Rack Interconnectors Using Frame Shuffles and Rocker-Arm Plenums
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Solution Overview
Problem
Large-scale computing environments face challenges in maintaining and reconfiguring complex networks due to the 'rat's nest' of cables and the limitations of hard-wired midplanes and backplanes, which become difficult to scale and modify as the computing environment grows.
Innovation Solution
The use of frame shuffles and rocker-arm plenums for interconnecting resource modules within and across frames in a rack, providing flexible and high-bandwidth connections through optical or electrical interconnectors, and frame bridges that conceal data connectors, reducing cable visibility and complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If individual cables are used to interconnect resources, then connectivity flexibility is improved, but device complexity and maintenance difficulty increase due to the 'rat's nest' of cables
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces frame shuffles and rocker-arm plenums as intermediary components that manage cable connections. Frame shuffles provide structured cable routing within frames, while rocker-arm plenums serve as movable cable management structures that can be easily configured and reconfigured, eliminating the chaotic 'rat's nest' appearance while maintaining connectivity flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the cable management system into modular components: frame-specific shuffles for individual frame organization and rack-level plenums for overall cable routing. This segmentation allows each component to be independently configured and maintained, reducing overall system complexity
2Device complexity
If hard-wired midplanes and backplanes are used for interconnections, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability and reconfiguration capability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic cable routing through rocker-arm plenums that can be moved and repositioned, and frame shuffles that allow flexible cable paths. This dynamic approach enables reconfiguration without permanent hard-wired connections, maintaining simplicity while enabling adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of cable routing by introducing structured pathways and movable components, transforming the static hard-wired approach into a flexible system that maintains organizational simplicity while enabling reconfiguration
3Temperature
If frames are mounted with air gaps for cooling or access, then thermal management is improved, but interconnection complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses frame bridges as intermediary components that span air gaps between frames. These bridges provide structured cable routing across the air gap, maintaining organized interconnections while preserving the thermal and access benefits of spaced frame mounting
Data Source
AI summary
A system is provided for computer networking. The system includes a first frame installed in a rack. The first frame includes a first frame shuffle that interconnects resource modules within the first frame and a first rocker-arm plenum that interconnects resource modules of the first frame with resource modules of other frames of the rack through a high-bandwidth fabric. The system also includes a second frame installed in the rack. The second frame includes a second frame shuffle that interconnects resource modules within the second frame and a second rocker-arm plenum communicatively coupled to the first rocker-arm plenum, wherein the second rocker-arm plenum interconnects resource modules of the second frame with resource modules of other frames of the rack through the high-bandwidth fabric. The system further includes a frame bridge. The frame bridge includes a first bracket slidably connected to a second bracket. The second bracket contains a data connector including a first terminal and a second terminal such that the data connector is contained within the frame bridge, and wherein the first terminal is coupled to the first frame shuffle and the second terminal is coupled to the second frame shuffle such that the first frame shuffle is communicatively coupled to the second frame shuffle.