Direction changeable riser card for an information processing device

An information processing device comprising:

• a chassis;
• a primary system board coupled to the chassis and comprising a first system board connector and a second system board connector each mounted to a face of the primary system board;
• a cable assembly comprising a first cable including a first cable connector and a second cable connector, the second cable connector mated with the second system board connector;
• and
• one or more riser assemblies, each comprising a direction changeable riser card and a riser cage coupling the direction changeable riser card to the chassis, the direction changeable riser card comprising:
• a circuit board;
• a first riser connector positioned at a first edge of the circuit board;
• a second riser connector positioned at a second edge opposite to the first edge of the circuit board;
• a third riser connector positioned at the second edge and adjacent to the second riser connector;
• and
• a fourth riser connector mounted to a face of the circuit board and electrically connected to the first, second, and third riser connectors,
• wherein respective direction changeable riser cards of the one or more riser assemblies are mountable on the primary system board in a first mounting orientation and a second mounting orientation, the first mounting orientation associated with the circuit board being perpendicular to the primary system board and the face of the circuit board facing along a first direction, and the second mounting orientation associated with the circuit board being perpendicular to the primary system board and the face of the circuit board facing along a second direction opposite the first direction,
• wherein the direction changeable riser card of a first riser assembly of the one or more riser assemblies is mounted on the primary system board in the first mounting orientation such that:
• the first riser connector is detachably mated with the first system board connector such that the fourth riser connector receives power and sideband signals from the primary system board via the first system board connector and the first riser connector, and
• the third riser connector is detachably mated with the first cable connector and the second system board connector is detachably mated with the second cable connector such that the fourth riser connector receives data signals from the primary system board via the second system board connector, the second cable connector, the first cable, the first system board connector, and the third riser connector.

A method of installing a direction changeable riser card and one or more expansion cards in an information processing device, comprising:

• mounting the direction changeable riser card on a primary system board of the information processing device in a first mounting orientation, such that a first riser connector of the direction changeable riser card is detachably mated with a first system board connector mounted to a face of the primary system board,
• wherein the first riser connector is positioned at a first edge of a circuit board of the direction changeable riser card,
• wherein the direction changeable riser card further comprises a second riser connector positioned at a second edge opposite to the first edge of the circuit board and a third riser connector positioned at the second edge and adjacent to the second riser connector, and
• wherein the first mounting orientation is associated with the circuit board being perpendicular to the primary system board, and a face of the circuit board facing along a first direction;
• detachably mating a first cable connector of a first cable to the third riser connector, and a second cable connector of the first cable to a second system board connector mounted to the face of the primary system board;
• and
• connecting a first expansion card to the direction changeable riser card such that a first expansion connector of the first expansion card mates with a fourth riser connector of the direction changeable riser card,
• wherein a mating axis of the first expansion connector and the fourth riser connector is perpendicular to the circuit board, wherein the fourth riser connector is mounted to the face of the circuit board and electrically connected to the first, second, and third riser connectors, and wherein the fourth riser connector is configured to receive power and sideband signals from the first system board connector via the first riser connector, and data signals from the second system board connector via the first cable, and the third riser connector.