TWI739126B - Network interface card - Google Patents

Abstract

A network interface card includes a first sub-interface card. The first sub-interface card includes a first circuit board and a first connector. The first connector is disposed on the first circuit board. The first circuit board includes a plurality of connection terminals. A longitudinal axis of the connection terminals and the first connector face different directions. The first connector is a board to board connector.

Description

Network interface card

The invention relates to a network interface card, particularly a network interface card with a board-to-board connector.

With the development of technology, various electronic products have higher and higher requirements for network transmission speed. Before the breakthrough development of hardware equipment, Software-Defined Networking (SDN) and virtualization technology (Virtualization) have been developed to increase network access speed and effectively utilize hardware resources, and Use Smart Network Interface Card (Smart NIC) to provide edge computing capabilities and closely integrate network interface and hardware acceleration.

However, the edge computing capability of the smart network interface card depends on the computing speed of the chip inside the smart network interface card. Therefore, to a certain extent, the hardware limitations of smart network interface cards still greatly affect the combination of network interface and hardware acceleration. Therefore, how to improve the edge computing capabilities of smart network interface cards from the hardware level is an urgent problem to be solved at present.

The present invention is to provide a network interface card, which improves the edge computing capability of the network interface card on the premise of utilizing the current hardware technology.

The network interface card disclosed in an embodiment of the present invention includes a first sub-interface card. The first sub-interface card includes a first circuit board and a first connector. The first connector is arranged on the first circuit board. The first circuit board includes a plurality of connection terminals. The long axis of the connection terminal and the first connector face different directions. The first connector is a board-to-board connector.

The network interface card disclosed in another embodiment of the present invention includes a first sub-interface card. The first sub-interface card includes a first circuit board and a first connector. The first connector is arranged on the first circuit board. The first circuit board includes a plurality of connection terminals. The long axis of the connection terminal and the first connector face different directions. The second sub-interface card includes a second circuit board and a second connector. The second connector is arranged on the second circuit board. The second sub-interface card is detachably disposed on the first sub-interface card through the first connector and the second connector. The second sub-interface card is electrically connected to the first sub-interface card through the first connector and the second connector. The first connector is a board-to-board connector.

According to the network interface card disclosed in the above embodiment, since the first connector is a board-to-board connector, the first sub-interface card can be easily and quickly connected to another interface card through the first connector to enhance the network The edge computing capability of the interface card.

According to the network interface card disclosed in the above-mentioned another embodiment, the second sub-interface card can be electrically connected to the first sub-interface card through the first connector and the second connector. The second sub-interface card and the first sub-interface card can perform calculations in different programs at the same time, so as to enhance the edge computing capability of the network interface card.

The above description of the content of the present invention and the description of the following embodiments are used to demonstrate and explain the principle of the present invention, and to provide a further explanation of the scope of the patent application of the present invention.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described. First, please refer to FIG. 1 and the drawings. FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of a network interface card 10a according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded schematic diagram of the network interface card 10a of FIG. 1. FIG.

The network interface card 10a of this embodiment is, for example, a Smart Network Interface Card (Smart NIC) that complies with the Peripheral Component Interconnect Express X16 (PCI-e X16) of the bus, and for example Used in Software-Defined Networking (SDN) and virtualization technology (Virtualization) to provide the link between hardware acceleration and network interface. The network interface card 10a can be installed in a large server (not shown in the figure) and provide edge computing, so as to reduce the burden of the central processing unit of the large server.

The network interface card 10a includes a first sub-interface card 100. The first sub-interface card 100 includes a first circuit board 110 and a first connector 120. The size of the first circuit board 110 is, for example, 167.65×111.15 [mm]. The first connector 120 is disposed on the first circuit board 110 and is electrically connected to the first circuit board 110. The first circuit board 110 includes a plurality of connection terminals 111. The connecting terminal 111 is, for example, a golden finger. The major axis direction D1 of the connection terminal 111 and the orientation direction D2 of the first connector 120 are different directions. The first sub-interface card 100 can be inserted into the main board of the large-scale server along the long axis direction D1, and is electrically connected to the main board of the large-scale server through the connecting terminal 111. The first connector 120 is a board to board connector, so that the first sub-interface card 100 can simply and quickly connect with another interface card in the direction D2 through the first connector 120 to improve the network The edge computing capability of the interface card 10a.

In detail, in this embodiment and some embodiments of the present invention, the first sub-interface card 100 may further include a first chip 130 and a first heat sink 140. The first chip 130 overlaps the first heat sink 140 and is disposed on the first circuit board 110. The first chip 130 is located between the first heat sink 140 and the first circuit board 110 and is electrically connected to the first connector 120. The first chip 130 serves as the computing center of the first sub-interface card 100 and provides computing capabilities. The thermal conductivity of the first heat sink 140 is greater than that of the first chip 130 and can absorb the heat emitted by the first chip 130 to prevent the first chip 130 from overheating and damaging the first sub-interface card 100.

In this embodiment and some embodiments of the present invention, the network interface card 10a may further include a bracket 200. The first sub-interface card 100 is arranged on the bracket 200 in a manner of being fastened with screws 1, for example. The network interface card 10a can be installed in the case of a large server through the bracket 200, for example, by screwing. The first sub-interface card 100 can further include a communication port 150. The communication port 150 is disposed on the first circuit board 110 and connected to one side of the bracket 200. The bracket 200 may further have a port 210. The communication port 150 may further have a connection port 151. The communication port 150 is connected to the other side of the bracket 200 through the connection port 151 and the communication port 210, that is, is connected to the outside of the chassis of the large server. The network interface card 10a can be electrically connected to external devices through the communication port 150 to be used in various situations. In addition, the first connector 120, the first chip 130, the first heat sink 140, and the communication port 150 are modularly disposed on the first circuit board 110, so that the first sub-interface card 100 is easily assembled to the bracket 200.

Please refer to Figure 3 and Figure 4. FIG. 3 is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of a network interface card 10b according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is an exploded schematic diagram of the network interface card 10b in FIG. 3. In the following, only the differences between another embodiment of the present invention and the foregoing embodiments will be described, and the remaining similarities will be omitted. In this embodiment and some embodiments of the present invention, the network interface card 10b is, for example, a smart network interface card compliant with the Open Compute Project (OCP).

In this embodiment and some embodiments of the present invention, the network interface card 10b may further include a second sub-interface card 300. The second sub-interface card 300 may further include a second circuit board 310 and a second connector 320. The second connector 320 is disposed on the second circuit board 310 and is electrically connected to the second circuit board 310. The second connector 320 is a board-to-board connector, and can be mated with the first connector 120 in the form of a male and female joint. The second sub-interface card 300 can be used as another interface card in the foregoing embodiment, and is detachably disposed on the first sub-interface card 100 through the first connector 120 and the second connector 320. The second sub-interface card 300 is electrically connected to the first sub-interface card 100 through the first connector 120 and the second connector 320. The second sub-interface card 300 and the first sub-interface card 100 can perform calculations in different programs at the same time, so as to enhance the edge computing capability of the network interface card 10b.

Please also refer to FIG. 5 to describe the second sub-interface card 300 in detail. FIG. 5 is a partial exploded view of the network interface card 10b in FIG. 2. In this embodiment and some embodiments of the present invention, the second sub-interface card 300 may further include a second chip 330 and a second heat sink 340. The second chip 330 overlaps the second heat sink 340 and is disposed on the second circuit board 310. The second chip 330 is located between the second heat sink 340 and the second circuit board 310 and is electrically connected to the second connector 320. The second chip 330 serves as the computing center of the second sub-interface card 300 and provides computing capabilities. The second heat sink 340 can absorb the heat emitted by the second chip 330 to prevent the second chip 330 from overheating and damaging the second sub-interface card 300.

In this embodiment and some embodiments of the present invention, the second sub-interface card 300 may further include a back plate 350. The backplane 350 is disposed on the second circuit board 310 and located between the first circuit board 110 and the second circuit board 310. In this way, the backplane 350 can protect the second circuit board 310 from colliding with the first sub-interface card 100 and provide dust-proof protection to the second circuit board 310.

In this embodiment and some embodiments of the present invention, the network interface card 10b may further include a connection frame 400. The second sub-interface card 300 is detachably installed on the connecting frame 400 through the connection frame 400, for example, with screws 3. In this way, the weight of the second sub-interface card 300 can be shared on the bracket 200 through the connecting frame 400, which prevents the weight of the second sub-interface card 300 from being concentrated on the first connector 120 by the second connector 320. In addition, the second connector 320, the second chip 330, the second heat sink 340, and the back plate 350 are modularly disposed on the second circuit board 310, so that the second sub-interface card 300 is easy to assemble on the first sub-interface The card 100 and the connecting frame 400.

Please refer to Figures 4 to 7 for a detailed description of the assembly process of the network interface card 10b, where Figure 6 is a partial assembly diagram of the network interface card 10b in Figure 3, and Figure 7 is the network interface card in Figure 3 Schematic diagram of the assembly. In this embodiment and some embodiments of the present invention, the network interface card 10b may further include four nuts 500, four locking members 600, and four screws 700. The first circuit board 110 may further have four first openings 112, and the second circuit board 310 may further have four second openings 311. The nut 500 is disposed on the second circuit board 310 in a welding manner, for example, and the nut 500 communicates with the second opening 311. The locking member 600 is, for example, a stud, and has a first end 601 and a second end 602 opposite to each other. The locking member 600 has a male thread structure matching the nut 500 at the first end 601, and the diameter of the first end 601 is smaller than the diameters of the first opening 112, the second opening 311 and the nut 500. The locking member 600 has a female thread structure matching the screw 700 at the second end 602, and the diameter of the second end 602 is larger than the first opening 112 and the second opening 311 and at least partly larger than the diameter of the screw 700.

When assembling the network interface card 10b, first align the first end 601 of the locking member 600 with the second opening 311, and set the first end 601 from the second circuit board 310 to a side edge of the second connector 320 The insertion direction D3 passes through the second opening 311 and is arranged on the second circuit board 310 by being locked to the nut 500. Then, the second connector 320 is aligned with the first connector 120 and the second sub-interface card 300 is mounted on the first sub-interface card 100 along the mounting direction D4, and the second end 602 is aligned with the first opening 112. Then, the screw 700 passes through the first opening 112 from the side of the first circuit board 110 away from the first connector 120 and is locked to the second end 602. In this way, the second sub-interface card 300 can be locked and fixed to the first sub-interface card 100, thereby increasing the reliability of the connection between the first sub-interface card 100 and the second sub-interface card 300, and avoiding the second connector 320 is detached from the first connector 120 due to shaking. Finally, as mentioned above, the second sub-interface card 300 is detachably installed on the bracket 200 through the connecting frame 400, for example, by means of screw 3 locking. Here, the assembling process of the network interface card 10b is completed, and the network interface card 10b can be installed on the chassis of a large server through the bracket 200, for example.

According to the network interface card of the above embodiment, since the first connector is a board-to-board connector, the first sub-interface card can be easily and quickly connected to another interface card through the first connector to enhance the network interface card Edge computing capabilities.

In some embodiments, the first connector, the first chip, the first heat sink, and the communication port are modularly arranged on the first circuit board, so that the first sub-interface card is easy to assemble.

In some embodiments, the second sub-interface card is electrically connected to the first sub-interface card through the first connector and the second connector. The second sub-interface card and the first sub-interface card can perform calculations in different programs at the same time, so as to enhance the edge computing capability of the network interface card.

In some embodiments, the second connector, the second chip, the second heat sink, and the backplane are modularly arranged on the second circuit board, so that the second sub-interface card is easy to assemble.

In some embodiments, the second sub-interface card is detachably installed on the bracket through the connecting frame, for example, by screwing. In this way, the weight of the second sub-interface card can be shared on the bracket through the connecting frame, so as to prevent the weight of the second sub-interface card from being concentrated on the first connector by the second connector.

Although the present invention is disclosed in the foregoing embodiments as above, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Anyone familiar with similar art can make some changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention The scope of patent protection for inventions shall be determined by the scope of patent applications attached to this specification.

10a, 10b: network interface card 100: The first sub-interface card 110: The first circuit board 111: Connection terminal 112: first opening 120: first connector 130: The first chip 140: The first heat sink 150: communication port 151: connection port 200: bracket 210: Port 300: The second sub-interface card 310: second circuit board 311: second opening 320: second connector 330: second chip 340: second heat sink 350: Backplane 400: connecting frame 500: Nut 600: lock firmware 601: first end 602: second end 700, 1, 2, 3: screw D1: Long axis direction D2: heading direction D3: Insertion direction D4: Installation direction

FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of a network interface card according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is an exploded schematic diagram of the network interface card of Fig. 1. FIG. 3 is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of a network interface card according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is an exploded schematic diagram of the network interface card of FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a partial exploded schematic diagram of the network interface card of FIG. 3. FIG. 6 is a partial assembly diagram of the network interface card of FIG. 3. FIG. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of the assembly of the network interface card of FIG. 3.

10b: Network interface card

100: The first sub-interface card

110: The first circuit board

120: first connector

200: bracket

300: The second sub-interface card

310: second circuit board

340: second heat sink

Claims (8)

A network interface card includes: a first sub-interface card, including a first circuit board, a first connector, and a communication port. The first connector is disposed on the first circuit board, and the communication port is disposed on the The first circuit board; a bracket, the first sub-interface card is arranged on the bracket, the communication port is connected to one side of the bracket; and a second sub-interface card, including a second circuit board and a second connection The second connector is disposed on the second circuit board, the second sub-interface card is detachably disposed on the first sub-interface card through the first connector and the second connector, and the second sub-interface card The interface card is electrically connected to the first sub-interface card through the first connector and the second connector; wherein, the first circuit board includes a plurality of connection terminals, and the long axis of the connection terminals is connected to the first connector Facing different directions, and the first connector is a board to board (board to board) connector, wherein the bracket has a port, the communication port has a connection port, and the communication port communicates with the port through the connection port. The other side of the bracket. The network interface card described in claim 1, wherein the first sub-interface card further includes a first chip and a first heat sink, and the first chip overlaps the first heat sink and is disposed on the The first circuit board, the first chip is located between the first heat sink and the first circuit board, and the first chip is electrically connected to the first connector. For example, the network interface card described in item 1 of the scope of patent application further includes a connecting frame, and the second sub-interface card is detachably arranged on the bracket through the connecting frame. The network interface card described in item 1 of the scope of patent application, wherein the second sub The interface card further includes a back plate disposed on the second circuit board and located between the first circuit board and the second circuit board. The network interface card described in claim 1, wherein the second sub-interface card further includes a second chip and a second heat sink, and the second chip overlaps the second heat sink and is disposed on the The second circuit board, the second chip is located between the second heat sink and the second circuit board, and the second chip is electrically connected to the second connector. For example, the network interface card described in item 1 of the scope of patent application further includes a locking member, a screw and a nut, wherein the first circuit board has a first opening, and the second circuit board has a first opening. Two openings, the diameter of one end of the locking member is larger than the first opening and the second opening and at least partly larger than the diameter of the screw, and the diameter of the other end of the locking member is smaller than the first opening, The diameter of the second opening and the nut passes through the first opening or the second opening, and the locking member is clamped between the first circuit board and the second circuit board through the screw and the nut . A network interface card, comprising: a first sub-interface card, comprising a first circuit board and a first connector, the first connector is arranged on the first circuit board, and the first circuit board includes a plurality of connections Terminals, the long axes of the connecting terminals and the first connector face different directions; and a second sub-interface card including a second circuit board and a second connector, the second connector being disposed on the first connector Two circuit boards, the second sub-interface card is detachably disposed on the first sub-interface card through the first connector and the second connector, and the second sub-interface card is detachably disposed on the first sub-interface card through the first connector and the second connector Two connectors are electrically connected to the first sub-interface card; wherein, the first connector is a board to board (board to board) connector. For example, the network interface card described in item 7 of the scope of patent application further includes a bracket and a connecting frame. The first sub-interface card is disposed on the bracket, and the second sub-interface card is detachably disposed on the bracket through the connecting frame. The bracket.

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