Abstract:
A modular component coupling apparatus includes a chassis defining a chassis housing. A modular component mounting member is pivotally coupled to the chassis, wherein the modular component mounting member defines a modular component housing, whereby the modular component mounting member is operable to pivot relative to the chassis between a first position that is outside of the chassis housing and a second position that is within the chassis housing.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates generally to information handling systems, and more particularly to coupling a modular component to an information handling system chassis. 
         [0002]    As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option is an information handling system (IHS). An IHS generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements may vary between different applications, IHSs may also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in IHSs allow for IHSs to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, IHSs may include a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems. 
         [0003]    As the performance of IHSs is increased, the size and density of the components used in the IHS chassis that houses the IHS increases as well. This can raise a number of issues related to thermal cooling, support, mounting locations, and retention of the different components of the IHS in the IHS chassis. 
         [0004]    The IHS chassis size may be dictated by the need for the IHS chassis to fit in standard enclosure such as, for example, a server rack. It may be desirable to continue to use a particular size IHS chassis even as the performance of the IHS increases and the space availability in the IHS chassis decreases. For example, a chassis housing the Balanced Technology Extended (BTX) form factor motherboards allows for the mounting of the hard drives adjacent the BTX form factor motherboard. However, when the Server System Infrastructure (SSI) form factor motherboard is used in the same chassis, the space available in the chassis for the hard drives when using the BTX form factor motherboard is no longer available. It is desirable to continue to use the same chassis, but repositioning the hard drives in the chassis raises issues such as, for example, the cooling of the memory cards, the support of the processor heat sinks, the retention of the expansion cards, and the desire to not compromise the serviceability of the IHS. 
         [0005]    Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide for coupling a modular component to a chassis absent the disadvantages discussed above. 
       SUMMARY  
       [0006]    According to one embodiment, a modular component coupling apparatus includes a chassis defining a chassis housing, and a modular component mounting member pivotally coupled to the chassis, wherein the modular component mounting member defines a modular component housing, whereby the modular component mounting member is operable to pivot relative to the chassis between a first position that is outside of the chassis housing and a second position that is within the chassis housing. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view illustrating an embodiment of an IHS. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2   a  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a modular component mounting member. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2   b  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of the modular component mounting member of  FIG. 2   a.    
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a card retention member used with the modular component mounting member of  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b.    
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a fan module used with the modular component mounting member of  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b.    
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a modular component used with the modular component mounting member of  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b.    
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a chassis used with the modular component mounting member of  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b.    
           [0014]      FIG. 7   a  is a flow chart illustrating an embodiment of a method for coupling a modular component to a chassis. 
           [0015]      FIG. 7   b  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of the card retention member of  FIG. 3  coupled to the modular component mounting member of  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b.    
           [0016]      FIG. 7   c  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of the fan module of  FIG. 4  coupled to the modular component mounting member of  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b.    
           [0017]      FIG. 7   d  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of the modular component mounting member of  FIGS. 7   b  and  7   c  coupled to the chassis of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 7   e  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of the modular component of  FIG. 5  coupled to the modular component mounting member of  FIGS. 7   b  and  7   c.    
           [0019]      FIG. 7   f  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a plurality of cables routed on the modular component mounting member of  FIG. 7   e.    
           [0020]      FIG. 7   g  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of the modular component mounting member of  FIG. 7   d  pivoted into a closed position. 
           [0021]      FIG. 7   h  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of the modular component mounting member and chassis of  FIG. 7   g  with a plurality of cards positioned in the chassis. 
           [0022]      FIG. 7   i  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of the modular component mounting member and chassis of  FIG. 7   h  with the card retention member pivoted into engagement with the cards. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0023]    For purposes of this disclosure, an IHS may include any instrumentality or aggregate of instrumentalities operable to compute, classify, process, transmit, receive, retrieve, originate, switch, store, display, manifest, detect, record, reproduce, handle, or utilize any form of information, intelligence, or data for business, scientific, control, entertainment, or other purposes. For example, an IHS may be a personal computer, a PDA, a consumer electronic device, a network server or storage device, a switch router or other network communication device, or any other suitable device and may vary in size, shape, performance, functionality, and price. The IHS may include memory, one or more processing resources such as a central processing unit (CPU) or hardware or software control logic. Additional components of the IHS may include one or more storage devices, one or more communications ports for communicating with external devices as well as various input and output (I/O) devices, such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a video display. The IHS may also include one or more buses operable to transmit communications between the various hardware components. 
         [0024]    In one embodiment, IHS  100 ,  FIG. 1 , includes a processor  102 , which is connected to a bus  104 . Bus  104  serves as a connection between processor  102  and other components of computer system  100 . An input device  106  is coupled to processor  102  to provide input to processor  102 . Examples of input devices include keyboards, touchscreens, and pointing devices such as mouses, trackballs and trackpads. Programs and data are stored on a mass storage device  108 , which is coupled to processor  102 . Mass storage devices include such devices as hard disks, optical disks, magneto-optical drives, floppy drives and the like. IHS  100  further includes a display  110 , which is coupled to processor  102  by a video controller  112 . A system memory  114  is coupled to processor  102  to provide the processor with fast storage to facilitate execution of computer programs by processor  102 . In an embodiment, a chassis  116  houses some or all of the components of IHS  100 . It should be understood that other buses and intermediate circuits can be deployed between the components described above and processor  102  to facilitate interconnection between the components and the processor  102 . 
         [0025]    Referring now to  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b , a modular component mounting member  200  is illustrated. The modular component mounting member  200  includes a base  202  having a top surface  202   a , a bottom surface  202   b  located opposite the top surface  202   a , a front edge  202   c  extending between the top surface  202   a  and the bottom surface  202   b , a rear edge  202   d  located opposite the front edge  202   c  and extending between the top surface  202   a  and the bottom surface  202   b , and a pair of opposing side edges  202   e  and  202   f  extending between the top surface  202   a , the bottom surface  202   b , the front edge  202   c , and the rear edge  202   d . The base  202  also defines a plurality of heat sink support features  202   g  located in a spaced apart relationship on the base  202  and extending through the base  202  from the bottom surface  202   b  to the top surface  202   a . A pivotal coupling member  203  extends from the rear edge  202   d  of the base  202  and is oriented substantially perpendicularly to the top surface  202   a  of the base  202 . A pair of modular component housing members  204  and  206  are coupled to the top surface  202   a  of the base  202 , each modular component housing member  204  and  206  defining a modular component housing  204   a  and  206   a , respectively. A handle support  208  is coupled to and extends between the modular component housing members  204  and  206  and includes a pivotal coupling feature  208   a  extending from a surface of the handle support  208  adjacent the front edge  202   c  of the base  202 . A handle  208   b  is pivotally coupled to the handle support  208  and that pivotal coupling may be biased such that the handle  208   b  is biased towards a surface of the handle support  208  but may be pivoted away from that surface such that the handle  208   b  may be grasped. A baffle member  210  extends from the side edge  202   e  of the base  202  and is oriented at an angle with respect to the base  202 . A fan mount  212  is coupled to the bottom surface  202   b  of the base  202  and includes a mounting surface  212   a  that is oriented at an angle with respect to the bottom surface  202   b  of the base  202 . A plurality of fan mounting apertures  212   b  are defined by the fan mount  212  and located in a spaced apart relationship on the mounting surface  212   a . A plurality of cable routing members  214   a  extend from the bottom surface  202   b  of the base  202  and are located between the fan mount  212  and the front edge  202   c  of the base  202 . A plurality of cable routing members  214   b  also extend from the baffle member  210 . 
         [0026]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a card retention member  300  is illustrated. The card retention member  300  includes a base  302  having a front surface  302   a , a rear surface  302   b  located opposite the front surface  302   a , a top surface  302   c  extending between the front surface  302   a  and the rear surface  302   b , a bottom surface  302   d  located opposite the top surface  302   c  and extending between the front surface  302   a  and the rear surface  302   b , and a plurality of side surfaces  302   e  and  302   f  extending between the front surface  302   a , the rear surface  302   b , the top surface  302   c , and the bottom surface  302   d . A handle  304  extends from front surface  302   a  of the base  302  on a resilient coupling  304   a  that allows the handle  304  to move relative to the base  302 . A securing member  304   b  extends from the handle  304  and away from the front surface  302   a  of the base  302 . The base  302  defines a plurality of card engagement channels  306  located in a spaced apart orientation along the length of the base  302 . A pivotal coupling member  308  extends from the rear surface  302   b  of the base  302  and defines an optional card engagement feature channel  308   a  between itself and the rear surface  302   b  of the base  302 . An optional card engagement feature  310  defines a card engagement channel  310   a  and may couple to and decouple from the base  302  in the optional card engagement feature channel  308   a.    
         [0027]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a fan  400  is illustrated. The fan module  400  includes a base  402  having a front surface  402   a , a rear surface  402   b  located opposite the front surface  402   a , and defining a fan housing  402   c  located between the front surface  402   a  and the rear surface  402   b . A fan  404  is coupled to the base  402  and located in the fan housing  402   c . A plurality of couplers  406  extend from the rear surface  402   b  of the base  402  and in a spaced apart orientation at each corner of the base  402 . 
         [0028]    Referring now to  FIG. 5 , a modular component  500  is illustrated. In an embodiment, the modular component  500  may be, for example, a mass storage device such as the mass storage device  108  described above with reference to  FIG. 1 . In an embodiment, the modular component  500  is a hard drive. The modular component  500  includes a base  502  having a top surface  502   a , a bottom surface  502   b  located opposite the top surface  502   a , a front surface  502   c  extending between the top surface  502   a  and the bottom surface  502   b , a rear surface  502   d  located opposite the front surface  502   c  and extending between the top surface  502   a  and the bottom surface  502   b , and a pair of side surfaces  502   e  and  502   f  extending between the top surface  502   a , the bottom surface  502   b , the front surface  502   c , and the rear surface  502   d . An IHS connector  504  extends from the rear surface  502   d  and is located on the rear surface  502   b  adjacent the side surface  502   f.    
         [0029]    Referring now to  FIG. 6 , a chassis  600  is illustrated. In an embodiment, the chassis  600  may be, for example, the chassis  116 , described above with reference to  FIG. 1 , and may house some or all of the components of the IHS  100 , described above with reference to  FIG. 1 . The chassis  600  includes a chassis floor  602   a  which may include, for a example, a board such as, for example, an Server System Infrastructure (SSI) Form Factor motherboard. A front wall  602   b  extends from the chassis floor  602   a . A rear wall  602   c  extends from the chassis floor  602   a  and is located opposite the front wall  602   b  in a spaced apart relationship from the front wall  602   b . A pair of side walls  602   d  and  602   e  extend from the chassis floor  602   a  and between the front wall  602   b  and the rear wall  602   c  in a spaced apart relationship from each other. An IHS housing  604  is defined between the chassis floor  602   a , the front wall  602   b , the rear wall  602   c , and the side walls  602   d  and  602   e . A pivotal coupling  606  is located on the rear wall  602   c , extends into the IHS housing  604 , and defines a plurality of coupling apertures  606   a  located along its length. In an embodiment, the pivotal coupling  606  may include, for example, a friction hinge. A plurality of heat producing devices  608  which may be, for example, memory devices, are coupled to the chassis floor  602   a  and located in the IHS housing  604 . A plurality of heat sinks  610  are coupled to the chassis floor  602   a  and located in the IHS housing  604 , may be coupled to processors such as, for example, the processor  102 , described above with reference to  FIG. 1 , and are located adjacent the heat producing devices  608 . A plurality of heat sink support members  610   a  extend from the heat sinks  610  and, in embodiment, may include, for example, heat pipes. A fan  612  is coupled to the chassis floor  602   a  and located in the IHS housing  604  adjacent the heat sinks  610 . A baffle  614  extends across the IHS housing  604  between the sides walls  602   d  and  602   e  and is located adjacent the heat producing devices  608 , the heat sinks  610 , and the fan  612 . A support  616  is coupled to the chassis floor  602   a  and located in the IHS housing  604  adjacent the front wall  602   b  and the side wall  602   d.    
         [0030]    Referring now to  FIGS. 6 ,  7   a ,  7   b ,  7   c  and  7   d , a method  700  for coupling a modular component to a chassis is illustrated. The method  700  begins at step  702  where the chassis  600  is provided with the modular component mounting member  200 . The card retention member  300  is pivotally coupled to the modular component mounting member  200  by coupling the pivotal coupling member  308  on the car retention member  300  to the pivotal coupling feature  208   a  on the modular component mounting member  200  using methods known in the art, as illustrated in  FIG. 7   b . The fan module  400  is coupled to the modular component mounting member  200  by engaging the couplers  406  extending from the rear surface  402   b  of the fan module  400  with the fan mounting apertures  212   b  defined by the fan mount  212 , as illustrated in  FIG. 7   c . With the fan module  400  coupled to the fan mount  212 , the fan  404  is oriented at an angle with respect to the bottom surface  202   b  of the modular component mounting member  200 . In an embodiment, a baffle  702   a  may be coupled to the bottom surface  202   b  of the modular component mounting member  200  adjacent the fan module  400  in order to direct air from the fan  404 . The modular component mounting member  200  is coupled to the chassis  600  by coupling the pivotal coupling member  203  extending from the rear edge  202   d  of the modular component mounting member  200  to the pivotal coupling  606  located on the rear wall  602   c  of the chassis  600  such as, for example, by engaging fasteners with the pivotal coupling member  203  and the coupling apertures  606   a  defined by the pivotal coupling  606 , as illustrated in  FIG. 7   d . With the modular component mounting member  200  pivotally coupled to the chassis  600 , the modular component mounting member  200  may be oriented in an access position A that is outside of the chassis housing  604 , as illustrated in  FIG. 7   d.    
         [0031]    Referring now to  FIGS. 7   a ,  7   d ,  7   e , and  7   f , the method  700  proceeds to steps  704  and  706  where cables are routed on the modular component mounting member  200  and a modular component is coupled to the modular component mounting member  200 . Cables  704   a  including connectors  704   b  that may be, for example, coupled to a board that is located on the chassis floor  602   a  or coupled to a component of the IHS that is located in the chassis housing  604 , are routed on the modular component mounting member  200  by engaging the cables  704   a  with the cable routing members  214   a  and  214   b  extending from the bottom surface  202   b  of the modular component mounting member  200  and the baffle member  210 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 7   d  and  7   f . With the cables  704   a  routed on the modular component mounting member  200 , the cables  704   a  are moved out of the way of the chassis housing  604  when the modular component mounting member  200  is in the access position A, which allows unimpeded access to the components located in the chassis housing  604  such as the heat producing devices  608  and/or the heat sinks  610 . A pair of the modular components  500  are coupled to the modular component mounting member  200  by positioning the modular components  500  in the modular component housings  204   a  and  206   a  defined by the modular component housing members  204  and  206 , respectively, such that the IHS connectors  504  are located adjacent the front edge  202   c  of the modular component mounting member  200 , as illustrated in  FIG. 7   e . The connectors  704   b  on the cables  704   a  are then coupled to the IHS connectors  504  on the modular components  500 , as illustrated in  FIG. 7   f.    
         [0032]    Referring now to  FIGS. 7   a ,  7   d  and  7   g , the method  700  proceeds to steps  708  and  710  where the modular component mounting member  200  is pivoted into the chassis housing  604  and the heat sinks  610  in the chassis housing  604  are supported. The modular component mounting member  200  is pivoted about the coupling of the pivotal coupling member  203  extending from the rear edge  202   d  of the modular component mounting member  200  and the pivotal coupling  606  located on the rear wall  602   c  of the chassis  600  from the access position A, illustrated in  FIG. 7   d , to a closed position B where the modular component mounting member  200  is located within the chassis housing  604 , as illustrated in  FIG. 7   g . In an embodiment. The modular component mounting member  200  may be pivoted, for example, using the handle  208   b . Furthermore, as the modular component mounting member  200  pivots into the closed position B, the heat sink support members  610   a  become positioned in the heat sink support features  202   g , which provides support for the heat sinks  610  during, for example, shock and vibration events. 
         [0033]    Referring now to  FIGS. 7   a ,  7   d ,  7   h  and  7   i , the method  700  proceeds to steps  712  and  714  where cards are retained in the chassis housing  604  and the heat producing devices  608  are cooled. A plurality of cards  712   a  are coupled to the chassis  600  on the chassis floor  602   a  and located in the chassis housing  604  between the support member  616  and the baffle  614 , as illustrated in  FIG. 7   h . The card retention member  300  is then pivoted about the pivotal coupling of the pivotal coupling member  308  on the card retention member  300  and the pivotal coupling feature  208   a  on the modular component mounting member  200  until the card retention member  300  engages the cards  712   a  such that the cards  712   a  are located in the card engagement channels  306 , as illustrated in  FIG. 7   i . With the card retention member  300  pivoted as show in  FIG. 7   i  such that the cards  712   a  are located in the card engagement channels  306 , the securing member  304   b  on the card retention member  300  engages the support member  616  in the chassis  600  to secure the card retention member  300  in the position shown in  FIG. 7   i  such that the cards  712   a  are retained in the chassis housing  604 . The fan module  400  may then be activated such that the fan  404  directs air towards the heat producing devices  608  in order to cool the heat producing devices  608 . Furthermore, the base  202  of the modular component mounting member  200  acts as a baffle to direct air from the fan  612  between the modular components  500  and the components of the IHS in the chassis  600  such as, for example, the heat sinks  610 , processors, memory  608 , and a variety of other components known in the art. Thus, a method and apparatus are provided that provide a mounting location for modular components in a crowded chassis that addressees the cooling of heat producing devices, the support of heat sinks, the retention of cards, while not compromising the serviceability of the IHS. 
         [0034]    Although illustrative embodiments have been shown and described, a wide range of modification, change and substitution is contemplated in the foregoing disclosure and in some instances, some features of the embodiments may be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the embodiments disclosed herein.