Connector mounting rack and patch panel system thereof

A connector mounting rack configured to assemble a plurality of connectors includes a panel, a frame and one or more first partitions. The panel has a plurality of openings formed in an array, each adjacent two of the openings separated by a portion of the panel. The frame is arranged at a back side of the panel. The frame has one or more first walls arranged corresponding to the portion of the panel between the openings along a first direction to define a slot between each adjacent two of the first walls. The slot communicates with the opening. Each of the one or more first walls has an assembling part. Each of the one or more first partitions has a first engaging part and removably connected to one of the one or more first walls by engaging the first engaging part with the assembling part.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a connector mounting rack configured to assemble connectors. More specifically, the present invention relates to a connector mounting rack having removable partition(s).

2. Description of the Prior Art

In communications technical fields, assembling or integrating various connectors is a common usage. Using patch panel can improve the efficiency of space usage in a limited space, such as telecommunication or communication room. The patch panel can integrate the connectors easily. However, the crosstalk will be generated between connectors assembled on the patch panel. Therefore, the connectors assembled on the patch panel interfere each other. In this condition, it is necessary to arrange a crosstalk isolation between two connectors to prevent interference produced by crosstalk.

In other hand, when an equipment is under a condition such as grounding failure or poor configuration, e.g. the equipment is arranged in a building without grounding arrangement, the partition fixed on the connector mounting rack may cause larger crosstalk and make the interference between connectors worse. Accordingly, how to solve influence made by crosstalk and/or increase the usability of the connector mounting rack in a unknown arranging site is a main issue in this fields.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a connector mounting rack having removable partition(s) and a patch panel system thereof. The usability of the connector mounting rack and/or the patch panel system can be improved. In this manner, user can use different arrangement to reduce crosstalk caused by various reasons.

In an embodiment, the present invention provides a connector mounting rack configured to assemble a plurality of connectors comprising a panel, a frame and one or more first partitions. The panel has a plurality of openings formed in an array, each adjacent two of the openings separated by a portion of the panel. The frame is arranged at a back side of the panel. The frame has one or more first walls arranged corresponding to the portion of the panel between the openings along a first direction to define a slot between each adjacent two of the first walls. The slot communicates with the opening. Each of the one or more first walls has an assembling part. Each of the one or more first partitions has a first engaging part and removably connected to one of the one or more first walls by engaging the first engaging part with the assembling part.

In an embodiment, wherein the number of the first partitions is equal to the number of the first walls; the first partitions are connected to the first walls in a one by one manner.

In an embodiment, wherein the number of the first partitions is less than the number of the first walls; some of the first walls are not connected with the first partition.

In an embodiment, wherein the array is a 2D array; the frame further includes a second wall arranged corresponding to the portion of the panel between the openings along a second direction.

In an embodiment, wherein the plurality of openings are formed according to the same specification or different specifications.

In an embodiment, the connector mounting rack further comprises one or more second partitions, each of the one or more second partitions having a second engaging part and removably connected to another one of the first walls by engaging the second engaging part with the assembling part.

In an embodiment, wherein the first partition is different from the second partition in material.

In an embodiment, wherein the first partition is different from the second partition in at least one of conductivity, transmittance of electromagnetic wave, absorption of electromagnetic wave, and reflectivity of electromagnetic wave.

In an embodiment, wherein the material of the first partition is different from the material of the frame.

In an embodiment, wherein the first partition has a concave portion and the first wall has a convex portion; the concave portion is correspondingly fitted to the convex portion.

In an embodiment, wherein the assembling part has an engaging slot and the first partition has a hook, and the hook is engaged with the engaging slot.

In an embodiment, the present invention provides a patch panel system comprising a connector mounting rack mentioned above and at least one connector inserted into the slot through the opening.

Accordingly, the connector mounting rack using removeable partitions to isolate the crosstalk formed between connectors. By the connection or detachment between the partition and the frame, the usability of the connector mounting rack and/or the patch panel system can be improved and users can use different arrangement to reduce crosstalk caused by various reasons.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The connecting elements according to the present invention will be described in detail below through embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. A person having ordinary skill in the art may understand the advantages and effects of the present disclosure through the contents disclosed in the present specification.

It should be understood that, even though the terms such as “first”, “second”, “third” may be used to describe an element, a part, a region, a layer and/or a portion in the present specification, but these elements, parts, regions, layers and/or portions are not limited by such terms. Such terms are merely used to differentiate an element, a part, a region, a layer and/or a portion from another element, part, region, layer and/or portion. Therefore, in the following discussions, a first element, portion, region, layer or portion may be called a second element, portion, region, layer or portion, and do not depart from the teaching of the present disclosure.

The terms “comprise”, “include” or “have” used in the present specification are open-ended terms and mean to “include, but not limit to.”

Unless otherwise particularly indicated, the terms, as used herein, generally have the meanings that would be commonly understood by those of ordinary skill in the art. Some terms used to describe the present disclosure are discussed below or elsewhere in this specification to provide additional guidance to those skilled in the art in connection with the description of the present disclosure.

In an embodiment, the present invention provides a connector mounting rack configured to assemble connectors. The connector mounting rack includes one or more shelters arranged on the connector mounting rack. It should be noted that the shelter can be but not limited to a partition to block noise or separate two connectors adjacent to each other. The shelter can be removably integrated to the connector mounting rack by fastening or other mechanical structures.

FIGS. 1A and 1Bare a front view and an exploded view to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring toFIGS. 1A and 1B, the connector mounting rack100configured to assemble a plurality of connectors includes a panel110, a frame120and one or more first partitions130. The panel110has a plurality of openings111. The openings111are formed in an array. Each adjacent two of the openings111are separated by a portion of the panel110, such as the first portion113(d1). The first portion113(d1) of the panel110is extended along the first direction dl. Refer toFIG. 1C,FIG. 1Cis a back view to the embodiment. As shown inFIGS. 1B and 1C, the frame120is arranged at a back side of the panel110. The frame120includes one or more first walls121. Each of the first walls121is extended along the first direction dl and arranged corresponding to the first portion113(d1) of the panel110between two adjacent openings111to define the slot123between each adjacent two of the first walls121. Hence, a connector (not shown) can be inserted to the slot123through the opening111.

Besides, as shown inFIG. 1C, the first wall121has the assembling part140. The first partition130has the first engaging part150. Each of the one or more first partitions130is removably connected to one of the first walls121by engaging the first engaging part150with the assembling part140. It should be noted that the removeable connection between the first partition130and the first wall121is exemplarily a mechanical structure such as fastening connection, magnetic connection or adhering connection. However, the connection mechanism of the removeable connection is not limited to the examples mentioned above.

More specifically, the material of the panel110can be metal, such as aluminum, iron or copper, or plastic, but not limited thereto. The specification of the openings111, such as shape or size, should fit the specification of the connectors to be assembled. For example, when the front end of the connector has a circular shape, the opening111preferably has a circular shape, so that the front end of the connector is fitted to the opening111. When the front end of the connector has an irregular shape or any other special configurations, the opening111preferably has a configuration to fit the shape of the front end or any insertion part of the connector. Taking the RJ45 connector as an example, the opening111may have a size of 12×13 mm2, but not limited thereto.

In an embodiment, the openings111of the panel110are formed in a two-dimensional array. More specifically, the frame120further includes the second wall160. The second wall160is extended along the second direction d2and arranged corresponding to the second portion113(d2) of the panel110which is extended along the second direction d2. For example, the plurality of openings111are arranged in a Nx2array along the first direction dl and the second direction d2, wherein N openings111are arranged along the first direction dl to form a row, and two rows of the N openings111are arranged along the second direction d2. It should be noted that the openings111can be arranged in an array of any suitable size, and the arrangement in the embodiment is provided for illustration, not limitation. Furthermore, the first portion113(d1) of the panel110is formed between two adjacent openings111arranged along the second direction d2. the second portion113(d2) of the panel110is formed between two adjacent openings111arranged along the first direction dl. The slot123is defined by two adjacent first portions113(d1) and the second portion113(d2) to enable insertion of a connector corresponding to the opening111and the slot123.

More specifically, the material of the frame120can be but not limited to metal, such as aluminum, iron or copper, or plastic. The slot123at the outmost side can be defined by the neighboring first wall121and the frame wall, and the slots123at the inner side of the outmost slot123can be defined by two adjacent first walls121. The slot123on the frame120can be used to support or fix the connector. The slot123communicates with the opening111to form an accommodation space, so that the connector can be inserted into the slot123and the opening111and received in the accommodation space.

On the other hand, since the first partition130is removably connected to the frame120, the first partition130and the frame120can be made by different molds. Therefore, the molding cost of the first partition130and the frame120can be reduced to increase the yield rate and reduce the complexity of manufacturing the molds. Besides, because the first partition130and the frame120can be made by different molds, the material of the first partition130can be different from the material of the frame120to fulfill different needs. For example, choosing a rigid material to produce the frame120will improve the stability of the connector mounting rack100, and choosing a material, such as material with high conductivity, to produce the first partition130will prevent the crosstalk between two or more connectors, or choosing a flexible material to produce the frame120or the first partition130can reduce the assembling difficulty. The materials of the first partition130and/or frame120can be selected based on design needs, not limited by the aforementioned examples.

FIGS. 2A to 2Care schematic views of engaging the first partition130and the first wall121according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring toFIG. 2, the first partition130has the concave portion210and the first wall121has the convex portion220. The concave portion210is correspondingly fitted to the convex portion220to prevent shift after engaging the first partition130and the first wall121. The arranging positions of the concave portion210and the convex portion220can be changed. For example, the first partition130can have the convex portion220and the first wall121has the concave portion210. Furthermore, the thicknesses of the first partition130and the first wall121can be different, or anti slip patterns can be formed on the first partition130, so as to reduce the assembling or disassembling difficulty. Besides, the first engaging part150of the first partition130has the hook230, and the assembling part140of the first wall121has the engaging slot240. The hook230is correspondingly engaged with the engaging slot240. Referring toFIGS. 2B and 2C, when engaging the hook230with the engaging slot240, the hook230will be compressed to pass the engaging slot240as shown inFIG. 2B. When the hook230passes through the engaging slot240, the hook230will bounce back against the side wall241of the engaging slot240. It should be noted thatFIGS. 2A to 2Cis provided for illustrating the connection between the assembling part140and the first engaging part150. The connection between the assembling part140and the first engaging part150is not limited byFIGS. 2A to 2C. The assembling part140can be arranged on the first partition130, and the first engaging part150can be arranged on the first wall121. The assembling part140and the first engaging part150can be any suitable mechanical structure such as tenon, bolt or buckle.

FIGS. 3A and 3Bare a top view of the connector mounting rack according to an embodiment of the invention for illustrating the corresponding relationship between the first partition130and the first wall121. Referring toFIG. 3A, the amount of the first partitions130is preferably equal to the amount of the first walls121. The first partitions130are connected to the first walls121one by one. More specifically, each of the first walls121of the frame120is removably connected to the corresponding first partition130to separate the connectors arranged at two sides of the first wall121. However, it is not necessary to separate the connectors arranged at two sides of the first wall121. Referring toFIG. 3B, the amount of the first partitions130is less than the amount of the first slots121. In other words, a part of the first slots130is not connected with the first partition130. More specifically, in some cases, such as the first partition130will increase the crosstalk influence between connectors arranged at two sides of the first wall121or the connector mounting rack100lacks well grounding arrangement, the first partition130can be removed from the first wall121to reduce the crosstalk influence between connectors arranged at two sides of the first wall121.

FIG. 4is a schematic diagram of assembling the second partition according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to

FIG. 4, the connector mounting rack further includes one or more second partitions410. The second partition410has the second engaging part420and is removably connected to another one of the first walls121by engaging the second engaging part420with the assembling part140of the first wall121. In other words, the second partition410is connected to one of the first walls121, which is not connected with the first partition130, by the connection between the second engaging part420and the assembling part140. More specifically, the first partition130and the second partition410can be different in shape, thickness, material or any other physical or electrical characteristics. The user can choose different partitions130/420according to the usage conditions. For example, depending on the limitation of the installing space, partitions with different shapes can be selected, or depending different crosstalk frequency, partitions with different characteristics or thickness can be selected. The reason of choosing partitions is not limited by the aforementioned examples. It should be noted that the amount of type of the partitions is not limited to two, and the partitions can be chosen from three or more types. The physical or electrical characteristics mentioned above can be conductivity, transmittance of electromagnetic wave, absorption of electromagnetic wave, reflectivity of electromagnetic wave, thermal conductivity, elasticity, rigidity or the combination thereof. In an embodiment, the arranging direction of the first partition130and the second partition410is not limited to the first direction dl, and the arrangement of the first partition130and the second partition410is not limited to the first wall121. More specifically, the first partition130and the second partition410can be removably connected to the second wall160. Therefore, the connector mounting rack will have the first partition130and/or the second partition410arranged along the second direction d2to separate the connectors arranged at two sides of the second portion113(d2) of the panel110.

FIG. 5is a schematic diagram of assembling two or more types of connectors to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring toFIG. 5, the first opening510of the panel110has the first specification, and the second opening520has the second specification. The first specification is different from the second specification. More specifically, the first specification and the second specification mean, for example, size, shape or models corresponding to the connectors to be assembled in the connector mounting rack. In other words, the connectors to be assembled in the connector mounting rack100are not limited to one size or one specification. When assembling two or more types of connectors in the connector mounting rack100, such as the first connector corresponding to the first specification and the second connector corresponding to the second specification, different openings, such as the first opening510and the second opening520, can be formed on the panel110. The first wall121of the frame120can be arranged corresponding to the first portion113(d1). Therefore, the first slot530and the second slot540are defined on the frame according to the first opening510and the second opening520to enable insertion of the first connector in the first slot530and the first opening510and insertion of the second connector in the second slot540and the second opening520. It should be noted thatFIG. 5mainly illustrates the assembling of multi-types of connectors, the present invention should not be limited byFIG. 5.

Although the present invention discloses the aforementioned embodiments, it is not intended to limit the invention. Any person who is skilled in the art in connection with the present invention can make any change or modification without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be determined by the claims in the invention.