Wall mount chassis

A wall mount chassis includes circuitry for telecommunications signals. The chassis includes a rear wall mountable to a vertical wall, and first and second sides. Each side includes a hinged cover. Each cover includes an access window for viewing an opposite side of the cover. On one side of the chassis is positioned at least one signal converter card for converting between optical and electrical signals. On an opposite side of the chassis are positioned one or more electrical power cards providing an access location for power to the circuitry. A CPU card can also be provided on the same side as the power card. An interior of the chassis includes a back plane positioned between the converter cards and the power and CPU cards wherein the back plane is perpendicular to the converter cards and power and CPU cards. A cable spool or a cable lance is positioned adjacent one of the sides for cable management. Cable clips are provided for securably retaining one or more cables adjacent each of the first and second sides.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application is directed to telecommunications chassis and associated modules. More specifically, the present invention is directed to chassis and module structures that facilitate conversion between electrical and optical signals.

BACKGROUND

Chassis for housing telecommunications modules provide a structure for protecting the modules from externalities while providing heat dissipation for circuitry contained on the modules. The modules are also shielded from electromagnetic interference. Furthermore, the chassis provides control of flame spread should a fire ever be imposed within the chassis.

Cable management to and from the chassis is often a concern. The electrical signal cables and the optical signal cables lead to the converter modules. A power cable supplies power for converting the signals, and for powering other system components. Organizing the cables, and protecting the cables from damage is a significant concern.

Thus, there is a need for chassis and module structures that facilitate protection of telecommunications cables and circuits, including those performing electrical to optical and optical to electrical conversions.

SUMMARY

A wall mount chassis is provided including a main housing defining an interior for receipt of telecommunications circuitry. The main housing defines a rear wall, an opposed front wall, and first and second sides extending between the front and rear walls. The rear wall is mountable to a vertical wall. The first side defines a cable access location. The second side also defines a cable access location.

Preferably, first and second hinged covers are provided, each cover hinged at a hinge adjacent to one of the first and second sides, respectively. Each hinged cover includes an access window for viewing an interior of the cover. Preferably, the access window is positioned on an angled surface of the cover, angled with respect to the side and the front wall.

In a preferred embodiment, a plurality of cable clips are positioned adjacent to each of the first and second sides for retaining cables positioned adjacent to the first and second, sides.

Preferably, a back plane including circuit traces is provided, the back plane extending parallel to the first and second sides. The first and second sides each define an opening for receipt of at least one circuit card extending perpendicularly to the back plane, each circuit card defining at least one of the cable access locations.

The main housing also preferably includes extensions extending generally parallel to the rear wall from adjacent to the first and second sides, the extensions defining cable openings to receive cables extending toward the cable access locations.

A method of managing telecommunications cables is provided comprising the steps of providing a chassis mounted to a wall and having left and right sides, extending an electrical signal cable to a selected side selected from the left and right sides, and extending an optical signal cable to the selected side. The extended electrical signal cable and the extended optical signal cable are connected to a signal converter circuitry within the chassis. The method further includes extending a power supply cable to the other side opposite the selected side, and connecting the extended power supply cable to the signal converter circuitry within the chassis.

The method preferably includes providing hinged covers, one cover at each of the left and right sides, and further comprising the step of hinging the covers closed to cover each of the left and right sides of the chassis.

The method preferably includes providing cable clips, and further comprising the step of clipping each cable to one of the cable clips before hinging the covers to the closed positions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now toFIG. 1, a first preferred embodiment of a wall mount chassis10is shown. Along a rear wall12, chassis10is mounted to a wall of a building. Chassis10includes conversion capability for converting electrical signals to optical signals, and optical signals to electrical signals. Specifically, chassis10receives cabling containing the optical signals, and cabling containing the electrical signals. Circuitry within chassis10converts between electrical and optical signals. Chassis10also includes a power supply cable for powering the circuitry necessary to convert between electrical and optical signals. Preferably, chassis10also includes CPU cabling for communicating with other system equipment, such as through SNMP.

Chassis10includes a main housing14and first and second hinged covers16,18. Cover16defines a left side cover or left cover16, and second cover18defines a right side cover or right cover18. Covers16,18pivot about hinges20,22, respectively. Hinges20,22define vertical axes of rotation. Cables enter chassis10through one or more openings24on each end of chassis10. Viewing windows26are provided for viewing internal structures behind covers16,18when the covers are in the closed positions shown in FIG.1. Only one window26is visible in FIG.1. Covers16,18can be retained in the positions shown in FIG.1through the use of a retention member28. Preferably, retention member28is a keyed lock, or another device for holding the covers in the closed positions. Main housing14, and covers16,18of chassis10are made from convenient materials, such as sheet metal.

Windows26can be used to view cabling and connection conditions behind covers16,18. Windows26can also be used to view visual indictors associated with chassis10, such as power, and alarm status. Windows26lessen the need to open covers16,18to check status. A further visual indicator30can be provided along a front32of chassis10. The front visual indicator30can also be used if solid covers16,18are desired.

Referring now toFIGS. 2-30, a similar wall mount chassis110is provided. One difference over chassis10includes chassis110not having any front visual indicators along a front32. Chassis110also utilizes a fastener retainer29instead of keyed lock28for holding the covers16,18in the closed position. For the purposes of the further description below, chassis10,110will be referred to as chassis10.

Main housing14includes front32, sides34,36, a top38, and a bottom40. First and second extensions42,44are provided, one each end of main housing14. Extensions42,44provide support for cable management devices for chassis10. Extensions42,44each include fastener holes46useful for attaching cable management structure, as will be described below.

Extensions42,44each include a keyhole48for receipt of a mounting fastener for mounting chassis10to a wall. Preferably, the spacing between keyholes48is set at any convenient distance, such as16inches, to correspond with standard building convention, such as where wood wall studs are spaced every16inches. Both top38and bottom40are provided with ventilation holes50for dissipating heat contained within main housing14, such as through convection.

Each cover16,18includes a top52, a bottom54, a front56, and a side58. Between front56and side58is an angled side60containing window26. Typically, window26is covered by a sheet61of clear planar material, such as Plexiglas or polycarbonate. Fasteners62can be used to mount the sheet61of material in window26.

Each cover16,18includes a hinge post or pin64for receipt in a hinge socket66mounted adjacent to front32of main housing. By utilizing a pin and socket type hinge, covers16,18can be lifted off, such as during installation of chassis10, or when cabling management is conducted where the covers might otherwise interfere with access to chassis10.

Each of covers16,18include top and side cutouts68,70to permit receipt of cables entering chassis10when covers16,18are in the closed positions.

Referring now toFIG. 12, further details of the cable management structure for the cables on the left side of chassis10are shown. An area86behind cover16is used to manage the cables carrying the optical and the electrical signals. Top and bottom flanges80,82of main housing14extend from extension42. Cable openings84are provided in flanges80,82to allow for cables to enter area86. A cable management assembly90is mounted with fasteners92to extension42. Cable management assembly90includes a spool94and a plurality of cable clips96. Flanges98of assembly90hold each of cable clips96. Cable clips96provide bend radius control due to their curved surfaces. Cable clips96include a pivotally movable door100to access an interior102of clip96for holding one or more cables in a secure manner. Any of a variety of cable clip or retention devices can be used for clips96. One example clip is shown and described in U.S. Ser. No. 10/233,018, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference. Assembly90includes a main plate portion104which supports flanges98. Plate portion104also includes holes106for receiving fasteners for mounting spool portions108to plate portion104to form spool94.

Referring now toFIG. 13, a similar cable management assembly91is shown with respect to a right side of chassis10. Assembly91is used to manage cables in an area87behind cover18, such as the power cables and the CPU cables. Assembly91is similar to assembly90, however, no spool is provided. Instead, assembly91utilizes a lance111for tying cables, as necessary, for strain relief. Assemblies90,91can be separately assembled and added to main housing14.

In the preferred embodiment, many of the parts of cable management assemblies90,91are identical, so as to permit convenient manufacture. One difference is that spool94is not provided with respect to assembly91. Both assemblies90,91include a cover retention tab112for cooperating with either keyed lock28or fastener retainer29of covers16,18. Keyed lock28includes a rotatable tab115(FIG. 1) for catching tab112to prevent opening of covers16,18. Fastener retainer29engages threaded hole113of tab112to prevent opening of covers16,18.

Chassis10is utilized with a plurality of circuit cards received by main housing14. Preferably, main housing14includes card openings120,122at each of sides34,36, respectively, for receiving the desired circuit cards. Openings120,122can be shaped as desired to mate with the various cards of the shapes shown, or other shapes. Openings120are each shaped to receive one card. Opening122is shaped to receive three cards.

In the preferred embodiment, two converter cards124are received one in each card opening120at side34. At side36, two power cards126, and one CPU card128are received in card opening122. Fastener holes130allow for retention of each of cards124,126,128through fasteners132. Notches134receive the edges of the card as each is inserted into the opening. Such notches134encourage ease of use whereby the cards cannot be inserted upside down.

Each of the cards124,126,128has a similar structure with respect to a front136, and a rearward extending circuit board138extending perpendicularly to front136. Fasteners132are retained on front flanges140for engaging fastener holes130to secure each card to main housing14. At a rear142of each card is structure for interfacing with an internal back plane144. Converter cards124include rear connectors146for interfacing with back plane connectors156, such as26pin connectors. Power cards126and CPU card128include rear connectors148for interfacing with back plane connectors158, such as96pin connectors. Other connectors156,158can be used to link the cards to back plane144. Back plane144provides an electrical link through circuit tracings between the various cards disposed within main housing14. Connectors156,158are staggered to prevent interference from projecting pins (compareFIGS. 21 and 24with FIGS.22and23).

Fronts136include front connection locations139for connecting to the cables, for example, optical cables, electrical cables (such as twisted pair), and power cables (DC or AC). Fronts136may also include one or more indicators151, such as LEDs, which are visible through windows26when covers16,18are closed. Fronts136are metallic structures and include a rear extension143for mounting to circuit board138. Circuit boards138include various circuit tracings and circuit elements to connect the front connection locations139, the rear connectors146,148, and the back plane144, as needed.

Main housing14includes a main chassis assembly141and an inner chassis assembly160including back plane144. Back plane144is loaded into inner chassis assembly160through an opening164in a front wall162. Back plane144includes a rear notch152which interfaces with a rear tab166of rear wall168of inner housing160, so as to provide a one way fit for back plane144. Both the top and bottom walls170,172of inner chassis assembly160include a plurality of slotted openings174, such as for ventilation. Further, each of top and bottom walls170,172include a plurality of slotted plastic card guides176for slidably receiving the edges of back plane144, and cards124,126,128. Each of guides176includes a slot178extending in a longitudinal direction relative to guide176. Preferably, guides176snap mount to one of top and bottom walls170,172. Card guides176aare aligned with notches134to receive each of cards124,126,128. Back plane guide176ballows back plane144to float slightly until the various cards are mated through side opening120,122.

Preferably, inner chassis assembly160can be assembled first including back plane144, and then received in an opening145of main chassis assembly141, such as shown in FIG.17.

Cards124,126,128are provided with mating structures to prevent improper cards from being inserted into openings120,122. For example, cards124include intermediate slots180, and back plane144includes posts182. Cards126include lower notches184, and bottom172of inner chassis assembly160includes a tab186. Similarly, card128includes an upper notch188, and top170includes a tab190.

If one or more cards124,126,128are not used with chassis10, a blank plate can be used.

Referring now toFIGS. 29 and 30, various example cables are shown in position for converting electrical to optical, and optical to electrical. One cover16,18has been removed in each of FIG.29. As shown inFIG. 29, the fiber optic cables200enter through one of cable clips96and are positioned around spool94to take up slack and connect at front adapters202of converter cards124. Cables200are terminated with optical connectors, such as SC type. Electrical cables204enter through a different cable clip96and are received in jacks206of converter cards124. Cables204are terminated with plugs, such as twisted pair RJ45 plugs.

Now with reference toFIG. 30, UTP cables208extend through one of cable clips96for connection at jacks210of CPU card128. Three ports are shown, such as for IN, OUT, and Ethernet connections. Power cables212enter through another cable clip96and connect to power cards126at connection locations214. If desired, lance111can be used to tie down cables208, or cables212.

Because each of cable clips96in openings24includes a movable and securable hinged door, the cables can be conveniently positioned in their desired locations, and then covers16,18can be added and pivoted to the closed position, without pinching off or otherwise damaging the cables. Openings24are positioned along the top, bottom and side of each extension42,44to provide for flexibility when cables are extended toward chassis10. Side openings24aare particularly useful for situations when more than one chassis10is provided in a stacked arrangement. Vertical cable guides can be added as desired to vertically manage the cables to and from each chassis10.

Each end of main housing14includes an electrostatic discharge grounding port230, such as for receiving a banana clip of a technician's grounding cable. Adjacent to power cards126, main housing14also includes a grounding contact232for connecting to the chassis ground.

Referring now toFIG. 31, a schematic of the various elements of the internal circuitry is shown.FIG. 31shows two converter cards124, main and auxiliary power supply cards126, and a CPU card128.FIG. 31also illustrates visual indicators30connected to back plane144for providing a visual indicator associated with the front of chassis10, such as shown in FIG.1. The individual LED's330can extend through openings in front32, to provide front visual indication of status.