US 2026/0222713 A1 · SWITCHING SYSTEMS CONFIGURED TO RECEIVE OPTICAL AND ELECTRICAL MODULES

Abstract

An apparatus, such as a switch, is provided that comprises, in one example, a housing with vertically oriented first and second cards, both of which are referred to herein as mezzanine or daughter cards. In one example, the first and second mezzanine cards are positioned adjacent to the front side of the housing and are provided in sub-assembly enclosures. The first mezzanine cards are configured to connect to interface modules capable of receiving and transmitting optical signals or electrical signals. A second card, referred to herein as a host or line card, also vertically extends within the housing and includes a processor package with a processor, such as a switch ASIC, for processing or switching data associated with the optical signals. The system employs connectors and cables that couple the first mezzanine cards to the second mezzanine card. Further, additional connectors are used to couple the second mezzanine cards to the line card and ASIC. In addition, a plurality of heat transfer elements, such as cold plates or air-cooled heat sinks, facilitate thermal management of the interface modules. In a further example, the second mezzanine cards are oriented horizontally and are thus provided parallel to the bottom of the housing, whereas, in one example, vertically oriented cards are positioned orthogonally to the bottom of the housing. In a further example, one vertical mezzanine card is provided adjacent to the vertical line card and cables, as well as connectors, connect the vertical mezzanine card to the interface modules without an intervening mezzanine card.

Claims26

Dependent claims

An apparatus, comprising:

a housing having a front panel, a top and a bottom;
a plurality of first cards, each of which is provided vertically in the housing, such that each of the plurality of first cards is oriented at a first angle relative to the front panel, the first angle is in a range from −60° to 60°;
a plurality of module cages, each of which being operable to receive a plurality of interface modules;
a plurality of sub-assembly enclosures;
a plurality of first connectors, each of which being coupled to a respective one of the plurality of interface modules, when the plurality of interface modules is provided in the plurality of cages;
a plurality of cable bundles;
a plurality of second connectors;
a plurality of third connectors;
an electrical connection extending from one of the plurality of first connectors to one of the plurality of third connectors, the electrical connection including one of the plurality of cable bundles, one of the plurality of second connectors, and one of the plurality of third connectors, one of the plurality of sub-assembly enclosures including at least a portion of the electrical connection;
and
a second card coupled to said one of the plurality of third connectors, the second card being provided vertically in the housing, such that the second card is oriented at a second angle relative to the front panel, the second angle is in a range of −60° to 60°, the second card including a processor.

8 more elements

An apparatus, comprising:

a housing having a front panel, a top and a bottom;
a plurality of module cages;
a plurality of first connectors, each of which being operable to electrically connect to a respective one of a plurality of interface modules when the plurality of interface modules is provided in one of the plurality of module cages;
a plurality of first cards provided in the housing adjacent the front panel of the housing, such that each of the plurality of first cards is oriented at a first angle relative to the front panel, the first angle is in a range from −60° to 60°, the plurality of first connectors being provided on a first side of one of the plurality of first cards;
a plurality of second connectors provided on a second side of said one of the plurality of first cards;
a plurality of second cards being provided vertically in the housing, such that each of the plurality of second cards is oriented at a second angle relative to the front panel, the second angle is in a range from −60° to 60, each of the plurality of second cards being spaced from the plurality of first cards;
a plurality of third connectors provided on a first side of one of the plurality of second cards;
a plurality of cable bundles extending between the plurality of second connectors and the plurality of third connectors;
a fourth connector;
a third card, the fourth connector provided between a second side of said one of the plurality of second cards and the third card, the plurality of third connectors being operable to electrically connect said one of the plurality of first cards to the third card via the plurality of cable bundles and the plurality of second connectors, the third card being provided vertically in the housing, such that the third card is oriented at a third angle relative to the front panel, the third angle is in a range of −60° to 60°, the third card including a processor;
and
a plurality of sub-assembly enclosures, the first plurality of connectors, the second plurality of connectors, the third plurality of connectors, said one of the plurality of first cards, and said one of the plurality of second cards being provided in one of the plurality of sub-assembly enclosures,
wherein the plurality of sub-assembly enclosures is arranged to be non-overlapping with the processor when viewed from the front panel.

10 more elements

An apparatus, comprising:

a housing having a front panel, a top and a bottom;
a plurality of module cages;
a plurality of first connectors, each of which being operable to electrically connect to a respective one of a plurality of interface modules when the plurality of interface modules is provided in one of the plurality of module cages;
a plurality of first cards provided in the housing adjacent the front panel of the housing, such that each of the plurality of first cards is oriented at a first angle relative to the front panel, the first angle is in a range from −60° to 60°, the plurality of first connectors being provided on a first side of one of the plurality of first cards, said one of the plurality of first cards having conductors extending from the first side to a second side of said one of the plurality of first cards;
a plurality of second cards being provided vertically in the housing, such that each of the plurality of second cards is oriented at a second angle relative to the front panel, the second angle is in a range from −60° to 60, each of the plurality of second cards being spaced from the plurality of first cards;
a plurality of second connectors provided on a first side of one of the plurality of second cards;
a plurality of cable bundles extending between the plurality of conductors of said one of the plurality of first cards and the plurality of second connectors;
a third connector;
a third card, the third connector being provided between a second side of said one of the plurality of second cards and the third card, the plurality of second connectors being electrically connected to said one of the plurality of first cards to the third card via the plurality of conductors of said one of the plurality of second cards and the plurality of fiber bundles, the third card being provided vertically in the housing, such that the third card is oriented at a third angle relative to the front panel, the third angle is in a range of −60° to 60°, the third card including a processor;
and
a plurality of sub-assembly enclosures, the first plurality of connectors, the second plurality of connectors, the third plurality of connectors, said one of the plurality of first cards, and said one of the plurality of second cards being provided in one of the plurality of sub-assembly enclosures,
wherein the plurality of sub-assembly enclosures is arranged to be non-overlapping with the processor when viewed from the front panel.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Switching systems configured to receive optical and electrical modules

Life of this patent

Switching systems configured to receive optical and electrical modules

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims26