Hard Disk Backplane Signal Multiplexing for Fewer Lighting Cables
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Solution Overview
Problem
The high signal transmission cost due to the excessive number of cables connected to the hard disk backplane in servers supporting multiple types of hard disks is a significant issue.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a time-division multiplexing method to schedule and switch VPP and SGPIO lighting signals in an orderly manner, allowing them to be transmitted through a single physical cable, thereby reducing the number of cables required.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate VPP and SGPIO lighting cables are used for NVMe and SATA hard disks, then signal transmission reliability is improved, but device complexity and material cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines separate VPP and SGPIO lighting cables into a single multiplexed cable that carries both signal types. The server motherboard transmits both VPP (for NVMe) and SGPIO (for SATA) lighting signals through one shared cable connection to the hard disk backplane, reducing cable quantity while maintaining signal integrity through protocol identification and switching mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The lighting cable is designed with multi-functionality to handle both VPP and SGPIO protocols. The cable and associated logic devices are configured to universally support multiple hard disk types (NVMe, SATA, SAS) by receiving and routing appropriate lighting signals dynamically, eliminating the need for type-specific dedicated cables.
2Measurement precision
If multiple dedicated cables are connected to support multiple hard disk types, then signal transmission accuracy is improved, but loss of substance increases due to excessive cable material
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple dedicated cables for different hard disk types are merged into a single multiplexed cable infrastructure. The system combines VPP, SGPIO, and other lighting signal cables into one shared physical connection, significantly reducing cable material consumption while maintaining signal transmission accuracy through protocol-specific processing at the motherboard and backplane levels.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of the shared cable by dynamically switching between different signal protocols (VPP, SGPIO) based on the inserted hard disk type. This allows a single cable to serve multiple functions with high signal accuracy by adjusting transmission parameters according to the detected hard disk interface type.
3Ease of operation
If separate lighting cables are used for each hard disk type, then ease of operation is improved during installation, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting cable system is designed with universal compatibility to work with multiple hard disk types (NVMe, SATA, SAS) through a single cable connection. The server motherboard and hard disk backplane include automatic detection and protocol switching capabilities, allowing the same cable to be used regardless of which hard disk type is installed, simplifying installation and cable management.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method of transmitting signals are provided. The method includes: acquiring a Virtual Pin Port (VPP) lighting signal and a Serial General Purpose Input/Output (SGPIO) lighting signal by a server motherboard, a hard disk backplane being deployed with a target logic device and a set of hard disk slots; and scheduling and switching the VPP lighting signal and the SGPIO lighting signal in an orderly time-division way by using a preset time-division multiplexing manner, so as to transmit the VPP lighting signal and the SGPIO lighting signal to the target logic device through a same lighting cable.