Patent ID: 6748474
Filing Date: 2004-06-08
Classification: H05K

Abstract:
An electronic midplane assembly comprising:a plurality of front module slots on a first side of the assembly, and a plurality of corresponding rear module slots on a second side of the assembly, said front modules slots comprising a plurality of input/output (I/O) slots, a plurality of central processing unit (CPU)/Timing slots, a plurality of switching fabric (SF) slots, and a centrally located I/O slot; a first and second set of DC power pins for each of said front module slots for providing power thereto; for each of said plurality of I/O slots, a first and a second set of DS1 pins providing electrical communication from an I/O module to a corresponding rear module slot; for each of said plurality of I/O slots, a set of SF interconnect pins providing electrical communication to a set of SF traces that are in electrical communication with the SF slots; for each of said plurality of I/O slots, a set of DS3 pins providing electrical communication from the I/O module to the corresponding rear modules, the set of DS3 pins being located between said first and second sets of DS1 pins; a DS1 signal protection bus substantially spanning the length of the midplane assembly and separated into a first trace set in relay-controlled electrical communication with said first set of DS1 pins, and a second trace set in relay-controlled, electrical communication with said second set of DS1 pins; at least one DS3 signal protection bus having a first portion located below a vertical centerline of the midplane assembly and spanning from a first set of the module slots positioned nearer left and right edges of the midplane, and a second portion located above a vertical centerline of the midplane assembly and spanning from a second set of module slots positioned at a relative interior of the first set of module slots, said at least one DS3 signal protection bus being in relay-controlled electrical communication with the DS3 pins; and a set of utility pins for each front module, the utility pins being located below said second set of DS1 pins.