Compact enclosure for interchangeable SONET multiplexer cards and methods for using same

• US 20040240882A1
• Filed: 05/30/2003
• Published: 12/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pulse Communications, Inc. (Enginuity Communications Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Pulse Communications, Inc. (Enginuity Communications Corporation)
• Inventors: Miller, Gary, Lipski, Bruce M., Corp, David
• Granted Patent: US 6,958,908 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 398/41
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4452 Distribution frames
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/44524 with frame parts or auxiliary devices mounted on the frame and collectively not covering a whole width of the frame or rack cassettes G02B6/4453
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/44528 Patch-cords; Connector arrangements in the system or in the box routing arrangements H04Q1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4453 Cassettes
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/02 Wavelength-division multiplex systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/1611 Synchronous digital hierarchy [SDH] or SONET H04J3/1664 takes precedence for interactions with OTN

Abstract

A compact enclosure for interchangeable SONET multiplexer cards and a method for using the same. The present invention further provides a compact enclosure for receiving one or more reduced size SONET multiplexer cards having front panel access to electrical and optical connectors, along with other cards such as DS1-DS3 multiplexer cards and wave division multiplexing cards, which is adapted for use in a reduced size enclosure, and a method for using the same.

Claims

1. A compact enclosure assembly for receiving at least one reduced size SONET multiplexer card, the enclosure assembly comprising:

an enclosure having a plurality of openings therein, each adapted to interchangeably receiving a reduced size SONET multiplexer card configured in a standard Type 400 mechanics circuit board arrangement, and a first of the openings being capable of interchangably receiving a reduced size SONET multiplexer card configured in a standard Type 400 mechanics circuit board arrangement and another card.

2. A compact enclosure assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the enclosure has two of said openings therein, the first of which having a larger width than the other.

3. A compact enclosure assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the first opening is capable of receiving a reduced size DS1-DS3 multiplexer card.

4. A compact enclosure assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the first opening is capable of receiving the reduced size SONET multiplexer card and a wave division multiplexing card at the same time.

5. A compact enclosure assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a fan mounted to the enclosure.

6. A compact enclosure assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the compact enclosure assembly is adapted to attach to an outside of a support enclosure.

7. A compact enclosure assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the compact enclosure assembly is adapted to be received in a larger enclosure.

8. A compact enclosure assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a cable fiber management assembly, coupled to the enclosure and adapted to store a cable fiber.

9. A compact enclosure assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a cable guard coupled at a front end of the enclosure.

10. A compact enclosure assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the enclosure has a height of about 5.9 inches, a width of about 4.1 inches, and a depth of about 7.3 inches.

11. A compact enclosure assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the enclosure has non dedicated card slots so that plug-in cards can be inserted in any available card slot to adapt to the exact DS3 and/or DS1 requirements of any application.

12. A plug-in WDM module card that can be inserted in any available card slot in an enclosure as a means to be properly grounded and as a more convenient means to utilize WDM technology.