Retaining tray for retaining an M.2 compatible device used in autonomous driving vehicles

According to some embodiments, before an M.2 compatible module or device is mounted onto a data processing system that operates an autonomous driving vehicle (ADV), the M.2 module is placed onto a tray device to increase the stiffness of the M.2 module. The tray device containing the M.2 module is then mounted on a board or motherboard of the data processing system. Since the M.2 module is placed on the tray device, the overall stiffness has been significantly increased, which can sustain the physical impact on the M.2 module due to the physical movement and oscillation during the autonomous driving of the ADV. In addition, the tray device also provides suspension effect on the M.2 module during the movement of the ADV. As a result, the M.2 module would not easily damaged during the autonomous driving.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to M.2 modules used in autonomous driving vehicles. More particularly, embodiments of the invention relate to a tray device to retain an M.2 module to be utilized in an autonomous driving vehicle.

BACKGROUND

Typically, an autonomous driving vehicle (ADV) is controlled by a data processing system that includes various functionalities to perceive a driving environment surrounding the ADV based on sensor data, plan a path to drive the ADV from one point to another point based on the perception information, and to control by issuing proper control commands based on the planning and control data obtained from a variety of sensors (e.g., LIDAR, RADAR, GPS, cameras). Due to the intense computation of the perception, planning, and controlling of autonomous driving, more and more processing resources such as processing and storage modules are deployed within the data processing system.

One of the popular modules deployed in an ADV is an M.2 compatible device or module. However, when an M.2 module is attached to a motherboard of the data processing system, due to the oscillation during the driving of the vehicle, the M.2 module is easily damaged. There has been a lack of efficient ways to reduce the probability of such damage.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

According to some embodiments, before an M.2 compatible module or device is mounted onto a data processing system that operates an ADV, the M.2 module is placed onto a tray device to increase the stiffness of the M.2 module. The tray device containing the M.2 module is then mounted on a board or motherboard of the data processing system. Since the M.2 module is placed on the tray device, the overall stiffness has been significantly increased, which can sustain the physical impact on the M.2 module due to the physical movement and oscillation or vibration during the autonomous driving of the ADV. In addition, the tray device also provides a suspension effect on the M.2 module during the movement of the ADV. As a result, the M.2 module would not be easily damaged during the autonomous driving.

According to one embodiment, a tray device for retaining an M.2 module includes a baseboard in a relatively rectangular shape, which includes a first and second longitudinal edges or sides and a first and second lateral edges or sides. The tray device further includes a first guardrail (also simply referred to as a guard or guard member) disposed on the top surface of the baseboard along the first longitudinal edge and a second guardrail disposed along the second longitudinal edge. The first and second guardrails are configured to keep the M.2 module in between and supported by the baseboard, while allowing the M.2 module to extend beyond or across the first and second lateral edges, for example, for mounting purposes. The tray device further includes a riser member disposed on the bottom surface of the baseboard (e.g., bottom of the tray device). When the M.2 module is mounted together with the tray device on a motherboard of a data processing system within an ADV, the riser member is configured to raise the tray device above and away from the motherboard to prevent the baseboard from applying a heavy pressure on an electronic component mounted on the motherboard underneath the tray device, for example, for saving space purpose.

In one embodiment, before mounting the M.2 module on the motherboard, the M.2 module is placed on the top surface of the baseboard and retained between the first and second guardrails. The M.2 module retained by the tray device is then mounted on the motherboard. As a result, the M.2 module would not be bent due to the physical movement or oscillation/vibration during the autonomous driving of the ADV. In addition, an adhesive strip is placed on the top surface of the baseboard. The adhesive strip is to create an attractive force to draw the M.2 module towards to the top surface of the baseboard. The adhesive strip is utilized to reduce the chances that the M.2 module moves around during the autonomous driving. Further, the adhesive strip may be in a form of a foam pad, which further provides suspension and softens the contacting impact between the M.2 module and the baseboard during the autonomous driving. Furthermore, another adhesive strip may be placed on the bottom of the riser member to reduce the chances that the tray device moves around on the motherboard. Alternatively, the riser member includes a threaded nut or a thread hole molded therein to allow a screw to be inserted from the bottom or opposite side of the motherboard to mount or attach the tray device onto the motherboard.

FIG. 1shows a perspective view of a tray device for retaining an M.2 module according to one embodiment. Referring toFIG. 1, tray device100includes baseboard101in a relatively rectangular shape. Baseboard101includes a first longitudinal edge (also referred to as a longitudinal side) and a second longitudinal edge such as longitudinal edge105, substantially in parallel to each other. Baseboard101further includes a first lateral edge (also referred to as a lateral side) and a second lateral edge such as lateral edge106, substantially in parallel to each other.

A first guardrail102(also referred to as a retaining member) is disposed or attached to the first longitudinal edge of baseboard101. A second guardrail103is disposed or attached to the second longitudinal edge of baseboard101. First guardrail102, second guardrail103, and baseboard101form a U-shape tray to allow an M.2 module such as M.2 module500to be retained therein. Note that first guardrail102, second guardrail103, and baseboard101may be a single piece of material molded into a U-shape retainer tray. First guardrail102and second guardrail103are configured to retain and restrain M.2 module500within the tray device100, while allowing the longitudinal ends of the M.2 module500extending across or beyond the lateral edges of baseboard101for the purpose of being mounted on the motherboard of the data processing system.

M.2 is a specification for internally mounted computer expansion cards and associated connectors. It replaces the mSATA standard, which uses the PCI Express Mini Card physical card layout and connectors. M.2's more flexible physical specification allows different module widths and lengths, and, paired with the availability of more advanced interfacing features, makes the M.2 more suitable than mSATA for solid-state storage applications in general and particularly for the use in small devices such as ultrabooks or tablets.

M.2 modules are rectangular, with an edge connector on one side (75positions with up to 67 pins, 0.5 mm pitch, pins overlap on different sides of the PCB), and a semicircular mounting hole at the center of the opposite edge. An M.2 module is installed into a mating connector provided by the host's circuit board, and a single mounting screw secures the module into place. Components may be mounted on either side of the module, with the actual module type limiting how thick the components can be; the maximum allowable thickness of components is 1.5 mm per side. Different host-side connectors are used for single- and double-sided M.2 modules, providing different amounts of space between the M.2 expansion card and the host's PCB. Circuit boards on the hosts are usually designed to accept multiple lengths of M.2 modules, which means that the sockets capable of accepting longer M.2 modules usually also accept shorter ones by providing different positions for the mounting screw.

However, referring back toFIG. 1, due to the relatively thinness of the PCB, M.2 module500can be easily damaged during the physical movement of the vehicle, especially due to the relative movement between the M.2 module500and the electronic components mounted on the motherboard beneath the M.2 module500. In one embodiment, by placing M.2 module500onto tray device100before mounting M.2 module500onto motherboard, the stiffness of the M.2 module500, because the try device100provides protection to M.2 module500and prevents M.2 module500from becoming bended.

According to one embodiment, an adhesive strip104is disposed on the top surface of baseboard101. When M.2 module500is placed on the top of the adhesive strip104, the adhesiveness of the adhesive strip104creates an attractive force to draw M.2 module500towards to the top surface of baseboard101, which in turn prevent M.2 module500from moving around, for example, laterally with respect to the top surface of baseboard101. In one embodiment, the adhesive strip104is implemented in an adhesive foam pad. Due to the softness of the foam pad, when M.2 module500is placed against the top surface of baseboard101and then mounted onto the motherboard, the foam pad creates a separation force between the M.2 module500and the top surface of the baseboard101that literally interlocks both baseboard101and M.2 module500together.

FIG. 2shows a bottom view andFIG. 3shows a longitudinal side view of the tray device100and M.2 module500according to one embodiment. Referring toFIGS. 2 and 3, in one embodiment, a riser member is disposed on a bottom surface of baseboard101. The riser member is configured to raise the level of baseboard (i.e., the entry tray device100) above the motherboard when the M.2 module500together with tray device100is mounted on the motherboard, which in turn reduces the pressure significantly onto the electronic components disposed on the motherboard and underneath the tray device100.

In this embodiment, a first riser member111is disposed closer to one end of the baseboard101while a second riser member112is disposed closer to the other end of the baseboard101. With the riser member or members, the electronic components placed between the tray device100and the motherboard would not be pressured or crushed. In one embodiment, an adhesive layer is also attached to the bottom surface of riser members111-112. The adhesive layer can reduce the chances of the tray device100moving around, for example, laterally with respect to the surface of the motherboard. Note that the riser members111-112are shown for the illustration purpose only. More or fewer number of riser members may be implemented, and their relative positions on the baseboard101can be different.

In one embodiment, a longitudinal dimension or length110of baseboard101(e.g., the length of the longitudinal edges102-103) is ranging approximately from 63-69 millimeters (mm). In one particular embodiment, the length of baseboard101is approximately 63.5 mm. In another particular embodiment, the length of baseboard101is approximately 68.5 mm.

FIG. 4shows a top view andFIG. 5shows a lateral side view of tray device100and M.2 module500according to one embodiment. In one embodiment, a lateral dimension or width115of tray device100is ranging approximately from 24 to 28 mm. In one particular embodiment, the width of tray device100is approximately 24.5 mm. In another particular embodiment, the width of tray device100is approximately 27.5 mm. In one embodiment, the height of tray device100is ranging approximately from 4 to 7 mm. In one particular embodiment, the height of tray device100is approximately 4.2 mm. In another particular embodiment, the height of tray device100is approximately 7.1 mm.

As described above, the specific configuration of tray device100as shown inFIGS. 1-5is described for the purpose of illustration only. Other configurations such asFIGS. 6A-6Emay also be implemented according to other embodiments. As shown inFIGS. 6C-6E, dependent upon the specific motherboard configuration, there may be a single riser member disposed at the bottom. The riser member may be disposed at any location on the bottom surface of baseboard101. Referring toFIGS. 6D and 6E, which show a bottom view and a lateral side view, a single riser member611is implemented in this embodiment. In addition, the position of riser member611is not at the center of the baseboard. Such a configuration depends upon the available space on the motherboard. The size of single riser member611may be big enough to support the entire tray device, and located at a proper location within the bottom surface of the baseboard for balancing purpose. Multiple adhesive pads615-616may be disposed on the bottom of riser member611. In addition, certain area such as area620at the bottom of the baseboard may be carved out to reserve more room for the electronic components on the motherboard underneath.

FIGS. 7A-7Eshow various views of a tray device for retaining an M.2 device according to another embodiment. Referring toFIG. 7A, which shows a perspective view, M.2 device500can be mounted to via a first end502using a screw screwing onto a threaded nut701disposed on motherboard700, while the second end501can be inserted into an M.2 compatible socket702. In addition, riser member111includes a threaded nut or threaded hole embedded therein to allow a screw703to be inserted from a bottom of motherboard700to mount tray device100onto motherboard as shown inFIG. 7B(longitudinal side view),FIG. 7C(lateral side view),FIG. 7D(top view), andFIG. 7E(bottom view).