Equipment unit latch and associated switch

Claim 2

An equipment unit to be inserted into a connector in an equipment frame comprising: a circuit board having a contact section intended to be inserted into the connector in the equipment frame; and a latch pivotally mounted to the circuit board at a pivot point for securing the equipment unit in the equipment frame; the equipment unit being CHARACTERIZED BY, said latch having a first lever arm and a second lever arm, the first lever arm extending from the pivot point in a first direction and the second lever arm extending from the pivot point in a second direction, the first lever arm being used for application of a first force for causing rotational movement of the latch about the pivot point, when the first force is applied to the first lever arm in a direction toward inserting the equipment unit in the equipment frame the first lever arm is in a closed position when a circuit board contact section is fully inserted in the connector, the second lever arm having a cam out surface for applying a force toward removal of the circuit board contact section from the connector in the equipment frame when the circuit board contact section is inserted in the connector and when the first force is applied to the first lever arm in a direction toward removing the circuit board contact section from the connector, the cam out surface being arranged such as to allow initial movement of the first lever arm from the closed position prior to applying the second force toward removing the equipment unit from the equipment frame so that the first lever arm of the latch is allowed to move freely prior to the cam out surface applying the second force toward removing the circuit board contact section from the connector in the equipment frame, and light responsive switch means mounted on said circuit board and associated with said latch and being responsive to said initial movement of said latch for generating an action initiation signal when said latch is initially moved in initiation of removal of said equipment unit from the equipment frame, and prior to any movement of the circuit board contact section in the connector.

Claim 3

An equipment unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said latch is positioned to disable said light responsive switch means from generating said action initiation signal when the equipment unit is fully inserted in the equipment frame and said latch is in a closed position.

Claim 4

An equipment unit as defined in claim 2 wherein said light responsive switch means includes a light emitter and a light detector.

Claim 5

An equipment unit as defined in claim 3 wherein said light responsive switch means further includes an amplifier in circuit with said light detector for supplying said action initiation signal as an output, said amplifier having a transfer function employing hysteresis.

Claim 6

An equipment unit as defined in claim 3 wherein said light emitter comprises an infrared light emitter and said light detector comprises an infrared light detector.

Claim 7

An equipment unit as defined in claim 2 wherein said first lever arm includes a protruding member which inhibits generation of said action initiation signal when said latch is in the closed position.

Claim 8

An equipment unit as defined in claim 6 wherein said light responsive switch means includes a light emitter and a light detector.

Claim 9

An equipment unit as defined in claim 7 wherein said light responsive switch means further includes an amplifier in circuit with said light detector for supplying said action initiation signal as an output, said amplifier having a transfer function employing hysteresis.

Claim 10

An equipment unit as defined in claim 7 wherein said light emitter comprises an infrared light emitter and said light detector comprises an infrared light detector.

Claim 11

An equipment unit as defined in claim 7 wherein said light emitter and said light detector are mounted on the circuit board in prescribed spatial alignment relationship to each other and to said first lever arm of said latch and wherein said protruding member of said first lever arm of said latch is positioned to inhibit light being emitted from said light emitter from reaching said light detector when the equipment unit is fully inserted in the equipment frame and the latch is in a closed position and such that said light detector is able to detect light from said light emitter upon the first lever arm of said latch initially moving a prescribed distance upon initiation of removal of the equipment unit from the equipment frame, and prior to any movement of the equipment unit in the equipment frame.

Claim 12

An equipment unit as defined in claim 10 wherein said protruding member of said first lever arm comprises a protruding element having prescribed dimensions and being such as to be positioned between said light emitter and said light detector when said latch is in a closed position to inhibit light emitted by said light emitter from reaching said light detector when the equipment unit is fully inserted in the equipment frame and the latch is in a closed position and such that said light detector is enabled to detect light from said light emitter upon the protruding element of the first lever arm of said latch moving a prescribed distance upon initiation of removal of the equipment unit from the equipment frame, and prior to any movement of the equipment unit in the equipment frame.

Claim 13

An equipment unit to be inserted into a connector in an equipment frame comprising: a circuit board having a contact section intended to be inserted into the connector in the equipment frame; a latch pivotally mounted to the circuit board at a pivot point for securing the equipment unit in the equipment frame; means for generating light along a predetermined path; and means aligned with said path in such a manner as to receive said light; said latch having a first lever arm and a second lever arm, the first lever arm extending from the pivot point in a first direction and the second lever arm extending from the pivot point in a second direction, the first lever arm being used for application of a first force for causing rotational movement of the latch about the pivot point, when the first force is applied to the first lever arm in a direction toward inserting the equipment unit in the equipment frame the first lever arm is in a closed position when the circuit board contact section is inserted in the connector, the second lever arm having a cam out surface for applying a force toward removal of the circuit board contact section from the connector in the equipment frame when the circuit board contact section is inserted in the connector and when the first force is applied to the first lever arm in a direction toward removing the circuit board contact section from the connector, the cam out surface being arranged such as to allow initial movement of the first lever arm from the closed position prior to applying the second force toward removing the equipment unit from the equipment frame so that the first lever arm of the latch is allowed to move freely prior to the cam out surface applying the second force toward removing the circuit board contact section from the connector in the equipment frame, and said first lever arm of said latch including a blocking element disposed on said first lever arm of said latch in such a manner that said path is blocked when said equipment unit has been inserted into said equipment frame and becomes unblocked when said latch is moved in initiation of removal of said equipment unit from the equipment frame, and prior to any movement of the circuit board contact section in the connector.

Claim 14

An equipment unit to be inserted into a connector in an equipment frame comprising: a circuit board having a contact section intended to be inserted into the connector in the equipment frame; a latch pivotally mounted to the circuit board at a pivot point for securing the equipment unit in the equipment frame; means for generating light along a predetermined path; and means aligned with said path in such a manner as to receive said light; said latch having a first lever arm and a second lever arm, the first lever arm extending from the pivot point in a first direction and the second lever arm extending from the pivot point in a second direction, the first lever arm being used for application of a first force for causing rotational movement of the latch about the pivot point, when the first force is applied to the first lever arm in a direction toward inserting the equipment unit in the equipment frame the first lever arm is in a closed position when the circuit board contact section is inserted in the connector, the second lever arm having a cam out surface for applying a force toward removal of the circuit board contact section from the connector in the equipment frame when the circuit board contact section is inserted in the connector and when the first force is applied to the first lever arm in a direction toward removing the circuit board contact section from the connector, the cam out surface being arranged such as to allow initial movement of the first lever arm from the closed position prior to applying the second force toward removing the equipment unit from the equipment frame so that the first lever arm of the latch is allowed to move freely prior to the cam out surface applying the second force toward removing the circuit board contact section from the connector in the equipment frame, and said first lever arm of said latch including a blocking element disposed on said first lever arm of said latch in such a manner that said path is blocked when said equipment unit has been inserted into said equipment frame and becomes unblocked when said latch is moved in initiation of removal of said equipment unit from the equipment frame, and prior to any movement of the circuit board contact section in the connector.