US5650910A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Backbone substrate for a computer
Assignee: Sun Microsystems Inc
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Filing: 1996-06-26
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Granted: 1997-07-22
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Expires: 2016-06-26
Abstract
Abstract An electrical assembly which secures a detached cable/connector assembly to a substrate of a printed circuit board. The assembly has a printed circuit board that is mounted to a first surface of the substrate. The printed circuit board is coupled to an electrical connector assembly by a flexible cable. The electrical connector assembly can be plugged into an auxiliary device such as a CD-ROM. The electrical connector assembly has a tab that is inserted into an aperture located in the second surface of the substrate, to secure the connector assembly when the connector is not attached to the auxiliary device.
Inventors
- 👤 Lee Winick
- 👤 Kenneth Kitlas
- 👤 Myra Torres
- 👤 Erich Selna
- 👤 Clifford B. Willis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 15:03
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/16; G06F1/18; G06F1/183
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
85 words
An electronic assembly, comprising: a first substrate which has a first surface and an opposite second surface, said first substrate further having an aperture; a first printed circuit board that is mounted to said first substrate; a first flexible cable connected to said first printed circuit board; and, a first connector assembly connected to said first flexible cable, said first connector assembly having a tab that is inserted into said aperture of said first substrate to secure said first connector assembly to said first substrate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
85 words
An electronic assembly, comprising: a first substrate which has a first surface and an opposite second surface, said first substrate further having an aperture; a first printed circuit board that is mounted to said first substrate; a first flexible cable connected to said first printed circuit board; and, a first connector assembly connected to said first flexible cable, said first connector assembly having a tab that is inserted into said aperture of said first substrate to secure said first connector assembly to said first substrate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said first connector assembly includes a first connector mounted to a second printed circuit board, and a second substrate mounted to said second printed circuit board.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The assembly as recited in claim 2, further comprising a second connector that is mounted to said first printed circuit board.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The assembly as recited in claim 3, further comprising a second flexible cable that is connected to said first printed circuit board and a second connector assembly that is connected to said second flexible cable.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The assembly as recited in claim 4, wherein said second connector assembly includes a third connector mounted to a third printed circuit board, and a third substrate mounted to said third printed circuit board.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The assembly as recited in claim 5, further comprising a fourth connector that is mounted to said first printed circuit board.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The assembly as recited in claim 6, further comprising a chassis wall that supports said first substrate in a vertical position, wherein said first substrate has a tab that engages said wall.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
106 words
A computer assembly, comprising: a chassis which has a backbone wall; a backbone substrate that has an aperture, said backbone substrate being supported in a vertical position by said backbone wall of said chassis; a backbone printed circuit board that is mounted to said backbone substrate; a disk drive connector mounted to said backbone printed circuit board; an auxiliary flexible cable connected to said backbone printed circuit board; and, an auxiliary connector assembly connected to said auxiliary flexible cable, said auxiliary connector assembly having a tab that is inserted into said aperture of said backbone substrate to secure said auxiliary connector assembly to said backbone substrate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
106 words
A computer assembly, comprising: a chassis which has a backbone wall; a backbone substrate that has an aperture, said backbone substrate being supported in a vertical position by said backbone wall of said chassis; a backbone printed circuit board that is mounted to said backbone substrate; a disk drive connector mounted to said backbone printed circuit board; an auxiliary flexible cable connected to said backbone printed circuit board; and, an auxiliary connector assembly connected to said auxiliary flexible cable, said auxiliary connector assembly having a tab that is inserted into said aperture of said backbone substrate to secure said auxiliary connector assembly to said backbone substrate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
The assembly as recited in claim 8, further comprising a motherboard flexible cable that is connected to said backbone printed circuit board and a motherboard connector assembly that is connected to said motherboard flexible cable.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
The assembly as recited in claim 9, wherein said auxiliary connector assembly includes an auxiliary connector mounted to an auxiliary printed circuit board and an auxiliary substrate mounted to said auxiliary printed circuit board.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
The assembly as recited in claim 10, wherein said motherboard connector assembly includes a motherboard connector mounted to a motherboard connector printed circuit board and a motherboard connector substrate mounted to said motherboard connector printed circuit board.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The assembly as recited in claim 11, further comprising a floppy connector that is mounted to said backbone printed circuit board.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The assembly as recited in claim 12, wherein said backbone substrate has a tab that engages said backbone wall of said chassis.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The assembly as recited in claim 13, further comprising a motherboard that is connected to said motherboard connector.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
The assembly as recited in claim 14, further comprising a disk drive that is connected to said disk drive connector.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
The assembly as recited in claim 15, further comprising a floppy disk drive that is connected to said floppy connector.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
The assembly as recited in claim 16, further comprising a CD-ROM drive that is connected to said auxiliary connector when said tab is disengaged from said aperture.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
79 words
A method for securing a cable/connector assembly, comprising the steps of: a) providing an assembly that includes; a substrate which has an aperture; a printed circuit board that is mounted to said substrate; a flexible cable connected to said printed circuit board; a connector assembly connected to said flexible cable, said connector assembly having a tab; and, b) inserting said tab of said connector assembly into said aperture of said substrate to attach said connector assembly to said substrate.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
79 words
A method for securing a cable/connector assembly, comprising the steps of: a) providing an assembly that includes; a substrate which has an aperture; a printed circuit board that is mounted to said substrate; a flexible cable connected to said printed circuit board; a connector assembly connected to said flexible cable, said connector assembly having a tab; and, b) inserting said tab of said connector assembly into said aperture of said substrate to attach said connector assembly to said substrate.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method as recited in claim 18, further comprising the steps of detaching said tab from said aperture and attaching an auxiliary device to said connector assembly.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-07-21 | 2001-01-20 | 2001-07-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-07-21 | 2005-01-20 | 2005-07-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-07-21 | 2009-01-20 | 2009-07-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |