Electronics module

• US 20040032722A1
• Filed: 06/02/2003
• Published: 02/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Benstead, Brian, Wrycraft, Sean Conor
• Granted Patent: US 7,256,995 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/725
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1488 Cabinets therefor, e.g. chassis or racks or mechanical interfaces between blades and support structures
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20736 within cabinets for removing heat from server blades
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 9/0062 Structures of standardised dimensions, e.g. 19" rack, chassis for servers or telecommunications

Abstract

An electronics module comprises a housing; and a plurality of electronic and electrical components for example fans. The module includes electromagnetic shielding for example perforated panels side walls etc. that is associated with the housing and/or the electronic components, and which provides a Faraday cage for the electronic components. The shielding is constructed so that one or more of the components can be removed from the module while the module is in operation substantially without affecting the integrity of the Faraday cage. The module enables certain components thereof to be replaced without adding to the downtime of the system or increasing electromagnetic interference.

Claims

1. An electronics module which comprises:

(i) a housing; and

(ii) a plurality of electronic and electrical components;

the module including electromagnetic shielding that is associated with the housing and/or the electronic components, and which provides a Faraday cage for the electronic components, the shielding being constructed so that one or more of the components can be removed from the module while the module is in operation substantially without affecting the integrity of the Faraday cage.

2. A module as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least part of the shielding allows flow of air threrethrough.

3. A module as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the electrical components is a fan.

4. A module as claimed in claim 3, which includes a plurality of fans, so that one or more fans will continue to operate if any fan fails.

5. A module as claimed in claim 3, wherein the, or at least some of the, fans are located outside the Faraday cage.

6. A module as claimed in claim 5, wherein a plurality of fans are arranged on a surface of the housing, and that surface, together with the opposed surface of the housing, has shielding that is perforated to allow air to flow through the housing due to the fans.

7. A module as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least part of the Faraday cage is formed by the housing.

8. A module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frame is divided into a plurality of recesses in order to allow location of electronic components therein.

9. A module as claimed in claim 8, wherein the recesses are separated from one another by means of the shielding so that any electronic components that are not removed will remain within the Faraday cage.

10. A module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a plurality of sub-frames, each of which provides a separate Faraday cage.

11. A module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shielding has one or more apertures therein that allow connection of different electronic components, but does not allow removal of any electronic component.

12. A module as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the electronics components includes its own shielding which is removed if the component is removed from the housing.

13. A module as claimed in claim 1, which includes a motherboard and a plurality of daughterboards that are connected to the motherboard.

14. A module as claimed in claim 1, which is rack-mountable.

16. An electronics system, which comprises a rack and a plurality of modules as claimed in claim 1 mounted therein.

15. An electronics module which comprises:

(i) a housing;

(ii) a plurality of electronic components;

(iii) electromagnetic shielding that is associated with the housing and which provides a Faraday cage for the electronic components; and

(iv) one or more fans for cooling the electronic components;

wherein the or each fan is located on the outside of the Faraday cage, and at least part of the Faraday cage is air-permeable to allow air from the or each fan to flow through the assembly.

17. A housing for an electronics module which includes a plurality of recesses into which electronic components can be inserted, and electromagnetic shielding that is associated with at least some of the recesses to provide a Faraday cage that can enclose the electronic components when inserted, the shielding being air-permeable to allow a through-flow of air for cooling the electronic components.

18. A method of servicing an electronics assembly comprising a housing and a plurality of electronic and electrical components, which method comprises removing and replacing at least one of the components while the assembly is in operation, wherein the assembly includes electromagnetic shielding that is associated with the frame and/or the electronic components and which provides a Faraday cage, for the electronic components, and the shielding is constructed so that removal of the or each electrical component during the servicing method does not affect the integrity of the Faraday cage.