Communication apparatus, information processing device, and external cable connection method

• US 20080068788A1
• Filed: 11/20/2007
• Published: 03/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Abe, Hiroyuki, Murayama, Tetsuya, Ozawa, Fujio, Hayama, Junichi, Sato, Hisato
• Granted Patent: US 7,724,543 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/686
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/02 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/023 using sliding mechanisms for accessing the interior of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/035 Cooling of active equipments, e.g. air ducts
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2201/12 Printed circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1489 characterized by the mounting of blades therein, e.g. brackets, rails, trays H05K7/1491 takes precedence

Abstract

A communication apparatus which occupies small space and yet can be connected with numerous external cables and which permits a cooling arrangement to be constructed at low cost. An information processing device constituting the communication apparatus has external cable connection ports provided on both top and bottom surfaces thereof, and thus, more external cables can be connected than in the case of connecting the cables to the side surfaces. Also, the external cables connected to the ports are guided along the top and bottom surfaces toward the front of the communication apparatus with their heights restricted by external cable covers and, therefore, do not occupy substantial space above and below the device. Further, since the external cables are connected to the top and bottom surfaces, the front and rear surfaces of the device have spare space, making it possible to construct a ventilation arrangement such as vent holes and fans.

Claims

1. A communication apparatus comprising:

an information processing device having a boxlike body and installed in a rack, the body having top and bottom surfaces greater in area than side surfaces thereof and containing a printed wiring board on which electronic components are mounted,

wherein a plurality of connection ports electrically connected to the electronic components and also connected with external cables are provided on at least one of the top and bottom surfaces of the information processing device, and the external cables connected to the connection ports are guided to outside of the communication apparatus along the surface provided with the connection ports.

2. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing device includes a plurality of information processing devices arranged in a vertical row inside the rack, and

the external cables are guided through a space between vertically adjacent ones of the information processing devices so as to extend in one direction along the surface provided with the connection ports.

3. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing device is capable of being pulled out of the rack in one direction, and

the external cables are guided in the pull-out direction in which the information processing device is pulled out.

4. The communication apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the information processing device includes an external cable cover covering the surface provided with the connection ports and allowing the external cables to be located between the surface and the external cable cover, the external cable cover having an opening formed in a surface thereof to permit the external cables to be passed therethrough.

5. The communication apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the external cable cover is swingable relative to the body of the information processing device such that when the external cable cover is swung open, portions of the external cables housed in the information processing device are exposed to outside.

6. The communication apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the external cable cover has a height set based on a sum of a thickness of the external cable cover and a minimum height calculated from at least one of a bending radius of the external cables and a number of connectable external cables.

7. The communication apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising:

a slide mechanism for allowing the information processing device to slide back and forth in the pull-out direction along guide rails attached to the rack; and

a rocking mechanism for allowing the information processing device to rock in at least one of upward and downward directions when the information processing device is pulled out to a predetermined position.

8. The communication apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the rocking mechanism includes:

a movable locking pin provided at the information processing device and capable of being moved back and forth from outside; and

a locking member engaging with the movable locking pin and capable of fixing the movable locking pin at a predetermined angle with respect thereto when the locking member is located at a front distal end of the guide rail.

9. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing device has vent holes formed in one of front, rear and side surfaces thereof to admit fresh air, and has a fan arranged at the surface thereof opposite to the surface provided with the vent holes.

10. The communication apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a partition partitioning an inside of the rack and arranged so as to face that surface of the information processing device which is provided with the connection ports,

wherein, when the information processing device is installed in the rack, the external cables are located between the surface of the information processing device provided with the connection ports and the partition.

11. An information processing device installed in a rack to constitute a communication apparatus, comprising:

a boxlike body having top and bottom surfaces greater in area than side surfaces thereof and containing a printed wiring board on which electronic components are mounted,

wherein a plurality of connection ports electrically connected to the electronic components and also connected with external cables are provided on at least one of the top and bottom surfaces of the information processing device, and when the information processing device is set in the communication apparatus, the external cables connected to the connection ports are guided to outside of the communication apparatus along the surface provided with the connection ports.

12. The information processing device according to claim 11, wherein the external cables are guided so as to extend in one direction along the surface provided with the connection ports.

13. The information processing device according to claim 12, further comprising an external cable cover covering the surface provided with the connection ports and allowing the external cables to be located between the surface and the external cable cover, the external cable cover having an opening formed in a surface thereof to permit the external cables to be passed therethrough.

14. The information processing device according to claim 13, wherein the external cable cover is swingable relative to the body of the information processing device such that when the external cable cover is swung open, portions of the external cables housed in the information processing device are exposed to outside.

15. The information processing device according to claim 13, wherein the external cable cover has a height set based on a sum of a thickness of the external cable cover and a minimum height calculated from at least one of a bending radius of the external cables and a number of connectable external cables.

16. The information processing device according to claim 11, further comprising vent holes formed in one of front, rear and side surfaces of the information processing device to admit fresh air, and a fan arranged at the surface of the information processing device opposite to the surface provided with the vent holes.

17. A method of electrically connecting external cables to electronic components inside an information processing device installed in a rack of a communication apparatus, comprising:

the step of connecting the external cables to respective connection ports provided on at least one of top and bottom surfaces of the information processing device; and

the step, executed when the information processing device is set in the communication apparatus, of guiding the external cables connected to the connection ports to outside of the communication apparatus along the surface provided with the connection ports.