Circuit board latch and removal signal generator

摘要

A combination mechanical latch and electrical switch. The latch comprises a shaft having a knob on one end for manual actuation and a pawl for providing a latching/unlatching action. The latch shaft passes through a rotary electrical switch with a hole through its axis of rotation. The shaft is coupled to the rotating contactor of the rotary switch so that the contactor acts as a bearing for the rotation of the shaft. The latch is mechanically engaged when the switch is in one position and is disengaged when the switch is in the other position. Mechanical latching and unlatching are thus achieved approximately simultaneously with electrical on and off switching. The mechanical latch portion of the latch/switch combination can be used to prevent removal of a component of an electronic computing system until the switch signals the computer's operating system that the removal is about to occur.