Assembly for marking at least one connection of a computer system, connection module and labelling element

Abstract

The invention relates to an assembly for marking at least one connection of a computer system. The assembly comprises a housing with an outer wall, in which a recess is formed. Furthermore, at least one connection is provided, which is accessible from outside the housing via the recess of the housing. The assembly is characterized in that a labelling element can be secured within the housing such that at least one section of the labelling element which can be provided with a marking and which is assigned to the at least one connection projects outwards from the housing through the recess. Furthermore, the invention relates to a connection module and to a labelling element.

Claims

1. An assembly for marking at least one connection of a computer system, comprising a housing with an outer wall, in which a recess is formed; at least one connection, which is accessible from outside the housing via the recess of the housing; and a labelling element is secured within the housing in such a way that at least one section of the labelling element, which can be provided with a marking, and which is assigned to the at least one connection, protrudes outwards from the housing through the recess.

2. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the labelling element is designed as a flexible foil, in particular as a plastic foil.

3. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the labelling element latches for being secured.

4. The assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a connection module, which comprises the at least one connection and is secured within the housing, wherein the labelling element can be secured on the connection module.

5. The assembly according to claim 4, wherein the connection module comprises a mounting gap, into which the labelling element can be inserted for being secured.

6. The assembly according to claim 5, wherein the connection module comprises a metal plug cover having an opening aligned with the recess, in which the at least one connection is encased, wherein the mounting gap is formed between a side of the plug cover bounding the opening and the at least one connection.

7. The assembly according to claim 4, wherein the labelling element comprises one or multiple latching elements for latching with the connection module, which are formed from the labelling element, in particular punched and/or embossed.

8. The assembly according to claim 6, wherein at least two connections are assigned a section of the labelling element protruding outward through the recess and wherein a region of the mounting gap between the two sections remains free from the labelling element so that in this region an electrically conductive connection between one or multiple connections and the plug cover can be established for an EMC shield.

9. A connection module for an assembly having a housing according to claim 1, comprising a labelling element as well as at least one connection assigned to the labelling element, wherein the connection module can be secured within the housing.

10. A labelling element for a connection module according to claim 9, wherein the labelling element can be secured on the connection module.

Description

[0018] Further embodiments and advantages are described with reference to the following, detailed description of an exemplary embodiment using the attached figures.

[0019] The figures show in:

[0020] FIG. 1 a view from the back of a computer system with a connection module,

[0021] FIG. 2 a perspective view of the connection module,

[0022] FIG. 3 a perspective view of the connection module with a labelling element, and

[0023] FIG. 4 a perspective view from the back of the computer system with the connection module and the labelling element.

[0024] FIG. 1 shows a view from the back of a computer system 1. The computer system 1 is a so-called mini PC. As an alternative, the computer is a desktop or tower computer. The computer system 1 comprises a housing 2. A recess 4 is formed in an outer wall 3 of the housing 2, via which a connection module 5 having four connections 6 is accessible. In the exemplary embodiment, the outer wall 3 is a rear wall of the housing 2. The connection module 5 is shown in greater detail in the perspective view of FIG. 2.

[0025] The connections 6 are plug connector sockets of the RJ-45 network connector type. As an alternative, the connections are one or multiple other types of connections. Instead of the RJ-45 connections, USB connections or further connections may be provided as well. The connections 6 are encased in a metal plug cover 10. To that end, the plug cover 10 comprises an opening 11, which is aligned with the recess 4 of the housing 2. The connections 6 are coupled to a circuit board 14 of the connection module 5 in terms of signaling as well as in a mechanical fashion. The connection module 5 is mechanically secured within the housing 2. For EMC reasons, the plug cover 10 is in contact with the outer wall 3 in an electrically conductive manner. A mounting gap 9 of 0.4 mm is formed between the connections 6 and a side 12 on the side 12 bounding the opening 11. Of course, the gap may be formed larger or smaller as well.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 3, a labelling element 7, which is formed as a flexible plastic foil, is inserted in the mounting gap 9 and latched with the connection module 5. The labelling element 7 comprises four sections 8, which protrude outward from the connection module 5. Here, one section 8 is physically directly assigned to each connection 6. The sections 8 are provided with a marking X1 to X4. The sections 8 can also be referred to as protruding lugs of the labelling element 7.

[0027] Recesses 13 are formed in the labelling element 7 between the sections 8 in the region of the mounting gap 9. In these regions of the mounting gap 9, the connections 6 are electrically conductively contacted to the plug cover 10 for a sufficient EMC shielding, for example by means of small springs. These springs are bent away when inserting the labelling element 7.

[0028] For latching with the connection module 5, the labelling element 7 comprises multiple latching and/or stop elements 15 punched out of the labelling elements 7. These are formed as small lugs and latch in front of or behind the side 12 bounding the gap. Thus, the labelling element 7 is reliably secured in the mounting gap between the plug cover 10 and the connections 6.

[0029] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the computer system with the connection module 5 and the inserted labelling element 7. Here, it can be discerned that the sections 8 protrude outward out of the recess 4.

[0030] The assembly described enables a modular and flexible marking of the connections 6. The labelling element 7 may be exchanged modularly when exchanging the connection module 5 by a module with merely three or less connections, for example. The housing 2 does not have to be labelled per se. The labelling element 7 may readily be exchanged, if required. To that end, it merely has to be pulled out of the mounting gap 9, thus releasing the latch. Furthermore, the connections 6 can be labelled in a particularly space-saving manner.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0031] 1 computer system

[0032] 2 housing

[0033] 3 outer wall

[0034] 4 recess

[0035] 5 connection module

[0036] 6 connection

[0037] 7 labelling element

[0038] 8 section

[0039] 9 mounting gap

[0040] 10 plug cover

[0041] 11 opening

[0042] 12 side

[0043] 13 recess

[0044] 14 circuit board

[0045] 15 latching element

[0046] X1 to X4 markings