Holder for closely-positioned multiple GBIC connectors

• US 6,366,471 B1
• Filed: 06/30/2000
• Issued: 04/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Twiss, Robert Gregory, Devenport, Earl, Edwards, William F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gandhi, Jayprakash N.
• Application Number:
  US09/607,973
• Time in Patent Office: 641 Days
• Field of Search: 361/728-730, 361/752, 361/753, 361/796, 361/797, 361/803, 361/807-810, 439/59, 439/79, 385/88, 385/89, 385/92, 385/94
• US Class Current: 361/796
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/7058 characterised by the movement, e.g. pivoting, camming or translating parallel to the PCB
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/06 for computer periphery

Abstract

A frame or similar structure is used for positioning two stacked GBIC connectors within a 1 RU form factor height of a router or similar network device. In one aspect, the frame can be constructed, assembled and/or mounted in the absence of a need for screws or similar connectors and/or tools. Hooks, latches, engaging teeth and the like can engage sections of a chassis base plate, to position the GBIC connectors preferably within a cutout formed in a motherboard. Use of a flex circuit for connecting the GBIC connectors to a motherboard avoids the requirement for high-precision placement for positioning.

Claims

1. Apparatus for a computer network component, said component having a chassis and a substantially planar main circuit board, defining a first plane, the apparatus comprising:

a face plate, coupled to said chassis, defining a 1 RU face plate height of about 1.75 inches;

first and second GBIC connectors each defining an opening in said face plate, each opening having a first width measured along a first dimension parallel to said first plane and having a height, measured along a second dimension substantially perpendicular to said first dimension, less than said first width, said GBIC connectors being positioned in a stacked relationship to define a stacked height at least equal to said height of said first connector plus said height of said second connector; and

wherein said stacked height is less than said 1 RU height.

2. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said computer network component is selected from the group consisting of a router, a hub, a bridge, a gateway and a network switch.

3. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of said GBIC connectors is mounted with respect to said chassis along a mounting plane parallel to but different from said first plane.

4. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said circuit board provides a cutout portion for receiving at least a part of at least one of said first and second GBIC connectors.

5. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a frame for holding said first and second connectors and for coupling to said chassis.

6. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 5, wherein said frame is configured to couple to said chassis in the absence of separate connector components.

7. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 5, wherein said frame comprises a plurality of interconnected plates.

8. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 7, where in at least one of said plates is coated with a substantially conductive material.

9. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 5, wherein said frame includes at least a first injection-molded component.

10. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 5, wherein said frame includes a clip for retaining at least a first light pipe.

11. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least a first flex circuit for coupling, electronically, said at least said first GBIC connector to said main circuit board.

12. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 11, wherein said flex circuit comprises a stiffened region for electronically coupling to said at least first GBIC connector.

13. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 11, wherein said flex circuit contains a stiffened region for mechanically coupling to at least a portion of said frame.

14. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 11, further comprising at least a first signal light positioned on said flex circuit.

15. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a light pipe having a first end adjacent said signal light and a second end adjacent said front panel.

16. A method for providing a computer network component, said component having a chassis and a substantially planar main circuit board, defining a first plane, the apparatus comprising:

coupling a face plate to said chassis, defining a 1 RU face plate height of about 1.75 inches;

providing first and second GBIC connectors each defining an opening in said face plate, each opening having a first width measured along a first dimension parallel to said first plane and having a height, measured along a second dimension substantially perpendicular to said first dimension, less than said first width,

positioning said GBIC connectors in a stacked relationship to define a stacked height at least equal to said height of said first connector plus said height of said second connector; and

wherein said stacked height is less than said 1 RU height.

17. A method, as claimed in claim 16, wherein said computer network component is selected from the group consisting of a router, a hub, a bridge, a gateway and a network switch.

18. A method, as claimed in claim 16, further comprising mounting at least one of said GBIC connectors with respect to said chassis along a mounting plane parallel to but different from said first plane.

19. A method, as claimed in claim 16, further coupling a frame for holding said first and second connectors to said chassis.

20. A method, as claimed in claim 19, wherein said step of coupling frame is to said chassis is performed in the absence of using separate connector components.

21. A method as claimed in claim 19, further comprising coupling at least a first light pipe to said frame.

22. A method, as claimed in claim 19, wherein said frame includes a clip and wherein said step of coupling said at least first light pipe comprises using said clip.

23. A method, as claimed in claim 16, further comprising using at least a first flex circuit for coupling, electronically, said at least said first GBIC connector to said main circuit board.

24. A method, as claimed in claim 23, wherein said flex circuit comprises a stiffened region and further comprising mechanically coupling said stiffened region to at least a portion of said frame.

25. Apparatus for a computer network component, said component having a chassis and a substantially planar main circuit board, defining a first plane, the apparatus comprising:

a face plate, coupled to a chassis, defining a 1 RU face plate height of about 1.75 inches;

first and second GBIC connectors each defining an opening in said face plate, each opening having a first width measured along a first dimension parallel to said first plane and having a height, measured along a second dimension substantially perpendicular to said first dimension, less than said first width;

means for positioning said GBIC connectors with respect to said chassis in a stacked relationship to define a stacked height at least equal to said height of said first connector plus said height of said second connector; and

wherein said stacked height is less than said 1 RU height.

26. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 25, wherein said means for positioning includes means for mounting at least one of said GBIC connectors with respect to said chassis along a mounting plane parallel to but different from said first plane.

27. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 25, further comprising means, in said circuit board, for accommodating at least a part of at least one of said first and second GBIC connectors.

28. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 25, wherein said means for positioning comprises means for holding said first and second connectors and for coupling to said chassis.

29. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 28, wherein said means for coupling to said chassis comprises hooks for engaging openings in said chassis.

30. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 28, wherein said means for coupling to said chassis comprises teeth configured for being received in openings formed in said chassis.

31. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 28, wherein said means for holding and coupling is configured to couple to said chassis in the absence of separate connector components.

32. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 28, further comprising means for retaining at least a first light pipe.

33. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 32, wherein said means for retaining is formed as part of said means for holding and coupling.

34. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 28, further comprising at least partially flexible means for coupling, electronically, said at least said first GBIC connector to said main circuit board.

35. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 34, further comprising means for mechanically coupling said at least partially flexible means to at least a portion of said means for holding and coupling.

36. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 34, further comprising means for providing at least a first signal light from said at least partially flexible means to said front panel.