WO1999018643A1

WO1999018643A1 - Bundled cable assembly

Info

Publication number: WO1999018643A1
Application number: PCT/US1998/020952
Authority: WO
Inventors: Oscar S. 'Ed' LECKLITER
Original assignee: Sys Technology, Inc.
Priority date: 1997-10-06
Filing date: 1998-10-06
Publication date: 1999-04-15
Also published as: AU9601998A

Abstract

Bundled cable assemblies for intercoupling interior components of an electronic system housed in an enclosure are provided. Cable assemblies according to the present invention include a plurality of wires arranged to occupy more than one plane of space. Such cable assemblies allow for easy access to interior components and areas between interior components of an electronic system housed in an enclosure. These cable assemblies also facilitate free airflow over components of an electronic system housed in an enclosure thereby contributing to thermal management of the electronic system.

Description

Specification

BUNDLED CABLE ASSEMBLY

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to electrical cable assemblies. Specifically, the present invention relates to cable assemblies for intercoupling interior components of computer systems housed within enclosures. Description of the Prior Art

Electronic and electromechanical systems are typically encased in enclosures or housings to prevent the systems from generating interferences to its external surroundings as well as protecting the systems from environmental hazards. For example, personal computers and work stations are typically placed in computer chassis.

The continuing trend toward electronic systems which are more compact and portable demands that the size of enclosures used for electronic systems be minimized. Reduction in the sizes of individual components of electronic systems has allowed for decreasing the sizes of enclosures for electronic systems. For example, the decrease in space occupied by integrated circuits, printed circuit boards, disk drives, and other electronic components has led to reduction in the size of chassis for personal computers.

Along with the miniaturizing of components and enclosures for electronic systems, there has been an accompanying decrease in the amount of space provided in areas between the components inside of the enclosures. Therefore, it is increasingly important to minimize the amount of space occupied by cables which are used to interconnect the interior components of an electronic system encased within an enclosure.

Electronic systems, particularly computer systems, typically use flat ribbon cables for intercoupling interior components of the system. These flat ribbon cables provide for transfer of data and control signals between the interior components. For example, personal computers and work stations typically use flat ribbon cables for intercoupling disk drives and interface cards in accordance with the small computer systems interface standard (SCSI standard). Figure 1 illustrates a front/top perspective view of an exemplary prior art computer system 100 encased within an enclosure 102. Interior components of computer system 100 include a power supply 104, disk drives 106, and interface cards such as disk controller card 108. Disk drives 106 may include hard disk drives, floppy disk drives, CD ROM drives, or other storage devices. The space between components 104, 106, and 108 is minimized in order to minimize the size of enclosure 102.

Disk drives 106 and disk controller card 108 are intercoupled by prior art flat ribbon cable assemblies 1 10. Flat ribbon cable assemblies 110 typically include a plurality of wires arranged in parallel in a single plane terminated at each end by a connector which couples to a connector of one of the components.

During manufacturing of computer system 100 or during servicing of computer system 100 in the field, it is often necessary to access a CPU and system memory modules which are positioned in close proximity to components 104. 106. and 108. Because of the minimal spacing between disk drives 106 and disk controller card 108, it may be very difficult to see and access the CPU and system memory modules. Flat ribbon cable assemblies 110 are relatively flat and wide and therefore they tend to be cumbersome and take up excessive space.

Figure 2 illustrates an expanded perspective view of flat ribbon cable assemblies 110 intercoupling interior components such as disk drives 106 and disk controller card 108 of computer system 100 of Figure 1. Disk drives 106 and disk controller card 108 are shown intercoupled by flat ribbon cable assemblies 1 10 which are folded over. In the prior art, flat ribbon cable assemblies 1 10 are often folded over in computer system 100 when the cables are of an excessive length for intercoupling disk drives 106 and disk controller card 108. The folding over of flat ribbon cable assemblies 1 10 results in even less space between disk drives 106 and disk controller 108. Therefore, the use of flat ribbon cable assemblies 1 10 very often leads to problems in accessing components 104, 106. and 108. as well as the CPU and system memory of computer system 100.

Another problem associated with the use of flat ribbon cable assemblies for intercoupling interior components of computer system 100 involves thermal management of computer system 100. During operation of computer system 100. airflow may be restricted by flat ribbon cable assemblies 1 10 due to the flat and wide shape of flat ribbon cable assemblies 110. Restriction of airflow in the interior of enclosure 102 may lead to overheating of computer system 100. The current trend in the computer industry toward higher density integrated circuits operating at higher frequencies has led to greater need for thermal management, including heat dissipation, in electronic systems such as computer system 100. Therefore, restriction of airflow within the interior of computer system enclosures is increasingly problematic.

What is needed is a cable assembly for intercoupling interior components of an electronic system housed within an enclosure wherein the cable assembly does not take up an excessive amount of space, does not impede access to the interior components, and does not impede airflow over the interior components.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with principles of the present invention, a computer system having interior components housed in an enclosure is provided. The interior components may include a hard disk drive and a floppy disk drive, and interface cards such as a disk controller card. In the present invention, the disk drives and interface cards are intercoupled by at least one bundled cable assembly. Bundled cable assemblies in accordance with principles of the present invention include a plurality oi^' wires arranged to occupy more than one plane of space. Bundled cable assemblies allow for easy access to interior components and areas between interior components of an electronic system housed in an enclosure. Such cable assemblies also allow for free airflow to interior components of the electronic system thereby contributing to thermal management of the electronic system. In the Drawings

Figure 1 is a front/top perspective view of a typical prior art computer system including conventional flat ribbon cable assemblies for interconnecting interior components of the system. Figure 2 is an expanded perspective view showing the conventional flat ribbon cable assemblies intercoupling the components of the prior art computer system of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a front/top perspective view of a computer system including components intercoupled by bundled cable assemblies according to a presently preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4 is an expanded perspective view of bundled cable assemblies according to the present invention intercoupling the components of the computer system of Figure 3. Figure 5 is a detailed side view of a bundled cable assembly according to a presently preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6 is a detailed side view of an exemplary bundled cable assembly according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention provides cable assemblies for intercoupling interior components of a computer system housed in an enclosure. Cable assemblies according to the present invention include a plurality of wires arranged to occupy more than one plane of space.

Figure 3 shows a front/top perspective view of a computer system 300 including bundled cable assemblies 302 according to principles of the present invention. Bundled cable assemblies 302 are used in computer system 300 for intercoupling major interior components thereof. Interior components of computer system 300 include a CPU and system memory installed on a system module, a power supply 304. disk drives 306, and interface cards. Disk drives 306 may include hard disk drives. CD ROM drives, floppy disk drives, or other memory storage devices. Interface cards include disk controller card 308. Interface cards may also include small computer system interface (SCSI) cards, integrated disk electronics (IDE) interface cards, or other common computer interface cards. Each of bundled cable assemblies 302 is used for transmitting data and control signals between a disk drive 306 and disk controller card 308.

Each of bundled cable assemblies 302 includes wires which are arranged and bundled so that the wires do not lie in a single plane as in conventional flat ribbon cable assemblies. During operation of computer system 300. airflow to and around each of components 304. 306 and 308 is minimally restricted by bundled cable assemblies 302 due to the compactness and rounded shape of bundled cable assemblies 302. Therefore, use of bundled cable assemblies 302 in computer system 300 provides improved thermal management and heat dissipation.

During manufacturing or servicing of computer system 300 in the field, it is often necessary to access a CPU and system memory modules which are positioned in close proximity to power supply 304. disk drives 306, and disk controller cards 308. Because of the minimal spacing between disk drives 306 and disk controller card 308, it may be very difficult to see and access the CPU and system memory modules. Because bundled cable assemblies 302 have a rounded shape, they are more compact than conventional flat ribbon cable assemblies. Cable assemblies 302 are also less cumbersome than conventional flat ribbon cable assemblies. Such cable assemblies 302 provide an environment to allow accessing the components in the system, such as the CPU or system memory, a much easier task. Figure 4 shows an expanded perspective view of a pair of bundled cable assemblies 302 intercoupling disk controller card 308 of computer system 300 (Figure 3) with a floppy disk drive 402 and a hard disk drive 404. Each bundled cable assembly 302 includes a cable connector at each end for coupling to a connector of one of floppy disk drive 402 and a hard disk drive 404.

Figure 5 shows a detailed top end view of an exemplary bundled cable assembly 500 according to principles of the present invention. Cable assembly 500 includes a plurality of wires 502 enclosed in a tubular casing 504. Wires 502 extend past the ends of casing 504 at each end thereof. The casing is partially covered at each end by shrink wrap 506 which fits over the wires and casing. Shrink wrap 506 provides a dressing for each end of the casing.

Cable assembly 500 further includes a first IDE connector 508 and a second IDE connector 510. Each of wires 502 is coupled to a contact of one or both of cormectors 508 and 510. Each contact of IDE connectors 508 and 510 is electrically coupled to a pin or receptacle of the connector. In other embodiments, connectors 508 and 510 may vary in form and composition. For example, connectors 508 and 510 may be small computer systems interface (SCSI) standard connectors. As another example, connectors 508 and 510 may be IDE standard type connectors. As a further example, connectors 508 and 510 may be floppy disk drive (FDD) standard type connectors. In one particular embodiment of the present invention, connectors 508 and 510 are IDE connectors which include 40 pins each. In another embodiment, connectors 508 and 510 are FDD connectors which include 34 pins each.

Figure 6 shows an alternative cable assembly 600 according to the present invention. Cable assembly 600 includes bundled wires 602 enclosed in a casing 604. Wires 602 extend past the ends of casing 604 at each end of casing 604 and are partially covered at each end by shrink wrap 606 which fits over the ends of casing 604.

Cable assembly 600 further includes a first HP DB68 connector 608 and a second connector 610. Each of wires 602 may be coupled to a contact of one or both of connectors 608 and 610 and may be electrically coupled to a pin or receptacle of the connector.

In other embodiments of the present invention, connectors 608 and 610 may vary in form and composition. For example, connectors 608 and 610 may be HP DB68 M/M connectors which include 68 pins. Although the present invention has been described above in terms of a specific embodiment, it is anticipated that alterations and modifications thereof will no doubt become apparent to those skilled in the art. It is therefore intended that the following claims be inteφreted as covering all such alterations and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. What I claim is:

Claims

1. A cable assembly for intercoupling interior components of a computer system housed in an enclosure, said cable assembly allowing for accessibility to areas between said components and also allowing for airflow to said components, said cable assembly comprising a plurality of parallel wires arranged to occupy more than one plane of space.

2. A cable assembly as recited in claim 1 further including a small computer systems interface (SCSI) standard connector having contacts coupled to endings of said plurality of wires.

3. A cable assembly as recited in claim 1 further including an IDE standard connector having contacts coupled to endings of said plurality of wires.

4. A cable assembly as recited in claim 1 further including a floppy disk drive (FDD) standard connector having contacts coupled to endings of said plurality of wires.

5. A cable assembly as recited in claim 1 further including casing for covering said wires.

6. A cable assembly as recited in claim 5 further including shrink wrap for dressing end sections of said casing.

7. A cable assembly as recited in claim 4 wherein said floppy disk drive (FDD) standard connector is female and includes 34 pin receptacles.

8. A cable assembly as recited in claim 3 wherein said IDE standard connector includes 40 pins.

9. A computer system having interior components housed in an enclosure, said interior components, comprising: memory storage devices; a memory storage controller; and at least one cable assembly for intercoupling at least some of said components, said cable assembly allowing for accessibility to areas between said interior components and facilitating airflow over said components, said cable assembly including a plurality of parallel wires arranged to occupy more than one plane of space.

10. A computer system as recited in claim 9 wherein said at least one cable assembly further includes a small computer systems interface (SCSI) standard connector having contacts coupled to endings of said plurality of wires.

11. A computer system as recited in claim 9 wherein said at least one cable assembly further includes an IDE standard connector having contacts coupled to endings of said plurality of wires.

12. A computer

stem as recited in claim 9 wherein said at least one cable assembly further includes a floppy disk drive (FDD) standard connector having contacts coupled to endings of said plurality of wires.

13. A computer system as recited in claim 9 wherein said at least one cable assembly further includes casing for covering said wires.

14. A computer system as recited in claim 13 wherein said at least one cable assembly further includes shrink wrap for covering said casing.

15. A computer system as recited in claim 12 wherein said floppy disk drive (FDD) standard connector is female and includes 34 pin receptacles.

16. A computer system as recited in claim 11 wherein said IDE standard connector includes 40 pins.

17. A computer system as recited in claim 9 wherein said memory storage devices including disk drives.

18. A computer system as recited in claim 9 wherein said memory storage controller including disk interface controller.