Circuit Card Carrier Offset for Cage Airflow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Typical data processing system cage designs obstruct airflow, leading to inefficient cooling of printed circuit boards due to wider card guides that prevent cooling air from flowing close to the boards, making them susceptible to heat failure.
Innovation Solution
The circuit card and cage assembly features a carrier with offset guiding members and a plate body that positions the printed circuit board away from support plates, creating airflow channels and allowing air to flow closely around the board, while the carrier also functions as a heat sink to dissipate heat efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If card guides are made wider to accommodate printed circuit boards between flanges, then ease of installation is improved, but cooling efficiency deteriorates because card guides prevent cooling air from flowing close to the PCB surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent repositions the PCB in the normal direction (perpendicular to the mounting direction) by using a carrier with offset guiding members. This dimensional change allows the PCB to be positioned away from the card guide, enabling cooling air to flow between the card guide and PCB surface, thus resolving the conflict between installation ease and cooling efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The carrier acts as an intermediary component between the card guide and the PCB. It includes guiding members that engage with the card guide while the PCB is mounted on the carrier at an offset distance. This intermediary structure enables both easy installation through the card guide and effective cooling by maintaining a gap for air flow between the card guide and PCB.
2Productivity
If multiple card guides are arranged in an array to improve packaging efficiency, then productivity is improved, but cooling efficiency deteriorates due to reduced available space for airflow
Solution Approach 1:
By offsetting the PCB in the normal direction using the carrier structure, the patent creates additional vertical space between the card guide and PCB. This allows tight horizontal packing of multiple card guides in an array while maintaining sufficient cooling airflow paths, thus achieving both high packaging efficiency and effective cooling.
3Temperature
If card guides are positioned close to PCB surfaces for efficient cooling, then cooling efficiency is improved, but ease of installation deteriorates because PCBs cannot be easily slid into slots
Solution Approach 1:
The carrier serves as a mediator that receives the PCB during installation through the card guide slot, then positions the PCB at an optimal offset distance for cooling. The guiding members on the carrier engage with the card guide to facilitate easy insertion, while the carrier's structure maintains the PCB at a distance that enables efficient cooling airflow.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design enhances airflow and cooling efficiency by positioning the printed circuit board within airflow channels, reducing the risk of heat failure and providing effective heat dissipation, while also protecting against electrostatic discharge.
Implementation Method 1
The plurality of support plates are aligned along a second direction of the cage to define a plurality of air flow channels between the plurality of support plates
Implementation Method 2
the carrier also functions as a heat sink to dissipate heat efficiently
Data Source
AI summary
A circuit card for a data processing system includes a printed circuit board (PCB) and a carrier. The PCB includes opposing sides parallel to a mounting direction when the PCB is installed to a cage. The carrier is attached to the PCB and includes at least one guiding member offset from a normal direction of the PCB and guiding installation of the PCB in the cage. The cage includes a plurality of support plates extending along a first direction and aligned along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction of the cage to define a plurality of air flow channels. When the circuit card is mounted to one of the support plates by engaging the guiding member to the support plate, the PCB is offset from the support plate and located right in the air flow channel without being obstructed by the support plate.