Electricity: electrical systems and devices – Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical... – For electronic systems and devices
Reexamination Certificate
2002-04-10
2003-07-29
Datskovsky, Michael (Department: 2835)
Electricity: electrical systems and devices
Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical...
For electronic systems and devices
C361S797000, C361S826000, C174S168000, C312S265100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06600656
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to computer system implementation. More particularly, the invention relates to network computer system hardware that is mountable to a support structure and allows for fast access to the computer system hardware for servicing.
2. Background Art
Network computer systems are computer systems that include the use of one or more servers. These systems may also be referred to as server systems. several types of servers exists that may be used in a network system, including, but not limited to, file servers that are typically dedicated to storing information, network servers that manage traffic on a computer network, and print servers that manage one or more printers. Server systems typically also include other equipment, such as hard disk drives for memory storage, one or more display screens, and keyboards or other input devices.
The physical configuration of larger server systems becomes important because of the number of servers and other equipment included in the system. Such server systems may occupy large amounts of floor space and may create problems with the space availability in a home and/or offices where the server systems are located.
In recent years, computer system manufacturers have taken steps to reduce the overall system space requirements for server systems. Because of the desire for smaller, more compact systems, attempts have been made to decrease the size of servers and associated equipment while increasing storage capacity of peripheral drives so that fewer drives are required. However, the size and storage capacity of server system components is limited by current technology. Therefore, a number of server system components are often required for a server system and may occupy a considerable amount of floor space.
To reduce the amount of floor space occupied by server systems, computer system manufacturers now typically offer computer equipment that may be mounted in a system support structure, such as a rack, a cabinet, or the like. In general, a rack is a frame or structure to which computer system components may be mounted. Some racks have two vertical rails to which computer equipment is mounted. Other, more common racks have four vertical mounting rails, as shown, for example, in FIG.
1
.
As shown in
FIG. 1
, a rack-mounted computer system
10
typically includes at least one computer system component
15
mounted to a rack
11
. The rack includes a plurality of rack rails
11
a
and is generally referred to as having a front side
12
and a back side
13
. The component
15
typically is inserted into and accessed from the front side
12
of the rack
11
, and power and connection cables for the component
15
are typically arranged at the back side
13
of the rack
11
. The component
15
typically includes brackets (not shown) with holes that extend from each side of the component
15
for mounting the component
15
to the rack
11
. The component
15
is typically mounted to the rack
11
by inserting it between rack rails
11
a
and coupling the brackets to the rack rails
11
a,
such as by bolts, screws, or the like. The component
15
is typically mounted in the rack
11
with its long axis L
1
perpendicular to the front side
12
and back side
13
of the rack
11
.
Computer cabinets are enclosed frames that typically include doors and side panels that may or may not be removable. Many cabinets include additional features, such as connections for electrical power, cooling systems with fans and baffles, and electromagnetic interference (EMI) and radio frequency interference (RFI) shielding to meet various system requirements and industry standards.
As shown in
FIG. 2
, one example of a cabinet-mounted computer system includes a cabinet
20
having computer system components
25
mounted therein. The cabinet
20
includes a rack structure (rack rails
28
) surrounded by an enclosure, which includes a top panel
21
, bottom panel (not shown), removable side panels
22
, a back panel
29
and a front door
29
a.
The top panel
21
and/or a side panel
22
may be equipped with air vents
23
and
24
to allow for air circulation through the cabinet. Components
25
, such as servers, are typically mounted in the cabinet
20
so that a long axis L
2
of the component is perpendicular to a front side
26
and back side
29
of the cabinet
20
.
Recently, some larger rack systems, such as
4
rack unit (RU) systems offered by Sun Microsystems, Inc. and Compaq Computer Corporation, have been mounted in racks and cabinets using sliding rail systems, which enable extension of a component in and out of the rack without requiring unscrewing and lifting of the component from the rack. For example, as shown in
FIG. 1
, rails slides
16
may be attached to the sides of the component
15
configured to slide in and out of corresponding rail brackets
17
attached to corresponding sides of the rack
11
. Similarly, as shown in
FIG. 2
, slide brackets
27
may be attached to each side of the component
25
which are configured to mate with and slide along corresponding rail slides (not shown) fixably mounted inside the cabinet
20
.
Components mounted in racks using sliding rail systems slide in and out of a rack or cabinet similar to the sliding of a desk drawer. In such systems, cables must be detached from the back of a component before the component can be slid a significant distance out of the rack.
Some sliding rail systems may include a safety catch or other structure to prevent the system from falling out of the rack or cabinet when extended from the rack. For example, as shown in
FIG. 1
a
, a sliding rail system may include a catch
18
coupled to an end of the rail bracket
17
and having a portion extending therefrom adapted to engage in an orifice
19
on the rail slides
16
as the component
15
move into an extended position out of the rack
11
. The catch
18
is typically configured to automatically disengage from the orifice
19
when the component
15
is moved back into the rack
11
. To remove the component
15
from the rack
11
, the catch
18
is manually disengaged from the orifice
19
to allow rail slides
16
to slide in a forward direction with respect to the rail bracket
17
.
Although mounting server systems in racks or cabinets may greatly reduce the amount of floor space the systems occupy, it often results in increased service time when a component of a system requires servicing or replacing. For example, for a typical rack-mounted system bolted to a rack, servicing a system component requires, among other steps, (1) disconnecting any cables and the power supply attached to the back of the component, (2) disconnecting the component from the rack or cabinet, (3) removing the component from the rack or cabinet, and (4) finding a suitable surface to place the component on so it can be serviced.
Typically, disconnecting a component from the rack requires unscrewing a number of bolts connecting mounting brackets of the component to the rack rails. Removing a component from the rack typically requires sliding the component out the front of the rack. Also, to service a component, (5) the lid or cover of the component typically has to be removed, such as unscrewed and lifted, to expose the internal elements of the component so faulty items can be replaced or repaired.
After servicing, replacing a component back in a rack system typically requires (6) reattaching the lid of the component, (7) sliding the component back into position in the rack, (8) aligning mounting holes of the component with mounting holes of the rack, (9) securing the component to the rack, such as by replacing the screws or mounting bolts, and (10) reconnecting all of the cables that were disconnected from the component prior to servicing.
These pre-servicing and post-servicing operations, numbered above, often result in significant down time for a system during servicing. This down time may be further amplified in cases in which re-cabling errors are likely to occur, such as whe
Frank Christopher H.
Mori Robert F.
Datskovsky Michael
Rosenthal & Osha L.L.P.
Sun Microsystems Inc.
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