SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A MODULAR BENCHTOP CHASSIS
First Claim
1. A PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) eXtensions for Instrumentation (PXI) and PXI Express (PXIe) chassis system, the chassis having a front and a rear and the ability to insert at least one PXI/PXIe module into at least one PXI/PXIe slots and having a maximum number of PXI/PXIe slots, the chassis comprising:
- a front-to-back cooling system, wherein the maximum number of PXI/PXIe slots is maintained, the cooling system comprising;
a front air vent on the front of the chassis allowing cool air to enter the chassis;
a rear exhaust on the rear of chassis allowing hot air to exit the chassis; and
a ducting system coupled to the front air vent and the rear exhaust directing air flow through the chassis; and
a signal route from the front of the PXI/PXIe module to the rear of the chassis wherein the maximum number of PXI/PXIe slots is maintained.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
This invention relates generally to modular instrument chassis and more particularly to benchtop and rack mount modular instrument chassis that employ the PXI and PXIe standards. The present invention combines the benefits of the PXI/PXIe systems without the drawbacks that preclude PXI/PXIe systems from being used effectively in a deployable environment. Embodiments of the present invention enable PXI/PXIe systems to be deployed in a benchtop or rack mount deployable environment and enable front-to-back cooling, flexible I/O (front and back I/O panels), consistent I/O on front and back panels for reproducible and repeatable connections to external devices and for calibration requirements associated with such environments while maintaining the modularity benefits of PXI/PXIe and without sacrificing PXI/PXIe slots.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) eXtensions for Instrumentation (PXI) and PXI Express (PXIe) chassis system, the chassis having a front and a rear and the ability to insert at least one PXI/PXIe module into at least one PXI/PXIe slots and having a maximum number of PXI/PXIe slots, the chassis comprising:
-
a front-to-back cooling system, wherein the maximum number of PXI/PXIe slots is maintained, the cooling system comprising; a front air vent on the front of the chassis allowing cool air to enter the chassis; a rear exhaust on the rear of chassis allowing hot air to exit the chassis; and a ducting system coupled to the front air vent and the rear exhaust directing air flow through the chassis; and a signal route from the front of the PXI/PXIe module to the rear of the chassis wherein the maximum number of PXI/PXIe slots is maintained. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A method of modifying a PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) eXtensions for Instrumentation (PXI) and PXI Express (PXIe) chassis, the chassis having a front and a rear and the ability to insert at least one PXI/PXIe module into at least one PXI/PXIe slots and having a maximum number of PXI/PXIe slots, the method comprising:
-
adding an air intake vent on the front of the chassis; adding an air exhaust on the rear of the chassis; connecting the air intake and the air exhaust with ducting; routing signals from the front of the PXI/PXIe module to the rear of the chassis; and maintaining the maximum number of PXI/PXIe slots. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) eXtensions for Instrumentation (PXI) and PXI Express (PXIe) chassis system, the chassis having a front and a rear and an input/output panel and the ability to insert at least one PXI/PXIe module into at least one PXI/PXIe slots and having a maximum number of PXI/PXIe slots, the chassis comprising:
-
an electronic subsystem providing filtering and/or switching of one or more input/output signals providing an interface to an external device independent of the PXI/PXIe module(s); a calibration sticker adhered to the chassis indicative that calibration has been performed; and a removable front panel. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification