Securing modules in an electronics system

A method and apparatus for securing electronic components in an electronics system enclosure are disclosed. An apparatus can include an electronics system enclosure having a compartment adapted to receive a removable electronic component. The apparatus also includes a cam having a portion extending into the compartment sufficient to hinder insertion of the removable electronic component in a default orientation. The portion of the cam includes first and second surfaces. The portion of the cam is configured to deflect sufficient to permit insertion of the removable electronic component into the compartment in response to a normal force. The deflection causes the cam to deflect to a modified orientation. The cam portion returns to the default orientation in the absence of the normal force. The second surface of the portion is configured and arranged to engage a cam lever that is rotatably mounted to the removable electronic component.

FIELD

This disclosure generally relates to electronics systems, and in particular, to securing electronic components in an electronics system enclosure.

BACKGROUND

Electronics systems (e.g., servers, storage systems, switches) include removable electronic components. The various removable electronic components can be inserted and removed without the use of external tools. When the removable electronic components are inserted adjacent to each other into an electronics system enclosure, some usable volume for the module can be sacrificed in order to accommodate integrated interlocking features such as levers, cam surfaces, and cam pins. The volume lost may not only include where the interlocking feature is located, but also along the entire length of the removable electronic component that passes over the volume of the interlocking feature during insertion and removal of the removable electronic component.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of this disclosure provide a method and an apparatus for securing removable electronic components in an electronics system enclosure.

Embodiments are directed toward an apparatus for securing a removable electronic component. The apparatus includes an electronics system enclosure having a compartment adapted to receive a removable electronic component. The apparatus also includes a cam having a portion extending into the compartment sufficient to hinder insertion of the removable electronic component in a default orientation. The portion of the cam includes first and second surfaces. The portion of the cam is configured and arranged to deflect in response to a normal force applied to the first surface. The deflection is sufficient to permit insertion of the removable electronic component into the compartment. The deflection causes the cam to deflect from the default orientation to a modified orientation. The portion of the cam returns to the default orientation in the absence of the normal force. The second surface of the portion is configured and arranged to engage a cam lever that is rotatably mounted to the removable electronic component.

A method of securing a removable electronic component is also described.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of this disclosure are directed to an apparatus for securing a removable electronic component in an electronics system enclosure and a method of doing the same.

Consistent with embodiments of this disclosure, an apparatus for securing a removable electronic component is described. Particular aspects are directed toward a cam designed to deflect in response to the insertion of an electronic component (e.g., a computer server module or blade) into a compartment of a larger chassis. Once the electronic component is fully seated, the cam can then snap back in order to allow the cam lever or similar feature to latch and secure the electronic component within the chassis. Despite protruding into the compartment, the cam is designed to avoid hindering the insertion of the electronic component by deflecting substantially out of the compartment. This can be particularly useful for use with an electronic component that substantially fills the insertion space while also allowing the cam to secure a fully-inserted electronic component.

Certain embodiments are directed toward an apparatus include an electronics system enclosure. The electronics system enclosure includes a compartment adapted to receive a removable electronic component (e.g., hard disc drives, servers, routers, input/output board, memory board, processor board). The electronics system enclosure also includes a cam that, when in a default orientation, has a portion which extends sufficiently into the compartment to hinder insertion of the removable electronic component. The portion of the cam extending into the compartment includes first and second surfaces. The portion is configured and arranged to deflect in response to a normal force applied which can be applied to the first surface by the removable electronic component. The deflection from the default orientation to a modified orientation can permit insertion of the removable electronic component into the compartment. The portion of the cam returns to the default orientation in the absence of the normal force. The second surface of the portion is configured and arranged to engage a cam lever that is rotatably mounted to the removable electronic component.

Removable electronic components can be inserted and removed from an electronics system (e.g., servers, storage systems, switches) without the use of tools. Generally, some volume of the removable electronic component is lost to accommodate interlocking features that protrude into the enclosed space that houses the electronic components and that can be used to secure the removable electronic component. An electronic component can include, but is not necessarily limited to, a server, a storage system, or switches. An electronics system may, in some embodiments, be referred to as an information technology system. To simplify the present description and the claims that follow, “chassis” will be used to include the various types of electronics systems enclosures. The volume lost may be over the entire length of the removable electronic component in some cases. In the absence of a sufficiently deflectable cam, some portion of the volume is generally lost to allow for insertion and removal of the components in adjacent bays of the electronics system. Various aspects of the present disclosure can be particularly useful for recovering such lost volume.

Consistent with certain embodiments, the chassis and/or electrical component can be designed to accommodate a standardized form factor such as a blade form factor or a standard module form factor. The available volume for an electrical component can thereby be constrained by such form factors, and this volume can be further reduced by cutouts for a cam. Accordingly, embodiments are directed toward a deflectable cam that facilitates the full use of the available volume to a designer of an electrical component.

FIG. 1Aillustrates a perspective view of an electronics system100, according to various embodiments. The electronics system100includes a chassis105and can include one or more removable electronic components125. The chassis105can be separated into one or more compartments, the compartments configured and arranged to receive the one or more removable electronic components125.

As illustrated, the chassis105can be a rectangular enclosure having one open side. The chassis105can include a base panel110A, side panels115A,115B, a rear panel (not shown inFIG. 1A), a top panel110B, and a dividing panel120A. In some embodiments there may be additional dividing panels, illustrated as120N. The side panels115A,115B can be mounted opposite each other to the base panel110A. The rear panel can be mounted to the base panel110A and the side panels115A,115B. The top panel110B can be mounted opposite the base panel110A to the side panels115A,115B and the rear panel. This configuration defines a rectangular enclosure with one open side and an internal volume that can be adapted to receive the removable electronic component125.

The internal volume of the chassis105can be separated into modular compartments with a dividing panel120A. As illustrated, some embodiments have more than one dividing panel, e.g., dividing panel120N, which separate the internal volume of the chassis105into additional modular compartments. The modular compartments can be adapted to receive the removable electronic component125. The dividing panel120A can create a compartment that is adapted to receive removable electronic components125stacked horizontally (as illustrated inFIG. 1) and/or removable electronic components125that are stacked vertically (seeFIGS. 3-6).

The dividing panel120A can be mounted to the base panel110A, the top panel110B, and the rear panel. As illustrated, the dividing panel120A can be installed such that it is parallel to the side panels115A,115B. In some embodiments, the dividing panel120A can be installed perpendicular to the side panels115A,115B. The dividing panel120A can be mounted to the base panel110A and the top panel110B, but not the rear panel. The dividing panel120A can be a single panel that is mounted to both the base panel110A and the top panel110B. The dividing panel120A can also include multiple panels that are individually mounted to the base panel110A and the top panel110B. As a non-limiting example, the dividing panel120A can be similar to a track which acts as a guide for the removable electronic component125.FIGS. 3-6illustrate such a dividing panel.

The dividing panel120A can include a cam135. The cam135can be affixed to a face of the dividing panel120A in a first compartment. In some embodiments, the cam135can be affixed to the side panel115A. In some embodiments, the cam135and the dividing panel120A or side panel115A can be a single continuous piece of material, e.g., as opposed to separate pieces of material connected with a fastener. The face of the dividing panel120A is parallel to the side panels115A,115B in the illustrated embodiment. The cam135can have a portion that extends into a second compartment when in a default orientation, the second compartment adjacent to the first compartment. The “default orientation,” as referred to in this Specification, includes the orientation in which the cam135has not deflected from the second compartment to the first compartment. The cam135, as illustrated inFIG. 1A, is in a modified orientation. The “modified orientation,” as referred to in this Specification, includes an orientation in which a normal force has been applied to a surface of the portion of the cam135that extends into the second compartment and the portion of the cam135has deflected from the default orientation. The cam is configured and arranged to deflect from the default orientation to the modified orientation when a normal force is applied, generally by inserting the removable electronic component125into the second compartment. The cam135is illustrated in the default orientation inFIG. 2.

As illustrated inFIG. 1A, the second compartment is configured and arranged to receive the removable electronic component125. The removable electronic component125is in an intermediate position as it is being installed in the chassis105. During the installation, the removable electronic component125comes into contact with a surface of the portion of the cam135that extends into the second compartment. The contact provides a normal force that is sufficient to deflect the portion of the cam135toward (into) the first compartment, thus allowing the removable electronic component to be inserted into the second compartment.

As the removable electronic component125is inserted, the cam135will return to the default orientation. The removable electronic component125can be of variable thickness and elasticity to allow for the cam135to return to the default orientation in the absence of the normal force. Because the cam135deflects into the first compartment, the removable electronic component125can utilize the volume generally lost in order to allow for insertion of the component. This volume can be defined by the height of the cam, shown as “h,” the length of the removable electronic component125, and the depth that the cam135extends into the second compartment. Once the cam135is in the default orientation, the cam lever130, which can be rotatably mounted to the removable electronic component, can engage with the surface of the portion of the cam135extending into the second compartment. The surface of the portion of the cam135can provide a camming surface for the cam lever130. The cam lever130can be used to apply an insertion force to secure the removable electronic component125in the chassis105, which can provide a force necessary to seat the removable electronic component125into a plug or connector.FIG. 1Billustrates the seating of the removable electronic component125into the plug or connector.

FIG. 2illustrates a perspective view of the cam135in the default orientation, according to various embodiments. As described above, the cam135can be mounted to a face of the dividing panel120A in the first compartment of the chassis105. In some embodiments, the cam135can be mounted to the dividing panel120A near the base panel110A such that the cam lever130(FIG. 1A) of the removable electronic component125(FIG. 1A) can engage with a surface of the cam135, which can provide an insertion force to assist with installation of the removable electronic component125.

The cam135can be mounted to the dividing panel120A using a variety of mounting methods. As a non-limiting example, the cam135can be welded to the dividing panel120A. The fastening point205is the point at which the cam135is mounted to the dividing panel120A. The fastening point205can represent a weld, rivet, stake, or any other suitable method of mounting the cam135to the dividing panel120A. The method of mounting the cam135secures the cam135to the dividing panel120A such that the cam135remains in place when the cam lever130is engaged with the surface of the portion of the cam135extending into the compartment in which the removable electronic component125is being inserted.

The fastening point205also represents the point of rotation about which the portion of the cam135extending into the second compartment rotates when deflecting from the default orientation to the modified orientation. When a normal force is applied to a surface of the portion of the cam135in the compartment in which a removable electronic component125is being inserted, the surface of the portion of the cam135receiving the force can rotate about the fastening point205.

The portion of the cam135extending into the compartment that is configured and arranged to receive the removable electronic component125can include a surface that is adapted to engage the cam lever130and provide an insertion force. This surface can be the same surface as the one that receives the normal force in some embodiments. The cam135can be of a belt loop configuration as illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2. The cam135can also be of any suitable configuration that provides a camming surface for the cam lever130. This can include, for example, a cam pin, a block, or any other similar configuration. In some embodiments, the cam135surface can be ramped to assist with the deflection of the cam135as the removable electronic component125is inserted into the compartment. In some embodiments, the removable electronic component125can be ramped to assist with the deflection of the cam135.

Consistent with embodiments of this disclosure, the cam135can be made of a material that is flexible enough to accommodate insertion of the removable electronic component125and capable of returning to its default orientation when the normal force during insertion is removed. As a non-limiting example, the cam135can be made of spring steel.

FIG. 3illustrates a top view of an electronics system300, according to various embodiments. Aspects ofFIG. 3can be the same as or similar to aspects ofFIGS. 1 and 2. The electronics system300includes a chassis305and can include one or more removable electronic components325. The chassis305can be separated into one or more compartments, the compartments configured and arranged to receive the one or more removable electronic components325.

As illustrated, the chassis305can be a rectangular enclosure having one open side. The chassis can include a base panel (not shown inFIG. 3), side panels315A,315B, a rear panel312, a top panel (not shown inFIG. 4), and dividing panels320A,320B. In some embodiments there may be additional dividing panels. In some embodiments, the chassis305can be a section of a larger chassis. The side panels315A,315B can be mounted opposite each other to the base panel. The rear panel can be mounted to the base panel and the side panels315A,315B. The top panel can be mounted opposite the base panel to the side panels315A,315B and the rear panel312. This configuration defines a rectangular enclosure with one open side and an internal volume that can be adapted to receive the removable electronic component325.

The internal volume of the chassis305can be separated into modular compartments with dividing panels320A,320B. The modular compartments can be configured and arranged to receive removable electronic components325of different sizes. The chassis305can include additional modular compartments that are configured and arranged to similarly receive removable electronic components. This can include additional removable electronic components stacked vertically above and below (corresponding to out of and into the page, respectively) the removable electronic component325.

In the illustrated embodiment, the dividing panels320A,320B are mounted to the side panels315A,315B. Each of the dividing panels320A,320B are mounted separately and function similar to a track to guide the removable electronic component325into the compartment.

The side panel315A can include a cam335having a surface337. The cam335can be mounted to a face of the side panel that is on the opposite side of the volume into which the removable electronic compartment325is inserted. The cam335can have a surface337on a portion of the cam335that extends, when in the default orientation, into the compartment of chassis305in which the removable electronic component325is going to be installed. The cam335is illustrated in the default orientation inFIG. 3. The cam335is configured and arranged to deflect from the default orientation to the modified orientation when a normal force is applied to the surface337. The cam335is illustrated in the modified orientation inFIG. 4.

As shown inFIG. 3, the cam335is in the default orientation as the removable electronic component325is about to be inserted into the chassis305. The surface337can be a curved surface as illustrated inFIG. 3to allow for the cam335to deflect as the removable electronic component325is inserted into or removed from the chassis305.

FIG. 4illustrates a top view of the removable electronic component325in an intermediate position during insertion into a compartment of the chassis305, according to various embodiments. The cam335is shown in the modified orientation. During insertion into the chassis305, the removable electronic component325provides a normal force to the cam335that is sufficient to deflect the portion of the cam335extending into the compartment so that the removable electronic component325can be inserted into the chassis305. The cam lever330can be used to secure the removable electronic component325into the chassis305once the cam335has returned to the default orientation.

FIG. 5illustrates a perspective view of the removable electronic component325in an intermediate position during insertion into a compartment of the chassis305, according to various embodiments.FIG. 5illustrates two compartments in the chassis305. Each compartment is configured and arranged to include a cam, illustrated as335A and335B. Consistent with embodiments of this disclosure, the cam335A is in the default orientation and can engage with the cam lever330to provide the insertion force required to seat and secure the removable electronic component325. The cams335A and335B can be the same and will be referred to generally as the cam335to simplify the present description. The cam335includes a surface337that is adapted to engage the cam lever330.

As shown in the figure, the removable electronic component325may have a cutout section in order to allow the cam335to return from the modified orientation (during the installation process) to the default orientation. In some embodiment, this cutout section may be sufficient to allow the cam335to return to the default orientation while allowing for the rest of the removable electronic component325to utilize the width of the compartment for remaining length of the removable electronic component325. This can, in some embodiments, increase the utilizable volume of the removable electronic component325.

FIG. 6illustrates a perspective view of the removable electronic component325in the installed position in the electronics system300, according to various embodiments. Consistent with embodiments of this disclosure, the cam lever330of the removable electronic component325was engaged with the surface337of the cam335. In some embodiments, this camming provides an insertion force to secure the removable electronic component325in the chassis305. In some embodiments, the cam lever330and the cam335can remain in place, which can prevent the removable electronic component325from unintentionally being removed from the chassis305.

The terminology used in this Specification is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. The singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. When used in this Specification, the terms “includes” and/or “including,” specify the presence of the stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

In the previous Detailed Description, reference was made to the accompanying drawings (where like numbers represent like elements), which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific exemplary embodiments in which the embodiments can be practiced. These embodiments were described to enable those skilled in the art to practice the embodiments, but other embodiments can be utilized and logical, mechanical, electrical, and other changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In the previous Detailed Description, numerous specific details were set forth to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments. Embodiments, however, can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known electronic devices, structures, and techniques have not been shown in detail, e.g., in order not to obscure embodiments.

Different instances of the word “embodiment” as used within this Specification can, but do not necessarily, refer to the same embodiment and it is also understood that the recited embodiments can be used in various combinations. While the foregoing is directed to exemplary embodiments, other and further embodiments of the disclosure can be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, and the scope thereof is determined by the claims that follow.