System and method for tool-less mounting of a bezel with an electronic device

• US 8,649,180 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2007
• Issued: 02/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Grady, John R., Franz, John P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilson, Adrian S
• Application Number:
  US11/656,170
• Publication Number:
  US 20070279858A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,577 Days
• Field of Search: 361/683, 361/725, 361/726, 361/679.02, 361/679.33, 361/748, 361/752, 361/759, 361/784, 361/785, 361/788, 361/796, 361/797, 361/801, 361/802
• US Class Current: 361/725
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/183 Internal mounting support structures, e.g. for printed circuit boards, internal connecting means for buses G06F13/409

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a blade server and blade server components. Specifically, one embodiment is directed to a server comprising a server chassis, a system board coupled to the server chassis, the system board comprising a first electrical connector, and a bezel assembly coupled to the server chassis and the system board, the bezel assembly comprising a printed circuit assembly comprising a second electrical connector communicatively mated to the first electrical connector.

Claims

1. A blade server system comprising:

a blade server system enclosure;

a plurality of blade servers removably received within said blade server system enclosure, each of said plurality of blade servers comprising;

a chassis;

a system board coupled to the chassis, the system board comprising a first electrical connector;

a bezel assembly removably coupled to the chassis and the system board, the bezel assembly comprising;

a bezel face that is exposed on an outer surface of the blade server when the blade server is operational;

a printed circuit assembly comprising a feature coupled to the bezel face; and

a second electrical connector mounted on said printed circuit assembly;

wherein the feature of the printed circuit board is visible through the bezel face when the blade server is operational;

wherein, said second electrical connector is directly mated to the first electrical connector.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the bezel assembly comprises a retention flange extending outwardly from a perimeter of the bezel assembly.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the chassis comprises a latch removably coupled to the retention flange, the latch comprising a bezel lock configured to rotate about an alignment pin disposed through a hole in a central portion of the latch.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the latch comprises a quick release hatch that is spring-loaded.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the bezel lock comprises a retention feature on a first side of the hole and an ejector feature on a second side of the hole.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the retention feature is disposed over the retention flange to retain the bezel assembly in a coupled position with respect to the chassis and the system board.

8. The system of claim 3, wherein the first and second electrical connectors are blind mate connectors.

9. The system of claim 3, wherein the printed circuit assembly comprises circuitry for the feature being a status indicator.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the status indicator comprises light emitting diodes.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the printed circuit assembly comprises circuitry for the feature being a control feature.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the bezel assembly comprises a spool receptacle disposed about a spool extending from the chassis.

13. The system of claims 1, wherein the bezel assembly is coupled to the chassis along a rail structure of the chassis.

24. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

the printed circuit assembly defines a first plane; and

the system board defines a second plane parallel to the first plane;

wherein the first plane and second plane are parallel to a direction of travel when the first electrical connector is being coupled to the second electrical connector.

7. A blade server system comprising:

a blade server system enclosure;

a plurality of blade servers removably received within said blade server system enclosure each of said plurality of blade servers comprising;

a chassis;

a system board coupled to the chassis, the system board comprising a first electrical connector;

a bezel assembly removably coupled to the chassis and the system board, the bezel assembly comprising;

a bezel body having an ejector tab extending from the bezel body;

a printed circuit assembly and a second electrical connector mounted on said printed circuit assembly; and

a retention flange extending outwardly from a perimeter of the bezel assembly

wherein the chassis comprises a latch removably coupled to the retention flange, the latch comprising a bezel lock configured to rotate about an alignment pin disposed through a hole in a central portion of the latch;

wherein the bezel lock comprises a retention feature on a first side of the hole and an elector feature on a second side of the hole; and

wherein the ejector tab is aligned with a position that the ejector feature of the bezel lock is configured to rotate through; and

wherein, said second electrical connector is directly mated to the first electrical connector.

14. A method comprising:

inserting a bezel assembly into a server assembly by moving said bezel assembly in a first direction along a movement path relative to said server assembly;

wherein, said bezel assembly comprises;

a bezel face that is exposed on an outer surface of the server assembly when the server assembly is operational;

a bezel printed circuit assembly comprising a feature, the bezel printed circuit assembly coupled to the bezel face;

a bezel electrical connector mounted on said bezel printed circuit assembly; and

a bezel flange;

wherein the feature of the bezel printed circuit assembly is visible through the bezel face when the server assembly is operational and the bezel assembly is coupled to the server assembly

wherein, said server assembly comprises;

a chassis;

a system board mounted on said chassis;

a system board electrical connector in electrical communication with said system board; and

a latch comprising a latch first end and an oppositely disposed latch second end, said latch being pivotally mounted on said chassis and being rotatable between a first position in which said latch first end is at least partially blocking said movement path and a second position in which said latch first end is not blocking said movement path;

wherein said inserting said bezel assembly comprises;

moving said bezel assembly a first distance along said movement path in said first direction, thereby causing an initial contact between said bezel flange and said latch first end;

continuing movement of said bezel assembly in said first direction, after said initial contact between said bezel flange and said latch first end, thereby causing said latch to move from said first position to said second position; and

continuing movement of said bezel assembly after said latch has reached said second position, thereby allowing said latch to return to said first position;

wherein, after said inserting said bezel assembly, said bezel electrical connector is engaged with said system board electrical connector and said latch first end prevents movement of said bezel assembly in a second direction opposite said first direction.

15. The method of claim 14 and further wherein:

said causing said latch first end comprises a sloped face; and

said latch first end to move from said first position to said second position comprises forcing said bezel flange against said sloped face.

16. The method of claim 14 and further wherein:

said latch is biased toward said first position;

said causing said latch first end to move from said first position to said second position comprises causing said latch first end to move from said first position to said second position against said bias; and

said allowing said latch first end to return to said first position comprises allowing said latch first end to return to said first position due to said bias.

17. The method of claim 16 and further wherein said latch is biased toward said first position by a spring.

25. The method of claim 14 wherein said bezel assembly further comprising:

the bezel printed circuit assembly defines a first plane parallel to a plane defined by the system board of the server assembly;

wherein the first plane and second plane are parallel to a direction of travel when the bezel electrical connector is being coupled to the system board electrical connector.

18. A method comprising:

inserting a bezel assembly into a server assembly by moving said bezel assembly in a first direction along a movement path relative to said server assembly;

wherein, said bezel assembly comprises;

a bezel printed circuit assembly;

a bezel electrical connector mounted on said bezel printed circuit assembly; and

a bezel flange;

wherein, said server assembly comprises;

a chassis;

a system board mounted on said chassis;

a system board electrical connector in electrical communication with said system board; and

a latch comprising a latch first end and an oppositely disposed latch second end, said latch being pivotally mounted on said chassis and being rotatable between a first position in which said latch first end is at least partially blocking said movement path and a second position in which said latch first end is not blocking said movement path;

wherein said inserting said bezel assembly comprises;

moving said bezel assembly a first distance along said movement path in said first direction, thereby causing an initial contact between said bezel flange and said latch first end;

continuing movement of said bezel assembly in said first direction, after said initial contact between said bezel flange and said latch first end, thereby causing said latch to move from said first position to said second position; and

continuing movement of said bezel assembly after said latch has reached said second position, thereby allowing said latch to return to said first position;

wherein, after said inserting said bezel assembly, said bezel electrical connector is engaged with said system board electrical connector and said latch first end prevents movement of said bezel assembly in a second direction opposite said first direction;

removing said bezel assembly from said server assembly by moving said bezel assembly in said second direction along with movement path;

wherein, said bezel assembly further comprises a bezel ejector tab extending therefrom;

wherein said removing said bezel assembly comprises;

moving said latch from said first position toward said second position, thereby causing an initial contact between said latch second end and said bezel ejector tab;

continuing movement of said latch toward said second position;

after said initial contact between said latch second end and said bezel ejector tab, thereby causing said bezel assembly to begin moving in said second direction along said movement path and said bezel electrical connector to begin disengaging from said system board electrical connector.

19. A system comprising:

a bezel assembly that is removably insertable into a server assembly by moving said bezel assembly in a first direction along a movement path relative to said server assembly;

said bezel assembly comprising;

a bezel face that is exposed on an outer surface of the server assembly when the server assembly is operational;

a bezel printed circuit assembly comprising a feature, the bezel printed circuit assembly coupled to the bezel face;

a bezel electrical connector mounted on said bezel printed circuit assembly; and

a bezel flange;

wherein the feature of the bezel printed circuit assembly is visible through the bezel face when the server assembly is operational and the bezel assembly is coupled to the server assembly;

said server assembly comprising;

a chassis;

a system board mounted on said chassis;

a system board electrical connector in electrical communication with said system board; and

a latch comprising a latch first end and an oppositely disposed latch second end, said latch being pivotally mounted on said chassis and being rotatable between a first position in which said latch first end is at least partially blocking said movement path and a second position in which said latch first end is not blocking said movement path;

wherein said system is capable of assuming the following conditions when said bezel assembly is being inserted into said server assembly;

a first condition in which said latch first end is in said first position and said latch first end is not in contact with said bezel flange;

a second condition in which said bezel assembly has moved a first distance along said movement path in said first direction, contact is established between said bezel flange and said latch first end and said latch has moved from said first position to said second position;

a third condition in which said bezel assembly has moved a second distance along said movement path in said first direction, said second distance being greater than said first distance, said bezel electrical connector is engaged with said system board electrical connector, said latch has returned to said first position and said latch first end prevents movement of said bezel assembly in a second direction opposite said first direction.

20. The system of claim 19 and wherein said latch first end comprises a sloped face.

21. The system of claim 19 and further wherein said latch is biased toward said first position.

22. The system of claim 21 and further wherein said latch is biased toward said first position by a spring.

26. The system of claim 19 further comprising:

the printed circuit assembly defines a first plane; and

the system board defines a second plane parallel to the first plane;

wherein the first plane and second plane are parallel to a direction of travel when the bezel electrical connector is being coupled to the system board electrical connector.

23. A system comprising:

a bezel assembly that is removably insertable into a server assembly by moving said bezel assembly in a first direction along a movement path relative to said server assembly;

said bezel assembly comprising;

a bezel printed circuit assembly

a bezel electrical connector mounted on said bezel printed circuit assembly; and

a bezel flange;

said server assembly comprising;

a chassis;

a system board mounted on said chassis

a system board electrical connector in electrical communication with said system board; and

a latch comprising a latch first end and an oppositely disposed latch second end, said latch being pivotally mounted on said chassis and being rotatable between a first position in which said latch first end is at least partially blocking said movement path and a second position in which said latch first end is not blocking said movement path;

wherein said system is capable of assuming the following conditions when said bezel assembly is being inserted into said server assembly;

a first condition in which said latch first end is in said first position and said latch first end is not in contact with said bezel flange;

a second condition in which said bezel assembly has moved a first distance along said movement path in said first direction, contact is established between said bezel flange and said latch first end and said latch has moved from said first position to said second position;

a third condition in which said bezel assembly has moved a second distance along said movement path in said first direction, said second distance being greater than said first distance, said bezel electrical connector is engaged with said system board electrical connector, said latch has returned to said first position and said latch first end prevents movement of said bezel assembly in a second direction opposite said first direction;

said bezel assembly is removable from said server assembly by moving said bezel assembly in said second direction along said movement path;

said bezel assembly further comprises a bezel ejector tab extending therefrom;

wherein said system is capable of assuming the following conditions when said bezel assembly is being removed from said server assembly;

a fourth condition in which said latch has moved from said first position toward said second position, thereby causing an initial contact between said latch second end and said bezel ejector tab;

a fifth condition in which said latch has moved further toward said second position, after said initial contact between said latch second end and said bezel ejector tab, thereby causing said bezel assembly to begin moving in said second direction along said movement path and said bezel electrical connector to begin disengaging from said system board electrical connector.