Abstract:
Small form-factor pluggable (SFP) ports are often employed in telecommunications hardware to take advantage of their lower profile and to provide connections to other network elements. The use of SFP ports has increased the density of ports possible for a given circuit board size, but this increase has previously meant that individual ports are difficult to access. Also, identification of those ports is frustrated by a lack of free space to place labeling. Example embodiments of the present invention address these issues by placing a divider plate between columns of SFP ports that provides surface area adjacent to the SFP ports for affixing labeling. The divider plate is offset from the SFP ports to allow access when the plate is installed. As a result, hardware employing embodiments of the present invention can achieve a higher density of SFP ports with ease of access by personnel assembling or servicing the hardware.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    Most industrial telecommunications hardware is housed in standardized equipment racks that contain individual circuit board components. These circuit boards can perform a myriad of high-bandwidth operations and require high speed connections to other hardware elements or the network that they are serving. To provide these connections, small form factor ports are often employed in telecommunications hardware; the ports provide for optical or electromagnetic connections to be made between various hardware components or other communication lines by accepting a standardized plug at the end of an optical or copper wire to be inserted and form a connection to the attached hardware. Small form factor ports are typically configured in rows or columns to take advantage of their lower profile compared to other legacy methods of interconnection and can drastically increase the density of physical interconnections possible for a given circuit board size. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    An example embodiment of the present invention is a small form factor pluggable (SFP) module including a plurality of SFP ports arranged in adjacent columns on a circuit board of the SFP module. The SFP module also includes a divider plate attached in parallel arrangement with the SFP module and, optionally, adjacent to the SFP ports, spanning at least the length of the columns of the ports along the SFP module. The divider plate is offset from the adjacent SFP ports in a manner that creates a gap between the divider plate and the SFP ports and in-plane with the module itself. 
         [0003]    Another example embodiment of the present invention includes an electronics assembly that includes a circuit board, a front panel frame assembly, a plurality of SFP ports, and a divider plate. The circuit board is configured to communicate electrical signals between the SFP ports and a communications network. The circuit board is attached to a front panel frame assembly that spans the length of the circuit board, and the front panel frame assembly is configured to mount the circuit board in an equipment rack. The example embodiment further includes a divider plate coupled to the circuit board or front panel frame assembly in an arrangement adjacent to the SFP ports, spanning at least the length of the columns of the SFP ports. The divider plate is offset from the SFP ports in an arrangement that defines a gap in the plane of the electronics assembly. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]    The foregoing will be apparent from the following more particular description of example embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0005]      FIG. 1  is an isometric diagram of an electronics assembly with a small form factor pluggable (SFP) module and divider plate, according to an example embodiment of the present invention that illustrates the divider plate in an installed configuration. 
           [0006]      FIGS. 2A  and B are diagrams of an embodiment of the present invention that illustrates a divider plate coupled to a small form factor pluggable (SFP) module. 
           [0007]      FIGS. 3A  and B are diagrams of a divider plate, according to an example embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0008]      FIGS. 4A , B, and C are diagrams of an example embodiment of the present invention that illustrates a SFP module and divider plated installed on a circuit board with a front panel frame assembly. 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  illustrates a divider plated coupled between two columns of ports on a SFP module attached to a circuit board that is installed in a subrack, such as a subrack of a telecommunications equipment rack, according to an example embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    A description of example embodiments of the invention follows. 
         [0011]    Telecommunications and data communications hardware is commonly housed in modular racks that provide a standardized form-factor to which various hardware components are connected. These hardware components form the backbone of the world&#39;s communications networks and enable a high volume of high-bandwidth connections to be made through fiber optic or electromagnetic cables connecting to other components or external communications lines. The complexity of these systems and the constant growth of processing power require that individual components have an increasing number of input and output connections. Various standards of high-bandwidth connections have been developed over the years, with a trend towards smaller and higher density ports to reduce the overall physical size of the component systems. 
         [0012]    One such example of this progress is the development of the small form-factor pluggable (SFP) transceiver. The SFP transceiver was debuted in 2001 as a replacement for the larger form-factor gigabit interface converter (GBIC). Both standards are hot-pluggable and support gigabit Ethernet and fiber channel communications, and, though the SFP has recently been developed to support higher speeds than the GBIC standard, the original purpose and appeal of the newer standard was the smaller size, which allows more ports to be included on a given size hardware component. As a result of this possible increase in port density, components can employ multiple rows or columns of ports in a space where such a configuration would not previously be possible. This increase in port density leads to some less-than-desirable consequences when components are installed in a complex system with a multitude of other components; individual ports are difficult to access without disturbing the surrounding connections, and identification of the ports is frustrated by a lack of free surface area to place the marking required to describe their order and direction of data flow. 
         [0013]    Previous techniques have been proposed or implemented for providing the proper identification and ease-of-access. In one such example of a previous technique, the SFP ports are placed farther away from each other to allow sufficient space to identify them and prevent disturbance of the surrounding ports. Such techniques are simple to employ, but cost valuable space, do not scale with the size of the port, and prevent a high port density solution for a limited space application. 
         [0014]    The example embodiments disclosed herein provide an apparatus for and method of configuring communications ports with a divider plate that provides surface area for identification of the adjacent ports and assists in the insertion and removal of the corresponding plugs so as not to disturb neighboring ports. These example embodiments allow adjacent ports to be positioned closer together and increase the overall port density of the parent component. The example embodiments disclosed have a unique design with aesthetic value in addition to a useful value. 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is an isometric diagram of an electronics assembly  100  with a small form factor pluggable (SFP) module  105  and divider plate  110 , illustrating an example embodiment of the present invention. In the illustrated example embodiment of the present invention, the SFP module  105  includes a plurality of SFP transceivers  107 , each having SFP ports  120 , arranged in adjacent columns  115   a - b , sometimes referred to as a “belly-to-belly” configuration, on a circuit board (not shown in  FIG. 1 ) of the SFP module  105 . The SFP module  105  also includes a divider plate  110  positioned parallel to the SFP circuit board (not shown in  FIG. 1 ) and adjacent to the SFP ports  120 , spanning at least the length of the columns  115   a  and  115   b  of the SFP ports  120  along the SFP module  105 . Additionally, the divider plate  110  is offset from the adjacent SFP ports  120  in a manner that creates a gap between the divider plate  110  and the SFP ports  120  and in-plane with the SFP circuit board (not shown in  FIG. 1 ). It should be understood that the divider plate  110  may be in an offset parallel arrangement from the SFP module  105 , such as a few tenths of an inch or an inch, or anywhere in-between depending on the relative placements of the adjacent columns  115   a  and  115   b  of SFP ports  120 . 
         [0016]    In the example embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG. 1 , the electronics assembly  100  includes front panel frame assembly  102   a  and  102   b  spanning its length with the divider plate  110  coupled to the front panel frame assembly  102   a  and  102   b . Here, the front panel frame assembly  102   a  covers the SFP module  105 , and SFP module circuit board (not shown in  FIG. 1 ). 
         [0017]    Another example embodiment of the present invention includes an electronics assembly  100  that includes a circuit board  101 , a front panel frame assembly  102   a  and  102   b , a plurality of SFP ports  120 , and a divider plate  110 . In this example embodiment, the circuit board  101  is configured to communicate electrical signals between the SFP ports  120  and a communications network (not shown). The circuit board  101  is attached to a front panel frame assembly  102   a  and  102   b  that spans the length of the circuit board  101  and is configured to mount the circuit board in a modular equipment rack. The example embodiment further includes the divider plate  110  coupled to the circuit board  101  or front panel frame assembly  102   a  and  102   b , adjacent to the SFP ports  120  where the divider plate  110  spans at least the length of the columns  115   a  and  115   b  of the SFP ports  120  and offset from the SFP ports  120  in a manner that defines a gap in the plane (or parallel to the plate) of the electronics assembly  100 . Side panels  104   a  and  104   b  can be present in this example embodiment, which can be used to secure the divider plate  110  between the front panel frame assembly  102   a  and  102   b  when in an installed configuration. 
         [0018]    Alternatively, the divider plate  110  can be configured to be part of the SFP module circuit board (not shown in  FIG. 1 ) or the main circuit board  101 . Illustrated in this example embodiment of the present invention, the columns  115   a  and  115   b  of SFP ports  120  are arranged in their narrowest possible orientation, such that oblong sides of the SFP ports  120  face each other. Additionally, shown in this example embodiment of the invention, the divider plate  110  can be positioned between columns  115   a  and  115   b  of SFP ports  120 , and the columns  115   a  and  115   b  of SFP ports  120  can be configured to have a pitch between an SFP port  120  in the first column  115   a  to an SFP port  120  in the adjacent column  115   b  that is less than or equal to 1.05 inches, as measured from the center of each port. Other distances, such as 1.00 inches, 0.95 inches, and distances below or above the center of each SFP port  120 , as a function of the SFP port  120  size, electronics assembly circuit board  101  thickness, SFP module circuit board  106  thickness, and/or other factors are also contemplated within the scope of the invention. 
         [0019]    In another example embodiment of the present invention, the divider plate  110  can include at least one surface  111  configured to receive labeling, printed or adhesively attached, optionally identifying the number and data direction of the ports. Furthermore, the divider plate  110  can form the aforementioned gap between itself and the SFP ports with a repeating shape at the periphery of the divider plate, the shape, individually and as a whole, associated with the outline of the SFP ports  120  on the SFP module  105 . 
         [0020]    In the example embodiment of the present invention, the shape and placement of divider plate  110  is functional; these features assist in the connecting and disconnecting of SFP plugs (not shown). The gap formed between the divider plate  110  and columns  115   a  and  115   b  of SFP ports  120  (specifically between  308  and  309  in  FIG. 3 ) gives a technician full access to all sides of the individual SFP ports  120  and makes the divider plate  110  less obtrusive to the technician when connecting and disconnecting a SFP plug (not shown). The placement of the divider plate  110  allows a technician to avoid touching the surrounding neighboring SFP plugs (not shown) when connecting or disconnecting an SFP plug (not shown). In the example embodiment of the present invention, the surface of divider plate  101  is also functional; the divider plate  110  provides surface area  111  for labels ( 211 , as shown in  FIG. 2 ) to be placed in the immediate vicinity of the SFP ports  120  without reducing the density of the SFP ports  120  on the SFP module  105 . 
         [0021]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  are diagrams of an embodiment of the present invention that illustrates a divider plate  210  coupled to a small form factor pluggable (SFP) module  205 . The example embodiment of  FIGS. 2A and 2B  illustrate a divider plate  210  in its installed position with an SFP module  205 . 
         [0022]    Referring first to  FIG. 2A ,  FIG. 2A  shows the divider plate  211  sandwiched between two columns  215   a  and  215   b  of SFP ports  120 , positioned the width of the divider plate  210  (shown as  314  in  FIG. 3 ) apart from each other.  FIG. 2A  further shows the density of the SFP ports  220  in general, and in particular the spacing between the SFP columns  215   a  and  215   b , which are separated by divider plate  210 . The location and dimensions of the divider plate  210  ensures that a technician can access each individual SFP port  220  for installation and/or removal of a SFP plug (not shown), while at the same time greatly increasing the port density of the electronics assembly  200  relative to legacy hardware. 
         [0023]    The example embodiment shown in  FIG. 2B  further includes labels  211  affixed to the divider plate  210  identifying the number and data direction of the adjacent SFP ports  220 . In another example embodiment shown in  FIG. 2B , the divider plate  210  is coupled to the electronic assembly ( 100  in  FIG. 1 ) by securing tabs  212   a  and  212   b  behind side panels (shown in  FIG. 1  as  104   a  and  104   b ). In the alternative, the divider plate  210  is coupled to the SFP module  205  or any other component of the electronic assembly secured by tabs  212   a  and  212   b  or directly with fasteners (not shown). 
         [0024]    SFP plugs (not shown) are modular connectors, designed and constructed to standardized parameters, enabling the connectors to be used in any SFP port  220 , i.e., the SFP plug connectors are hot-pluggable and can be swapped or exchanged without shutting down the equipment to which the connectors connect. The cables (not shown) connecting various SFP ports  220  may need to be changed for a variety of reasons, such as network equipment updates, new equipment installation, or replacement of a failed cable. Modular connectors facilitate the rewiring of circuit paths between different elements of a network circuit by allowing the SFP plugs to be swapped or exchanged, rather than hardwired, which requires soldering or other technique to change a connection. Such equipment updates, installations, or replacements are made possible, in large part, by the modular character of their respective connectors, such as SFP plugs. 
         [0025]    Typically, SFP plugs (not shown) have one or more latching tabs located along one of the two oblong sides of the connector. Latching tabs are useful to ensure that an adequate physical connection exists between the cable and the circuit board circuitry. Such an adequate physical connection is required so that an optical or electromagnetic signal with a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) within system tolerances can propagate from the cable to the electronic assembly, or vice versa, via the SFP port  220  and electronics assembly circuit board ( 101 , shown in  FIG. 1 ). To ensure the integrity of a cable and the optical or electromagnetic signal which it carries, a bend radius falling within the specified limits for the SFP plug terminated cables must be observed. The bend radius of most optical and/or electromagnetic cables must be within certain limits; otherwise, the physical properties of the cables that allow for signal propagation can break down, resulting in compromised signal integrity, including such characteristics as SNR. 
         [0026]    It is useful that technicians be able to install and uninstall individual cable connections without disturbing other neighboring connections. Such a configuration that allows for a technician to access freely the modular connections is useful because it reduces the risk of damaging neighboring connectors. To install and uninstall the SFP connectors, the oblong sides of the connectors are typically held between an index finger and thumb, so that the latching tab can be pressed against the body of the SFP plug, preventing the tab from latching onto the SFP port  220 . An example embodiment of the present invention is useful because it allows for sufficient spacing between SFP ports  220  so that a technician can install or uninstall a single SFP plug, ensuring that neighboring connectors are not damaged. Providing sufficient spacing for the technician to access the SFP ports  220  helps prevent the likelihood that the technician will put physical stress on other SFP cable connections that remains installed while he or she is manipulating the target connection. Providing sufficient spacing to access freely the SFP ports  220  also obviates the need for a technician to uninstall neighboring SFP plugs for the sole purpose of avoiding applying unintended physical stress to them and thus reduces the risk that the connectors may be re-installed incorrectly. Cables connected to SFP ports  220  with sufficient spacing suffer less wear and tear because the technician is not unplugging and plugging SFP plugs for the sole reason of reaching the target SFP port  220 , and therefore, less damage, which extends their useful life,. 
         [0027]    In general, three operations are completed by a network technician when a SFP port  220  connection needs replacement or alteration. An example embodiment of the present invention is useful in all of these typical operations. Whether a SFP port  220  connection needs to be changed because of an equipment upgrade, installation of new equipment, or replacement of cables, a technician must first identify the target SFP port  220  connector. Next, the technician typically unplugs the existing connection from the identified target SFP port  220 . Finally, the technician installs the new SFP plug, completing the new circuit. Because the divider plate  210  provides an area for labels  211 , it can facilitate identification of the target SFP port  220 . Moreover, because the divider plate  210  ensures adequate space between the SFP columns  215   a  and  215   b , and, therefore, adequate density of the SFP ports  220 , it facilitates a technician&#39;s unencumbered access to connections at the SFP ports  220 . 
         [0028]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  are diagrams of a divider plate  310 , according to an example embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0029]      FIG. 3A  shows the face of the divider plate  310 , where the shape of the inside cutout (or formed shape)  318  outlines the shape of the SFP ports ( 220  in  FIG. 2 ) so as to not protrude beyond the ports when installed, and the shape of the outside cutout  319  is similarly formed to have the shape of the profile of the adjacent SFP ports ( 220  in  FIG. 2 ) to aid in the placement of labels on an exposed surface  311 .  FIG. 3B  shows the thickness of the exposed divider plate  313  and the section  314  made to split-fit between the columns of SFP ports ( 215   a - b  in  FIG. 2A ). 
         [0030]    As discussed previously and as illustrated in  FIGS. 3A and 3B , the divider plate  310  provides a surface area, or “real estate,” to accommodate labels ( 211 , as shown in  FIG. 2 ) to identify the individual SFP ports  220 . Such identification of individual SFP ports  220  can be useful. When a technician replaces or reroutes a network connection from one SFP port  220  to another SFP port  220 , he or she must first identify the target SFP ports  220 . Identifying the target SFP ports  220  can be very difficult if the ports are not clearly labeled in a logical manner, because there are often hundreds, or more, of identical-looking SPF ports ( 220 , as shown in  FIG. 2 ) located in the equipment racks that form the backbone of the world&#39;s communications networks. The divider plate  310  provides surface area  311  to accommodate a variety of labels for each SPF port  220 . Such labels can include the example embodiment shown in  FIG. 2B  of labeling  211  or the example embodiment in  FIG. 5  of labeling  511 , while other example embodiments of labeling can include traditional barcodes, e.g., SPARQCodes®, or any other optical machine-readable label. (SPARQCode is a registered trademark of MSKYNET, Inc., 3305 115th Ave. Ne #303, Bellevue, Wash. 98004.) 
         [0031]      FIGS. 4A ,  4 B, and  4 C are diagrams of an example embodiment of the present invention that illustrates a SFP module  405  and divider plate  410  installed on a circuit board  401  with a front panel frame assembly  402   a  and  402   b.    
         [0032]      FIG. 4A  shows the back of an electronics assembly  400  with the SFP module  405  and divider plate  410  in an installed configuration.  FIG. 4B  shows an in-plane view of the electronics assembly  400  with the SFP module  405  and divider plate  410  installed, the divider plate being held in place with side panels  404   a  and  404   b .  FIG. 4C  shows the front of the electronics assembly  400  with the SFP module  405  secured to the circuit board  401  with fasteners  403 . 
         [0033]      FIGS. 4A and 4C  show the divider panel  410  protruding from the body of the electronics assembly  400 . In general, communications equipment is installed in standardized modular equipment racks. Without close inspection, such standardization makes different types of equipment difficult to distinguish. As a technician is walking along a line of rack equipment, it is useful that he or she be able to identify quickly and easily a particular piece of equipment or a network connection targeted for repair or replacement. Because the divider panel  410  protrudes from the body of the electronics assembly  400 , and therefore sticks out from the equipment rack, it facilitates identification of the electronics assembly  400 , SFP module  405 , SFP columns  415   a  and  415   b , SFP transceivers  407 , and SPF ports  420 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 5  illustrates a divider plate  510  coupled between two columns of ports  515   a  and  515   b  on a SFP module  505  attached to a circuit board  501  that is installed in a subrack  530 , according to an example embodiment of the present invention. In this example embodiment of the present invention, the divider plate  510 , with labels affixed  511 , is installed in an electronics assembly  500 . The divider plate is held between columns  515   a  and  515   b  of adjacent SFP ports  520  by side panels  504  that attach to the front panel frame assembly  502   a  and  502   b  of the electronic assembly  500 . 
         [0035]    Further,  FIG. 5  illustrates an electronics assembly  500  partially installed in subrack  530 . The partial installation helps reveal the details of the components of the electronics assembly  500 , such as circuit board  501 , frame  502   a  and  502   b , side panel  504   a  and  504   b , SFP columns  515   a  and  515   b , SFP ports  505  and divider plate  510 . Once the electronics assembly  500  is fully installed in subrack  530 , the details of the components are no longer visible in typical system designs. However, because the divider plate  510  protrudes from the other subrack  530  equipment and provides a surface area for labels  511 , the electronics assembly  500  is easily identifiable. As previously disclosed, the divider plate  510  provides the spacing necessary for a technician to manipulate individual SFP plugs manually, without disturbing neighboring SFP ports  220  and obviates the need for special tooling. Furthermore, the divider plate is useful to help ensure that the bend radius and physical layout of the cables connecting the various SFP ports  220  to other network elements maintain their integrities and the integrity of the optical and/or electromagnetic signals carried thereon. 
         [0036]    While this invention has been particularly shown and described with references to example embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without deporting from the scope of the invention encompassed by the appended claims.