System and method for coupling a communication signal to a communication device

• US 6,561,836 B1
• Filed: 12/04/2000
• Issued: 05/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Boone, Earl W., Marshall, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Luebke, Renee
• Assistant Examiner(s): MCCAMEY, ANN M
• Application Number:
  US09/729,451
• Time in Patent Office: 890 Days
• Field of Search: 439/378, 439/608
• US Class Current: 439/378
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/7005 Guiding, mounting, polarizing or locking means; Extractors for printed circuit boards H05K
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/06 for computer periphery
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1454 Alignment mechanisms; Drawout cases

Abstract

According to one embodiment of the invention, a system for coupling a communication signal to a communication device includes a backplane, having first and second sides, and a connector, adapted to receive the communication signal, coupled to the backplane on the first side. The connector has a first set of conductive pins that extend through the first side of the backplane and protrude out the second side of the backplane. A portion of the first set of conductive pins is adapted to receive a line card connector formed with a plurality of contact cavities. The system further includes a guide member operable to guide a line card into the line card connector.

Claims

1. A system for coupling a communication signal to a communication device, comprising:

a backplane having first and second sides;

a connector, adapted to receive the communication signal, coupled to the backplane on the first side, the connector having a first set of conductive pins that extend through the first side and protrude out the second side, a portion of the first set of conductive pins adapted to receive a line card connector being formed with a plurality of contact cavities; and

a guide member coupled to the second side of the backplane, the guide member operable to guide the line card connector onto the portion of the first set of conductive pins.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the guide member comprises a set of guide pins adjacent to the portion of the first set of conductive pins.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein one connector is provided for every twenty-four ports on a line card.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a ferrite plate disposed between the connector and the backplane.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein a pitch of the portion of the first set of conductive pins is adapted to equal a pitch of the contact cavities.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the portion of the first set of conductive pins are aligned in two rows, each row having a two millimeter pitch.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the portion of the first set of conductive pins are aligned in two rows, each row having a 2.54 millimeter pitch.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the guide member comprises a housing adjacent to the portion of the first set of conductive pins.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the housing is formed with a plurality of apertures, the apertures frictionally engaged with the portion of the first set of conductive pins.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the housing further comprises a second set of conductive pins, the second set of conductive pins adapted to receive a protect bus.

11. A connector system used in coupling a communication signal to a communication device, comprising:

a body adapted to receive the communication signal and to transmit the body;

wherein the first set of conductive pins are adapted to extend through a first side of a backplane and protrude out a second side of the backplane such that a second portion of the first set of conductive pins is adapted to receive a line card connector being formed with a plurality of contact cavities; and

a housing formed with a plurality of apertures, the apertures frictionally engaged with the second portion of the first set of conductive pins.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein one connector is provided for every twenty-four ports on a line card.

13. The system of claim 11, further comprising a ferrite plate coupled to the first portion of the first set of conductive pins.

14. The system of claim 11, further comprising a molding coupled to the first set of conductive pins.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein a pitch of the second portion of the first set of conductive pins is adapted to equal a pitch of the contact cavities.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the second portion of the first set of conductive pins are aligned in two rows, each row having a two millimeter pitch.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the second portion of the first set of conductive pins are aligned in two rows, each row having a 2.54 millimeter pitch.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the housing further comprises a second set of conductive pins, the second set of conductive pins adapted to receive a protect bus.

19. A method for coupling a communication signal to a communication device, the method comprising:

coupling a connector having a first set of conductive pins to a backplane having first and second sides, the connector adapted to receive the communication signal;

protruding the first set of conductive pins out the second side of the backplane, a portion of the first set of conductive pins adapted to receive a line card connector being formed with a plurality of contact cavities; and

positioning a guide member adjacent the portion of the first set of conductive pins, the guide member operable to guide the line card connector onto the portion of the first set of conductive pins.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein positioning a guide member adjacent the portion of the first set of conductive pins comprises coupling a set of guide pins adjacent the portion of the first set of conductive pins.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising providing one connector for every twenty-four ports on a line card.

22. The method of claim 19, further comprising disposing a ferrite plate between the connector and the backplane.

23. The method of claim 19, further comprising coupling a molding to the first set of conductive pins.

24. The method of claim 19, further comprising providing the portion of the first set of conductive pins with a pitch that is adapted to a pitch of the contact cavities.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising aligning the portion of the first set of conductive pins in two rows, each row having a two millimeter pitch.

26. The method of claim 23, further comprising aligning the portion of the first set of conductive pins in two rows, each row having a 2.54 millimeter pitch.

27. The method of claim 19, wherein positioning a guide member adjacent the portion of the first set of conductive pins comprises frictionally engaging a plurality of apertures formed in a housing with the portion of the first set of conductive pins.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising providing the housing with a second set of conductive pins, the second set of conductive pins adapted to receive a protect bus.

29. A system for coupling a communication signal to a communication device comprising:

means for coupling a connector having a first set of conductive pins to a backplane having first and second sides, the connector adapted to receive the communication signal, and wherein the first set of conductive pins extend through the first side of the backplane and protrude out the second side of the backplane and are adapted to receive a line card connector; and

means for positioning a guide member adjacent the portion of the first set of conductive pins, the guide member operable to guide the line card connector onto the portion of the first set of conductive pins.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein means for positioning a guide member adjacent the portion of the first set of conductive pins comprises means for coupling a set of guide pins adjacent the portion of the first set of conductive pins.

31. The system of claim 29, further comprising means for providing one connector for every twenty-four ports on a line card.

32. The system of claim 29, further comprising means for disposing a ferrite plate between the connector and the backplane.

33. The system of claim 29, further comprising means for coupling a molding to the first set of conductive pins.

34. The system of claim 29, further comprising means for providing the portion of the first set of conductive pins with a pitch that is adapted to a pitch of the contact cavities.

35. The system of claim 34, further comprising means for aligning the portion of the first set of conductive pins in two rows, each row having a two millimeter pitch.

36. The system of claim 34, further comprising means for aligning the portion of the first set of conductive pins in two rows, each row having a 2.54 millimeter pitch.

37. The system of claim 29, wherein means for positioning a ode member adjacent the portion of the first set of conductive pins comprises means for frictionally engaging a plurality of apertures formed in a housing with the portion of the first set of conductive pins.

38. The system of claim 37, further comprising means for providing the housing with a second set of conductive pins, the second set of conductive pins adapted to receive a protect bus.

39. A system for coupling a communication signal to a communication device, comprising:

a backplane having first and second sides;

a connector, adapted to receive the communication signal, coupled to the backplane on the first side, the connector having a first set of conductive pins that extend through the first side and protrude out the second side, a portion of the first set of conductive pins adapted to receive a line card connector being formed with a plurality of contact cavities, the portion of the first set of conductive pins aligned in two rows, each row having a pitch selected from the group consisting of a two millimeter pitch and a 2.54 millimeter pitch;

a ferrite plate disposed between the connector and the backplane;

a housing coupled to the second side of the backplane adjacent to the portion of the first set of conductive pins, the housing formed with a plurality of apertures that are frictionally engaged with the portion of the first set of conductive pins; and

wherein the housing further comprises a second set of conductive pins, the second set of conductive pins adapted to recieve a protect bus.