Patent ID: 12235692

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosed embodiments. It will be apparent, however, that one or more embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are schematically shown in order to simplify the drawing.

In addition, the terms used in the present invention, such as technical and scientific terms, have its own meanings and can be comprehended by those skilled in the art, unless the terms are additionally defined in the present invention. That is, the terms used in the following paragraphs should be read on the meaning commonly used in the related fields and will not be overly explained, unless the terms have a specific meaning in the present invention.

Referring toFIGS.1to3,FIG.1is a perspective view of an expansion card device10according to one embodiment of the disclosure,FIG.2is an exploded view of the expansion card device10inFIG.1, andFIG.3is a partial exploded view of a riser card module200of the expansion card device10inFIG.2.

In this embodiment, the expansion card device10is, for example, adapted for a server1(e.g., shown inFIG.8), and the server1is, for example, a 1U server. The expansion card device10includes a casing100, a riser card module200and four expansion cards300.

The riser card module200includes a frame assembly210, two first riser card assemblies220and two second riser card assemblies230. In addition, the riser card module200may further include a first label240and a second label250.

Then, referring toFIGS.3to5,FIG.4is a schematic view of a first frame212of the riser card module200inFIG.3, andFIG.5is a schematic view of a second frame213of the riser card module200inFIG.3.

The frame assembly210is fixed to the casing100and includes a mount component211, a first frame212and a second frame213. The first frame212and the second frame213are fixed to the mount component211. The first frame212has two first installation slots2121and two marks2122. The marks2122are different from each other and are respectively located aside the two first installation slots2121. The second frame213has two second installation slots2131and two marks2132. The marks2132are different from each other and are respectively located aside the two second installation slots2131. The marks2122of the first frame212are, for example, numbers as “3” and “4”, and the marks2132of the second frame213are, for example, numbers as “5” and “6”, but the invention is not limited thereto; in some other embodiments, the marks of the first frame may be patterns, symbols or letters different from each other, and the marks of the second frame may be patterns, symbols or letters different from each other.

The two first riser card assemblies220are substantially the same in structure, and thus the following paragraph introduces one of them. Referring toFIGS.3and6together, whereFIG.6is a schematic view of the first riser card assembly220of the riser card module200inFIG.3.

The first riser card assembly220includes a first circuit board221and a first cable222. The first cable222includes a first main route2221, a first main electrical connector2222, two first branch routes2223and two first sub electrical connectors2224. The first main electrical connector2222is connected to one end of the first main route2221and is mounted on the first circuit board221. The two first branch routes2223are connected to another end of the first main route2221. The two first sub electrical connectors2224are respectively connected to ends of the two first branch routes2223located farther away from the first main route2221. Marks2225of the two first sub electrical connectors2224are different from each other. For example, the mark2225of one of the first sub electrical connectors2224is a word as “PRIM”, which represents that this first sub electrical connector2224is a primary sub electrical connector. On the other hand, the mark2225of the other one of the first sub electrical connectors2224is a word as “SEC”, which represents that this first sub electrical connector2224is a secondary sub electrical connector.

In this embodiment, the two first circuit boards221of the two first riser card assemblies220are respectively mounted in the first installation slots2121of the first frame212. In addition, colors of the two first cables of the two first riser card assemblies220are the same as each other, such as while color. As shown inFIG.6, the first label240is adhered on the first sub electrically connector2224of one of the first cables222which has the mark2225as “PRIM”, but the invention is not limited thereto; in some other embodiments, the first label may be adhered on the first sub electrically connector of one of the first cables which has the mark as “SEC”.

The two second riser card assemblies230are substantially the same in structure, and thus the following paragraph introduces one of them. Referring toFIGS.3and7together, whereFIG.7is a schematic view of the second riser card assembly230of the riser card module200inFIG.3.

The second riser card assembly230includes a second circuit board231and a second cable232. The second cable232includes a second main route2321, a second main electrical connector2322, two second branch routes2323and two second sub electrical connectors2324. The second main electrical connector2322is connected to one end of the second main route2321and is mounted on the second circuit board231. The two second branch routes2323are connected to another end of the second main route2321. The two second sub electrical connectors2324are respectively connected to ends of the second branch routes2323located farther away from the second main route2321. Marks2325of the two second sub electrical connectors2324are different from each other. For example, the mark2325of one of the second sub electrical connectors2324is a word as “PRIM”, which represents that this second sub electrical connector2324is a primary sub electrical connector. On the other hand, the mark of the other one of the second sub electrical connectors2324is a word as “SEC”, which represents that this second sub electrical connector2324is a secondary sub electrical connector.

In this embodiment, the two second circuit boards231of the two second riser card assemblies230are respectively mounted in the second installation slots2131of the second frame213. In addition, colors of the two second cables232of the two second riser card assemblies230are the same as each other, such as blue color. As shown inFIG.7, the second label250is adhered on the second sub electrically connector2324of one of the second cables232which has the mark2325as “PRIM”, but the invention is not limited thereto; in some other embodiments, the second label may be adhered on the second sub electrically connector of one of the second cables which has the mark as “SEC”.

The four expansion cards300are respectively mounted on the two first circuit boards221and the two second circuit boards231, and the four expansion cards300can be electrically connected to a motherboard2of the server1via the two first riser card assemblies220and the two second riser card assemblies230, respectively.

Specifically, referring toFIG.8,FIG.8is a partial schematic view of the expansion card device10inFIG.1when the expansion card device10is installed in a server casing.

The motherboard2of the server has four first electrical connectors3and four second electrical connectors4. The first electrical connectors3are arranged side by side, and the four second electrical connectors4are arranged side by side and are located closer to a rear side of the server1than the four first electrical connectors3. Two of the first electrical connectors3are one pair of the first electrical connectors3, this pair of the first electrical connectors3can only be cooperated with one of the first cables222on which the first label240is adhered, and this pair of the first electrical connector3have marks as “PRIM” and “SEC” (not shown), respectively. The other two of the first electrical connectors3are another pair of the first electrical connectors3, this pair of the first electrical connectors3can only be cooperated with the other one of the first cable222without the first label240adhered thereon, and this pair of the first electrical connectors3have marks as “PRIM” and “SEC”, respectively. Two of the second electrical connectors4are one pair of the second electrical connectors4, this pair of the second electrical connectors4can only be cooperated with one of the second cables232on which the second label250is adhered, and this pair of the second electrical connectors4have marks as “PRIM” and “SEC”, respectively. The other two of the second electrical connectors4are another pair of the second electrical connectors4, this pair of the second electrical connectors4can only be cooperated with the other one of the second cable232without the second label250adhered thereon, and this pair of the second electrical connectors4have marks as “PRIM” and “SEC”, respectively.

After the expansion card device10is installed on the server1, the electrical connectors of the motherboard2corresponding to each cable can be determined according to the colors of the cables; that is, the white first cables222correspond to the first electrical connectors3of the motherboard2, and the blue second cables232correspond to the second electrical connectors4of the motherboard2. Then, according to whether there is a label adhered on a cable or not, each of the first cables222can be determined to correspond to one pair of the first electrical connectors3, and each of the second cables232can be determined to correspond one pair of the second electrical connectors4. Then, the first sub electrical connectors2224of the first cables222having the marks2225as “PRIM” are respectively installed on the first electrical connectors3of the motherboard2having the marks as “PRIM”, the first sub electrical connectors2224of the first cables222having the mark2225as “SEC” are respectively installed on the first electrical connectors3of the motherboard2having the mark as “SEC”, the second sub electrical connectors2324of the second cables232having the marks2325as “PRIM” are respectively installed on the second electrical connectors4of the motherboard2having the marks as “PRIM”, and the second sub electrical connectors2324of the second cables232having the mark2325as “SEC” are respectively installed on the second electrical connectors4of the motherboard2having the mark as “SEC”. As a result, the four expansion cards300are electrically connected to the motherboard2.

In this embodiment, the colors of the second cables232of the second riser card assemblies230are different from the colors of the first cables222of the first riser card assemblies220, such that the electrical connectors of the motherboard2corresponding to each cable can be determined according to the colors of the cables, and thus the possibility of the installation of the first cables222and the second cables232on the incorrect electrical connectors of the motherboard2can be reduced.

In addition, the first label240is merely adhered on one of the first sub electrical connectors2224of one of the white first cables222, and the second label250is merely adhered on one of the second sub electrical connectors2324of one of the blue first cables232, such that one pair of the electrical connectors of the motherboard2corresponding to two sub electrical connectors of each cable can be determined, and thus the possibility of the installation of the first cables222and the second cables232on the incorrect electrical connectors of the motherboard2can be further reduced.

Note that each of the first cables222and the second cables232are not restricted to including two branch routes and two sub electrical connectors. In some other embodiments, each of the first cables and the second cables may not include any branch route and sub electrical connector, but further include another main electrical connector connected to another end of the main route. In such a case, the first label may be adhered on the first main electrical connector of one of the first cables, and the second label may be adhered on the second main electrical connector of one of the second cables.

Note that the first cables222are not restricted to having the same color, and the second cables232are not restricted to having the same color. In some other embodiments, the first cables may not have the same color, and the second cables may not have the same color. In such a case, one pair of the first electrical connectors of the motherboard corresponding to the first sub electrical connectors of each first cable can be determined according to the different colors of the first cables, and one pair of the second electrical connectors of the motherboard corresponding to the second sub electrical connectors of each second cable can be determined according to the different colors of the second cables. As a result, the first label and the second label may be omitted.

In this embodiment, the first sub electrical connectors2224of each of the first cables222have different marks2225as “PRIM” and “SEC”, and the second sub electrical connectors2324of each of the second cables232have different marks2325as “PRIM” and “SEC”, such that it helps to install the sub electrical connectors of each cable on the correct electrical connectors of the motherboard2.

Note that the first sub electrical connectors2224of each first cable222are not restricted to having different marks2225, and the second sub electrical connectors2324of each second cable232are not restricted to having different marks2325. In a case that the first sub electrical connectors of each first cable are not distinguished into the primary and secondary sub electrical connectors, and the second sub electrical connectors of each second cable are not distinguished into the primary and secondary sub electrical connectors, the first sub electrical connectors of each first cable may not have any mark, and the second sub electrical connectors of each second cable may not have any mark.

In this embodiment, the marks2122of the first frame212located aside the first installation slots2121are different from each other, and the marks2132of the second frame213located aside the second installation slots2131are different from each other, such that it helps to install the two first circuit boards221to the correct first installation slots2121and install the two second circuit boards231to the correct second installation slots2131. Note that the marks2122of the first frame212and the marks2132of the second frame213are optional structures and may be omitted in some other embodiments.

In this embodiment, the expansion card device10may further include a cable organizer400. The cable organizer400may be fixed to the casing100, and the cable organizer400can organize the two first cables222and two second cables232for gathering the first cables222and the second cables232, such that an airflow for cooling the expansion cards300may be prevented from interfering by the first cables222and the second cables232. Note that the cable organizer400is an optional component. In a case that the first cables and the second cables do not interfere the airflow, the cable organizer may be omitted.

According to the riser card module and the expansion card device as disclosed in the above embodiments, the colors of the second cables of the second riser card assemblies are different from the colors of the first cables of the first riser card assemblies, such that the electrical connectors of the motherboard corresponding to each cable can be determined according to the colors of the cables, and thus the possibility of the installation of the first cables and the second cables on the incorrect electrical connectors of the motherboard can be reduced.

In addition, the first label is merely adhered on one of the first sub electrical connectors of one of the first cables of the same color, and the second label is merely adhered on one of the second sub electrical connectors of one of the blue first cables of the same color, such that one pair of the electrical connectors of the motherboard corresponding to two sub electrical connectors of each cable can be determined, and thus the possibility of the installation of the first cables and the second cables on the incorrect electrical connectors of the motherboard can be further reduced.

Moreover, the first sub electrical connectors of each of the first cables have different marks, and the second sub electrical connectors of each of the second cables have different marks, such that it helps to install the sub electrical connectors of each cable on the correct electrical connectors of the motherboard.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the present invention. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary embodiments only, with a scope of the invention being indicated by the following claims and their equivalents.