Simon Dasan Yu

US Patent:

57645175, Jun 9, 1998

Filed:

Apr 22, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/636053

Inventors:

Wilton Louis Cox - Charlotte NC
John Jacomino - Charlotte NC
Simon Yu - Harrisburg NC

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 1900

US Classification:

3644681

Abstract:

A continuous process line for producing computer cartridges includes a closing station for squeezing cover portions of the cartridges together, followed by a connection station to permanently secure the cover portions together, followed by a station to mark the cartridges for identification. The closing station includes two low friction surfaces such as rollers and/or fixed slides with low friction surfaces, which taper together to close a partially folded one piece snap together PCMCIA card cover. The connection station includes a Nd:YAG laser welder with inert gas to laser weld lap joints at the seams of the snap-together cartridges. The marking station includes an applicator for applying preprinted labels to the cartridges. An automatic controller senses the positions of the cartridges as they move down the line and initiates the securing and marking of the cartridges depending on the position of the cartridges.

US Patent:

61919500, Feb 20, 2001

Filed:

Dec 15, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/212120

Inventors:

Wilton L. Cox - Charlotte NC
Simon D. Yu - Harrisburg NC

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

H05K 174

US Classification:

361737

Abstract:

A printed circuit card assembly. The assembly comprises a single-piece, stamped bottom cover having a plurality of tabs, each tab having apertures; a printed circuit card having a plurality of slots, each slot adapted to receive one of the tabs; and a single-piece, stamped top cover having opposite sides, a side rail on each side, and a plurality of prongs extending from each side rail, the prongs adapted to snap fit into the apertures in the tabs when the top and bottom cover are joined.

US Patent:

58616020, Jan 19, 1999

Filed:

Jul 24, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/506240

Inventors:

Wilton Louis Cox - Charlotte NC
Charles David Fieselman - Concord NC
Leonard Douglas Hobgood - Durham NC
Paul Gilbert Watson - Durham NC
Simon Yu - Harrisburg NC

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

B23K 2600

US Classification:

21912164

Abstract:

The present invention features an improvement in the construction and manufacturing of small peripheral cartridges which plug into exterior slots of computer systems such as PCMCIA cards. The metal cover of a snap-together PCMCIA card is typically tack welded at its seams An inexpensive and highly accurate welding technique is presented for performing this welding operation. The inventive welding technique may be used without risk of damage to highly sensitive electronic components. The lap joint seam formed using the techniques exhibits the strength and stiffness characteristics that allow the size of welded seams to be minimized thereby also reducing the risk of burn-through or other damage to the cards during manufacturing.

US Patent:

61946834, Feb 27, 2001

Filed:

Jan 18, 2000

Appl. No.:

9/484783

Inventors:

Wilton Louis Cox - Charlotte NC
Charles David Fieselman - Concord NC
Leonard Douglas Hobgood - Durham NC
Paul Gilbert Watson - Durham NC
Simon Yu - Harrisburg NC

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

B23K 2600

US Classification:

21912163

Abstract:

The top and bottom parts of a one-piece cover of a PCMCIA card are snapped together to form lap-joint seams which are welded together with a laser, under argon gas. Only a few small tack welds are required to substantially increases the mechanical strength and moisture resistance and to eliminate the risk of accidentally opening the card. The operation can be done at a high rate with minimal cost. Also, an internal frame may be made much narrower to allow more card area, while still meeting structural requirements for PCMCIA cards. The weld penetrates fully through the first layer of the seam and only partially through a second layer. During welding a fixture holds the seams in reasonably precise position and tightly closed so the seams are much tighter after welding than when the card is only snap closed. The precise positioning of the seams also allows the size of the weld to be minimized which reduces the risk of burn through which may damage electronic components enclosed within the card during welding. The card is plugged into an externally accessible slot in a computer system during operation.

US Patent:

61082090, Aug 22, 2000

Filed:

Sep 25, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/937411

Inventors:

Wilton Louis Cox - Charlotte NC
Charles David Fieselman - Concord NC
Leonard Douglas Hobgood - Durham NC
Paul Gilbert Watson - Durham NC
Simon Yu - Harrisburg NC

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

H05K 114

US Classification:

361737

Abstract:

A cartridge having top and bottom metal covers which enclose a circuit board, the metal of the covers forming a seam which is welded at locations therealong to bond the two covers together. The covers may form a snap-fit, lap, or butting seam where the welds are applied. The cartridge is particularly useful in PCMCIA applications.