Cable management solution for rack mounted computing components

• US 6,483,709 B1
• Filed: 04/28/2000
• Issued: 11/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Layton, Jeffrey Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): FEILD, LYNN DIANA
• Application Number:
  US09/560,605
• Time in Patent Office: 935 Days
• Field of Search: 361/788, 361/785, 361/790, 361/724-727, 361/686, 439/638
• US Class Current: 361/724
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1454 Alignment mechanisms; Drawout cases

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a cable management solution for rack mounted computing components. In one embodiment, a backplate is preferably fixedly coupled to a rack structure. One face of the backplate is preferably operable to maintain connection with the preferred operating cables, such as, I/O devices, network, etc., which would typically couple directly to the computing component. On an opposite face of the backplate, is at least one plug operable to couple the various cable connections maintained by the backplate to at least one jack on the computing component engaged therewith. A series of alignment posts and alignment slots enable a computing component to be easily slid into and out of the rack as well as simplify engagement with and disengagement from the plug or plugs on the backplate.

Claims

1. A computing system comprising:

a computing component having a housing;

a rack structure operable to releasably maintain at least one computing component therein;

respective first and second guides operably coupled to respective first and second sides of the rack structure;

the guides operable to engage respective first and second sides of the housing such that the computing component may be displaced with respect to a front opening of the rack structure;

a backplate having respective first and second faces;

the backplate operably coupled to a rear opening of the rack structure;

at least one data plug operably coupled to the first face of the backplate;

the data plug operable to couple to at least one data jack on a rear face of the computing component;

at least one data port operably coupled to the second face of the backplate; and

the data port operable to couple to at least one data cable.

2. The computing system of claim 1 further comprising:

at least one power plug operably coupled to the first face of the backplate; and

the power plug operable to couple at least one power supply to at least one power jack operably coupled to the rear face of the computing component.

3. The computing system of claim 1 further comprising:

an interposer board operably coupled between the computing component and the backplate; and

the interposer board operable to couple the at least one data jack to the at least one data plug.

4. The computing system of claim 1 further comprising the housing having a proximate height of 1U.

5. The computing system of claim 1 further comprising:

at least one alignment mechanism operably coupled to the computing component; and

the at least one alignment mechanism operable to engage the first face of the backplate such that the data plug and the data jack may be operably coupled.

6. The computing system of claim 1 further comprising:

at least one locking mechanism operably coupled to the first face of the backplate; and

the locking mechanism operable to engage the computing component and prevent disengagement from the backplate while the computing component is receiving power.

7. The computing system of claim 1 further comprising:

the data jack operable to receive and transmit data for a plurality of devices operably coupled to the data plug; and

the data plug operable to receive and transmit data for a plurality of devices operably coupled to the at least one data port.

8. The computing system of claim 1 further comprising:

a plurality of data ports operably coupled to the second face of the backplate;

the data ports operable to receive at least one data cable from at least one device; and

the data plug operable to couple the plurality of data ports to the data jack such that the data jack is operably coupled to the at least one device.

9. A computing component comprising:

a housing having one or more devices disposed therein;

the housing having respective top and bottom surfaces, respective front and rear faces, and respective first and second sides;

the first and second sides of the housing operable to engage a pair of guides maintained in a rack structure such that the housing may be guided into and out of an opening of the rack structure;

the rear face of the housing having at least one jack; and

the jack operable to couple to a plug on a backplate maintained proximate a rear opening of the rack structure.

10. The computing component of claim 9 further comprising:

at least one processor;

memory operably associated with the processor; and

the processor and the memory disposed within the housing.

11. The computing component of claim 9 wherein the jack further comprises a data jack operable to communicate with a plurality of devices operably coupled to the plug on the backplate.

12. The computing component of claim 9 further comprising:

at least one alignment mechanism, operably coupled to the rear face of the housing; and

the at least one alignment mechanism operable to engage the backplate such that the jack and the plug may be operably coupled.

13. The computing component of claim 9 further comprising the jack and the plug coupled with each other using a D-type connection.

14. The computing component of claim 9 further comprising the jack and the plug coupled with each other using a card and slot type connection.

15. The computing component of claim 9 further comprising:

at least one power jack operably coupled to the rear face of the housing; and

the at least one power jack operable to couple to at least one power supply.

16. The computing component of claim 15 further comprising:

the at least one power jack operable to couple to at least one power plug on the backplate; and

the power plug operable to couple to the at least one power supply.

17. A backplate for use with a computer system comprising:

respective first and second faces;

at least one data port operably coupled to the first face;

the at least one data port operable to receive a data cable;

at least one data plug operably coupled to the second face;

the data plug communicatively coupled to the data port; and

the data plug operable to communicatively couple to at least one data jack on a rack mountable computing component such that the data cable is operably coupled to the rack mountable computing component.

18. The backplate of claim 17 further comprising:

at least one power port operably coupled to the first face;

the power port operable to receive power from a power supply;

at least one power plug operably coupled to the second face;

the at least one power plug operably coupled to the power port; and

the at least one power plug operable to couple with at least one power jack on the rack mountable computing component such that the power supply is electrically coupled to the rack mountable computing component.

19. The backplate of claim 18 further comprising at least one locking mechanism operably coupled to the second face to engage the rack mountable computing component such that the computing component is releasably held in place when receiving power from the power supply.

20. The backplate of claim 17 further comprising:

the at least one data port operable to communicate data to and from a plurality of devices; and

the at least one data plug operable to communicate data to and from a plurality of devices.

21. The backplate of claim 17 further comprising:

a plurality of data ports operably coupled to the first face;

the data ports operable to receive a data cable; and

the at least one data plug operable to couple each data cable to the at least one data jack.

22. The backplate of claim 17 further comprising:

at least one alignment mechanism operably coupled to the second face; and

the at least one alignment mechanism operable to engage the rack mountable computing component such that the data plug and the data jack may be operably coupled.

23. The backplate of claim 17 further comprising:

at least one air pathway; and

the air pathway operable to allow air to be circulated with respect to the rack mountable computing component.