Chassis Design with Segmented Power Board for Cooling and Upgradability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current chassis designs for network switching products in data centers are limited by fixed slot capacities, signal integrity issues, and interference with cooling airflow, leading to reduced upgradability and a shorter lifespan, as well as high infrastructure costs.
Innovation Solution
The proposed chassis design features a frame divided into regions with a power distribution board near the mid-plane, allowing for flexible orientation and placement of power supply, networking modules, and fan trays, which enhances slot capacity, adaptability to increasing signal characteristics, and improves airflow for better cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a backplane design is used to provide fixed interconnection and routing between network switching line cards, then connectivity and routing are established, but the number of slots is fixed and provides a finite upper limit on network switching capability, and the design limits upgradability due to signal integrity and frequency limits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the chassis into multiple regions (first region for power supply modules, second region for networking modules, third region for fan trays) separated by a power distribution board. This segmentation allows independent configuration and upgradation of networking modules without being constrained by a fixed backplane design, thereby increasing slot capacity and adaptability while maintaining reliable power distribution and connectivity.
2Reliability
If a monolithic backplane is used to provide power supply wiring and interconnections, then power distribution and connectivity are achieved, but it interferes significantly with cooling airflow between the front and back of the chassis
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the power distribution function from a monolithic backplane and places it on a separate power distribution board located in the first region. This extraction creates open pathways for cooling airflow to move freely from the front to the back of the chassis through the second and third regions, eliminating the airflow interference caused by a monolithic backplane while maintaining reliable power distribution and connectivity to all modules.
3Adaptability or versatility
If interchangeable slots are used to provide flexibility in network configuration, then the ability to swap and upgrade network switching products is enabled, but the fixed backplane design limits the effective life span of the chassis
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic chassis architecture where the power distribution board and regional divisions allow for flexible reconfiguration and upgradation of networking modules. This dynamic design enables the chassis to adapt to evolving network requirements across multiple generations of products, significantly extending its effective life span compared to fixed backplane designs that become obsolete when upgrade requirements exceed the fixed slot configuration.
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical equipment chassis includes a frame open to a first side and an opposite second side and a power board located near a mid-plane of the chassis coupling power supply modules to first networking modules and a second networking module. A first region open to the first side can receive first power supply modules. A second region open to the first side is adjacent to the first region and can receive the first networking modules and the second networking module oriented with a first orientation. A third region open to the second side can receive fan trays with fans and third networking modules. The third networking modules are oriented orthogonal to the first orientation. The power board at least partially separates the first and third regions and only partially separates the second and third regions. The chassis permits air flow from the first side to the second side.