Electronic Device and Expansion Card Module

Abstract

To provide an electronic device and an expansion card module that improve the flexibility of installation of an expansion card and facilitate the additional installation of a heat-dissipation member.SOLUTION: An expansion card module includes: a carrier; an expansion card disposed on the carrier; a heat-dissipation member disposed on the expansion card; and a latch assembly that is assembled to the carrier. The carrier includes a first end and a second end. The second end has a pivotal portion. The expansion card has an electrical connection end that is arranged adjacent to the first end of the carrier. The expansion card is disposed between the carrier and the heat-dissipation member. The latch assembly is pivotally connected to the pivotal portion of the carrier.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to expansion cards, and more particularly to electronic devices and expansion card modules. [Background technology]

[0002] The existing method of fixing an expansion card is to insert one end into a connector on the circuit board and fix the other end to the circuit board. However, the existing expansion card installation flexibility is obviously insufficient, making it difficult to install additional heat dissipation components. Therefore, the inventor believed that the above-mentioned defects could be improved, and after extensive research combining the application of scientific principles, finally proposed the present invention, which effectively improves the above-mentioned defects with a rational design. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention provides an electronic device and an expansion card module, which can effectively improve the possible defects of existing expansion cards. [Means for solving the problem]

[0004] An embodiment of the present invention discloses an electronic device including a circuit board, a connector mounted to be electrically coupled to the circuit board, a fixed base fixed to the circuit board and spaced apart from the connector, and an expansion card module removably mounted to the circuit board. The expansion card module includes an expansion card assembly and an engagement assembly. The expansion card assembly includes a mounting base having a first end and a second end, with a pivot portion at the second end, an expansion card mounted on the mounting base and having an electrical connection end insertable into a connector and adjacent to the first end of the mounting base, and a heat dissipation member mounted on the expansion card. The expansion card is disposed between the mounting base and the heat dissipation member. The engagement assembly is pivotally coupled to the pivot portion of the mounting base. When the expansion card module is connected to the connector at the electrical connection end, the expansion card module is mounted on the fixing base at the second end of the mounting base, and the engagement assembly can engage the fixing base and the circuit board.

[0005] An embodiment of the present invention also discloses an expansion card module, which includes an expansion card assembly including a mounting base, an expansion card, and a heat dissipation member, and an engagement assembly. The mounting base has a first end and a second end, and the second end has a pivot portion. The expansion card is mounted on the mounting base. The expansion card has an electrical connection end, and the electrical connection end is adjacent to the first end of the mounting base. The heat dissipation member is mounted on the expansion card, and the expansion card is mounted between the mounting base and the heat dissipation member. The engagement assembly is pivotally coupled to the pivot portion of the mounting base.

[0006] As described above, the electronic device and expansion card module disclosed in the embodiments of the present invention can position the expansion card between the mounting base and the heat dissipation member through the structural combination of multiple components, and the expansion card assembly can be quickly attached to the circuit board in a card-like manner through the engagement assembly, thereby effectively improving the flexibility of installing and removing the expansion card module.

[0007] To better understand the features and technical contents of the present invention, please refer to the following detailed description and drawings of the present invention, which are merely illustrative of the present invention and do not limit the protection scope of the present invention. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1A] 1 is an exploded schematic view of an electronic device according to a first embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 1B] 1B is an exploded schematic view of the expansion card module and the fixed base of FIG. 1A. [Figure 1C] 1B is an exploded schematic view of the expansion card module and the fixed base of FIG. 1A from another viewing angle. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an assembly schematic diagram of the electronic device of FIG. [Figure 3] 3 is a subsequent assembly schematic diagram of the electronic device of FIG. 2. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 3. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is an enlarged schematic view of region V in FIG. [Figure 6] 4 is a subsequent assembly schematic diagram of the electronic device of FIG. 3. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line VII-VII in FIG. 6. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is an enlarged schematic view of region VIII in FIG. 7. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of an electronic device according to a second embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the cross section XX in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The following specific examples will explain the embodiments of the "electronic device and expansion card module" disclosed in the present invention. Those skilled in the art can understand the merits and advantages of the present invention from the disclosure of this specification. The present invention can be implemented or applied in other different embodiments. Each detail in this specification can also be modified and changed equivalently based on various perspectives or applications without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Furthermore, the drawings of the present invention are for simple and schematic illustration only and do not represent actual dimensions. The following embodiments will further explain the technical matters related to the present invention, but the disclosed contents do not limit the present invention.

[0010] In addition, although various components or signals may be described using terms such as "first," "second," and "third" in this specification, these components or signals are not limited by these terms. It should be understood that these terms are primarily used to distinguish one component from another component or one signal from another signal. Furthermore, the term "or" used in this specification may include any one or more combinations of related items depending on actual circumstances.

[0011] [First embodiment] As shown in Figures 1A to 8, this is a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figures 1A to 3, this embodiment discloses an electronic device 100, which includes a circuit board 2, a connector 3 attached to and electrically coupled with the circuit board 2, a fixing base 4 fixed to the circuit board 2, and an expansion card module 1 removably attached to the above components.

[0012] It should be noted first that, in this embodiment, the expansion card module 1 is used in combination with (e.g., detachably attached to) the circuit board 2, the connector 3, and the fixed base 4, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, in other embodiments not shown in the present invention, the expansion card module 1 may be used alone (e.g., sold) or in combination with other components according to design requirements.

[0013] As shown in Figures 1A, 1B, 1C, 4 and 5, the circuit board 2 is flat, top surface 21, the above top surface Located opposite 21 Bottom surface 22, a plurality of through holes 23, and a through hole 24. Here, the plurality of through holes 23 and the through hole 24 are top surface 21 and the above Bottom surface 22, and the plurality of through holes 23 and through holes 24 are arranged at intervals from each other. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the number of the plurality of through holes 23 is four, and three of them are adjacent to the through hole 24 and are arranged so as to surround the outside of the through hole 24, but the present invention is not limited to this.

[0014] Furthermore, the connector 3 and the fixing base 4 are top surface 21, and the connector 3 and the fixing base 4 are spaced apart. top surface 21, and the fixing base 4 is fitted into a plurality of through holes 23 of the circuit board 2. Here, in this embodiment, the soldering method between the connector 3 and the circuit board 2 is surface-mount technology (SMT), but the present invention is not limited to this.

[0015] More specifically, the fixed base 4 includes a main body 41 and a plurality of arms 42 connected to the main body 41, and at least one of the arms 42 has a hook 43 at its bottom end. top surface 21, and the arms 42 pass through the through holes 23, respectively, and the hooks 43 are attached to the circuit board 2. Bottom surface 22, the fixing base 4 is firmly fixed to the circuit board 2.

[0016] In this embodiment, the number of the arms 42 is equal to the number of the through holes 23, the positions of the arms 42 correspond to the positions of the through holes 23, and the three arms 42 adjacent to the through holes 24 each have a hook 43, so that the fixing base 4 can be fixed to the circuit board 2 with the hooks 43. Bottom surface 22, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Furthermore, the fixing base 4 has a groove 44 formed adjacent to the through hole 24. In this embodiment, the groove 44 is recessed in the main body 41 and is located on the side of the circuit board 2. top surface 21, which is used for engaging the card engaging assembly 14.

[0017] As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 , the expansion card module 1 includes an expansion card assembly 10 and a card engaging assembly 14 pivotally coupled to the expansion card assembly 10. The expansion card assembly 10 includes a mounting base 11, an expansion card 12 mounted on the mounting base 11, and a heat dissipation member 13 mounted on the expansion card 12, with the expansion card 12 being disposed between the mounting base 11 and the heat dissipation member 13. The card engaging assembly 14 is attached to the mounting base 11 of the expansion card assembly 10. In this embodiment, the expansion card assembly 10 is formed by combining the expansion card 12 with multiple components (e.g., the mounting base 11 and the heat dissipation member 13). Therefore, the expansion card 12 can be installed in a card-like manner by combining the expansion card assembly 10 and the card engaging assembly 14 without modifying its own structure, which allows for a departure from the conventional fixed installation method.

[0018] More specifically, the mounting base 11 in this embodiment includes a plate-shaped carrier 111 and a plurality of side sheet portions 112 connected to the carrier 111. Here, the carrier 111 has a first end 1111 and a second end 1112, and two long side edge portions 1115 connecting the first end 1111 and the second end 1112, and the plurality of side sheet portions 112 are respectively (perpendicularly) formed on the two long side edge portions 1115 of the carrier 111. Furthermore, the heat dissipation member 13 is fixed (e.g., locked) through the plurality of side sheet portions 112, so that the expansion card 12 is sandwiched and fixed between the carrier 111 and the heat dissipation member 13.

[0019] The expansion card 12 is mounted on the carrier 111, and has an electrical connection end 121 protruding from the first end 1111. The electrical connection end 121 is used to be (removably) inserted into the connector 3 and electrically coupled thereto. The expansion card 12 also has a notch 122 located away from the electrical connection end 121, and the notch 122 is located on the carrier 111 near the second end 1112.

[0020] The card-engaging assembly 14 is pivotally coupled to a pivot portion 1113 at the second end 1112. As shown in FIGS. 1B and 1C , the expansion card module 1 in this embodiment includes a pivot shaft 15 attached to the pivot portion 1113 and an elastic member 16 (e.g., a spring) installed on the pivot shaft 15, so that the card-engaging assembly 14 is connected (or pivotally coupled) to the pivot portion 1113 via the pivot shaft 15 and the elastic member 16. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, in other embodiments not shown in the present invention, the pivot shaft 15 and the elastic member 16 may be omitted or replaced with other components according to design requirements.

[0021] 3, 6 and 7, when the expansion card module 1 is connected (e.g., inserted) into the connector 3 via the electrical connection end 121 of the expansion card 12, the expansion card module 1 can place the second end 1112 of the mounting base 11 on the fixed base 4, and the card engagement assembly 14 can engage with the fixed base 4 and the circuit board 2. Furthermore, the elastic force of the elastic member 16 acts in a direction that causes the card engagement assembly 14 to engage with the fixed base 4, thereby further improving the stability of the connection between the card engagement assembly 14 and the fixed base 4.

[0022] Therefore, in this embodiment, the expansion card module 1 is structured so that the expansion card 12 can be stably attached to the heat dissipation member 13 through the structural combination of multiple components, and the expansion card assembly 10 can also be quickly attached to the circuit board 2 in a card-like manner via the card engagement assembly 14, thereby effectively improving the flexibility of installing and removing the expansion card module 1.

[0023] The specific structure of the card engaging assembly 14 and the combined structure with the fixed base 4 and the circuit board 2 can be adjusted according to different design requirements, so this embodiment illustrates and describes one preferred example, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0024] 5 and 8, the card-engagement assembly 14 in this embodiment is an integrally molded, single-piece structure that includes a hook member 141 and a latch member 142 slidably mounted on the hook member 141. The latch member 142 is slidable relative to the hook member 141 between a first position (e.g., FIGS. 3 to 5) and a second position (e.g., FIGS. 6 to 8). The hook member 141 is pivotally coupled to the pivot portion 1113, and as shown in FIGS. 1B and 1C, the hook member 141 forms a slot 1411, two slot holes 1412 adjacent to the slot 1411, and a hook portion 1413. The slot 1411, the two slot holes 1412, and the hook portion 1413 are arranged along the longitudinal direction of the hook member 141.

[0025] 1B and 1C, the latch member 142 in this embodiment is an integrally molded, single-piece structure and includes a main body portion 1421, a resilient arm 1422 connected to the main body portion 1421, an extension arm 1423 connected to the main body portion 1421 and surrounding the resilient arm 1422, and a latch block 1424 connected to the extension arm 1423. The latch member 142 is attached to the slot 1411 via the main body portion 1421 and is slidable between a first position (e.g., FIGS. 3 to 5) and a second position (e.g., FIGS. 6 to 8) of the hook member 141.

[0026] As described above, the card engagement assembly 14 engages with the fixed base 4 (e.g., the recessed groove 44) via the hook member 141 (e.g., the hook portion 1413), and the card engagement assembly 14 moves the latch member 142 to the second position, thereby latching (e.g., inserting) into the through-hole 24 of the circuit board 2 and engaging with the circuit board 2. More specifically, when the latch member 142 moves from the first position to the second position, the elastic arm 1422 moves from one side (e.g., FIG. 5) to the other side (e.g., FIG. 8) of the slot hole 1412, and the latch block 1424 is inserted into the through-hole 24.

[0027] Therefore, in this embodiment, the expansion card module 1 is engaged with the fixed base 4 and the circuit board 2 from different directions using the hook member 141 and the latch member 142, respectively, so that the expansion card module 1 is stably installed on the circuit board 2 and can effectively prevent the engagement assembly 14 from being accidentally touched and released.

[0028] [Second embodiment] Please refer to Figures 9 and 10. This is the second embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is similar to the first embodiment described above, so there is no need to re-explain the common parts of both embodiments in detail. This embodiment has the following differences compared to the first embodiment described above.

[0029] In this embodiment, the mounting base 11 has one limit portion 1114 (for example, a hollow protrusion formed by pressing from the bottom side of the carrier 111) installed in the notch 122. That is, the limit portion 1114 is formed on the carrier 111 and adjacent to the second end portion 1112, and the limit portion 1114 is a protrusion formed by pressing from the carrier 111, but the present invention is not limited to this. In this way, by using the notch 122 and the limit portion 1114 together, the expansion card is more stably held between the mounting base 11 and the heat dissipation member 13.

[0030] In general, the electronic device and the expansion card module disclosed in the embodiments of the present invention are configured such that the expansion card is installed between the mounting base and the heat dissipation member through a structural combination of multiple components, and the expansion card assembly is connected to the circuit board via the engagement assembly. Engage The expansion card module can be quickly installed in a manner that effectively increases the flexibility of removing and assembling the expansion card module.

[0031] Furthermore, the expansion card module disclosed in the embodiment of the present invention can be attached to the fixing base and the circuit board from different directions using the hook member and the latch member. Engage In this way, the expansion card module can be stably mounted on the circuit board, and the engagement assembly can be effectively prevented from being accidentally touched and released.

[0032] The above disclosure is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and does not limit the scope of the claims of the present invention. Therefore, all equivalent technical modifications made based on the contents of the specification and accompanying drawings of the present invention shall be included in the scope of the claims of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0033] 100 Electronic equipment 1 Expansion Card Module 10 Expansion Card Assembly 11 Mounting table 111 Career 1111 first end 1112 second end 1113 Pivot part 1114 Limit 1115 Long side edge 112 Side seat section 12 Expansion Cards 121 Electrical connection end 122 notch 13 Heat dissipation material 14 Engagement assembly 141 Hook member 1411 Slots 1412 Slot Hole 1413 Hook part 142 Latch member 1421 Main Body Section 1422 Elastic Arm 1423 Extension Arm 1424 Latch Block 15 Pivot axis 16 Elastic member 2 Circuit Boards twenty one top surface twenty two Bottom surface 23 through holes 24 through holes 3 Connector 4 Fixed base 41 Main body 42 Arm 43 Hook 44 Groove 100 Electronic equipment

Claims

1. A circuit board; a connector mounted on and electrically connected to the circuit board; a fixing base fixed to the circuit board and spaced apart from the connector; an expansion card module removably mounted on the circuit board; An electronic device comprising: the expansion card module includes an expansion card assembly and an engagement assembly; The expansion card assembly includes: a mounting base having a first end and a second end with a pivot portion; an expansion card mounted on the mounting base such that an electrical connection end portion insertable into the connector is adjacent to the first end portion of the mounting base; a heat dissipation member disposed on the expansion card; Including, the expansion card is placed between the heat dissipation member and the mounting base, the engagement assembly is attached to the pivot portion of the mounting table so as to be rotatable about a pivot axis; When the expansion card module is connected to the connector using the electrical connection end, the expansion card module is placed on the fixed base by the second end of the mounting base, and the engagement assembly is engageable with the fixed base and the circuit board. An electronic device comprising:

2. 2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the fixed base includes a main body and a plurality of arms connected to the main body, at least one of the arms having a hook at a bottom end, the circuit board having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a plurality of through holes penetrating the upper surface and the lower surface, positions of the arms respectively corresponding to positions of the through holes, the arms respectively penetrating the plurality of through holes, and the hooks hook onto the lower surface of the circuit board.

3. The engagement assembly includes: A hook member; a latch member slidably mounted on the hook member and slidable relative to the hook member between a first position and a second position; Equipped with 2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the engagement assembly engages with the fixed base using the hook member, and the engagement assembly is inserted into one through-hole of the circuit board and engages with the circuit board when the latch member moves to the second position.

4. 4. The electronic device of claim 3, wherein the hook member has a slot and two slot holes adjacent to the slot, the latch member has a resilient arm, the latch member is installed in the slot and is slidable along the hook member between the first position and the second position, and when the latch member moves from the first position to the second position, the resilient arm moves to engage with one of the slot holes.

5. 4. The electronic device according to claim 3, wherein the fixed base has a recessed groove in which the engaging assembly can be engaged, and the hook member engages with the recessed groove.

6. 2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the expansion card module further includes a pivot shaft and an elastic member installed on the pivot shaft, the engagement assembly is connected to the pivot portion via the pivot shaft and the elastic member, and the elastic force of the elastic member acts to engage the engagement assembly with the fixed base.

7. 2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the expansion card has a notch at a position remote from the electrical connection end, and the mounting base forms a limit portion disposed within the notch.

8. the platform includes a carrier and a plurality of side sheet portions; the carrier includes the first end, the second end, and two long side edges connecting the first end and the second end, the expansion card is installed in the carrier, The plurality of side sheet portions are respectively formed on two long side edges of the carrier; 2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the mounting base fixes the heat dissipation member using a plurality of the side sheet portions, and the expansion card is sandwiched and fixed between the carrier and the heat dissipation member.

9. An expansion card module comprising an expansion card assembly including a mounting base, an expansion card, and a heat dissipation member, and an engagement assembly, the mounting base has a first end and a second end with a pivot portion; the expansion card is placed on the mounting base, the expansion card has an electrical connection end, the electrical connection end is adjacent to the first end of the mounting base; the heat dissipation member is installed on the expansion card, and the expansion card is installed between the mounting base and the heat dissipation member; the engagement assembly is attached to the pivot portion of the mounting table so as to be rotatable about a pivot axis; An expansion card module comprising:

10. the platform includes a carrier and a plurality of side sheet portions; the carrier includes the first end, the second end, and two long side edges connecting the first end and the second end, the expansion card is installed in the carrier, The plurality of side sheet portions are respectively formed on two long side edges of the carrier; 10. The expansion card module according to claim 9, wherein the mounting base fixes the heat dissipation member using a plurality of the side sheet portions, so that the expansion card is sandwiched and fixed between the carrier and the heat dissipation member.

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