Modular server and method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A modular system comprising:
- a computer server including;
a first housing;
a first printed circuit assembly disposed within the first housing; and
a first expansion connector coupled to the first printed circuit assembly;
wherein the computer server is configured to be physically and electrically coupled to a modular expansion unit external of the first housing to convert the computer server from a base configuration to an expanded configuration, the modular expansion unit comprising;
a second housing configured to be mounted to the first housing;
a second printed circuit assembly disposed within the second housing; and
a second expansion connector coupled to the second printed circuit assembly and configured to cooperate with the first expansion connector to enable electrical communication between the first and second printed circuit assemblies;
wherein the second housing includes a guide pin configured to cooperate with an aperture of the second printed circuit assembly to facilitate installation of the second printed circuit assembly in the second housing.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A modular computer system is provided. In one embodiment, the system includes a computer server having a first printed circuit assembly disposed within a first housing and an expansion connector. The computer server is configured to be coupled to a modular expansion unit via the expansion connector to convert the computer server from a base configuration to an expanded configuration. In various embodiments, the expanded configuration may provide additional processing power, additional memory, or the like. A method of assembling a modular computer system is also provided.
89 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A modular system comprising:
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a computer server including; a first housing; a first printed circuit assembly disposed within the first housing; and a first expansion connector coupled to the first printed circuit assembly; wherein the computer server is configured to be physically and electrically coupled to a modular expansion unit external of the first housing to convert the computer server from a base configuration to an expanded configuration, the modular expansion unit comprising; a second housing configured to be mounted to the first housing; a second printed circuit assembly disposed within the second housing; and a second expansion connector coupled to the second printed circuit assembly and configured to cooperate with the first expansion connector to enable electrical communication between the first and second printed circuit assemblies; wherein the second housing includes a guide pin configured to cooperate with an aperture of the second printed circuit assembly to facilitate installation of the second printed circuit assembly in the second housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A modular device comprising:
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an expansion chassis configured to be mounted to a housing of a computer server, the expansion chassis comprising a connector aperture and an alignment aperture spaced from the connector aperture; a printed circuit assembly coupled to the expansion chassis; a scalability connector connected to the printed circuit assembly and configured to be coupled through the connector aperture to a mating connector of the computer server to facilitate direct electrical communication between the printed circuit assembly and the computer server; and a guide pin disposed on the printed circuit assembly, the guide pin extending through the alignment aperture of the expansion chassis and configured to extend through an aperture in the computer server to facilitate alignment of the scalability connector with the mating connector of the computer server. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of assembling a modular device, the method comprising:
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providing a computer server, the computer server including a housing and a first circuit assembly disposed within the housing; externally expanding the computer server with an expansion unit via mechanical and electrical connectors mating between the computer server and the expansion unit; wherein externally expanding the computer server comprises; securing a modular chassis to the exterior of the housing, the modular chassis configured to receive a second circuit assembly; aligning at least one guide feature of the second circuit assembly with at least one mating feature of the modular chassis; securing the second circuit assembly to the modular chassis; electrically connecting the second circuit assembly to the first circuit assembly via first and second scalability connectors disposed on the first and second circuit assemblies, respectively; and wherein securing the second circuit assembly comprises rotating a handle disposed on the second circuit assembly from a first position to a second position such that the handle engages a retaining feature of the modular chassis to effect electrical connection of the second circuit assembly to the first circuit assembly. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification