Circuit board orientation in a computer system

• US 20040002237A1
• Filed: 06/28/2002
• Published: 01/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Gee, Stephen K., Cypher, Robert E., Doblar, Drew G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,050,307 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/74
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/184 Mounting of motherboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/185 Mounting of expansion boards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/186 Securing of expansion boards in correspondence to slots provided at the computer enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/20 Cooling means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/263 Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC G06F1/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/14 Structural association of two or more printed circuits providing electric connection to or between printed circuits H05K1/11, H01R12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1444 Complex or three-dimensional-arrangements; Stepped or dual mother boards

Abstract

Circuit board orientation in a computer system. A system includes a first set of circuit boards and a second set of circuit boards. The first set of circuit boards may be mated via a first and second set of connectors to the second set of circuit boards such that the first set of circuit boards is oriented substantially orthogonal with respect to the second set of circuit boards. Each of the boards may be accessible and hot swappable.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a first plurality of circuit boards each including a first plurality of connectors; and

a second plurality of circuit boards each including a second plurality of connectors;

wherein a respective one of the first plurality of connectors of each of the first plurality of circuit boards detachably mates to a respective one of the second plurality of connectors of each of the second plurality of circuit boards such that each of the first plurality of circuit boards is positioned in a substantially orthogonal orientation with respect to each of the second plurality of circuit boards.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein any one of said first plurality of circuit boards and any one of said second plurality of circuit boards is hot swappable.

3. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said first plurality of connectors is mounted on an edge of each of said first plurality of circuit boards.

4. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said second plurality of connectors is mounted on an edge of each of said second plurality of circuit boards.

5. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein a portion of said first plurality of circuit boards are processor boards each including one or more processors.

6. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein a portion of said first plurality of circuit boards are memory boards each including a memory controller and one or more memory subsystems.

7. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein a portion of said first plurality of circuit boards are input/output boards each including an input/output bridge.

8. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein a portion of said second plurality of circuit boards are power distribution circuit boards each coupled to independently provide power to said first plurality of circuit boards.

9. The system as recited in claim 8, wherein at least two of said first plurality of circuit boards are service boards each configured to independently provide power from each of said power distribution circuit boards to another portion of said second plurality of circuit boards.

10. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein a portion of said second plurality of circuit boards are switch circuit boards each including address and data switch circuits.

11. A computer system comprising:

a first array of circuit boards, wherein each of the circuit boards of the first array of circuit boards is substantially parallel to each other, wherein each circuit board of the first array includes a first plurality of connectors mounted on an edge; and

a second array of circuit boards, wherein each of the circuit boards of the second array of circuit boards is substantially parallel to each other, wherein each circuit board of the second array includes a second plurality of connectors mounted on an edge;

wherein the first array of circuit boards and the second array of circuit boards are detachably mated together by the first and the second plurality of connectors such that the first array of circuit boards and the second array of circuit boards are positioned substantially perpendicular to each other.

12. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein any one of said first array of circuit boards and any one of said second array of circuit boards is hot swappable.

13. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein a portion of said first array of circuit boards are processor boards each including one or more processors.

14. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein a portion of said first array of circuit boards are memory boards each including a memory controller and one or more memory subsystems.

15. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein a portion of said first array of circuit boards are input/output boards each including an input/output bridge.

16. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein a portion of said second array of circuit boards are power distribution circuit boards each coupled to independently provide power to said first array of circuit boards.

17. The system as recited in claim 16, wherein at least two of said first array of circuit boards are service boards each configured to independently provide power from each of said power distribution circuit boards to another portion of said second array of circuit boards.

18. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein a portion of said second array of circuit boards are switch circuit boards each including address and data switch circuits.

19. A method of arranging circuit boards in a computer system, said method comprising:

providing a first array of circuit boards, wherein each of the circuit boards of the first array of circuit boards is substantially parallel to each other, wherein each circuit board of the first array includes a first plurality of connectors mounted on an edge;

providing a second array of circuit boards, wherein each of the circuit boards of the second array of circuit boards is substantially parallel to each other, wherein each circuit board of the second array includes a second plurality of connectors mounted on an edge; and

detachably mating the first array of circuit boards to the second array of circuit boards using the first and the second plurality of connectors such that the first array of circuit boards and the second array of circuit boards are positioned substantially perpendicular to each other.

20. A computer system comprising:

a first array of circuit boards, wherein each of the circuit boards of the first array of circuit boards is substantially parallel to each other;

a second array of circuit boards, wherein each of the circuit boards of the second array of circuit boards is substantially parallel to each other; and

means for detachably mating the first array of circuit boards to the second array of circuit boards such that the first array of circuit boards and the second array of circuit boards are positioned substantially perpendicular to each other.

21. A computer system comprising:

an enclosure having an air intake on a front surface and an air exhaust on a back surface;

a first plurality of circuit boards each including a first plurality of connectors; and

a second plurality of circuit boards each including a second plurality of connectors;

wherein a respective one of the first plurality of connectors of each of the first plurality of circuit boards detachably mates to a respective one of the second plurality of connectors of each of the second plurality of circuit boards such that each of the first plurality of circuit boards is positioned in a substantially orthogonal orientation with respect to each of the second plurality of circuit boards;

a fan positioned to force an airflow through said enclosure from said air intake to said air exhaust;

wherein a plane formed by each of said first and said second plurality of circuit boards is parallel to said airflow.

22. The computer system as recited in claim 21, wherein any one of said first plurality of circuit boards and any one of said second plurality of circuit boards is hot swappable.