Communications bladed panel systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9532481-B2
Application number	US-201514968398-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 14, 2015
Priority date	Feb 12, 2010
Publication date	Dec 27, 2016
Grant date	Dec 27, 2016

Abstract

A fiber panel system includes a chassis including a backplane; and at least a first blade configured to mount to the chassis. The first blade is moveable relative to the chassis between a retracted (closed) position and at least one extended position. The first blade includes a coupler arrangement for connecting together media segments. Each blade includes a blade processor and a plurality of smart couplers. A chassis processor is electrically coupled to a processor port of the chassis backplane.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A blade comprising
a base having a front and a rear;
a circuit board arrangement carried by the base, the circuit board arrangement including a first circuit board mounted at the front of the base and a second circuit board mounted at the rear of the base, the second circuit board being movable relative to the first circuit board and relative to the base, the first circuit board being stationary relative to the base when mounted at the front of the base;
a processor electrically coupled to the first circuit board of the circuit board arrangement, the processor being positioned at the front of the base;
a plurality of front couplers positioned at the front of the base, each of the front couplers including at least one media reading interface that is accessible by the processor via the first circuit board of the circuit board arrangement, the at least one media reading interface contacting pads on the first circuit board, the front couplers defining a plurality of front ports, the front ports being configured to receive media segments carrying data signals, wherein the processor manages information received from the media reading interfaces and wherein the processor and the first circuit board are isolated from the data signals carried by the media segments.

2. The blade of claim 1 , wherein the base includes a plurality of inner flanges that extend rearwardly to distal ends, wherein each inner flange includes a tab at the distal end.

3. The blade of claim 1 , wherein the front couplers also define rear ports of the blade.

4. The blade of claim 3 , further comprising:
a plurality of incoming media segments having connectorized ends plugged into the rear ports of the blade; and
a plurality of outgoing media segments having connectorized ends plugged into the front ports of the blade, the front couplers optically coupling the incoming media segments to the outgoing media segments.

5. The blade of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of rear couplers positioned at the rear of the base, each of the rear couplers defining a rear port.

6. The blade of claim 5 , further comprising:
a plurality of incoming media segments having connectorized ends plugged into the rear ports defined by the rear couplers; and
a plurality of outgoing media segments having connectorized ends plugged into the front ports of the blade; and
a plurality of connecting media segments extending between the rear couplers and the front couplers, the connecting media segments optically coupling the incoming media segments to the outgoing media segments.

7. The blade of claim 1 , wherein the base is generally planar.

8. The blade of claim 1 , wherein the second circuit board of the circuit board arrangement defines a card-edge connection end.

9. The blade of claim 1 , wherein the processor of at least one blade connects to the base using at least one mezzanine connector.

10. The blade of claim 1 , wherein the processor of at least one blade connects to the base via s SIM-card type connector.

11. The blade of claim 1 , wherein the front couplers are separated into a first group and a second group.

12. The blade of claim 11 , wherein the first group is positioned at one side of the processor and the second group is positioned at another side of the processor.

13. The blade of claim 1 , wherein each front coupler is configured to receive an MPO-type optical connector.

14. The blade of claim 1 , wherein each front coupler is configured to receive an LC-type optical connector.

15. The blade of claim 1 , wherein each front coupler is configured to receive an SC-type optical connector.

16. The blade of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of retention fingers extending forwardly of the couplers.

17. The blade of claim 16 , wherein the retention fingers support port label members.

18. The blade of claim 1 , further comprising a handle extending from the base.

19. The blade of claim 1 , further comprising a flexible cable electrically connecting the first circuit board to the second circuit board.

20. The blade of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of latch arms disposed at sides of the base, each latch arm having a distal end that is flexible towards and away from the base, the distal ends defining latching members.

Assignees

• Commscope Technologies Llc

Inventors

• Anderson Chad
• Coffey Joseph C
• Kostecka Ryan
• Stone David
• Wentworth Michael

Classifications

• H05K7/1487 Primary

  Blade assemblies, e.g. blade cases or inner arrangements within a blade · CPC title

• G02B6/44526

  Panels or rackmounts covering a whole width of the frame or rack · CPC title

• G02B6/44528

  Patch-cords; Connector arrangements in the system or in the box (routing arrangements H04Q1/00) · CPC title

• H04Q1/08 Primary

  Frames or mounting racks for relays; Accessories therefor · CPC title

• H04Q1/023

  using sliding mechanisms for accessing the interior of the apparatus · CPC title