BASEBOARD INTERCONNECTION DEVICE, SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20160012006A1
• Filed: 07/14/2014
• Published: 01/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Marvell Asia Pte Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Original Assignee: XPLIANT, INC. (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Inventors: Motamedi, Amir H., Jayakumar, Nikhil, Trivedi, Vivek, Palisetti, Vasant K., Ahluwalia, Daman, Mula, Bhagavathi R.
• Granted Patent: US 10,198,389 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4004 Coupling between buses
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4068 Electrical coupling
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/409 Mechanical coupling back panels H05K7/1438
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/10 Plug-in assemblages of components , e.g. IC sockets

Abstract

An information processing system, device and method wherein a base board is configured to couple to both back and midplane systems as well as optical modules for use in a data center rack system. Specifically, a base board adapter is configured to electrically couple to an integrated backplane/midplane electronic interface of the base board and translate the signals to one or more optical interface module connectors such that one or more optical interface modules are able to be coupled to the base board.

Claims

1. An information processing system, comprising:

at least one base board having a rigid substrate supporting a central processing unit, a memory and a network interconnect interface, wherein the network interconnect interface is positioned along a first edge of the base board and configured to electrically couple to a backplane chassis;

one or more optical interface modules each having a module connector and one or more cable connectors; and

a base board adapter having a base board connector configured to detachably electrically couple to the network interconnect interface and one or more optical connectors each configured to detachably electrically couple to one of the module connectors.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the base board further comprises one or more first visual indicators positioned along the first edge and one or more second visual indicators positioned along a second edge of the base board that is opposite the first edge.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the second visual indicators mirror the first visual indicators.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the first visual indicators indicate one or more of the group consisting of a traffic flow status, a power status and health status.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the base board further comprises an indicator switch that in a first state enables the operation of the first visual indicators and disables the operation of the second visual indicators and in a second state disables the operation of the first visual indicators and enables the operation of the second visual indicators.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the base board further comprises a first user control interface positioned along the first edge and a second user control interface positioned along the second edge of the base board.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the optical connectors are positioned on a first side of the adapter and the base board connector is on a second side of the adapter opposite the first side.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the optical connectors are organized into the plurality of vertically stacked rows on the first side such that first row of optical connectors is positioned above a second row of the connectors.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a data center chassis having a top of rack switch and configured to electrically couple with the optical interface modules via one or more optical cables coupled between the cable connectors and the top of rack switch.

10. A base board for use in a information processing system, the base board comprising:

a rigid substrate;

a central processing unit positioned on the rigid substrate;

a memory positioned on the rigid substrate and electrically coupled with the central processing units;

a network interconnect interface electrically coupled with the central processing unit, positioned along a first edge of the substrate and configured to electrically couple to a backplane chassis;

one or more first visual indicators positioned along the first edge of the substrate; and

one or more second visual indicators positioned along a second edge of the rigid substrate that is opposite the first edge.

11. The base board of claim 10, wherein the second visual indicators mirror the first visual indicators.

12. The base board of claim 11, wherein the first visual indicators indicate one or more of the group consisting of a traffic flow status, a power status and health status.

13. The base board of claim 10, further comprising an indicator switch that in a first state enables the operation of the first visual indicators and disables the operation of the second visual indicators and in a second state disables the operation of the first visual indicators and enables the operation of the second visual indicators.

14. The base board of claim 10, further comprising a first user control interface positioned along the first edge and a second user control interface positioned along the second edge.

15. The base board of claim 10, further comprising a base board adapter having a base board connector and one or more optical connectors, wherein the adapter is detachably electrically coupled to the network interconnect interface via the base board connector, wherein the optical connectors are each configured to electrically couple to a module connector of an optical interface module.

16. The base board of claim 15, wherein the optical connectors are positioned on a first side of the adapter and the base board connector is on a second side of the adapter opposite the first side.

17. The base board of claim 16, wherein the optical connectors are organized into the plurality of vertically stacked rows on the first side such that first row of optical connectors is positioned above a second row of the connectors.

18. The base board of claim 15, further comprising one or more optical interface modules detachably electrically coupled to the optical connectors via one or more module connectors.

19. A base board adapter for use in a information processing system, the base board adapter comprising:

a rigid body having a first side and a second side opposite the first side;

a base board connector positioned on the first side and configured to detachably electrically couple with a base board; and

one or more optical connectors positioned on the second side and each configured to detachably electrically couple to a module connector of an optical interface module.

20. The base board adapter of claim 19, wherein the optical connectors are organized into the plurality of vertically stacked rows on the first side such that first row of optical connectors is positioned above a second row of the connectors.

21. A method of providing a base board for use in an information processing system, the method comprising:

providing at least one base board having a rigid substrate supporting a central processing unit, a memory and a network interconnect interface, wherein the network interconnect interface is positioned along a first edge of the base board and configured to electrically couple to a backplane chassis;

providing one or more optical interface modules each having a module connector and one or more cable connectors; and

detachably electrically coupling the optical interface modules to the base board with a base board adapter having a base board connector configured to electrically couple to the network interconnect interface and one or more optical connectors each configured to electrically couple to one of the module connectors.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the base board further comprises one or more first visual indicators positioned along the first edge and one or more second visual indicators positioned along a second edge of the base board that is opposite the first edge.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the second visual indicators mirror the first visual indicators.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the first visual indicators indicate one or more of the group consisting of a traffic flow status, a power status and health status.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the base board further comprises an indicator switch that in a first state enables the operation of the first visual indicators and disables the operation of the second visual indicators and in a second state disables the operation of the first visual indicators and enables the operation of the second visual indicators.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the base board further comprises a first user control interface positioned along the first edge and a second user control interface positioned along the second edge of the base board.

27. The method of claim 21, wherein the optical connectors are positioned on a first side of the adapter and the base board connector is on a second side of the adapter opposite the first side.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the optical connectors are organized into the plurality of vertically stacked rows on the first side such that first row of optical connectors is positioned above a second row of the connectors.

29. The method of claim 21, further comprising providing a data center chassis having a top of rack switch and configured to electrically couple with the optical interface modules via one or more optical cables coupled between the cable connectors and the top of rack switch.