Rack-mounted KVM module with positioning mechanism

[0001] 1. Field of Invention

[0002] The present invention generally relates to a KVM (keyboard, Video, and Mouse) module. More particularly, this invention relates to a rack-mounted KVM module with a positioning mechanism.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art

[0004] Information technology and the computer industry are highly developed now. People rely heavily on computer systems. Due to increasingly reduced office space, area occupied by computer servers must also be reduced. The space occupied by one computer server is typically greater than or equal to that of a desktop computer. Accordingly, the management of computer servers is difficult and space utilization is tightened. 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.

[0005] Assembling computer servers on standard server racks is the mainstream arrangement such that computer servers and racks can be centrally managed and easily stacked. In practice, KVM switches are utilized to monitor and control the computer servers more effectively. With KVM switches, it is possible to manage multiple computers with only one set of keyboard, video monitor and mouse, which saves both space and cost. The KVM switches are usually mounted in the standard server rack. A KVM switch may also be integrated with a flat panel display, a keyboard and a cursor control device. In such an integrated KVM module, usually called a LCD KVM or a KVM drawer, the KVM switch is usually stationary and the flat panel display, the keyboard and the cursor control device can be slid out from the system rack to a extend position for operation and slid back into the system rack to a closed position for storage.

[0006] However, due to the sliding characteristic of the rack-mounted KVM modules, vibrations may cause unexpected withdrawal or motion to damage the components. Further, it might also be possible that system operators get injured by the sliding components. Thus, rack-mounted KVM modules need further stability improvements to provide a sturdy, reliable and user-friendly working environment for users.

[0007] It is therefore a first objective of the present invention to provide a sturdy, and reliable rack-mounted KVM module.

[0008] It is a second objective of the present invention to provide a keyboard module with a position mechanism for the rack-mounted KVM module.

[0009] In accordance with the foregoing and other objectives of the present invention, a rack-mounted sliding KVM module is configured for a server rack. An L-shaped supporting frame, which has a vertical plane and a horizontal plane, is coupled to the sever rack. A vertical sliding rail is configured on the vertical plane of the L-shaped supporting frame. A flat panel display is coupled to the vertical sliding rail to move along the L-shaped supporting frame horizontally. A horizontal sliding rail is configured on the horizontal plane of the L-shaped supporting frame. A keyboard module is coupled to the horizontal sliding rail to move along the L-shaped supporting frame horizontally. A positioning mechanism is disposed in the horizontal sliding rail. The positioning mechanism consists mainly of an outer rail, an inner rail, a link bracket, a latch and a positioning switch. The inner rail slides along the outer rail. The link bracket slides along the inner rail to swivel the latch, which is pivotally connected with the inner rail. The latch is swiveled to engage a notch of the latch in a block portion of the outer rail or to remove the notch thereof from the block portion to respectively lock or unlock a fixed position when the link bracket is slid along the inner rail by moving the positioning switch.

[0010] Accordingly, the racked-mounted KVM module according to the present invention provides a sturdy and reliable environment for controlling the server computers. In combination with the sturdy positioning mechanism, the racked-mounted KVM module can be operated more safely and stably whenever the sliding flat panel display and keyboard module are drawn out or retracted.

[0011] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are by examples and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

[0018] The following description is of the best presently contemplated mode of carrying out the present invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense but is made merely for the purpose of describing the general principles of the invention. The scope of the invention should be determined by referencing the appended claims.

[0019] FIGS. 1A to 1D illustrate a preferred embodiment of the rack-mounted KVM module according to the present invention. The rack-mounted KVM module is preferably configured on a server rack 100, such as a standard server rack. The rack-mounted KVM module according to the present invention includes a flat panel display 110 and a keyboard module 120, and both may be able to slide in or out of the server rack 100. FIG. 1A illustrates the sliding flat panel display 110 and keyboard module 120 retracted in the server rack 100. FIG. 1B illustrates the flat panel display 110 drawn out from the server rack 100. FIG. 1C illustrates the flat panel display 110 drawn out alone and opened upwardly, and FIG. 1D illustrates the flat panel display 110 and keyboard module 120 drawn out simultaneously. The above design allows users to draw out the KVM module to use functions of keyboard-video-mouse conveniently, and retract the KVM module conveniently for storage.

[0020] FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded view of a KVM module according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 2, the KVM module includes a flat panel display 210, a keyboard module 220, and a sliding module 230. The sliding module 230 is composed of an L-shaped supporting frame 236, a first rail 232, and a second rail 234. The first rail 232 is preferably a vertical sliding rail, and the second rail 234 is preferably a horizontal sliding rail 234 perpendicular to the first rail 232. The L-shaped supporting frame 236 is a rigid supporting frame for coupling with the server rack and supporting the vertical sliding rail 232 and the horizontal sliding rail 234 thereon. The vertical sliding rail 232 is fixed on a vertical plane of the L-shaped supporting frame 236, and the horizontal sliding rail 234 is fixed on a horizontal plane of the L-shaped supporting frame 236.

[0021] The flat panel display 210 couples to the vertical sliding rail 232 of the sliding module 230 to allow the flat panel display 210 to slide horizontally along the sliding module 230. The flat panel display 210 is thus allowed to be retracted or drawn out on the sliding module 230. The keyboard module 220 couples to the horizontal sliding rail 234 of the sliding module 230 to allow the keyboard 220 to slide horizontally along the sliding module 230; thus enabling the keyboard 220 to be retracted or drawn out on the sliding module 230.

[0022] The flat panel display 210 and the keyboard module 220 independently couple to respective vertical sliding rail 232 and horizontal sliding rail 234 so that the user may draw out the flat panel display 210 alone to monitor the server computers or simultaneously draw out both the flat panel display 210 and the keyboard module 220 to control the server computers on demand. That is to say, the keyboard module 220 can be drawn out from the sliding module 230, from the server rack, to control the server computers with keyboard 224 and touch pad 226 on the keyboard module 220 according to needs. It should be noticed that the touch pad 226 for the KVM module may be replaced with any kinds of cursor control devices such as a mouse, a trackball, a touch pad, or even a touch screen by the person with the ordinary skills in the art. By the term “keyboard module”, it doesn't merely mean “keyboard” itself, but also refers to an input device housing or something of the sort.

[0023] The keyboard module 220 further has a linking plate 229 such that the keyboard module 220 is not able to be drawn out when the flat panel display 210 is retracted and locked in the sever rack. However, the linking plate 229 does not bind the keyboard module 220 with the flat panel display 210. Thus, the flat panel display 210 can be drawn out alone using a handle 218.

[0024] The keyboard module 220 further has a positioning switch 212 on the top surface of the housing 221 for controlling (lock or unlock) its position when the keyboard module 220 is drawn out to the allowable limit of the sliding rail module 230.

[0025] Furthermore, a control module 240 is configured behind the flat panel display 210 and the keyboard module 220 to transmit power and signals. The control module 240 further includes a cable supporting link 242, which is able to extend or contract and continue transmitting power and signal to the flat panel display 210 and the keyboard 220 when the flat panel display 210 and the keyboard 220 are drawn out or returned. A KVM switch 250 is coupled to the control module 240, so the flat panel display 210 and the keyboard 220 module are thus utilized to control and monitor multiple server computers coupled with the KVM switch module 250.

[0026] FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded view of a keyboard module 220 and a horizontal sliding rail 234 according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention. As mentioned above, the keyboard module 220 couples to the horizontal sliding rail 234 to allow it to be retracted or drawn out on the sliding module 230. The horizontal sliding rail 234 consists mainly of an outer rail 240, an inner rail 236, a link bracket 238 and a latch 239. The outer rail 240 is secured on the vertical plane of the L-shaped supporting frame 236 in FIG. 2. The inner rail 236 is secured on the bottom side of the housing 221 of the keyboard module 220.

[0027] A positioning mechanism of the keyboard module 220 is also designed in the horizontal sliding rail 234. In particular, the link bracket 238 and the latch 239 are secured between the inner rail 236 and the outer rail 240 so as to form a positioning mechanism when all these elements are assembled. The link bracket 238 and the latch 239 are connected with the inner rail 236 via a hole 239b using bolts (not illustrated in the drawings). The latch 239 is pivotally connected with the inner rail 236 so that it can swivel within a limited range. A pin 239a of the latch 239 fits into a hole 238b of the link bracket 238. When the link bracket 238 slides along the inner rail 236 back and forth, the latch 239 would swivel within the limited range simultaneously. When the inner rail 236 is drawn out to the allowable limit, the latch 239 is swiveled to engage a notch 239c into the block portion 240a or remove the notch 239c from the block portion 240a to lock or unlock a fixed position of the inner rail 236. The above design can be employed to position the keyboard module 220 when it is drawn out to the allowable limit.

[0028] Positioning switches 212 and 213 are disposed both on two opposite sides of the horizontal sliding rail 234 to lock or unlock a fixed position of the keyboard module 220 when the keyboard module 220 is drawn out to the allowable limit of the sliding module. The positioning switches 212 and 213 are fixed on two opposite sides of the link bracket 238. Users can move the positioning switch 213 to unlock the keyboard 220, but have to detect where it is first by their fingers. Because the positioning switch 213 is disposed on the bottom side of the keyboard module 220, users cannot detect it by their eyes conveniently and their fingers might be injured when the keyboard module 220 is retracted. The positioning switch 212 is exposed by an opening 237b of the inner rail 236 and an opening 212a of the housing 211 such that users can see and move it conveniently without detecting where it is with their fingers.

[0029] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, a roller 211 is disposed between an opening 211a of the housing 211 and a slot 237a of the inner rail 236. The roller 211, which serves as a support, assists the flat panel display 210 to smoothly slide on top of the keyboard module 220 when the flat panel display 210 is drawn out or retracted alone on the sliding module.

[0030] FIGS. 4A and 4B respectively illustrate a top view and a bottom view of the sliding rail of FIG. 3 in a locked status. When the keyboard module 220 is drawn out to the allowable limit of the sliding rail module 230, retrieval of the keyboard module 220 due to an unexpected vibration or force would occur without the positioning mechanism mentioned above. In a lock status, the latch 239 is swiveled to engage its notch 239c into the block portion 240a of the outer rail 240 such that the inner rail 236 is fixed. The keyboard module 220, which is secured on the inner rail 236, is also fixed at the allowable limit position of the sliding rail module 230.

[0031] FIGS. 5A and 5B respectively illustrate a top view and a bottom view of the sliding rail of FIG. 3 in an unlocked status. In an unlocked status, the latch 239 is swiveled (by moving either one of the positioning switches 212 and 213 downwards) to remove its notch 239c from the block portion 240a of the outer rail 240 such that the inner rail 236 is released. The keyboard module 220, which is secured on the inner rail 236, is also released at the allowable limit position of the sliding rail module 230. In this preferred embodiment, the block portion 240a is disposed at an end of the outer rail 240. However, the block portion 240a may be disposed at any suitable position of the outer rail 240 according to demand.

[0032] Accordingly, the rack-mounted KVM module according to the present invention provides a sturdy and reliable environment for managing server computers. In combination with the sturdy positioning mechanism, the rack-mounted KVM module can be operated more safely and stably whenever the sliding flat panel display 210 and keyboard module 220 are retracted or drawn out.

[0033] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present invention cover modifications and variations of this invention provided they fall within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.