Background

[0001] Computing systems may include numerous electrical components that draw electric current to perform their functions. For example, a computing microprocessor or central processing unit (CPU) may utilize electrical current to perform many functions such as controlling the overall operations of the computing system and performing various numerical calculations. Generally, any electrical device through which electrical current flows produces heat.

[0002] An electrical device may be designed to operate within a

predetermined temperature range. If the temperature exceeds the predetermined range (i.e., the device becomes too hot or too cold), the device may not function correctly, thereby potentially degrading the overall performance of the computer system. Thus, many computer systems include cooling systems to regulate the temperature of their electrical components.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0003] Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of an example fan connector housing according to the present disclosure.

[0004] Figure 2 illustrates a perspective view of an example fan connector housing according to the present disclosure.

[0005] Figure 3 illustrates perspective view below an example fan connector housing according to the present disclosure.

[0006] Figure 4 illustrates diagram of an example of a simultaneous multiple cooling fan installation system according to the present disclosure.

[0007] Figure 5 illustrates a diagram of an example of a simultaneous multiple cooling fan installation system according to the present disclosure. [0008] Figure 6 illustrates a diagram of an example of a simultaneous multiple cooling fan installation system according to the present disclosure.

Detailed Description

[0009] One type of cooling system is a forced air system that relies on one or more cooling fans to blow air over the electronic components in order to cool the components. In such cooling systems, the cooling fan can be part of a fan housing. For example, the fan blades and/or blade moving motor components of the cooling fan can be encased within the fan housing. In order to control and/or provide power to the cooling fan, cables from the encased cooling fan protrude from the fan housing. The cables are typically then positioned within the computing system and connected with other components of the computing system. The positioning and connection of these cables involve manual manipulation and repeated and frequent repositioning of the computing system components and the fan housing. The cables may also be bundled and repositioned so as not to interfere with other computing components.

[0010] Some cooling systems may include multiple cooling fans. The multiple cooling fans may be connected to multiple receptacle connections on a printed circuit board architecture (PCBA) such as a motherboard (MB) of a computing system in order to function, receive power, and/or receive control signals. The addition of multiple cooling fans to a computing system may include the addition of many cables connecting the fans to a printed circuit board architecture (PCBA). For example, each cooling fan may include six separate cables protruding from a fan housing to connect with the PCBA. With the addition of the multiple cooling fans and their associated cabling comes an increased risk of miss alignment of connections and interference between the cabling, the fan housing, and/or the other computing system components.

[0011] In contrast to the multiple cooling fan systems described above, examples included herein may include a fan connector housing which may be utilized in simultaneous installation of a plurality of cooling fans. The fan connector housing may include a first planar surface, a second planar surface opposing the first planar surface, and a spring arm. The fan connector housing may include a number of fan housing engaging support brackets. The fan housing engaging support brackets may include a first portion extending substantially perpendicular to the first planar surface and a second portion extending from the first portion substantially parallel to the first planar surface forming a gap between the first planar surface and the second portion to engage a wall of a fan housing. The connector housing may include a positioning protrusion positioned on the spring arm and protruding substantially perpendicular to the first planar surface to engage a complementary opening in the fan housing engaged with the gap between the first planar surface and the second portion.

[0012] The examples included herein include fan connector housings which permit movement within fan housing channels without losing their engagement therewith. This permits accommodation of the slight variations and tolerance accommodations associated with particular connections between the components of the fan housing and a PCBA. Furthermore, the flexibility of the examples included herein permit simultaneous installation of a plurality of cooling fans and their corresponding connections to the PCBA without the use of repeated manipulation of the fan housing and cabling that accompanies serial attachment of a plurality of cooling fans in traditional installations. Furthermore, the examples included herein may replace some of the cabling that provided the connections between the cooling fans and the PCBA in traditional installations by the use of molded fan connectors. Therefore, the examples included herein may generate a cost savings in installation and raw material costs.

[0013] Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of a fan connector housing 100. The fan connector housing 100 may include a number of portions which may be molded into a single piece or may be separate components coupled together. The fan connector housing 100 may include a support body 102. The support body 102 may include a first planar surface 104. The support body 102 may include a second planar surface (not visible from the illustrated angle) opposing the first planar surface 104.

[0014] The support body 102 may include a spring arm 106. The spring arm 106 may include at least two extensions of the support body 102. There may be a gap between the at least two extensions of the support body 102. The gap may be triangular. The at least two extensions of the support body 102 may converge upon a positioning protrusion 108. That is, the at least two extensions of the support body 102 may be a tapered portion of the support body 102 where a width of the support body tapers to the positioning protrusion 108. [0015] As described above, the fan connector housing 100 may include a positioning protrusion 108. The positioning protrusion 108 may be positioned on and/or in contact with the spring arm 106. The positioning protrusion 108 may protrude from the spring arm 106. The positioning protrusion 108 may protrude substantially perpendicular to the fist planar surface 104 of the support body 102. The spring arm 106 may have at least one surface coplanar with the first planar surface 104 of the support body 102.

[0016] The positioning protrusion 108 may have a variety of structures. For example, the positioning protrusion 108 may have a cuboid or rectangular cuboid form. The form of the positioning protrusion 108 can be a form that engages a complementary opening in a fan housing (not shown). That is, the positioning protrusion 108 and a corresponding opening can be a mating pair of structures such as male and female structures designed to engage one another.

[0017] During an initial engagement with a fan housing wall the spring arm 106 and positioning protrusion 108 may be depressed away from the fan housing wall relative to the remainder of the fan connector housing 100 as the spring arm 106 flexes under the force exerted by the fan housing wall upon the positioning protrusion 108. Once installed, the spring arm 106 may flex back into its original orientation upon the positioning protrusion 108 engages its complementary opening in a fan housing.

[0018] The positioning protrusion 108 may be utilized as an alignment mechanism for the fan connector housing in its engagement with a fan housing. A fan housing can be a structure that encases cooling fans. For example, the fan housing can encase the fan blades and/or blade moving motor components of the cooling fans in addition to other structures related to the operation of the cooling fans. To achieve the aligning characteristics the positioning protrusion may be substantially centered upon an axis running along the length of the center of the support body 102. The axis may run in between a portion of a number of fan housing engaging support brackets 1 10-1 ...1 10-N. For example, the axis may be the axis projecting from substantially the middle of positioning protrusion 108 running, bisecting the spring arm 106, running along the support body 102, substantially bisecting the space between fan housing engaging support bracket 1 10-1 and fan housing engaging support bracket 1 10-3, and substantially bisecting the space between fan housing engaging support bracket 1 10-2, and fan housing engaging support bracket 1 10-N.

[0019] As described above, the fan connector housing 100 may include a number of fan housing engaging support brackets 1 10-1 ...1 10-N. Each fan housing engaging support bracket 1 10-1 ...1 10-N may have a variety of structures that engages a complementary structure of a fan housing. For example, each fan housing engaging support bracket 1 10-1 ...1 10-N may include at least a first portion 1 12 and a second portion 1 14. The first portion 1 12 may extend substantially perpendicular to the first planar surface 104 of the support body 102. That is, the first portion 1 12 may extend upward at a substantially right angle from the first planar surface 104 of the support body 102. The second portion 1 14 may extend from the first portion 1 12. The second portion 1 14 may extend from the first portion 1 12 substantially parallel to the first planar surface. That is, the second portion 1 14 may extend sideways at a right angle from the first portion 1 12 running parallel to the first planar surface 104 of the support body 102. In this manner, each fan housing engaging support bracket 1 10-1 ...1 10-N may form a gap between the first planar surface 104 of the support body 102 and the second portion 1 14 of the fan housing engaging support bracket 1 10-1 ...1 10-N. The gap may have dimensions to accommodate a wall of the fan housing. That is, the connector housing 100 may engage a wall of a fan housing in the gap formed between the first planar surface 104 of the support body 102 and the second portion 1 14 of the fan housing engaging support bracket 1 10-1 ...1 10-N.

[0020] The support body 102 may include a channel 1 16 through it. The channel 1 16 may span between the first planar surface 104 and the opposing second planar surface of the support body 102. The channel 1 16 may have dimensions to accommodate a conduit between a fan connection on a printed circuit board architecture (PCBA) and a cooling fan within the fan housing. The conduit may include a fan connector adapter (not shown) and/or cabling.

[0021] The channel 1 16 through the support body 102 may be a channel that is closed in on three sides by the support body 102. That is, the perimeter of the channel may include 1 16 can including three sides defined by the support body 102 and one side that is open. The channel 1 16 may be located between a first fan housing engaging support bracket (e.g., 1 10-3) of the number of fan housing engaging support brackets 1 10-1 ...1 10-N and a second fan housing engaging support bracket (e.g., 1 10-N) of the number of fan housing engaging support brackets 1 10-1 ...1 10-N.

[0022] The fan connector housing 100 may include a fan connector engaging support bracket 120. The fan connector engaging support bracket 120 may extend from the second planar surface of the support body 102. The fan connector housing 100 may also include a gap within which to couple a fan connector in a fixed position.

[0023] Figure 2 illustrates a perspective view of a fan connector housing 200. As described above, the fan connector housing 200 may include a number of portions which may be molded into a single piece or may be separate components coupled together. The fan connector housing 200 may include a support body 202. The support body 202 may include a first planar surface (not illustrated) and a second planar surface 222 opposing the first planar surface. As described above with regard to Figure 1 , the support body 202 may include a channel between the first planar surface and the second planar surface 222. Additionally, as described above with regard to Figure 1 , the support body 222 may include a spring arm 206.

[0024] The fan connector housing 200 may include a fan connector engaging support bracket 220. The fan connector engaging support bracket 220 may include a number of portions which may be molded into a single piece or may be separate components coupled together. For example, the fan connector engaging support bracket 220 may include a first portion 224. The first portion 224 of the fan connector engaging support bracket 220 may extend substantially perpendicular to the second planar surface 222. That is, the first portion 224 may extend downward at a ninety degree angle from the second planar surface 222.

[0025] The fan connector engaging support bracket 220 may also include a second portion 226. The second portion 226 of the fan connector engaging support bracket 220 may extend from the first portion 224 substantially parallel to the second planar surface 222. That is, the second portion 226 may extend sideways at a right angle from the first portion 224 running parallel to the second planar surface 222 of the support body 202. In this manner, each fan connector engaging support bracket 220 may form a gap between the between the second planar surface 222 of the support body 202 and the second portion 226 of the fan connector engaging support bracket 220. The gap may have dimensions to accommodate a fan connector. That is, a fan connector can be coupled in a fixed position to the fan connector housing 200 via engagement in the gap between the second planar surface 222 of the support body 202 and the second portion 226 of the fan connector engaging support bracket 220.

[0026] The fan connector engaging support bracket 220 may include a third portion 228. The third portion 228 of the fan connector engaging support bracket 220 may extend from the second portion 226 at an angle such that an inner wall of the third portion 228 tapers in width from an end proximal the second portion 226 to an end distal the second portion 226. The third portion 228 may have angled walls that taper toward a channel through the support body 202. In this manner, the third portion 228 may engage a fan connection on a PCBA that is not fully aligned with the channel or some other aspect of the fan connector housing 200 (such as a fan connector coupled in a fixed position to the fan connector housing 200) along its slanted walls and guide the fan connection and/or the fan connector housing 200 into alignment. In order to capture misaligned components during an installation and to correct alignment by guiding the components, the third portion 228 may have a width of the inner wall of the third portion 228 of the fan connector engaging support bracket 220 greater than a width of the channel between a first planar surface and a second planar surface 222. Therefore, the third portion 228 can act as an inverted alignment funnel to capture misaligned components and funneling the components down the tapered wall into an aligned connecting position.

[0027] The gap between the second planar surface 222 of the support body 202 and the second portion 226 of the fan connector engaging support bracket 220 which may accommodate the coupling of the fan connector in a fixed position may allow for the engagement of the fan connector and a fan connection with a PCBA to remain engaged and aligned during installation and/or repositioning. The third portion 228 acting as the inverted funnel may encourage the alignment of the fan connector and fan connection of the PCBA during installation by forcing a repositioning of the fan connector housing 200 and/or fan housing into alignment for the connection.

[0028] Figure 3 illustrates a perspective view below a fan connector housing 300. The fan connector housing 300 may include a fan connector 340. The fan connector 340 may be a molded electrical connector. For example, the fan connector 340 may be a multi-pin connector (male or female portion). In some examples, the fan connector may be a six pin connector. The fan connector 340 may be detachable from a fan connection of a PCBA and connectable with a corresponding cooling fan in a fan housing engaged with a support body 302. The fan connector 340 may be coupled in a fixed position within a gap between a second planar surface 322 of the support body 302 and a second portion 326 of the fan connector engaging support bracket 320.

[0029] The fan connector 340 may include a central rectangular body through which electrical signals are communicated. The fan connector 340 may include a number of peripheral ledges around the periphery of the central rectangular body of the fan connector 340. The peripheral ledges may extend substantially

perpendicular to the central rectangular body. The peripheral ledges may have dimensions complementary to the gap between the second planar surface 322 of the support body 302. The peripheral ledges of the fan connector 340 may achieve a pressure fit engaging the second planar surface 322 of the support body 302 and a second portion 326 of the fan connector engaging support bracket 320 as it seats in the gap there between. In this manner, the fan connector 340 may be substantially coupled in a fixed position relative to the fan connector housing 300.

[0030] Having the fan connector 340 coupled in a substantially fixed position relative to the fan connector housing 300 may permit the sustained engagement and alignment of the fan connector and a fan connection with a PCBA throughout installation and/or repositioning. Permitting parts of a cooling fan to PCBA connection assembly to accommodate movement while retaining the fan connector 340 coupled in a substantially fixed position may prevent damage to the PCBA, the fan connections of the PCBA, the fan connector 340, and the cooling fan

components that may be caused by the movement and forces associated with installation and repositioning of the components.

[0031] Figure 4 illustrates a diagram of an example of a simultaneous multiple cooling fan installation system 448. The system 448 may include a fan housing wall 450. The fan housing wall 450 may include a number of fan housing channels 452- 1 ...452-N. The fan housing channels 452-1 ...452-N may extend from an outer surface of the fan housing wall 450 to the inner surface of the fan housing wall 450 such that an object may be passed into the fan housing from the outside via passage through the fan housing channels 452-1 ...452-N. The fan housing channels 452- 1 ...452-N may have a first width at a first portion and a second width at a second portion. That is, the width of the fan housing channels 452-1 ...452-N may be irregular and/or alternate along its length. The width of the fan housing channels 452-1 ...452-N at a first portion may be such that it may accommodate the passes there through of a fan housing engaging support bracket 410 of a fan connector housing 400. In this manner, at least a portion of the fan housing engaging support bracket 410 of a fan connector housing 400 may be inserted into the fan housing through the fan housing wall 450. The width of the fan housing channels 452- 1 ...452-N at a second portion may be such that it is narrower than the widest portion of a fan housing engaging support bracket 410 of a fan connector housing 400. That is, the width of the fan housing channels 452-1 ...452-N at a second portion may too narrow to permit the passage of a fan housing engaging support bracket 410 of a fan connector housing 400 through the fan housing channels 452-1 ...452-N. In this manner, a fan connector housing may be engaged with a fan housing wall by inserting the fan housing engaging support bracket 410 of the fan connector housing 400 through the fan housing channels 452-1 ...452-N of the fan housing wall 450 and then repositioning the fan housing engaging support bracket 410 within the fan housing channels 452-1 ...452-N such that it is unable to disengage from the fan housing wall 450 due to the fan housing channels 452-1 ...452-N being narrower than a widest portion of the fan housing engaging support bracket 410. Importantly, even when engaged within the narrower fan housing channels 452-1 ...452-N portions, enough tolerance between the walls of the fan housing channels 452- 1 ...452-N and the fan housing engaging support brackets 410 of the fan connector housing 400 may exist such that the fan connector housing 400 may be moved in all directions within the fan housing channels 452-1 ...452-N. Being engaged sufficient to prohibit withdrawal of the fan connector housing 400 from the fan housing channels 452-1 ...452-N, but still permitting movement of the fan connector housing 400 within the fan housing channels 452-1 ...452-N allows the fan connector housing 400 more flexibility in aligning with fan connectors on PCBA and increases the tolerances of the overall system 448.

[0032] Although not visible in the angle illustrated in Figure 4, the fan housing wall 450 may include a number of guide pin openings on a surface facing a PCBA upon installation. The guide pin openings may be channels within the fan housing wall 450 which complement a guide pin on a PCBA. The guide pin openings may have dimensions to accommodate a pin protruding substantially perpendicular from a printed circuit board and having a conical distal tip to engage and automatically align with the guide pin opening. Once engaged within the guide pin, the guide pins can prohibit the components engaged with the fan housing wall 450 from becoming misaligned with their complementary connecting structures on the PCBA during installation.

[0033] As illustrated in Figure 4, the fan housing wall 450 may accommodate engagements with a plurality of fan connector housings 400 within a plurality of fan housing channels 452-1 ...452-N. In this manner, the fan housing wall 450 may be a bottom wall of a single housing containing a plurality of cooling fans or the fan housing wall 450 can be a bottom wall of a plurality of housings each including at least one cooling fan. It can be appreciated from the illustration of Figure 4 that the actions taken upon the fan housing wall 450 with regard to installation and/or engagement with a PCBA will be simultaneously performed on the plurality of fan connector housings 400 within a plurality of fan housing channels 452-1 ...452-N. In such an arrangement, simultaneous alignment and connection of the connections between the cooling fans and the PCBA becomes a complex exercise in

accommodating the plurality of tolerances associated with the plurality of fan connector housings 400 and the connections that the fan connector housings 400 house. Since the fan connector housings 400 are allowed movement within the fan housing channels 452-1 ...452-N without losing their engagement therewith, the slight variations and tolerance accommodations associated with particular connections are able to be accommodated. However, maintenance of correct alignment may be achieved through the utilization of positioning protrusions 408 engaged within positioning protrusion openings 454.

[0034] As described above, the positioning protrusion 408 may extend from a spring arm of the fan connector housing 400. During an initial engagement with a fan housing wall 450 the spring arm and positioning protrusion 408 may be depressed away from the fan housing wall 450 relative to the remainder of the fan connector housing 400 as the spring arm flexes under the force exerted by the fan housing wall 450 upon the positioning protrusion 408. The flexes and depressing of the positioning protrusion 408 may occur prior to the positioning protrusion 408 engaging a corresponding positioning protrusion opening 454. Once the positioning protrusion 408 of a fan connector housing 400 is engaged within a corresponding positioning protrusion opening 454 of a fan housing wall 450, the fan connector housing 400 may remain substantially centered within a corresponding fan housing channel 452-1 ...452-N.

[0035] As illustrated in Figure 4, a portion of each fan housing channel 452- 1 ...452-N is aligned with a portion of a channel (e.g., channel 1 16 illustrated in Figure 1 ) through the fan connector housing 400. Therefore, a continuous channel through the fan connector housing 400 and through the fan housing wall 450 is formed. An electrical connection between the cooling fans within a fan housing and the PCBA fan connections may be situated within and/or may traverse this continuous channel.

[0036] Figure 5 illustrates a diagram of an example of a simultaneous multiple cooling fan installation system 560. The system 560 may include a plurality of fan connector housings 500-1 ...500-N. Although not illustrated for clarity of illustration, the plurality of fan connector housings 500-1 ...500-N may be engaged with a fan housing wall within a plurality of fan housing channels. The plurality of fan connector housings 500-1 ...500-N may each include a fan connector 562 attached in a fixed position within the fan connector housing 500-1 ...500-N. At least a portion of the fan connector 562 may be aligned at least partially within a corresponding channel through the fan connector housing 500-1 ...500-N. The fan connector 562 can align its connection points and/or connection conduit components through the channel so as to allow electrical communication through the fan connector housing 500-1 ...500- N, through the aligned fan housing channel within the fan housing wall, into the fan housing, and to a cooling fan within the fan housing.

[0037] In Figure 5, the fan connector housings 500-1 ...500-N are illustrated above a PCBA (e.g., a motherboard) 564 as they may appear immediately prior to installation. The PCBA 564 may include fan connections 566 each corresponding to a fan connector 562. The fan connections 566 may be complementary structures to the fan connectors 562 and may provide electrical communication between the PCBA 564 and the fan connector 562. Since the fan connectors 562 may provide electrical communication with components of the cooling fans within the fan housing, the plurality of cooling fans are connected to the PCBA 564 through a plurality of fan connectors 562. The PCBA 568 can include a guide pin 568. The guide pin 568 may be an extension from the PCBA 564 that meets a guide pin opening on a fan housing and guides the fan housing and the associated connections (e.g., such as the fan connector 562 connection with the fan connection 566 of the PCBA 564) into alignment. The guide pin 568 may have a slanted leading edge that encourages the fan housing into alignment even if the fan housing is misaligned during initial contact.

[0038] Each fan connector housing 500-1 ...500-N may include a connected angled fan connector housing guide (e.g., the third portion 228 illustrated in Figure 2) which aligns the fan connector 562 with a corresponding fan connection 566 connection point on the PCBA 568during installation. In an instance of

misalignment, the fan connections 566 can engage the angled fan connector housing guides and ride along them thereby being encouraged into alignment with the fan connector 562.

[0039] Figure 6 illustrates a diagram of an example of a simultaneous multiple cooling fan installation system 660. The system 660 may include a fan housing. The fan housing may include a plurality of cooling fans and cooling fan components (not illustrated for clarity of illustration). The fan housing may include a fan housing wall 650. In figure 6, the fan housing wall 650 appears as though it is constructed from a transparent material, but any material may be used in its construction.

[0040] The fan housing wall 650 may include a plurality of fan housing channels 652-1 ...652-N through the fan housing wall 650 into the fan housing. Each of the fan housing channels 652-1 ...652-N may correspond to a connection point with a PCBA 664. A connection point may include a point of electrical connection between the cooling fan within the housing and the PCBA 664.

[0041] The system 660 may include a plurality of fan connector housings 600- 1 ...600-N. Each of the plurality of fan connector housings 600-1 ...600-N may be coupled in a movable positioning within a respective one of the plurality of fan housing channels 652-1 ...652-N. Each of the plurality of fan connector housings 600-1 ...600-N may include a fan connector channel there through. Each fan connector channel may be aligned with a respective one of the plurality of fan housing channels 652-1 ...652-N when engaged with the fan housing wall 650.

[0042] The system 660 may include a plurality of fan connectors 662-1 ...662- N. Each of the plurality of fan connectors 662-1 ...662-N may be attached in a fixed positioning to a respective one of the plurality of fan connector housings 600-1 ...600- N. At least a portion of each of the fan connectors 662-1 ...662-N may be aligned within the corresponding fan housing channels 652-1 ...652-N.

[0043] Figure 6 illustrates the fan connectors 662-1 ...662-N in the installed position connected with corresponding fan connections on the PCBA 664. The PCBA 664 may include guide pins 668 to engage complementary guide pin openings in the fan housing wall 650 during installation to guide alignment of the components.

[0044] The system 660 may allow for substantially simultaneous installation of a plurality of cooling fans and the corresponding electrical connections to a PCBA 664. In contrast to a technician or assembler of a cooling fan assembly of a PCBA 664 repeatedly making individual connections between the cooling fans and PCBA 664, the connections of the current system 660 may be made substantially concurrently by pressing on a fan housing toward a PCBA 664 and allowing the connections to align and connect. The alignment will be encouraged by directing the pressing force to align connections using the slanted surfaces of the fan connector housings 600-1 ...600-N and ability of the fan connector housings 600-1 ...600-N to shift within fan housing channels 652-1 ...652-N to accommodate tolerances without significantly altering the position of a connection.

[0045] As used herein, "a" or "a number of something can refer to one or more such things. For example, "a number of widgets" can refer to one or more widgets.

[0046] The figures herein follow a numbering convention in which the first digit or digits correspond to the drawing figure number and the remaining digits identify an element or component in the drawing. As will be appreciated, elements shown in the various examples herein can be added, exchanged, and/or eliminated so as to provide a number of additional examples of the present disclosure. In addition, as will be appreciated, the proportion and the relative scale of the elements provided in the figures are intended to illustrate certain examples of the present disclosure, and should not be taken in a limiting sense.

[0047] The above specification, examples provide a description of the device and use of the system of the present disclosure. Since many examples can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the system and device of the present disclosure, this specification merely sets forth some of the many possible example configurations and implementations.