Modular network switches, associated structures, and associated methods of manufacture and use

{
  "publication_number": "US10165709B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Modular network switches, associated structures, and associated methods of manufacture and use",
  "abstract": "Modular network switches and other computer systems are described herein. A modular network switch can include a latching device for installing and removing computer modules (e.g., line cards) from an associated cabinet or enclosure. The network switch can also include interconnected computer modules (e.g., line cards, fabric cards, control modules, etc.) that include circuit boards oriented parallel to the flow of cooling air through the cabinet in the absence of a backplane or midplane oriented perpendicular to the air flow. The absence of such backplanes and/or midplanes provides a more direct air flow path through the cabinet, thereby enabling a more efficient flow of cooling air and lower operating temperatures. Additionally, the network switch can include an orthogonal arrangement of data planes, control planes, and/or power planes that can be efficiently interconnected to increase operational speed and further facilitate the flow of cooling air through the computer cabinet.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A computer system comprising: a cabinet; a computer module operably positioned within the cabinet; and a latch apparatus comprising: a base fitting fixedly attached to the computer module; a handle pivotally coupled relative to the base fitting; a locking feature operably coupled to the handle; a release actuator operably carried by the handle; and a retention feature operably coupled to the handle; wherein rotation of the handle in a first direction engages the retention feature with the cabinet and engages the locking feature to retain the computer module in the cabinet; and wherein manual movement of the release actuator disengages the locking feature and enables the handle to rotate in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, to release the retention feature from the cabinet and automatically eject the computer module from the cabinet.",
    "2. The computer system of claim 1 wherein manual movement of the release actuator automatically rotates the handle in the second direction.",
    "3. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the release actuator includes a button, and wherein depressing the button automatically rotates the handle in the second direction and ejects the computer module from the cabinet.",
    "4. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the latch apparatus further comprises: a bracket fixedly attached to the computer module; and wherein the locking feature is configured to releasably engage the bracket and retain the handle in a closed position when the handle is rotated in the first direction.",
    "5. The computer system of claim 4: wherein the locking feature includes a protruding member, and wherein the bracket includes a recess configured to receive the protruding member and retain the handle in the closed position.",
    "6. The computer system of claim 5 wherein the protruding member includes a cylindrical pin biased toward the recess, and wherein the bracket includes an angled ramp that directs a distal end portion of the cylindrical pin into the recess when the handle is rotated in the first direction.",
    "7. The computer system of claim 4: wherein the locking feature includes a protruding member, wherein the bracket includes a recess configured to receive the protruding member and retain the handle in the closed position, and wherein movement of the release actuator drives the protruding member out of the recess and enables the handle to be rotated away from the closed position.",
    "8. The computer system of claim 4: wherein the locking feature includes a protruding member having a rounded end portion, wherein the bracket includes a recess configured to receive the rounded end portion, wherein the latch apparatus further comprises a biasing member biasing the rounded end portion toward the recess to retain the handle in the closed position, wherein the release actuator includes a button, and wherein depressing the button compresses the biasing member and drives the rounded end portion out of the recess and enables the handle to be rotated away from the closed position.",
    "9. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the latch apparatus further comprises: a biasing member operably coupled to the handle, wherein manual movement of the release actuator enables the biasing member to automatically rotate the handle away from a closed position and eject the computer module from the cabinet.",
    "10. The computer system of claim 9 wherein the biasing member is a torsion spring.",
    "11. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the retention feature is integrally formed with the handle.",
    "12. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the retention feature includes a hook configured to engage a portion of the cabinet when the handle is rotated in the first direction.",
    "13. The computer system of claim 12 wherein the handle is pivotally coupled to the base fitting at a pivot point, wherein the hook is positioned to one side of the pivot point and the handle further includes a manual gripping portion positioned to an opposite side of the pivot point.",
    "14. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the latch apparatus further includes a guide pin extending toward the cabinet, and wherein the cabinet includes an aperture configured to receive the guide pin and align the computer module with the cabinet when the handle is rotated in the first direction.",
    "15. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the latch apparatus is a first latch apparatus, the base fitting is a first base fitting, the handle is a first handle, and the retention feature is a first retention feature, and wherein the computer system further comprises: a second latch apparatus having - a second base fitting; a second handle pivotally coupled to relative to the second base fitting; and a second retention feature operably coupled to the second handle; wherein the first base fitting is fixedly attached to a first side of the computer module and the second base fitting is fixedly attached to a second side of the computer module, opposite the first side, wherein the cabinet includes - an opening shaped and sized to receive the computer module; a first member positioned toward a first side of the opening; and a second member positioned toward a second side of the opening, opposite the first side; and wherein rotation of the first and second handles in the first direction engages the first and second retention features, respectively, with the first and second members respectively, to move the computer module fully into the opening of the cabinet and retain the computer module in the opening.",
    "16. A computer module for use in a cabinet, the computer module comprising: a chassis having an outer edge portion; a circuit board mounted to the chassis; one or more electronic components operably mounted to the circuit board; a latch apparatus mounted toward the outer edge portion of the chassis, wherein the latch apparatus includes: a rotatable handle having a manual gripping surface toward a distal end portion and a retention feature toward an opposite proximal end portion; a locking feature operably coupled to the handle; and a release actuator operably coupled to the handle; wherein rotation of the handle in a first direction (1) drives the retention feature outwardly from the edge portion of the chassis to engage the cabinet and draw the chassis toward the cabinet, and (2) engages the locking feature to retain the chassis within the cabinet; and wherein depressing the release actuator (1) disengages the locking feature and (2) enables the handle to be rotated in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, to retract the retention feature from the cabinet and automatically eject the chassis from the cabinet.",
    "17. The computer module of claim 16 wherein the latch apparatus further includes a biasing member operably coupled to the handle and biasing the handle in the second direction, wherein depressing the release actuator enables the biasing member to drive the handle in the second direction and automatically eject the chassis from the cabinet.",
    "18. The computer module of claim 16, further comprising a guide pin fixedly attached relative to the chassis, wherein the guide pin is configured to be inserted into a corresponding aperture in the cabinet to align the chassis with the cabinet when the handle is rotated in the first direction.",
    "19. The computer module of claim 16, further comprising: a face panel mounted to the outer edge portion of the chassis; and a guide pin fixedly attached to the face panel proximate the latch apparatus, wherein the cabinet includes an opening configured to receive the computer module, wherein the cabinet includes a vertical member mounted to the cabinet adjacent to the opening, wherein the vertical member includes an edge portion and an aperture, and wherein the edge portion is configured to engage the retention feature and the aperture is configured to simultaneously receive the guide pin when the handle is rotated in the first direction.",
    "20. An apparatus comprising: a chassis for use in an enclosure; a latch mounted on the chassis, the latch comprising: a rotatable handle; a retention feature operably coupled to the handle; a locking feature operably coupled to the handle; and a release actuator operably coupled to the handle; wherein rotation of the handle in a first direction drives the retention feature outwardly from the chassis to engage the enclosure and engages the locking feature to retain the chassis within the enclosure; and wherein depressing the release actuator disengages the locking feature and enables the handle to be rotated in a second direction to retract the retention feature from the enclosure and automatically eject the chassis from the enclosure."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The following disclosure relates generally to computer systems and, more particularly, to network switch architectures and associated apparatuses, systems and methods.\n\nNetwork switches (also known as a switching hubs, bridging hubs, MAC bridges or simply “switches”) are computer networking devices that connect other devices together in a computer network. Network switches are typically used in complex data networking environments to, for example, interconnect various devices within one or more subnetworks. Some network switches use packet switching to receive, process, and forward data to destination devices. Switches can be used for electrical switching, optical switching that enables signals in optical fibers or integrated optical circuits to be selectively switched from one circuit to another, or a combination of electrical and optical switching.\n\nTypical network switches include a plurality of circuit boards with associated switch circuitry (e.g. line cards and fabric cards) that are interconnected via backplane or midplane circuit boards within an enclosure. Although some cards include handles for manually removing the cards from the enclosure, conventional handles (particularly for optical cards) do not have locking features to hold the cards in place. Additionally, such handles typically require manual manipulation to eject the cards from the enclosure.",
  "cpc": [
    "H05K 7/20736",
    "G06F 1/181",
    "G06F 1/183",
    "G06F 1/185",
    "G06F 1/20",
    "H04L 49/15",
    "H04L 49/30",
    "H04L 49/405",
    "H05K 1/14",
    "H05K 5/0004",
    "H05K 5/10",
    "H05K 7/1488",
    "H05K 7/1489"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "G06F 1/18",
    "H04L 49/111",
    "G06F 1/20",
    "H05K 1/14",
    "H05K 5/00",
    "H05K 7/14",
    "H05K 7/20"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Facebook Inc"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Hans-Juergen Schmidtke",
    "Zhiping Yao",
    "Che Kin Leung",
    "Xu Wang"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2016-10-12",
  "publication_date": "2018-12-25",
  "grant_date": "2018-12-25",
  "priority_date": "2016-05-11",
  "application_number": "US-201615291263-A",
  "family_id": "60294977",
  "cited_by_count": 4,
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}