Adapter facilitating blind-mate electrical connection of field replaceable units with virtual backplane of computing rack

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9335786-B2
Application number	US-201313781151-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 28, 2013
Priority date	Feb 28, 2013
Publication date	May 10, 2016
Grant date	May 10, 2016

Abstract

A system for the management of rack-mounted field replaceable units (FRUs) that affords the enhanced availability and serviceability of FRUs provided by blade-based systems but in a manner that accommodates different types of FRUs (e.g., in relation to form factors, functionality, power and cooling requirements, and/or the like) installed within a rack or cabinet.

First claim

We claim:

1. A system for automatically interconnecting a field replaceable unit (FRU) with an out of band (OOB) management network of a computing rack, the computing rack including a plurality of receiving bays for receiving a plurality of FRUs, the system comprising:
a rail member configured to slide relative to a complimentary rail member adjacent one of the plurality of receiving bays of the computing rack, wherein the rail member comprises a plurality of attachment components for fixedly securing the rail member to a side portion of the FRU; and
an adapter rigidly secured to the rail member that allows the FRU to blind-matingly electrically interconnect to the OOB management network of the computing rack, wherein the adapter comprises:
a mounting member rigidly secured to the rail member, wherein the rail member is configured to rigidly connect the mounting member to the FRU; and
an attachment member extending from the mounting member, wherein the attachment member includes a first opening therein; and

a first blind-mate connector received in the first opening and secured to the attachment member, wherein the attachment member defines a space between the first blind-mate connector and the FRU for passage of one or more cables or wires that are electrically connected between the FRU and the first blind-mate connector, and wherein the first blind-mate connector is configured to interface with a complimentary second blind-mate connector secured adjacent a rear of the one of the plurality of receiving bays as the rail member slides relative to the complimentary rail member.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the attachment member comprises a second opening therein sized to receive an alignment pin secured adjacent the second blind-mate connector to facilitate alignment and interconnection of the first and second blind-mate connectors.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the mounting member comprises a first mounting member rigidly attached to a first end of the attachment member, wherein the adapter further comprises a second mounting member rigidly attached to an opposite second end of the attachment member, and wherein the first mounting member, second mounting member and attachment member collectively define a housing for containing cabling that is electrically connected between the FRU and the first blind mate connector.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the attachment member includes:
a bracket extending between the first and second mounting members; and
a tray extending between the first and second mounting members and configured to extend from the FRU to the bracket, wherein the housing is defined by the first mounting member, second mounting member, bracket and tray.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the tray is substantially perpendicular to the bracket.

6. The system of claim 4 , wherein the tray is substantially perpendicular to the first and second mounting members.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the mounting member is substantially perpendicular to the attachment member.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first blind-mate connector includes a portion that is disposed between the attachment member and the FRU, wherein the portion of the first blind-mate connector is spaced from the FRU, and wherein the portion of the first blind-mate connector is configured to electrically connect with the one or more cables or wires.

9. A method, comprising:
using a first system to insert a first FRU into a first receiving bay of a computing rack and electrically interconnect the first FRU to an OOB management network of the computing rack, wherein the first system includes:
a rail member configured to slide relative to a complimentary rail member adjacent one of the plurality of receiving bays of the computing rack, wherein the rail member comprises a plurality of attachment components for fixedly securing the rail member to a side portion of the FRU; and
an adapter rigidly secured to the rail member that allows the FRU to blind-matingly electrically interconnect to the OOB management network of the computing rack, wherein the adapter comprises:
a mounting member rigidly secured to the rail member, wherein the rail member is configured to rigidly connect the mounting member to the FRU; and
an attachment member extending from the mounting member, wherein the attachment member includes a first opening therein; and

a first blind-mate connector received in the first opening and secured to the attachment member, wherein the attachment member defines a space between the first blind-mate connector and the FRU for passage of one or more cables or wires that are electrically connected between the FRU and the first blind-mate connector, and wherein the first blind-mate connector is configured to interface with a complimentary second blind-mate connector secured adjacent a rear of the one of the plurality of receiving bays as the rail member slides relative to the complimentary rail member;

wherein the using step includes electrically interfacing the first blind-mate connector with the complimentary second blind-mate connector.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
using a second system to insert a second FRU into a second receiving bay of the computing rack and electrically interconnect the second FRU to the OOB management network of the computing rack, wherein the first and second systems are substantially identical, and wherein the first and second FRUs are different in at least one respect.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the at least one respect comprises at least one of a form factor, a power requirement, or a cooling requirement.

12. A field replaceable unit (FRU) adapted for blind-mate electrical connection into the one of the plurality of receiving bays of the computing rack, comprising:
a housing; and
the system of claim 1 secured to the housing.

13. The FRU of claim 12 , wherein the housing includes opposing top and bottom portions, opposing first and second side portions, and opposing front and rear portions, wherein the rail member is secured to one of the first and second side portions of the housing, and wherein the attachment member and first blind mate connector are spaced from the rear portion of the housing exteriorly of the housing.

14. The FRU of claim 13 , further including:
at least one cable electrically connected between the rear portion of the FRU and the first blind mate connector.

15. The FRU of claim 14 , wherein the mounting member comprises a first mounting member rigidly attached to a first end of the attachment member, wherein the adapter further comprises a second mounting member rigidly attached to an opposite second end of the attachment member, and wherein the first mounting member, second mounting member and attachment member collectively define a housing for containing the at least one cable.

16. The FRU of claim 15 , wherein the attachment member includes:
a bracket extending between the first and second mounting members; and
a tray extending between the first and second mounting members and configured to extend from the FRU to the bracket, wherein the housing is defined by the first mounting member, second mounting member, bracket and tray.

17. A system for automatically interconnecting a field replaceable unit (FRU) with an out of band (OOB) management network of a computing rack, the computing rack including a plurality of receiving bays for receiving a plurality of FRUs, the system comprising:
a rail member configured to slide relative to a complimentary rail member adjacent one of the plurality of rec

Assignees

• Oracle Int Corp

Inventors

• Stewart Thomas E
• Rogers Richard
• Gelfond Yefim
• Brovald Russell

Classifications

• H05K7/1492 Primary

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

• Y10T29/49117

  Conductor or circuit manufacturing · CPC title

• G06F1/16 Primary

  Constructional details or arrangements · CPC title

• H05K7/1489

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

• H01R31/06

  Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter (with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/94) · CPC title