PCIe Edge Connector Power Delivery via Segmented Finger Tabs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current PCIe card edge connectors are inadequate for delivering high power levels beyond the 75W capacity, particularly for compute-intensive applications, as they are not designed for high power delivery and may require proprietary cables, which can obstruct airflow and increase costs, while also violating backward compatibility and mechanical interference issues.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating additional PCIe-compatible edge finger tabs on add-in cards that extend beyond the traditional card perimeter to provide power delivery through existing but unused features of the PCIe card geometry, allowing for up to 500-600W of power on a 48VDC rail, while maintaining backward compatibility and preserving cooling airflow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If traditional PCIe card edge connectors are used, then backward compatibility is maintained, but power delivery capacity is limited to 75W
Solution Approach 1:
The PCIe card geometry is segmented into traditional edge fingers and additional edge fingers. The additional edge fingers are extensions beyond the traditional card perimeter that provide dedicated power delivery pathways. This segmentation allows the card to utilize both legacy PCIe slots (for compatibility) and extended contact points (for high power delivery up to 500-600W on 48VDC rail).
Solution Approach 2:
The solution extends the PCIe card interface into an additional dimensional space by adding edge fingers that protrude beyond the traditional card edge. This creates new contact points with the slot that are spatially separated from the traditional signaling contacts, enabling power delivery without interfering with existing PCIe protocols or mechanical compatibility.
2Power
If proprietary cables are used for power delivery, then power capacity can be increased, but airflow obstruction and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The power delivery function is extracted from the external cable domain and integrated directly into the PCIe slot-card interface itself. The additional edge fingers on the card mate with corresponding contacts in the slot, creating an integrated power pathway that eliminates the need for separate external power cables, thereby removing airflow obstructions while maintaining high power delivery capability.
3Power
If additional edge finger tabs are added to PCIe cards, then power delivery capacity increases, but mechanical interference may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The additional edge fingers are positioned at specific locations beyond the traditional card perimeter where they contact dedicated power delivery contacts in the slot. This localized addition ensures that the extended fingers only engage with corresponding receptacles designed for them, avoiding mechanical interference with the traditional PCIe signaling contacts and retention mechanisms.
4Device complexity
If power and ground traces are routed near high-speed signaling traces, then connector size is reduced, but signal integrity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The connector design creates asymmetric routing paths where power and ground traces are deliberately routed away from high-speed signaling traces on the PCB. This asymmetric separation maintains electrical isolation between power delivery pathways and data signaling pathways, preserving signal integrity while accommodating both functions within the connector structure.
Data Source
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AI summary
A device includes a circuit board with circuit components, and first edge finger tab extending from the circuit board, and a second edge finger tab extending from the circuit board. The first edge finger tab includes electrical contacts to provide signaling to and from particular circuit components of the circuit board, and is to mate with a Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe)-compatible edge card connection mechanism of a baseboard. The second edge finger tab includes electrical contacts to provide power delivery to the circuit board, is to mate with a second edge card connection mechanism of the baseboard. In some aspects, the second edge finger tab may be a PCIe-compatible feature that is typically to prevent the device from being inserted into a legacy PCI edge card connection mechanism, or with a PCIe-compatible feature that is typically to engage a retention mechanism of a baseboard.