Orthogonal backplane design with reduced chassis depth

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9362641-B2
Application number	US-201414321683-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 1, 2014
Priority date	Jul 1, 2014
Publication date	Jun 7, 2016
Grant date	Jun 7, 2016

Abstract

According to some embodiments of the invention a device includes a first circuit board having a hollow slot, wherein a longitudinal length of the hollow slot is greater than a transverse length of the hollow slot, wherein a longitudinal axis of the hollow slot is parallel to a first edge of the first circuit board, wherein the hollow slot causes a gap at a second edge of the first circuit board, and wherein the hollow slot is adapted to accept a second circuit board that is oriented orthogonally to the first circuit board. The device may further include a first data transferring connector coupled to the first circuit board at a longitudinal terminus of the hollow slot, wherein the first data transferring connector is adapted to connect to a second data transferring connector that is coupled to the second circuit board.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A device, comprising:
a first circuit board having a hollow slot, wherein a longitudinal length of the hollow slot is greater than a transverse length of the hollow slot, wherein a longitudinal axis of the hollow slot is parallel to a first edge of the first circuit board, wherein the hollow slot causes a gap at a second edge of the first circuit board, and wherein the hollow slot is adapted to accept a second circuit board that is oriented orthogonally to the first circuit board; and
a first data transferring connector coupled to the first circuit board at a longitudinal terminus of the hollow slot, wherein the first data transferring connector is adapted to connect to a second data transferring connector that is coupled to the second circuit board.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first data transferring connector and the second data transferring connector are at least one of an electrical connector, a wireless connector, and an optical connector.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first data transferring connector is an orthogonal backplane connector.

4. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a third data transferring connector that is adjacent to the hollow slot and is coupled to the first circuit board and that has a connection interface facing the second edge of the first circuit board, wherein the third data transferring connector is adapted to connect to a fourth data transferring connector that is coupled to the second circuit board.

5. The device of claim 4 , wherein the third data transferring connector is an orthogonal backplane connector.

6. The device of claim 4 , wherein the third data transferring connector is a socket designed to accept an edge connector.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first circuit board includes one or more processors and a non-transitory computer readable storage medium including instructions, that when executed by the processor, perform operations of a control plane of a network device.

8. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a third data transferring connector coupled to the first circuit board with an interface facing the longitudinal edge of the hollow slot.

9. A device assembly, comprising:
a first circuit board having a hollow slot, wherein a longitudinal length of the hollow slot is greater than a transverse length of the hollow slot, wherein a longitudinal axis of the hollow slot is parallel to a first edge of the first circuit board, and wherein the hollow slot causes a gap at a second edge of the first circuit board;
a first data transferring connector coupled to the first circuit board at a longitudinal terminus of the hollow slot;
a second circuit board oriented orthogonally to the first circuit board and placed within the hollow slot; and
a second data transferring connector coupled to the second circuit board and connected to the first data transferring connector.

10. The device assembly of claim 9 , wherein the first data transferring connector and the second data transferring connector are at least one of an electrical connector, a wireless connector, and an optical connector.

11. The device assembly of claim 9 , wherein the first data transferring connector and the second data transferring connector are orthogonal backplane connectors.

12. The device assembly of claim 9 , further comprising a third data transferring connector adjacent to the hollow slot and coupled to the first circuit board, wherein the third data transferring connector includes a connection interface facing the second edge of the first circuit board.

13. The device assembly of claim 12 , further comprising a fourth data transferring connector coupled to the second circuit board, wherein the fourth data transferring connector is connected to the third data transferring connector.

14. The device assembly of claim 13 , wherein the third data transferring connector is a socket designed to accept an edge connector, and the fourth data transferring connector is an edge connector connected to the third data transferring connector.

15. The device assembly of claim 13 , wherein the fourth data transferring connector is a plug including a plurality of electrical pins, and the third data transferring connector is a socket including a plurality of corresponding socket contacts for the plurality of electrical pins, and wherein the third data transferring connector is connected to the fourth data transferring connector.

16. The device assembly of claim 9 , wherein the first circuit board includes one or more processors and a non-transitory computer readable storage medium including instructions, that when executed by the processor, perform operations of a control plane of a network device.

17. The device assembly of claim 9 , wherein the second circuit board includes one or more processors and a non-transitory computer readable storage medium including instructions, that when executed by the processor, perform operations of a data plane of a network device.

18. The device assembly of claim 9 , further comprising a third data transferring connector coupled to the first circuit board with an interface facing the longitudinal edge of the hollow slot, wherein the third data transferring connector is a socket designed to accept an edge connector.

19. The device assembly of claim 9 , further comprising a fourth data transferring connector coupled to the second circuit board, wherein the fourth data transferring connector is an edge connector, and wherein the fourth data transferring connector is connected to the third data transferring connector.

20. A method of forming a device assembly, comprising:
providing a first circuit board comprising,
a hollow slot, wherein a longitudinal length of the hollow slot is greater than a transverse length of the hollow slot, wherein a longitudinal axis of the hollow slot is parallel to a first edge of the first circuit board, and wherein the hollow slot causes a gap at a second edge of the first circuit board;

providing a first data transferring connector coupled to the first circuit board at a longitudinal terminus of the hollow slot;
providing a second circuit board;
providing a second data transferring connector coupled to the second circuit board;
orienting the second circuit board orthogonally to the first circuit board; and
connecting the second data transferring connector with the first data transferring connector.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the connecting the second data transferring connector with the first data transferring connector includes translating the second circuit board along the longitudinal axis of the hollow slot such that the second data transferring connector contacts the first data transferring connector.

22. The method of claim 20 , further comprising:
providing a third data transferring connector that is adjacent to the hollow slot and is coupled to the first circuit board, wherein the third data transferring connector includes a connection interface facing the second edge of the first circuit board;
providing a fourth data transferring connector that is coupled to the second circuit board; and
connecting the fourth data transferring connector to the third data transferring connector.

23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the third data transferring connector is disconnected from the fourth data transferring connector until the fourth data transferring connector is connected to the third data transferring connector at a ful

Assignees

• Ericsson Telefon Ab L M

Inventors

• Bachmutsky Alexander

Classifications

• H01R12/737

  Printed circuits being substantially perpendicular to each other (for printed connections H05K3/366) · CPC title

• H01R12/722 Primary

  coupling devices mounted on the edge of the printed circuits · CPC title