Angled faceplates for a network element

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11985454-B2
Application number	US-202217994574-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 28, 2022
Priority date	Sep 10, 2020
Publication date	May 14, 2024
Grant date	May 14, 2024

Abstract

A module for a networking node is disclosed. The module includes a Printed Circuit Board (“PCB”); one or more circuits mounted to the PCB; and a faceplate that including a plurality of plates, angled relative to one another, such that the faceplate includes increased surface area relative to a substantially flat faceplate, wherein at least two plates of the plurality of plates include physical ports each having track lengths to a circuit of one or more circuits, wherein one or more of the physical ports support signals at a rate of at least 100 Gbps. Each plate of the plurality of plates can be flat. Any of the plurality of plates can include physical ports. The physical ports can be pluggable modules. Each type of the physical ports can be a same type on a given plate.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A module for a networking node, comprising:
a Printed Circuit Board (“PCB”);
one or more circuits mounted to the PCB; and
a faceplate including a plurality of plates including first and second side plates and a middle plate which is sunken relative to the first and second side plates, angled relative to one another, such that the faceplate includes increased surface area relative to a substantially flat faceplate,
wherein at least two plates of the plurality of plates include physical ports each having track lengths to a circuit of one or more circuits, wherein one or more of the physical ports support signals at a rate of at least 100 Gbps.

2. The module of claim 1 , wherein each plate of the plurality of plates is flat.

3. The module of claim 1 , wherein the physical ports are pluggable modules.

4. The module of claim 1 , wherein each type of the physical ports are a same type on a given plate of the plurality of plates.

5. The module of claim 1 , further comprising
one or more handles extending from the faceplate.

6. The module of claim 5 , wherein the one or more handles are located where adjacent plates of the plurality of plates meet at an angle.

7. The module of claim 1 , further comprising
a plurality of cooling holes on one or more of the plurality of plates.

8. The module of claim 1 , further comprising
a plurality of stepped surfaces each at edges where adjacent plates of the plurality of plates meet.

9. The module of claim 1 , wherein the faceplate with the plurality of plates has more than 50% more surface area than a flat faceplate having a single plate.

10. The module of claim 1 , wherein the at least two plates of the plurality of plates include one or more of labeling and a display for each physical port.

11. A node for a network, comprising:
a housing; and
a plurality of modules, the plurality of modules including at least one module including a Printed Circuit Board (“PCB”), one or more circuits mounted to the PCB, and a faceplate that including a plurality of plates including first and second side plates and a middle plate which is sunken relative to the first and second side plates, angled relative to one another, such that the faceplate includes increased surface area relative to a substantially flat faceplate,
wherein at least two plates of the plurality of plates include physical ports each having track lengths to a circuit of one or more circuits, wherein one or more of the physical ports support signals at a rate of at least 100 Gbps.

12. The node of claim 11 , wherein each plate of the plurality of plates is flat.

13. The node of claim 11 , wherein the physical ports are pluggable modules.

14. The node of claim 11 , wherein each type of the physical ports are a same type on a given plate of the plurality of plates.

15. The node of claim 11 , wherein the at least one module further includes
one or more handles extending from the faceplate.

16. The node of claim 15 , wherein the one or more handles are located where adjacent plates of the plurality of plates meet at an angle.

17. The node of claim 11 , wherein the at least one module further includes
a plurality of cooling holes on one or more of the plurality of plates.

18. The node of claim 11 , wherein the at least one module further includes
a plurality of stepped surfaces each at edges where adjacent plates of the plurality of plates meet.

19. The node of claim 11 , wherein the faceplate with the plurality of plates has more than 50% more surface area than a flat faceplate having a single plate.

20. The node of claim 11 , wherein the at least two plates of the plurality of plates include one or more of labeling and a display for each physical port.

Assignees

• Ciena Corp

Inventors

• Shearman Simon J E
• Colton Fabien
• Rivaud Daniel
• Bishop Michael R

Classifications

• H04Q1/09 Primary

  Frames or mounting racks not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• H04Q1/025 Primary

  Cabinets · CPC title

• H04Q1/035

  Cooling of active equipments, e.g. air ducts · CPC title

• H04Q1/066

  arranged on the front side · CPC title

• H04Q3/0066

  Bandwidth allocation or management · CPC title