Modular network switches, associated structures, and associated methods of manufacture and use

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10028417-B2
Application number	US-201615291348-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 12, 2016
Priority date	May 11, 2016
Publication date	Jul 17, 2018
Grant date	Jul 17, 2018

Abstract

Modular network switches and other computer systems are described herein. A modular network switch can include a latching device for installing and removing computer modules (e.g., line cards) from an associated cabinet or enclosure. The network switch can also include interconnected computer modules (e.g., line cards, fabric cards, control modules, etc.) that include circuit boards oriented parallel to the flow of cooling air through the cabinet in the absence of a backplane or midplane oriented perpendicular to the air flow. The absence of such backplanes and/or midplanes provides a more direct air flow path through the cabinet, thereby enabling a more efficient flow of cooling air and lower operating temperatures. Additionally, the network switch can include an orthogonal arrangement of data planes, control planes, and/or power planes that can be efficiently interconnected to increase operational speed and further facilitate the flow of cooling air through the computer cabinet.

First claim

We claim:

1. A computer system comprising:
a cabinet having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the first end includes a plurality of individual openings;
a plurality of computer modules, wherein each computer module includes a circuit board and a face panel, wherein each circuit board is operably positioned within the cabinet and each face panel fits across a corresponding one of the openings, and wherein each face panel includes a perforated portion that is from 75% to 90% open;
at least one air mover mounted to the cabinet, wherein the air mover is configured to draw air into the cabinet via the perforated potions of the face panels and move the air over the circuit boards;
a plurality of power supply units positioned within an internal volume of the cabinet, wherein each of the power supply units converts mains AC power to DC power for operation of the computer modules;
a plurality of first AC power inlets positioned at the first end of the cabinet, wherein each of the first AC power inlets includes a receptacle for receiving a power cord connector; and
a plurality of second AC power inlets positioned at the second end of the cabinet, wherein each of the second AC power inlets includes a receptacle for receiving a power cord connector, wherein each of the power supply units is operably connected to at least one of the first AC power inlets and at least one of the second AC power inlets and is configured to receive AC power from either of the at least one first AC power inlet or the at least one second AC power inlet.

2. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the perforated portions are from 79% to 86% open.

3. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the perforated portions are 82% open.

4. The computer system of claim 1 wherein each face panel is a front panel mounted perpendicularly to a front edge portion of each circuit board.

5. The computer system of claim 1 wherein each face panel is made from a unitary piece of material, and wherein the perforated portion of each face panel includes a plurality of apertures that are machined into the unitary piece of material.

6. The computer system of claim 1 wherein each face panel is made from a unitary piece of material, and wherein the unitary piece of material includes the perforated portion and at least one opening for a connector port.

7. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the perforated portion of each face panel includes a plurality of apertures, wherein each face panel is made from an extruded piece of material that includes the plurality of apertures and at least one opening for a connector port, and wherein the plurality of apertures and the at least one opening are machined into the extruded piece of material.

8. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the perforated portion of each face panel includes a plurality of apertures in a regular pattern, and wherein each of the apertures has the same shape and size.

9. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the perforated portion of each face plate has a plurality of hexagonal apertures in a regular pattern.

10. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the perforated portion of each face plate has a plurality apertures in a honeycomb pattern.

11. The computer system of claim 1 wherein each face panel is comprised of aluminum material having a thickness of from 1 mm to 6 mm, and wherein the perforated portion of each face panel includes a plurality of apertures in a regular pattern, wherein the plurality of apertures are separated by side walls having a width of from 0.2 mm to 0.5 mm.

12. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the circuit boards are first circuit boards positioned parallel to each other, and wherein the computer system further comprises:
a plurality of second circuit boards positioned parallel to each other and nonparallel to the first circuit boards within the cabinet, wherein the at least one air mover is configured to draw air into the cabinet via the perforated potions of the face panels and move the air in a direct path through the computer cabinet over the first and second circuit boards, and wherein the first and second circuit boards are oriented in edgewise orientation relative to the air path.

13. A modular network switch comprising:
an enclosure having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the first end includes a plurality of openings;
a plurality of line cards, wherein each line card includes a first circuit board and a face panel, wherein each first circuit board is operably positioned within the enclosure and each face panel fits across a corresponding one of the openings, and wherein each face panel includes a perforated portion that is from 79% to 86% open;
a plurality of fabric cards positioned parallel to each other in the enclosure and nonparallel to the line cards, wherein each fabric card includes a second circuit board;
at least one air mover mounted to the enclosure, wherein the air mover is configured to draw air into the enclosure via the perforated potions of the face panels and move the air through the enclosure over the first and second circuit boards, and wherein the first and second circuit boards are oriented in edgewise orientation relative to the air path;
a plurality of power supply units positioned within an internal volume of the enclosure, wherein each of the power supply units converts mains AC power to DC power for operation of the line cards and the fabric cards;
a plurality of first AC power inlets positioned at the first end of the enclosure, wherein each of the first AC power inlets includes a receptacle for receiving a power cord connector; and
a plurality of second AC power inlets positioned at the second end of the enclosure, wherein each of the second AC power inlets includes a receptacle for receiving a power cord connector, wherein each of the power supply units is operably connected to at least one of the first AC power inlets and at least one of the second AC power inlets and is configured to receive AC power from either of the at least one first AC power inlet or the at least one second AC power inlet.

14. The modular network switch of claim 13 wherein each of the line cards is directly electrically connected to a corresponding fabric card in the absence of another circuit board between the respective line cards and fabric cards.

15. The computer system of claim 13 :
wherein the plurality of openings in the first end of the cabinet are first openings,
wherein the second end of the cabinet includes at least one second opening,
wherein the at least one air mover includes a fan having a cover that fits across the second opening, wherein the cover has a perforated portion that is from 79% to 86% open, and
wherein the fan is configured to draw air into the cabinet via the perforated potions of the face panels, move the air over the first and second circuit boards, and move the air out of the cabinet via the perforated portion of the fan cover.

16. A network switch comprising:
a cabinet having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a plurality of walls defining an internal volume extending between the first and second ends;
a plurality of line cards operably positioned in a first portion of the internal volume, wherein each of the line cards includes at least one port configured to receive data from an external device in a network;
a plurality of fabric cards operably positioned in a second portion of the internal volume, wherein each of the fabric cards includes at least one switch element configured to route the data through the network switch;

Assignees

• Facebook Inc

Inventors

• Schmidtke Hans-Juergen
• Yao Zhiping
• Leung Che Kin
• Wang Xu

Classifications

• H04L49/15

  Interconnection of switching modules · CPC title

• H04L49/405

  Physical details, e.g. power supply, mechanical construction or backplane of ATM switches · CPC title

• H05K7/20736 Primary

  within cabinets for removing heat from server blades · CPC title

• H04L49/30

  Peripheral units, e.g. input or output ports · CPC title

• G06F1/183

  Internal mounting support structures, e.g. for supporting printed circuit boards · CPC title