Patents by Inventor Zhiping Yao

Zhiping Yao has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11196683
    Abstract: Data center switches are described. A rack of a data center can include several switches to implement a network topology. The switches can include ports on their fronts and sides such that cables can be coupled with these side ports to implement the network topology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhiping Yao, Che Kin Leung
  • Patent number: 11057316
    Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include a network switch having a first group of switch elements and a second group of switch elements. The second group of switch elements is cross-connected to the first group of switch elements to passively route network traffic through the network switch in accordance with a predefined configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventors: Che Kin Leung, Xu Wang, Zhiping Yao, Hans-Juergen Schmidtke, Lingjun Wu
  • Patent number: 11058034
    Abstract: A modular network switch is disclosed. In an embodiment, removable interface modules and a switch circuit board (SMB) are housed in a chassis. Each of the interface modules includes a circuit board that is positioned in parallel with other interface modules. The SMB is oriented in a plane perpendicular to orientation planes of the interface modules, and the circuit boards are connected to the switch circuit board. A switch chip is electrically connected to SMB, and configured to switch network traffic between network connections of the interface modules. The chassis may include airflow regions separated by a divider with respective air intake vents. A power supply is housed in one of the regions and the SMB/interface modules are housed in another region. Power supplies provide power to the interface modules via a bus bar and provide power to the switch circuit board via a connection separate from the bus bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventors: Che Kin Leung, Zhiping Yao, Xu Wang, Lingjun Wu, John Edward Fernandes
  • Patent number: 10674625
    Abstract: A rack sideplane for interconnecting devices is disclosed. In an embodiment, the system includes a vertical connection interface sideplane and a mounting adapter. The sideplane is configured to be removably attached to the mounting adapter. The sideplane is configured to route one or more connections between devices mounted on a network rack via a protected channel in between the vertical connection interface sideplane and the mounting adapter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventors: Che Kin Leung, Zhiping Yao
  • Publication number: 20200127944
    Abstract: Data center switches are described. A rack of a data center can include several switches to implement a network topology. The switches can include ports on their fronts and sides such that cables can be coupled with these side ports to implement the network topology.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2019
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Inventors: Zhiping Yao, Che Kin Leung
  • Publication number: 20200077544
    Abstract: A modular network switch is disclosed. In an embodiment, removable interface modules and a switch circuit board (SMB) are housed in a chassis. Each of the interface modules includes a circuit board that is positioned in parallel with other interface modules. The SMB is oriented in a plane perpendicular to orientation planes of the interface modules, and the circuit boards are connected to the switch circuit board. A switch chip is electrically connected to SMB, and configured to switch network traffic between network connections of the interface modules. The chassis may include airflow regions separated by a divider with respective air intake vents. A power supply is housed in one of the regions and the SMB/interface modules are housed in another region. Power supplies provide power to the interface modules via a bus bar and provide power to the switch circuit board via a connection separate from the bus bar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2019
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventors: Che Kin Leung, Zhiping Yao, Xu Wang, Lingjun Wu, John Edward Fernandes
  • Patent number: 10568238
    Abstract: A modular network switch is disclosed. In an embodiment, removable interface modules and a switch circuit board (SMB) are housed in a chassis. Each of the interface modules includes a circuit board that is positioned in parallel with other interface modules. The SMB is oriented in a plane perpendicular to orientation planes of the interface modules, and the circuit boards are connected to the switch circuit board. A switch chip is electrically connected to SMB, and configured to switch network traffic between network connections of the interface modules. The chassis may include airflow regions separated by a divider with respective air intake vents. A power supply is housed in one of the regions and the SMB/interface modules are housed in another region. Power supplies provide power to the interface modules via a bus bar and provide power to the switch circuit board via a connection separate from the bus bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventors: Che Kin Leung, Zhiping Yao, Xu Wang, Lingjun Wu, John Edward Fernandes
  • Patent number: 10567309
    Abstract: Data center switches are described. A rack of a data center can include several switches to implement a network topology. The switches can include ports on their fronts and sides such that cables can be coupled with these side ports to implement the network topology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhiping Yao, Che Kin Leung
  • Publication number: 20200021539
    Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include a network switch having a first group of switch elements and a second group of switch elements. The second group of switch elements is cross-connected to the first group of switch elements to passively route network traffic through the network switch in accordance with a predefined configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Publication date: January 16, 2020
    Inventors: Che Kin Leung, Xu Wang, Zhiping Yao, Hans-Juergen Schmidtke, Lingjun Wu
  • Patent number: 10476816
    Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include a network switch having a first number of switch elements and a second number of switch elements cross-connected to the first switch elements to passively route network traffic through the network switch in accordance with a predefined configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventors: Che Kin Leung, Xu Wang, Zhiping Yao, Hans-Jergen Schmidtke, Lingjun Wu
  • Patent number: 10356955
    Abstract: Modular network switches and other computer systems are described herein. A modular network switch can include a latching device for installing and removing computer modules (e.g., line cards) from an associated cabinet or enclosure. The network switch can also include interconnected computer modules (e.g., line cards, fabric cards, control modules, etc.) that include circuit boards oriented parallel to the flow of cooling air through the cabinet in the absence of a backplane or midplane oriented perpendicular to the air flow. The absence of such backplanes and/or midplanes provides a more direct air flow path through the cabinet, thereby enabling a more efficient flow of cooling air and lower operating temperatures. Additionally, the network switch can include an orthogonal arrangement of data planes, control planes, and/or power planes that can be efficiently interconnected to increase operational speed and further facilitate the flow of cooling air through the computer cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventors: Hans-Juergen Schmidtke, Zhiping Yao, Che Kin Leung, Xu Wang
  • Patent number: 10271461
    Abstract: Modular network switches and other computer systems are described herein. A modular network switch can include a latching device for installing and removing computer modules (e.g., line cards) from an associated cabinet or enclosure. The network switch can also include interconnected computer modules (e.g., line cards, fabric cards, control modules, etc.) that include circuit boards oriented parallel to the flow of cooling air through the cabinet in the absence of a backplane or midplane oriented perpendicular to the air flow. The absence of such backplanes and/or midplanes provides a more direct air flow path through the cabinet, thereby enabling a more efficient flow of cooling air and lower operating temperatures. Additionally, the network switch can include an orthogonal arrangement of data planes, control planes, and/or power planes that can be efficiently interconnected to increase operational speed and further facilitate the flow of cooling air through the computer cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventors: Hans-Juergen Schmidtke, Zhiping Yao, Che Kin Leung, Xu Wang
  • Publication number: 20190109800
    Abstract: Data center switches are described. A rack of a data center can include several switches to implement a network topology. The switches can include ports on their fronts and sides such that cables can be coupled with these side ports to implement the network topology.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2017
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Inventors: Zhiping Yao, Che Kin Leung
  • Publication number: 20190089650
    Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include a network switch having a first number of switch elements and a second number of switch elements cross-connected to the first switch elements to passively route network traffic through the network switch in accordance with a predefined configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Inventors: Che Kin Leung, Xu Wang, Zhiping Yao, Hans-Jergen Schmidtke, Lingjun Wu
  • Patent number: 10165709
    Abstract: Modular network switches and other computer systems are described herein. A modular network switch can include a latching device for installing and removing computer modules (e.g., line cards) from an associated cabinet or enclosure. The network switch can also include interconnected computer modules (e.g., line cards, fabric cards, control modules, etc.) that include circuit boards oriented parallel to the flow of cooling air through the cabinet in the absence of a backplane or midplane oriented perpendicular to the air flow. The absence of such backplanes and/or midplanes provides a more direct air flow path through the cabinet, thereby enabling a more efficient flow of cooling air and lower operating temperatures. Additionally, the network switch can include an orthogonal arrangement of data planes, control planes, and/or power planes that can be efficiently interconnected to increase operational speed and further facilitate the flow of cooling air through the computer cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventors: Hans-Juergen Schmidtke, Zhiping Yao, Che Kin Leung, Xu Wang
  • Patent number: 10028417
    Abstract: Modular network switches and other computer systems are described herein. A modular network switch can include a latching device for installing and removing computer modules (e.g., line cards) from an associated cabinet or enclosure. The network switch can also include interconnected computer modules (e.g., line cards, fabric cards, control modules, etc.) that include circuit boards oriented parallel to the flow of cooling air through the cabinet in the absence of a backplane or midplane oriented perpendicular to the air flow. The absence of such backplanes and/or midplanes provides a more direct air flow path through the cabinet, thereby enabling a more efficient flow of cooling air and lower operating temperatures. Additionally, the network switch can include an orthogonal arrangement of data planes, control planes, and/or power planes that can be efficiently interconnected to increase operational speed and further facilitate the flow of cooling air through the computer cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventors: Hans-Juergen Schmidtke, Zhiping Yao, Che Kin Leung, Xu Wang
  • Publication number: 20180199470
    Abstract: Modular network switches and other computer systems are described herein. A modular network switch can include a latching device for installing and removing computer modules (e.g., line cards) from an associated cabinet or enclosure. The network switch can also include interconnected computer modules (e.g., line cards, fabric cards, control modules, etc.) that include circuit boards oriented parallel to the flow of cooling air through the cabinet in the absence of a backplane or midplane oriented perpendicular to the air flow. The absence of such backplanes and/or midplanes provides a more direct air flow path through the cabinet, thereby enabling a more efficient flow of cooling air and lower operating temperatures. Additionally, the network switch can include an orthogonal arrangement of data planes, control planes, and/or power planes that can be efficiently interconnected to increase operational speed and further facilitate the flow of cooling air through the computer cabinet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Publication date: July 12, 2018
    Inventors: Hans-Juergen Schmidtke, Zhiping Yao, Che Kin Leung, Xu Wang
  • Patent number: 9949409
    Abstract: Modular network switches and other computer systems are described herein. A modular network switch can include a latching device for installing and removing computer modules (e.g., line cards) from an associated cabinet or enclosure. The network switch can also include interconnected computer modules (e.g., line cards, fabric cards, control modules, etc.) that include circuit boards oriented parallel to the flow of cooling air through the cabinet in the absence of a backplane or midplane oriented perpendicular to the air flow. The absence of such backplanes and/or midplanes provides a more direct air flow path through the cabinet, thereby enabling a more efficient flow of cooling air and lower operating temperatures. Additionally, the network switch can include an orthogonal arrangement of data planes, control planes, and/or power planes that can be efficiently interconnected to increase operational speed and further facilitate the flow of cooling air through the computer cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventors: Hans-Juergen Schmidtke, Zhiping Yao, Che Kin Leung, Xu Wang
  • Patent number: 9854697
    Abstract: Modular network switches and other computer systems are described herein. A modular network switch can include a latching device for installing and removing computer modules (e.g., line cards) from an associated cabinet or enclosure. The network switch can also include interconnected computer modules (e.g., line cards, fabric cards, control modules, etc.) that include circuit boards oriented parallel to the flow of cooling air through the cabinet in the absence of a backplane or midplane oriented perpendicular to the air flow. The absence of such backplanes and/or midplanes provides a more direct air flow path through the cabinet, thereby enabling a more efficient flow of cooling air and lower operating temperatures. Additionally, the network switch can include an orthogonal arrangement of data planes, control planes, and/or power planes that can be efficiently interconnected to increase operational speed and further facilitate the flow of cooling air through the computer cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventors: Hans-Juergen Schmidtke, Zhiping Yao, Che Kin Leung, Xu Wang
  • Publication number: 20170331766
    Abstract: Modular network switches and other computer systems are described herein. A modular network switch can include a latching device for installing and removing computer modules (e.g., line cards) from an associated cabinet or enclosure. The network switch can also include interconnected computer modules (e.g., line cards, fabric cards, control modules, etc.) that include circuit boards oriented parallel to the flow of cooling air through the cabinet in the absence of a backplane or midplane oriented perpendicular to the air flow. The absence of such backplanes and/or midplanes provides a more direct air flow path through the cabinet, thereby enabling a more efficient flow of cooling air and lower operating temperatures. Additionally, the network switch can include an orthogonal arrangement of data planes, control planes, and/or power planes that can be efficiently interconnected to increase operational speed and further facilitate the flow of cooling air through the computer cabinet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Inventors: Hans-Juergen Schmidtke, Zhiping Yao, Che Kin Leung, Xu Wang