Abstract:
A system having a power module mount adapted to support a power module side-by-side with a card-based processor, and a connectivity guide adapted to guide the power module along a direct path between electrically connected and disconnected relationships with the card-based processor. A method for mounting a power module to a processor involving engaging the power module with a connectivity guide disposed adjacent the processor, moving the power module toward the processor via the connectivity guide, and mating edge connectors of the power module and the processor.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     A variety of systems and devices, such as computers, use processors for task-specific functions, application-specific management, and central processing. Depending on the particular application, one or more components may be directly or indirectly connected to the processors on a circuit board. In certain processor architectures, such as the Intel Itanium processor family, a power module is directly coupled to the processor via a card edge connector. Unfortunately, the process of mounting the power module to the processor may cause damage to the power module, the processor, the underlying circuit board, or other system components.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0002]     According to one embodiment of the invention, a system comprises a power module mount adapted to support a power module side-by-side with a card-based processor. The system also comprises a connectivity guide adapted to guide the power module along a direct path between electrically connected and disconnected relationships with the card-based processor.  
         [0003]     In another embodiment, a processor-based device comprises a processor having a card edge connector. The processor-based device also has a lateral mounting guide having a guide path aligned substantially perpendicular with the card edge connector. The processor-based device also comprises a power module disposed on the lateral mounting guide side-by-side with the processor, wherein the power module has a connector receptacle mated with the card edge connector.  
         [0004]     In a further embodiment, a system comprises means for supporting a power module adjacent a processor. The system also comprises means for guiding edge-connectivity between the power module and the processor.  
         [0005]     Another embodiment comprises a method for mounting a power module to a processor. The method comprises engaging the power module with a connectivity guide disposed adjacent the processor. The method also comprises moving the power module toward the processor via the connectivity guide, and mating edge connectors of the power module and the processor. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]     Exemplary embodiments will hereafter be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements, and:  
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a power module in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention;  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating a mounting support for mounting the power module of  FIG. 1  to one of a pair of card-based processors in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention;  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment having the power module of  FIG. 1  being engaged with the mounting support of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0010]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment having the power module of  FIG. 1  guidingly disposed on the mounting support of  FIG. 3  and unconnected from the card-based processors;  
         [0011]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment having the power module of  FIG. 1  guidingly disposed on the mounting support of  FIG. 3  and connected with the card-based processors;  
         [0012]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment having the power module of  FIG. 1  being retained to the mounting support of  FIG. 3  in the electrically connected configuration of  FIG. 5 ; and  
         [0013]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a processor-based device having the power module and mounting support illustrated in  FIGS. 1-6 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0014]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a power module  10  in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention. As illustrated, the power module  10  comprises a plurality of circuitry and power components  12  (e.g., AC/DC converter with power logic) disposed between boards  14  and  16  with an open-frame or frameless perimeter. However, any suitable frame structure may be provided about the boards  14  and  16  if additional support is desired around the perimeter of the boards  14  and  16 . In the illustrated embodiment, the open-frame may facilitate heat transfer and cooling of the circuitry and power components  12 , particularly where an airflow is passed through the power module  10 . A heat sink also may be provided to facilitate heat transfer. However, the power module  10  may be maintained at a desirable operating temperature without a heat sink or with a relatively smaller heat sink.  
         [0015]     The power module  10  also has an electrical connector module  18  communicatively coupled to the circuitry and power components  12 . As illustrated, the electrical connector module  18  comprises a card edge receptacle  20  having female electrical connectors (not shown) that are mateable with male electrical connectors of a mating electrical connector (e.g., a card edge of a card-based processor). The electrical connector module  18  may be coupled with the power module  10  via a cable  22 , such as a flexible cable or ribbon cable, which provides a degree of movement to facilitate a connection between the electrical connector module  18  and a mating electrical connector. In the illustrated embodiment, the cable  22  has a length short enough to provide some movement without a support bracket.  
         [0016]     Additionally, the power module  10  may comprise a variety of mounting and connectivity guides and/or linear positioning mechanisms to facilitate the connection between the electrical connector module  18  and a mating electrical connector. For example, the illustrated power module  10  has guide notches or slots  24  and  26  to facilitate linear positioning along a mating guide member (not shown). Any other guides or positioning mechanisms are also within the scope of the present technique. The foregoing guides also may reduce the likelihood of physical damage to adjacent components during installation and removal of the power module  10 . For example, the guides may limit travel (e.g., prevent over-travel) of power module  10 , such that the power module  10  cannot contact adjacent components. The power module  10  also may have one or more mount securing mechanisms. For example, the illustrated power module  10  may comprise fastener supports or passageways  28  and  30 , which facilitate the insertion of a fastener through the power module  10  and securably into the desired mounting support or circuit board.  
         [0017]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating a mounting support  32  for mounting the power module  10  of  FIG. 1  to one of a pair of card-based processors  34  in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention. As illustrated, the mounting support  32  is an integral processor-power module mount comprising a pair of processor mounts  36  disposed side-by-side with a pair of power module mounts  38  on a circuit board  40 . If desired, the processor mounts  36  may be separated from the power module mounts  38 . Any suitable integral or separated configuration of the mounts is within the scope of the present technique. Each of the illustrated card-based processors  34  comprises a processor  42  disposed on a card  44  having a card edge connector  46  (e.g., mating electrical connectors insertable into the electrical connector module  18  of the power module  10 ). For example, the card-based processors  34  may comprise an Itanium processor manufactured by Intel Corporation of Santa Clara, Calif. In the illustrated embodiment, the card-based processors  34  are mounted to the processor mounts  36  via retention mechanisms  48  and  50 , which extend over opposite edges of the cards  44 . In this mounted configuration, the card edge connectors  46  of the card-based processors  34  are directed toward the power module mounts  38 . In conjunction with the guides and positioning mechanisms of the power module  10 , the power module mount  38  also may have a variety of mating mount and connectivity guides and/or linear positioning mechanisms to facilitate the connection between the electrical connector module  18  and the card edge connectors  46 .  
         [0018]     For example, the illustrated power module mounts  38  may comprise male mount guides or guiding posts  52  and  54 , which guide movement of the power module  10  along the power module mount  38  via interaction with the slots  24  and  26 , respectively. Any other guides or positioning mechanisms are also within the scope of the present technique. The power module mounts  38  also may have one or more mount securing mechanisms for the power module  10 . For example, the illustrated power module mounts  38  may comprise fastener supports or receptacles  56  and  58 , such as threaded receptacles. As discussed below, a fastener may be inserted through the passageways  28  and  30  of the power module  10  and secured in the receptacles  56  and  58 , such that the power module  10  is secured to the power module mount  38 . The power module mounts  38  may include notches or recessed structures  60  and  62  to accommodate circuitry on the board  16  of the power module  10 .  
         [0019]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment having the power module  10  of  FIG. 1  being engaged with the mounting support  32  of  FIG. 2 . As illustrated, the power module  10  is positioned over the power module mount  38  such that front portions  64  and  66  of the guide slots  24  and  26  are aligned with the guide posts  52  and  54 , as illustrated by alignment lines  68  and  70 . The power module  10  may then be lowered onto the power module mount  38 , as indicated by arrows  72  and  74 . As the power module  10  is lowered onto the power module mount  38 , the guide posts  52  and  54  extend into the guide slots  24  and  26  at the front portions  64  and  66  such that a degree of clearance is maintained between the electrical connector module  18  and the card edge connector  46 . Accordingly, the foregoing process may substantially reduce the likelihood of physical damage to the power module  10 , the card-based processor  42 , the circuit board  40 , and other components during mounting of the power module  10 . For example, the engagement of the guide posts  52  and  54  with the guide slots  24  and  26  may limit the motion of the power module  10  to a positional range clearing or avoiding adjacent components.  
         [0020]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment having the power module of  FIG. 1  guidingly disposed on the mounting support  32  of  FIG. 3  and unconnected from the card-based processor  42 . In this mounted position, the guide slots  24  and  26  interact with the guide posts  52  and  54  to guide the power module  10  directly to/from the card-based processor  34 . Accordingly, the combination of guide slots  24  and  26  and guide posts  52  and  54  may be collectively referred to as connectivity guides or lateral mounting guides  76  and  78 , which facilitate an electrical connection between the card edge receptacle  20  of the power module  10  and the card edge connector  46  of the card-based processor  34 . As mentioned above, the guides  76  and  78  may comprise any other suitable guiding or positioning mechanism within the scope of the present technique. For example, the guides  76  and  78  may comprise a rail and slider movable along the rail, a key-hole slot and boss interlockable into the key-hole slot, a linear pathway and a leverage member adapted to move the card-based processor  42  along the linear pathway, and so forth. In the illustrated embodiment, the connectivity guides or lateral mounting guides  76  and  78  are configured to provide linear motion aligned substantially perpendicular with the card edge connector  46 , thereby reducing undesirable stresses associated with an indirect connection motion. The guides  76  and  78  also limit side-to-side or lateral movement of the card-based processor  42  to protect adjacent components and circuitry.  
         [0021]     The guides  76  and  78  also may have a limited range of motion to reduce overextending or under-extending the power module  10  along the power module mount  38 . For example, as discussed above, the front portions  64  and  66  of the guide slots  24  and  26  may act to maintain a desired clearance between the electrical connector module  18  and the card edge connector  46  during mounting and dismounting of the power module  10 . Moreover, the guide slots  24  and  26  may have rear portions  80  and  82  to set the desired connection depth between the card edge receptacle  20  and the card edge connector  46 . As defined by these front portions  64 - 66  and rear portions  80 - 82  of the guide slots  24  and  26 , the power module  10  may move along the guide posts  52  and  54  between unconnected and connected configurations. Arrows  84  and  86  illustrate a straight-on guided motion for connecting the card edge receptacle  20  of the power module  10  with the card edge connector  46  of the card-based processor  34 .  
         [0022]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment having the power module of  FIG. 1  guidingly disposed on the mounting support of  FIG. 3  and connected with the card-based processor  42 . As illustrated, the card edge connector  46  of the card-based processor  34  is inserted into the card edge receptacle  20  of the power module  10  at a connection depth, which may be defined by the range of motion provided by the rear portions  80  and  82  of the guide slots  24  and  26 . If removal is desired, then the power module  10  may be moved directly away from the card-based processor  34  along the guides  76  and  78  until the guide posts  52  and  54  abut the front portions  64  and  66 . The power module  10  may then be lifted up and away from the power module mount  38 . Otherwise, the power module  10  may be further secured to the mounting support  32  via any suitable retainer or securement mechanism.  
         [0023]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment having the power module of  FIG. 1  retained by the mounting support of  FIG. 3  in the electrically connected configuration of  FIG. 5 . As illustrated by arrows  88  and  90 , the power module  10  may be secured in the connected configuration by inserting fasteners  92  and  94  through passageways  28  and  30  of power module  10  and into receptacles  56  and  58  of power module mount  38 . For example, the fasteners  92  and  94  may comprise an externally threaded fastener (e.g., a screw or bolt), a pin, a snap-fit member, a latch, or any other suitable fastening mechanism. If removal is desired, the fasteners  92  and  94  may be withdrawn from the receptacles  56  and  58  and passageways  28  and  30 . The power module  10  may then be moved directly away from the card-based processor  34  along the guides  76  and  78  until the guide posts  52  and  54  abut the front portions  64  and  66 . Once at the front portions  64  and  66 , the power module  10  may be lifted up and away from the power module mount  38 .  
         [0024]     As discussed above, the mounting support  32  and guides  76  and  78  may be utilized in a variety of systems and devices.  FIG. 7  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a processor-based device  96  having the power module  10 , guides  76  and  78 , and mounting support  32  illustrated in  FIGS. 1-6 . As illustrated, the processor-based device  96  comprises a computer housing  98  having a plurality of communicatively coupled components, such as the circuit board  40 , a pair of the card-based processors  34 , a pair of the power modules  10  mounted with the processors  34  via the guides  76  and  78 , a power supply  100 , optical drives  102  and  104 , a floppy disk drive  106 , and hard disk drives  108  and  110 . The processor-based device  96  also may have a variety of peripheral devices, such as a display  112 , a pointing device  114 , and a keyboard  116 . Any other desired internal or external components are also within the scope of the present technique.