Conversion module and chassis arrangement, and related methods

A telecommunications arrangement, comprising:

• a) a chassis having front side and a rear side, the front side of the chassis defining a front opening;
• b) at least a first power supply positioned within the chassis;
• and
• c) a plurality of conversion modules positioned within the front opening of the chassis from the front side, the plurality including at least sixteen conversion modules, each of the conversion modules including:
• i) a printed circuit board;
• ii) an input connector mounted to the printed circuit board for receiving an incoming signal, and at least one output connector mounted to the printed circuit board for transmitting an outgoing signal;
• and
• iii) circuitry for converting either an incoming electrical signal to an outgoing optical signal, or an incoming optical signal to an outgoing electrical signal.

A conversion module, comprising:

• a) a printed circuit board having circuitry for converting either an incoming electrical signal to an outgoing optical signal, or an incoming optical signal to an outgoing electrical signal, the printed circuit board having a first end and a second end;
• b) an input/output arrangement located at the second end of the printed circuit board, the input/output arrangement including an input connector and an output connector;
• c) a cable interconnected between the input connector and the output connector;
• and
• d) a radius limiter mounted to the printed circuit board, the radius limiter including:
• i) a radius limiting surface having a radius greater than a minimum bend radius of the cable;
• and
• ii) a housing portion that encloses an excess portion of the cable when the excess portion is wrapped about the radius-limiting surface of the radius limiter.

A chassis for use in an electrical-to-optical or optical-to-electrical conversion arrangement, the chassis comprising:

• a) a chassis structure having a front side and a rear side, the front side defining a front opening, the chassis structure further including a bottom wall and a top wall;
• b) a number of card guides located on the bottom and top walls of the chassis structure, the card guides at least partially defining compartments sized to receive conversion modules;
• and
• c) a plurality of individual back panels corresponding to the number of card guides, the back panels being mounted to the rear side of the chassis, each of the back panels including:
• i) an bulkhead input and at least a first bulkhead output;
• ii) a tab extending from a bottom edge of the panel structure, the tab being sized to fit within a slot formed in the bottom wall of the chassis;
• and
• iii) a swell latch located adjacent to a top edge of the back panel, the swell latch being arranged to engage a hole formed in the top wall of the chassis.

A back panel for use in an electrical-to-optical or optical-to-electrical conversion arrangement, the back panel comprising:

• a) a panel structure having a top edge and a bottom edge;
• b) a bulkhead input mounted to the panel structure, the bulkhead input extending in a direction generally perpendicular to the panel structure;
• c) at least a first bulkhead output mounted to the panel structure, the bulkhead output extending in a direction generally perpendicular to the panel structure;
• d) a swell latch located adjacent to the top edge of the panel structure;
• and
• e) a tab projecting outward from the bottom edge of the panel structure, the tab extending in a direction generally parallel with the panel structure.