RELAY APPARATUS

• US 20160323206A1
• Filed: 03/31/2016
• Published: 11/03/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: OHYAMA, Sadayuki, AOKI, Kenji, MATSUDA, Shinnosuke, NIIGATA, Katsuya
• Granted Patent: US 10,581,760 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/405 Physical details, e.g. power supply, mechanical construction or backplane of ATM switches
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/02 Arrangements of circuit components or wiring on supporting structure
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1422 Printed circuit boards receptacles, e.g. stacked structures, electronic circuit modules or box like frames
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/18 Construction of rack or frame

Abstract

A relay apparatus includes first and second board modules and a bridge module. The first board module is configured to relay the communications among the plurality of electronic devices, the plurality of electronic devices being connected to the first board module. The second board module is configured to relay the communications among the plurality of electronic devices, the plurality of electronic devices being connected to the second board module. The bridge module is configured to communicatively connect the first board module and the second board module.

Claims

1. A relay apparatus that relays communications among a plurality of electronic devices provided in a storage apparatus, the relay apparatus comprising:

a first board module configured to relay the communications among the plurality of electronic devices, the plurality of electronic devices being connected to the first board module;

a second board module configured to relay the communications among the plurality of electronic devices, the plurality of electronic devices being connected to the second board module; and

a bridge module configured to communicatively connect the first board module and the second board module.

2. The relay apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the first and second board modules are detachably attached to the relay apparatus, and

the plurality of electronic devices are connected so as to be communicative to each other, through at least one of the first and second board modules.

3. The relay apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the bridge module is detachably attached to the first and second board modules.

4. The relay apparatus according to claim 2, wherein

the bridge module is detachably attached to the first and second board modules.

5. The relay apparatus according to claim 3, wherein

the bridge module comprises a structure that is to be detached from the relay apparatus, independently of the detachment of the first and second board modules from the relay apparatus.

6. The relay apparatus according to claim 4, wherein

the bridge module comprises a structure that is to be detached from the relay apparatus, independently of the detachment of the first and second board modules from the relay apparatus.

7. The relay apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the bridge module comprises:

a plate member;

a first connector that is connected to a first board module; and

a second connector that is connected to a second board module.

8. The relay apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the bridge module comprises:

a plate member;

a first connector that is connected to a first board module; and

a second connector that is connected to a second board module.

9. The relay apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the bridge module comprises:

a plate member;

a first connector that is connected to a first board module; and

a second connector that is connected to a second board module.

10. The relay apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the bridge module comprises:

a plate member;

a first connector that is connected to a first board module; and

a second connector that is connected to a second board module.

11. The relay apparatus according to claim 3, wherein

the bridge module comprises a nail,

when the first and second board modules are attached to the bridge module, the nail engages with the first and second board modules.

12. The relay apparatus according to claim 4, wherein

the bridge module comprises a nail,

when the first and second board modules are attached to the bridge module, the nail engages with the first and second board modules.

13. The relay apparatus according to claim 5, wherein

the bridge module comprises a nail,

when the first and second board modules are attached to the bridge module, the nail engages with the first and second board modules.

14. The relay apparatus according to claim 6, wherein

the bridge module comprises a nail,

when the first and second board modules are attached to the bridge module, the nail engages with the first and second board modules.

15. The relay apparatus according to claim 7, wherein

the bridge module comprises a nail,

when the first and second board modules are attached to the bridge module, the nail engages with the first and second board modules.

16. The relay apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the first board module and the second board module are provided side by side on a same plain, and have identical shapes.

17. The relay apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

first and second control modules configured to control the relay apparatus;

first and second fan modules configured to generate cooling air;

first and second communication modules configured to communicatively connect the relay apparatus and the plurality of electronic devices; and

first and second power supply modules configured to supply power to the relay apparatus,

wherein the first control module, the first fan module, the first communication module, and the first power supply module are connected to the first board module, and

the second control module, the second fan module, the second communication module, and the second power supply module are connected to the second board module.

18. The relay apparatus according to claim 17, wherein

the first control module and the first fan module are provided on a side opposite to the first communication module, having the first board module interposed therebetween, and

the second control module and the second fan module are provided on a side opposite to the second communication module, having the second board module interposed therebetween.

19. The relay apparatus according to claim 17, wherein

the first power supply module supplies power to the first control module, the first fan module, and the first communication module, and

the second power supply module supplies power to the second control module, the second fan module, and the second communication module.

20. The relay apparatus according to claim 17, wherein

the first board module comprises a first accommodating unit configured to accommodate the first control module and a second accommodating unit configured to accommodate the first fan module, on a surface on a side where the first control module and the first fan module are provided,

the second board module comprises a third accommodating unit configured to accommodate the second control module and a fourth accommodating unit configured to accommodate the second fan module, on a surface where the second control module and the second fan module are provided, and

the bridge module is attached to the first and second board modules, adjacent to the first, second, third, and fourth accommodating units.