Accommodation apparatus for communication devices

• US 6,719,149 B2
• Filed: 07/03/2002
• Issued: 04/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Allied Telesis Holdings KK
• Original Assignee: Allied Telesis Holdings KK
• Inventors: Tomino, Hiroyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): GIBSON, ROBERT W
• Application Number:
  US10/190,340
• Publication Number:
  US 20030042215A1
• Time in Patent Office: 650 Days
• Field of Search: 211/26, 361/724, 361/725, 361/727, 439/456, 439/540.1, 312/265.1, 312/265.4
• US Class Current: 211/26
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4452 Distribution frames
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/44524 with frame parts or auxiliary devices mounted on the frame and collectively not covering a whole width of the frame or rack cassettes G02B6/4453
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4453 Cassettes
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/03 Power distribution arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/035 Cooling of active equipments, e.g. air ducts
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2201/02 Details of frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2201/804 in optical transmission systems
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1421 Drawers for printed circuit boards

Abstract

An accommodation apparatus facilitates the attachment, exchange, operation, and wire configuration of a plurality of communication devices, such as a media converter, and a power unit. The accommodation apparatus comprises a support part fixed to an external frame, and a loading part, movable relative to the support part. The loading part removably accommodates the communication devices, and includes a first surface and a second surface, wherein the transmission medium can be connected to the communication devices through the first and second surfaces.

Claims

1. An accommodation apparatus, configured to house a plurality of communication devices for connection to transmission media, the accommodation apparatus comprising:

a support part fixed to an external frame; and

a loading part, movable relative to the support part, wherein the loading part has a first surface and a second surface, wherein the loading part is configured to detachably house the plurality of communication devices, and wherein the first surface and the second surface provide the transmission media access to the communication device.

2. The accommodation apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second surface is located opposite to the first surface.

3. The accommodation apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a restraint part configured to restrict a moving distance of the loading part relative to the support part.

4. The accommodation apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the transmission media is an optical fiber cable.

5. The accommodation apparatus of claim 1, wherein the loading part has at least one radiation hole to allow radiation of heat from the communication devices.

6. The accommodation apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transmission media comprise first and second transmission media, and the communication device is a media converter configured to convert a signal for the first transmission medium to a signal for the second transmission medium, and wherein the first transmission medium is connected to the media converter through the first surface of the loading part, and wherein the second transmission medium is connected to the media converter through the first and second surfaces of the loading part.

7. The accommodation apparatus of claim 1, wherein said accommodation apparatus fixes a plurality of the support parts onto the external frame in a direction approximately perpendicular to a moving direction of said loading part.

8. The accommodation apparatus of claim 7, wherein the communication device comprises an operational switch that is exposed from the support part as the loading part is moved.

9. The accommodation apparatus of claim 1, wherein the loading part has a handle to move the loading part relative to the support part.

10. The accommodation apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communication device has a housing, and wherein the loading part includes an engagement part that may be engaged with the housing of the communication device so as to detachably house the communication device in the loading part.

11. An accommodation apparatus configured to detachably house a plurality of communication devices connected to transmission media, the accommodation apparatus comprising:

a first loading part, configured to securely support a power unit; and

a second loading part, configured to accommodate the transmission media connected to the communication device, wherein the second loading part is located at an elevation different from that of the first loading part in the accommodation apparatus.

12. The accommodation apparatus of claim 11, wherein at least one of the transmission media is an optical fiber cable.

13. The accommodation apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a support part fixed to an external frame, wherein the first and second loading parts are movable relative to said support part.

14. The accommodation apparatus of claim 13, wherein the support part has one or more slits for guiding a power cable, wherein the power cable connects the power unit to an external power supply, and wherein the slit extends in a moving direction of the first loading part.

15. The accommodation apparatus of claim 11, wherein the second loading part includes at least one radiation hole.

16. The accommodation apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first loading part is configured to house the plurality of communication devices, wherein the first loading part has an opening so as to allow the transmission media to be routed to the second loading part, and wherein the radiation hole is located proximal to the opening.

17. The accommodation apparatus of claim 11, wherein the second loading part includes a first surface and a second surface, and wherein the transmission media can be routed to the communication device through the first and second surfaces of the second loading part.

18. The accommodation apparatus of claim 17, wherein the second loading part includes a front plate part with an opening through which the transmission medium is connected to the communication device through the first surface.

19. The accommodation apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first loading part includes a bridge part that holds the communication device by a mechanical engagement.

20. A communication device housing rack, comprising:

a frame;

a plurality of brackets, fixed to the frame; and

a plurality of racks, configured to be slidably engaged and movable with respect to the plurality of brackets, wherein each rack is configured to house a plurality of communication devices and a power unit on a first plane, and wherein a communication medium connected to at least one of the communication devices is routed to a second plane in the rack, parallel to the first plane.

21. The housing rack of claim 20, wherein at least one of the racks comprises a front end plate having a plurality of windows so as to provide access to the communication devices.

22. The housing rack of claim 20, wherein at least one rack comprises a bottom plate having at least one access hole proximal to an area where the communication device is housed so as to allow the transmission media to pass through the access hole.

23. The housing rack of claim 20, wherein the communication devices are secured on the racks with a mechanical attaching means.

24. A method of installing a media converter in a media converter housing rack, comprising:

slidably removing a rack housing from a bracket housing, wherein the rack housing is not completely removed from the bracket housing;

fastening a media converter between a plurality of bridge parts on the rack housing in a first plane of the rack housing;

connecting a transmission medium to the media converter;

routing the transmission medium from the medium converter in the first plane of the rack housing to a second plane of the rack housing; and

connecting a power cable from a power supply to the media converter, wherein the power supply is positioned in the first plane of the rack housing.