Server chassis with dual purpose bay for storage module or power supply module

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016205804-A1
Application number	US-201514594552-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 12, 2015
Priority date	Jan 12, 2015
Publication date	Jul 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An information handling system (IHS) includes a chassis that has an accessory bay which is accessible from an exterior of the IHS. The accessory bay supports insertion of one of the PSU and the storage module. A midplane apparatus attached to the chassis at an interior end of the accessory bay has a first electrical connector for electrically connecting to a power supply unit (PSU) connector and a second electrical connector for electrically communicating with a storage module connector when a storage module is inserted into the accessory bay. The IHS detects via the first electrical connector when a PSU is inserted in the accessory bay, and a power controller configures the IHS to receive electrical power from the PSU. The IHS also detects via the second electrical connector when a storage module is inserted in the accessory bay and configures the storage module for access and data storage.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An information handling system (IHS) comprising:
a chassis having an accessory bay that is accessible from an exterior of IHS; and a midplane apparatus attached to the chassis at an interior end of the accessory bay and having both (1) a first electrical connector for electrically connecting to a power supply unit (PSU) connector when a PSU is inserted into the accessory bay and (2) a second electrical connector for electrically communicating with a storage module connector when a storage module is inserted into the accessory bay; wherein the accessory bay supports insertion of one of the PSU and the storage module to enhance the IHS.

2 . The IHS of claim 1 , wherein the chassis further has a primary PSU bay, the IHS further comprising:
a primary PSU received in the PSU bay; and a power controller which functions (i) to detect a backup PSU inserted into the accessory bay, (ii) to detect a failure of the primary PSU, and (iii) to switch from the primary PSU to the backup PSU in response to detecting both a presence of the backup PSU and the failure of the primary PSU.

3 . The IHS of claim 1 , further comprising:
a storage controller that detects, via the second electrical connector, a storage module inserted into the accessory bay and which configures the IHS to utilize the additional storage capacity and configures the storage module for access and data storage in response to detecting the storage module.

4 . The IHS of claim 1 , further comprising:
a thermal controller that receives and identifies data via the first and second electrical connectors from any storage module or PSU that is inserted in the accessory bay and which configures a thermal algorithm to cool a specific inserted module in response to receiving and identifying the data from the storage module or the PSU.

5 . The IHS of claim 1 , wherein the chassis is a rack-mounted chassis.

6 . The IHS of claim 1 , wherein:
the accessory bay comprises a latch engaging surface to receive a latch provided on one of the PSU and the storage module; when a PSU is inserted, the PSU includes a latch to releasably engage the latch engaging surface; and when a storage module is inserted, the storage module includes a carrier which comprises a latch to releasably engage the latch engaging surface.

7 . The IHS of claim 1 , wherein the storage module comprises:
a carrier that is received within the accessory bay; and one or more drive modules provisioned within the carrier.

8 . The IHS of claim 7 , wherein the one or more drive modules comprise selected ones of hard disk drives (HDDs) and solid state drives (SDDs).

9 . The IHS of claim 7 , wherein a carrier of the inserted module comprises a venting structure on an exterior side to exhaust the cooling air to the hot aisle.

10 . The IHS of claim 7 , wherein the carrier further comprises:
an interposer structure in electrical connection with the one or more drive modules; and an interposer cable in electrical connection between the interposer structure and the storage module connector.

11 . A method of selectively provisioning an information handling system (IHS) with storage and power capabilities, the method comprising:
forming a chassis having an accessory bay; attaching a midplane apparatus to the chassis and that is provided at an interior end of the accessory bay; presenting a first electrical connector on the midplane apparatus to mate with a corresponding power supply unit (PSU) connector electrical connector of a PSU when inserted into the accessory bay; and presenting a second electrical connector that is presented on the midplane apparatus to mate with a corresponding storage module connector of a storage module when inserted into the accessory bay.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein forming the chassis comprises forming a rack-mounted chassis.

13 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising forming a storage module that includes a carrier that is provisioned with one or more drive modules and that is received within the accessory bay.

14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
providing a latch on each of the carrier and the PSU; and forming a latch engaging surface on the accessory bay to receive the latch provided on one of the PSU and the storage module.

15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein forming the carrier comprises forming a venting structure on an exterior side to exhaust the cooling air.

16 . The method of claim 13 , wherein forming the carrier further comprises:
attaching to the carrier an interposer structure that is in electrical connection to the one or more drive modules; and connecting an interposer cable in electrical connection between the interposer structure and the storage module connector.

17 . A method of selectively configuring an information handling system (IHS) with storage and power capabilities, the IHS having a chassis including an accessory bay that is accessible from an exterior of IHS, the IHS further having a midplane apparatus attached to the chassis at an interior end of the accessory bay and having both (1) a first electrical connector for electrically connecting to a power supply unit (PSU) connector when a PSU is inserted into the accessory bay and (2) a second electrical connector for electrically communicating with a storage module connector when a storage module is inserted into the accessory bay; wherein the accessory bay supports insertion of one of the PSU and the storage module to enhance the IHS, the method comprising:
detecting via the first electrical connector a PSU in the accessory bay; configuring the IHS to receive electrical power from the PSU in response to detecting the PSU; detecting via the second electrical connector a storage module in the accessory bay; and configuring the storage module for access in response to detecting the storage module.

18 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the chassis further includes a primary PSU bay, the method further comprising:
detecting a backup PSU in the accessory bay; detecting a failure of a primary PSU in the primary PSU bay; and switching from the primary PSU to the backup PSU in response to detecting both the backup PSU and the failure of the primary PSU.

19 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
detecting, via the first and second electrical connectors, whether a storage module or a PSU is provisioned in the accessory bay; and configuring a thermal algorithm to cool the specific inserted module in response to detecting the storage module or the PSU.

Assignees

• Dell Products Lp

Inventors

• Hartman Corey D

Classifications

• H05K7/20836

  Thermal management, e.g. server temperature control · CPC title

• H05K7/1489

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

• H05K7/1492 Primary

  having electrical distribution arrangements, e.g. power supply or data communications · CPC title

• G06F1/30 Primary

  Means for acting in the event of power-supply failure or interruption, e.g. power-supply fluctuations (for resetting only G06F1/24) · CPC title

• G06F1/188

  Mounting of power supply units · CPC title