Electronic device and expansion module

Abstract

An electronic device includes a casing and at least one expansion module. The at least one expansion module includes a cage and two expansion cards. The cage is detachably mounted in the casing. Each of the two expansion cards includes a plate and an electrical connector. The two plates are vertically disposed in the cage. The two electrical connectors are respectively disposed on the two plates, and are located between the two plates. The two electrical connectors are disposed at different heights, such that the two electrical connectors are misaligned.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This invention relates to an electronic device and expansion module, particularly an electronic device and expansion module that accommodates two expansion cards. [Previous Technology]

[0002] In servers, expansion cards serve various purposes, such as image processing, network interface, peripheral device interface, and data storage. Users can install expansion cards for the purposes they need in the server to expand its functionality.

[0003] Generally speaking, in order to make the telecommunication connection between expansion cards and servers faster, manufacturers have introduced several new communication protocols in recent years. Taking the Compute Express Link (CXL) communication protocol as an example, it can provide a high-speed and high-capacity telecommunication connection between the central processing unit (CPU) and expansion cards. However, the expansion card holders currently used in CXL can only support a single expansion card, which is insufficient to meet consumers' increasing demand for server functionality expansion. Therefore, how to further enhance the expansion capabilities of servers is one of the problems that R&D personnel should solve. [Summary of the Invention]

[0004] The present invention provides an electronic device and an expansion module, thereby further increasing the expansion functions of the electronic device.

[0005] An embodiment of the present invention discloses an electronic device comprising a housing and at least one expansion module. The at least one expansion module comprises an expansion card holder and two expansion cards. The expansion card holder is detachably mounted within the housing. Each expansion card comprises a board and an electrical connector. Two boards are erected within the expansion card holder. Two electrical connectors are respectively disposed on the two boards and located between the two boards. The two electrical connectors are positioned at different heights, causing them to be misaligned.

[0006] Another embodiment of the present invention discloses an expansion module for detachably mounting within a housing, and includes an expansion card holder and two expansion cards. The expansion card holder is detachably mounted within the housing. Each expansion card includes a board and an electrical connector. The two boards are erected within the expansion card holder. The two electrical connectors are respectively disposed on the two boards and located between the two boards. The two electrical connectors are positioned at different heights, causing them to be misaligned.

[0007] According to the electronic device and expansion module of the above embodiment, since the two boards are erected in the expansion card bracket and the two electrical connectors are configured to be staggered so as not to interfere with each other during installation, an additional expansion card can be added within the existing housing space. In this way, the expansion function of the electronic device can be further increased.

[0008] The above description of the content of the present invention and the following description of the embodiments are used to demonstrate and explain the principles of the present invention, and to provide a further explanation of the scope of the patent application of the present invention.

Implementation Method

[0009] Please refer to Figures 1 and 2. Figure 1 is a perspective view of the electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is an exploded view of the electronic device of Figure 1.

[0010] The electronic device 10 in this embodiment is, for example, a server with a Compute Express Link (CXL) communication protocol. The electronic device 10 includes a housing 20 and a plurality of expansion modules 30. Each expansion module 30 includes an expansion card holder 31 and two expansion cards 32. The expansion card holder 31 is detachably mounted in the housing 20. In detail, the housing 20 includes a base plate 21, and the expansion card holder 31 is detachably mounted on the base plate 21.

[0011] Please refer to Figures 3 to 5. Figure 3 is a side view of the electronic device in Figure 1. Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the expansion module of the electronic device in Figure 1. Figure 5 is a rear view of the electronic device in Figure 1.

[0012] Each expansion card 32 includes a board 321 and an electrical connector 322. The two boards 321 are erected within the expansion card holder 31. In order to accommodate the two erect boards 321, for example, within a housing 20 with a height of 2U (3.5 inches), the board 321 of this embodiment has a reduced width compared to the board of a typical expansion card. In this way, the distance D between the side of each board 321 away from the base plate 21 and the base plate 21 can be, for example, less than or equal to 2U.

[0013] Two electrical connectors 322 are respectively disposed on two boards 321 and located between the two boards 321. Since the board 321 in this embodiment has a reduced width, the configuration of electronic components on the board 321 is adjusted accordingly. Specifically, the installation heights H1 and H2 of the two electrical connectors 322 are different, causing the two electrical connectors 322 to be misaligned vertically. In this way, interference between the two electrical connectors 322 can be avoided when installing the two expansion cards 32.

[0014] In this embodiment, the electronic device 10 may further include a motherboard 40. The motherboard 40 is disposed within the housing 20. Each expansion card 32 is electrically connected to the motherboard 40, for example, via a cable (not shown). Since the board body 321 of this embodiment has a reduced width, when two expansion cards 32 are installed, the board body 321 can be separated from the motherboard 40 and the electronic components disposed on the motherboard 40 without interference.

[0015] In this embodiment, the expansion card holder 31 may further include a plurality of first guide posts 311, and the housing 20 may further include a plurality of first guide holes 22. These first guide posts 311 are, for example, mushroom-shaped structures. Each first guide hole 22 includes a first wide section 221 and a first narrow section 222. The first wide section 221 is connected to the first narrow section 222. By having the first guide posts 311 located at the first wide section 221 or the first narrow section 222, the expansion card holder 31 can be separated from the housing 20 or positioned on the housing 20.

[0016] In this embodiment, the expansion card holder 31 may further include a plurality of second guide posts 312, and the plate body 321 may further include a plurality of second guide holes 3211. These second guide posts 312 are, for example, mushroom-shaped structures. Each second guide hole 3211 includes a second wide section 32111 and a second narrow section 32112. The second wide section 32111 and the second narrow section 32112 are connected. By having the second guide posts 312 located in the second wide section 32111 or the second narrow section 32112, the plate body 321 can be separated from the expansion card holder 31 or positioned on the expansion card holder 31.

[0017] In this embodiment, each expansion module 30 may further include a fastening structure 50. The fastening structure 50 includes a base 51 and a movable fastener 52. The base 51 is disposed on the expansion card bracket 31. The movable fastener 52 is movably disposed on the base 51 and can be detachably fastened to the housing 20. The movable fastener 52 may be, for example, a floating screw.

[0018] In this embodiment, because the width of the two boards 321 is reduced and the two electrical connectors 322 are configured to be staggered so as not to interfere with each other during installation, the housing 20 can accommodate two expansion cards 32 erected in the expansion card bracket 31. Therefore, an additional expansion card 32 can be added within the existing space of the housing 20. In this way, the expansion function of the electronic device 10 can be further increased.

[0019] Furthermore, since the two electrical connectors 322 are misaligned, it is convenient for the operator to plug and unplug cables, and there is no need to increase the width of the expansion card bracket 31 to make the two electrical connectors 322 phases avoid each other.

[0020] Furthermore, by providing a fastening structure 50 on the expansion card bracket 31, the operator can fix the expansion module 30 to the housing 20 simply by operating the movable fastener 52, without having to use other hand tools to perform the locking operation in the small space inside the housing 20.

[0021] In this embodiment, the number of expansion modules 30 is multiple, but not limited to this. In other embodiments, the number of expansion modules may be only a single one.

[0022] In this embodiment, there are multiple first guide posts 311 and multiple first guide holes 22, but this is not a limitation. In other embodiments, there may be only one first guide post and one first guide hole.

[0023] In this embodiment, the expansion card holder 31 includes a first guide post 311, and the housing 20 includes a first guide hole 22, but this is not a limitation. In other embodiments, the first guide post and the first guide hole may be interchanged. That is, the expansion card holder may include a first guide hole, and the housing may include a first guide post.

[0024] In this embodiment, there are multiple second guide posts 312 and multiple second guide holes 3211, but this is not a limitation. In other embodiments, there may be only one second guide post and one second guide hole.

[0025] In this embodiment, the expansion card bracket 31 includes a second guide post 312, and the plate 321 includes a second guide hole 3211, but this is not a limitation. In other embodiments, the second guide post and the second guide hole may be interchanged. That is, the expansion card bracket may also include a first guide hole, and the plate may include a first guide post.

[0026] In this embodiment, the server of the present invention can be used for artificial intelligence (AI) computing, edge computing, and can also be used as a 5G server, cloud server or vehicle networking server.

[0027] According to the electronic device and expansion module of the above embodiment, since the width of the two boards is reduced and the two electrical connectors are configured to be staggered so as not to interfere with each other during installation, the housing can accommodate two expansion cards erected in the expansion card bracket. Therefore, an additional expansion card can be added within the existing housing space. In this way, the expansion function of the electronic device can be further increased.

[0028] In addition, since the two electrical connectors are misaligned, it is convenient for the operator to plug and unplug cables, and there is no need to increase the width of the expansion card bracket to make the two electrical connectors avoid each other.

[0029] Furthermore, by setting a fastening structure on the expansion card bracket, the operator can fix the expansion module to the housing simply by operating the movable fastener, without having to use other hand tools to perform the locking operation in the small space inside the housing.

[0030] Although the present invention has been disclosed above with reference to the foregoing embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Any person skilled in the art may make some modifications and refinements without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of patent protection of the present invention shall be determined by the scope of the patent application attached to this specification. [Simplified Explanation of the Diagram]

[0031] FIG1 is a perspective view of the electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG2 is an exploded view of the electronic device of FIG1. ​​FIG3 is a side view of the electronic device of FIG1. ​​FIG4 is a cross-sectional view of the expansion module of the electronic device of FIG1. ​​FIG5 is a rear view of the electronic device of FIG1.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising: a housing; and at least one expansion module comprising: an expansion card holder detachably mounted within the housing; and two expansion cards, each of the two expansion cards comprising a board and an electrical connector, the two boards being erected within the expansion card holder, the two electrical connectors being respectively disposed on the two boards and located between the two boards, and the two electrical connectors being disposed at different heights, thereby causing the two electrical connectors to be misaligned.

2. The electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing includes a base plate, the expansion card holder is detachably mounted on the base plate, and the distance between each of the two plates and the base plate on the side of the base plate away from the base plate is less than or equal to the housing having a height of 2U.

3. The electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the expansion card holder includes at least one first guide post, the housing includes at least one first guide hole, the at least one first guide hole includes a first wide section and a first narrow section, the first wide section and the first narrow section being connected, and the expansion card holder being separable from the housing or positioned on the housing by means of the at least one first guide post located on the first wide section or the first narrow section.

4. The electronic device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the expansion card holder includes at least one second guide post, and the board includes at least one second guide hole, the at least one second guide hole including a second wide section and a second narrow section, the second wide section being connected to the second narrow section, the at least one second guide post being located in the second wide section or the second narrow section, thereby enabling the board to be separated from the expansion card holder or positioning the board in the expansion card holder.

5. The electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one expansion module further includes a fastening structure comprising a base and a movable fastener, the base being disposed on the expansion card bracket, the movable fastener being movably disposed on the base and detachably fastened to the housing.

6. An expansion module for detachably mounted in a housing, the expansion module comprising: an expansion card bracket for detachably mounted in the housing; and two expansion cards, each of the two expansion cards comprising a board and an electrical connector, the two boards being erected in the expansion card bracket, the two electrical connectors being respectively disposed on the two boards and located between the two boards, and the two electrical connectors being disposed at different heights, thereby causing the two electrical connectors to be misaligned.

7. The expansion module as described in claim 6, wherein the distance between the side of each of the two plates that is away from the bottom plate of the housing and the bottom plate of the housing is less than or equal to the height of the housing of 2U.

8. The expansion module as claimed in claim 6, wherein the expansion card holder includes at least one first guide post, the at least one first guide post being configured to allow the expansion card holder to be separable from the housing or to position the expansion card holder on the housing via a first wide section or a first narrow section located in at least one first guide hole in the housing.

9. The expansion module as claimed in claim 8, wherein the expansion card holder includes at least one second guide post, and the plate includes at least one second guide hole, the at least one second guide hole including a second wide section and a second narrow section connected to the second wide section, the at least one second guide post passing through the second wide section or the second narrow section, thereby enabling the plate to be separated from the expansion card holder or positioning the plate to the expansion card holder.

10. The expansion module as claimed in claim 6 further includes a fastening structure comprising a base and a movable fastener, the base being disposed on the expansion card bracket, the movable fastener being movably disposed on the base and used to detachably fasten to the housing.

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