Granted Patent B2

US 8,348,769 · App. 12/293,117 · Granted Jan 8, 2013

Abstract

Claims (42)

1. An apparatus comprising:

a printed circuit board that is part of a wagering game machine, wherein the printed circuit board includes a processor operable to execute instructions associated with a wagering game; and

a hard drive mount that is coupled to the printed circuit board, wherein the hard drive mount includes an alignment guide and a blind mate connector for electrically coupling a hard drive to a surface mount connection on the printed circuit board, the hard drive to store wagering game data for the wagering game, and the hard drive mount enabling full placement of the hard drive within the hard drive mount;

wherein the alignment guide includes at least two opposing sides around at least part of an opening to receive the hard drive, the at least two opposing sides guiding the hard drive to a central position of the opening upon an installation of the hard drive into the hard drive mount, and wherein the alignment guide includes at least one tab on each of the opposing sides, the at least one tab arranged in each opposing side of the alignment guide to secure the hard drive in the hard drive mount upon the full placement of the hard drive within the hard drive mount; and

wherein the alignment guide and the blind mate connector are arranged such that the installation of the hard drive into the hard drive mount causes connection of the hard drive with the blind mate connector.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the printed circuit board is housed in a logic box that is part of the wagering game machine, and wherein the hard drive is to be mounted onto the hard drive mount while the logic box remains attached to the wagering game machine.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the hard drive is mounted to the hard drive mount without a fastener.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a bottom of the hard drive mount includes an aperture along a side that is opposite a side that includes the blind mate connector.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the alignment guide comprises a first rail and a second rail to guide the coupling of the hard drive to the surface mount connection.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the hard drive is mounted to the hard drive mount without a tool.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising one or more columns used to couple the hard drive mount to the printed circuit board, wherein the one or more columns are positioned to provide spacing between the hard drive mount and the printed circuit board in the wagering game machine.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the hard drive mount further includes a board providing the blind mate connector, wherein the board is electrically coupled to a surface mount connector of the printed circuit board, and wherein the hard drive is electrically coupled to the board through the blind mate connector.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a Serial Advanced Technology Attachment standard cable, a first end of the Serial Advanced Technology Attachment standard cable being coupled to the blind mate connector of the hard drive mount.

10. An apparatus comprising:

a printed circuit board to support a number of electrical components associated with a wagering game;

a first hard drive mount to mount a first hard drive onto the printed circuit board, the first hard drive mount attached to the printed circuit board at a number of apertures in the printed circuit board; and

a second hard drive mount to mount a second hard drive onto the printed circuit board, the second hard drive mount stackably attached to a top of the first hard drive mount at locations on the first hard drive mount that are attached at the number of apertures in the printed circuit board;

wherein the first hard drive mount and the second hard drive mount include a respective alignment guide and a respective blind mate connector arranged such that installation of a respective hard drive causes connection with the respective blind mate connector;

wherein each alignment guide includes at least two opposing sides around at least part of an opening to receive the respective hard drive, the at least two opposing sides guiding the respective hard drive to a central position of the opening upon an installation of the respective hard drive, and wherein each alignment guide includes at least one tab on each of the opposing sides, the at least one tab arranged in each opposing side of each alignment guide to secure the respective hard drive in the hard drive mount upon the full placement of the respective hard drive within the hard drive mount; and

wherein the respective blind mate connector facilitates an electrical connection between the respective hard drive and the printed circuit board upon installation of the respective hard drive.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the first hard drive is capable of installation into the first hard drive mount without a fastener or a tool.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the first hard drive mount and the second hard drive mount are manufactured from essentially a same manufacturing mold.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 , further comprising a number of fasteners configured to interface with the apertures to secure the first hard drive mount to the printed circuit board.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the second hard drive is electrically coupled to the printed circuit board through an electrical cable.

15. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the first hard drive is electrically coupled to the printed circuit board through a surface mount connection.

16. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the first hard drive mount comprises a number of side secure tabs, a lip and a bottom secure tab to secure the hard drive within the first hard drive mount.

17. A system comprising:

a printed circuit board to which rail brackets are attached, each of the rail brackets including a number of secure slide locks;

a mounting bracket that houses a hard drive and includes a number of secure slide locks, wherein the number of secure slide locks of the mounting bracket are locked into the secure slide locks of the rail brackets;

a blind mate connector that provides access to an electrical connection with the printed circuit board, the blind mate connector arranged such that installation of the hard drive into the mounting bracket using the secure slide locks causes connection of the hard drive with the blind mate connector; and

a processor electrically coupled to the printed circuit board and operable to execute instructions associated with a wagering game, at least some of the instructions retrieved from the hard drive using the electrical connection established from the blind mate connector;

wherein the rail brackets define at least part of an opening to receive the hard drive, the rail brackets guiding the hard drive to a central position of the opening upon the installation of the hard drive, and wherein the secure slide locks of the rail brackets secure the hard drive with the secure slide locks of the mounting bracket upon full placement of the hard drive within the opening.

18. The system of claim 17 , further comprising a cable to electrically couple the hard drive to the printed circuit board, wherein the blind mate connector facilitates the electrical connection using the cable.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein a communication through the cable and to the hard drive is based on the Serial Advanced Technology Attachment standard.

20. The system of claim 17 , wherein the mounting bracket is secured to the rail brackets without a fastener.

21. A method comprising:

opening a door of a logic box that remains attached to a wagering game machine, the logic box housing a printed circuit board, wherein a hard drive mount is attached to the printed circuit board, the hard drive mount having a railing and a blind mate connector; and

mounting a hard drive into the hard drive mount, wherein the hard drive is electrically coupled to the printed circuit board through the blind mate connector;

wherein the railing is positioned around at least part of an opening to receive the hard drive and is configured to guide the hard drive to a central position of the opening upon an installation of the hard drive, wherein the railing includes at least one tab arranged to secure the hard drive in the hard drive mount upon the full placement of the hard drive within the hard drive mount;

and wherein a placement of the hard drive caused by mounting the hard drive within the hard drive mount establishes an electrical connection of the hard drive using the blind mate connector.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein mounting the hard drive into the hard drive mount comprises mounting the hard drive into the hard drive mount in a hot swap operation.

23. The method of claim 21 , wherein mounting the hard drive into the hard drive mount comprises mounting the hard drive into the hard drive mount without a fastener.

Assignments (7)