Reducing trace length and insertion loss of high speed signals on a network switch board

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016183402-A1
Application number	US-201414581962-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 23, 2014
Priority date	Dec 23, 2014
Publication date	Jun 23, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An electrical device can include a printed circuit board (PCB), an electrical component integrated therewith, and connectors that are each integrated with a certain edge of the PCB. Traces can provide electrical channels between the connectors and the electrical component. Some of the connectors can be integrated at a first edge of the PCB and within a first plane, and other connectors can be integrated at a second edge of the PCB and within a second plane that is distinct from the first plane.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An electrical device for facilitating transmission of electrical signals, the electrical device comprising:
a printed circuit board (PCB); an electrical component integrated with the PCB; a first plurality of connectors integrated with a first edge of the PCB and spatially positioned substantially in parallel to each other within a first plane; a first plurality of traces integrated with the PCB and configured to provide a first electrical channel between the electrical component and the first plurality of connectors; a second plurality of connectors integrated with a second edge of the PCB and spatially positioned substantially in parallel to each other within a second plane that is distinct from the first plane; and a second plurality of traces integrated with the PCB and configured to provide a second electrical channel between the electrical component and second plurality of connectors.

2 . The electrical device of claim 1 , wherein the electrical component is a network switch chip.

3 . The electrical device of claim 1 , wherein either or both of the first and second pluralities of connectors are input/output (I/O) connectors.

4 . The electrical device of claim 1 , wherein either or both of the first and second pluralities of traces are copper traces on the PCB.

5 . The electrical device of claim 1 , wherein the first and second planes are separated by a distance of 1.5 inches.

6 . The electrical device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a third plurality of connectors integrated with a third edge of the PCB and spatially positioned substantially in parallel to each other within a third plane that is distinct from the first plane; and a third plurality of traces integrated with the PCB and configured to provide a third electrical channel between the electrical component and the third plurality of connectors.

7 . The electrical device of claim 6 , wherein the first and third planes are separated by a distance of 1.5 inches.

8 . A network switch apparatus, comprising:
a housing; a printed circuit board (PCB) mounted within the housing; a network switch chip integrated with the PCB; a first plurality of input/output (I/O) connectors integrated with a first face of the housing and spatially positioned substantially in parallel to each other within a first plane; a first plurality of traces integrated with the PCB and configured to provide a first electrical channel between the network switch chip and the first plurality of I/O connectors; a second plurality of I/O connectors integrated with a second face of the housing and spatially positioned substantially in parallel to each other within a second plane that is distinct from the first plane; and a second plurality of traces integrated with the PCB and configured to provide a second electrical channel between the network switch chip and the second plurality of I/O connectors.

9 . The network switch apparatus of claim 8 , wherein either or both of the first and second pluralities of traces are copper traces on the PCB.ng

10 . The network switch apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the first and second planes are separated by a distance of 1.5 inches.

11 . The network switch apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising:
a third plurality of I/O connectors integrated with a third face of the housing and spatially positioned substantially in parallel to each other within a third plane that is distinct from the first plane; and a third plurality of traces integrated with the PCB and configured to provide a third electrical channel between the network switch chip and the third plurality of connectors.

12 . The network switch apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the first and third planes are separated by a distance of 1.5 inches.

13 . The network switch apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the second and third planes are the same plane.

14 . A rack system, comprising:
a housing; a printed circuit board (PCB) mounted within the housing; at least one other component mounted within the housing, an outermost edge of the at least one other component spatially positioned substantially within a first plane; a network switch chip integrated with the PCB; a first plurality of input/output (I/O) connectors integrated with a first face of the housing and spatially positioned substantially in parallel to each other within the first plane such that the first plurality of I/O connectors are substantially flush with the outermost edge of the at least one other component; a first plurality of traces integrated with the PCB and configured to provide a first electrical channel between the network switch chip and the first plurality of I/O connectors; a second plurality of I/O connectors integrated with a second face of the housing and spatially positioned substantially in parallel to each other within a second plane that is recessed from the first plane; and a second plurality of traces integrated with the PCB and configured to provide a second electrical channel between the network switch chip and the second plurality of I/O connectors.

15 . The rack system of claim 14 , wherein the first and second planes are separated by a distance of 1.5 inches.

16 . The rack system of claim 14 , further comprising:
a third plurality of I/O connectors integrated with a third face of the housing and spatially positioned substantially in parallel to each other within a third plane that is recessed from the first plane; and a third plurality of traces integrated with the PCB and configured to provide a third electrical channel between the network switch chip and the third plurality of connectors.

17 . The net rack system of claim 16 , wherein the first and third planes are separated by a distance of 1.5 inches.

18 . The rack system of claim 16 , wherein the second and third planes are the same plane.

Assignees

• Intel Corp

Inventors

• Tamarkin Vladimir
• Federer William F
• Genetti Thomas W

Classifications

• H05K7/1492 Primary

  having electrical distribution arrangements, e.g. power supply or data communications · CPC title

• H04L49/30 Primary

  Peripheral units, e.g. input or output ports · CPC title

• H05K7/1489

  characterized by the mounting of blades therein, e.g. brackets, rails, trays (H05K7/1491 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H05K1/117 Primary

  Pads along the edge of rigid circuit boards, e.g. for pluggable connectors · CPC title

• H05K2201/0784

  Uniform resistance, i.e. equalizing the resistance of a number of conductors · CPC title