Patent Publication Number: US-2023144465-A1

Title: Ejector for field replaceable module

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates generally to line card ejectors. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Network infrastructures include servers and routers. The servers and routers may comprise a system chassis. A plurality of line cards may be installed in the system chassis. The system chassis and the plurality of line cards may each comprise a plurality of connection points. 
     Modular electronic systems are designed to provide flexibility to configure systems per user needs. These systems typically have multiple slots to accommodate a variety of modules (e.g., line cards, service cards, fabric cards, and the like). Most of these modules may be replaced with the latest product upgrades without disturbing normal operation of the system (i.e., hot swappable). As power consumption and networking requirements increase, the relationship of interconnect and mechanical assembly grows more complex. Accordingly, it may be important for the modules to be easily removed for replacement or repair. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this disclosure, illustrate various embodiments of the present disclosure. In the drawings: 
         FIG.  1    shows an operating environment for illustrating ejectors for field replaceable modules; 
         FIG.  2 A  and  FIG.  2 B  show various views of a line card with its first ejector and second ejector in a closed position; 
         FIG.  3    shows a first ejector in greater detail; 
         FIG.  4 A ,  FIG.  4 B , and  FIG.  4 C  illustrate the operation of a first ejector as a line card is being installed in a chassis; 
         FIG.  5    illustrates a first ejector in the fully closed position with line card installed in a chassis; and 
         FIG.  6    is a flow chart setting forth the general stages involved in a method for providing line card ejectors. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Overview 
     An ejector may be provided. The ejector may comprise a pawl, a trigger, and a handle. The pawl may be configured to rotate relative to a line card about a first axis. The pawl may comprise a pawl concavity. The trigger may be configured to rotate relative to the line card about a second axis. The trigger may comprise a trigger catch and a trigger lever. The trigger catch may be configured to engage the pawl concavity. The handle may be connected to the pawl and configured to rotate relative to the pawl about a third axis. The trigger catch may be configured to engage the pawl concavity to inhibit rotation of the pawl about the first axis when the handle is rotated to an open position to remove the line card from a chassis. The trigger catch may be configured to disengage the pawl concavity and to allow rotation of the pawl about the first axis when the trigger lever engages a wall of the chassis when the line card is installed in the chassis. 
     Both the foregoing overview and the following example embodiments are examples and explanatory only and should not be considered to restrict the disclosure&#39;s scope, as described and claimed. Furthermore, features and/or variations may be provided in addition to those described. For example, embodiments of the disclosure may be directed to various feature combinations and sub-combinations described in the example embodiments. 
     Example Embodiments 
     The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the following description to refer to the same or similar elements. While embodiments of the disclosure may be described, modifications, adaptations, and other implementations are possible. For example, substitutions, additions, or modifications may be made to the elements illustrated in the drawings, and the methods described herein may be modified by substituting, reordering, or adding stages to the disclosed methods. Accordingly, the following detailed description does not limit the disclosure. Instead, the proper scope of the disclosure is defined by the appended claims. 
     Ejector systems consistent with embodiments of the disclosure may provide a release lever to achieve user safety during installation operation and to provide accurate alignment for multiple connector engagements with a high insertion force. In addition, embodiments of the disclosure may include a release lever that may allow an ejector arm to maintain no rotation at an open position, which may prevent a user&#39;s fingers from being pinched if the ejector arm was allowed to rotate freely. 
     Moreover, embodiments of the disclosure may allow the user to grip the ejectors arms while pushing the line card with even force to help avoid a rocking effect on the line card in order to minimize potential uneven connector engagement. The final connector mating may occur when a trigger lever is triggered. An audible “click” sound may signal to the user a time to begin to rotate the ejector arm, thus lowering the chance for premature injection. 
       FIG.  1    shows an operating environment for illustrating ejectors for field replaceable modules. As shown in  FIG.  1   , the operating environment may comprise a chassis  100  and a line card  102 . Chassis  100  may comprise a first wall  104  and a second wall  106 . Line card  102  may comprise a first ejector  108  and a second ejector  110 . As described in greater detail below, first ejector  108  and second ejector  110  may provide a user a steady and smooth alignment of line card connectors  112  associated with line card  102  and chassis connectors  114  associated with chassis  100  during installation of line card  102  in chassis  100 . Furthermore, first ejector  108  and second ejector  110  may aid in avoiding an unlevel insertion/injection that may otherwise cause bent pin issues with line card connectors  112  and chassis connectors  114 . 
     Embodiments of the disclosure may operate in the context of a data communications network including multiple network devices. The network may include any number of network devices in communication via any number of nodes (e.g., routers, switches, gateways, controllers, edge devices, access devices, aggregation devices, core nodes, intermediate nodes, or other network devices), which facilitate passage of data within the network. The network devices may communicate over one or more networks (e.g., a Local Area Network (LAN), a Metropolitan Area Network (MAN), a Wide Area Network (WAN), a Virtual Private Network (VPN) (e.g., an Ethernet Virtual Private Network (EVPN), a Layer 2 Virtual Private Network (L2VPN)), a Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN), a wireless network, an enterprise network, a corporate network, a data center, Internet, an intranet, a radio access network, a public switched network, or any other network). One or more of the network devices may comprise a modular electronic system comprising a line card ejector system as described herein. The network device may include one or more processors, memories, and network interfaces. One or more of these components may be located on a line card removably inserted into the network device. 
     A line card (e.g., line card  102 ) may comprise any modular electronic component, field replaceable unit, service card, line card, fabric card, or other card, component, or module configured for insertion and removal from a network device. For example, line card  102  may comprise, but is not limited to, a fabric card, a service card, a combo card, a controller card, a processor card, a high density line card, and a high power line card. Notwithstanding card  102  may comprise many types of field replaceable electronic units that may slide in or out of chassis  100 . 
     Chassis  100  may include one or more frames or structures (e.g., first wall  104  and second wall  106 ) configured to support components and slidably receive any number of removable modules (e.g., line cards). Chassis  100 &#39;s frame may be formed from any suitable material including, for example, aluminum, steel, or any other metal, non-metal, or composite material. Consistent with embodiments of the disclosure, chassis  100  may include any number of slots for receiving any number or type of removable modules (e.g., line cards) arranged in any format (e.g., positioned horizontally or vertically). 
       FIG.  2 A  and  FIG.  2 B  show various views of line card  102  with its first ejector  108  and second ejector  110  in a closed position. As shown in  FIG.  2 A  and as described in greater detail below, the handles of first ejector  108  and second ejector  110  may be serpentine in shape and may provide a space between the handles and line card  102  when first ejector  108  and second ejector  110  are in a closed position. This may allow a user who may be operating the handles to place them in a closed position without pinching or injuring their fingers between the handles and line card  102 . As shown in  FIG.  2 B , line card  102  may comprise a first bracket  202  and a second bracket  204 . As described in greater detail below, a lock on each of the handles may respectively engage first bracket  202  and second bracket  204  in order to retain the handles and their respective ejectors in a closed position. 
       FIG.  3    shows first ejector  108  in greater detail. As shown in  FIG.  3   , first ejector  108  may comprise a pawl  302 , a trigger  304 , and a handle  306 . Pawl  302  may comprise a pawl concavity  308 , a first tooth  310 , a second tooth  312 , and an opening  314 . Pawl  302  may be configured to rotate relative to line card  102  about a first axis  316 . Trigger  304  may comprise a trigger catch  318  and a trigger lever  320 . Trigger lever  320  may extend into opening  314  between first tooth  310  and second tooth  312  when line card  102  is not in chassis  100 . Trigger  304  may be configured to rotate relative to line card  102  about a second axis  322 . Handle  306  may comprise lock  324 , release  326 , and third axis  328 . A housing  330  may contain some elements of first ejector  108 . Second ejector  110  may be similar to first ejector  108  and may comprise a “right-hand” version of first ejector  108  that may comprise a “left-hand version”. 
     The example of  FIG.  3    illustrates first ejector  108  in the fully open position. In the fully open position, pawl  302  may be locked and unable to rotate. For example, trigger catch  318  may be configured to engage pawl concavity  308  to inhibit the rotation of pawl  302  about first axis  316  when first ejector  108  is in the fully open position, for example, when it is rotated to an open position to remove line card  102  from chassis  100 . Furthermore, trigger catch  318  may be configured to disengage pawl concavity  308  and to allow rotation of pawl  302  about first axis  316  when trigger lever  320  engages a wall (i.e., first wall  104 ) of chassis  100  when line card  102  is being installed in chassis  100 . 
       FIG.  4 A ,  FIG.  4 B , and  FIG.  4 C  illustrate the operation of first ejector  108  as line card  102  is being installed in chassis  100 . As shown in  FIG.  4 A , pawl  302  may be locked and unable to rotate. For example, trigger catch  318  may be configured to engage pawl concavity  308  to inhibit the rotation of pawl  302  about first axis  316  when first ejector  108  is in the fully open position as shown in  FIG.  4 A . A user may take a handle (i.e., handle  306 ) of first ejector  108  with the user&#39;s left hand and the user may take a handle of second ejector  110  with the user&#39;s right hand and slide line card  102  into chassis  100 . 
     As line card  102  slides, trigger lever  320  eventually engages first wall  104  of chassis  100 . This engagement pushes trigger lever  320  into opening  314  thus rotating trigger  304  about second axis  322  as illustrated by  FIG.  4 B . This rotation about second axis  322  lifts trigger catch  318  out of pawl concavity  308 . With pawl concavity  308  free of trigger catch  318 , pawl  302  is free to rotate about first axis  316  due to the rotational force placed by the user on handle  306  as the user begins to close handle  306  as illustrated by  FIG.  4 B . The user may continue the rotational force on handle  306  until first ejector  108  is in the fully closed position as shown in  FIG.  4 C . Consistent with embodiments of the disclosure, the operation described above with respect to  FIG.  4 A ,  FIG.  4 B , and  FIG.  4 C  may be reversed thus removing line card  102  from chassis  100 . 
       FIG.  5    illustrates first ejector  108  in the fully closed position with line card  102  installed in chassis  100 .  FIG.  5    is similar to  FIG.  4 A , however  FIG.  5    shows the interaction of first ejector  108  with chassis  100  and line card  102 . As show in  FIG.  5   , first tooth  310  may engage inside surface  405  of first wall  104  of chassis  100  when line card  102  is installed in chassis  100 . In other words, first tooth  310  may engage inside surface  405  as pawl  302  rotate about first axis  316  due to the rotational force placed by the user on handle  306  as the user begins to close handle  306 . At this point line card connectors  112  associated with line card  102  and chassis connectors  114  associated with chassis  100  may begin to align. The user may continue the rotational force on handle  306  until first ejector  108  is in the fully closed position and line card connectors  112  associated with line card  102  and chassis connectors  114  associated with chassis  100  are mated and connected. The user may close second ejector  110  simultaneously with the closing of first ejector  108  thus avoiding unlevel insertion that may otherwise cause bent pin issues with line card connectors  112  and chassis connectors  114 . 
     An audible sound (e.g., a “click”) may be produced when trigger lever  320  engages first wall  104  of chassis  100  when line card  102  is installed in chassis  100 . Similarly, an audible sound (e.g., a “click”) may be produced when the trigger lever of second ejector  110  engages second wall  106  of chassis  100  when line card  102  is installed in chassis  100 . Consistent with embodiments of the disclosure, the audible sound produced by first ejector  108  and the audible sound produced by second ejector  110  may be substantially simultaneous. 
     When first ejector  108  is in the fully closed position, lock  324  may retain handle  306  when line card  102  is installed in chassis  100 . When handle  306  is in the closed position, lock may engage first bracket  202  on line card  102 , which may retain handle  306 . When the user actuates release  326 , handle  306  may be unlocked from line card  102  and line card  102  may be removed by reversing the aforementioned process. The handles of first ejector  108  and second ejector  110  may be serpentine in shape and may provide a space between the handles and line card  102  when first ejector  108  and second ejector  110  are in a closed position. This may allow the user who may be operating the handles to place the handles in a closed position without injury (e.g., without pinching the user&#39;s fingers between the handles and line card  102 ). 
       FIG.  6    is a flow chart setting forth the general stages involved in a method  600  consistent with embodiments of the disclosure for providing line card ejectors. Method  600  may be implemented by a user as described in more detail above. Ways to implement the stages of method  600  will be described in greater detail below. 
     Method  600  may begin at starting block  605  and proceed to stage  610  where a user may slide line card  102  into chassis  100  by handle  306  of first ejector  108 . Handle  306  may be locked in the fully open position as shown in  FIG.  3   . In the fully open position, pawl  302  may be locked and unable to rotate. For example, trigger catch  318  may be configured to engage pawl concavity  308  to inhibit the rotation of pawl  302  about first axis  316  when first ejector  108  is in the fully open position, for example, when it is rotated to an open position to remove line card  102  from chassis  100 . Furthermore, trigger catch  318  may be configured to disengage pawl concavity  308  and to allow rotation of pawl  302  about first axis  316  when trigger lever  320  engages a wall (i.e., first wall  104 ) of chassis  100  when line card  102  is being installed in chassis  100 . Also, as shown in  FIG.  4 A ,  FIG.  4 B , and  FIG.  4 C , a user may take a handle (i.e., handle  306 ) of first ejector  108  with the user&#39;s left hand and the user may take a handle of second ejector  110  with the user&#39;s right hand and slide line card  102  into chassis  100 . 
     From stage  610 , where the user slides line card  102  into chassis  100  by handle  306  of first ejector  108 , method  600  may advance to stage  620  where the user may engage trigger lever  320  of first ejector  108  with first wall  104  of chassis  100  in response to sliding line card  102  into chassis  100  by handle  306 . Engaging trigger lever  320  with first wall  104  may cause handle  306  to become unlocked. For example, as line card  102  slides, trigger lever  320  eventually engages first wall  104  of chassis  100 . This engagement pushes trigger lever  320  into opening  314  thus rotating trigger  304  about second axis  322  as illustrated by  FIG.  4 B . This rotation about second axis  322  lifts trigger catch  318  out of pawl concavity  308 . With pawl concavity  308  free of trigger catch  318 , pawl  302  is free to rotate about first axis  316  due to the rotational force placed by the user on handle  306  as the user begins to close handle  306  as illustrated by  FIG.  4 B . The user may continue the rotational force on handle  306  until first ejector  108  is in the fully closed position as shown in  FIG.  4 C . 
     After the user engages trigger lever  320  of first ejector  108  with first wall  104  of chassis  100  in response to sliding line card  102  into chassis  100  by handle  306  in stage  620 , method  600  may continue to stage  630  where the user may transition handle  306  from the open position to a closed position in response to handle  306  becoming unlocked. For example, as show in  FIG.  5   , first tooth  310  may engage inside surface  405  of first wall  104  of the chassis  100  when line card  102  is installed in chassis  100 . In other words, first tooth  310  may engage inside surface  405  as pawl  302  rotate about first axis  316  due to the rotational force placed by the user on handle  306  as the user begins to close handle  306 . At this point line card connectors  112  associated with line card  102  and chassis connectors  114  associated with chassis  100  may begin to align. The user may continue the rotational force on handle  306  until first ejector  108  is in the fully closed position and line card connectors  112  associated with line card  102  and chassis connectors  114  associated with chassis  100  may be mated and connected. The user may close second ejector  110  simultaneously with the closing of first ejector  108  thus avoiding unlevel insertion that may otherwise cause bent pin issues with line card connectors  112  and chassis connectors  114 . 
     Once the user transitions handle  306  from the open position to a closed position in response to handle  306  becoming unlocked in stage  630 , method  600  may then end at stage  640 . Consistent with embodiments of the disclosure, the stages described above with respect to  FIG.  6    may be reversed thus removing line card  102  from chassis  100 . 
     Embodiment of the disclosure may comprise a system comprising an ejector. The system may comprise a pawl configured to rotate relative to a line card about a first axis, the pawl comprising a pawl concavity; a trigger configured to rotate relative to the line card about a second axis, the trigger comprising a trigger catch and a trigger lever, wherein the trigger catch is configured to engage the pawl concavity; and a handle connected to the pawl and configured to rotate relative to the pawl about a third axis, wherein the trigger catch is configured to engage the pawl concavity to inhibit rotation of the pawl about the first axis when the handle is rotated to an open position to remove the line card from a chassis, wherein the trigger catch is configured to disengage the pawl concavity and to allow rotation of the pawl about the first axis when the trigger lever engages a wall of the chassis when the line card is installed in the chassis. The system may further include wherein the pawl further comprises a first tooth, a second tooth, and an opening between the first tooth and the second tooth. The system may further include wherein the trigger lever extends into the opening between the first tooth and the second tooth when the line card is not in the chassis. The system may further include wherein the first tooth engages an inside surface of the wall of the chassis when the line card is installed in the chassis. The system may further include wherein the handle further comprises a lock that retains the handle when the line card is installed in the chassis and the handle is in a closed position. The system may further include wherein the lock engages a bracket on the line card when the handle is in the closed position. The system may further include wherein the lock further comprises a release configured to unlock the handle then the release is actuated. The system may further include wherein the handle comprises a serpentine shape. The system may further comprise a space between the handle and the line card when the handle is in a closed position. The system may further include wherein the system provides an audible sound when the trigger lever engages the wall of the chassis when the line card is installed in the chassis. The system may further include wherein the line card comprises one of the following: a fabric card, a service card, a combo card, a controller card, a processor card, a high density line card, and a high power line card. 
     Embodiments of the disclosure may comprise a system comprising a first ejector and a second ejector. The first ejector is disposed on a line card, the first ejector comprising; a first ejector pawl configured to rotate relative to a line card about a first ejector first axis, the first ejector pawl comprising a first ejector pawl concavity, a first ejector trigger configured to rotate relative to the line card about a first ejector second axis, the first ejector trigger comprising a first ejector trigger catch and a first ejector trigger lever, wherein the first ejector trigger catch is configured to engage the first ejector pawl concavity, and a first ejector handle connected to the first ejector pawl and configured to rotate relative to the first ejector pawl about a first ejector third axis, wherein the first ejector trigger catch is configured to engage the first ejector pawl concavity to inhibit rotation of the first ejector pawl about the first ejector first axis when the first ejector handle is rotated to a first ejector open position to remove the line card from a chassis, wherein the first ejector trigger catch is configured to disengage the first ejector pawl concavity and to allow rotation of the first ejector pawl about the first ejector first axis when the first ejector trigger lever engages a first wall of the chassis when the line card is installed in the chassis. The second ejector is disposed on the line card, the second ejector comprising; a second ejector pawl configured to rotate relative to the line card about a second ejector first axis, the second ejector pawl comprising a second ejector pawl concavity, a second ejector trigger configured to rotate relative to the line card about a second ejector second axis, the second ejector trigger comprising a second ejector trigger catch and a second ejector trigger lever, wherein the second ejector trigger catch is configured to engage the second ejector pawl concavity, and a second ejector handle connected to the second ejector pawl and configured to rotate relative to the second ejector pawl about a second ejector third axis, wherein the second ejector trigger catch is configured to engage the second ejector pawl concavity to inhibit rotation of the second ejector pawl about the second ejector first axis when the second ejector handle is rotated to a second ejector open position to remove the line card from a chassis, wherein the second ejector trigger catch is configured to disengage the second ejector pawl concavity and to allow rotation of the second ejector pawl about the second ejector first axis when the second ejector trigger lever engages a second wall of the chassis when the line card is installed in the chassis. The system may further include wherein the first ejector pawl further comprises a first ejector first tooth, a first ejector second tooth, and a first ejector opening between the first ejector first tooth and the first ejector second tooth and wherein the second ejector pawl further comprises a second ejector first tooth, a second ejector second tooth, and a second ejector opening between the second ejector first tooth and the second ejector second tooth. The system may further include wherein the first ejector trigger lever extends into the first ejector opening between the first ejector first tooth and the first ejector second tooth when the line card is not in the chassis and wherein the second ejector trigger lever extends into the second ejector opening between the second ejector first tooth and the second ejector second tooth when the line card is not in the chassis. The system may further include wherein the first ejector first tooth engages a first inside surface of the first wall of the chassis when the line card is installed in the chassis and wherein the second ejector first tooth engages a second inside surface of the second wall of the chassis when the line card is installed in the chassis. The system may further include wherein the system provides a first audible sound when the first ejector trigger lever engages the first wall of the chassis when the line card is installed in the chassis and wherein the system provides a second audible sound when the second ejector trigger lever engages the second wall of the chassis when the line card is installed in the chassis wherein the first audible sound and the second audible sound are provided substantially simultaneously. The line card may comprise one of the following: a fabric card, a service card, a combo card, a controller card, a processor card, a high density line card, and a high power line card. 
     Embodiments of the disclosure may comprise a method comprising: sliding a line card into a chassis by a handle of an ejector, the handle being locked in an open position; engaging a trigger lever of the ejector with a wall of the chassis in response to sliding the line card into the chassis by the handle wherein engaging the trigger lever with the first wall causes the handle to become unlocked; and transitioning the handle from the open position to a closed position in response to the handle becoming unlocked. The method may further include wherein an audible sound is caused when the trigger lever engages the wall of the chassis. The method may further include wherein the line card comprises one of the following: a fabric card, a service card, a combo card, a controller card, a processor card, a high density line card, and a high power line card. 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure, for example, are described above with reference to block diagrams and/or operational illustrations of methods, systems, and computer program products according to embodiments of the disclosure. The functions/acts noted in the blocks may occur out of the order as shown in any flowchart. For example, two blocks shown in succession may in fact be executed substantially concurrently or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved. 
     While the specification includes examples, the disclosure&#39;s scope is indicated by the following claims. Furthermore, while the specification has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, the claims are not limited to the features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example for embodiments of the disclosure.