Backplane alignment and stiffening apparatus for two backplanes spanning single modules
AssigneeCiena Corporation
InventorsSimon J. E. Shearman, Anthony J. Mayenburg
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A split backplane for a telecommunication, networking, or computing device includes a power backplane comprising power connectors; a signal backplane comprising signal connectors, wherein the signal backplane is separate from the power backplane, and wherein one or more modules are adapted to selectively connect to the power connectors and the signal connectors simultaneously; and an alignment bar connected between the power backplane and the signal backplane for alignment and stiffening of the power backplane and the signal backplane together for signal integrity and to prevent connector pins from bending or failing between the one or more modules, the power connectors, and the signal connectors.
Claims17
A split backplane for a telecommunication, networking, or computing device, the split backplane comprising:
- a power backplane comprising power connectors;
- a signal backplane comprising signal connectors, wherein the signal backplane is separate from the power backplane, and wherein one or more modules are adapted to selectively connect to the power connectors and the signal connectors simultaneously;
- and
- an alignment bar connected between the power backplane and the signal backplane for alignment and stiffening of the power backplane and the signal backplane together for signal integrity and to prevent connector pins from bending or failing between the one or more modules, the power connectors, and the signal connectors;
- wherein the signal backplane has N layers and area AN and the power backplane has M layers and area AM and wherein AN×N+AM×M is less than AX×X where a backplane including both the power connectors and the signal connectors has X layers and area AX.
A method for a split backplane for a telecommunication, networking, or computing device, the method comprising
- providing a power backplane comprising power connectors;
- providing a signal backplane comprising signal connectors, wherein the signal backplane is separate from the power backplane, and wherein one or more modules are adapted to selectively connect to the power connectors and the signal connectors simultaneously;
- and
- providing an alignment bar connected between the power backplane and the signal backplane for alignment and stiffening of the power backplane and the signal backplane together for signal integrity and to prevent connector pins from bending or failing between the one or more modules, the power connectors, and the signal connectors;
- wherein the power backplane comprises control signal connectors, wherein a control module of the one or more modules is adapted to connect to the power connectors, the signal connectors, and the control signal connectors, and wherein the control module is adapted to control and manage the power backplane.
A shelf for a telecommunication, networking, or computing device, the shelf comprising:
- a chassis adapted to receive one or more modules;
- and
- a split backplane in the chassis, wherein the split backplane comprises
- a power backplane comprising power connectors;
- a signal backplane comprising signal connectors, wherein the signal backplane is separate from the power backplane, and wherein the one or more modules are adapted to selectively connect to the power connectors and the signal connectors simultaneously;
- and
- an alignment bar connected between the power backplane and the signal backplane for alignment and stiffening of the power backplane and the signal backplane together for signal integrity and to prevent connector pins from bending or failing between the one or more modules, the power connectors, and the signal connectors;
- wherein the signal backplane has N layers and area AN and the power backplane has M layers and area AM and wherein AN×N+AM×M is less than AX×X where a backplane including both the power connectors and the signal connectors has X layers and area AX.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.