Insertion and/or Extraction Device for Electronic Component

The present invention relates generally to a device for inserting and removing electronic components such as memory modules from a printed circuit board.

Computer memory is frequently mounted onto modular circuit boards or modules which can be inserted into a computer so as to expand the aggregate memory of the computer. Memory modules are connected to a main circuit board of a computer system through multi-pin edge connectors which reside on the main circuit board. Typically, an edge of the memory module is inserted into an edge connector so that the module is positioned perpendicular to the main circuit board. A number of memory modules can be closely positioned parallel to each other and perpendicular to the main circuit board. Such an arrangement conserves space on the main circuit board but results in a dense coupling of memory modules on the main circuit board.

Memory modules, particularly dual in-line memory modules (DIMM), can be quite large. Some DIMM's may be six inches long and have approximately 200 contacts. Normal insertion of a module into a connector is accomplished by forcing the edge of the memory module between opposing rows of metal contacts in the connector. Upwards of 20 pounds of force is sometimes required to properly seat a module in a connector. Further, the surface area on the module where force can be applied is very small. In some instances, the edge of the module where force may be applied is only 0.050 inches wide. Applying insertion pressure to hundreds of modules per day, such as is required in a computer assembly line, can become very uncomfortable for the person charged with such a task. Thus, there is a need in the art for a device which provides assistance in inserting memory modules into a connector.

It is known in the art to provide a memory module extraction device. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,203,074, 5,367,761, 5,106,315, and 3,952,232 disclose various purported memory module extraction devices. Each of these devices is specialized to work with a particular type of memory module and connector.

An alternative module and connector type for which an extraction device has not been designed employs a lever applied to an exterior edge of the module and connector. For such module and connector configurations, applying downward pressure to the lever causes the module to be unseated from the connector. However, it can sometimes be difficult to access the lever due to the relative little clearance that is often available between components connected to a circuit board. Thus, there is a need in the art for a memory extraction device for use with memory modules and connector pairs which employ a lever mechanism for extraction of the module.

Accordingly, a goal of the present invention is to provide an electronic component insertion and extraction device for assistance in inserting and removing electronic components from a printed circuit board connector.

An electronic component insertion and extraction device in accordance with the present invention addresses these and other shortcomings in the art. According to one aspect of the invention there is provided an insertion device for inserting a memory module into a circuit board connector. Typically, the memory module has a pressure area along at least one edge where pressure can be applied for seating the module in the connector. The connector may also have a base portion with leverage points positioned on its exterior. The insertion device comprises the following elements: an elongated handle having a first end and a second end; a first leverage arm extending from the first end of the handle, which first leverage arm has a first distal end positioned opposite the handle; a second leverage arm extending from the first end of the handle, the second leverage arm having a second distal end positioned opposite the handle and being displaced from the first leverage arm so as to form a channel between the first leverage arm and the second leverage arm; and a pressure applicator disposed in the channel between the first leverage arm and the second leverage arm. The pressure applicator is positioned away from the distal end of the first leverage arm and the distal end of the second leverage arm so that upon the first distal end and the second distal end being positioned against the leverage pressure points of the connector, the pressure applicator is positioned along the pressure area of the memory module. Movement of the second end of the device in a direction having both a horizontal and vertical components relative to the leverage points exerts downward pressure on the memory module and thereby causes the module to be seated in the connector. According to a preferred embodiment, the distal ends of the leverage arms have a hooked configuration. Further, the handle has grooves inserted therein for improved gripping of the device. Also the pressure applicator has a substantially curved surface for facilitating horizontal movement of the pressure applicator along the memory module. Where the connector has leverage points that are circular shaped trunnions, the hooked distal ends of the insertion device fit partially around the trunnions and provide a leverage point for application of an insertion force to the second end of the device.

According to another embodiment, the insertion device comprises the following items: a handle; at least one leverage arm extending from the handle, which leverage arm has a distal end remote from the handle; a pressure applicator disposed between the distal end and the handle for applying downward force on a memory module.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is disclosed an extraction device for removing a memory module from a connector. Typically, the connector has a lever disposed on at least one of the terminal ends of the connector so that application of a substantially downward force on the lever causes the memory module to be unseated from the connector. The connector might also have leverage points positioned on its exterior. The extraction device comprises the following items: an elongated handle having a first end and a second end; a first clearance arm extending from the second end of the handle; a second clearance arm extending from the second end of the elongated handle, which second clearance arm is displaced from the first clearance arm so as to form a channel between the first clearance arm and the second clearance arm; and a pressure applicator positioned substantially in the channel between the first clearance arm and the second clearance. When the pressure applicator is positioned upon the lever, the first and second clearance arms are positioned against the leverage points. Thereafter, if the first end of the handle is rotated downward relative to the leverage points, pressure is applied by the pressure applicator to the lever. The pressure displaces the lever and causes the memory module to be unseated from the connector. In a preferred embodiment, the first clearance arm and the second clearance arm have recesses formed therein. When the pressure applicator contacts the lever, the recesses are positioned substantially around the leverage points of the connector. In one embodiment, the recesses are formed at the distal ends of the clearance arms.

Other features of the present invention are described below.

A full understanding of the invention can be gained from the following description of preferred embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1A provides a perspective view of an insertion/extraction device in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 1B provides a side view of the insertion/extraction device shown in FIG. 1A;

FIG. 1C provides a top view of the insertion/extraction device shown in FIG. 1A;

FIG. 1D provides a sectional view of the insertion/extraction device shown in FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the insertion end of an insertion/extraction device in accordance with the present invention applied to a memory module and circuit board connector;

FIG. 2B is a detailed view of the insertion end of an insertion/extraction device in accordance with the present invention applied to a memory module and circuit board connector;

FIGS. 3A and 3B provide a perspective view of an insertion/extraction device in accordance with the present invention at various stages of the insertion process;

FIG. 4A provides a view of the extraction end of an insertion/extraction device in accordance with the present invention applied to a memory module and circuit board connector;

FIG. 4B provides a detailed view of the extraction end of an insertion/extraction device in accordance with the present invention applied to a memory module and circuit board connector; and

FIGS. 5A and 5B provide perspective views of the extraction end of an insertion/extraction device in accordance with the present invention at various stages of the extraction process.

A memory module insertion device with the above-mentioned beneficial features in accordance with a presently preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 through 5. The description given herein with respect to those figures is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended in any way to limit the scope of the invention. Questions regarding the scope of the invention may be resolved by referring to the appended claims.

FIGS. 1A through 1D provide various views of inventive insertion/extraction device 10. As shown, insertion/extraction device 10 comprises an elongated handle 12 with a first end or insertion end 14 and a second end or extraction end 16. In a preferred embodiment, a first leverage arm 18a and a second leverage arm 18b extend from opposite sides of insertion end 14. A single leverage arm 18a may be employed in alternative embodiments. Pressure applicator 20 is disposed in channel 22 that is formed between leverage arms 18a, 18b. In a preferred embodiment, distal ends 24 of leverage arms 18a, 18b have a hook-like configuration.

A first pivot arm 26 and a second pivot arm 26 extend from opposite sides of extraction end 16 of device 10. In an alternative embodiment, a single pivot arm 26 may be employed. Notch 28 or extraction application surface is disposed in channel 30 that is formed between pivot arms 26. A pivot recess or notch 32 is formed at or near distal ends 34 of each pivot arm 26.

FIG. 2A provides a perspective view of insertion end 14 of inventive insertion/extraction device 10 applied to module 36 and module connector 38. FIG. 2B provides a detailed view of the interaction between device 10, electronic component 36 which may be a memory module and connector 38. As shown, module 36 has been situated above connector 38. Connector 38 comprises base 39 and leverage points 40. Leverage points or trunnions 40 are disposed along the exterior sides of connector 38 and provide leverage during the insertion and extraction process. Leverage arms 18a, 18b extend around memory module 36 with pressure applicator 20 coming to rest on pressure area or surface 42 of module 36. Hook distal ends 24 of leverage arms 18a, 18b are positioned against leverage points 40 and thereby provide leverage during the insertion process. In a preferred embodiment, pressure applicator 20 has a substantially rounded exterior which facilitates horizontal movement of pressure applicator 20 as module 36 is gradually inserted into connector 38. Handle 12 has grooves located therein to facilitate gripping device 10. Leverage recess 52 in module 36 is shaped to accept a lever and is used during the extraction of module 36. The extraction process is described below with reference to FIGS. 4A through 5B.

FIGS. 3A and 3B provide a perspective view of insertion/extraction device 10 and module 36 at various stages of the insertion process. With distal ends 24 positioned against leverage points 40, second end 16 of device 10 is rotated in a clockwise fashion relative to leverage points 40. As a result of this rotation, pressure applicator 20 exerts a downward force on surface 42 of module 36. The downward force causes module 36 to be gradually seated in connector 38. As module 36 is displaced into connector 38, pressure applicator 20 is free to move horizontally along the surface of module 36 away from leverage point 40. As pressure applicator 20 moves along surface 42, it exerts downward force on successive portions of module 36 and thereby gradually seats module 36 into connector 38.

It should be noted that in FIGS. 3A and 3B, a corner section only of connector 38 is shown, i.e. a portion of base 39 is not shown. In this way FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate the movement of bottom edge 44 relative to base 39.

As shown in FIG. 3A, at the beginning of the insertion process, bottom edge 44 of module 36 is not seated in connector 38 and pressure applicator 20 is located near the terminal end of module 36. Gradually, second end 16 of insertion/extraction device 10 is displaced clockwise relative to said leverage point 40 to arrive in a position shown in FIG. 3B. As shown in FIG. 3B, bottom edge 44 of module 36 has been displaced downward relative to base 39 so as to become seated in connector 38 and pressure applicator 20 has been displaced sideways away from the terminal end of the module 36.

Generally, due to the large size of some modules, the process of seating a module using an insertion device in accordance with the present invention requires applying device 10 to the opposite end of module 36 and connector 38 opposite that shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B. When insertion/extraction device is applied to this opposite end, second end 16 of device 10 is rotated in a counterclockwise (i.e. opposite the direction illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B) fashion to seat the remaining portion of module 36 into connector 38.

FIG. 4A provides a view of extraction end 16 of device 10 prior to application to connector 38 and module 36. A lever 46 is positioned or situated substantially on connector 38. A first lever arm 48 of lever 46 is positioned away from module 36. A second lever arm 50 of lever 46 is located substantially within recess 52 of module 36 which was previously described above with reference to FIG. 2B. Notch 28 disposed between first and second pivot arms 26 is designed to engage first lever arm 48 of lever 46. Pivot recesses or notches 32 at distal ends 34 of pivot arms 26 are formed to engage leverage points 40 on the exterior of connector 38. FIG. 4B provides a view of extraction end 16 of device 10 seated on lever 46 and connector 38. As shown, recesses 32 are situated around leverage points 40 while notch 28 is positioned over first lever arm 48 of lever 46.

FIGS. 5A and 5B provide a perspective view of the extraction end 16 and module 36 at various stages of the extraction process. It should be noted that in FIGS. 5A and 5B, a corner section only of connector 38 is shown, i.e. a portion of base 39 is not shown. In this way FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate the movement of bottom edge 44 relative to base 39. As shown in FIG. 5A, at the start of the extraction process, module 36 is seated in connector 38. Handle 12 of insertion/extraction device is substantially perpendicular to module 36 and connector 38. In order to unseat module 36 from connector 38, insertion end 14 of device 10 is rotated clockwise relative to leverage points 40. As insertion end 14 rotates, notch 28 applies a force in a clockwise direction to first lever arm 48 of lever 46. The clockwise motion of first lever arm 48 of lever 46 causes second lever arm 50 to exert an upward force on module 36 at lever recess 52. The upward force is sufficient to unseat a portion of module 36 from connector 38. FIG. 5B provides a view of the insertion/extraction device 10 rotated clockwise from the position shown in FIG. 5A. As shown, bottom edge 44 of module 36 has been lifted relative to connector 38. Thus, the rotation of device 10 has caused a first end of module 36 to be unseated from connector 38. Extraction end 16 of device 10 can be positioned at the end of module 36 and connector 38 opposite that shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B so as to similarly unseat the opposite end of module 36.

The present invention may be employed in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof. For example, either the insertion end or extraction end of the device described above can be manufactured as a separate device from the other. Also, according to one embodiment, a single leverage arm may extend from the insertion end of the device. Likewise, a single pivot arm may extend from the extraction end of the device. Of course, in still other embodiments, more than two leverage arms or pivot arms may extend from ends of the device. Accordingly, the scope of protection of the following claims is not limited to the presently preferred embodiment disclosed above.