Electronic system with non-parallel arrays of circuit card assemblies

An electronic system, comprising:

• an enclosure;
• a substrate within the enclosure, the substrate being substantially planar and having a first side and a second side, the first and second sides being opposite each other,
• a plurality of first circuit card assemblies arranged side-by-side within the enclosure on the first side of the substrate and being parallel to a first plane;
• at least one second circuit card assembly within the enclosure on the second side of the substrate and being parallel to a second plane;
• and
• a plurality of conductive paths for electrically interconnecting the plurality of first circuit card assemblies and the at least one second circuit card assembly,
• wherein the first plane is not parallel to the second plane.

An electronic system, comprising:

• an enclosure;
• a plurality of first connectors arranged side-by-side within the enclosure and adapted for receiving a plurality of first circuit card assemblies parallel to a first plane;
• at least one second connector disposed within the enclosure and adapted for receiving at least one circuit card assembly parallel to a second plane;
• an air cooling path for cooling the plurality of first circuit card assemblies;
• and
• a liquid cooling path, including a heat exchanger, for cooling the at least one second circuit card assembly,
• wherein the first plane is not parallel to the second plane.

A backplane assembly for an electronic system, comprising:

• a substantially planar substrate having a first side and a second side, the first and second sides being opposite each other;
• a plurality of first connectors attached to the first side of the substrate for engaging a plurality of circuit card assemblies in an orientation that is parallel to a first plane;
• and
• at least one second connector attached to the second side of the substrate for engaging at least one circuit card assembly in an orientation that is parallel to a second plane,
• wherein the substrate includes a plurality of electrical connections between the plurality of first connectors and the at least one second connector, and
• wherein the first plane is perpendicular to the second plane.

A method of arranging circuit cards in an electronic system, comprising:

• orienting a plurality of first circuit card assemblies in a substantially parallel, side-by-side arrangement at a first side of a backplane;
• orienting at least one second circuit card assemblies perpendicularly to the circuit cards of the first type at a second side of the backplane opposite the first side of the backplane;
• and
• providing electrical connections between the first side of the backplane and the second side of the backplane for conveying electrical signals between the plurality of first circuit card assemblies and the at least one second circuit card assembly.