PCB orientations
By orienting PCBs with high and low-profile components, the solution enhances space efficiency in computer equipment enclosures, enabling more devices and resources to be accommodated within the same space with improved cooling and connectivity.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- DE102020111173
- Authority / Receiving Office
- DE · DE
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2019-05-16
- Filing Date
- 2020-04-23
- Publication Date
- 2026-01-22
- Estimated Expiration
- 2040-04-23
AI Technical Summary
Existing computer equipment enclosures have limited physical space for storing computer equipment and memory resources, hindering the ability to accommodate a larger quantity within the same footprint.
The orientation of printed circuit boards (PCBs) with components positioned differently based on height, allowing high-profile components on one side and low-profile components on the other, enabling adjacent placement of computing devices, and utilizing top-loading enclosures with front-to-back cooling.
This configuration optimizes space usage, allowing more computing devices and memory resources to be stored within the same physical footprint by reducing the overall footprint of the computing devices, while maintaining effective cooling and connectivity.
Smart Images

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Abstract
Description
State of the art
[0001] A computer device can contain components such as storage resources, processing resources, and / or other components coupled to a printed circuit board (PCB) and / or a printed circuit board assembly (PCA). In some examples, the computer device can be positioned in an enclosure and / or rack assembly to house it during use. For example, the computer device can be a server positioned within a server rack assembly. US7035111 B1 discloses a printed circuit board contained within a PCB holder, forming a server blade that fits into a slot of a server blade enclosure. The printed circuit board allows standard electrical components to fit within the cross-sectional width of the server blade.The server blade can generally have a triangular, L-shaped, or other type of polygonal cross-section, enabling the placement of tall components that would otherwise not fit into a generally rectangular server blade. Based on the prior art described herein, the object of the present invention was to provide an alternative computer enclosure, an alternative storage device drawer, and an alternative computing device system. This object is achieved by the computer enclosure according to claim 1, the storage device drawer according to claim 8, and the computing device system according to claim 13. Brief description of the drawings Fig. Figure 1 is an exemplary computer equipment enclosure that conforms to the present disclosure. Fig. Figure 2 is an exemplary printed circuit board that conforms to the present disclosure. Fig. Figure 3 is an exemplary scheme of a computer device enclosure that conforms to the present disclosure. Fig. Figure 4 is an example of a computer equipment enclosure that conforms to the present disclosure. Fig. Figure 5 is an exemplary scheme of a computer device enclosure that conforms to the present disclosure. Fig. Figure 6 is an exemplary computer equipment enclosure that conforms to the present disclosure. Fig. Figure 7 is an exemplary system for calculating device enclosures that conform to the present disclosure. Detailed description
[0002] Computing devices can contain a printed circuit board (PCB) and / or a printed circuit board assembly (PCA) that includes multiple components capable of performing functions associated with the computing device. For example, a computing device might contain processing resources, input / output devices, expansion cards, cooling resources, and / or storage resources coupled to a circuit board. In some cases, a computing device might be housed in an enclosure, such as a computer case, while the computing device is used to perform its functions. For instance, the computing device might be positioned in a computer case drawer along with other components of the computing device (e.g., other computing devices, cooling devices, storage resources, input / output interposers, management devices, etc.).
[0003] In some examples, computer equipment enclosures, such as drawers, may have limited physical space for storing computer equipment and / or memory resources. In other examples, storing a relatively larger quantity of computer equipment and / or memory resources can provide a greater quantity of computer resources within the same physical footprint of the computer equipment enclosure. The present disclosure includes PCB orientations that can enable more computer equipment and / or memory resources to be stored and used in a given computer equipment enclosure. For example, the present disclosure may include positioning a variety of computer equipment within a given computer equipment enclosure, thus enabling more computer equipment and / or memory resources to be positioned within that particular computer equipment enclosure.
[0004] In some examples, the orientation of a first computing device might include components positioned relatively high on the first side of a printed circuit board (PCB) and components positioned relatively low on the second side. This allows a second computing device to be positioned directly adjacent to the first if the second computing device also contains components positioned relatively low on the first side of the PCB and components positioned relatively high on the second side. In this example, the relatively high side of the first computing device can be positioned next to a relatively low side of the second computing device, allowing the first and second computing devices to occupy relatively less physical space compared to previous systems.In this way, the present disclosure can utilize more physical space for additional computer equipment and / or storage resources.
[0005] Some examples of the present disclosure can provide additional physical space within a computer equipment enclosure to allow additional computer equipment or other computer components to be positioned within the enclosure. The present disclosure also provides for top-loading computer equipment enclosures (e.g., server enclosure drawer, slide-on enclosure drawer, etc.) to utilize more computing resources within the top-loading computer enclosure, while still providing front-to-back or back-to-front cooling to the computer equipment within the top-loading computer enclosure.
[0006] Fig. Figure 1 is an exemplary computer equipment enclosure 100 that conforms to the present disclosure. In some examples, the computer equipment enclosure 100 may be a computer equipment enclosure drawer that may contain an enclosure area for receiving and storing multiple computer devices, such as computer devices 102-1, 102-2, and / or multiple computer storage resources, such as storage resources 106. In some examples, the computer equipment enclosure 100 may be coupled to a rail system to allow the computer equipment enclosure 100 to be moved from an open position to expose the computer devices 102-1, 102-2, and / or the storage resources 106 to a closed position within a computer equipment rack to enclose the computer devices 102-1, 102-2, and / or storage resources 106.In some examples, the first circuit board of the first computing device 102-1, the second circuit board of the second computing device 102-2, and the plurality of storage resources 106 can be positioned in a removable compartment from which the first circuit board of the first computing device 102-1, the second circuit board of the second computing device 102-2, and the plurality of storage resources 106 can be accessed.
[0007] In some examples, the computer device enclosure 100 can contain a first computer device 102-1 and a second computer device 102-2. In some examples, the first computing device 102-1 and the second computing device 102-2 can be used to manage data stored on the memory resources 106. For example, the first computing device 102-1 can manage the storage and retrieval of data allocated to a first portion of the memory resources 106, and the second computing device 102-2 can manage the storage and retrieval of data allocated to a second portion of the memory resources 106.
[0008] In some examples, the first circuit board of the first computing device 102-1 can be a first controller for multiple memory resources 106, and the second circuit board of the second computing device 102-2 can be a second controller for multiple memory resources 106. As used herein, a controller or control board can be a hardware computing device that controls or manages the functions of another device or system. In some examples, the first circuit board of the first computing device 102-1 can be coupled to the multiple memory resources 106 via a first structure, and the second circuit board of the second computing device 102-2 can be coupled to the multiple memory resources 106 by a second structure. As used herein, a structure can include communication links that connect multiple nodes (e.g., computing devices 102-1, 102-2, memory resources 106, etc.).
[0009] As used herein, memory resources, such as the multitude of memory resources 106, can be any electronic, magnetic, optical, or other physical storage devices for containing or storing information such as executable instructions, data, and the like. For example, any machine-readable storage medium described herein can be random-access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), volatile memory, non-volatile memory, flash memory, or a storage drive (e.g., a hard disk, etc.) and / or a solid-state drive. The multitude of memory resources 106 can be physical devices that can be used by computer devices such as computer devices 102-1, 102-2, to store information temporarily or permanently. In some examples, the memory resources can be non-volatile Memory Express (NVMe) drives or NVMe storage resources.In some examples, the NVMe storage resources may be hot-plug NVMe storage resources. As used here, a hot-plug NVMe storage resource is an NVMe storage resource that can be added to or removed from a computer system while the computer system is running (for example, when a computer system or computer device is powered on and performing functions, etc.).
[0010] In some examples, the second calculating device 102-2 may be positioned at or near an edge of the calculating device housing 100. In some examples, the second calculating device 102-2 may extend from a front section 104 of the computer equipment housing 100 to a rear section 108 of the computer equipment housing. As used herein, the front section 104 of the computer equipment housing 100 may be a portion of the computer equipment housing 100 that is exposed when the computer equipment housing 100 is in the closed position. As used herein, the rear section 108 may be a portion of the computer equipment housing 100 that is positioned in a rack or enclosure in which the computer equipment housing 100 is stored.
[0011] In some examples, the second computing device 102-2 can be positioned with a printed circuit board (PCB) that is positioned towards the edge of the computer device housing 100 (e.g., left edge of the computer device housing 100, as in Fig. 1 shown, etc.). In some examples, the circuit board of the second computing device 102-2 may contain components that are coupled or connected to the circuit board. For example, the second computing device may contain components coupled to the circuit board such as, but not limited to: processing resources, memory resources, random access memory resources, heat sinks, connections, etc. In some examples, the components coupled to the circuit board of the second computing device 102-2 may be oriented away from the edge adjacent to the circuit board of the second computing device 102-2.
[0012] In some examples, the first computing device 102-1 can be a similar device to the second computing device 102-2. For example, the first computing device 102-1 can contain a printed circuit board with components coupled to the circuit board. In some examples, the first computing device 102-1 can extend from the front section 104 to the rear section 108 of the computer device housing 100. In some examples, the first computing device 102-1 can be positioned such that the circuit board is positioned away from or facing away from the second computing device 102-2, and the components of the first computing device 102-1 are positioned or facing the second computing device 102-2. In this way, the components of the second computing device 102-2 can be directed toward the components of the first computing device 102-1, and vice versa.Thus, the first computing device 102-1 and the second computing device 102-2 can create a “sandwich” structure, wherein the circuit board of the first computing device 102-1 is a first side, the circuit board of the second computing device 102-2 is a second side, and the components of the first computing device 102-1 and the second computing device 102-2 are located between the first side and the second side.
[0013] In some examples, the components of the first computing device 102-1 can be positioned on the circuit board of the first computing device based on the height of the components. As used here, the height of a component can be the distance from the circuit board to a surface of the component extending in a perpendicular direction from the circuit board. For example, the height of a heat sink can be the distance the heat sink extends from a circuit board. In some examples, the circuit board of the first computing device can be divided into a first side and a second side. In these examples, the first side can contain components that are taller than a height threshold, and the second side can contain components that are shorter than the height threshold.In this way, the first computing device can comprise a first side with relatively high computing components and a second side with relatively short computing components.
[0014] In some examples, the second computing device 102-2 may contain components positioned on its circuit board similarly to those positioned on the circuit board of the first computing device 102-1. In other examples, the second computing device 102-2 may contain components positioned opposite the components of the first computing device 102-1. For instance, a first side of the circuit board of the first computing device may contain components that are higher than a height threshold, and a corresponding first side of the circuit board of the second computing device may contain components that are lower than the height threshold.
[0015] In this way, the relatively larger components of the first computing device 102-1 can be positioned towards the relatively shorter components of the second computing device 102-2. In these examples, the first computing device 102-1 can contain components that are positioned on a second side of the circuit board and are shorter than the height threshold, and the second computing device 102-2 can contain components that are taller than the height threshold. In this way, the relatively larger components of the second computing device 102-2 can be positioned towards the relatively shorter components of the first computing device 102-1.
[0016] Therefore, if the first computing device 102-1 is positioned directly next to the second computing device 102-2, with the components of the first computing device 102-1 facing the components of the second computing device 102-2, the total footprint of the first computing device 102-1 and the second computing device 102-2 can be relatively smaller than in other printed circuit board orientations. As used herein, the total footprint of the first computing device 102-1 and the second computing device 102-2 can encompass an amount of space or area consumed by the size or shape of the first computing device 102-1 and the second computing device 102-2. In some examples, the total footprint of the first computing device can be the distance between the relatively tall components on one side of the first computing device 102-1 and the distance between the relatively short components on one side of the second computing device 102-2.In some earlier examples, the combined footprint of two computer devices would be a distance between the relatively tall components of both computer devices, which could be greater than the distance between the relatively short components and the distance between the relatively tall components.
[0017] In some examples, the first PCB of the first computing device 102-1, the second PCB of the second computing device 102-2, and the plurality of memory resources 106 can be oriented so that air can flow from a first side of the computer equipment housing to a second side of the computer equipment housing. For example, the PCB orientations described herein can allow air to be drawn or pushed through the front section 104, which passes the first computing device 102-1, the second computing device 102-2, and / or the plurality of memory resources 106, to the rear section 108 of the computer equipment housing 100. In some examples, the computer equipment housing 100 can include a cooling system to direct air from the front section 104 to the rear section 108 of the memory device drawer.In some examples, the cooling system may include a number of fans that can be used to direct the airflow from the front section 104 to the rear section 108.
[0018] In some examples, the computer device housing 100 can contain a storage device drawer containing a first controller circuit board (PCB) of the first computer device 102-1 with a first plurality of components positioned on a first side and a second plurality of components positioned on a second side. In these examples, the computer device housing 100 can contain a second controller board of the second computing device 102-2, positioned parallel to the first controller board, with a third plurality of components positioned on a first side facing the first plurality of components and a fourth plurality of components positioned on a second side facing the second plurality of components.In these examples, the first control board and the second control board are aligned along a first edge of the storage device drawer (e.g., shown as the left edge).
[0019] In these examples, the computer device enclosure 100 can contain multiple memory resources 106 aligned along a second edge of the memory device drawer (e.g., represented as the right edge), which is connected to the first controller board via a first structure and coupled to the second controller board by a second structure. In these examples, the computer device enclosure 100 can contain a first input / output interposer (I / O interposer) coupled to the first controller board and a second I / O interposer coupled to the second controller board. In some examples, the first I / O interposer and the second I / O interposer can be located at or near the rear section 108 of the computer device enclosure 100. As used herein, an I / O interposer can include an electrical interface between a first connection and a second connection.
[0020] In some examples, the first and second edges of the storage device drawer extend from a front section 104 to a rear section 108 of the storage device drawer. In some examples, the first I / O interposer and the second I / O interposer are positioned between the rear section 108 of the storage device drawer and an edge of the first control board of the first computing device 102-1.
[0021] The use of the PCB orientations of the first computing device 102-1 and the second computing device 102-2 can save space within the computer equipment housing 100. The space saved by using the PCB orientations of the first computing device 102-1 and the second computing device 102-2 can be used to position additional computing devices and / or memory resources 106 within the computer equipment housing 100. Thus, the PCB orientations can enable more computing resources (e.g., computing devices, memory resources, cooling resources, etc.) to be positioned within the same physical footprint of the computer equipment housing 100.
[0022] Fig. 2 is an exemplary printed circuit board 202 that conforms to the present disclosure. Fig. Figure 2 shows a side view of the printed circuit board (PCB) 202 on the right and a top view of the printed circuit board 202 on the left. As used herein, a printed circuit board can be a device for mechanically supporting and electrically connecting electrical components or computing components using conductive material positioned between non-conductive materials. In some examples, the printed circuit board 202 can be part of a computing device, as described herein. For example, the printed circuit board 202 can be part of a computing device 102-1, 102-2, as shown in Fig. 1 shown.
[0023] In some examples, the printed circuit board 202 can be divided into a first section 202-1 and a second section 202-2. As described herein, the printed circuit board 202 can be divided to position components that exceed a height threshold on a first side of the printed circuit board 202, and positioning components that are below the height threshold on a second side of the printed circuit board 202. In some examples, the components that exceed the height threshold can be considered high-profile logic or high-profile components, and components that are below the height threshold can be considered low-profile logic or low-profile components.
[0024] In some examples, the first section 202-1 may contain components whose height 210-1 is less than a height threshold, and the second section 202-2 may contain components whose height 210-2 is greater than the height threshold. In some examples, the height 210-1 may include a height range that is below or shorter than the height threshold. Furthermore, the height 210-2 may include a height range that is above or greater than the height threshold. In some examples, some of the components positioned on the second section 202-2 of the printed circuit board 202 may have a height below the height threshold, but the first section 202-1 may be restricted to including components that are below the height threshold.
[0025] By positioning the components within the first section 202-1 and the second section 202-2 of the printed circuit board 202 based on the height threshold, the printed circuit board 202 can be stacked or positioned directly next to another printed circuit board or other computing device. As described herein, the different printed circuit board can be positioned such that a low-profile side of the different printed circuit board corresponds to the second section 202-2 or the high-profile side of the printed circuit board 202, and that the high-profile side of the different printed circuit board corresponds to the first section 202-1 or the flat side of the printed circuit board 202. In this way, the orientation of the printed circuit board 202 can be used to save physical space by stacking printed circuit boards so that the high-profile side is stacked with a low-profile side.This allows more computer devices to be positioned within a computer case of the same size.
[0026] Fig. Figure 3 is an exemplary schematic of a computer device enclosure 300 that conforms to the present disclosure. In some examples, the computer device enclosure 300 may be the same or a similar enclosure to the computer device enclosure 100, as shown in Figure 1. For example, the computer device enclosure 300 may contain a first computer device 302-1 and a second computer device 302-2 coupled with multiple storage resources 306 (e.g., NVMe drives, etc.). In some examples, the first computing device 302-1 and the second computing device 302-2 may be stacked such that a high-profile side of the first computing device 302-1 corresponds to a low-profile side of the second computing device 302-2.
[0027] In some examples, the first computing device 302-1 may contain a drive for an operating system (OS) 322-1 and random-access memory (RAM) 324-1, coupled to a processing resource 320-1, such as a central processing unit (CPU). In some examples, the processing resource 320-1 may be coupled to a first part of the plurality of memory resources 306. In some examples, the first computing device 302-1 may be used to manage the first part of the plurality of memory resources 306. For example, the first computing device 302-1 may be used to manage the storage and retrieval of data from the first part of the plurality of memory resources 306.
[0028] In some examples, the processing resource 320-1 can be coupled with a number of additional components, such as a controller 326-1, a network interface card (NIC) 328-1, an intermediate level 330-1, a management node 332-1, and / or the middle level 331. These components can be used to manage the first part of the multitude of storage resources 306.
[0029] In some examples, the second computing device 302-2 may contain a drive for an operating system (OS) 322-2 and random access memory (RAM) 324-2, coupled to a processing resource 320-2, such as a central processing unit (CPU). In some examples, the processing resource 320-2 may be coupled to a second part of the plurality of memory resources 306. In some examples, the second computing device 302-2 may be used to manage the second part of the plurality of memory resources 306. For example, the second computing device 302-2 may be used to manage the storage and retrieval of data from the second part of the plurality of memory resources 306.
[0030] In some examples, the processing resource 320-2 can be coupled with a number of additional components, such as a controller 326-2, a network interface card (NIC) 328-2, an intermediate level 330-2, a management node 332-2, and / or the middle level 331. These components can be used to manage the second part of the multitude of storage resources 306.
[0031] Fig. Figure 4 is an example of a computer device enclosure 440 that conforms to the present disclosure. In some examples, the computer device enclosure 440 may be an enclosure similar to the computer device enclosure 100, as shown in Figure 1. For example, the computer device enclosure 440 may be a drawer enclosure that uses a rail system to slide the computer device enclosure 440 into a rack during operation and to slide the computer device enclosure 440 out of the rack during maintenance.
[0032] In some examples, the computer equipment enclosure 440 can contain multiple computer devices 442-1, 442-2, 442-3, 442-4. In some examples, the multiple computer devices 442-1, 442-2, 442-3, 442-4 can be computer devices used by remote devices. For example, the multiple computer devices 442-1, 442-2, 442-3, 442-4 can be servers. As used here, a server can be a computer device that stores instructions that can be executed by a processing resource to provide functionality to other devices or applications.
[0033] In some examples, the computer device housing 440 can contain a first computer device 442-1, which contains a first printed circuit board (PCB) containing a first plurality of components. In some examples, a first part of the first plurality of components is shorter than a threshold height and is positioned on a first side of the first PCB, and a second part of the first plurality of components, which are taller than the threshold height, is positioned on a second side of the first PCB. In some examples, the computer device housing 440 can contain a second computer device 442-2, which contains a second printed circuit board (PCB) containing a second plurality of components.In some examples, a first part of the second set of components, shorter than the threshold height, is positioned on the first side of the second printed circuit board (PCB), and a second part of the second set of components, taller than the threshold height, is positioned on the second side of the second PCB. In these examples, the first side of the first PCB is positioned along the second side of the second PCB, and vice versa. In these examples, the first PCB and the second PCB are positioned parallel to the first set of components, which are directed toward the second set of components.As described herein, the first circuit board of the first computing device 442-1 can be arranged with the second circuit board of the second computing device 442-2 such that the components coupled to the first circuit board are directed towards the components coupled to the second circuit board.
[0034] In some examples, the multiple computing devices 442-1, 442-2, 442-3, 442-4 can be organized in a similar orientation to the circuit board 202 shown in Fig. 2 and / or the calculating devices 102-1, 102 are referred to -2 as in Fig. specified. For example, the printed circuit board of a first computing device 442-1 can contain a first side with components that are taller than a threshold height and a second side with components that are shorter than the threshold height. In this way, the first computing device 442-1 can be positioned directly next to the second computing device 442-2, so that a high-profile side (e.g., a side of the printed circuit board containing components that exceed the height threshold, etc.) of the first computing device 442-1 is aligned with a low-profile side (e.g., a side of the printed circuit board containing components that are below the height threshold, etc.) of the second computing device 442-2.Similarly, a third computing device 442-3 can be positioned directly next to the fourth computing device 442-4, such that a low-profile side of the third computing device 442-3 is aligned with a high-profile side of the fourth computing device 442-4. In this way, the overall physical footprint of the multiple computing devices 442-1, 442-2, 442-3, 442-4 can be smaller than with previous system orientations. Thus, more computing devices can be positioned within the same-sized computer device enclosure 440.
[0035] In some examples, the computer device enclosure 440 can contain a first input / output (I / O) interposer 444-1 and a second I / O interposer 444-2. As used here, an I / O interposer can include an electrical interface between a first connection and a second connection. In some examples, the first I / O interposer 444-1 can be used by the first computing device 442-1 and the second computing device 442-2, while the second I / O interposer 444-2 can be used by the third computing device 442-3 and the fourth computing device 442-4. In some examples, the circuit board of the second computing device 442-2 can be located directly adjacent to the circuit board of the third computing device 442-3.
[0036] The use of the PCB orientations of computer devices 442-1, 442-2, 442-3, and 442-4 can save space within the computer device enclosure 440. The space saved by using these PCB orientations can be used to position additional computer equipment within the enclosure 440 compared to previous systems and devices. Thus, these PCB orientations allow more computing resources (e.g., computer equipment, memory resources, cooling resources, etc.) to be positioned within the same physical footprint of the computer device enclosure 440.
[0037] Fig. Figure 5 is an exemplary schematic of a computer device enclosure 540 that conforms to the present disclosure. In some examples, the computer device enclosure 540 may be the same or a similar enclosure to the computer device enclosure 440, as shown in Figure 4. For example, the computer device enclosure 540 may contain a first computer device 542-1, a second computer device 542-2, a third computer device 542-3, and a fourth computer device 542-4 coupled by a drawer-back panel 546. In some examples, the first computing device 542-1, the second computing device 542-2, the third computing device 542-3, and the fourth computing device 542-4 may be stacked such that a high-sided side of one computing device corresponds to a flat side of another computer device.
[0038] In some examples, the first computing device 542-1 may include a drive for an operating system (OS) 522-1 and random access memory (RAM) 524-1 coupled to a processing resource 520-1, such as a central processing unit (CPU). In some examples, the processing resource 520-1 may be coupled to a controller 526-1, which is coupled to the drawer back panel board 546. As used herein, a drawer back panel board 546 may contain a main board that connects multiple computing devices (e.g., computing devices 542-1, 542-2, 542-3, 542-4, etc.). For example, the drawer back panel board 546 can be used to couple the multiple computer devices 542-1, 542-2, 542-3, 542-4 with a first interposer 544-1 and / or a second interposer 544-2.
[0039] In some examples, the processing resource 520-1 can be coupled via the drawer back panel board 546 to a number of additional components, such as, but not limited to: a number of switches 554-1, an intermediate level 550-1, a management node 552-1, and / or the mid-level 531. These components can be used to provide a service using the computing resources of the first computing device 542-1.
[0040] In some examples, the second computing device 542-2 may include a drive for an operating system (OS) 522-2 and random access memory (RAM) 524-2, connected to a processing resource 520-2 such as a central processing unit (CPU). In some examples, the processing resource 520-2 may be coupled to a controller 526-2, which is coupled to the drawer back panel board 546. In some examples, the drawer back panel board 546 may be used to couple the second computing device 542-2 to a first interposer 544-1 and / or a second interposer 544-2.
[0041] In some examples, the processing resource 520-2 can be coupled via the drawer back panel board 546 to a number of additional components, such as, but not limited to: a number of switches 554-1, an intermediate level 550-1, an administrative node 552-1, and / or the mid-level 531. These components can be used to provide a service using the computing resources of the second computing device 542-2.
[0042] In some examples, the third computing device 542-3 may include a drive for an operating system (OS) 522-3 and random access memory (RAM) 524-3, which is coupled to a processing resource 520-3 such as a central processing unit (CPU). In some examples, the processing resource 520-3 may be coupled to a controller 526-3, which is coupled to the drawer back panel board 546. In some examples, the drawer back panel board 546 may be used to couple the third computing device 542-3 to a first interposer 544-1 and / or a second interposer 544-2.
[0043] In some examples, the processing resource 520-3 can be coupled via the drawer back panel board 546 to a number of additional components, such as, but not limited to: a number of switches 554-1, an intermediate level 550-1, a management node 552-1, and / or the middle level 531. These components can be used to provide a service that utilizes the computing resources of the third computing device 542-3.
[0044] In some examples, the fourth computing device 542-4 may include a drive for an operating system (OS) 522-4 and random access memory (RAM) 524-4, coupled to a processing resource 520-4, such as a central processing unit (CPU). In some examples, the processing resource 520-4 may be coupled to a controller 526-4, which is coupled to the drawer back panel board 546. In some examples, the drawer back panel board 546 may be used to couple the fourth computing device 542-4 to a first interposer 544-1 and / or a second interposer 544-2.
[0045] In some examples, the processing resource 520-4 can be coupled via the drawer back panel board 546 to a number of additional components, such as, but not limited to: a number of switches 554-1, an intermediate level 550-1, an administrative node 552-1, and / or the mid-level 531. These components can be used to provide a service that utilizes the computing resources of the fourth computing device 542-4. As described herein, the computer equipment enclosure 540 can be used to store and utilize more computing devices compared to previous devices and systems. By utilizing more computing devices within the same physical footprint, the computer equipment enclosure 540 can provide more computing resources compared to previous devices and systems that were unable to store and utilize the same number of computing devices.
[0046] Fig. 6 is an exemplary computer equipment enclosure 660-1, 660-2, which is consistent with the present disclosure. Fig. Figure 6 shows a computer enclosure 660-1 in a closed position and a computer enclosure 660-2 in an open position. In some examples, the computer enclosure 660-1, 660-2 may contain the same or similar elements as the computer enclosure 100, as shown in Figure 1, the computer enclosure 300, as shown in Figure 3, and the computer enclosure 440, to which reference is made. Fig. 4 and / or computer equipment enclosures 540, as in Fig. 5 shown.
[0047] In some examples, the computer equipment enclosure 660-1 can represent a drawer-type computer equipment enclosure in a closed position, with the front section 604-1, 604-2 exposed, while computer equipment 602-1, 602-2 and / or memory resources 606 are positioned within an outer enclosure 662-1, 662-2. As described herein, the computer equipment enclosure 660-2 can represent a drawer-type computer equipment enclosure in an open position to provide access to the computer equipment 602-1, 602-2 and / or memory resources 606.
[0048] In some examples, the inner part of the housing may contain rails to move the inner part of the housing into the outer housing 662-1, 662-2 and to move the inner part of the housing out of the outer housing 662-1, 662-2. In some examples, the inner part of the housing may contain a cable tray with cables to ensure that the inner part of the drawer cannot be completely removed from the outer housing 662-1, 662-2. For example, the cable tray and / or the cables can prevent the inner housing from being intentionally or accidentally removed from the outer housing 662-1, 662-2. In this way, the inner part is not completely separated from the outer housing 662-1, 662-2, thus maintaining electrical connections with the devices located in the inner part.For example, a power connection to the computing devices 602-1, 602-2 and / or storage resources 606 can be provided via the outer casing 662-1, 662-2. In this example, the electrical power supplied via the power connector can be provided to the computing devices 602-1, 602-2 and / or the storage resources 606 when the inner part is exposed, as shown by the casing of the computing device 662-2. Thus, intentional or accidental removal of the inner section could cause an interruption of the electrical power through the power connector, which could cause problems with the computing devices 602-1, 602-2 and / or the storage resources 606.
[0049] In some examples, the computer equipment housing 660-1, 660-2 can be a system containing a housing with a removable drawer. In these examples, the drawer can contain multiple hot-plug connections on a base with an opening to access the multitude of hot-plug connections. In these examples, the computer equipment housing 660-1, 660-2 can be a system containing a first computer device 602-1, positioned in the drawer parallel to a second computer device 602-2, when the first computer device 602-1 and the second computing device 602-2 are connected by corresponding hot-plug connections in the drawer. In these examples, a first multitude of components from the first computing device 602-1 are directed to the second computing device 602-2, and a second multitude of components from the second computing device 602-2 are directed to the first computing device 602-1.
[0050] As shown in Figure 4, some examples may include a third computing device positioned parallel to the first computing device 602-1 and the second computing device 602-2, when the third computing device is coupled in the drawer via a suitable hot-plug connection. Additionally, some examples may include a fourth computing device positioned parallel to the first computing device 602-1 and the second computing device 602-2, when the third computing device is connected in the drawer via a suitable hot-plug connection. In these examples, a third plurality of components of the third computing device may be directed away from the second computing device 602-2 and toward the fourth computing device, with a fourth plurality of components of the fourth computing device directed toward the third computing device.Furthermore, in these examples, the computing devices and / or storage resources 606 can be individually removed from the removable drawer through the opening positioned at the top, as illustrated by the housing 660-2 of the computing device.
[0051] In some examples, a first control board of a first computing device 602-1, a second control board of a second computing device 602-2, multiple memory resources 606, a first I / O interposer, and a second I / O interposer can be accessed from the top of the storage device drawer when the storage device drawer is in an open position, as shown by the computer equipment enclosure 660-2. In some examples, the first control board of the first computing device 602-1, the second control board of the second computing device 602-2, the multiple memory resources 602, the first I / O interposer, and the second I / O interposer are hot-pluggable into corresponding sockets from the top of the storage device drawer when the storage device drawer is in an open position, as shown by the computer equipment enclosure 660-2.In some examples, the computing devices 602-1, 602-2 and / or the memory resources 606 can be aligned in parallel to allow air to flow from a front section 604-1, 604-2 of the removable drawer to a rear section of the removable drawer. In some examples, the computing devices 602-1, 602-2 and / or the memory resources 606 can be connected to a rear panel of the enclosure via multiple hot-plug connections.
[0052] Fig. Figure 6 shows computing devices 602-1, 602-2 and storage resources 606 positioned within the inner section of the enclosure (e.g., a removable tray, etc.). However, the inner part of the enclosure can also be used to house multiple computing devices intended for use as a server. For example, the inner part of the enclosure can be used to house computing devices 442-1, 442-2, 442-3, and 442-4, as shown in Figure 4.
[0053] Fig. Figure 7 is an exemplary System 770 for computer equipment enclosures that conforms to the present disclosure. In some examples, the System 770 can represent a rack that can be used to store multiple computer equipment enclosures, as described herein. For example, the System 770 can represent a rack in which multiple computer equipment enclosures can be stored, as shown in Figures 1, 4, and 6. Fig. Figure 7 shows several front sections 704-1, 704-2, 704-3, 704-4, 704-5, 704-6 of several corresponding computer device enclosures.
[0054] As described herein, the System 770 exhibits drawers in which computer equipment and / or storage resources can be housed. However, in some examples, the System 770 may be a blade enclosure. In some examples, a blade enclosure may be a rack in which multiple server modules, referred to as "blades" or "server blades," can be stored. In some examples, the blade enclosure may be used to manage the power of the multiple server modules in a similar way to how a drawer enclosure can store and manage the power of the computer equipment. A blade or drawer enclosure can each be used to store and manage computer equipment. In some examples, the System 770 may contain multiple drawers and multiple blades within the same System 770.For example, a front section 704-1 may contain an area with a corresponding drawer housing, and a front section 704-2 may be replaced by one or two blades.
[0055] In some examples, the multitude of front sections 704-1, 704-2, 704-3, 704-4, 704-5, 704-6 of the multitude of corresponding drawer enclosures may have a width approximately equal to two blades or server blades. For example, the width of front section 704-1 may be equal to the width of two server blades. In some examples, the multitude of front sections 704-1, 704-2, 704-3, 704-4, 704-5, 704-6 of the multitude of corresponding drawer enclosures may be approximately the height of a "half-height server blade." As used here, a half-height server blade may contain a server blade that is approximately half the height of a standard server blade. Because there are multiple server blade manufacturers, a standard server blade height has been achieved, allowing a server blade rack to be used to store and manage several different server blades from different manufacturers.
[0056] As described herein, the multiple computer equipment enclosures can each contain multiple computer equipment and / or storage resources. In some examples, a first part of the multiple computer equipment enclosures can contain servers, as shown in Figure 4, and a second part of the multiple computer equipment enclosures can contain computer equipment and storage resources, as shown in Figure 1. As described herein, the computing devices within the computing device enclosure can be positioned such that a high-profile portion of a first computing device corresponds to a low-profile portion of an adjacent second computing device, allowing more computing resources to be positioned within the same physical footprint. In this way, each of the multiple computer equipment enclosures can store and utilize more computer equipment or computer resources compared to previous computer equipment enclosures.
[0057] The figures presented here follow a numbering convention in which the first digit corresponds to the figure number in the drawing, and the remaining digits identify an element or component in the drawing. Elements shown in the various figures presented here may be added, exchanged, and / or eliminated to provide a number of additional examples of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the proportion and relative scale of the elements presented in the figures are intended to illustrate the examples of the present disclosure and should not be understood in a limiting sense. Moreover, as used herein, “a number” of an element and / or feature may refer to any number of such elements and / or features.
Claims
[1] Computer equipment enclosure, comprising: a removable drawer with multiple hot-plug connections on a base with an opening to access the multiple hot-plug connections; a first printed circuit board (PCB) containing a first plurality of components, wherein a first part of the first plurality of components, which are shorter than a threshold height, are positioned on a first side of the first PCB, and a second part of the first plurality of components, which are taller than the threshold height, are positioned on a second side of the first PCB, and a second printed circuit board (PCB) containing a second plurality of components, wherein a first part of the second plurality of components, which are shorter than the threshold height, are positioned on a first side of the second printed circuit board, and a second part of the second plurality of components, which are higher than the threshold height, are positioned on the second side of the second circuit board, a third printed circuit board (PCB) and a fourth printed circuit board (PCB), wherein each of the first, second, third and fourth printed circuit boards is connected by a respective hot-plug connection, and wherein the first, second, third and fourth printed circuit boards are parallel to each other. [2] Computer device enclosure according to claim 1, wherein the first printed circuit board and the second printed circuit board are arranged with the first plurality of components directed towards the second plurality of components. [3] Computer device enclosure according to claim 1, wherein the first printed circuit board is for a plurality of storage resources and the second printed circuit board is a first control unit and a second control unit for the plurality of storage resources. [4] Computer device enclosure according to claim 3, wherein the first printed circuit board is connected to the plurality of memory resources via a first structure, and the second printed circuit board is connected to the plurality of memory resources via a second structure. [5] Computer enclosure according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of storage resources are hot-pluggable non-volatile Express (NVMe) storage resources. [6] Computer device housing according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of storage resources are positioned in the removable drawer which enables access to the plurality of storage resources. [7] Computer enclosure according to claim 3, wherein the first printed circuit board, the second printed circuit board, and a plurality of storage resources are aligned to allow air to flow from a first side of the computer enclosure to a second side of the computer enclosure. [8] Storage device drawer comprising: a plurality of hot-plug connections with an opening to access the multitude of hot-plug connections; a first controller PCB with a first multitude of components positioned on a first side, and a second multitude of components positioned on a second side; a second controller PCB positioned parallel to the first controller board, wherein a third plurality of components is positioned on a first side facing the first plurality of components, and a fourth plurality of components is positioned on a second side facing the second plurality of components, wherein the first controller board and the second controller board are aligned along a first edge of the storage device drawer; a third controller PCB positioned parallel to the first controller PCB, and a fourth controller PCB positioned parallel to the first controller PCB, with each of the first, second, third and fourth controller PCBs connected via a respective hot-plug connection; multiple memory resources aligned along a second edge of the memory device drawer, which is connected to the first control board via a first structure and to the second control board via a second structure; and a first input / output interposer (IO) coupled to the first controller PCB, and a second IO interposer coupled to the second controller PCB. [9] Storage device drawer according to claim 8, wherein the first edge and the second edge of the storage device drawer extend from a front section to a rear section of the storage device drawer. [10] Storage device drawer according to claim 9, wherein the first I / O interposer and the second I / O interposer are positioned between the rear part of the storage device drawer and an edge of the first control board. [11] Storage device drawer according to claim 9, comprising a cooling system for directing air from the front section to the rear section of the storage device drawer. [12] Storage device drawer according to claim 8, wherein the first control board, the second control board, the multiple storage resources, the first I / O interposer and the second I / O interposer are accessible from an upper part of the storage device drawer when the storage device drawer is in an open position. [13] Computing system comprising: a housing with a removable drawer, wherein the drawer contains multiple hot-plug connections on a base with an opening to access the multiple hot-plug connections; a first computing device positioned in the drawer parallel to a second computing device, with the first computing device and the second computing device coupled in the drawer by corresponding hot-plug connections, wherein a first plurality of components are directed from the first computing device to it and the second computing device and a second plurality of components are directed from the second computing device to the first computing device, a third computing device arranged in parallel to the first and second computing devices, if the third computing device is connected in the drawer via a suitable hot-plug connection, and a fourth calculating device arranged in parallel to the first and second calculating devices, when the third calculating device is connected in the drawer via a corresponding hot-plug connection. [14] Computing device system according to claim 13, wherein a third plurality of components of the third computing device are directed away from the second computing device and in the direction of the fourth computing device and a fourth plurality of components of the fourth computing device are directed in the direction away from the third computing device. [15] Computing device system according to claim 14, comprising the following: a first input / output (IO) interposer coupled to the first and second computing devices; and a second I / O interposer coupled with the third and fourth computing devices. [16] Computing device system according to claim 13, wherein the first, second, third and fourth calculating devices can be individually removed from the removable drawer through the opening. [17] Computing device system according to claim 13, wherein the first, second, third and fourth calculating devices are aligned in parallel to allow air to flow from a front section of the removable drawer to a rear section of the removable drawer. [18] Computing device system according to claim 13, wherein the first, second, third and fourth computing devices are coupled to a rear panel of the housing by the plurality of hot-plug connections.
Citation Information
Patent Citations
Circuit board orientation with different width portions
US7035111B1