Rack-mounting system for improving redundancy

• US 7,510,090 B2
• Filed: 02/13/2007
• Issued: 03/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Narda Holdings Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Miteq Incorporated (L-3 Narda-MITEQ)
• Inventors: Philips, Stephen James
• Primary Examiner(s): PUROL, SARAH L
• Application Number:
  US11/705,624
• Publication Number:
  US 20070256991A1
• Time in Patent Office: 777 Days
• Field of Search: 211/26, 211/189, 361/724, 361/683, 361/681, 312/265.1, 312/265.4
• US Class Current: 211/26
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1425 of standardised dimensions, e.g. 19"-subrack
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/18 Construction of rack or frame

Abstract

A rack-mounting system includes a rack with a number of shelves for mounting electronic modular components. At least two modular components are mounted on each shelf, each component with width approximately equal to W/n, where W equals the width of the shelf and n equals the maximum number of modular components to be mounted on a single shelf. Each modular component is fully self-contained, stand-alone, and operates with full independence of the other self-contained, stand-alone components. At least two modular components have the same function. Means is provided for switching out a defective component and switching in a standby component that performs the same function, thus enhancing redundancy.

Claims

1. A rack-mounting system comprising

a rack including at least one shelf for mounting electronic modular components and having a width W;

at least two modular radio frequency (RF) components mounted on said at least one shelf, each component having a width approximately equal to W/n, where W is equal to the width of the shelf and n is equal to the maximum number of modular components to be mounted on a single shelf of the rack,

each modular component being a fully self-contained, stand-alone component that is fully operational independent of the other self-contained and stand-alone components mounted on the rack and at least two modular components on the rack having the same functionality; and

RF switchover means for switching out a defective modular component and switching in another modular component of the same functionality to enhance the redundancy of the system.

2. A rack-mounting system as defined in claim 1, wherein n=3.

3. A rack-mounting system as defined in claim 1, wherein W is equal to approximately 19″

.

4. A rack-mounting system as defined in claim 1, wherein said modular components have a height approximately equal to one rack unit.

5. A rack-mounting system as defined in claim 1, wherein the rack-mounting system is a satellite communication system, and said components on a single shelf of the rack unit includes two block upconverters (BUCs) and a redundant switching unit (RCU) to provide a 1:

1 redundant system configuration.

6. A rack-mounting system as defined in claim 1, wherein the rack-mounting system is a satellite communication system, and wherein two stacked rack shelves are each approximately a single rack unit high, three block upconverters (n=3) are mounted on a first shelf, and an n-switching unit (NSUZ) is mounted on the other shelf and associated with said three block upconverters to form a 1:

2 dedundant system configuration.

7. A rack-mounting system as defined in claim 1, wherein the rack-mounting system is a satellite communication system, and said components on a single shelf of the rack unit includes two block downconverters (BDC) and a redundant switching unit (RCU) to provide a 1:

1 redundant system configuration.

8. A rack-mounting system as defined in claim 1, wherein the rack-mounting system is a satellite communication system, and wherein two stacked rack shelves are each approximately a single rack unit high, three block downconverters (BDC) are mounted on a first shelf, and an n-switching unit (NSUZ) is mounted on the other shelf and associated with said three block downconverters to form a 1:

2 redundant system configuration.

9. A rack-mounting system as defined in claim 1, wherein the rack-mounting system is a satellite communication system, and wherein n=3 with the components including an L-band test translator (TLT), a block upconverter (BUC) and one block downconverter (BDC).

10. A rack-mounting system as defined in claim 1, wherein the rack-mounting system is a satellite communication system, and wherein n=3 with the components including an RF-band test translator (TLT), a block upconverter (BUC) and one block downconverter (BDC).

11. A rack-mounting system as defined in claim 1, wherein n=2 and the width of each component mounted on a single shelf is approximately W/2.

12. A rack-mounting system as defined in claim 1, wherein W is equal to approximately 19″

and the components are approximately 6″

.

13. A rack-mounting system as defined in claim 1, wherein input switches connect inputs of a plurality of RF components comprising block upconverters.

14. A rack-mounting system as defined in claim 1, wherein said RF switchover means comprise L-band switches.

15. A rack-mounting system as defined in claim 1, wherein output switches connect outputs of a plurality of RF components comprising block upconverters.

16. A rack-mounting system as defined in claim 1, wherein n=3 and each component has a width somewhat less than W/3 to compensate interface clearances and mounting hardware.