Fixing / release mechanism and circuit board module

Abstract

A fixing / release mechanism is adapted for fixing or releasing an object in an ejecting manner, and includes a pressing structure, an engaging structure and an ejecting structure. The pressing structure moves along a first axis. The engaging structure is linked to the pressing structure and moves along a second axis. The ejection structure is linked to the pressing structure and rotates along a third axis. When the pressing structure is in a first position, the object is fixed by the engaging structure. When the pressing structure moves to a second position, the engaging structure is driven to release the object, and the ejecting structure is driven to push the object.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a fixing / releasing mechanism and a circuit board module, and more particularly to a fixing / releasing mechanism and a circuit board module capable of ejecting an object upon release. [Previous Technology]

[0002] With the advancement of technology, various components such as heat sinks or expansion cards need to be fixed on circuit boards. How to fix and release these components effectively and easily is a research direction in this field. [Summary of the Invention]

[0003] The present invention provides a fixing / releasing mechanism that can fix and release objects effectively and simply.

[0004] The present invention provides a circuit board module, including the above-mentioned fixing / releasing mechanism.

[0005] A fixing / releasing mechanism of the present invention is suitable for fixing or ejecting an object, comprising a pressing structure, a locking structure, and an ejecting structure. The pressing structure moves along a first axial direction. The locking structure is linked to the pressing structure and moves along a second axial direction. The ejecting structure is linked to the pressing structure and rotates along a third axial direction. When the pressing structure is in a first position, the object is fixed by the locking structure. When the pressing structure moves to a second position, the locking structure is driven to release the object, and the ejecting structure is driven to push the object.

[0006] In one embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned fixing / releasing mechanism further includes a seat, wherein the pressing structure and the engaging structure are movably disposed on the seat, and the ejection structure includes a first end, a second end and a rotating shaft located between the first end and the second end, the rotating shaft being pivotally connected to the seat, the first end being located inside the seat and abutting against the pressing structure, and the second end extending outside the seat.

[0007] In one embodiment of the present invention, the pressing structure includes a first inclined surface, and the engaging structure includes a second inclined surface facing the first inclined surface. When the pressing structure moves from the first position to the second position, the first inclined surface pushes against the second inclined surface.

[0008] In one embodiment of the present invention, the pressing structure includes a third inclined surface, the direction of which is opposite to the direction of which the first inclined surface is oriented, and the engaging structure includes a fourth inclined surface facing the third inclined surface. When the pressing structure moves from the second position to the first position, the third inclined surface pushes against the fourth inclined surface.

[0009] In one embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned fixing / releasing mechanism further includes an elastic member disposed below the pressing structure to return the pressing structure to the first position.

[0010] In one embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned engaging structure includes a fifth inclined surface and a stop surface. When the object is installed to the fixing / releasing mechanism, the object pushes against the fifth inclined surface, the engaging structure moves and drives the pressing structure to move to the second position, the elastic element accumulates an elastic potential energy, and when the object moves to below the fifth inclined surface of the engaging structure, the elastic element releases the elastic potential energy, thereby resetting the pressing structure and the engaging structure, and the stop surface faces the object.

[0011] In one embodiment of the present invention, when the pressing structure is in the second position, the highest point of the ejection structure is higher than the stop surface.

[0012] A circuit board module of the present invention includes a circuit board body, an object, and a fixing / releasing mechanism. The object is detachably disposed on the circuit board body. The fixing / releasing mechanism is disposed on the circuit board body, wherein when the object is disposed on the circuit board body, the fixing / releasing mechanism is located next to the object to fix or eject the object.

[0013] In one embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned object includes a first object end, and the fixing / releasing mechanism fixes or pushes the first object end. The first object end includes an end slope. When the object is installed to the fixing / releasing mechanism, the end slope of the object pushes against the fifth slope.

[0014] In one embodiment of the present invention, the circuit board module further includes a fixing base disposed on the circuit board body and includes a first magnetic attracting member, wherein the object includes a second object end relative to the first object end, the second object end includes a second magnetic attracting member, and the second magnetic attracting member is magnetically attracted to the first magnetic attracting member.

[0015] Based on the above, in the fixing / releasing mechanism of the present invention, the pressing structure moves along the first axial direction, the engaging structure moves along the second axial direction in conjunction with the pressing structure, and the ejecting structure rotates along the third axial direction in conjunction with the pressing structure. When the pressing structure is in the first position, the object is fixed by the engaging structure. When the pressing structure moves to the second position, the engaging structure is driven to release the object, and the ejecting structure is driven to push the object. Therefore, the fixing / releasing mechanism of the present invention can fix and release the object well and simply, and can push the object when releasing it, thus facilitating subsequent retrieval.

Implementation Method

[0016] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of a circuit board module according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG1, the circuit board module 10 of this embodiment includes a circuit board body 20, an object 30, and a fixing / releasing mechanism 100. In this embodiment, the circuit board body 20 is, for example, a motherboard, and the object 30 is, for example, a heat sink for an expansion card 50; however, in other embodiments, the object 30 may also be an expansion card. The types of the circuit board body 20 and the object 30 are not limited thereto.

[0017] As shown in Figure 1, the expansion card 50 (e.g., an M.3 interface, but not limited thereto) is inserted into the connector 55. The object 30 (heat sink) is detachably disposed on the circuit board body 20 and disposed above the expansion card 50 to dissipate heat from the expansion card 50.

[0018] The circuit board module 10 further includes a fixing base 40 disposed on the circuit board body 20. The fixing base 40 includes a first magnetic member 42, and the object 30 includes a first object end 32 (as shown on the right end of the figure) and a second object end 36 (as shown on the left end of the figure). The second object end 36 includes a second magnetic member 38, which is magnetically attracted to the first magnetic member 42, thereby fixing the second object end 36 of the object 30 to the fixing base 40. Of course, in other embodiments, the manner in which the second object end 36 of the object 30 is fixed to the fixing base 40 is not limited to this.

[0019] In addition, a fixing / releasing mechanism 100 is provided on the circuit board body 20. When the object 30 is provided on the circuit board body 20, the fixing / releasing mechanism 100 is located next to the first object end 32 of the object 30 to fix the first object end 32 of the object 30 (as shown in FIG1) or to release the first object end 32 of the object 30 by pushing it out (as shown in FIG4).

[0020] The detailed structure of the fixing / releasing mechanism 100 and its positional relationship with the object 30 will be described in detail below.

[0021] Figures 2 and 3 are partial cross-sectional schematic diagrams of Figure 1 from different perspectives. Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the pressing structure of the circuit board module in Figure 1 being pressed down. Figures 5 and 6 are partial cross-sectional schematic diagrams of Figure 4 from different perspectives.

[0022] Please refer to Figures 2 to 6. In this embodiment, the fixing / releasing mechanism 100 includes a base 140, a pressing structure 110, a locking structure 120 and an ejection structure 130.

[0023] The pressing structure 110 is movably disposed on the base 140 along a first axial direction A1. The engaging structure 120 is movably disposed on the base 140 along a second axial direction A2 and is linked to the pressing structure 110. Specifically, the pressing structure 110 includes a first inclined surface 112, and the engaging structure 120 includes a second inclined surface 122 facing the first inclined surface 112.

[0024] Furthermore, the pressing structure 110 includes a third inclined surface 114, and the engaging structure 120 includes a fourth inclined surface 124 facing the third inclined surface 114. In this embodiment, the direction in which the third inclined surface 114 faces is opposite to the direction in which the first inclined surface 112 faces, and the direction in which the fourth inclined surface 124 faces is opposite to the direction in which the second inclined surface 122 faces. Of course, the relationship between the third inclined surface 114 and the first inclined surface 112, and the relationship between the fourth inclined surface 124 and the second inclined surface 122, are not limited thereto.

[0025] The ejector structure 130 includes a first end 132, a second end 134, and a pivot 136 located between the first end 132 and the second end 134. The pivot 136 is pivotally connected to the seat body 140 and rotates along a third axis A3. The first end 132 of the ejector structure 130 is located inside the seat body 140 and abuts against the pressing structure 110, thereby causing the ejector structure 130 to move in conjunction with the pressing structure 110. The second end 134 of the ejector structure 130 extends outside the seat body 140.

[0026] Furthermore, the fixing / releasing mechanism 100 further includes an elastic element 150 disposed within the seat 140 and located below the pressing structure 110. The elastic element 150 is used to return the pressing structure 110 to the first position P1.

[0027] More specifically, when the pressing structure 110 is pressed down, the elastic element 150 accumulates elastic potential energy. When the downward pressure applied to the pressing structure 110 disappears, the elastic element 150 releases the elastic potential energy, thereby restoring the pressing structure 110 to its original position. The elastic element 150 is, for example, a compression spring, but the type of elastic element 150 is not limited thereto.

[0028] In this embodiment, the engaging structure 120 includes a fifth inclined surface 126, and the first object end 32 includes an end inclined surface 34. When the first object end 32 of the object 30 is installed to the fixing / releasing mechanism 100 from top to bottom, the end inclined surface 34 of the object 30 pushes against the fifth inclined surface 126 of the engaging structure 120, causing the engaging structure 120 to move to the right and retract into the seat 140. At this time, the fourth inclined surface 124 of the engaging structure 120 drives the third inclined surface 114 of the pressing structure 110 to move, causing the pressing structure 110 to move down to the second position P2. The elastic member 150 accumulates an elastic potential energy during this process.

[0029] The engaging structure 120 includes a stop surface 128. When the first object end 32 of the object 30 passes through the fifth inclined surface 126 of the engaging structure 120, the fifth inclined surface 126 of the engaging structure 120 is no longer pushed by the first object end 32 of the object 30. The elastic member 150 can then release its elastic potential energy, causing the pressing structure 110 to move upward and reset, returning to the first position P1.

[0030] During the upward movement of the pressing structure 110, the third inclined surface 114 of the pressing structure 110 pushes against the fourth inclined surface 124 of the engaging structure 120, causing the engaging structure 120 to be moved to the left. The stopping surface 128 of the engaging structure 120 moves to above the first object end 32 of the object 30 and toward the first object end 32 of the object 30.

[0031] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, when the pressing structure 110 is in the first position P1, the stop surface 128 of the engaging structure 120 is located above the first object end 32 of the object 30, thus restricting the upward movement of the first object end 32 of the object 30. Therefore, the first object end 32 of the object 30 is fixed by the engaging structure 120. At this time, the second end 134 of the ejecting structure 130 is located below the object 30.

[0032] When it is necessary to release the restriction of the first object end 32 of the object 30, simply press down the pressing structure 110. The pressing structure 110 moves from the first position P1 (Fig. 3) to the second position P2 (Fig. 6). During this process, the first inclined surface 112 of the pressing structure 110 pushes against the second inclined surface 122 of the engaging structure 120, causing the engaging structure 120 to be driven to retract inward. The stop surface 128 of the engaging structure 120 leaves the position originally located directly above the first object end 32 of the object 30, thereby releasing the restriction on the first object end 32 of the object 30.

[0033] When the pressing structure 110 is pressed down, it also pushes against the first end 132 of the ejection structure 130, causing the ejection structure 130 to rotate clockwise, and the second end 134 of the ejection structure 130 pushes the object 30 upward.

[0034] Therefore, the fixing / releasing mechanism 100 of this embodiment can fix and release the object 30 well and simply, and can push the object 30 when releasing it, so as to facilitate subsequent retrieval.

[0035] It should be noted that during the process of the first inclined surface 112 of the pressing structure 110 pushing against the second inclined surface 122 of the engaging structure 120, the third inclined surface 114 and the fourth inclined surface 124 can be used to guide the stability of the engaging structure 120 during the inward retraction process.

[0036] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the object being held in place by the locking structure after the pressing structure of the circuit board module in Figure 1 is restored. Figure 8 is a partial cross-sectional schematic diagram of Figure 7.

[0037] Please refer to Figures 7 and 8. When the downward pressure applied to the pressing structure 110 disappears, the elastic potential energy stored in the elastic element 150 when it is compressed is released, pushing the pressing structure 110 from the second position P2 to the first position P1. The third inclined surface 114 of the pressing structure 110 pushes against the fourth inclined surface 124 of the engaging structure 120, thereby causing the engaging structure 120 to move to the left and reset.

[0038] As shown in Figure 6, when the pressing structure 110 is in the second position P2, the highest point of the ejector structure 130 is higher than the stop surface 128. Referring back to Figure 8, when the engaging structure 120 is reset and partially protrudes from the seat 140, the fifth inclined surface 126 of the engaging structure 120 will be positioned below the first object end 32 of the object 30, thus abutting against the first object end 32 of the object 30. Furthermore, the design of the end inclined surface 34 also helps to extend the fifth inclined surface 126 of the engaging structure 120 below the first object end 32 of the object 30.

[0039] Therefore, when the user wants to release the first object end 32 of the object 30, simply press down on the pressing structure 110, and the first object end 32 of the object 30 will be pushed out by the second end 134 of the pushing structure 130, and then continuously held in place by the fifth inclined surface 126 of the engaging structure 120, so that the first object end 32 of the object 30 stays in the raised position, making it convenient for the user to pick up. The user does not need to continuously press down on the pressing structure 110, which is very convenient to use and can be operated with one hand.

[0040] In summary, the pressing structure of the fixing / releasing mechanism of the present invention moves along a first axial direction, the engaging structure moves along a second axial direction in conjunction with the pressing structure, and the ejecting structure rotates along a third axial direction in conjunction with the pressing structure. When the pressing structure is in the first position, the object is fixed by the engaging structure. When the pressing structure moves to the second position, the engaging structure is driven to release the object, and the ejecting structure is driven to push the object. Therefore, the fixing / releasing mechanism of the present invention can fix and release the object well and simply, and can push the object when releasing it, thus facilitating subsequent retrieval. [Simplified Explanation of the Diagram]

[0041] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of a circuit board module according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG2 and FIG3 are partial cross-sectional schematic diagrams of FIG1 from different perspectives. FIG4 is a schematic diagram of the pressing structure of the circuit board module of FIG1 being pressed down. FIG5 and FIG6 are partial cross-sectional schematic diagrams of FIG4 from different perspectives. FIG7 is a schematic diagram of the object being held in place by the locking structure after the pressing structure of the circuit board module of FIG1 is restored. FIG8 is a partial cross-sectional schematic diagram of FIG7.

Claims

1. A fixing / releasing mechanism, adapted to fix or eject an object, comprising: A pressing structure moves along a first axial direction; A locking mechanism, linked to the pressing mechanism, moves along a second axis; And an ejector structure, linked to the pressing structure, rotates along a third axis, wherein when the pressing structure is in a first position, the object is fixed by the locking structure, and when the pressing structure moves to a second position, the locking structure is driven to release the object, and the ejector structure is driven to push the object.

2. The fixing / releasing mechanism as claimed in claim 1 further includes a base, wherein the pressing structure and the engaging structure are movably disposed on the base, the ejection structure includes a first end, a second end opposite to each other and a pivot located between the first end and the second end, the pivot being pivotally connected to the base, the first end being located within the base and abutting against the pressing structure, and the second end extending outside the base.

3. The fixing / releasing mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pressing structure includes a first inclined surface, the engaging structure includes a second inclined surface facing the first inclined surface, and the first inclined surface pushes against the second inclined surface when the pressing structure moves from the first position to the second position.

4. The fixing / releasing mechanism as claimed in claim 3, wherein the pressing structure includes a third inclined surface facing in a direction opposite to that of the first inclined surface, the engaging structure includes a fourth inclined surface facing the third inclined surface, and the third inclined surface pushes against the fourth inclined surface when the pressing structure moves from the second position to the first position.

5. The fixing / releasing mechanism as claimed in claim 1 further includes an elastic element disposed below the pressing structure for returning the pressing structure to the first position.

6. The fixing / releasing mechanism as claimed in claim 5, wherein the engaging structure includes a fifth inclined surface and a stop surface, when the object is installed into the fixing / releasing mechanism, the object pushes against the fifth inclined surface, the engaging structure moves and drives the pressing structure to the second position, the elastic member accumulates an elastic potential energy, and when the object moves to below the fifth inclined surface of the engaging structure, the elastic member releases the elastic potential energy, thereby resetting the pressing structure and the engaging structure, with the stop surface facing the object.

7. The fixing / releasing mechanism as claimed in claim 6, wherein when the pressing structure is in the second position, the highest point of the ejector structure is higher than the stop surface.

8. A circuit board module, comprising: A circuit board body; An object, detachably mounted on the circuit board body; And a fixing / releasing mechanism as described in any one of claims 1 to 6, provided on the circuit board body, wherein when the object is disposed on the circuit board body, the fixing / releasing mechanism is located next to the object to fix or eject the object.

9. The circuit board module as claimed in claim 8, wherein the object includes a first object end, the fixing / releasing mechanism fixing or pushing the first object end, the first object end including an end bevel, and when the object is installed to the fixing / releasing mechanism, the end bevel of the object pushes against the engaging structure.

10. The circuit board module as described in claim 9, further comprising: A mounting base is disposed on the circuit board body and includes a first magnetic attractor, wherein the object includes a second object end relative to the first object end, the second object end includes a second magnetic attractor, the second magnetic attractor being magnetically attracted to the first magnetic attractor.

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