# Patent

## Title
Backplane wiring for an input-output panel used for front or rear access

## Abstract

According to one embodiment, an input-output (I-O) panel is transformed. The I-O panel is configured to couple to an array of first midplane connectors of a first shelf configured according to a first format, where the first shelf has rear access. The I-O panel comprises an array of I-O panel connectors and defines an xy-plane. An array of second midplane connectors of a second shelf is transformed to substantially align the second midplane connectors with the I-O panel connectors. The second shelf is configured according to a second format, where the second shelf has front access. The array of second midplane connectors is arranged in columns defining a midplane column axis and rows defining a midplane row axis.

## Background
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates generally to the field of communication systems and more specifically to backplane wiring for an input-output panel used for front or rear access.
BACKGROUND
Circuit board shelves hold circuit boards. A circuit board shelf provides connectors into which the boards are plugged. Input may be provided to and output may be received from the boards through the shelf.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
In accordance with the present invention, disadvantages and problems associated with previous techniques for providing input to and receiving output from circuit board may be reduced or eliminated.
According to one embodiment, an input-output (I-O) panel is transformed. The I-O panel is configured to couple to an array of first midplane connectors of a first shelf configured according to a first format, where the first shelf has rear access. The I-O panel comprises an array of I-O panel connectors and defines an xy-plane. An array of second midplane connectors of a second shelf is transformed to substantially align the second midplane connectors with the I-O panel connectors. The second shelf is configured according to a second format, where the second shelf has front access. The array of second midplane connectors is arranged in columns defining a midplane column axis and rows defining a midplane row axis.
Certain embodiments of the invention may provide one or more technical advantages. A technical advantage of one embodiment may be that an input-output panel may be used with a first shelf having rear access configured according to a first format, or with a second shelf having front access configured according to a second format different from the first format. For example, the first format may be a Network Equipment Building Systems (NEBS) format, and the second format may be a European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) format. The second shelf may be wired to accommodate the input-output panel.
Certain embodiments of the invention may include none, some, or all of the above technical advantages. One or more other technical advantages may be readily apparent to one skilled in the art from the figures, descriptions, and claims included herein.



BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
For a more complete understanding of the present invention and its features and advantages, reference is now made to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 illustrates an example of an input-output panel;
FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate examples of midplane connector arrays;
FIG. 3 illustrates one embodiment of the input-output panel used with a NEBS shelf; and
FIG. 4 illustrates one embodiment of the input-output panel used with an ETSI shelf.



DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Embodiments of the present invention and its advantages are best understood by referring to FIGS. 1 through 4 of the drawings, like numerals being used for like and corresponding parts of the various drawings.
In certain embodiments, midplane connectors may be employed to provide input-output connectivity to input-output panels in order to obtain more efficient use of backplane area. The connections between the midplane and input-output panel may be made by generic high density connectors. The outer surface of the input-output panel may provide media specific connectors, for example, multi-pair connectors, LAN connectors, or coaxial connectors. By selecting the appropriate input-output panel type, the same backplane may be effectively optimized for specific applications.
In certain embodiments, the same input-output panel may be used for rear access shelf designs (for example, NEBS shelves) and front access shelf designs (for example, ETSI shelves). The main difference between the rear and front access systems may be the backplane and shelf. The circuit boards and input-output panels may then be usable in both shelf designs.
FIG. 1 illustrates an example of an apparatus 10 that includes an input-output panel 20. In certain embodiments, an input-output panel 20 may be used with first shelf 14a having rear access configured according to a first format, or with a second shelf 14b having front access configured according to a second format different from the first format. For example, the first format may be a Network Equipment Building Systems (NEBS) format, and the second format may be a European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) format. The second shelf may be wired to accommodate the input-output panel.
In certain embodiments, input-output panel 20 comprises an array of I-O panel connectors 24 that connect to midplane connectors 26 (26a,b) of a shelf 14 (14a,b). Midplane connectors 26 may be generic, high density connectors. I-O panel connectors 24 may be used to provide input to and/or receive output from connectors 26 of a shelf 14. A pair of corresponding connectors 24 and 26 may align and mate with each other.
In certain embodiments, shelf 14 comprises an array of midplane connectors 26, and input-output panel 20 comprises an array of I-O panel connectors 24. An array of elements may refer to elements arranged in rows and columns. In the embodiments, midplane connectors 26 and/or I-O panel 20 may undergo one or more transformations such that midplane connectors 26a are substantially aligned with I-O panel connectors 24.
In certain embodiments, the transformation may be one or more rotations in a plane or about an axis. In the illustrated embodiment, the rows of connectors 24 and 26 define an x-axis (a “row axis”), and the columns of connectors 24 and 26 define a y-axis (a “column axis”) In the embodiment, the rows of connectors 26b of shelf 14b undergoes a rotation about the x-axis by rewiring. The top row, Row 1, becomes the bottom row, and the bottom row, Row 2, becomes the top row. In the embodiment, input-output panel 20 undergoes a rotation of approximately 180 degrees in the xy-plane. (Sides A, B, C, and D of panel 20 are labeled to show the rotation.) In other embodiments, a transformation may be a rotation about the x-axis, a rotation about the y-axis, a rotation about the x-axis and a rotation about the y-axis, or other suitable transformation. The rotations may be any suitable number of degrees, such as 0 to 90, 90 to 180, 180 to 270, or 270 to 360 degrees.
Panel 20 may be configured to couple to a back 28a or front 28b of a shelf 14 (14a,b). In certain embodiments, panel 20 may be configured to couple to a back 28a of first shelf 14a and to couple to a front 28b of second shelf 14b. Panel 20 may have a coupling device 30 configured to couple input-output panels 20 to a shelf 14. Coupling device 30 may also provide mechanical support for panel 20 and may be used to guide panel 20 into place on shelf 14. An example of a coupling device 30 uses standoffs and screws.
In general, it is easier to transform panel 20 by moving it than to transform connectors 26 by rewiring them. Accordingly, the transformations may be selected to reduce the difficulty of rewiring. In one example, if the number of rows of connectors 26 is less than the number of columns, then the transformations may be selected to rotate the rows of connectors 26 about the x-axis to align the rows and rotate panel 20 in the xy-plane to align the columns. In another example, if the number of columns is less than the number of rows, then the transformations may be selected to rotate the rows of connectors 26 about the y-axis to align the rows and rotate (or not rotate) panel 20 in the xy-plane, depending on the application.
I-O panel 20 may comprise any suitable substantially rigid material, for example, metal or plastic. I-O panel 20 may be any suitable size or shape to cover some or all of a plane of shelf 14. I-O panel connectors 24 may be any suitable interface configured to provide input to and/or receive output from connectors 26 of a shelf 14.
In certain embodiments, shelf 14 represents a shelf that holds and otherwise supports plug-in units (PIUs) such as circuit cards. Shelf 14 may have a midplane that connects to the PIUs. One subset of the PIUs (“upper PIUs”) may be on one side of the midplane, and another subset (“lower PIUs”) may be on the other side. The upper PIUs may be above or on the side of the midplane, and the lower may be below the midplane or on the other side of the midplane.
The midplane has midplane connectors. The midplane connectors couple to the PIU connectors and operate as extensions of the PIU connectors. The midplane connectors may be mounted to the backplane and may couple to the PIU connectors via the shelf backplane. Providing input to and receiving output from the PIUs may be accomplished through the midplane connectors. Accordingly, I-O panel connectors 24 may be used to provide input to and/or receive output from the PIUs. Back 28a or front 28b of shelf 14 may provide pin assignments for the midplane connectors.
FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate examples of midplane connector arrays. FIG. 2A illustrates a midplane connector array for a NEBS shelf. FIG. 2B illustrates a midplane connector array for an ETSI shelf.
In the illustrated example, Row x, x=1, 2, . . . , m, represent midplane rows of midplane connectors 26 aligned parallel to an x-axis, and Column y, y=1, 2, . . . , n, represent midplane columns of midplane connectors 26 parallel to a y-axis. The midplane connector array for a NEBS shelf has Row 1 proximate to y=M, Row m proximate to y=0, Column 1 proximate to x=0, and Column n proximate to x=N. The midplane connector array for an ETSI shelf has Row 1 proximate to y=0, Row m proximate to y=M, Column 1 proximate to x=N, and Column n proximate to x=0.
In certain embodiments, input-output panel 20 used for the NEBS shelf rotated 180 degrees in the xy-plane for use with the ETSI shelf. Midplane connectors 26 of the ETSI shelf are rotated about the x-axis.
TABLES 1 and 2 show examples of arrangements of pin assignments for midplane connectors 26. TABLE 1 shows an example of an arrangement for a NEBS shelf, viewed from the back of the shelf.




























TABLE 1







1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20




































A
A1
A2
A3
A4
A5
A6
A7
A8
A9
A10
A11
A12
A13
A14
A15
A16
A17
A18
A19
A20


B
B1
B2
B3
B4
B5
B6
B7
B8
B9
B10
B11
B12
B13
B14
B15
B16
B17
B18
B19
B20


C
C1
C2
C3
C4
C5
C6
C7
C8
C9
C10
C11
C12
C13
C14
C15
C16
C17
C18
C19
C20


D
D1
D2
D3
D4
D5
D6
D7
D8
D9
D10
D11
D12
D13
D14
D15
D16
D17
D18
D19
D20


E
E1
E2
E3
E4
E5
E6
E7
E8
E9
E10
E11
E12
E13
E14
E15
E16
E17
E18
E19
E20


F
F1
F2
F3
F4
F5
F6
F7
F8
F9
F10
F11
F12
F13
F14
F15
F16
F17
F18
F19
F20


G
G1
G2
G3
G4
G5
G6
G7
G8
G9
G10
G11
G12
G13
G14
G15
G16
G17
G18
G19
G20


H
H1
H2
H3
H4
H5
H6
H7
H8
H9
H10
H11
H12
H13
H14
H15
H16
H17
H18
H19
H20









TABLE 2 shows an example of an arrangement for an ETSI shelf, viewed from the front of the shelf.




























TABLE 2







1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20




































A
H20
H19
H18
H17
H16
H15
H14
H13
H12
H11
H10
H9
H8
H7
H6
H5
H4
H3
H2
H1


B
G20
G19
G18
G17
G16
G15
G14
G13
G12
G11
G10
G9
G8
G7
G6
G5
G4
G3
G2
G1


C
F20
F19
F18
F17
F16
F15
F14
F13
F12
F11
F10
F9
F8
F7
F6
F5
F4
F3
F2
F1


D
E20
E19
E18
E17
E16
E15
E14
E13
E12
E11
E10
E9
E8
E7
E6
E5
E4
E3
E2
E1


E
D20
D19
D18
D17
D16
D15
D14
D13
D12
D11
D10
D9
D8
D7
D6
D5
D4
D3
D2
D1


F
C20
C19
C18
C17
C16
C15
C14
C13
C12
C11
C10
C9
C8
C7
C6
C5
C4
C3
C2
C1


G
B20
B19
B18
B17
B16
B15
B14
B13
B12
B11
B10
B9
B8
B7
B6
B5
B4
B3
B2
B1


H
A20
A19
A18
A17
A16
A15
A14
A13
A12
A11
A10
A9
A8
A7
A6
A5
A4
A3
A2
A1









FIG. 3 illustrates one embodiment of panel 20 used with NEBS shelf 14a. In the illustrated embodiment, NEBS shelf 14a includes midplane connectors 26, upper PIU connectors 40, and lower PIU connectors 42 arranged as shown. Panel 20 couples to NEBS shelf 14a as shown.
FIG. 4 illustrates one embodiment of panel 20 used with ETSI shelf 14b. In the illustrated embodiment, ETSI shelf 14b includes midplane connectors 26, upper PIUs 44, and lower PIUs 46 arranged as shown. Panel 20 couples to ETSI shelf 14b as shown.
Modifications, additions, or omissions may be made to the apparatuses disclosed herein without departing from the scope of the invention. The components of the apparatuses may be integrated or separated. Moreover, the operations of the apparatuses may be performed by more, fewer, or other components. As used in this document, “each” refers to each member of a set or each member of a subset of a set.
Modifications, additions, or omissions may be made to the methods disclosed herein without departing from the scope of the invention. The methods may include more, fewer, or other steps. Additionally, steps may be performed in any suitable order.
Certain embodiments of the invention may provide one or more technical advantages. A technical advantage of one embodiment may be that an input-output panel may be used with a first shelf having rear access configured according to a first format, or with a second shelf having front access configured according to a second format different from the first format. For example, the first format may be a Network Equipment Building Systems (NEBS) format, and the second format may be a European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) format. The second shelf may be wired to accommodate the input-output panel.
Although this disclosure has been described in terms of certain embodiments, alterations and permutations of the embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the above description of the embodiments does not constrain this disclosure. Other changes, substitutions, and alterations are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure, as defined by the following claims.

## Claims

1. A method comprising:
transforming an input-output (I-O) panel configured to couple to an array of first midplane connectors of a first shelf configured according to a first format, the first shelf having rear access, the I-O panel comprising an array of I-O panel connectors, the I-O panel defining an xy-plane; and
transforming an array of second midplane connectors of a second shelf configured according to a second format to substantially align the second midplane connectors with the I-O panel connectors, the second shelf having front access, the array of second midplane connectors arranged in a plurality of second midplane connector columns defining a midplane column axis and a plurality of second midplane connector rows defining a midplane row axis.

2. The method of claim 1, the transforming the I-O panel further comprising:
rotating the I-O panel substantially 180 degrees in the xy-plane.

3. The method of claim 1, the transforming the array of second midplane connectors further comprising:
rotating the array of second midplane connectors substantially 180 degrees about the midplane row axis.

4. The method of claim 1:
the number of second midplane connector rows being less than the number of second midplane connector columns; and
the transforming the array of second midplane connectors further comprising rotating the array of second midplane connectors about the midplane row axis.

5. The method of claim 1:
the number of second midplane connector columns being less than the number of second midplane connector rows; and
the transforming the array of second midplane connectors further comprising rotating the array of second midplane connectors about the midplane column axis.

6. The method of claim 1, the first format comprising a Network Equipment Building Systems (NEBS) format.

7. The method of claim 1, the second format comprising a European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) format.

8. A method comprising:
rotating an input-output (I-O) panel configured to couple to an array of first midplane connectors of a first shelf configured according to a first format, the first shelf having rear access, the I-O panel comprising an array of I-O panel connectors, the I-O panel defining an xy-plane; and
rotating an array of second midplane connectors of a second shelf configured according to a second format to substantially align the second midplane connectors with the I-O panel connectors, the second shelf having front access, the array of second midplane connectors arranged in a plurality of second midplane connector columns defining a midplane column axis and a plurality of second midplane connector rows defining a midplane row axis.

9. The method of claim 8, the rotating the I-O panel further comprising:
rotating the I-O panel substantially 180 degrees in the xy-plane.

10. The method of claim 8, the rotating the array of second midplane connectors further comprising:
rotating the array of second midplane connectors substantially 180 degrees about the midplane row axis.

11. The method of claim 8:
the number of second midplane connector rows being less than the number of second midplane connector columns; and
the rotating the array of second midplane connectors further comprising rotating the array of second midplane connectors about the midplane row axis.

12. The method of claim 8:
the number of second midplane connector columns being less than the number of second midplane connector rows; and
the rotating the array of second midplane connectors further comprising rotating the array of second midplane connectors about the midplane column axis.

13. The method of claim 8, the first format comprising a Network Equipment Building Systems (NEBS) format.

14. The method of claim 8, the second format comprising a European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) format.