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

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9678544-B2
Application number	US-201615086584-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 31, 2016
Priority date	Feb 28, 2013
Publication date	Jun 13, 2017
Grant date	Jun 13, 2017

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 field replaceable unit (FRU) adapted for blind-mate electrical connection into a receiving bay of a computing rack, comprising:
a housing comprising opposing top and bottom portions, opposing first and second side portions, and opposing front and rear portions;
first and second slide rail members respectively secured to the first and second side portions of the housing, wherein each of the first and second slide rail members is configured to interface with a complimentary slide rail member secured adjacent a side portion of the receiving bay;
an adapter comprising a mounting portion and an attachment portion, wherein the mounting portion is non-movably secured relative to the housing, and wherein the attachment portion is spaced from the rear portion of the housing;
a blind-mate connector secured to the attachment portion of the adapter; and
a plurality of cables, wherein a first of the plurality of cables is electrically interconnected between the blind-mate connector and a power port in the housing, wherein a second of the plurality of cables is electrically interconnected between the blind-mate connector and a communications port of the housing, and wherein the blind-mate connector of the FRU is configured to interface with a complimentary blind mate connector secured adjacent a rear of the receiving bay while the first and second slide rail members are sliding relative to the complimentary slide rail members of the receiving bay to electrically interconnect the FRU to a management network of the computing rack.

2. The FRU of claim 1 , wherein the mounting portion is secured to one of the first and second slide rail members.

3. The FRU of claim 1 , wherein the attachment portion extends from the mounting portion.

4. The FRU of claim 1 , wherein the attachment portion defines a space between the blind-mate connector and the rear portion of the housing for passage of the first and second cables.

5. The FRU of claim 1 , wherein the mounting portion is a first mounting member rigidly attached to a first end of the attachment portion, wherein the adapter further includes a second mounting member rigidly attached to an opposite second end of the attachment portion, and wherein the first mounting member, second mounting member and attachment portion collectively define an enclosure for containing the first and second cables.

6. The FRU of claim 5 , wherein the attachment portion 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 rear portion of the housing to the bracket, wherein the enclosure is defined by the first mounting member, second mounting member, bracket and tray.

7. The FRU of claim 1 , wherein the attachment portion includes an opening that receives the blind-mate connector.

8. The FRU of claim 1 , further including:
a mechanical connector secured to the attachment portion, wherein the mechanical connector is configured to contact a complimentary mechanical connector secured adjacent the rear of the receiving bay while the first and second slide rail members are sliding relative to the complimentary slide rail members of the receiving bay to align the blind-mate connector with the complimentary blind-mate connector.

9. The FRU of claim 8 , wherein the mechanical connector is spaced from the blind-mate connector.

10. The FRU of claim 8 , wherein one of the mechanical connector and complimentary mechanical connector comprises an alignment pin, and wherein the other of the mechanical connector and complimentary mechanical connector comprises an alignment barrel that is configured to receive the alignment pin.

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

• H01R13/629

  Additional means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. aligning or guiding means, levers, gas pressure {electrical locking indicators, manufacturing tolerances (separate tools or apparatus H01R43/26)} · CPC title

• G06F1/16

  Constructional details or arrangements · 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

• H05K7/1489

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