Portable module system
Approaches, techniques, and mechanisms are disclosed for manufacturing and operating portable module systems. The portable module systems can provide additional computing, memory, communication, networking, and power functionality in compact package that can be connected to a host system. The portable module system can dissipate thermal energy using an embedded cooling system to allow the use of high performance components. The portable module system can improve the functionality and computing capacity of the host system by linking off the shelf component boards with the external bus using a bridge interface unit to transfer information from an internal bus to the external bus.
1. A method of manufacture of a portable module system comprising:
mounting a module adapter unit within an enclosure, the module adapter unit having one or more module connectors coupled to an internal bus;
coupling module boards to the internal bus via the module connectors;
connecting an interface connector to the module adapter unit, the interface connector configured to couple with an external bus, and the interface connector having a power line powering the module adapter unit and the module boards;
coupling a bridge interface unit to the module adapter unit, the bridge interface unit configured to couple the internal bus to the external bus; and
filling the enclosure with an electrically non-conductive working fluid and sealing the enclosure to prevent leakage of the electrically non-conductive working fluid.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein coupling the module boards includes the coupling the module connectors to the module adapter unit with flexible connectors, and the flexible connectors are folded at a right angle to orient the module connectors in the same direction.
3. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein coupling the module boards includes coupling the module connectors to the module adapter unit in a stacked configuration with one or more of the module boards connected to the module connectors and at least one of the module boards parallel to another of the module boards.
4. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein mounting the module adapter unit includes configuring a cooling unit in the enclosure to direct an airflow against the module boards.
5. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein coupling the module boards includes configuring the module boards with airflow channeling elements to direct the airflow within the enclosure.
6. A method of manufacture of a portable module system comprising:
mounting a module adapter unit within an enclosure, the module adapter unit having one or more module connectors coupled to an internal bus;
coupling module boards to the internal bus via the module connectors;
configuring one or more of the module boards as memory boards;
configuring one of the module boards as a memory controller for controlling the memory boards;
connecting an interface connector to the module adapter unit, the interface connector configured to couple with an external bus, and the interface connector having a power line powering the module adapter unit and the module boards;
coupling a bridge interface unit to the module adapter unit, the bridge interface unit configured to couple the internal bus to the external bus; and
filling the enclosure with an electrically non-conductive working fluid and sealing the enclosure to prevent leakage of the electrically non-conductive working fluid.
7. The method as claimed in claim 6 further comprising mounting an internal heat diffuser between two of the module boards, the internal heat diffuser having diffuser airflow elements to direct the airflow from the cooling unit, and the internal heat diffuser having thermal pads in contact with the module boards configured to cool the module boards.
8. The method as claimed in claim 6 wherein coupling the module boards includes the module boards includes positioning the module boards in module guides attached to the enclosure.
9. The method as claimed in claim 6 wherein coupling the module boards includes mounting the module boards around an inner perimeter of the enclosure to form a rectangular tube having a central cavity.
10. A portable module system comprising:
a module adapter unit within an enclosure filled with an electrically non-conductive working fluid and the enclosure sealed to prevent leakage of the electrically non-conductive working fluid;
one or more module connectors coupled to the module adapter unit with the module connectors coupled to an internal bus;
module boards coupled to the internal bus via the module connectors;
an interface connector coupled to the module adapter unit, the interface connector configured to couple with an external bus, and the interface connector having a power line powering the module adapter unit and the module boards; and
a bridge interface unit coupled to the module adapter unit, the bridge interface unit configured to couple the internal bus to the external bus.
11. The system as claimed in claim 10 wherein the module connectors are coupled to the module adapter unit with flexible connectors, and the flexible connectors are folded at a right angle to orient the module connectors in the same direction.
12. The system as claimed in claim 10 wherein the module connectors are coupled to the module adapter unit in a stacked configuration with one or more of the module boards connected to the module connectors and at least one of the module boards parallel to another of the module boards.
13. The system as claimed in claim 10 further comprising a cooling unit, coupled to the enclosure, is configured to direct an airflow against the module boards.
14. The system as claimed in claim 10 wherein the module boards include airflow channeling elements to direct the airflow within the enclosure.
15. The system as claimed in claim 10 wherein:
one or more of the module boards are configured as memory boards; and
one of the module boards is configured as a memory controller for controlling the memory boards.
16. The system as claimed in claim 15 further comprising an internal heat diffuser between two of the module boards, the internal heat diffuser having diffuser airflow elements to direct the airflow from the cooling unit, and the internal heat diffuser having thermal pads in contact with the module boards configured to cool the module boards.
17. The system as claimed in claim 15 further comprising a thermal sensor coupled to the system board, the thermal sensor configured control the cooling unit based on an internal temperature of the portable module system.
18. The system as claimed in claim 15 wherein the module boards are positioned in module guides attached to the enclosure.
19. The system as claimed in claim 15 wherein the module boards are mounted around an inner perimeter of the enclosure to form a rectangular tube having a central cavity.