Side-Mounted Cable Cartridge for Dense Rack Tray Connectivity
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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 at the rear of the racks, complicating cable routing and reducing room for cooling equipment.
Innovation Solution
A rack design that incorporates cable cartridges mounted on the sides of the rack, perpendicular to the trays, with connectors that facilitate communication between trays, allowing for shorter cable lengths and freeing up rear space for cooling and other uses, and enabling scalable interconnection of trays within the rack.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If cable connections are made at the rear side of trays, then cable routing is simplified, but the available space for cable connections becomes limited as tray density increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions cable connections from the traditional rear-side horizontal arrangement to a side-mounted vertical arrangement. Cable cartridges are positioned on the side of the rack perpendicular to the trays, utilizing the vertical dimension and side space that was previously underutilized. This dimensional shift provides abundant space for cable connections without interfering with rear cooling equipment.
2Adaptability or versatility
If more cable connections are made at the rear side, then connectivity between trays is improved, but less room is available for cooling equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The invention relocates cable connection functionality to the side of the rack, separating the connectivity function from the rear space. This spatial separation allows the rear side to be dedicated exclusively to cooling equipment while the side-mounted cable cartridges provide the necessary connectivity, eliminating the trade-off between cable connections and cooling space.
3Adaptability or versatility
If longer cables are used to connect trays at the rear, then connectivity is achieved, but signal quality degrades and cable management becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
By positioning cable cartridges on the side of the rack adjacent to each tray, the invention dramatically reduces cable lengths. Connectors on the side of each tray mate directly with corresponding connectors on the cable cartridge, eliminating the need for long rear-running cables. This reduces signal degradation and simplifies cable management while maintaining full connectivity.
Data Source
AI summary
A rack is provided. In one aspect, a rack includes a plurality of trays mounted in the rack in a first orientation. The rack also includes a cable cartridge mounted in the rack in a second orientation perpendicular to the first orientation. The cable cartridge includes (i) connectors configured to connect to tray connectors on respective sides of the plurality of trays and (ii) cables connected to the connectors in the cable cartridge to facilitate communication between the plurality of trays.