IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,481,312
Granted Patent B2
US 12,481,312 · App. 18/138,045 · Granted Nov 25, 2025

Front port dongle for a server type information handling system

Inventors: Owen Kidd (Cedar Park, TX); Walter R. Carver (Round Rock, TX)
Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
G06F1/16
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,481,312
App. No.
18/138,045
Granted
Nov 25, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A front port dongle component for a server type information handling system. The front port dongle component includes a housing, the housing including an insertion portion and a front portion, the insertion portion being configured to fit within a void defined by the server type information handling system, the front portion being configured to protrude beyond a front bezel of the server type information handling system; a server side connector, the server side connector interfacing with at least one of a plurality of connection features; and, a plurality of connectors mounted on the front portion of the housing, the plurality of connectors being coupled to the server side connector and providing separate connections for at least two functions from the at least one of the plurality of connection features.

Claims (33)

1 . A front port dongle component for a server type information handling system, comprising:

a housing, the housing including an insertion portion and a front portion, the insertion portion being configured to removably fit within a void defined by the server type information handling system, the front portion being configured to protrude beyond a front bezel of the server type information handling system;

a server side connector, the server side connector interfacing with at least one of a plurality of connection features; and,

a plurality of connectors mounted on a front face of the front portion of the housing, the plurality of connectors being coupled to the server side connector and providing separate connections for at least two functions from the at least one of the plurality of connection features; and wherein

the server type information handling system comprises a rack server type information handling system;

the rack server type information handling system comprises a mounting wing; and,

the front portion of the housing covers the mounting wing when the front port dongle component is mounted within the void.

2 . The front port dongle component of claim 1 , wherein:

the housing is L-shaped.

3 . The front port dongle component of claim 1 , wherein:

the plurality of connection features comprise one or both of a high speed bus connection and a proprietary pinned connection.

4 . The front port dongle component of claim 1 , wherein:

the plurality of connectors include at least two of a serial port connector, a local area network connector, a video connector and a universal serial bus connector.

5 . The front port dongle component of claim 1 , further comprising:

a pass-through feature, the pass-through feature revealing a server faceplate function masked when the dongle is coupled with the server type information handling system.

6 . A system comprising:

a processor;

a data bus coupled to the processor; and,

a front port dongle component, the front port dongle component comprising

a housing, the housing including an insertion portion and a front portion, the insertion portion being configured to removably fit within a void defined by the server type information handling system, the front portion being configured to protrude beyond a front bezel of the server type information handling system;

a server side connector, the server side connector interfacing with at least one of a plurality of connection features; and,

a plurality of connectors mounted on a front face of the front portion of the housing, the plurality of connectors being coupled to the server side connector and providing separate connections for at least two functions from the at least one of the plurality of connection features; and wherein

the server type information handling system comprises a rack server type information handling system;

the rack server type information handling system comprises a mounting wing; and,

the front portion of the housing covers the mounting wing when the front port dongle component is mounted within the void.

7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein:

the housing is L-shaped.

8 . The system of claim 6 , wherein:

the plurality of connection features comprise one or both of a high speed bus connection and a proprietary pinned connection.

9 . The system of claim 6 , wherein:

the plurality of connectors include at least two of a serial port connector, a local area network connector, a video connector and a universal serial bus connector.

10 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the front port dongle component further comprises:

a pass-through feature, the pass-through feature revealing a server faceplate function masked when the dongle is coupled with the server type information handling system.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 22, 2023
From: KIDD, OWEN; CARVER, WALTER R.
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 063408/0284 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240353893A1 · Oct 24, 2024
References Cited (3)
US 4878848A · Ingalsbe · 1989 [cited by examiner]
US 20090153002A1 · Kinoshita · 2009 [cited by examiner]
US 20220330419A1 · Karuppiah · 2022 [cited by examiner]