Abstract:
A system and method for connecting an advanced electronic module to a legacy chassis is presented. In one embodiment, a connector plate comprises a plate bracket, a module connector, at least two chassis connectors and route logic. The plate bracket has a front side, a back side and an opening. The module connector connects to an electronic module within the opening. The at least two chassis connectors are located on the back side of the bracket plate and are configured to be connected to a legacy chassis or and advanced chassis. The legacy chassis and the advanced chassis do not expect signals from the same number chassis conductors. The routing logic routes signals from the module connector to each of the at least two chassis connectors.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/484,427, filed May 10, 2011 and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/486,798, filed May 17, 2011; the disclosures of which are both incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     The current invention relates generally to apparatus, systems and methods for connecting electronic equipment. More particularly, the apparatus, systems and methods relate to connecting newer electronic modules with legacy electronic modules. Specifically, the apparatus, systems and methods provide for a dual connector plate that can connect a new electronic module that only requires one connector port with a legacy electronic module that requires two connector ports. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Complex projects that involve computers, networks, communication devices, security/encryption and the like are often developed over many years or decades. For example, the Department of Defense&#39;s (DoD&#39;s) Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS), including its ground mobile radios (GMRs), is one such example system. The (JTRS) is considered a pivotal transformation program within the DoD and is a joint service initiative that addresses the growing need for integrated air, ground, and sea communications systems which enable a network-centric capability for joint taskforces and multinational coalitions to conduct efficient and effective military operations. 
     As part of the JTRS program, a next generation field able mobile ad hoc network was designed and implemented with up to 1620 moving nodes per self-forming, self-configuring, self-healing network. Called a Wide Band Networking Waveform (WNW), this networking stack will initially tie together all Army vehicles in a dynamic multi-hop network and will later be extended to directional links and other platforms such as those for the Air Force and Navy. The WNW represents the state-of-the-art in terms of balancing quickly realizable networking protocols for today&#39;s Army as well as incorporating DARPA-level innovations that allow the network to easily scale to thousands of nodes. 
     There are several advanced features of the DoD&#39;s JTRS program. For example, it has an open architecture designed to support DoD communications from the ground to the space environment. It is software-programmable, multi-band, multimode radio, interoperable across the spectrum of operations and across services. The JTRS program provides for improved connectivity through link availability and reliability. It has optimized bandwidth utilization while maintaining high security requirements; security through use of HAIPE (high-assurance IP-based encryption). It provides for network management, with rerouting and retransmission, that improves operator efficiency, reduces errors, and results in increased situational awareness, enabling rapid access to forces. Additionally, the JTRS program provides full multimedia communications: voice, data, and video throughputs unavailable in legacy systems. To allow for the development and improvement of this system over many years, the JTRS program provides for a capability-based technology-insertion migration path with modular, scalable design that reduces lifecycle costs. 
     However, even developing a large project over several years that has a capability-based technology-insertion migration path with modular, scalable design that reduces lifecycle costs still can have many problems that can slow down its progress. For example, while each of the ground Mobile Radios (GMRs) is a highly flexible communication system, its high processing capability consumes significant power resulting in heat that is dissipated using large heat sinks and fans for cooling. Given a novel cooling approach targeted to processing elements such as microprocessors, RF/analog circuitry and other electronic devices, it is possible to reduce its size and weight. Lower internal temperatures would also increase GMR reliability. While there are many cooling approaches, it must support operational and maintenance in a Military tactical environment that include altitudes up to 15,000-ft, operating temperatures −40° C. to +55° C., storage temperatures of −55° C. to +71° C., driving rain and dust storms, corrosive environments such as salt-sea atmospheres, and can withstand indirect shock. The system needs to be safe and promote easy operation and maintenance in these environments by trained military personal. 
     The main component of a GMR is a Joint Tactical Radio (JTR) which consists of a Ground Vehicular Adapter (GVA) and up to five Line Replaceable Units (LRUs). The GVA is the card cage to interconnect LRUs, providing backplane, backplane connectors, power supply and additional miscellaneous active circuitry consuming significant power. There are three main LRUs types that are plugged into the GVA, the Network Infosec Unit (NIU), the Universal Transceiver (UT), and a Power Amplifier (PA). Each LRU is enclosed to withstand an immersion in water requirement and has its own heat sink. The NIU consists primarily of digital circuitry with many high speed processing elements and draws approximately 110 Watts. The UT consists of both RF/Analog and digital circuitry with multiple high speed processing elements. There are multiple PAs consisting of primarily RF/Analog circuitry with at least one processing element for control. While newer electronic modules are available that improve over legacy electronic modules, the newer electronic modules are often incompatible with legacy chassis out in the field. A newer electronic module simply cannot be delivered to the field and connected to a legacy chassis. Therefore, a better way to connect newer electronic modules with legacy chassis is needed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The preferred embodiment of the invention includes a connector plate for connecting an advanced electrical module to a legacy chassis. In one embodiment, a connector plate comprises a plate bracket, a module connector, at least two chassis connectors and route logic. The plate bracket has a front side, a back side and an opening. The module connector connects to an electrical module within the opening. The at least two chassis connectors are located on the back side of the bracket plate and are configured to be connected a legacy chassis or an advanced chassis. The legacy chassis and the advanced chassis do not expect signals from the same number chassis connectors. The route logic routes signals from the module connector to each of the at least two chassis connectors. 
     In another configuration of the preferred embodiment, the connector plate can include a dummy connector. The dummy connector is located on the front side of the bracket plate provides physical support to another electronic module such as a power amplifier (PA). The dummy connector can have metallic plating that is a metal such as nickel and the dummy connector can be electrically grounded. 
     Other embodiments of the connector plate can include other useful components and features. For example, a sealing ring can be included on the front side of the plate bracket and around the opening on the plate bracket to create a water tight seal with the electrical module when the connector plate is connected to the electrical module. The connector plate can include a printed circuit board (PCB) with the routing logic printed on the PCB and with the chassis connector mounted on the PCB. The PCB can be placed between the at least two chassis connectors and the plate bracket. A gasket can be placed between the PCB and the at least two chassis connectors and sealing ring can be located between the mounting bracket and the back side of the mounting plate to provide a water tight connection between the gasket and the mounting bracket. 
     In another configuration, the connector plate chassis connectors include a first chassis connector and a second chassis connector. The routing logic includes wiring to route a first set of signals from the module connector to the first chassis connector and wiring to route a second set of signals from the module connector to the second chassis connector. The first set of signals can be radio transmit signals and the second set of signals can be radio receive signals. 
     Another configuration of the preferred embodiment is a system for connecting an electronic module to a legacy chassis. The system includes first and second connectors for connecting to two connectors on the legacy chassis. The system further includes a dual connector plate with a back side and a front side including a chamber with an opening in the front side of the dual connector plate. An electronic module connector extends at least partly from the back side into the chamber with the electronic module connector configured to connect to a complementary connector in the electronic module. Wires route signals from the electronic module connector to the first chassis connector and other wires route signals from the electronic module connector to the second chassis connector. The wires routing signals from the electronic module connector to the first chassis connector route different signals than the wires routing signals from the electronic module connector to the second chassis connector. 
     In other configurations, the system includes a filler device configured to fill a space not occupied by the electronic module when the electronic module is connected to the dual connector plate and the dual connector plate is connected to the legacy chassis. The filler device can be a block-shaped filler device and include air vent openings at least partially complementary and adjacent to cooling areas on the electronic module. Attachment devices such as screws can rigidly attach the filler device to the electronic module. 
     One example configuration of the system includes a blank connector on the front side of the dual connector plate and adjacent the opening. The blank connector is opposite the first chassis connector that is on the back side of the dual connector plate. The blank connector can be shaped to provide physical support to an electronic module the does not require an electrical connection to the blank connector. 
     Another configuration of the preferred embodiment is a method of connecting an electronic module to a legacy chassis. The method connects a connector in the electronic module to an electronic module connector on a connector plate. The method connects a first chassis connector on the connector plate to a first connector on the legacy chassis and a second chassis connector on the connector plate to a second connector on the legacy chassis. At least one signal is routed from the electronic module connector to the first chassis connector and at least one signal is routed from the electronic module connector to the second chassis connector. At least one signal routed to the second chassis connector is different than at least one signal routed to the first chassis connector. For example, radio transmission related signals can be routed from the electronic module connector to the first chassis connector and radio reception related signals can be routed from the electronic module connector to the second chassis connector. 
     In one configuration of the method, the electronic module is positioned so that it is lined up with the first chassis connector and is behind the first chassis connector and is not lined up with the second chassis connector and is not behind the second chassis connector. The method can also attach a second electrical module to a dummy connector on the connector plate so that the second electrical module is lined up with and behind the second chassis connector and does not communicate any communication signals to the dummy connector. The dummy connector can be grounded. 
     A spacer device can be attached to the electronic module to fill an area associated with the legacy chassis not occupied by the electronic module. The electronic module can be cooled through cooling paths cut into the spacer device. 
     The method can also include removing the electronic module and the connector plate from the legacy chassis. Next, a legacy electronic module that has first and second legacy connectors can be installed in the legacy chassis by connecting the first and second legacy connectors of the legacy electronic module to the first and second chassis connectors of the legacy chassis without using the connector plate. 
     Another example method of the preferred embodiment of the method includes a method of connecting an improved electronic module to a legacy chassis. The method includes removing a legacy module from the legacy chassis. The legacy module is an older module that communicates with legacy chassis through at least two legacy module connectors on the legacy module and at least two chassis connectors on the legacy chassis. Next, a connector plate with a front side and a back side is attached to the improved electrical module that communicates to the front side of the connector plate with fewer than the at least two legacy module connectors. The method attaches the connector plate and the improved electrical module to legacy chassis so that an equal number of connectors on the back side of the connector plate communicate with an equal number of legacy chassis connectors on the legacy chassis. 
     The attaching of the connector plate and the improved electrical module further includes attaching the improved electronic module behind some of the equal number of legacy chassis connectors on the legacy chassis so that it does not occupy area behind all of the equal number of legacy chassis connectors on the legacy chassis. A passive electronic module can be attached to a dummy connector on the connector plate so that the passive electronic module is directly behind at least one chassis connector that the improved electrical module is not directly behind. The dummy connector can be grounded so that the passive electronic module does not electrically communicate with the dummy connector. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       One or more preferred embodiments that illustrate the best mode(s) are set forth in the drawings and in the following description. The appended claims particularly and distinctly point out and set forth the invention. 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate various example methods, and other example embodiments of various aspects of the invention. It will be appreciated that the illustrated element boundaries (e.g., boxes, groups of boxes, or other shapes) in the figures represent one example of the boundaries. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that in some examples one element may be designed as multiple elements or that multiple elements may be designed as one element. In some examples, an element shown as an internal component of another element may be implemented as an external component and vice versa. Furthermore, elements may not be drawn to scale. 
         FIGS. 1A and 1B  illustrate how an advanced electronic module can be connected to an advanced electronic chassis. 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B  illustrate the preferred embodiment of how an advanced electronic module be connected to a legacy electronic chassis. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an example exploded view of a dual connector plate. 
         FIGS. 4A-B  illustrate example views of two different mounting devices and  FIG. 4C  illustrates a surface of an electronic module where they could be mounted. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates another possible configuration of connecting an electronic module to a legacy chassis with a jumper connector(s). 
         FIG. 6  illustrates an embodiment of a method for connecting an electronic module to a legacy chassis. 
     
    
    
     Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1A  illustrates an electronic system  1  that illustrates how an advanced electronics module  15  can be connected to an advanced electronic chassis  3 . For example, the advanced electronics module  15  can be a transceiver that both transmits and receives wireless signals. The advanced electronics module  15  has a back end  17  and a front end  19 . The back end  17  has a single connector  21  and the front end  15  can have one or more coaxial connectors  23 .  FIG. 1B  illustrates a perspective view of the back end  17  of the advanced electronics module  15 . This view also shows how connector  21  is mounted on a mounting bracket  20  that can be attached to the back end with bolts  22 . Of course, in other embodiments, the front end  19  and the back end  17  can have other connectors and/or different types of connectors. 
     The advanced electronic chassis  3  has a front end  5  and a back end  7 . The front end  5  is illustrated with two connectors  9 ,  10  but could be illustrated with a different number and/or different types of connectors. The advanced electronics module  15  can be attached to the advanced electronic chassis  3  by sliding the advanced electronics module  15  in the direction of the arrows so that the connector  21  of the advanced electronics module  15  lines up with connector  9  of the advanced electronic chassis  3 . These units can be further pushed together so that these connectors are physically and electrically connected. For example (and as previously mentioned), the advanced electronic module  15  could be an advanced transceiver that contains both a transmitter and a receiver. The advanced electronic chassis  3  could be a modern unit that has connections for both transmitter signals and receiver signals at one connector (connector  9 ). The advanced base unit  3  may contain electronics for processing transmitted and received signal from the advanced electronic module  15 . 
     However, often the electronic chassis that the advanced electronic module  15  is to plug into may be a legacy chassis. As mentioned in the Background section, this can be because the electronic system that the advanced electronic module  15  is to plug into is a complex system developed and improved over years and decades. For example, the system may be similar to the DoD&#39;s Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) that can at any time be combination of legacy hardware/software and more advanced hardware/software. When the advanced electronic module  15  is to plug into a legacy electronic chassis, the legacy chassis will not function with the advanced electronic module  15 . This is because, for example, that the legacy base electronic device is expecting transmitter signals to be received on one connector and receive signals on a separate second connector. 
       FIGS. 2A and 2B  illustrate the preferred embodiment of an electronic system  200  that allows for connecting an advanced electronic module  15  (as discussed above with reference to  FIGS. 1A and 1B ) to a legacy electronic chassis  203 . The connector  21  of the advanced electronic module  15  of  FIGS. 1A and 1B  has been removed and an adapter plate  40  is now visible as shown best in  FIG. 2B . The adapter plate  40  has an opening  41  that provides access to an internal connector  42  of the advanced electronic module  15 . The adapter plate  40  can be designed with a variety of screw holes  44  so that a variety of connectors and connector plates can be mounted onto the adapter plate  40 . In order to allow different connector plates such as the dual connector plate  30  shown in  FIG. 2A  to be attached to the adapter plate  40 , the adapter plate  40  can be shaped with different shapes and different screw hole patterns. This ensures that when the adapter plate  40  is used with auxiliary electronic devices they can communicate with a legacy electronic chassis  203  (when used with a dual connector plate attached to the adapter plate  40 ) or can communicate with an advanced electronic chassis  3  (without using a dual connector plate attached to the adapter plate  40 ). 
     The legacy electronic chassis  203  has a front end  205  and a back end  207 . Two connectors  209 ,  210  are located on the front end  205 . This example legacy electronic chassis  203  expects receive signals on connector  209  and transmit signals on connector  210 . However, the advanced electronic module  15  supplies both transmit and receive signals on single internal connector  42  that cannot connect to both connectors  209 ,  210  of the legacy electronic chassis  203 . To overcome this problem of connecting advanced hardware to legacy hardware, a dual connector plate  30  is used. The dual connector plate  30  includes a dummy connector  32  and an opening  34  providing access to connector  36  that is mounted within the opening  34  of the dual connector plate  30 . The connector plate  30  illustrates an example plate that is used to connect an advanced electronic module  15  with one connector  21  ( FIGS. 1A and 1B ) to legacy chassis  203  that is using/expecting two connectors  209 ,  210  ( FIG. 2A ). Of course, even though the Figures illustrate a connector plate used to merge two legacy base electronic device connectors for use with a single advanced auxiliary electronic device connector, more than two legacy base electronic device connectors could be merged to one or more advanced auxiliary electronic device connectors. 
     Having introduced the dual connector plate  30  and the adapter plate  40 , it is helpful to now describe their use before describing their further details. In use, when the advanced electronic module  15  is to be connected to a legacy electronic chassis  203 , the connector  21  ( FIGS. 1A and 1B ) of the advanced electronic module  15  is first removed. Next, the dual connector plate  30  is attached to the advanced electronic module  15  with screws or in another way. Now the advanced electronic module  15  and connector plate combination can be attached to the legacy electronic chassis  203  and the dual connector plate  30  ensures compatibility between the advanced electronic module  15  and the legacy electronic chassis  203 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates additional details of the preferred embodiment of a dual connector plate  30 . The dual connector plate includes a dual connector plate bracket  50 , a printed circuit board (PCB)  52 , two external connectors  53  and  54 , a gasket  56 , a sealing ring  58  as well as the dummy connector  32  and opening  34  to connector  36  mentioned earlier. Connector  36  is mounted on the PCB  52  and one set of signals are brought from connector  36  to external connector  53  and another set of signals are brought from connector  36  to external connector  54 . As mentioned earlier, the advanced electronic module  15  may be a transceiver with both transmit and receive signals at single connector  36  and the legacy electronic chassis  203  may be expecting receive related signals at connector  210  and transmit related signals at connector  209 . In this example situation, the PCB  52  would be configured to bring the receive related signals from connector  36  out to connector  54  and the transmit related signals out to connector  53 . 
     When an advanced electronic module  15  is attached to the dual connector device  30  and plugged into the two connectors  209 ,  210  of the legacy chassis  203 , there is an unoccupied space behind the dummy connector  32  and beside the advanced electronic module  15 . However, some devices such as a power amplifier (PA) do not need electrically connected to the legacy chassis  203  and therefore can be physically connected to the dummy connector  32  and occupy this unused space. 
     The gasket  56  is mounted between connectors  53 ,  54  and the PCB  52 . The PCB  52  is mounted between the gasket  56  and the dual connector plate bracket  50 . The sealing ring  58  can be located between the gasket  56  and the dual connector plate bracket  50 . The PCB  52  can be attached to the gasket  56  using screws  60  and the connectors  53 ,  54  and gasket can be attached to the dual connector plate bracket using other screws  62 . The sealing ring  58  can be located between the gasket  56  and can create a dual connector plate  30  that when assembled is waterproof and airtight. For example, this may allow the dual connector plate to operate in a military tactical environment that include altitudes up to 15,000-ft, operating temperatures −40° C. to +55° C., storage temperatures of −55° C. to +71° C., driving rain and dust storms, corrosive environments such as salt-sea atmospheres, and withstand indirect shock. 
     Sometimes an advanced electronic module  15  is to replace an older electronic module that was taller than the newer electronic module  15 . In this case, there may be free space below the electronic module  15  after it is plugged into the legacy electronic chassis  203 . To alleviate this problem, another configuration of the preferred embodiment uses an adaptive mounting device  70  as shown in  FIG. 4A . This adaptive mounting device  70  is mounted onto the bottom side  68  of the advanced electronic module  15 . For example, screws can be inserted through holes  74  and screwed into screw holes  69  on the bottom side of the adaptive mounting device  70 . A lock tab  71  in combination with a thumb screw can be used to quickly fasten the electronic module  15  to the legacy electronic chassis  203 . Air vents  76  can be formed in the adaptive mounting device  70  to ensure the electronic module  15  is still cooled. The adaptive mounting device  70  of  FIG. 4A  is used to fill about a half inch extra space below the electronic module  15 .  FIG. 4C  illustrates an adaptive mounting device  80  that could be used to fill about four inch extra space below the electronic module  15 . The device has a flange  82 , screw holes  83  and vents similar to adapted mounting device  70 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates an example system  400  of connecting a newer electronic module with a legacy chassis. The system includes a jumper cable, UPA guide pins and a float connector among other items. This figure is not discussed in any further detail. 
     Example methods may be better appreciated with reference to flow diagrams. While for purposes of simplicity of explanation, the illustrated methodologies are shown and described as a series of blocks, it is to be appreciated that the methodologies are not limited by the order of the blocks, as some blocks can occur in different orders and/or concurrently with other blocks from that shown and described. Moreover, less than all the illustrated blocks may be required to implement an example methodology. Blocks may be combined or separated into multiple components. Furthermore, additional and/or alternative methodologies can employ additional, not illustrated blocks. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates the preferred embodiment as a method  600  of connecting an improved electronic module to a legacy chassis. The method  500  includes removing a legacy module from the legacy chassis, at  602 . The legacy module is an older module that communicates with legacy chassis through at least two legacy module connectors on the legacy module and at least two chassis connectors on the legacy chassis. A connector plate with a front side and a back side is attached, at  604  to the improved electrical module that communicates to the front side of the connector plate with fewer than the at least two legacy module connectors. The method  600  attaches the connector plate and the improved electrical module to legacy chassis,  606 , so that an equal a number of connectors on the back side of the connector plate communicate with an equal number of legacy chassis connectors on the legacy chassis. 
     The attaching the connector plate and the improved electrical module can further include attaching the improved electronic module behind some of the legacy chassis connectors on the legacy chassis so that it does not occupy area behind all of the legacy chassis connectors that the connector plate connects to on the legacy chassis. A passive electronic module such as a power amplifier (PA) can also be attached to a dummy connector on the connector plate so that the passive electronic module is directly behind at least one chassis connector that the improved electrical module is not directly behind. The dummy connector can be grounded so that the PA does not electrically communicate with the dummy connector. 
     In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed. Therefore, the invention is not limited to the specific details, the representative embodiments, and illustrative examples shown and described. Thus, this application is intended to embrace alterations, modifications, and variations that fall within the scope of the appended claims. 
     Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is an example and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described. References to “the preferred embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “one example”, “an example”, and so on, indicate that the embodiment(s) or example(s) so described may include a particular feature, structure, characteristic, property, element, or limitation, but that not every embodiment or example necessarily includes that particular feature, structure, characteristic, property, element or limitation. Furthermore, repeated use of the phrase “in the preferred embodiment” does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, though it may.