Drive Assembly Adapter for Vertical Plugging in Server Chassis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Rack-mounted servers have limited drive density due to the requirement of a single row of drive assemblies per chassis, which restricts space utilization and increases the need for reserved space between drives.

Innovation Solution

A drive assembly with an adapter that allows vertical plugging onto a bottom-plane in the chassis, utilizing a printed circuit board with interfaces to enable dense arrangement of drives without requiring additional operational space between them.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If drive assemblies are arranged in a single row per chassis, then ease of operation is maintained, but drive density is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrive densityVSAvoidchassis structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from horizontal single-row drive arrangement to vertical multi-row arrangement by changing the plugging direction from horizontal to vertical. The adapter enables the drive interface to be plugged into the bottom-plane vertically, allowing drives to be stacked in multiple rows within the same chassis footprint, thereby increasing drive density without significantly increasing chassis structural complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The adapter serves as an intermediary component that connects the drive to the bottom-plane. It includes a first interface that plugs into the drive interface and a second interface that plugs into the bottom-plane, enabling the interface transformation needed for vertical plugging and multi-row arrangement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Area of stationary object

If space is reserved between neighboring back-planes for horizontal plugging, then ease of operation is improved, but space utilization is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespace utilizationVSAvoidplugging operation convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the traditional horizontal plugging approach by implementing vertical plugging from the bottom-plane. Instead of accessing drives from the front horizontally, drives are plugged vertically from the bottom, eliminating the need for horizontal clearance space between back-planes while maintaining operational accessibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The plugging direction is changed from horizontal (in the plane of the back-plane) to vertical (perpendicular to the bottom-plane). This dimensional change allows drives to be arranged in multiple rows without requiring horizontal clearance, thereby improving space utilization

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS10194554B2Drive assembly, chassis assembly, and server device

Publication Date: 2019.01.29 EMC IP HLDG CO LLC

AI summary

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a drive assembly, a chassis assembly, and a server device. The drive assembly comprises: a drive having a first end extending in a direction perpendicular to a length direction of the drive and a first side extending in a direction perpendicular to a width direction of the drive, wherein the drive interface is provided at the first end of the drive; and an adapter having first and second interfaces that are electrically connected with each other, wherein the first interface is plugged into the drive interface, and the second interface is adjacent to the first side of the drive so as to be electrically coupled to other components.