IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,765,026
Granted Patent B2
US 10,765,026 · App. 16/168,708 · Granted Sep 1, 2020

Automated data center

Inventor: Jason David Adrian (Woodinville, WA)
Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
H05K5/0286H05K7/1487H05K7/1492H05K7/1494
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,765,026
App. No.
16/168,708
Granted
Sep 1, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A server node is provided that includes a processor and a network interface controller mounted in a chassis configured to be inserted into a server node slot of a server node grid. The chassis includes a blind-mate connector system on a back side that includes a blind-mate power connector and a blind-mate network connector configured to blind-mate with a corresponding blind-mate power connector and a corresponding blind-mate network connector of the server node slot of the server node grid. As the server node is inserted into the server node slot, the blind-mate power connector is configured to blind-mate with the corresponding blind-mate power connector of the server node slot before the blind-mate network connector blind-mates with the corresponding blind-mate network connector of the server node slot, such that the blind-mate power connector provides alignment guidance for the blind-mate network connector.

Claims (34)

1. A server node comprising:

a processor and a network interface controller mounted in a chassis configured to be inserted into a server node slot of a server node grid;

wherein the chassis includes a blind-mate connector system on a back side that includes a blind-mate power connector and a blind-mate network connector configured to blind-mate with a corresponding blind-mate power connector and a corresponding blind-mate network connector of the server node slot of the server node grid; and

wherein as the server node is inserted into the server node slot, the blind-mate power connector is configured to blind-mate with the corresponding blind-mate power connector of the server node slot before the blind-mate network connector blind-mates with the corresponding blind-mate network connector of the server node slot, such that the blind-mate power connector provides alignment guidance for the blind-mate network connector.

2. The server node of claim 1 , wherein the blind-mate power connector and the blind-mate network connector are arranged on a same plate of the blind-mate connector system.

3. The server node of claim 1 , wherein the blind-mate connector system further includes one or more blind-mate in/out data connectors configured to blind-mate with corresponding one or more blind-mate in/out data connectors of the server node slot.

4. The server node of claim 3 , wherein as the server node is inserted into the server node slot, the one or more blind-mate in/out data connectors are configured to blind-mate with the corresponding one or more blind-mate in/out data connectors of the server node slot before the blind-mate network connector blind-mates with the corresponding blind-mate network connector of the server node slot, such that the one or more blind-mate in/out data connectors provide alignment guidance for the blind-mate network connector.

5. The server node of claim 1 , wherein the server node is configured to be inserted into the server node slot of the server node grid by an automated cartesian handling system; and

wherein the chassis includes a receiving interface on a front side configured to secure to a mechanical interface of the automated cartesian handling system.

6. The server node of claim 5 , wherein the chassis further includes a ventilation opening on the front side.

7. The server node of claim 6 , wherein the chassis further includes a latching system configured to reversibly secure to the server node slot of the server node grid when the server node is inserted into the server node slot by the cartesian handling system; and

wherein the latching system is configured to unlatch from the server node slot of the server node grid when the server node is secured to the mechanical interface of the cartesian handling system for extraction from the server node slot.

8. The server node of claim 7 , further comprising a latch sensor configured to detect whether the latching system is secured to the server node slot of the server node grid.

9. The server node of claim 1 , wherein the blind-mate network connector is an optical network connector.

10. The server node of claim 1 , further comprising a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of the server node.

11. A server node comprising:

a processor and a network interface controller mounted in a chassis configured to be inserted into a server node slot of a server node grid by an automated cartesian handling system;

wherein the chassis includes a blind-mate connector system on a back side that includes a blind-mate power connector and a blind-mate network connector configured to blind-mate with a corresponding blind-mate power connector and a corresponding blind-mate network connector of the server node slot of the server node grid;

wherein the chassis includes a receiving interface on a front side configured to secure to a mechanical interface of the automated cartesian handling system; and

wherein the blind-mate power connector and the blind-mate network connector are arranged on a same plate of the blind-mate connector system.

12. The server node of claim 11 , wherein the blind-mate connector system further includes one or more blind-mate in/out data connectors configured to blind-mate with corresponding one or more blind-mate in/out data connectors of the server node slot, the one or more blind-mate in/out data connectors being arranged on the same plate of the blind-mate connector system.

13. The server node of claim 11 , wherein as the server node is inserted into the server node slot, the blind-mate power connector is configured to blind-mate with the corresponding blind-mate power connector of the server node slot before the one or more blind-mate in/out data connectors blind-mate with the corresponding one or more blind-mate in/out data connectors of the server node slot; and

wherein the one or more blind-mate in/out data connectors are configured to blind-mate with the corresponding one or more blind-mate in/out data connectors of the server node slot before the blind-mate network connector blind-mates with the corresponding blind-mate network connector of the server node slot.

14. The server node of claim 1 , wherein the chassis further includes a ventilation opening on the front side.

15. The server node of claim 14 , wherein the chassis further includes a latching system configured to reversibly secure to the server node slot of the server node grid when the server node is inserted into the server node slot by the cartesian handling system; and

wherein the latching system is configured to unlatch from the server node slot of the server node grid when the server node is secured to the mechanical interface of the cartesian handling system for extraction from the server node slot.

16. The server node of claim 15 , further comprising a latch sensor configured to detect whether the latching system is secured to the server node slot of the server node grid.

17. The server node of claim 11 , wherein the blind-mate network connector is an optical network connector.

18. The server node of claim 11 , further comprising a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of the server node.

19. A data center comprising:

a server node grid having a plurality of rows and columns of server node slots, each server node slot having a blind-mate power connector and a blind-mate network connector;

a plurality of server nodes configured to be individually deployed to the plurality of server node slots, each server node having a corresponding blind-mate power connector and a corresponding blind-mate network connector positioned on a chassis thereof, and

an automated cartesian handling system configured to individually deploy server nodes to the plurality of server node slots and individually extract server nodes from the plurality of server node slots.

20. The data center of claim 19 , wherein as a server node of the plurality of server nodes is inserted into a server node slot, the blind-mate power connector of the server node slot is configured to blind-mate with the corresponding blind-mate power connector of the server node before the blind-mate network connector of the server node slot blind-mates with the corresponding blind-mate network connector of the server node, such that the blind-mate power connector provides alignment guidance for the blind-mate network connector.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 23, 2018
From: ADRIAN, JASON DAVID
To: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
Reel/Frame 047285/0173 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62719522 · Aug 17, 2018
Related Publication 20200060033A1 · Feb 20, 2020
Cited By (1)
US 12,317,444