Computing workstation with accessible in a rack environment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11071228-B2
Application number	US-201916583155-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 25, 2019
Priority date	Sep 26, 2018
Publication date	Jul 20, 2021
Grant date	Jul 20, 2021

Abstract

A rack system for one or more computing systems is described. The rack system may include support structures, or rack structures, and a housing affixed or un-affixed to the support structures. The rack system may include rails, including telescoping rails, affixed to the support structures and coupled to the computing system. When the rack system is in a closed position, the computing system is positioned within the housing. When the rack system is in an open position, the computing system is removed from the housing and the components of the computing system are accessible. In the open position, only components on one surface of the circuit board are accessible. However, the computing system can rotate, thereby placing the components on the opposing surface of the circuit board in an accessible position. Alternatively, the housing can be affixed to the computing system, and include modifications for access to the computing system.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A rack system, comprising:
support structures;
a housing attached to the support structures, the housing comprising:
a first housing component; and
a second housing component coupled to the first housing component by a first latch assembly, the second housing component comprising an opening;

a computing assembly located in the housing, the computing assembly comprising:
a computing system comprising a lid and fans integrated with the lid;
a circuit board extending from the computing system, the circuit board having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, a first component located on the first surface; and
a second component located on the second surface, wherein a removal of the computing system from the housing comprises a first access position of the first component on the first surface, and wherein a rotation of the computing assembly comprises a second access position of the second component on the second surface, the second access position different from the first access position; and

a hatch coupled to the second housing component by a second latch assembly, wherein the hatch is capable of being i) positioned in the opening and ii) removed from the opening.

2. The rack system of claim 1 , wherein the computing system that is removable from the housing.

3. The rack system of claim 1 , wherein removal of the hatch allows access to at least the first component.

4. The rack system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first rail coupled to the computing assembly; and
a second rail coupled to the computing assembly, the first rail and the second rail allowing the rotation of the computing assembly wherein the first rail is coupled to the computing assembly by a first cantilevered coupling mechanism, and wherein the second rail coupled to the computing assembly by a second cantilevered coupling mechanism.

5. The rack system of claim 4 , wherein the support structures comprise:
a first support structure coupled with the first rail; and
a second support structure coupled with the second rail, wherein the computing assembly is perpendicular, prior to the rotation, with respect to the first support structure and the second support structure, and wherein the computing assembly is parallel, subsequent to the rotation, with respect to the first support structure and the second support structure.

6. The rack system of claim 1 , further comprising:
an air shielding element located on the computing assembly;
a first electromagnetic interference shield element located on the computing assembly; and
a second electromagnetic interference shield element located on the housing.

7. A rack system, comprising:
a first support structure having a first rail coupled to a computing system;
a second support structure having a second rail coupled to the computing system;
a housing coupled with the first support structure and the second support structure, the housing comprising:
a first housing component; and
a second housing component coupled to the first housing component by a first latch assembly, the second housing component comprising an opening,
wherein:
a closed position comprises the housing receiving computing system, and
an open position comprises the computing system removed from the housing and capable of rotation with respect to the first support structure and the second support structure, wherein the computing system comprises a circuit board that is perpendicular, prior to the rotation, with respect to the first support structure and the second support structure, and wherein the circuit board is parallel, subsequent to the rotation, with respect to the first support structure and the second support structure; and

a hatch coupled to the second housing component by a second latch assembly, wherein the hatch is capable of being i) positioned in the opening and ii) removed from the opening.

8. The rack system of claim 7 , wherein;
the circuit board is perpendicular, prior to the rotation, with respect to the first support structure and the second support structure, and
the circuit board is parallel, subsequent to the rotation, with respect to the first support structure and the second support structure.

9. The rack system of claim 8 , wherein:
the circuit board comprises a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface,
subsequent to the rotation, the first surface faces toward the first support structure and the second support structure.

10. The rack system of claim 9 , wherein, subsequent to the rotation, the second surface faces away from the first support structure and the second support structure.

11. The rack system of claim 9 , wherein the circuit board comprises:
processing circuitry located on the first surface; and
a memory module located on the second surface.

12. The rack system of claim 7 , wherein the closed position comprises the computing system positioned between the first support structure and the second support structure.

13. The rack system of claim 7 , wherein the housing comprises metal and forms an electromagnetic interference shield element.

14. The rack system of claim 7 , wherein the rotation comprises a 180-degree rotation with respect to the first rail and the second rail.

15. The rack system of claim 7 , further comprising:
a front panel; and
a latch assembly that couples the front panel with the housing, wherein the latch assembly is capable of i) locking the latch assembly with the front panel, and ii) locking out the computing system from the housing.

16. A rack system, comprising:
a first support structure having a first rail;
a second support structure having a second rail;
a housing coupled to the first support structure and the second support structure, the housing comprising:
a first housing component; and
a second housing component coupled to the first housing component by a first latch assembly, the second housing component comprising an opening;

a computing system that is capable of removal from the housing, the computing system comprising a circuit board having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the computing system rotationally coupled with the first rail and the second rail to provide i) a first access position to a first component on the first surface, and ii) a second access position to a second component on the second surface, the second access position defined by a 180-degree rotation relative to the first access position; and
a hatch coupled to the second housing component by a second latch assembly, wherein the hatch is capable of being i) positioned in the opening and ii) removed from the opening.

17. The rack system of claim 16 , wherein the housing comprises metal and forms an electromagnetic interference shield element.

18. The rack system of claim 16 , wherein the computing system rotationally coupled with the first rail and the second rail such that the computing system is capable of 180-degree rotation with respect to the first rail and the second rail.

19. The rack system of claim 16 , wherein the first component comprises a processing circuit, and wherein the second component comprises a memory module.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Hershey Daniel D
• Pistor Christoph M
• Andre Bartley K
• Kosoglow Richard D
• Mcbroom Michael D
• Bharadwaj Shravan
• Berk Jonathan L
• Farahani Houtan R
• Cuseo James M
• Allan Ii William R
• Parell David C
• Knopf Eric A
• Mcfarland Seth G

Classifications

• H05K7/1487 Primary

  Blade assemblies, e.g. blade cases or inner arrangements within a blade · CPC title

• H05K9/0062

  Structures of standardised dimensions, e.g. 19" rack, chassis for servers or telecommunications · CPC title

• H05K7/16 Primary

  on hinges or pivots · CPC title

• H05K7/1489

  characterized by the mounting of blades therein, e.g. brackets, rails, trays (H05K7/1491 takes precedence) · CPC title