Method For Docking An Electronic Circuit Board

Abstract

A method of docking an electronic circuit board. The method includes securing the electronic circuit board to a mounting plate that is mechanically linked to a rigid guide plate, wherein the electronic circuit board has a first connector. The rigid guide plate is inserted in a linear insertion direction between guides that are positioned adjacent a second connector configured to receive the first connector. The rigid guide plate insertion stops in a position where the first connector of the electronic circuit board is aligned with the second connector. Actuating a positioning handle that is accessible from a trailing edge of the guide plate causes rotation of a rotatable plate relative to the guide plate. Accordingly, rotation of the rotatable plate causes linear movement of the mounting plate in a second linear direction that is substantially perpendicular to the insertion direction, wherein the linear movement of the mounting plate causes the first connector of the electronic circuit board to be received into the second connector.

1 . A method of docking an electronic circuit board, comprising:
 securing the electronic circuit board to a mounting plate that is mechanically linked to a rigid guide plate, wherein the electronic circuit board has a first connector;   inserting the rigid guide plate in a linear insertion direction between guides that are positioned adjacent a second connector configured to receive the first connector, wherein the rigid guide plate insertion stops in a position where the first connector of the electronic circuit board is aligned with the second connector; and   actuating a positioning handle that is accessible from a trailing edge of the guide plate to cause rotation of a rotatable plate relative to the guide plate, wherein rotation of the rotatable plate causes linear movement of the mounting plate in a second linear direction that is substantially perpendicular to the insertion direction, wherein the linear movement of the mounting plate causes the first connector of the electronic circuit board to be received into the second connector.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of actuating the positioning handle comprises applying a force to the positioning handle generally perpendicular to the direction of insertion of the guide plate. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the rotary plate includes an arcuately slotted plate to displace pins attached to the mounting plate, and wherein the guide plate includes slots to constrain the motion of the guide plate or mounting plate. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the linear insertion direction is substantially horizontal and the second linear direction is substantially vertical. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting plate is positioned generally parallel to the guide plate. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the rotatable plate is pivotally coupled to the guide plate. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the guides include upper and lower guide channels secured in a position to transversely align the first and second connectors. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 positioning a stop member to limit the insertion of the guide plate and axially align the first and second connectors.   
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting plate secures the electronic circuit board in a generally parallel spaced apart relationship. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 actuating the positioning handle to cause counter-rotation of the rotatable plate relative to the guide plate, wherein counter-rotation of the rotatable plate causes movement of the mounting plate in a linear direction that is substantially opposite of the second linear direction so that the edge connector of the electronic circuit board is removed from the first connector; and   removing the rigid guide plate in a linear removal direction opposite of the linear insertion direction.   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the rotatable plate includes cam slots have an upper edge arranged to downwardly bias the mounting plate during rotation of the rotatable plate in a first rotational direction and a lower edge arranged to upwardly bias the mounting plate during counter-rotation of the rotatable plate in a second rotational direction. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 stabilizing the mounting plate relative to the guide plate by disposed one or more sliders between the mounting plate and guide plate.