Cold Plate Locking for Safe Liquid-Cooled Module Insertion
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Information processing devices with movable cold plates for cooling pluggable modules face issues where users may forget to disengage the cold plates, leading to potential damage during the installation or removal of pluggable modules.
Innovation Solution
A pluggable module locking mechanism that automatically prevents the installation or removal of pluggable modules when the cold plates are engaged, and allows installation or removal when the cold plates are disengaged, thereby preventing damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If cold plates are made movable to allow easy installation and removal of pluggable modules, then ease of operation is improved, but risk of damage during module installation/removal increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism performs a preliminary action by automatically locking the cold plate in place before the module insertion process begins, and automatically unlocking after removal is complete. This preliminary locking action prevents the harmful scenario where modules are installed or removed while cold plates are in vulnerable positions, thereby preventing damage while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism incorporates feedback by detecting the position state of the cold plate and automatically adjusting the locking status accordingly. When the cold plate is in an engaged position with a module, the mechanism feedbacks a locked state to prevent removal. When disengaged, it feedbacks an unlocked state to allow installation. This feedback loop eliminates the need for user memory about cold plate positions, preventing damage while maintaining operational ease.
2Reliability
If automatic locking mechanism is added to prevent damage, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism merges multiple functions into a single integrated system: it combines the cold plate position detection, locking/unlocking control, and module installation/removal prevention into one unified mechanism. By merging these functions, the patent achieves high reliability through automatic protection while minimizing the increase in device complexity that would result from separate independent systems for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism operates autonomously through self-service by automatically detecting cold plate positions and adjusting locking status without user intervention. The mechanism uses the existing mechanical structures of the cold plate and module bay to sense positions and trigger locking/unlocking actions, rather than requiring separate sensors, actuators, or control systems. This self-service approach achieves reliable automatic protection with minimal added complexity.
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
The locking mechanism ensures that pluggable modules cannot be inadvertently installed or removed while the cold plates are engaged, thereby preventing damage to the cold plates, pluggable modules, and thermal interface materials.
Implementation Method 1
a cold plate may be thermally coupled with the pluggable module, and the cold plate may transfer heat from the pluggable module into a flow of liquid coolant
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
An information processing device comprises bays to removably receive pluggable modules, a liquid cooling system comprising cold plates in the bays, and a module locking mechanism. The cold plates are movable between an engaged state with the pluggable modules and a disengaged state. The module locking mechanism prevents insertion and removal of the pluggable modules into or out of the bays if the cold plates are in the engaged state, and allows insertion/removal of the pluggable modules if the cold plates are in the disengaged state. The device may also comprise a cold plate engagement mechanism actuatable to move the cold plates between the engaged and disengaged states, and the module locking mechanism may be mechanically coupled to the cold plate engagement mechanism such that actuation of the cold plate engagement mechanism drives the module locking mechanism to switch between preventing and allowing insertion/removal.