Abstract:
An electronics system is implemented within a compact enclosure comprising two or more hinged layers. The functionality corresponding to a shelf of a conventional cabinet resides in a corresponding layer. Backplanes are eliminated, each layer having contact surfaces that mate with matching surfaces of adjacent layers when the layers are rotated about their hinges into the closed configuration. Additional interconnection may be made through cabling housed within a special channel or compartment. Each layer may include cooling fans, which are smaller than conventional counterparts (due to shorter convection paths). Expansion may be effectuated by mating additional units of similar conformation in a modular fashion. Optionally, the functionality corresponding to a given layer may be implemented in circuitry integrated onto a single board to reduce cabling and facilitate replacement and repair. Additional functional layers may be stacked along the depth direction as well as the height or width direction.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to the field of electronics system enclosures such as, for example, telecommunications base station cabinets, and more particularly to a compact functionally layered implementation for such systems. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Existing designs for electronics system enclosures such as telecommunications base station cabinets typically consist of a single cabinet that contains RF (Radio Frequency) and digital components stacked vertically on top of each other to provide easy front access to them all. The back sides of many of these components are connected to either a cabling harness or a PWB (Printed Wiring Board) backplane. Such a layout necessarily requires a bulky cabinet to accommodate all of these components and their connecting cables. Furthermore, all components are fixed because moveable components would require that their connections between one another be flexible—it is difficult to achieve a flexible connection that does not fatigue and break with time. Furthermore, moving parts are susceptible of getting entangled or “guillotined” by other fixed components. Moreover, when such a prior art cabinet is opened, all components are fully exposed. This is a problem since components that are not being worked on could easily get inadvertently damaged. It would be advantageous to have a new design that eliminates the above-described limitations of prior art enclosures. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    In accordance with the principles of the present invention, an electronics system, which may, for example, comprise a telecommunications base station cabinet is implemented within a compact enclosure comprising two or more hinged layers. In accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the invention, the functionality corresponding to a shelf of a conventional cabinet advantageously resides in a corresponding layer. Some backplanes may be advantageously eliminated in certain embodiments, each layer of the illustrative embodiment of the invention having contact surfaces that mate with matching surfaces of adjacent layers when the layers are rotated about their hinges into the closed configuration. Additional interconnection may be made, in accordance with certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, through cabling housed within a special channel or compartment. 
         [0004]    In accordance with certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, each layer may include cooling fans, which may be advantageously smaller than their conventional counterparts (due to shorter convection paths). Expansion of an electronic system in accordance with the illustrative embodiments of the present invention may be advantageously effectuated by mating additional units of similar conformation in a modular fashion. Optionally, in accordance with certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, the functionality corresponding to a given layer may be implemented in circuitry integrated onto a single board to reduce cabling and to facilitate replacement and repair. Additional functional layers may, in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the invention, be stacked along the depth direction as well as along the height or the width direction. 
         [0005]    In particular, and in accordance with various illustrative embodiments of the present invention, a compact functionally layered electronics system enclosure is thereby provided which advantageously: 
         [0006]    (i) utilizes existing RF and digital components; 
         [0007]    (ii) exposes only those components that are being worked on while keeping all other components hidden or protected; 
         [0008]    (iii) minimizes the size of the cabinet, resulting in a more compact, light weight, and easy to install unit; 
         [0009]    (iv) improves the RF performance; provides front access to all components; 
         [0010]    (v) eliminates the need for some backplanes; and 
         [0011]    (vi) improves the heat dissipation of components. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  shows a front view of a prior art telecommunications base station electronics system. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  shows a side view of a prior art telecommunications base station electronics system. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  shows a top view of a compact functionally layered telecommunications base station electronics system in accordance with a first illustrative embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  shows a side view of a compact functionally layered telecommunications base station electronics system in accordance with the first illustrative embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  shows a top view of a compact functionally layered telecommunications base station electronics system in accordance with the first illustrative embodiment of the present invention, wherein individually hinged layers thereof have been opened for servicing. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  shows a top view of a compact functionally layered telecommunications base station electronics system in accordance with a second illustrative embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  shows a top view of a compact functionally layered telecommunications base station electronics system in accordance with the second illustrative embodiment of the present invention, wherein individually hinged layers thereof have been opened for servicing in a first open configuration thereof. 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  shows a top view of a compact functionally layered telecommunications base station electronics system in accordance with the second illustrative embodiment of the present invention, wherein individually hinged layers thereof have been opened for servicing in a second open configuration thereof. 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  shows a top view of a compact functionally layered telecommunications base station electronics system in accordance with a third illustrative embodiment of the present invention, wherein a first individually hinged layer thereof has been opened for servicing. 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  shows a top view of a compact functionally layered telecommunications base station electronics system in accordance with the third illustrative embodiment of the present invention, wherein each of the individually hinged layers thereof have been opened for servicing. 
           [0022]      FIG. 11  shows a top view of a compact functionally layered telecommunications base station electronics system in accordance with a fourth illustrative embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 12  shows a side view of a compact functionally layered telecommunications base station electronics system in accordance with a fifth illustrative embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 13  shows a front view of a compact functionally layered telecommunications base station electronics system in accordance with the fifth illustrative embodiment of the present invention, wherein the front cover has been removed. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0025]      FIG. 1  shows a front view of a prior art telecommunications base station electronics system. The prior art system consists of a number of component sections (i.e., shelves), and comprises antennae  11  (two are shown), filters  12 , amplifiers  14 , radios  16  and channel cards  18 , fan tray  13  (positioned between the shelf comprising filters  12  and the shelf comprising amplifiers  14 ), and fan tray  15  (positioned between the shelf comprising amplifiers  14  and the shelf comprising radios  16  and channel cards  18 ). The typical prior art provides the various component sections (ie., shelves) stacked on top of each other in order to provide easy access to all of the components from the “front” of the cabinet. As is typical, the back sides of many of these components may be connected to either a cabling harness or a PWB (Printed Wiring Board) backplane. (Note that the lower shelf comprising both radios  16  and channel cards  18 , which advantageously operate together to send and receive signals.) 
         [0026]      FIG. 2  shows a side view of the prior art telecommunications base station electronics system of  FIG. 1 . In addition to the components shown in  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2  shows back-plane  17  to which the back sides of many of the components are connected. (Note that back-plane  17  may alternatively comprise a wiring harness.) Note also that the prior art telecommunications base station electronics system of  FIGS. 1 and 2  may be installed in a permanent location with the “back” of the system (i.e., the right side of the side view shown in  FIG. 2 ) affixed to a wall, since all components may be accessed from the “front” of the cabinet (i.e., the left side of the side view shown in  FIG. 2 ). 
         [0027]      FIG. 3  shows a top view of a compact functionally layered telecommunications base station electronics system in accordance with a first illustrative embodiment of the present invention. The illustrative base station of  FIG. 3  advantageously comprises a plurality of hinged layers (i.e., shelves) which may be opened to provide access to otherwise inaccessible layers. (See  FIG. 5  and the discussion thereof below.) In particular, the illustrative base station of  FIG. 3  comprises (two) antennae  31 , filters  32 , amplifiers  34 , radios  36 , channel cards  30 , back-plane  37  and front-cover  40 , as well as hinge  38 , U-shaped cable  35  and hinge  39 . U-shaped cable (i.e., wiring harness)  35  advantageously provides necessary electrical connections between back-plane  37  and amplifiers  34 , radios  36 , and channel cards  30 . 
         [0028]    The illustrative base station of  FIG. 3  specifically comprises  3  individual layers plus front cover  40 , each of which may advantageously be individually accessed with use of hinge  38  and/or hinge  39 . One such layer comprises antenna  31  and filters  32  (along with back-plane  37 ); a second such layer comprises amplifiers  34 ; and a third such layer comprises radios  36  and channel cards  30 . (Note again that radios  36  and channel cards  30  advantageously operate together to send and receive signals.) Hinge  38  may be advantageously operated to provide access to filters  31  as well as to amplifiers  34 , while hinge  39  may be advantageously operated to provide access to radios  36  and channel cards  30  (by opening front cover  40 ). Note that the illustrative base station of  FIG. 3  may be installed in a permanent physical location with the “back” of the system (i.e., the right side of the top view of the illustrative base station shown in  FIG. 3 ) affixed to a wall. 
         [0029]    In accordance with certain illustrative embodiments of the present invention, the layers may comprise electrical contacts surfaces that mate with matching surfaces of adjacent layers and thereby result in an electrical connection therebetween when the layers are rotated about their hinges into the closed configuration (and which thereby electrically disconnect from each other when the layers are rotated about their hinges into an opened configuration). In addition, each layer may be advantageously outfitted with cooling fans (not shown in the figures), which may be smaller than their conventional counterparts due to shorter convection paths. 
         [0030]      FIG. 4  shows a side view of the illustrative compact functionally layered telecommunications base station electronics system of  FIG. 3  in accordance with the first illustrative embodiment of the present invention. Most (but not all) of the components shown in the top view of  FIG. 3  are also shown in the side view of  FIG. 4 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 5  shows a top view of the compact functionally layered telecommunications base station electronics system of  FIG. 3  in accordance with the first illustrative embodiment of the present invention, wherein individually hinged layers thereof have been opened for servicing. In particular,  FIG. 5  shows both hinge  38  and hinge  39  in an “opened” position, thereby permitting access to the components in each of the individual layers of the illustrative base station. Note that  FIG. 5  is shown in a similar physical orientation to that shown in  FIG. 3 , wherein the first layer (i.e., the layer comprising filters  32 , antennae  31  and back-plane  37 ) may be affixed to a wall along its right edge. As such, the pair of layers comprising (a) amplifiers  34  and (b) radios  36  and channel cards  30 , are shown “swung” out from the first layer (via the operation of hinge  38 ), and front cover  40  is shown “swung” out from the layer comprising radios  36  and channel cards  30  (via the operation of hinge  39 ). Finally, note that U-shaped cable (i.e., wiring harness)  35  advantageously flexes along with the operation of hinge  38 . 
         [0032]    In accordance with certain illustrative embodiments of the present invention, hinges may advantageously include electrical contacts therein, such that power to one or more layers is turned off when a given hinge is opened (and turned back on when it is closed). In addition, the opening of a given hinge may operate a light switch such that a light is turned on upon the opening of the hinge for servicing purposes. Moreover, hinges in some illustrative embodiments may be easily disconnected (and reconnected) to enable easy upgrades (by, for example, connecting additional layers to the system). 
         [0033]      FIG. 6  shows a top view of a compact functionally layered telecommunications base station electronics system in accordance with a second illustrative embodiment of the present invention. The illustrative base station of  FIG. 6  comprises an additional layer to those comprised in the illustrative base station of  FIGS. 3-5 . In particular, the illustrative base station of  FIG. 6  comprises splicing chamber  60  which may be affixed to a wall along its right edge (as shown) when the illustrative base station of  FIG. 6  is to be installed in a permanent physical location. Splicing chamber  60  advantageously comprises a plurality of cable runs  61  for use in running electrical cables vertically through the (back portion of the) base station. In one illustrative embodiment of the present invention, multiple cabinets in accordance with the principles of the present invention may be stacked vertically, in which case cable runs  61  may be advantageously used for electrical cables interconnecting the vertically stacked units. The illustrative base station of  FIG. 6  also includes hinge  62  for providing a hinged connection between splicing chamber  60  and the remaining layers of the base station—in particular, a hinged connection to the layer comprising filters  32 , antennae  31  and back-plane  37 —to allow access to splicing chamber  61 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 7  shows a top view of the compact functionally layered telecommunications base station electronics system of  FIG. 6  in accordance with the second illustrative embodiment of the present invention, wherein individually hinged layers thereof have been opened for servicing in a first open configuration thereof.  FIG. 7  is shown in a similar physical orientation to that shown in  FIG. 6 , wherein the layer comprising splicing chamber  60  may be affixed to a wall along its right edge. In particular, as shown in  FIG. 7 , splicing chamber  60  and the remaining layers of the base station have been “swung open” via the operation of hinge  62 . 
         [0035]      FIG. 8  shows a top view of the compact functionally layered telecommunications base station electronics system of  FIG. 6  in accordance with the second illustrative embodiment of the present invention, wherein individually hinged layers thereof have been opened for servicing in a second open configuration thereof. Again,  FIG. 8  is shown in a similar physical orientation to that shown in  FIG. 6 , wherein the layer comprising splicing chamber  60  may be affixed to a wall along its right edge. In particular, as shown in  FIG. 8 , both hinge  38  and hinge  39  are shown in an “open” position, thereby permitting access to the components in each of the individual layers of the illustrative base station. As such, the pair of layers comprising (a) amplifiers  34  and (b) radios  36  and channel cards  30 , are shown “swung” out from the first layer (via the operation of hinge  38 ), and front cover  40  is shown “swung” out from the layer comprising radios  36  and channel cards  30  (via the operation of hinge  39 ). Finally, note that U-shaped cable (i.e., wiring harness)  35  advantageously flexes along with the operation of hinge  38 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 9  shows a top view of a compact functionally layered telecommunications base station electronics system in accordance with a third illustrative embodiment of the present invention, wherein a first individually hinged layer thereof has been opened for servicing. The third illustrative embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG. 9  is similar to the second illustrative embodiment of the invention as shown in  FIGS. 6-8  except that the third illustrative embodiment of  FIG. 9  comprises hinges  91 ,  93 ,  95  and  97 , along with cables (i.e., wiring harnesses)  92 ,  94  and  96 , such that each layer of the cabinet can be individually opened and accessed from both sides thereof. Note that the third illustrative embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 9  may be advantageously used with existing components since access to both the front and rear of each layer is provided. 
         [0037]      FIG. 10  shows a top view of a compact functionally layered telecommunications base station electronics system in accordance with the third illustrative embodiment of the present invention, wherein each of the individually hinged layers thereof have been opened for servicing. The compact functionally layered telecommunications base station electronics system in accordance with the third embodiment of the invention comprises the same components as are shown in  FIG. 9 . 
         [0038]      FIG. 11  shows a top view of a compact functionally layered telecommunications base station electronics system in accordance with a fourth illustrative embodiment of the present invention. In accordance with the fourth embodiment of the invention, a single integrated RF (radio frequency) module advantageously comprises filter  82 , amplifier  84 , radio  86  and channel card  88 , and advantageously provides easy access to all portions thereof. In particular, access may be achieved on both the front and rear portion of the integrated module. Interconnection between the subcomponents may be advantageously effectuated within the module, with no need for a back-plane. As also shown in the figure, incoming cables may be advantageously routed through cable runs  61  in a rear interconnection compartment, and these may then be routed to the integrated RF module(s) via U-shaped cable (i.e., wiring harness)  82 , which advantageously flexes along with the operation of hinge  81 . Finally, front cover  80  may be opened with use of hinge  83 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 12  shows a side view of a compact functionally layered telecommunications base station electronics system in accordance with a fifth illustrative embodiment of the present invention. In accordance with the fifth illustrative embodiment of the invention, wherein the components are mounted in each layer of the base station horizontally rather than vertically. The illustrative base station as shown in the figure comprises antennae  31  and front cover  40 , as well as three layers each having respective components mounted horizontally therein. In particular, a first layer (which, may advantageously be installed in a permanent physical location with the “back” of the system—i.e., the right side of the side view of the illustrative base station shown in FIG.  12 —affixed to a wall) comprises back-plane  37  and a plurality of filters  32 , mounted horizontally; a second layer comprises a plurality of amplifiers  34 , mounted horizontally; and a third layer comprises a plurality of radios  36  and channel cards  30 , mounted horizontally. Again, note that the illustrative base station of  FIG. 12  may be advantageously installed in a permanent physical location with the “back” of the system—i.e., the right side of the side view of the illustrative base station shown in FIG.  12 —affixed to a wall. 
         [0040]      FIG. 13  shows a front view of the compact functionally layered telecommunications base station electronics system of  FIG. 12  in accordance with the fifth illustrative embodiment of the present invention, wherein the front cover has been removed (in order to show the components therein. In particular, the figure shows, in addition to antennae  31 , a plurality of horizontally mounted radios  36  and channel cards  30 , which are comprised in the front layer of the illustrative base station (which corresponds to the third layer shown in  FIG. 12 ). 
       Addendum to the Detailed Description 
       [0041]    It should be noted that all of the preceding discussion merely illustrates the general principles of the invention. It will be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise various other arrangements, which, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the invention, and are included within its spirit and scope. In addition, all examples and conditional language recited herein are principally intended expressly to be only for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the principles of the invention and the concepts contributed by the inventor to furthering the art, and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the invention, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass both structural and functional equivalents thereof. It is also intended that such equivalents include both currently known equivalents as well as equivalents developed in the future—i.e., any elements developed that perform the same function, regardless of structure.