Patent ID: 12245390

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed descriptions with the accompanying drawings. For purposes of explanation, one or more specific embodiments are given to provide a thorough understanding of the invention, and which are described in sufficient detail to enable one skilled in the art to practice the described embodiments. It should be understood that the following descriptions are not intended to limit the embodiments to one specific embodiment. On the contrary, it is intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as can be included within the spirit and scope of the described embodiments as defined by the appended claims.

Please refer toFIG.1toFIG.4.FIG.1is a perspective view of a double-layer rack receiving two LFF OCP network cards and fixed to a server case in accordance with a first embodiment of the disclosure,FIG.2is an exploded view of the double-layer rack and the LFF OCP network cards inFIG.1,FIG.3is a perspective view of the double-layer rack inFIG.1, andFIG.4is a cross-sectional view of the double-layer rack along line4-4inFIG.3.

The double-layer rack1is configured to be fixed to a server case9, and the double-layer rack1may have, for example, five accommodation space configurations configured for selectively receiving two LFF OCP network cards8, two SFF OCP network cards7, one LFF OCP network card8, one SFF OCP network card7or one data processing unit6. In the present disclosure, the above mentioned five accommodation space configurations are described in the first to fifth embodiments, respectively. One of the accommodation space configurations of the double-layer rack1for accommodating the two LFF OCP network cards8is firstly described in the first embodiment below

The double-layer rack1includes a network card frame10, a network card connector assembly11, a PCIe card frame12, a PCIe riser card (not shown in figures), a divider plate13, two side guiding components14and two bottom guiding components15.

The network card frame10has a network card accommodation space S1configured for selectively receiving one OCP network card, two OCP network cards or one data processing unit. In detail, the network card frame10includes a bottom plate100, a top plate101and two side plates102. The bottom plate100and the top plate101are disposed opposite to each other, two opposite sides of the bottom plate100are connected to two opposite sides of the top plate101via the two side plates102, respectively, and the bottom plate100, the top plate101and the two side plates102together surround the network card accommodation space S1. In this embodiment, the network card accommodation space S1is configured for receiving the two LFF OCP network cards8.

The network card connector assembly11includes two network card connectors110, and the two network card connectors110are located in the network card accommodation space S1, and configured to be electrically connected to the two LFF OCP network cards8, respectively.

The PCIe card frame12is fixed to and stacked on the network card frame10via, for example, screws, and the PCIe card frame12has a PCIe accommodation space S2configured for receiving one or more PCIe-based cards (not shown in figures).

The PCIe riser card is disposed on the PCIe card frame12, and configured to be electrically connected to the PCIe-based card(s).

As shown inFIG.4, each of the two side plates102of the network card frame10may have a plurality of protrusions1020and a stopper protruding block1021located in the network card accommodation space S1. The protrusions1020of each side plate102are arranged along an insertion direction D1into the network card accommodation space S1, and the protrusions1020are configured to support and guide the divider plate13to move in the insertion direction D1. In each side plate102, the stopper protruding block1021is located at one side of the protrusions1020so as to be in contact with the divider plate13and block the divider plate13in the insertion direction D1.

The divider plate13is located in the network card accommodation space S1and removably fixed to the network card frame10, and the network card accommodation space S1is divided into two subspaces SB by the divider plate13, and the two subspaces SB are configured for receiving the two LFF OCP network cards8, respectively. In addition, the two LFF OCP network cards8are stacked on each other in a height direction D2within the network card accommodation space S1.

During the installation of the divider plate13onto the network card frame10, the divider plate13is inserted into the network card accommodation space S1along the insertion direction D1, and a movement of the divider plate13in the network card accommodation space S1is guided by the protrusions1020. Then, the stopper protruding blocks1021block the divider plate13in the insertion direction D1so as to position the divider plate13with in the network card accommodation space S1. Finally, the divider plate13can be secured to the network card frame10by screws F.

The two side guiding components14can be fixed to one of the side plates102by screws F and extend in the insertion direction D1, and the two side guiding components14are located in the two subspaces SB of the network card accommodation space S1, respectively. The two bottom guiding components15can be fixed to the bottom plate100and the divider plate13by screws F, respectively, and extend in the insertion direction D1, and the two bottom guiding components15are located in the two subspaces SB of the network card accommodation space S1, respectively. Furthermore, the side guiding component14and the bottom guiding component15located in the same subspace SB are configured to support and guide one of the LFF OCP network cards8to move in the insertion direction D1.

In this embodiment, the two network card connectors110of the network card connector assembly11can be fixed to the bottom plate100and the divider plate13by screws F, respectively. The two network card connectors110are located in the two subspaces SB of the network card accommodation space S1, respectively, and the two network card connectors110are configured to be electrically connected to the two LFF OCP network cards8, respectively.

During the installation of the two LFF OCP network cards8into the network card accommodation space S1, the two LFF OCP network cards8are inserted into the two subspaces SB of the network card accommodation space S1along the insertion direction D1, respectively, and a movement of the LFF OCP network cards8in the network card accommodation space S1is guided by the side guiding components14and the bottom guiding components15, allowing the two LFF OCP network cards8to be connected to the two network card connectors110, respectively.

In this embodiment, a height of the PCIe accommodation space S2is, for example, 1U, a height of the network card accommodation space S1is, for example, 1U, and a height of each of the LFF OCP network cards8is, for example, smaller than half of the height of the network card accommodation space S1.

In this embodiment, each of the two side plates102has the stopper protruding block1021, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, there may be only one side plate having the stopper protruding block.

Please refer toFIG.5andFIG.6.FIG.5is a perspective view of the double-layer rack receiving two SFF OCP network cards in accordance with a second embodiment of the disclosure, andFIG.6is an exploded view of the double-layer rack and the SFF OCP network cards inFIG.5.

In the second embodiment, the double-layer rack1has another accommodation space configuration for receiving the two SFF OCP network cards7.

In the configuration of this embodiment, the double-layer rack1further includes two supporter frames16each configured to be connected to one of the two SFF OCP network cards7and separately accommodated in the two subspaces SB of the network card accommodation space S1with their respective SFF OCP network cards7. The supporter frame16and the SFF OCP network card7corresponding and connected thereto are arranged in parallel along a width direction D3within the network card accommodation space S1. In other words, one pair of the supporter frame16and the SFF OCP network card7connected to each other is accommodated in one of the two subspaces SB, and the other pair of the supporter frame16and the SFF OCP network card7connected to each other is accommodated in the other of the two subspaces SB. Furthermore, the two SFF OCP network cards7are stacked on each other in the height direction D2within the network card accommodation space S1, and the two SFF OCP network cards7are electrically connected to the two network card connectors110of the network card connector assembly11, respectively.

During the installation of the two SFF OCP network cards7into the network card accommodation space S1, the two SFF OCP network cards7and the two supporter frames16are inserted into the two subspaces SB of the network card accommodation space S1along the insertion direction D1, respectively, and a movement of the SFF OCP network cards7in the network card accommodation space S1is guided by the side guiding components14and the bottom guiding components15, allowing the two SFF OCP network cards7to be connected to the two network card connectors110, respectively.

Connecting the supporter frame16to one side of the SFF OCP network card7ensures that a combined width of the SFF OCP network card7and the supporter frame16connected to each other matches a width of the network card accommodation space S1. Therefore, during the installation of the SFF OCP network card7, one side of the supporter frame16located away from the SFF OCP network card7can be supported by the side guiding component14, and one side of the SFF OCP network card7located away from the supporter frame16can be supported by the bottom guiding component15, which ensures that the SFF OCP network card7and the supporter frame16can be supported and guided by both of the side guiding component14and the bottom guiding component15as the SFF

OCP network card7and the supporter frame16are inserted into the network card accommodation space S1.

In this embodiment, the height of the PCIe accommodation space S2is, for example, 1U, the height of the network card accommodation space S1is, for example, 1U, and a height of each of the SFF OCP network cards7is, for example, smaller than half of the height of the network card accommodation space S1.

Please refer toFIG.7andFIG.8.FIG.7is a perspective view of the double-layer rack receiving one LFF OCP network card in accordance with a third embodiment of the disclosure, andFIG.8is an exploded view of the double-layer rack and the LFF OCP network card inFIG.7.

In the third embodiment, the double-layer rack1has another accommodation space configuration for receiving the one LFF OCP network card8.

In the configuration of this embodiment, the double-layer rack1further includes a blocker component17, and the divider plate13as described in the first embodiment is removed from the network card frame10of the double-layer rack1. In addition, a quantity of the side guiding component14, a quantity of the bottom guiding component15and a quantity of the network card connector110are one. That is, by selectively installing the blocker component17onto the network card frame10, and removing the divider plate13from the network card frame10(i.e., without installing the divider plate13), the double-layer rack1can form an accommodation space configuration for receiving the one LFF OCP network card8. Moreover, quantities of the side guiding component14and the bottom guiding component15for guiding the one LFF OCP network card8, and a quantity of the network card connector110for electrically connecting the one LFF OCP network card8are adjusted to match the accommodation space configuration.

The blocker component17can be fixed to the network card frame10by screws F and cover a part of an opening O1of the network card accommodation space S1, and the blocker component17is configured to be stacked on the one LFF OCP network card8in the height direction D2within the network card accommodation space S1. Therefore, the blocker component17can provide a dustproof effect.

In this embodiment, the network card connector110and the bottom guiding component15are fixed to the bottom plate100.

During the installation of the one LFF OCP network card8into the network card accommodation space S1, the one LFF OCP network card8is inserted into the network card accommodation space S1along the insertion direction D1, and a movement of the one LFF OCP network card8in the network card accommodation space S1is guided by the side guiding component14and the bottom guiding component15, allowing the one LFF OCP network card8to be connected to the network card connector110.

Please refer toFIG.9andFIG.10.FIG.9is a perspective view of the double-layer rack receiving one SFF OCP network card in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the disclosure, andFIG.10is an exploded view of the double-layer rack and the SFF OCP network card inFIG.9.

In the fourth embodiment, the double-layer rack1has another accommodation space configuration for receiving the one SFF OCP network card7.

The accommodation space configuration in this embodiment is similar to that in the third embodiment, and the differences between them are in that in this embodiment, the double-layer rack1further includes a supporter frame16configured to be connected to the one SFF OCP network card7and accommodated in the network card accommodation space S1with the one SFF OCP network card7. Furthermore, the supporter frame16and the one SFF OCP network card7are arranged in parallel along the width direction D3within the network card accommodation space S1.

The blocker component17is configured to be stacked on the one SFF OCP network card7in the height direction D2within the network card accommodation space S1. Therefore, the blocker component17can provide a dustproof effect.

During the installation of the one SFF OCP network card7into the network card accommodation space S1, the one SFF OCP network card7is inserted into the network card accommodation space S1along the insertion direction D1, and a movement of the supporter frame16and the one SFF OCP network card7in the network card accommodation space S1is guided by the side guiding component14and the bottom guiding component15, allowing the one SFF OCP network card7to be connected to the network card connector110.

Please refer toFIG.11andFIG.12.FIG.11is a perspective view of the double-layer rack receiving one data processing unit in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the disclosure, andFIG.12is an exploded view of the double-layer rack and the data processing unit inFIG.11.

In the fifth embodiment, the double-layer rack1has another accommodation space configuration for receiving the one data processing unit6.

In the configuration of this embodiment, the divider plate13and blocker component17as described in the above embodiments are removed from the network card frame10of the double-layer rack1, and the quantities of the side guiding component14, the bottom guiding component15and the network card connector110are one. That is, by selectively removing the divider plate13and blocker component17from the network card frame10(i.e., without installing the divider plate13and blocker component17), the double-layer rack1can form an accommodation space configuration for receiving the one data processing unit6. Moreover, the quantities of the side guiding component14and the bottom guiding component15for guiding the one data processing unit6, and the quantity of the network card connector110for electrically connecting the one data processing unit6are adjusted to match the accommodation space configuration.

In this embodiment, the network card connector110and the bottom guiding component15are fixed to the bottom plate100.

During the installation of the one data processing unit6into the network card accommodation space S1, the one data processing unit6is inserted into the network card accommodation space S1along the insertion direction D1, and a movement of the one data processing unit6in the network card accommodation space S1is guided by the side guiding component14and the bottom guiding component15, allowing the one data processing unit6to be connected to the network card connector110.

According to the double-layer rack as described above, by selectively and removably installing the blocker component and the divider plate onto the network card frame, various accommodation space configurations can be selectively formed within the network card accommodation space, allowing for the selective accommodation of one OCP network card, two OCP network cards or one data processing unit. Therefore, through the shared use of mold, different modules can be flexibly switched to meet customer requirements, adjusting the configuration of the product, which can lead to reduced manufacturing costs and decreased time and expenses related to manual operation and maintenance.

The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the disclosure and its practical applications, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the disclosure and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the disclosure be defined by the following claims and their equivalents.