapted to insert the second expansion card; and a release mechanism including: a slider movably coupled to the board body along the first direction and adapted to move relative to the board body to a locking position, a first release position, or a second release position; a first locking member movably disposed on the slider along a second direction corresponding to the position of the first slot; and A second engaging component is movably disposed on the sliding member along the second direction, corresponding to the position of the second slot; wherein when the sliding member is in the engaging position, the first expansion card and the second expansion card are respectively fixed to the first slot and the second slot by the first engaging component and the second engaging component; when the sliding member is in the first releasing position, the first engaging component is disengaged from the first card to release the first expansion card; when the sliding member is in the second releasing position, the second engaging component is disengaged from the second card to release the second expansion card. The circuit board as claimed in claim 1, wherein the release structure further includes two elastic members disposed between the slider and the first engaging member and between the slider and the second engaging member, respectively. The circuit board as claimed in claim 2, wherein when the release structure is in the first release position, the first engaging member is adapted to move away from the sliding member by the elastic force of the corresponding two elastic members to abut against the first hook in the first direction, and when the release structure is in the second release position, the second engaging member is adapted to move away from the sliding member by the elastic force of the corresponding two elastic members to abut against the second hook in the first direction. The circuit board as described in claim 1, wherein the release structure further includes two repositioning members disposed in the first slot and the second slot respectively, the first engaging member and the second engaging member each including a bottom wall and a protrusion protruding from the bottom wall, the release structure being adapted to be reset from the first release position or the second release position to the engaging position by the two repositioning members pushing against the corresponding protrusion. The circuit board as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first engaging member and the second engaging member each have a front wall and a limiting surface extending from the front wall in a bent manner, wherein when the release structure is in the engaging position, the front wall is adapted to abut against the corresponding first hook or second hook in the second direction, and the release structure secures the first expansion card to the first slot and the second expansion card to the second slot by means of the limiting surface. The circuit board as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first latch and the second latch each have a pushing surface that bends and extends obliquely from the limiting surface, the first expansion latch is adapted to push against the pushing surface of the first latch, and the second expansion latch is adapted to push against the pushing surface of the second latch. As described in claim 1, in a circuit board wherein the first latching member and the second latching member each have a sidewall and a guide slope extending obliquely from the sidewall, when the release structure is in the first release position, the guide slope of the first latching member abuts against the first hook, and when the release structure is in the second release position, the guide slope of the second latching member abuts against the second hook. The circuit board as claimed in claim 1, wherein the slider includes a top surface and a lever protruding from the top surface. The circuit board as claimed in claim 1, wherein the circuit board further includes a bracket disposed on the board body, and the slider is movably disposed on the bracket. The circuit board as claimed in claim 9, wherein the slide has a through hole extending along the first direction, and the bracket includes a protrusion adapted to pass through the through hole. The circuit board as claimed in claim 9, wherein the bracket has a plurality of through holes arranged along the first direction, and the release structure further includes a retainer disposed on the slide member and adapted to be fixed to one of the through holes. A circuit board is adapted to accommodate a first expansion card and a second expansion card, the first expansion card including a first hook, and the second expansion card including a second hook. The circuit board includes: a board body; a first slot disposed on the board body and adapted to insert the first expansion card; a second slot disposed parallel to the first slot on the board body along a first direction and adapted to insert the second expansion card; and a release structure including: a slider movably coupled to the board body along the first direction and adapted to move relative to the board body to an engaged position or a first released position; a first engaging member movably disposed on the slider along a second direction corresponding to the position of the first slot; and a second engaging member movably disposed on the slider along the second direction corresponding to the position of the second slot. When the slider is in the engaging position, the first expansion card and the second expansion card are respectively fixed in the first slot and the second slot by the first engaging member and the second engaging member. When the slider is in the first releasing position, the first engaging member is misaligned with the first hook and the second engaging member is misaligned with the second hook to release the first expansion card and the second expansion card.