Server Connector Actuation for Side-Cabled Rack Trays
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing density of trays and compute elements in data center racks limits the available space for cable connections and cooling, making it difficult to provide sufficient area for routing cables and maintaining effective airflow.
Innovation Solution
A rack design that utilizes side-cabling techniques with cable cartridges mounted vertically, allowing trays to be interconnected using passive differential pair cables, freeing up rear space for airflow and other components, and enabling scalable compute element coupling through slidable cable cartridges and actuation mechanisms for efficient connector alignment and mating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If trays are connected at the rear side of the rack, then cable connections can be established, but the available space for routing cables and cooling equipment becomes limited as tray density increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent moves cable connections from the rear side (2D plane) to the side of trays, utilizing the vertical dimension and side walls of the rack structure. This dimensional shift allows cables to be routed along the sides rather than competing for rear space, effectively resolving the space constraint while maintaining connection accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments cable connections into individual tray-side connection points rather than集中化 rear connections. Each tray has its own connection interface on the side, allowing independent cable routing and management, which frees up rear space while maintaining ease of connection.
2Productivity
If tray density is increased to improve compute capacity, then more compute elements can be housed, but the area for cable routing and cooling equipment decreases
Solution Approach 1:
By relocating cable connections to the side of trays and utilizing vertical cable routing along the rack sides, the patent enables higher tray density without proportionally reducing cable routing area. The vertical dimension provides additional space for cable management as trays are stacked more densely.
3Productivity
If tray density is increased to improve compute capacity, then more compute elements can be housed, but the area for cooling equipment decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts cable connection functions from the rear side space, separating this function from the area needed for cooling equipment. By moving connections to the side, rear space is freed up and can be dedicated to cooling equipment, allowing high compute density to be maintained without compromising cooling capacity.
4Ease of operation
If connectors are made movable to enable actuation, then alignment and mating become easier, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces movable connectors with actuation capability, transitioning from static to dynamic connection interfaces. The connectors can move between retracted and extended positions, enabling easier alignment and mating operations while maintaining a relatively simple mechanical structure through the use of springs and basic actuation mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A system is provided. In one aspect, a system includes a first set of electrical connectors disposed on a first side of a tray along a first direction. The tray is configured to mount in a rack. The system also includes a second set of electrical connectors aligned with the first set of connectors along the first direction. One of the first and second sets of electrical connectors includes actuated connectors while the other set includes fixed connectors. The actuated connectors include connection elements to be used to extend the actuated connectors to mate with the fixed connectors.