Backplane-Less Storage Signal Routing With a Passive Three-Connector Cable
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current backplane cards in workstation designs do not support a wide variety of storage drives, incur additional costs, increase electrical loss, and occupy valuable space, while also requiring complex circuitry and longer signal traces for high-speed signals.
Innovation Solution
Eliminate the backplane card by relocating control circuitry to the motherboard, using a high-speed passive cable with three connectors to route signals between the storage drive, storage controller, and motherboard, and employing an interface card to adapt multiple drive types, potentially eliminating the need for an interposer card by using common NVME drive connectors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a backplane card is used to attach storage drives, then storage drives can be connected to the motherboard, but the backplane card increases cost, electrical loss, and occupies valuable space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the backplane card from the system and relocates its control circuitry to the motherboard. This eliminates the intermediate backplane component that caused electrical loss, while maintaining the essential function of connecting storage drives to the motherboard through direct cable routing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the signal routing function by using separate cables for different signal types (power, data, control) instead of a unified backplane card. This segmentation allows each cable to be optimized for its specific signal requirements, reducing overall electrical loss.
2Reliability
If a backplane card is used to attach storage drives, then storage drives can be connected to the motherboard, but the backplane card increases cost and complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts control circuitry from the backplane card and integrates it directly into the motherboard. This eliminates the need for a separate backplane card with its own circuitry, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining reliable storage drive connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the backplane card's control circuitry with the motherboard's existing circuitry. By combining these functions into a single integrated system, the patent eliminates the complexity of having separate backplane components while preserving all necessary connection functions.
3Reliability
If a backplane card is used to attach storage drives, then storage drives can be connected to the motherboard, but the backplane card occupies valuable space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the backplane card from the storage bay, extracting it from the system entirely. This eliminates the space that would have been occupied by the backplane card while maintaining the ability to connect storage drives through direct cable routing from the motherboard.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a backplane card is used to support multiple drive types, then drive compatibility increases, but the backplane cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements universality by using a standardized cable interface that can accommodate multiple storage drive types (SATA, SAS, NVMe) through a single cable design. This eliminates the need for different backplane cards for different drive types, reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining broad compatibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses parameter changes in the cable connector design to support multiple drive types. By making the connector interface adaptable to different electrical and mechanical parameters, a single cable design can work with various storage drive types without requiring expensive specialized backplane cards.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus, system, and method for signal routing in a system lacking a backplane. One apparatus includes an interface card and a cable having a first connector configured to couple with a storage drive via the interface card, a second connector configured to couple with a motherboard, and a third connector configured to couple with a storage controller located apart from the motherboard. The cable routes control signals and data signals between the storage drive, the storage controller, and the motherboard.