Adjustable riser cage for varying length adapters

An adjustable riser cage retains varying length adapters. For example, the adjustable riser cage may support a short adapter card, a ¾ length adapter card, or a long adapter card. The adjustable riser cage includes a riser portion and an extension portion. The riser portion includes one or more guidance features and a plurality of first retention members. The extension portion is slide ably supported against only the one or more guidance members, and includes a second retention member configured to engage with a particular first retention member depending upon a length of the adapter card to be supported. The adjustable riser cage may be installed into a larger electronic system having a plurality of electronic components. The adjustable riser cage allows for increased access to the electronic components because the extension portion is not supported by external or non-integral support features that may block access to the electronic components.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention are generally related to mechanical packaging for electronic systems and to an adjustable riser cage configured to retain varying length adapter cards.

SUMMARY

Further embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to an adjustable riser cage configured to retain varying length adapter cards, a design structure tangibly embodied in a machine readable storage medium for designing or manufacturing an adjustable riser cage configured to retain varying length adapter cards, and a method of providing an adjustable riser cage configured to retain varying length adapter cards.

In certain embodiments the adjustable riser cage includes a riser portion and an extension portion. The riser portion includes one or more guidance features and a plurality of first retention members. The extension portion is slide ably supported against only the one or more guidance members, and may include a second retention member configured to engage with a particular first retention member depending upon a length of an adapter card.

In various embodiments the adjustable riser cage may be installed into a larger electronic system having a plurality of electronic components. The adjustable riser cage allows for increased access to the electronic components since the extension portion is slide ably supported against only the riser portion. In other words, there are no other supporting features that are external or non-integral to the adjustable riser cage that may block access to the other electronic components. For example, the extension portion is not fastened to or engaged with an electronic system chassis by a separate or non-integral bracket.

These and other embodiments, features, aspects, and advantages will become better understood with reference to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Various embodiments of the present invention are more readily understood by reference to theFIGS. 1-4wherein like reference numerals indicate like elements.FIGS. 1-4depict various views of an adjustable riser cage5for varying length adapters.FIG. 1depicts an isometric view of an adjustable riser cage5in a short ‘L1’ length adapter card configuration,FIG. 2depicts an isometric view of adjustable riser cage5in a long ‘L2’ length adapter card configuration,FIG. 3depicts an alternative isometric view of adjustable riser cage5in a long length adapter card configuration, andFIG. 4depicts a base view of adjustable riser cage5in a long length adapter card configuration.

Adjustable riser cage5mechanically retains, houses, or otherwise supports varying length adapter cards. For example, adjustable riser cage5may be configured or adjusted to support one or more adapter cards of a first length and/or one or more adapter cards of a second length, etc.

In a particular embodiment, adjustable riser cage5includes a riser portion10and an extension portion20. Extension portion20is slide ably supported by riser portion10. Extension portion20may slide against riser portion10to a particular location wherein extension portion20may engage with riser portion10. Extension portion20then becomes generally fixed relative to riser portion10. There may be numerous particular locations where extension portion20may engage with riser portion10—thereby allowing adjustable riser cage5to mechanically support, house, or otherwise retain varying length adapter cards.

In various embodiments, riser portion10may include one or more guidance features14and a plurality of retention members13. Guidance feature14allows for extension portion20to be slide ably supported against riser portion10such that movement of extension portion20against riser portion10is generally restrained, limited, or otherwise restricted in two dimensions but allowed in a third dimension. For example, the one or more guidance features14limit extension portion20movement against riser portion10in the y-direction and z-direction but allows for extension portion20to slide against riser portion10in the x-direction. In various embodiments, guidance feature14may be, for example, a guide, rail, slot, channel, pathway, etc.

Retention member13allows for extension portion20movement in the third dimension to be restrained, limited, or otherwise restricted when retention member13is engaged with retention member22. Therefore, when retention member22and retention member13are engaged, extension portion20becomes generally fixed or otherwise attached relative to riser portion10. In certain embodiments, riser portion10may include multiple retention members13in various locations. Therefore extension portion20may be fixed relative to riser portion10at differing locations as may be desired—thereby allowing adjustable riser cage5to mechanically support, house, or otherwise retain varying length adapter cards. In various embodiments, retention member13may be for example a threaded punch through hole, a self-clinching nut, a broaching nut, a flaring nut, surface mount nut, a weld nut, a pressed in nut, a hole, tab, a slot, etc.

Extension portion20is slide ably supported against riser portion10and includes a retention member22that is configured to engage with a particular retention member13depending upon a length of an adapter card that adjustable riser cage5is to mechanically support, house, or otherwise retain. If the adapter card is short, retention member22may be engaged with the appropriate retention member (e.g. retention member13sshown for example inFIG. 3, etc.). If the adapter card is long, retention member22may be engaged with the appropriate retention member (e.g. retention member13lshown for example inFIGS. 1 and 3, etc.). Other retention members13may be placed in locations for adjustable riser cage5to accommodate, for example, a ½ length or ¾-length adapter cards. In various embodiments, retention member22may be for example a screw, a captive panel screw, a clinch bolt, a latch, a low-profile latch, a spring latch, a pin, spring-pin, a tab, etc.

In various embodiments, riser portion10may further include a riser base12that provides mechanical support to a riser card50. Riser base12may include one or more stops11, one or more adapter tailstock foot engagement features15, one or more adapter tailstock head engagement features17, a plurality of riser card mounts26, riser side23, perforations25, electronic computer system engagement feature28, and/or an exterior surface29.

In some embodiments, guidance features14may be made from folding one or more edges of riser base12to create a pathway (e.g. rolled edge, c-shape fold, channel, etc.). In particular embodiments riser base12is made from sheet metal. In particular embodiments, base12is configured to support riser card50so that riser card50may be substantially parallel with guidance features14.

One or more stop11features may be utilized to ensure that extension portion20does not slide apart from riser portion10unintentionally. Stop11may be, for example, a folded tab111(shown for example inFIG. 1) made from riser base12material or an fastener stop112(e.g. screw, etc.) (shown for example inFIG. 1) that may be fastened to riser base12after extension portion20is installed to or is otherwise slide ably supported by riser portion10.

Tailstock foot engagement features15retain a foot62of one or more adapter card tailstocks from movement in, for example, the z-direction. Tailstock foot engagement features15may also aid in adapter card guidance or alignment during insertion to the adjustable riser cage5. In particular embodiments, tailstock foot engagement features15may be holes, slots, or cutouts of riser base12.

Tailstock head engagement features17retain a head64of one or more adapter card tailstocks from movement in, for example, the y-direction. Tailstock head engagement features17may be engaged after the adapter card is inserted into the adjustable riser cage5. The tailstock head engagement feature17may be attached to riser portion10and engaged with the adapter card tailstock subsequent to adapter card insertion. In particular embodiments, tailstock foot engagement features15may be a bracket, hinged bracket, clip, rotating clip, clasp, etc.

Riser portion10may include a riser side23that may be connected to riser base12. Riser side23may form a portion of the overall exterior surface of an electronic system when adjustable riser cage5is inserted into the electronic system. In certain embodiments, riser side23is substantially perpendicular to exterior surface29. Riser side23may also include one or more perforations25that allow for air flow through adjustable riser cage5, cooling the one or more adapter cards, and for hot air to escape the electronic system during operation.

Riser card mounts26are fixedly attached to riser portion10(e.g. press fit into riser base12, etc.) and allow for a riser card to be attached to riser portion10. In particular embodiments, riser card mounts26may bored threaded standoffs, blind threaded rivets, self-clinching standoffs, blind threaded standoffs, pressed in nut, self clinching nut, etc. For example, a riser card may be attached to adjustable riser cage5by fastening a screw through an adapter card through hole into a blind threaded self clinching standoff style riser card mount26.

Electronic computer system engagement feature28generally align adjustable riser cage5with the electronic system during installation by engaging with a corresponding accepting feature in the electronic system. For example, electronic computer system engagement feature28may be tab style that fit into slots in a chassis of the electronic system. Electronic computer system engagement feature28may ensure that adjustable riser cage5is installed in the correct location in the electronic system. Further, electronic computer system engagement feature28may contact and ground adjustable riser cage5to the electronic system when the adjustable riser cage5is installed into the electronic system. Riser portion10may also include an exterior surface29that forms a portion of the overall exterior surface of the electronic system.

In various embodiments, extension portion20may further include an extension base16, one or more inner guidance feature18, one or more extension guidance features19, and/or one or more adapter edge engagement features24.

In certain embodiments, extension base16is configured to fit within guidance features14. In this manner, extension base16becomes slide ably supported against riser portion10. For example a first edge of extension base16fits within the pathway of a first guidance feature14. In certain embodiments, a second edge of extension base16fits within the pathway of a second guidance feature14.

In certain embodiments, an edge of extension base16may be folded and hemmed against the extension base16, creating inner guidance feature18. Inner guidance feature18has relatively smooth surfaces along its length and fits within a guidance feature14. The realitvely smooth surface allows for less friction between the inner guidance feature18and guidance feature14. Inner guidance feature therefore may allow for extension portion20to slide easier against riser portion10.

Extension portion20may also include an extension guidance feature19. Extension guidance feature19may also slide ably support extension portion20against riser portion10. Guidance features19slid ably support extension portion20by forming a guidance slot, channel, pathway, etc. for riser base10. For example, extension portion10may be slid ably supported against riser portion10by inserting riser base10in a guidance pathway formed by upper tab191and lower tab192style extension guidance features19. Upper tab191and lower tab192ensi are shown for example inFIG. 3andFIG. 10.

Effectively, multiple guidance levels, slots, channels, pathways, etc. may be created with the use of differing guidance features. For example, a first guidance pathway may be formed by guidance features14forming a pathway, channel, etc. for which extension base16may be slide ably supported. A second guidance pathway may be formed by guidance features19forming a pathway, channel, etc. for which riser base12may be slide ably supported. In certain embodiments, the first guidance pathway may be the only pathway, channel, etc. used to slide ably support extension portion20against riser portion10. In other embodiments, the second guidance pathway may be the only pathway, channel, etc. used to slide ably support extension portion20against riser portion10.

Extension portion20may also include one or more adapter edge engagement features24. Adapter edge engagement features24include a guidance pathway, channel, guide, slot, etc. for which for which an edge of an adapter may be inserted, allowing for adapter card guidance during installation into adjustable riser cage5.

In particular embodiments, extension portion20may be engaged with riser portion10at a particular location such that, when inserted into adjustable riser cage5, at least one adapter card engages with adapter tailstock foot engagement feature15, adapter tailstock head engagement feature17, and adapter edge engagement feature24. Therefore, adapter edge engagement features24, along with adapter tailstock foot engagement feature15, adapter tailstock head engagement feature17, may effectively restrain, limit, or otherwise restrict the movement of the adapter card in three dimensions. In this manner, adjustable riser cage5mechanically retains, houses, or otherwise supports the adapter card.

Various embodiments of the present invention are more readily understood by reference to theFIGS. 5-6wherein like reference numerals indicate like elements. As described herein, there may be different styles of retention member22(e.g. screw, a captive panel screw, a clinch bolt, a latch, a low-profile latch, a spring latch, a pin, spring-pin, a tab, etc.).FIG. 5depicts a magnified view of portions of adjustable riser cage5including a captive panel screw221style retention member22.FIG. 6depicts a magnified view of portions of adjustable riser cage5including a latch222style retention member22.

A captive panel screw221may engage with an appropriate retention member13(e.g. a self-clinching nut, etc.) by sliding the extension portion20to a proper location and rotating a thumb screw portion about the y-axis thereby engaging a tread into the appropriate retention member13. A latch222may engage with an appropriate retention member13(e.g. slot, etc.) by forcing the latch222, for example, in the −y direction, sliding the extension portion20to the proper location, and releasing the latch222thereby engaging the latch222into the appropriate retention member13.

FIG. 7depicts an exploded view of an electronic system1and adjustable riser cage5assembly according to various embodiments of the present invention.

A riser card50may be inserted and attached to adjustable riser cage5. Riser card50may include one or more adapter connectors52, one or more through holes54, and at least one mother board connector56. Riser card50may be attached to adjustable riser cage5, for example, by inserting one or more fasteners into through holes54and engage the fasteners with, for example, riser card mounts26. Adapter connectors52allow for one or more adapter cards to attach to riser card50and mother board connector56allows for the riser card50to attach to a mother board34.

Depending upon a length (e.g. L1, L2, etc.) of at least one adapter card, extension portion20is slid against riser portion10, whereby retention member22may engage with a particular retention member13. For example, long adapter card70and two short adapter cards60are to be inserted into adjustable riser cage5. Extension portion30is slid against riser portion10and retention member22is engaged with retention member13l.

Long adapter70may be inserted into adjustable riser cage5. During installation adapter tailstock foot engagement feature15may guide tailstock foot62of long adapter70and/or adapter edge engagement feature24guiding adapter edge74. The two short adapter cards60may also be inserted into adjustable riser cage5(adapter tailstock foot engagement feature15may also guide tailstock foot62of short adapters60, etc.). The long adapter70and the short adapters60engage with riser card50when riser connectors72are inserted into adapter connectors52, respectively. After the long adapter70and the short adapters60are inserted into adjustable riser cage5, adapter tailstock head engagement features17for example, may engage with tailstock heads64thereby allowing for adjustable riser cage5to mechanically retain, house, or otherwise support the adapter cards.

Short adapter card60and long adapter card70(e.g. expansion board, I/0card, accessory card, etc.) may be a printed circuit board that may be inserted into a connector of a motherboard34to add functionality to the electronic system1. In various embodiments, though only a short adapter card60and a long adapter card70are shown, ½ length or ¾ length adapter cards may also be to mechanically retained, housed, or otherwise supported by adjustable riser cage5.

In particular embodiments, the one or more adapter cards mechanically retained, housed, or otherwise supported by adjustable riser cage5are substantially parallel with a motherboard34. In still other embodiments, no adapter cards are mechanically retained, housed, or otherwise supported by adjustable riser cage5. When no adapter cards are supported, blockage of critical mother board34areas may be minimized by engaging retention member22to retention member13o(shown for example inFIGS. 4 and 5). If a customer later decides to add an adapter card, adjustable riser cage5may be removed from electronic system1, extension portion20may be adjusted, the adapter card may be inserted, retained, etc., and the adjustable riser cage5may be re-inserted into electronic system1.

Electronic system1may be, for example, a computer, a server, blade server, 1U server, 2U server, or any other such electronic device that may operate under the control of instructions stored in its memory, accept data, process data according to specified rules, produce results, and/or store the results for later use. Therefore in various embodiments, electronic system may include system memory, one or more processing units, one or more power supplies, etc.

Electronics system1may also include a chassis30, a chassis opening32, one or more opening flanges33, a mother board34, one or more riser cage engagement features38, and riser connector39. Chassis30is an enclosure that houses most of the components of electronic system1and may be, for example, a cabinet, box, tower, enclosure, housing, system unit, case, etc. Chassis30may also include a chassis opening32that allows for exterior surface29of adjustable riser cage5to be exposed or otherwise assessable. Chassis opening may be formed by creating one or more opening flanges33that may guide and engage adjustable riser cage5during insertion and use. One or more riser cage engagement features38may be included to align and engage with electronic computer system engagement feature28of adjustable riser cage5to ensure that adjustable riser cage5is correctly located in electronic system1. Motherboard34may be a printed circuit board and may support many of the electronic system1components and may be, for example, a main board, system board, logic board, etc. In various embodiments, after the components of electronic system1are installed, a cover may be attached to chassis30.

Various embodiments of the present invention are more readily understood by reference to theFIGS. 8-9wherein like reference numerals indicate like elements.FIG. 8depicts an assembled view of electronic system1and adjustable riser cage5in a short length adapter card configuration.FIG. 9depicts an assembled view of electronic system1and adjustable riser cage5in a long length adapter card configuration.

Electronic system1may also include electronic component(s)82that are exposed (e.g. area80is unblocked, etc.) when adjustable riser cage5mechanically retains, houses, or otherwise supports a short adapter card60or no adapter cards. However portions of extension portion20and/or long adapter card70may cover electronic component(s)82when adjustable riser cage5mechanically retains, houses, or otherwise supports a long adapter card70.

Electronic component(s)82may be one or more components that need handling relatively more than other electronic system1components. Therefore allowing greater access to electronic component(s)82, when possible, is desirable. Adjustable riser cage5allows for increased access to electronic component(s)82since extension portion20is slide ably supported against only riser portion10. In other words, there are no supporting features external or connected to adjustable riser cage5(i.e. that may block access to electronic component(s)82). For example, an external bracket is not connected to extension portion20and to chassis30. Therefore no other external connecting or supporting features connect with or otherwise support extension portion20in an area80that may block access to electronic component(s)82.

In certain embodiments chassis30may include extension portion engagement84and/or extension portion engagement86. Extension portion engagement84may be used to engage with a chassis engagement feature88described further below. Extension portion engagement84is substantially the same length in the x-direction as chassis engagement feature88. Extension portion engagement86is a greater length in the x-direction as chassis engagement feature88and allows for engagement in various adapter length configurations (e.g. ½ length card, ¾ length card, etc.). In various embodiments extension portion engagement84and extension portion engagement86may be a slot, etc.

FIG. 10depicts a magnified view of portions of an adjustable riser cage5for varying length adapters, according to various embodiments of the present invention. In certain embodiments extension portion20may further include a chassis engagement feature88. Chassis engagement feature88engages with either extension portion engagement84or extension portion engagement86and may thereby be supported or retained, for example in the negative z-direction, by chassis30. Chassis engagement feature88is a feature integral to extension portion20. In various embodiments chassis engagement feature88may be a tab, folded edge, rolled edge, fixedly attached latch, etc.

FIG. 11shows a block diagram of an exemplary design flow900used for example, in computer aided design, simulation, test, layout, and manufacture. Design flow900includes processes, machines and/or mechanisms for processing design structures or devices to generate logically or otherwise functionally equivalent representations of devices described above and shown inFIGS. 1-10. The design structures processed and/or generated by design flow900may be encoded on machine-readable transmission or storage media to include data and/or instructions that when executed or otherwise processed on a data processing system generate a logically, structurally, mechanically, or otherwise functionally equivalent representation of hardware, mechanical, device, assembly, component, or system.

Design process910preferably employs and incorporates hardware and/or software modules for synthesizing, translating, or otherwise processing a design/simulation functional equivalent of the devices described above and shown inFIGS. 1-10to generate a Net list980which may contain design structures such as design structure920. Net list980may comprise, for example, compiled or otherwise processed data structures representing a list of wires, discrete components, logic gates, control circuits, I/O devices, models, etc. that describes the connections to other elements and circuits in an integrated circuit design. Net list980may be synthesized using an iterative process in which net list980is resynthesized one or more times depending on design specifications and parameters for the device. As with other design structure types described herein, net list980may be recorded on a machine-readable data storage medium or programmed into a programmable gate array.

A machine readable storage medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the machine readable storage medium would include the following: an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. In the context of this document, a machine readable storage medium may be any tangible medium that can contain, or store a program for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

Design process910may include hardware and software modules for processing a variety of input data structure types including Net list980. Such data structure types may reside, for example, within library elements930and include a set of commonly used elements, components, assemblies and/or symbolic representations, for a given manufacturing technology. The data structure types may further include design specifications940, characterization data950, verification data960, design rules970, and test data files985which may include input test patterns, output test results, and other testing information. Design process910may further include, for example, standard mechanical design processes such as stress analysis, thermal analysis, mechanical event simulation, process simulation for operations such as casting, molding, and die press forming, etc. One of ordinary skill in the art of mechanical design can appreciate the extent of possible mechanical design tools and applications used in design process910without deviating from the scope and spirit of the invention.

Design process910employs and incorporates logic and physical design tools such as HDL compilers and simulation model build tools to process design structure920together with some or all of the depicted supporting data structures along with any additional mechanical design or data (if applicable), to generate a second design structure990. Design structure990resides on a storage medium or programmable gate array in a data format used for the exchange of data of mechanical devices and structures (e.g. information stored in a IGES, DXF, DWG, Para solid XT, JT, DRG, or any other suitable format for storing or rendering such mechanical design structures). Similar to design structure920, design structure990preferably comprises one or more files, data structures, or other computer-encoded data or instructions that reside on transmission or data storage media and that when processed by an ECAD system generate a logically or otherwise functionally equivalent form of one or more of the embodiments of the invention shown inFIGS. 1-10. In one embodiment, design structure990may comprise a compiled, executable HDL simulation model that functionally simulates the devices shown inFIGS. 1-10. Design structure990may comprise information such as, for example, symbolic data, map files, test data files, design content files, manufacturing data, layout parameters, material information files, shapes, data for routing through the manufacturing line, and any other data required by a manufacturer or other designer/developer to produce a device or structure as described above and shown inFIGS. 1-10. Design structure990may then proceed to a stage995where, for example, design structure990is released to manufacturing, is sent to another design or manufacturer, is sent back to the customer, etc.

FIG. 12Adepicts a method100for creating an adjustable riser cage assembly, according to various embodiments of the present invention. Method100begins at block102. Extension portion20is installed to riser portion10(block104). For example, inner guidance feature18engages with guidance feature14, guidance feature19engages with riser base12, etc. Riser card50is attached to riser portion10(block106). For example, one or more fasteners may be inserted into through holes54and engaged with riser card mounts26. Method100ends at block108. Method100may be used by, for example, a PCI card manufacturer, assembler, etc.

FIG. 12Bdepicts a method110of installing an adjustable riser cage assembly into an electronic system, according to various embodiments of the present invention. Method110begins at block112. Extension portion20is slid against riser portion10to a particular location depending upon a length of an adapter card (block114). For example, if a long adapter card70is to be supported, extension portion20is slid so that retention member22may engage with retention member13l. The extension portion20is engaged with riser portion10(block116). For example retention member22is engaged with the particular retention member13. The adapter card is inserted into the adjustable riser cage assembly and is guided by a guidance feature on extension portion20and a guidance feature on riser portion10(block118). For example, the adapter card edge72is guided by adapter edge engagement feature24and adapter tailstock foot engagement feature15. The adjustable riser cage assembly is then installed into an electronic system1by connecting the riser card to the electronic system mother board34(block120). For example, mother board connector56is inserted into riser connector39. Method110may be used by, for example, an electronic system manufacturer or assembler.

The functions noted in the blocks of method100and method110may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved.