Apparatus, system, and method for aligning and supporting line cards within telecommunications systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10098253-B1
Application number	US-201615189988-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jun 22, 2016
Priority date	Jun 22, 2016
Publication date	Oct 9, 2018
Grant date	Oct 9, 2018

Abstract

The disclosed apparatus may include (1) at least one receptacle that (A) is coupled to a line card that facilitates communication among computing devices and (B) mates with at least one member coupled to a backplane of a telecommunications system to physically support the line card upon installation in the telecommunications system and (2) at least one spring that (A) is coupled to the receptacle and (B) applies, when the member is inserted into the receptacle, a force on the member to lift the line card in an upward direction. Various other apparatuses, systems, and methods are also disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
at least one receptacle that:
is coupled to a line card that facilitates communication among computing devices; and
mates with at least one member coupled to a backplane of a telecommunications device to physically support the line card upon installation in the telecommunications device; and

a plurality of leaf springs that:
are secured to the receptacle by a U-bracket;
reside between the receptacle and the U-bracket;
are arranged vertically relative to one another such that one of the leaf springs is secured to a top side of the receptacle relative to a horizontal cross section of the telecommunications device and another one of the leaf springs is secured to a bottom side of the receptacle relative to the horizontal cross section of the telecommunications device; and
when the member coupled to the backplane is inserted into the receptacle, apply a force on the member coupled to the backplane to lift the line card in an upward direction.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of leaf springs impart the force on the member to deflect the line card away from the member in the upward direction.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of leaf springs reduce the amount of force applied by the line card on the receptacle or the member due to gravity.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
when the member is inserted into the receptacle, the line card mates with the backplane of the telecommunications device; and
the line card is positioned in a vertical orientation relative to the horizontal cross section of the telecommunications device.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the line card comprises at least one of:
a Physical Interface Card (PIC); and
a Flexible PIC Concentrator (FPC).

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the receptacle comprises a plurality of receptacles that:
are coupled to the line card; and
mate with a plurality of members coupled to the backplane of the telecommunications device to physically support the line card upon installation in the telecommunications device.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the leaf spring secured to the top side of the receptacle presses downward onto the member coupled to the backplane of the telecommunications device; and
the leaf spring secured to the bottom side of the receptacle presses upward onto the member coupled to the backplane of the telecommunications device.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the member coupled to the backplane of the telecommunications device comprises a guide pin.

9. A system comprising:
a line card that facilitates communication among computing devices; and
at least one receptacle that:
is coupled to the line card; and
mates with at least one member coupled to a backplane of a telecommunications device to physically support the line card upon installation in the telecommunications device; and

a plurality of leaf springs that:
are secured to the receptacle by a U-bracket;
reside between the receptacle and the U-bracket;
are arranged vertically relative to one another such that one of the leaf springs is secured to a top side of the receptacle relative to a horizontal cross section of the telecommunications device and another one of the leaf springs is secured to a bottom side of the receptacle relative to the horizontal cross section of the telecommunications device; and
when the member coupled to the backplane is inserted into the receptacle, apply a force on the member coupled to the backplane to lift the line card in an upward direction relative to a horizontal cross section.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of leaf springs impart the force on the member to deflect the line card away from the member in the upward direction away from a ground surface.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of leaf springs reduce the amount of force applied by the line card on the receptacle or the member due to gravity.

12. The system of claim 9 , wherein:
when the member is inserted into the receptacle, the line card mates with the backplane of the telecommunications device; and
the line card is positioned in a vertical orientation relative to the horizontal cross section of the telecommunications device.

13. The system of claim 9 , wherein the line card comprises at least one of:
a Physical Interface Card (PIC); and
a Flexible PIC Concentrator (FPC).

14. The system of claim 9 , wherein the receptacle comprises a plurality of receptacles that:
are coupled to the line card; and
mate with a plurality of members coupled to the backplane of the telecommunications device to physically support the line card upon installation in the telecommunications device.

15. The system of claim 9 , wherein:
the leaf spring secured to the top side of the receptacle presses downward onto the member coupled to the backplane of the telecommunications device; and
the leaf spring secured to the bottom side of the receptacle presses upward onto the member coupled to the backplane of the telecommunications device.

16. A method comprising:
securing, by way of a U-bracket, a plurality of leaf springs to a receptacle that mates with at least one member coupled to a backplane of a telecommunications device, the plurality of leaf springs:
residing between the receptacle and the U-bracket; and
being arranged vertically relative to one another such that one of the leaf springs is secured to a top side of the receptacle relative to a horizontal cross section of the telecommunications device and another one of the leaf springs is secured to a bottom side of the receptacle relative to the horizontal cross section of the telecommunications device; and

coupling the receptacle to a line card that facilitates communication among computing devices within a network such that, when the member coupled to the backplane is inserted into the receptacle, the plurality of leaf springs secured to the receptacle apply a force on the member coupled to the backplane to lift the line card in an upward direction relative to a horizontal cross section of the telecommunications device.

Assignees

• Juniper Networks Inc

Inventors

• Hocker Keith
• Boyden Franklin D
• Kim Seongchul C
• Vanhoy Gilbert W

Classifications

• H05K7/1427

  Housings · CPC title

• H05K7/186 Primary

  for supporting telecommunication equipment (selecting apparatus H04Q1/02) · CPC title

• H05K7/1461

  Slidable card holders; Card stiffeners; Control or display means therefor · CPC title

• H05K7/1454 Primary

  Alignment mechanisms; Drawout cases · CPC title

• H04Q1/025

  Cabinets · CPC title