Electronic equipment module apparatus and method

• US 6,700,787 B1
• Filed: 02/28/2002
• Issued: 03/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Garmin International, Inc. (Garmin Limited)
• Original Assignee: Garmin International, Inc. (Garmin Limited)
• Inventors: Beseth, Jeffrey L., Rolston, Walter J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Martin, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, THANH Y
• Application Number:
  US10/086,578
• Time in Patent Office: 733 Days
• Field of Search: 361/728, 361/729, 361/730, 361/752, 361/753, 361/796, 361/807, 361/686, 361/797, 361/810
• US Class Current: 361/729
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1412 hold down mechanisms, e.g. avionic racks

Abstract

An electronic equipment module, as well as a system and a method for mounting electronic equipment modules are disclosed, an electronic equipment module is provided as a symmetrical casting. The electronic equipment module includes a first chassis unit which attaches to a second chassis unit. Each chassis unit has a mounting recess adapted to receive one or more circuit assemblies. The mounting recesses can be separated by a cover applied to one unit, the other unit, or both. The module is normally mounted within a unit rack, and thus, can have a removably attachable, and re-orientable keyed surface on its rear face which mates with a corresponding keyed surface on the interior surface of the unit rack. The mounting system includes a mounting frame, a plurality of electronic equipment modules, and a unit rack coupled to at least one of the electronic equipment modules and the mounting frame. The method of mounting an electronic equipment module includes inserting the module into an open end of a unit rack, electrically coupling connectors attached to the module and the interior surface of the unit rack, securing the module to the rack, and attaching the rack to the mounting frame. The module can be secured to the rack by rotating a cam lever rotatably attached to the module into an engaged position.

Claims

1. An electronic equipment module, comprising:

a first chassis unit having a first mounting recess adapted to receive at least one first circuit assembly, a rear face having a first keyed surface, and a first exterior surface bounded by a first perimeter;

a second chassis unit having a second mounting recess adapted to receive at least one second circuit assembly, and a second exterior surface bounded by a second perimeter, wherein the second chassis unit is capable of being removably attached to the first chassis unit; and

a first cover capable of being attached to the first chassis unit.

2. The module of claim 1, further comprising:

a joining means to attach the second chassis unit to the first chassis unit, wherein the first cover is disposed between the first and second chassis units, wherein the first and second perimeters completely bound an outer edge of the first cover, and wherein the first perimeter contacts the second perimeter along a second perimeter length when the second chassis unit is attached to the first chassis unit using the joining means.

3. The module of claim 1, wherein the at least one first circuit assembly includes monitoring circuitry.

4. The module of claim 3, wherein the monitoring circuitry includes engine monitoring circuitry.

5. The module of claim 3, wherein the monitoring circuitry includes airframe monitoring circuitry.

6. The module of claim 3, wherein the monitoring circuitry includes a data acquisition system.

7. The module of claim 1, wherein the first keyed surface, is capable of mating engagement with a second keyed surface of an interior surface of a unit rack.

8. The module of claim 1, wherein the first keyed surface includes at least one keyed protrusion.

9. The module of claim 1, wherein the first keyed surface is removably attachable to the rear face.

10. The module of claim 1, wherein the first keyed surface is re-orientable on the rear face.

11. The module of claim 1, wherein the first chassis unit includes at least one connector opening located on the rear face, wherein a connector is mounted in the at least one connector opening, and wherein the first keyed surface is not located within the connector.

12. An electronic equipment module mounting system, comprising:

a mounting frame adapted for mounting to a mounting surface;

a plurality of electronic equipment modules, wherein at least one of the electronic equipment modules includes a first chassis unit having a first mounting recess adapted to receive at least one first circuit assembly, and a first exterior surface bounded by a first perimeter, and a second chassis unit having a second mounting recess adapted to receive at least one second circuit assembly, and a second exterior surface bounded by a second perimeter, wherein the second chassis unit is capable of being removably attached to the first chassis unit; and

a unit rack coupled to the at least one electronic equipment module and coupled to the mounting frame along a module range of mounting locations with respect to the mounting frame, wherein the first and second exterior surfaces of the at least one of the electronic equipment modules are capable of slidable engagement with an interior surface of the unit rack.

13. The mounting system of claim 12, wherein the mounting surface includes a cockpit instrument panel.

14. The mounting system of claim 12, further comprising:

a first cover capable of being attached to the first chassis unit and disposed between the first and second chassis units when the second chassis unit is removably attached to the first chassis unit.

15. The mounting system of claim 12, wherein the first chassis unit includes a rear face having a first keyed surface, and wherein the interior surface of the unit rack includes a second keyed surface capable of mating engagement with the first keyed surface.

16. The mounting system of claim 12, wherein the second chassis unit is identical to the first chassis unit.

17. The mounting system of claim 12, wherein the first chassis unit includes a rear face having a first connector, wherein the unit rack includes a second electric connector mounted to the interior surface, and wherein the first connector is capable of electrically coupling to the second connector.

18. A method of mounting an electronic equipment module in a mounting frame, comprising:

inserting the electronic equipment module into an open end of a unit rack, wherein the electronic equipment module includes a first chassis unit having a first mounting recess adapted to receive at least one first circuit assembly, and a first exterior surface bounded by a first perimeter, and a second chassis unit having a second mounting recess adapted to receive at least one second circuit assembly, and a second exterior surface bounded by a second perimeter, wherein the second chassis unit is capable of being removably attached to the first chassis unit, the first and second exterior surfaces capable of slidable engagement with an interior surface of the unit rack;

electrically coupling a first connector attached to the electronic equipment module to a second connector attached to the interior surface;

securing the electronic equipment module to the unit rack; and

attaching the unit rack to the mounting frame.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein securing the electronic equipment module to the unit rack includes rotating a cam lever rotatably attached to the electronic equipment module into an engaged position from a non-engaged position.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

mating a first keyed surface located on the electronic equipment module with a second keyed surface located on the unit rack.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

attaching a cover to the first chassis unit.

22. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

joining the first chassis unit to the second chassis unit.

23. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

positioning the unit rack adjacent to the mounting frame along a horizontal range of mounting locations.