Abstract:
A reconfigurable patch panel and a method of reconfiguring a patch panel comprising a support member supporting at least one adapter, where the at least one adapter comprises a plurality of ports for coupling to electric signal bearing cables. A pivot, associated with each of the at least one adapters, couples the at least one adapter to the support member. The at least one adapter selectively rotates about the pivot to a selected position relative to the support member. A retainer, associated with each of the at least one adapters, couples the support member to the at least one adapter and retains the at least one adapter in the selected position.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to patch panels for use with electronic equipment and, more particularly, to a patch panel that may be reconfigured from one position to another to, for example, accommodate particular space and/or cabling constraints. 
         [0003]    2. Background of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Communications and computer systems commonly include spatially separate electronic equipment that may be interconnected using one or more cables (“inter-equipment cables”). In general, each inter-equipment cable is terminated to the equipment via a patch panel. 
         [0005]    The patch panel may include a physical interface that allows signals to be exchanged among the electronic equipment and the inter-equipment cables. This physical interface generally includes two sets of ports, namely, first and second sets of ports. The first set of ports is adapted, configured, operated, or otherwise constructed (collectively “adapted”) to terminate the inter-equipment cables, and the second set of ports is adapted to terminate one or more cables interconnecting the communications equipment and the patch panel (“intra-equipment cables”). In addition to the ports, the patch panel includes a number of electrical interconnects (e.g., wires, traces, etc.) that are adapted to appropriately interconnect the first and second sets of ports. In a typical patch panel used for data communication, the ports are female RJ-45 connectors, the intra-equipment cables are CAT-5 cables terminated with male RJ-45 connectors. Using a patch panel, the signals exchanged among the electronic equipment and the inter-equipment cables pass between the first set of ports, the electrical interconnects, the second set of ports, and the intra-equipment cables. The interconnections amongst equipment can be reconfigured as needed through rearrangement of the intra-equipment cabling. 
         [0006]    In some environments, sets of the electronic equipment (e.g., communications equipment, computer equipment and the like) may be arranged in respective equipment racks. Advantages of arranging the sets of electronic equipment as such include minimizing or effectively utilizing floor space occupied by such equipment, reducing lengths of the inter-equipment cables, logically collocating one or more pieces of the electronic equipment, and so on. In some instances, the racks may be positioned proximate to one another. As such, adhering to proper cable management paradigms is important for (i) efficiently routing the inter-equipment cables to minimize or effectively utilize space occupied by such cables, (ii) preventing damage or unexpected displacement of the inter-equipment cables, (iii) avoiding excessive cable bending or other external forces that may damage the inter-equipment cables and/or their associated terminations. 
         [0007]    To facilitate cable management, patch panels are fabricated in distinct configurations. One form of patch panel is planar, where all the ports are arranged in one or more rows in a single plane. Another form of patch panel may have the one or more rows of ports arranged on a pair of subpanels that are angled with respect to one another. Since these are fixed patch panel configurations, a technician must select a particular panel configuration when designing the cabling system. If a different configuration is needed at a later time, the entire patch panel must be replaced. 
         [0008]    Therefore, there is a need in the art for a patch panel that may be reconfigured from one position to another to, for example, accommodate particular space and/or cabling constraints, and/or adhere to proper cable management paradigms. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    So the manner in which the above recited features are attained and can be understood in detail, a more detailed description is described below with reference to Figures illustrated in the appended drawings. 
           [0010]    The Figures in the appended drawings, like the detailed description, describe examples and embodiments of the invention. As such, the Figures and the detailed description are not to be considered limiting, and other equally effective examples are possible and likely. Furthermore, like reference numerals in the Figures indicate like elements, and wherein: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of a patch panel in a non-extended state in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 1B  is a perspective view of a patch panel in an extended state in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 1C  is a dissembled view of the patch panel of  FIGS. 1A and 1B ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 1D  is a back view of the patch panel in the non-extended state of  FIG. 1A ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 1E  is a back view of the patch panel in the extended state of  FIG. 1B ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of a patch panel in a non-extended state in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2B  is a perspective view of a patch panel in an extended state in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2C  is a dissembled view of the patch panel of  FIGS. 2A and 2B ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 2D  is a back view of the patch panel in the non-extended state of  FIG. 2A ; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 2E  is a back view of the patch panel in the extended state of  FIG. 2B . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS 
     Overview 
       [0021]    Embodiments of the invention include a reconfigurable patch panel comprising a support member supporting at least one adapter, where the at least one adapter comprises a plurality of ports for coupling to electric signal bearing cables. A pivot, associated with each of the at least one adapters, couples the at least one adapter to the support member. The at least one adapter selectively rotates about the pivot to a selected position relative to the support member. A retainer, associated with each of the at least one adapters, couples the support member to the at least one adapter and retains the at least one adapter in the selected position. 
         [0022]    Another embodiment of the invention includes a method of reconfiguring a patch panel comprising releasing a retainer coupling an adapter to a support member and retaining the adapter in a first position with respect to the support member, where the adapter comprises a plurality of ports for coupling to electric signal bearing cables; pivoting the adapter about a pivot with respect to the support member into a second position; and reengaging the retainer to retain the adapter in the second position. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0023]      FIGS. 1A ,  1 B and  1 C depict a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention in two operational configuration states as well as a dissembled state. Specifically,  FIG. 1A  is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of the patch panel in a non-extended state.  FIG. 1B  is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of the patch panel in an extended state.  FIG. 1C  is a disassembled view of an embodiment of the patch panel of  FIGS. 1A and 1B . 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIGS. 1A-1C , the patch panel  100  is typically used with electronic equipment such as one or more line cards, data storage devices, data routing devices, computers and the like. The patch panel of the present invention electrically operates to provide connectivity between ports in the same manner as a conventional patch panel. The patch panel  100  comprises a support member  110  (e.g., a frame) and an adapter  116  pivoting with respect to the support member  110  about a pivot point, for example, pivot  112 . The adapter  116  provides an electrical interface  118  between the communications equipment and signals carried by one or more electrical cables  119 . More specifically, the electrical interface  118  may comprise one or more ports  120  adapted to accept at least one modular jack  115  having at least one electrical contact  117 . In the depicted embodiment, the modular jack  115  is shown as an RJ45 connector provided with eight pin contacts  117  while the one or more ports  120  can be a corresponding RJ45 socket to accept the RJ45 jack  115 . Of course, any form of jack (male connector) and socket (female connector) may be used. In other embodiments of the invention, the specific electrical port type can be of any type or a combination of types. 
         [0025]    Furthermore, the electrical interface  118  also comprises one or more electrical interconnects  130  in the adapter  116  for communicatively coupling the electrical contacts  117  to the electronic equipment. The one or more electrical interconnects  130  can be formed in accordance with a standardized electrical interface to provide an electrical path between the modular jack  115  of the one or more electrical cables  119  and a termination on the backside of the adapter  116  (e.g., MRJ21).  FIG. 1D  further shows a back view of the patch panel  100  in the non-extended state of  FIG. 1A .  FIG. 1E  further shows a back view of the exemplary patch panel in the extended state of  FIG. 1B . Referring to  FIGS. 1A-1E , specifically, the aforementioned electrical interconnect  130  may include pins  132  in the socket  120 , pins  134  on the backside of the adapter  116 , and wires or traces (not shown, but well known in the art) in the adapter  116  for electrically connecting the pins  132  in the socket  120  to the pins  134  on the backside of the adapter  116 . 
         [0026]    The support member  110  has at least one pivot  112  and at least one retainer  114 . The support member  110  supports the adapter  116  in a rectangular opening  199 . The support member  110  may be a portion of an equipment rack, a component that is installed in an equipment rack, or a stand-alone structure. Herein,  FIGS. 1A-1C  show an embodiment having the support member  110  with one pivot  112  and one retainer  114  coupled to one adapter  116 . The adapter  116  pivots about the pivot  112  while being retained in the support member  110  in either the configuration states of  FIG. 1A  or  FIG. 1B . The retainer  114  is utilized to selectively retain the adapter  116  in a particular configuration state. In one embodiment, the retainer  114  is adapted to releasably fix the adapter  116  in at least one position (a configuration state). 
         [0027]    According to the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1A-1C , the retainer  114  comprises a through hole  121  located in the support member  110 , a first fastener portion  194  (e.g., a screw) and a second fastener portion  122  (e.g., a screw hole). In the depicted embodiment, the fastener portion  122  comprises two screw holes  122   a  and  122   b  located in the adapter  116 . Furthermore, a screw  192  forms the pivot  112  coupling the support member  110  to the adapter  116 . Alternatively, a spring-loaded ball or pin coupled to a detent or hole may form the pivot  112 , the retainer  114  or both. 
         [0028]    The adapter  116  has a top plan form that enables the adapter to be pivoted with respect to the support member  110 . In the depicted embodiment of  FIGS. 1A-1C , the adapter  116  has shape resembling a rectangular with two corners (the back corners) removed. For operation, only one corner, the corner distal from the pivot, need be removed to provide clearance between the adapter  116  and the support member  110 . In this manner, the adapter  116  can freely pivot without impacting the support member  110 . Having a “corner-clipped” rectangular top plan form is only one way of providing clearance. In other embodiments, the support member may have an open side, the adapter may have rounded corners, and the like. It is contemplated that any design that accommodates pivoting the adapter with respect to the support member is within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0029]    In  FIG. 1A , the adapter  116  is located in a first position by forming the fastener using a first fastener portion  194  (e.g., a screw) coupled to second fastener portion  122   a  (e.g., a threaded hole). This combination places the patch panel  100  in the non-extended state with respect to the support member  110  (i.e., a plane formed by a front  195  of the adapter  116  is substantially coplanar with a front edge  197  of the support member  110 ). To reconfigure the patch panel  100  from the non-extended state of  FIG. 1A  to the extended state of  FIG. 1B , the fastener  192  is loosened to form the pivot  112  while first fastener portion  194  is removed. Then, the adapter  116  can be rotated from the first position ( FIG. 1A ) to a second position ( FIG. 1B ) about the pivot  112 . The fastener  192  is then fastened, and the removed first fastener portion  194  is replaced using the second fastener portion  122   b  to fix the adapter  116  to the support member  110 . With this combination, the patch panel  100  is in the extended state of  FIG. 1B  (i.e., the plane of the front  195  of the adapter  116  is angled with respect to the front of the support member  110 ). Reverse steps can be further performed for reconfigure the patch panel  100  from the extended state of  FIG. 1B  back to the non-extended state of  FIG. 1A . 
         [0030]    Moreover, the support member  110  may further comprise at least one other retainer  124 . The at least one other retainer  124  provides the same function as the retainer  114 , to releasably fix the adapter  116  in at least one position (e.g., the first and second positions) while converting the patch panel  100  from the non-extended state of  FIG. 1A  to the extended state of  FIG. 1B . 
         [0031]    However, it is noted that the retainer  114 , the at least one other retainer  124 , or the at least one corresponding fastener portion  122  may be any mechanism for releasably affixing (e.g., latching) the adapter  116  to the support member  110 , whether in the non-extended state or in the extended state. The mechanism used to implement the retainer does not have to be a screw and a corresponding screw hole. Instead, the retaining mechanism can be a spring-loaded element (e.g., a pin or ball) coupled to an element receptor (e.g., a hole or detent). In other words, the retainer can also include two portions, where the first portion is, for example, a spring loaded element in the adapter  116  (or the support member  110 ), and the second portion can be an element receptor in the support member  110  (or the adapter  116 ). Alternatively, the first portion may be a tapped hole in the adapter  116 , and the second portion may be the hole in the support member  110 , wherein each of the first and second portions includes respective parts of the screw as being assembled. 
         [0032]    Furthermore, the retaining mechanism can also be any combination of mechanisms for releasably affixing the adapter  116  to the support member  110 , whether in the non-extended state or in the extended state. The retaining mechanism may include, for example, first and second retaining mechanisms. Each of the first and second retaining mechanisms may be any of the mechanisms mentioned above. 
         [0033]    The foregoing embodiment of the invention shows a patch panel  100  provided with an adapter pivoted on a support member; however, the number of adapters within the reconfigurable patch panel of the present invention is not limited to a single adapter. Another embodiment of the reconfigurable patch panel having more than one adapter is described with respect to  FIGS. 2A-2E  and the accompanying description. Specifically,  FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a reconfigurable patch panel in a non-extended state.  FIG. 2B  is a perspective view of the embodiment of the reconfigurable patch panel of  FIG. 2A  in an extended state.  FIG. 2C  is a disassembled view of the alternative embodiment of the reconfigurable patch panel of  FIGS. 2A and 2B . 
         [0034]    Referring to  FIGS. 2A-2C , a reconfigurable patch panel  200  is used with communications and/or computer equipment in the same manner as discussed above . . . . The patch panel  200  comprises a support member  210  (e.g., a frame), a first adapter  216  and a second adapter  217 . The support member  210  has a first pivot  212 , a second pivot  213 , a first retainer  214  and a second retainer  215 . The first adapter  216  provides a first electrical interface  218  between the electronic equipment and at least one first signal carried by a first electrical cable  242 . More specifically, the first electrical interface  218  may comprise one or more first ports  220  adapted to accept at least one first modular jack  244  having at least one first electrical contact  246 . In the depicted embodiment, the first modular jack  244  is shown as an RJ45 connector provided with eight pin contacts  246  while the one or more first ports  220  can be a corresponding RJ45 socket to accept the RJ45 jack  244 . Of course, any form of jack (male connector) and socket (female connectors) may be used. In other embodiments of the invention, the specific electrical port type can be of any type or a combination of types 
         [0035]    Furthermore, the first electrical interface  218  may further comprise one or more first electrical interconnects  230  in the first adapter portion  216  for communicatively coupling the first electrical contacts  246  to the electronic equipment. The first electrical interface  218  can be formed in accordance with a standardized electrical interface to provide an electrical path between the first modular jack  244  of the first electrical cable  242  and a termination on the backside of the first adapter portion  216  (e.g., MRJ21).  FIG. 2D  further shows a back view of the patch panel  200  in the non-extended state of  FIG. 2A .  FIG. 2E  further shows a back view of the exemplary patch panel in the extended state of  FIG. 2B . Referring to  FIGS. 2A-2E , the aforementioned first electrical interconnect  230  may include pins  232  in the socket  220 , pins  234  on the backside of the first adapter portion  216 , and wires or traces (not shown, but well known in the art) in the first adapter portion  216  for electrically connecting the pins  232  in the socket  220  to the pins  234  on the backside of the first adapter portion  216 . 
         [0036]    The second adapter portion  217  is adapted to provide a second electrical interface  219  between the communications equipment and at least one first signal carried by a second electrical cable  252 . More specifically, the second electrical interface  219  may comprise one or more second ports  221  adapted to accept at least one second modular jack  254  having at least one second electrical contact  256 . Herein, the second modular jack  254  is shown as an RJ45 connector provided with eight pin contacts  256  while the one or more second ports  221  can be a corresponding RJ45 socket to accept the RJ45 jack  254 . Of course, any form of jack (male connector) and socket (female connectors) may be used. In other embodiments of the invention, the specific electrical port type can be of any type or a combination of types. 
         [0037]    Furthermore, the second electrical interface  219  may further comprise one or more second electrical interconnects  260  in the second adapter portion  217  for communicatively coupling the second electrical contacts  256  to the electronic equipment. The second electrical interface  219  can be formed in accordance with a standardized electrical interface to provide an electrical path between the first modular jack  254  of the second electrical cable  252  and a termination on the backside of the second adapter portion  217  (e.g., MRJ21). Referring to  FIGS. 2A-2E , the aforementioned second electrical interconnect  260  may include the pins  262  in the socket  220 , the pins  264  on the backside of the first adapter portion  216 , and the wires or traces (not shown, but well known in the art) in the first adapter portion  216  for electrically connecting the pins  262  in the socket  220  to the pins  264  on the backside of the first adapter portion  216 . 
         [0038]    The support member  210  of this embodiment has two pivots  212  and  213  and two retainers  214  and  215  for being respectively coupled with the adapters  216  and  217 . The support member  210  supports the adapters  216  and  217  in a rectangular opening  299 . The support member  210  may be a portion of an equipment rack, a component that is installed in an equipment rack, or a stand-alone structure. The first and second adapters  216  and  217  pivot about the first and second pivots  212  and  213  while being retained to the support member  210  by the first and second retainers  214  and  215 , respectively. Each retainer  214  and  215  comprises a first fastener portion  272 / 273  (e.g., a screw), a second fastener portion  222 / 223  (e.g., a threaded hole), and a through hole  292 / 293 . The retainers  214  and  215 , releasably fix (e.g., latch) the first and second adapter portions  216 ,  217  in any of the first and second positions (i.e., extended or non-extended). 
         [0039]    To reconfigure the patch panel, the retainers  214  and  215  are disengaged from the adapters  216  and  217 , the adapters  216  and  217  are pivoted to a new position, and the retainers  214  and  215  are reengaged with the adapters  214  and  215 . More specifically, in  FIG. 2A , the adapters  216  and  217  are located in a first position by forming the fastener using a first fastener portion  272 ,  273  (e.g., screws) coupled to second fastener portion  222 ,  223  (e.g., threaded holes). This combination places the patch panel  200  in the non-extended state with respect to the support member  210  (i.e., a plane formed by each respective front  295  and  296  of the adapters  216  and  217  is substantially coplanar with a front edge  297  of the support member  210 ). To reconfigure the patch panel  200  from the non-extended state of  FIG. 2A  to the extended state of  FIG. 2B , the fasteners  292  and  293  are loosened to form the pivot while first fastener portions  272 ,  273  are removed or otherwise disengaged. Then, the adapters  216  and  217  can be rotated from the first position ( FIG. 2A ) to a second position ( FIG. 2B ) about the respective pivots  212  and  213 . The fasteners  292  and  293  are then fastened, and the removed first fastener portions  272  and  273  are replaced using the second fastener portions  274  and  275  to fix the adapters  216  and  217  to the support member  210 . With this combination, the patch panel  200  is in the extended state of  FIG. 2B  (i.e., the planes of the respective fronts  295  and  296  of the adapters  216  and  217  are angled with respect to the front of the support member  110  and forming an obtuse angle with respect to each of the fronts of the adapters  216  and  217 ). Reverse steps can be further performed for reconfigure the patch panel  200  from the extended state of  FIG. 2B  back to the non-extended state of  FIG. 2A . 
         [0040]    As with the embodiment of  FIGS. 1A-1C , the adapters  216  and  217  have a top plan form that facilitates rotation of the adapters  216  and  217  about their respective pivots  212  and  213  with respect to the support member  210  without the adapters  216  and  217  interfering with rotation of each other. The various embodiments available to facilitate rotation of the adapter of the embodiment of  FIGS. 1A-1C  are applicable to the embodiment of  FIGS. 2A-2C . 
         [0041]    The support member  210  may further comprise at least one first other retainer  224  and at least one second other retainer  225  respectively corresponding to the first adapter  216  and the second adapter  217 , to provide the same function as the first retainer  214  and the second retainer  215 , to releasably fix the first adapter  216  and the second adapter  217  in at least one position (e.g., the first and second positions) while converting the patch panel  200  from the non-extended state of  FIG. 2A  to the extended state of  FIG. 2B . 
         [0042]    Furthermore, the retainers  214 ,  215  or the other retainers  224 ,  225  may be any mechanism as mentioned in the above embodiment for releasably affixing (e.g., latching) the adapters  216 ,  217  to the support member  110 , whether in the non-extended state or in the extended state. The retaining mechanism does not have to be screws and corresponding threaded holes as shown in  FIG. 2C . Instead, the retaining mechanism can be a combination of a spring-loaded element (e.g., pin or ball) in the adapters  216 ,  217  (or the support member  210 ), and an element receptor (e.g., a hole or detent) in the support member  210  (or the adapters  216 ,  217 ). Alternatively, the first fastener portion may be a tapped hole in the adapters  216 ,  217 , and the second fastener portion may be the hole in the support member  210 , wherein each of the first and second portions includes respective parts of the screws as being assembled. 
         [0043]    Moreover, the retaining mechanism can also be any combination of mechanisms for releasably affixing the adapters  216 ,  217  to the support member  210 , whether in the non-extended state or in the extended state. The retaining mechanism may include, for example, first and second retaining mechanisms. Each of the first and second retaining mechanisms may be any of the mechanisms mentioned above. 
         [0044]    Referring to  FIG. 2B , when in the extended state, the patch panel  200  may further include a filler plate  280  adapted to fill a gap  281  that is defined between the first and second adapters  216 ,  217  when the first and second adapters  216 ,  217  are in the second position (i.e., extended). The filler plate  280  is positioned over a top of the gap  281  and be affixed by fasteners to the adapters  216  and  217  or to the support member  210 . The filler plate  280  may alternatively extend over the front and/or bottom of the gap  281  between the adapters  216  and  217 . 
         [0045]    Although the embodiments depicted and described herein include a single adapter and a double adapter configuration, any number of adapters may be positioned in a support member and arranged either horizontally or stacked vertically to form rows and columns of adapters. Such a plurality of adapters may be arranged in a single support member or a plurality of support members. Furthermore, it is envisioned that a stack of adapters within a support member may have a pivot and/or retainer(s) positioned between some of the adapters within the stack (e.g., a spring-loaded element may be placed on a first adapter and an associated element receptor placed on a second adapter that is stacked proximate the first adapter having the spring-loaded element). 
         [0046]    Accordingly, a reconfigurable patch panel for use with electronic equipment and capable of being reconfigured from one position to another to accommodate particular space and/or cabling constraints is defined above by various embodiments of the present invention. Through the use of the reconfigurable patch panel, floor space of equipment racks can be minimized or effectively utilized, lengths of the inter-equipment cables connecting between communications equipment can be reduced, and one or more pieces of the electronic equipment can be logically collocated. 
         [0047]    Furthermore, in the case of proximately positioning the racks to one another, proper cable management paradigms can be achieved by using the patch panel of the present invention for (i) efficiently routing the inter-equipment cables to minimize or effectively utilize space occupied by such cables, (ii) preventing damage or unexpected displacement of the inter-equipment cables, (iii) avoiding excessive cable bending or other external forces that may damage the inter-equipment cables and/or their associated terminations. 
         [0048]    While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the present invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, and the scope thereof is determined by the claims that follow.