Expandable modular computer system

• US 5,602,721 A
• Filed: 12/22/1995
• Issued: 02/11/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Original Assignee: Tandem Computers Incorporated (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Slade, Boyd, Coleman, Henry S., Carver, Walter R., Caramagno, Brad D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FEILD, LYNN DIANA
• Application Number:
  US08/572,903
• Time in Patent Office: 417 Days
• Field of Search: 361/683, 361/684, 361/685, 361/724, 361/725, 361/726, 361/727, 312/107, 312/334.27, 312/334.31, 312/223.1, 312/223.2, 312/223.3, 206/504, 206/509, 206/512, 364/708.1
• US Class Current: 361/727
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/18 Packaging or power distribution
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/182 with special features, e.g. for use in industrial environments; grounding or shielding against radio frequency interference [RFI] or electromagnetical interference [EMI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1635 Stackable modules

Abstract

An expandable system such as a computer system includes a plurality of stacked functional modules with each module engaging an abutting module in a physically locked relationship. Electric power for the modular system is provided to all modules through power lines within each module housing for EMI shielding with abutting modules having mating electric power connectors.

Claims

1. An expandable computer system comprising a plurality of functional modules, each module having a housing with a top side, back side, front side, and bottom side, one of said top side and said bottom side having a first surface with at least one rail receptacle therein and the other of said top side and said bottom side having a first surface with at least one rail for sliding into a rail receptacle, each of said top side and said bottom side having an electrical power receptacle, and a power cable within said housing for interconnecting the electrical power receptacles, whereby a plurality of functional modules can be stacked with a rail of one module engaging a receptacle in an abutting module, and electrical power transmitted between modules with each housing providing electro-magnetic interference (EMI) shielding for the power cables.

2. The system as defined by claim 1 wherein each of said top side and said bottom side having a second surface offset from said first surface and a third surface joining said first surface and said second surface, a female power connector in one of said third surfaces and a male power connector in the other of said third surfaces, and power cables within said housing for interconnecting said female power connector and said male power connector.

3. The system as defined by claim 2 wherein each rail comprises two triangular members slidably engaging each other, and means for sliding said two rail members to lock a rail in a mating rail receptacle.

4. The system as defined by claim 3 and further including guide means in a third surface of a module for engaging holes in a third surface of a mating module and aligning power connectors of the modules.

5. The system as defined by claim 4 wherein each third surface of a module further includes a system maintenance bus (SMB) connector, the SMB connector of one module engaging the SMB connector of an abutting module.

6. The system as defined by claim 5 wherein said front surface includes fans for ambient cooling of a module, and components of each module being accessible from said back surface.

7. The system as defined by claim 5 wherein a bottom module provides power to said system, another module houses a central processing unit, and other modules house input/output and storage devices.

8. The system as defined by claim 1 wherein a bottom module provides power to said system, another module houses a central processing unit, and other modules house input/output and storage devices.

9. The system as defined by claim 1 wherein said at least one rail receptacle includes two parallel tracks and said at least one rail includes two parallel rails.

10. The system as defined by claim 9 wherein each track is U-shaped, and each rail is rectangular in cross-section for mating with a U-shaped track.

11. A module for use in a stacked modular computer system comprising a housing having a top side, a back side, a front side, and a bottom side, one of said top side and said bottom side having two parallel tracks each shaped to receive a rail, the other of said top said and said bottom side having two parallel rails each shaped for placement in a track, and a power bus within said module and including first connection means for receiving electrical power from a second module and second connection means for providing electrical power to a third module.

12. The module as defined by claim 11 wherein said first connection means includes a first connector and a first power cable branch for providing power to devices internal to said module and a second connector and a second power cable branch for providing power to said second connection means.

13. The module as defined by claim 12 wherein said first connection means further includes a third connector and a third power cable branch for providing power to a central processing unit within said module.

14. The module as defined by claim 11 and further including latch means for latching rails in said tracks.

15. The module as defined by claim 13 wherein each track is U-shaped and each rail has a rectangular cross-section.

16. The module as defined by claim 11 wherein each track is U-shaped and each rail has a rectangular cross-section.

17. A module for use in a stacked modular system comprising a housing with a top side, back side, front side, and a bottom side, one of said top side and said bottom side having a first surface with a recess therein and the other of said top side and said bottom side having a first surface with a rail for sliding into a recess, each of said top side and said bottom side having a second surface offset from said first surface and a third surface joining said first surface and said second surface, said rail comprising two triangular members slidably engaging each other, and means for sliding said two members to lock a rail and a mating recess.

18. The module as defined by claim 17 and further including a female power connector in one of said third surfaces and a male power connector in the other of said third surfaces, and power cables within said housing for interconnecting said female power connector and said male power connector, whereby a plurality of functional modules can be stacked with a rail of one module engaging the recess in an abutting module, and electrical power transmitted between modules with each housing providing electro-magnetic interference (EMI) shielding for the power cables.

19. The module as defined by claim 18 and further including guide members in one third surface of a module for engaging holes in a third surface of a mating module for aligning power connectors of the modules.