Hub for a communications network
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A hub for a communications network comprising:
- a base hub containing a motherboard,multiple communication ports and operating circuitry of a communications network on the motherboard, the communications ports facing an exterior of the base hub for connection to cables leading to work station sites,the base hub being adapted for a blind mating connection to the operating circuitry by being provided with, an expansion port opening through the exterior of the base hub, a card edge connector facing toward said opening, and interconnection board receiving card guides,the card edge connector being connected to the operating circuitry, andthe card guides extending from said opening to the card edge connector to guide an interconnection board during blind mating connection of the interconnection board with the card edge connector and the operating circuitry wherein the card guides extend along a first axis of blind mating, and further comprising, guide tracks on the exterior of the hub, the guide tracks extending toward the expansion port opening along a second axis.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A hub for a communications network, a base hub (10), multiple communications ports (64) on the base hub (10), a motherboard (13) on which is mounted circuitry (62) for operation in a communications network, an expansion port opening (101) in the base hub (10), an interconnection board (42) in the base hub (10) carrying circuitry for operation in a communications network, the interconnection board (42) pointing toward the expansion port opening (101) for electrical connection to an expansion module (20) containing additional communication ports (64), and containing a mating interconnection board (121) for connection to the interconnection board (42) in the base hub (10).
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A hub for a communications network comprising:
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a base hub containing a motherboard, multiple communication ports and operating circuitry of a communications network on the motherboard, the communications ports facing an exterior of the base hub for connection to cables leading to work station sites, the base hub being adapted for a blind mating connection to the operating circuitry by being provided with, an expansion port opening through the exterior of the base hub, a card edge connector facing toward said opening, and interconnection board receiving card guides, the card edge connector being connected to the operating circuitry, and the card guides extending from said opening to the card edge connector to guide an interconnection board during blind mating connection of the interconnection board with the card edge connector and the operating circuitry wherein the card guides extend along a first axis of blind mating, and further comprising, guide tracks on the exterior of the hub, the guide tracks extending toward the expansion port opening along a second axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9)
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7. A hub for a communications network comprising:
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a base hub containing a motherboard, multiple communication ports and operating circuitry of a communications network on the motherboard, the communications ports facing an exterior of the base hub for connection to cables leading to work station sites, the base hub being adapted for a blind mating connection to the operating circuitry by being provided with, an expansion port opening through the exterior of the base hub, a lid removably covering said opening, a card edge connector facing toward said opening, and card guides, the card edge connector being connected to the operating circuitry, and the card guides extending from said opening to the card edge connector to guide an interconnection board during blind mating connection of the interconnection board with the card edge connector and the operating circuitry wherein the card guides extend along a first axis of blind mating, and the exterior of the base hub has guide tracks extending toward the expansion port opening along a second axis. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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10. A hub for a communications network comprising:
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a base hub containing a motherboard, multiple communication ports and operating circuitry of a communications network on the motherboard, the communications ports facing an exterior of the base hub for connection to cables leading to work station sites, the base hub being adapted for a blind mating connection to the operating circuitry by being provided with, an expansion port opening through the exterior of the base hub, a card edge connector facing toward said opening, and interconnection board receiving card guides, the card edge connector being connected to the operating circuitry, and an interconnection board removably extending along the card guides and removably connected to the card edge connector, the card guides extending from said opening to the card edge connector to guide the interconnection board during blind mating connection of the interconnection board with the card edge connector and the operating circuitry wherein the card guides extend along a first axis of blind mating, and further comprising, guide tracks on the exterior of the hub, the guide tracks extending toward the expansion port opening along a second axis. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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Specification