1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a sliding flat panel display and keyboard module. More particularly, the embodiments of the invention generally relate to a sliding flat panel display and keyboard module for a rack-mounted KVM switch.
2. Description of the Related Art
Information technology and the computer industry are highly developed now. People rely heavily on computer systems. Therefore, computer servers with high calculation capacity and high stability are important for computer systems. Due to increasingly reduced office space, area occupied by computer servers must also be reduced. Computer servers must maintain a high degree of stability to serve users, and the space occupied by one computer server is therefore greater than or equal to that of a desktop computer. Accordingly, the management of computer servers is difficult and space utilization is at a premium. Some companies have two or three computer servers, while others may have more than a thousand computer servers. Computer server management and space utilization become more critical in companies with more computer servers.
A 1U computer server assembled on a standard 1U server rack is the mainstream computer server arrangement. Each standard layer of the server rack is about 1.75 inches (about 4.5 centimeters), so that the 1U server and the server rack effectively conserve occupational space of the computer servers. Moreover, the 1U servers and racks are more efficiently controlled because the 1U servers and racks can be centrally managed and easily stacked. Normally, hardware used in the 1U server is provided with a smaller size and lower height to fit the thickness limitation of 1.75 inches.
For conveniently controlling the stacked 1U computer servers on the server rack, users utilize KVM switches to connect and control multiple computer servers. Typically, one set of keyboard, video and mouse is included in the KVM switch to selectively operate multiple computer servers coupled to the KVM switch. Hence, the quantity of the displays and keyboards needed for controlling the computer servers can be effectively reduced and the occupied space thereof can also be reduced.
However, due to the height constraints on the 1U server rack, the dimensions of the keyboard and the display have to fulfill dimensional limitations to be incorporated and operate on the server rack. Additionally, even under the dimensional limitations, the keyboard and the display contribute to providing a safe and reliable working environment for users.
Furthermore, the multiple computer servers stacked on the rack may limit the extension and operational space of the keyboard, video and mouse coupled to the KVM switch. For example, as the KVM switch may be stacked in a central position of rack, one or more computer servers may be stacked on the upper selves above the position of the KVM switch. As the upper space of the rack may be occupied by the computer servers, the operational space of keyboard and video display of the KVM switch may be limited by the height constraints of the rack. Therefore, the video display coupled to the KVM switch may not be able to be opened and rotated beyond 90 degrees, thereby limiting the working space and user's viewing angle while operating the video display. In some conventional designs, the space above the KVM switch is empty so that space is reserved for the video display when opened to a vertical operational position, thus resulting in a loss of space which could have been utilized for additional computer servers.
Therefore, there is a need for a slider mounting module for mounting a KVM assembly in a server rack.
Embodiments of the invention generally provide a slider mounting module for mounting a KVM assembly in a server rack. The improved slider mounting module may provide a video display coupled to the KVM assembly being able to be opened up to an angle greater than about 95 degrees. In one embodiment, the slider mounting module includes a front rack mount and a back rack mount which are configured to couple together and be secured to a server rack. The coupling of the front rack mount to the back rack mount is adjustable to accommodate server racks having different depths. The slider mounting module includes a front move plate slidably coupled to the front rack mount and a back move plate slidably coupled to the back rack mount. The front and back rack mounts provide a mounting surface for the KVM assembly.
In one embodiment, the back rack mount includes a mounting flange and a primary bar. The primary bar further includes a top edge and a bottom edge configured to provide a bearing surface for the front rack mount coupled thereto. The primary bar further includes a slot configured to couple the back move plate to the back rack mount.
In one embodiment, the front rack mount further includes a mounting flange and a secondary bar, wherein the secondary bar further comprises one or more retaining features. The retaining feature is configured to retain the back rack mount and the front rack mount is a substantially aligned orientation. The secondary bar further includes a second slot formed through the secondary bar and aligned with a first slot formed in a primary bar in the back rack mount. The front move plate engages a first end of a KVM switch system and the back move plate engages a second end of the KVM switch system.
In one embodiment, the front rack mount is in an extended position relative to the front rack mount.
In one embodiment, the slider mounting module further includes a lock assembly coupled to the front rack mount configured to selectively retain the front move plate from moving relative to the front rack mount. The lock assembly further includes a plunger biased toward the front move plate, and a lever operable to move the plunger against the bias. The lock assembly further includes a knob and a plunger mounted to a bracket, wherein the bracket is coupled to the front rack mount.
In one embodiment, the slider mounting module further includes a middle move plate movably coupled to the back rack mount. The back move plate is coupled to the back rack mount by a bearing assembly.
In another embodiment, a KVM switch system receiving assembly includes a server rack having a front support and a back support, a slider mounting assembly disposed to a space defined by the front and the back support of the server rack, wherein the slider mounting assembly comprises a front rack mount, a back rack mount slidably coupled to the front rack mount in a manner that allows a combined length of the rack mounts to be adjusted, a front move plate slidably coupled to the front rack mount and a back move plate slidably coupled to the back rack mount.
In another embodiment, the front rack mount and the back rack mount are telescopically coupled together.
In another embodiment, the front move plate can move independently relative to the back move plate.
In another embodiment, a KVM assembly having a back move plate that can extend beyond the back rack mount is provided.
In another embodiment, a lock assembly is provided to selectively secure the position of the front move plate in a predefined position relative to the front rack mount.
In another embodiment, a KVM switch system receiving assembly includes a server rack having a front support and a back support, a slider mounting assembly disposed to a space defined by the front and the back support of the server rack, wherein the slider mounting assembly comprises a front rack mount, a back rack mount slidably coupled to the front rack mount in a manner that allows a combined length of the rack mounts to be adjusted, a front move plate slidably coupled to the front rack mount; and a back move plate slidably coupled to the back rack mount.
In one embodiment, the slider mounting assembly further includes a middle move plate movably coupled to the back move plate. The back plate is coupled to the back rack mount by a bearing assembly.
In one embodiment, the KVM switch system receiving assembly further includes a KVM switch system having a first side coupled to the front move plate and a second side coupled to the back move plate. The KVM switch system includes a display portion disposed in the KVM switch system configured to be slidably extended outward from the server rack. The display portion is rotatable to a position having an angle greater than 95 degrees relative to a horizontal place.
In yet another embodiment, a KVM switch system receiving assembly includes a server rack having a front support and a back support, a slider mounting assembly disposed to a space defined by the front and the back support of the server rack, a KVM switch system coupled to the server rack through the slider mounting assembly, wherein the KVM switch system includes a monitor display configured to be extendable outward from the server rack and rotatable to a position having an angle greater than 95 degrees relatively to a horizontal plane.
So that the manner in which the above recited features of the present invention can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the appended drawings.
It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.
To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate identical elements that are common to the figures. It is contemplated that elements and features of one embodiment may be beneficially incorporated in other embodiments without further recitation.
The primary bar 114 additionally includes a slot 120. The slot 120 facilitates coupling the back move plate 108 to the back rack mount 102. In one embodiment, the back move plate 108 is coupled to the primary bar 114 utilizing a plurality of shoulder screws 134 which pass through the slot 120, thereby facilitating the longitudinal movement of the back move plate 108 along the slot 120. It is contemplated that the shoulder screws 134 may alternatively be a bearing or other element that facilitates movement of the back move plate 108 along the primary bar 114.
In one embodiment, the front rack mount 104 includes a mounting flange 122 coupled to a secondary bar 124. The orientation of the mounting flange 122 is generally perpendicular to the orientation of the secondary bar 124. The mounting flange 122 includes a plurality of mounting holes 198 to facilitate coupling the front rack mount 104 to the front vertical support of the server rack.
The secondary bar 124 generally includes one or more retaining features 126. The retaining feature 126 is configured to retain the back rack mount 102 and the front rack mount 104 aligned in a substantially linear orientation while allowing the front rack mount 104 to be slidably positioned along the primary bar 114 of the back rack mount 102. The adjustable mounting of the front and back rack mounts 104, 102 allows the combined length of the front and back rack mounts 104, 102, such as a distance between the mounting flanges 112, 122, to be selected by the user so that the slider mounting module 100 may be adapted for use with server racks having different depths between the front and back vertical mounting members.
In the embodiment depicted in
The secondary bar 124 additionally includes a slot 132. The slot 132 is formed through the secondary bar 124 such that the slot 132 aligns linearly with the slot 120 of the back rack mount 102. The slot 132 is configured to allow the front move plate 106 to be adjustably attached to the front rack mount 104 so that the position of the front move plate 106 relative to the front rack mount 104 may be selected. In one embodiment, shoulder screws 134 pass through the slot 132 to couple the front move plate 106 to the front rack mount 104, thereby facilitating the longitudinal movement of the front move plate 106 along the slot 132. It is contemplated that the shoulder screws 134 may alternatively be a bearing or other element that facilitates movement of the front move plate 106 along the secondary bar 124.
The front move plate 106 generally includes a bar 140 having a flange 142. The flange 142 is generally orientated perpendicular to the orientation of the bar 140. The flange 142 is configured to engage the front end of a sliding flat panel display (not shown) and a keyboard module (not shown) of a KVM system (not shown), as further described below.
The back move plate 108 includes a bar 144 and a flange 146. The orientation of the flange 146 is generally perpendicular to the orientation of the bar 144. The flange 146 may include one or more mounting holes to facilitate supporting the rear end of the sliding flat panel display and the keyboard module, such as a KVM assembly as further described below. Since the position of the back move plate 108 is decoupled from the position of the front move plate 106, the distance between the move plates 108, 106 may be adjusted to accommodate different size keyboards and display modules.
The lock assembly 110 may be coupled to the front rack mount 104. The lock assembly 110 is configured to selectively engage the front move plate 106 so that the front move plate 106 may be retained in a desired position. The lock assembly 100 is configured to selectively retain the front move plate 106 from moving relative to the front rack mount 104.
In one embodiment, the spring loaded mechanism 302 includes a lever 306 and a plunger 308. The plunger 308 is biased toward the front move plate 106 by a spring (not shown). In this manner, the plunger 308 automatically engages the holes 304, 801, 803 when the front move plate 106 is in a predefined position, such as a retracted position or an extended position as shown in
Referring to
In one embodiment, the middle move plate 712 generally includes a bar 702 and a flange 704. The flange 704 generally has a perpendicular orientation relative to the bar 702. The flange 704 generally includes one or more holes for mounting the rear end of the sliding flat panel display and keyboard module.
The bar 702 of the middle move plate 712 additionally includes one or more retaining features 706. The retaining features 706 are generally configured to slideably retain the middle move plate 712 to the back rack mount 714 such that the middle move plate 712 may be positioned along the primary bar 114 of the back rack mount 714. In one embodiment, the retaining features 706 include at least one upper channel 708 and at least one lower channel 710 which respectively mate with the top and bottom edges 116, 118 of the primary bar 114 of the back rack mount 714, thereby allowing the back move plate 712 to be slid over the back rack mount 714 as the KVM assembly is moved within the server rack as further described below.
Referring now to
The KVM assembly 810 generally includes a keyboard 816 and monitor 814 coupled to a KVM switch 818 secured to a slider module 812. In the embodiment depicted in
In operation, referring first to
While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the present invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, and the scope thereof is determined by the claims that follow.
This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/032,752 filed Feb. 29, 2008 (Attorney Docket No. ATEN/P97002L), which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61032752 | Feb 2008 | US |