High-speed router with single backplane distributing both power and signaling

A router comprising:

• a first plurality of packet input/output cards, each having a first backplane electrical connector set to receive and transmit packet data signaling, and a second backplane electrical connector set to receive electrical power;
• a second plurality of switch fabric cards, each having a first backplane electrical connector set to receive and transmit packet data signaling, and a second backplane electrical connector set to receive electrical power;
• and
• a single electrical backplane having slots capable of mating with the backplane electrical connector sets of the first and second pluralities of cards, the backplane having
• multiple high-speed signaling layers, each embedded between a pair of ground planes, the high-speed signaling layers comprising electrical differential trace pairs connecting the slots corresponding to the first backplane electrical connector sets of the first card plurality to the slots corresponding to the first backplane electrical connector sets of the second card plurality, and
• at least two power planes embedded between the high-speed signaling layers and isolated from the high-speed signaling layers by ground planes, the power planes connected to the second backplane electrical connector sets of the first and second card pluralities and rated to distribute at least 5000 Watts of power to the card pluralities.

A router comprising:

• a first plurality of packet input/output cards, each having a first backplane electrical connector set to receive and transmit packet data signaling, and a second backplane electrical connector set to receive electrical power;
• a second plurality of switch fabric cards, each having a first backplane electrical connector set to receive and transmit packet data signaling, and a second backplane electrical connector set to receive electrical power;
• and
• a single electrical backplane having slots capable of mating with the backplane electrical connector sets of the first and second pluralities of cards, the backplane having
• multiple high-speed signaling layers, each embedded between a pair of ground planes, the high-speed signaling layers comprising electrical differential trace pairs connecting the slots corresponding to the first backplane electrical connector sets of the first card plurality to the slots corresponding to the first backplane electrical connector sets of the second card plurality, wherein the high-speed signaling layer electrical trace pairs, taken together, are capable of supporting packet data signaling across the backplane at a combined rate of at least 500 Gigabits/second, and
• at least two power planes embedded between the high-speed signaling layers and isolated from the high-speed signaling layers by ground planes, the power planes connected to the second backplane electrical connector sets of the first and second card pluralities.