IP Library › Granted Patent US 6,850,417
Granted Patent B2
US 6,850,417 · App. 09/907,291 · Granted Feb 1, 2005

Integrated expansion card slot status indicator and power actuator

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,850,417
App. No.
09/907,291
Granted
Feb 1, 2005
Kind
B2
Abstract

A computer system having a computer housing, a printed circuit board within the housing having at least one connector for receiving an expansion card, a power control switch for controlling power to the connector, and an actuator device that is movably coupled to the printed circuit board so that movement of the actuator relative to the printed circuit board causes the actuator to activate the power control switch. The actuator is further capable of transmitting light emitted from a connector status indicator on the printed circuit board from a first point along the length of the actuator to a second point along its length.

Claims (43)

1. A computer system comprising:

a computer housing;

a printed circuit board located within said housing, said printed circuit board having at least one connector adapted to receive an expansion card;

a power control device mounted on said printed circuit board and electrically coupled to said connector for turning on and off power to said connector;

a divider member positioned within said computer housing substantially adjacent and substantially parallel to said connector;

an actuator device movably coupled to said divider member, a first end of said actuator being positioned substantially adjacent to said power control device so that when pressure is applied to a second end of said actuator, said actuator moves relative to said divider member to engage and activate said power control device, said actuator further being capable of transmitting light from a first point along a length of said actuator to a second point along said length.

2. The computer system according to claim 1 , said computer system further comprising a connector status indicator positioned on said printed circuit board and electrically coupled to said connector, said connector status indicator being capable of illuminating to indicate a status of said connector.

3. The computer system according to claim 2 , wherein said first end of said actuator is positioned substantially adjacent to said connector status indicator so that illumination of said connector status indicator illuminates said first end of said actuator.

4. The computer system according to claim 3 , wherein said computer housing has an aperture therein, and wherein light transmitted to said second point along the length of said actuator is visible from an external side of said computer housing through said aperture.

5. The computer system according to claim 4 , said actuator having a notch therein, and said divider member having a finger-like element projecting therefrom, said finger-like element projecting into said notch.

6. The computer system according to claim 5 , said actuator being movable relative to said divider member in a direction toward said power control device, said finger-like element exerting a resistive force on said actuator when pressure is applied to said second end of said actuator to cause it to slidably relative to said divider member, said resistive force being such that when pressure is removed from said second end of said actuator, said actuator returns substantially to its original position.

7. The computer system according to claim 6 , said actuator further comprising a first side edge having a curved portion, said curved portion reflecting light from said first point towards said second point.

8. The computer system according to claim 7 , said divider member further comprising a first side edge having a curved portion having a contour substantially complementary to and positioned substantially adjacent to said curved portion of said first side edge of said actuator.

9. The computer system according to claim 8 , wherein said actuator is comprised of a substantially translucent material.

10. A computer system comprising:

a computer housing;

a printed circuit board positioned within said housing, said printed circuit board having at least one connector adapted to receive an expansion card;

a power control device mounted on said printed circuit board and electrically coupled to said connector for turning on and off power to said connector;

an actuator device movably coupled to said printed circuit board so that movement of said actuator relative to said printed circuit board activates said power control device, said actuator being capable of transmitting light from a first point along a length of said actuator to a second point along said length.

11. The computer system according to claim 10 , further comprising a connector status indicator mounted on said printed circuit board, said connector status indicator being capable of illuminating to indicate a status of said connector.

12. The computer system according to claim 11 , wherein when illuminated, light from said connector status indicator is transmitted from said first point along the length of said actuator to said second point along the length of said actuator.

13. The computer system according to claim 12 , further comprising a divider member removably coupled to said printed circuit board and positioned substantially adjacent to said connector, said actuator being movably coupled to said divider member.

14. The computer system according to claim 13 , wherein a first end of said actuator is positioned substantially adjacent to said power control device and said connector status indicator.

15. The computer system according to claim 14 , wherein said computer housing has an aperture therein, and wherein light transmitted to said second point of said actuator is visible from an exterior of said housing through said aperture.

16. An actuator for controlling power to an expansion card connector on a printed circuit board, and for indicating a status of said expansion card connector, said actuator comprising:

a first end, said first end being of sufficient dimension to extend substantially adjacent to both a power control device mounted on said printed circuit board for controlling power to said connector, and a connector status indicator mounted on said printed circuit board for indicating a status of said connector;

a second end;

a first side edge, said first side edge having a curved portion for reflecting light illuminating said first end toward a second point along a length of said actuator; and

a second side edge, said light transmitted to said second point along the length of said actuator being visible through said second side edge.

17. The actuator according to claim 16 , wherein said first side edge has a groove therein, said groove being capable of being slidably engaged with a divider member that is coupled to a printed circuit board and positioned substantially adjacent to said expansion card connector.

18. The actuator according to claim 17 , said first side edge having a notch therein for receiving a finger-like projection extending from the divider member that exerts a resistive force on said actuator when said actuator moves relative to said divider member.

19. A method for determining the status of an expansion card connector on a printed circuit board and for controlling power to said expansion card connector, said method comprising the steps of:

movably coupling an actuator to a printed circuit board within a computer housing of a computer system;

positioning a first end of said actuator substantially adjacent to a power control device that controls power to said connector, so that movement of said actuator relative to said printed circuit board causes said first end to engage and activate said power control device;

positioning said first end substantially adjacent to a connector status indicator that emits light to indicate a status of said connector so that light emitted from said connector status indicator illuminates said first end; and

transmitting at least a portion of said light illuminating said first end of said actuator to a second point along a length of said actuator.

20. The method according to claim 19 , further comprising the step of viewing said light transmitted to said second point of said actuator from an exterior of said computer housing through an aperture in said computer housing.

21. The method according to claim 20 , wherein said power control device and said connector status indicator are mounted on said printed circuit board.

22. The method according to claim 21 , further comprising the steps of:

positioning a divider member substantially adjacent and substantially parallel to said expansion card connector, and

movably coupling said actuator to said divider member.

23. The method according to claim 22 , wherein said actuator has a notch in a first side edge, and wherein said divider member includes a first side edge and finger-like element that projects therefrom and extends to within said notch, said finger-like element exerting a resistive force on said actuator when pressure is applied to a second end of said actuator to move said actuator relative to said divider member, said resistive force causing said actuator to substantially return to its original position when said pressure is removed from said second end.

24. The method according to claim 23 , wherein said first side edge of said actuator has a curved portion, and wherein at least a portion of said light illuminating said first end of said actuator is reflected by said curved portion toward said second point along the length of said actuator.

Assignments (14)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (053546/0001) Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 071642/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (045455/0001) Recorded May 20, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061753/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (040136/0001) Recorded Apr 26, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061324/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 3, 2021
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL, L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 058216/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 22, 2020
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053546/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 21, 2019
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 049452/0223 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040134/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040136/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040065/0618 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040040/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 13, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040065/0216 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (NOTES) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS FIRST LIEN COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 031897/0348 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (ABL) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: DELL INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 031898/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (TERM LOAN) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: DELL INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 031899/0261 →