Electricity: electrical systems and devices – Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical... – For electronic systems and devices
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-30
2001-11-20
Gaffin, Jeffrey (Department: 2841)
Electricity: electrical systems and devices
Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical...
For electronic systems and devices
C361S801000, C361S829000, C361S752000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06320749
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed, in general, to an electronics equipment chassis and, more specifically, to a receptacle to be mounted on an electronics equipment chassis to receive an electronics module.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A substantial portion of electronics equipment used in the telecommunications and other industries is manufactured and put in service in modular form. Various modular subassemblies are then combined to make up a unit or item of electronics equipment. These modules are generally housed together in a single chassis, such as a rack or cabinet. For example, a power system that has several rectifier components may provide for a separate module to hold each rectifier, all of which is housed together in a single rack or cabinet.
Most modules have a conductive metal case with a multi-pin electrical connector on the rear wall. The cabinets and racks are generally configured to support the modules on shelving attached to a chassis. The shelving may also have sidewalls to compartmentalize the modules and guide mechanisms to position the module so the electrical connector on the module engages a corresponding electrical connector on the chassis. In most cases the chassis of the rack or cabinet also supports and carries the wiring from an external power source to the modules as well as providing a path for the wiring to provide electrical interconnectivity between modules. While a number of prior art cabinet and rack designs exist to hold electronics modules, they all share one common feature, which is the shelving that is used to hold and support the electronics modules.
The current trend in the electronics industry is towards smaller, more compact and dense electronics systems and equipment with more complex circuits. Increased circuit complexity usually means more space is required for components, which conflicts with the trend towards smaller, more compact electronics systems. This dilemma has been solved, in part, by the structural design and arrangement of the cabinets and racks housing the modules.
A typical cabinet or rack that is used to house such modules consumes a surprisingly significant volume of space. Because shelving is designed to structurally support a number of electronics modules, the shelving is reinforced by crossbars or some other method to add to shelf stiffness in order to support the weight of the modules. Other methods to add stiffness include folding the shelf edge into a supporting structure and molding indentations into the shelves to add stiffness. In each case where a shelf supports weight, stiffness is directly related to thickness. This thickness then consumes cabinet volume that could be used to house active electronics. For example, if a shelf holds 3.5 inch high modules has a total thickness of three-eighths of an inch, approximately 9.67% of the cabinet volume available for shelving and modules is occupied by shelving. Thus, a significant problem with these conventional chassis is that a significant amount of volume is occupied by the support and shelving structures.
Therefore, what is needed in the art is a device to secure and support electronics modules in a cabinet or rack without sacrificing any more internal housing volume than is necessary.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To address the above-discussed deficiencies of the prior art, the present invention provides a receptacle that is configured to receive an electronics module therein. The receptacle as provided by the present invention is particularly useful in electronic equipment chassis, such as those used in the telecommunications industry. In one embodiment, the receptacle has a torsion bar that is coupled to a first planar sidewall. The first planar sidewall includes a boss that is located on an inside planar surface of the first planar sidewall. The boss is configured to cooperatively engage a first notch formed on a rear wall of an electronics module. The first sidewall also has a locking slot formed in its front edge that is configured to receive a first locking cam associated with the electronics module. The locking slot cooperates with the locking cam and the boss to create a longitudinal compressive force along the first planar sidewall. A second planar sidewall that opposes the first planar sidewall is coupled to the torsion bar.
Thus, in broad scope, the present invention provides a receptacle having a unique configuration and cooperation between it various components that is capable of supporting the weight of a module while requiring or occupying less internal housing volume than conventional support structures, thereby allowing a higher density of modules to be housed within an electronics chassis.
A favorable embodiment of the invention provides a boss on an inside planar surface of a second planar sidewall. The boss is configured to cooperatively engage a second notch on a rear wall of an electronics module. The second planar sidewall further includes a locking slot on the front edge that is configured to receive a second locking cam associated with the electronics module. The locking slot on the second planar sidewall cooperates with the second locking cam and the boss to create a longitudinal compressive force on the electronics module along the second planar sidewall.
Another embodiment of the invention provides for the first planar sidewall to include a track located on the bottom edge that is configured to receive and guide the electronics module. In yet another aspect, the invention provides for the second planar sidewall to include a track located on the bottom edge that is configured to receive and guide the electronics module.
In yet another useful embodiment, the invention provides for a third planar sidewall of an adjacent receptacle, where the third planar sidewall is contiguous with either the first or second planar sidewalls and has a locking tab formed thereon. In this particular embodiment, the first or second planar sidewalls have a corresponding locking tab receiver formed thereon that is configured to cooperatively engage the locking tab and secure the third planar sidewall to either of the first or second planar sidewalls. In another aspect, the third planar sidewall may further include an alignment boss that cooperatively engages a corresponding boss receiver formed on the first or second planar sidewalls.
In another embodiment, the receptacle has an electrical connector coupled to the torsion bar, which preferably includes a passageway formed through it, and that is configured to cooperatively engage a corresponding electrical connector on the electronics module. In yet another embodiment, the present invention provides for an electromagnetic interference (EMI) cover configured to cover at least a portion of the torsion bar.
In another embodiment, the receptacle has a guide plate coupled to a bottom edge of the torsion bar that extends from the bottom edge of the torsion bar toward the first and second planar sidewalls and that is configured to provide an alignment force against a bottom surface of the electronics module. In one aspect of this particular embodiment, the guide plate includes a front edge adjacent to the first and second planar sidewalls that has an indentation formed therein. The guide plate in conjunction with the electronic module provide a scissoring action between an edge of the electronics module and the guide plate as the electronics module is being inserted.
Another aspect of the present invention provides for an electronics equipment chassis consisting of a frame and an electronics module receptacle that is couplable to the frame. One embodiment includes a plurality of electronics modules that are couplable to the frame. In yet another embodiment, the electronics equipment chassis further includes a plurality of electronics modules couplable thereto.
The present invention also provides a method of manufacturing a receptacle configured to receive an electronics module for use with an electronics equipment chassis. The method, in one embodiment, comprises forming a torsion b
Ayres John W.
Byrne Vincent
Conway Timothy F.
Fontana Edward C.
Bui Hung
Gaffin Jeffrey
LandOfFree
Zero height power unit shelf system does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Zero height power unit shelf system, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Zero height power unit shelf system will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2603609