Plug-in card module.

摘要

A novel plug-in card module (10) for use in a rack module having means for supporting a plurality of such modules in an abutting side-by-side relation. The plug-in module (10) comprises a printed circuit board (12) having at least two pairs of card receiving and guiding rails (24) transversely disposed thereon. Each of the guide rail pairs comprise first and second oppositely-disposed elongate rails removably secured to the printed circuit board (12). The plug-in module preferably includes at least first and second electrical connectors (26) longitudinally disposed on the printed circuit board in back-to-back or side-by-side relation, each of the electrical connectors disposed adjacent an associated pair of elongate guide rails. To provide increased modularity and ease of circuit component replacement, the plug-in module includes a plurality of individually-removable electrical circuit boards (30). Each electrical circuit board is slidably supported in a pair of elongate guide rails and includes a leading edge (32) received in the associated electrical connector, and a rear edge (34) having a locking mechanism (36) for locking the electrical circuit board in the pair of elongate guide rails. The module further includes a faceplace (38) having an ejector mechanism (40) for facilitating removal of the module from the rack module.