LRM hot plug connector and hot plug method

Abstract

The invention provides an LRM hot plug connector and a hot plug connection method wherein the LRM hot plug connector comprises: a hot plug chip, the output end of which is connected to the power supply end of a target device; the long needle is connected to the power ground of the target equipment; the medium long pin is connected to the input end of the hot plug chip; and the short pin is connected to the enabling end of the hot plug chip. The method has the beneficial effects that 1) when the LRM equipment is pulled out, before the power interface of the LRM connector is pulled out, the short pin is pulled out firstly, the hot plug enable signal is invalid, and the LRM equipment is powered off in advance; when the LRM equipment is inserted, the short pin is inserted finally, the hot plug circuit is enabled, and the LRM equipment is powered on, so that the occurrence of electric sparks or the burnout of the LRM equipment in the plugging process can be effectively avoided; and 2) the long and short pin design of the LRM connector is improved, the ground signal is finally separated from the back plate when being pulled out, and is inserted into the back plate when being inserted, so that good backflow is realized, and electrostatic discharge during plugging is facilitated.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of electrical connectors, and in particular to an LRM hot plug connector and a hot plug method. Background Art

[0002] At present, big data and cloud computing applications are developing rapidly, and the demand for data processing capabilities is increasing. The workload carried by server hardware is also increasing. Repairing hardware while the system is working will have adverse effects on the hardware and the system. However, hot-swap technology is an effective solution. It can replace the previously faulty blades by quickly hot-swap blades, so as not to affect the normal operation of the system. Hot-swap technology refers to a technology in the computer field that can perform hardware maintenance on the computer while it is working without powering off or interrupting service through hardware design protection circuits. This technology is widely used in the server field. With the development of reinforced connectors, due to the advantages of LRM (Line Replaceable Module) connectors with good reinforcement performance, simple maintenance and high reliability, the current reinforced multi-unit computing servers are gradually turning from VPX, CPCI, and ATCA to LRM connectors. Therefore, it is urgent to realize the design of computing unit interface for quick plug-in and pull-out of LRM blades.

[0003] like Figure 1 As shown, the existing LRM connector only uses a hot-swap chip with one power supply for hot-swap design, and directly pulls up the hot-swap enable to the power input terminal of the hot-swap circuit. It does not take into account the imbalance of current distribution to each LRM connector during the rapid hot-swap process and the order of powering on and off during the hot-swap process. As a result, frequent hot-swap may cause electric sparks or even fire. Summary of the invention

[0004] In order to improve the safety of hot plugging of the LRM connector, in one aspect of the present invention, an LRM hot plug connector is proposed, comprising: a plug arranged on the target device side, the plug comprising: a hot plug chip, whose output end is connected to the power supply end of the target device; a long pin, connected to the power ground of the target device; a medium-long pin, connected to the input end of the hot plug chip; and a short pin, connected to the enable end of the hot plug chip.

[0005] In one or more embodiments, the length difference between the short needle and the medium-long needle is 1-2 mm, and the length difference between the medium-long needle and the long needle is 2-3 mm.

[0006] In one or more embodiments, the LRM hot-swap connector of the present invention also includes: a first pull-up resistor, coupled between the input end and the enable end of the hot-swap chip; a PMOS tube, whose source and drain ends are respectively coupled between the enable end of the hot-swap chip and the power ground of the target device, and whose gate end is connected to the short pin; a second pull-up resistor, coupled between the input end of the hot-swap chip and the gate end of the PMOS tube.

[0007] In one or more embodiments, the LRM hot-plug connector of the present invention further includes: a socket adapted to the plug, wherein the socket is arranged on the backplane side.

[0008] In a second aspect of the present invention, an LRM hot-plug connection is proposed based on the LRM hot-plug connector in the aforementioned embodiment, the method comprising: during the process of inserting the plug into the socket, the long pin enters the socket before the medium pin and the short pin and connects the backplane with the power ground of the target device to ensure the power circuit; during the process of pulling the plug out of the socket, the long pin exits the socket after the medium pin and the short pin and disconnects the backplane from the power ground of the target device to ensure the power circuit.

[0009] In one or more embodiments, the method of the present invention also includes: during the process of inserting the plug into the socket, when the middle and long pins are connected to the backplane and the short pins are not connected to the backplane, the input end of the hot-swap chip and the gate end of the PMOS tube obtain a high level, the PMOS tube is cut off, and the enable end obtains a high level signal, so that the hot-swap chip is in a disabled state.

[0010] In one or more embodiments, the method of the present invention also includes: when the short pin is connected to the backplane, the short pin is connected to the ground terminal of the backplane, and the gate terminal of the MOS is turned on due to obtaining a low level, so that the enable terminal of the hot-swap chip jumps from a high level to a low level, thereby enabling the hot-swap chip and obtaining power from the backplane and outputting it to the target device.

[0011] In one or more embodiments, the method of the present invention also includes: in the process of pulling the plug out of the socket, the short pin is first disconnected from the ground terminal of the backplane, and the gate terminal of the PMOS tube is cut off due to obtaining a high level, so that the enable terminal of the hot-swap chip jumps from a low level to a high level, thereby disabling the hot-swap chip and stopping the power supply output to the target device.

[0012] In one or more embodiments, the method of the present invention further includes: when the short pin is disconnected from the ground terminal of the backplane, the control module on the backplane receives a corresponding control signal to power off the LRM hot-swap connector.

[0013] In one or more embodiments, the method of the present invention further includes: the target device includes: a hard disk or a graphics card.

[0014] The beneficial effects of the present invention include: 1) When unplugging the LRM device, before unplugging the power interface of the LRM connector, the short pin is unplugged first, the hot-swap enable signal is invalid, and the LRM device is powered off in advance; when plugging the LRM device, the short pin is plugged in last, the hot-swap circuit is enabled, and the LRM device is powered on, which can effectively avoid electric sparks or burnout of the LRM device during the plugging and unplugging process; 2) Improve the design of the long and short pins of the LRM connector. The ground signal is the last to leave the backplane when unplugging, and is inserted into the backplane first when plugging in. This has good backflow and is conducive to the discharge of static electricity during plugging and unplugging. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other embodiments can be obtained based on these drawings without paying creative work.

[0016] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of a traditional LRM hot-swap connector; Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the structure of an LRM hot-swap connector according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 A hot-plugging workflow diagram of an LRM hot-plug connector according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 A hot-plugging workflow diagram of an LRM hot-plug connector according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 The figure is a working flow chart of the LRM hot-plug connection method according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] In order to make the objectives, technical solutions and advantages of the present invention more clearly understood, the embodiments of the present invention are further described in detail below in combination with specific embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0018] It should be noted that all expressions using "first" and "second" in the embodiments of the present invention are for distinguishing two non-identical entities with the same name or non-identical parameters. It can be seen that "first" and "second" are only for the convenience of expression and should not be understood as limitations on the embodiments of the present invention. The subsequent embodiments will not explain this one by one.

[0019] In order to improve the safety of hot plugging of LRM connectors, in one embodiment of the present invention, a LRM hot plug connector is proposed, such as Figure 2 As shown: it includes a plug 10 arranged on the target device side, and the plug 10 includes: a hot-swap chip 11, whose output end is connected to the power supply end of the target device 20; a long pin 12, connected to the power ground of the target device 20; a medium-long pin 13, connected to the input end of the hot-swap core 11; and a short pin 14, connected to the enable end of the hot-swap chip 11.

[0020] Specifically, the present invention improves the plug 10 of the LRM connector, designs the signal pin as a short pin 14, designs the power pin as a medium-long pin 13, and designs the power ground pin of the LRM device as a long pin 12, so that in the process of quickly hot-plugging the LRM device 20, the power ground is pulled out last, thereby ensuring that the LRM device 20 has a good current loop before it is completely powered off; and in the process of quickly plugging back the LRM device 20, a current loop is formed before the LRM device 20 is powered on. In addition, the present invention is also equipped with a hot-swap chip 11, which is used to realize that when the LRM device 20 is unplugged, the LRM device 20 is powered off in advance, and when the LRM device is inserted, it is powered on slowly, thereby avoiding electric sparks to ensure the safety of the LRM device 20 during hot-plugging.

[0021] In one embodiment, the length difference between the short needle and the medium-long needle of the present invention is 1-2 mm (millimeter), and the length difference between the medium-long needle and the long needle is 2-3 mm.

[0022] In one embodiment, the LRM hot-swap connector further includes: a first pull-up resistor 15, coupled between the input terminal IN and the enable terminal EN of the hot-swap chip 11; and a PMOS tube 16, whose source terminal and drain terminal are respectively coupled between the enable terminal EN of the hot-swap chip and the power ground of the target device, and whose gate terminal is connected to the short pin 14; a second pull-up resistor 17, coupled between the input terminal IN of the hot-swap chip 11 and the gate terminal of the PMOS tube 16.

[0023] Specifically, during the insertion process, the long pin 12 is first connected to the backplane, followed by the medium and long pin 13, and finally the short pin 14; wherein, after the long pin 12 is connected to the backplane, a common ground connection is established between the backplane and the LRM device, thereby forming a good current loop; when the medium and long pin 13 is connected to the backplane, the LRM device obtains power from the backplane and the level of the input terminal IN of the hot-swap chip 11 is pulled up by the first pull-up resistor, and at the same time, the gate terminal of the PMOS tube obtains a high level, and the PMOS tube is turned off and turned on, so that the enable terminal EN of the hot-swap chip 11 is maintained at a high level; and then when the short pin 14 is connected to the backplane, the gate terminal of the PMOS tube is connected to the ground terminal of the backplane through the short pin, so that the level of the gate terminal of the input PMOS tube becomes a low level, the PMOS tube is turned on and grounded, and then the level of the enable terminal EN is pulled down, so that the enable terminal jumps from a high level to a low level, thereby enabling the hot-swap chip 11 to output power to the LRM device relatively slowly.

[0024] Example 1 like Figure 3 As shown, the example of inserting a computing blade LRM device (such as a blade graphics card, hereinafter referred to as LRM blade) is used. Step 100, during the process of quickly inserting the LRM blade, the long needle and the medium-long needle are inserted into the back plate; Step 200, determine whether the short needle is inserted; Step 300: If yes, hot-swap chip is enabled; Step 400, otherwise, return to step 200; Step 500: After the hot-swap chip is enabled, the LRM blade is powered on to complete the hot-swap process.

[0025] During the unplugging process, the short pin 14 first disconnects from the backplane, the enable terminal EN jumps from a low level to a high level, the enable becomes invalid, the hot-swap chip 11 slowly stops outputting power, and then the medium and long pins 13 disconnect from the backplane, the hot-swap chip 11 is powered off, and finally the long pin 12 disconnects from the backplane. Prior to this, the long pin 12 will always maintain the common ground connection between the LRM device 20 and the backplane, thereby ensuring the formation of a good current loop, thereby avoiding the generation of sparks to ensure the safety of the LRM device 20 during the hot-plugging process.

[0026] Example 2 like Figure 4 As shown, take the removal of a computing blade LRM device as an example (such as a blade graphics card, hereinafter referred to as LRM blade) Step 100, in the process of quickly pulling out the LRM blade, determine whether the short needle is pulled out; Step 200: If yes, the hot-swap chip performs a power-off operation on the LRM blade; Step 300, otherwise, return to step 100; Step 400, the LRM blade is powered off; Step 500, determining whether the long needle is pulled out; Step 600: If yes, determine that the LRM blade is powered off successfully; Step 700: Otherwise, keep the common ground connection between the LRM blade and the backplane.

[0027] In one embodiment, the LRM hot-swap connector of the present invention further includes a socket 30 adapted to the plug, and the socket 30 is arranged on the backplane side. Specifically, the connector connected to the long pin in the socket is connected to the power ground on the backplane, the connector connected to the middle and long pin in the socket is connected to the power supply on the backplane, and the connector connected to the middle and long pin in the socket is connected to the communication bus on the backplane.

[0028] Through the above device embodiments, the hot-swap LRM connector and hot-swap method of the present invention have the following beneficial effects: 1) When unplugging the LRM device, before unplugging the power interface of the LRM connector, the short pin is unplugged first, the hot-swap enable signal is invalid, and the LRM device is powered off in advance; when inserting the LRM device, the short pin is inserted last, the hot-swap circuit is enabled, and the LRM device is powered on, which can effectively avoid electric sparks or burnout of the LRM device during the plugging and unplugging process; 2) Improve the design of the long and short pins of the LRM connector, the ground signal is last to be separated from the backplane when unplugging, and is inserted into the backplane first when inserting, with good reflux, which is conducive to static discharge during plugging and unplugging.

[0029] In a second aspect of the present invention, based on the above LRM hot plug connector embodiment, the present invention also proposes a hot plug connection method, such as Figure 5 As shown, the method includes: step S1, when the plug is inserted into the socket, the long pin enters the socket before the medium-long pin and the short pin, and the backplane is connected to the power ground of the target device to ensure the power loop; step S2, when the plug is pulled out of the socket, the long pin exits the socket after the medium-long pin and the short pin, and the connection between the backplane and the power ground of the target device is disconnected to ensure the power loop. In this embodiment, the long pin design can realize grounding first and then power on, and power off first and then grounding, thereby avoiding the generation of electric sparks during hot plugging.

[0030] In one embodiment, the method of the present invention also includes: during the process of inserting the plug into the socket, when the middle long pin is connected to the backplane and the short pin is not connected to the backplane, the input end of the hot-swap chip and the gate end of the PMOS tube obtain a high level, the PMOS tube is cut off, and the enable end obtains a high level signal, so that the hot-swap chip is in a non-enabled state; when the short pin is connected to the backplane, the short pin is connected to the ground end of the backplane, and the gate end of the MOS is turned on due to obtaining a low level, so that the enable end of the hot-swap chip jumps from a high level to a low level, thereby enabling the hot-swap chip and obtaining power from the backplane and outputting it to the target device.

[0031] In one embodiment, the method of the present invention also includes: in the process of pulling the plug out of the socket, the short pin is first disconnected from the ground terminal of the backplane, and the gate terminal of the PMOS tube is cut off due to obtaining a high level, so that the enable terminal of the hot-swap chip jumps from a low level to a high level, thereby disabling the hot-swap chip and stopping the power supply output to the target device.

[0032] In one embodiment, the method of the present invention further includes: when the short pin is disconnected from the ground terminal of the backplane, the control module on the backplane receives a corresponding control signal to power off the LRM hot-swap connector.

[0033] In one embodiment, the target device includes: a hard disk or a graphics card.

[0034] Through the above method embodiments, the hot-swap LRM connector and hot-swap method of the present invention have the following beneficial effects: 1) When unplugging the LRM device, before unplugging the power interface of the LRM connector, the short pin is unplugged first, the hot-swap enable signal is invalid, and the LRM device is powered off in advance; when inserting the LRM device, the short pin is inserted last, the hot-swap circuit is enabled, and the LRM device is powered on, which can effectively avoid electric sparks or burnout of the LRM device during the plugging and unplugging process; 2) Improve the design of the long and short pins of the LRM connector, the ground signal is last to be separated from the backplane when unplugging, and is inserted into the backplane first when inserting, with good reflux, which is conducive to static discharge during plugging and unplugging.

[0035] The above are exemplary embodiments disclosed in the present invention, but it should be noted that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the embodiments disclosed in the claims. The functions, steps and / or actions of the method claims according to the disclosed embodiments described herein do not need to be performed in any particular order.

[0036] A person skilled in the art should understand that the discussion of any of the above embodiments is only exemplary and is not intended to imply that the scope of the disclosure of the embodiments of the present invention (including the claims) is limited to these examples; under the concept of the embodiments of the present invention, the technical features in the above embodiments or different embodiments can also be combined, and there are many other changes in different aspects of the above embodiments of the present invention, which are not provided in detail for the sake of simplicity. Therefore, any omissions, modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principles of the embodiments of the present invention should be included in the protection scope of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. An LRM hot-swap connector, characterized in that: include: A plug provided on the target device side, the plug comprising: A hot-swap chip, whose output terminal is connected to a power supply terminal of the target device; A long pin connected to the power ground of the target device; A medium-long pin connected to an input terminal of the hot-swap chip; A short pin connected to the enable terminal of the hot-swap chip.

2. The LRM hot-swap connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: The length difference between the short needle and the medium-long needle is 1-2 mm, and the length difference between the medium-long needle and the long needle is 2-3 mm.

3. The LRM hot-swap connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: Also includes: A first pull-up resistor is coupled between an input terminal and an enable terminal of the hot-swap chip; A PMOS tube, whose source terminal and drain terminal are respectively coupled between the enable terminal of the hot-swap chip and the power ground of the target device, and whose gate terminal is connected to the short pin; The second pull-up resistor is coupled between the input end of the hot-swap chip and the gate end of the PMOS tube.

4. The LRM hot-swap connector according to claim 3, characterized in that: It also includes a socket adapted to the plug, and the socket is arranged on the back panel side.

5. A hot-plug connection method based on the LRM hot-plug connector according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The method comprises: During the process of inserting the plug into the socket, the long pin enters the socket before the medium and long pins and the short pins and connects the backplane with the power ground of the target device to ensure the power circuit; When the plug is pulled out of the socket, the long pin is withdrawn from the socket after the middle pin and the short pin, and the connection between the backplane and the power ground of the target device is disconnected to ensure the power supply circuit.

6. The hot-plug connection method according to claim 5, characterized in that: The method further comprises: During the process of inserting the plug into the socket, when the middle and long pins are connected to the backplane and the short pins are not connected to the backplane, the input end of the hot-swap chip and the gate end of the PMOS tube obtain a high level, the PMOS tube is cut off, and the enable end obtains a high level signal, so that the hot-swap chip is in a disabled state.

7. The hot-plug connection method according to claim 6, characterized in that: The method further comprises: When the short pin is connected to the backplane, the short pin is connected to the ground terminal of the backplane, and the gate terminal of the MOS is turned on due to obtaining a low level, so that the enable terminal of the hot-swap chip jumps from a high level to a low level, thereby enabling the hot-swap chip and obtaining power from the backplane and outputting it to the target device.

8. The hot-plug connection method according to claim 5, characterized in that: The method further comprises: When the plug is pulled out of the socket, the short pin is first disconnected from the ground terminal of the backplane, and the gate terminal of the PMOS tube is cut off due to obtaining a high level, so that the enable terminal of the hot-swap chip jumps from a low level to a high level, thereby disabling the hot-swap chip and stopping the power supply output to the target device.

9. The hot-plug connection method according to claim 8, characterized in that: The method further comprises: When the short pin is disconnected from the ground terminal of the backplane, the control module on the backplane receives a corresponding control signal to power off the LRM hot-swap connector.

10. The hot-plug connection method according to any one of claims 5 to 9, characterized in that: The target device includes: a hard disk or a graphics card.

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