Abstract:
The coupling apparatus couples two cards of a first size to fit in to a chassis having slots of second size. The coupling apparatus can connect two 3U cards together by clamping the first card and the second card between a first plate and a second plate to effectively form a combined card of a second size. Thus two 3U cards can be connected together and inserted into a 6U slot in a 6U chassis.

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM  
       [0001]    This application claims benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/272,003 titled “3U-3U ADAPTER FOR ANY 6U PXI/CPCI COMPLIANT CHASSIS” filed Feb. 27, 2001, whose inventor is Richard Baldwin. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention relates to an adapter for coupling two cards of one size to create a combined card of a second size, and more specifically to create a combined card in a CompactPCI/PXI form factor.  
         DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART  
         [0003]    An instrument is a device which collects data or information from an environment or unit under test and displays this information to a user. An instrument may also perform various data analysis and data processing on acquired data prior to displaying the data to the user. Examples of various types of instruments include oscilloscopes, digital multimeters, pressure sensors, etc., and the types of information which might be collected by respective instruments include voltage, resistance, distance, velocity, pressure, frequency of oscillation, humidity or temperature, among others.  
           [0004]    The various hardware interface options currently available for instrumentation systems can be categorized into various types, including IEEE 488-controlled instruments (GPIB instruments), VXI bus instruments, PXI bus instruments, plug-in data acquisition (DAQ) boards, and RS-232-controlled (serial) instruments, among others.  
           [0005]    The PXI (PCI eXtensions for Instrumentation) bus is a platform for instrumentation systems that was introduced in 1997. PXI combines the high-speed PCI bus with integrated timing and triggering designed specifically for measurement and automation applications to deliver significant performance improvements over older architectures. PXI is built on the modular and scalable CompactPCI specification and the high-speed PCI bus architecture. As a result, PXI products maintain complete interoperability with CompactPCI, offering superior mechanical integrity, easy systems integration, and more expansion slots than desktop computers.  
           [0006]    [0006]FIG. 1 (Related Art) Exemplary Chassis  
           [0007]    [0007]FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary chassis of either VXI, VME, CompactPCI, or PXI type. Cards  102 A,  102 B, and  102 C are designed to physically connect with the chassis backplane (not shown). The chassis  100  comprises a housing which is configured to define a plurality of slots. The backplane is comprised in the housing and is adapted for transmitting electrical signals. Cards  102 A,  102 B, and  102 C can be of either 3U or 6U size, such as described below with reference to FIG. 2.  
           [0008]    [0008]FIG. 2 (Related Art) Various Card Formats  
           [0009]    [0009]FIG. 2 illustrates different card formats as defined by the IEEE 1101.10, CompactPCI, and PXI specifications. The IEEE 1101.10, CompactPCI, and PXI specifications define two card sizes, referred to as 3U and 6U, and two chassis sizes, referred to as 3U and 6U, designed to accept 3U and 6U cards, respectively. The IEEE 1101.10, CompactPCI, and PXI specification define 6U card size to be more than twice as tall as the 3U card size.  
           [0010]    Since there are two chassis sizes and two card sizes, it would be advantageous to allow 3U cards to fit into a 6U chassis. Related art such as Front Panel Adapter, PN# 3687098 and PN# 3687471 from Rittal allow users to connect two 3U cards into a single 6U slot in a 6U chassis. However, Rittal and related solutions may require a pre-defined set of mounting holes on the cards  102 A,  102 B, and  102 C in order to use the adapter. The pre-defined holes may not be universal to all CompactPCI cards  102 A,  102 B, and  102 C, thus making the adapter difficult to utilize properly. Other related art includes solutions for a 6U chassis with a pre-defined number of 3U slots, such as products from Adlink, Ziatech, and Diversified Technologies.  
           [0011]    However, a flexible solution is desired which will ease the installation of two 3U cards in any single 6U slot in a 6U chassis, and which will accept any CompactPCI card.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0012]    One embodiment of the present invention comprises an adapter which can couple two 3U cards to fit a single 6U slot in a 6U chassis. The apparatus is operable to couple a first module to a second module to form a combined module. The apparatus comprises a first plate and a second plate, coupled together by one or more coupling elements.  
           [0013]    In one embodiment, the method comprises positioning the first plate to physically contact an upper portion of the first side of the first module and a lower portion of the first side of the second module. The first plate has an interior side and an exterior side. A lower portion of the interior side of the first plate is operable to contact the upper portion of the first side of the first module, and an upper portion of the interior side of the first plate is operable to contact the lower portion of the first side of the second module.  
           [0014]    The method may also comprise positioning the second plate to physically contact an upper portion of the second side of the first module and a lower portion of the second side of the second module. The second plate also has an interior side and an exterior side. A lower portion of the interior side of the second plate is operable to contact the upper portion of the second side of the first module, and an upper portion of the interior side of the second plate is operable to contact the lower portion of the second side of the second module.  
           [0015]    The method may then comprise applying one or more coupling elements operable to couple the first plate to the second plate. This operates to clamp the upper portions of the first side and the second side of the first module between a lower portion of the first plate and a lower portion of the second plate. This also further operates to clamp the lower portions of the first side and the second side of the second module between an upper portion of the first plate and an upper portion of the second plate. This further operates to clamp the first plate and the second plate together, thereby coupling the first module to the second module to form a combined module of a second size.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]    A better understanding of the present invention can be obtained when the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment is considered in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art chassis of VXI/VME/CompactPCI/PXI type;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 2 illustrates prior art various card formats;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate exemplary embodiments of the apparatus, according to one embodiment;  
         [0020]    FIGS.  4 A- 4 E illustrate a method for coupling first module to second module, according to one embodiment;  
         [0021]    FIGS.  5 A- 5 D illustrate another method for coupling first module to second module, according to one embodiment;  
         [0022]    FIGS.  6 A- 6 B illustrate a method for coupling a first plate to the second module, according to one embodiment;  
         [0023]    FIGS.  7 A- 7 C illustrate outside step-down regions, according to one embodiment;  
         [0024]    FIGS.  8 A- 8 D illustrate exemplary embodiments of the coupling apparatus, according to one embodiment. 
     
    
       [0025]    Although the system and method of the present invention has been described in connection with the preferred embodiment, it is not intended to be limited to the specific form set forth herein, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, as can be reasonably included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0026]    Incorporation by Reference  
         [0027]    U.S. patent application Ser. No. 5,995,376 titled “Chassis which includes configurable slot 0 locations” filed May 20, 1997, is hereby incorporated by reference as though fully and completely set forth herein.  
         [0028]    U.S. patent application Ser. No. 6,198,633 B1 titled “Computer system and enclosure thereof” filed Jul. 17, 1998, is hereby incorporated by reference as though fully and completely set forth herein.  
         [0029]    FIGS.  3 A and  3 B—Exemplary Embodiments of the Apparatus  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 3A and 3B illustrate exemplary embodiments of an apparatus for coupling a first module  200 A to a second module  200 B to form a combined module  360 . The apparatus comprises a first plate  250 A and a second plate  250 B, coupled together by one or more coupling elements  240 . FIGS. 3A and 3B are exploded views to illustrate the various components.  
         [0031]    In one embodiment, the first module  200 A and the second module  200 B each comprises a front face  204 A and  204 B respectively, a back face  206 A and  206 B respectively, opposite to the front face  204 A and  204 B respectively. Each back face  206  comprises one or more connectors for coupling to a chassis  100 . The first module  200 A and the second module  200 B each comprises a first lateral edge  220 A and  220 B respectively. The first lateral edge  220 A and  220 B each comprises a first keep-out region  230 A and  230 B respectively which extends at least a portion of the distance from the front face  204 A and  204 B to the back face  206 A and  206 B, respectively.  
         [0032]    The first module  200 A and the second module  200 B each comprises a second lateral edge  222 A and  222 B respectively. The second lateral edge  222 A and  222 B is located opposite to the first lateral edge  220 A and  220 B respectively. The second lateral edge  222 A and  222 B each comprises a second keep-out region  232 A and  232 B respectively, which extends at least a portion of the distance from the front face  204 A and  204 B to the back face  206 A and  206 B, respectively.  
         [0033]    In one embodiment, each of the first module  200 A and the second module  200 B has a first size. In one embodiment, the first size may be referred to as 3U.  
         [0034]    In one embodiment, the apparatus may comprise a first plate  250 A and a second plate  250 B, and one or more coupling elements  240  operable to couple the first plate  250 A to the second plate  250 B. In one embodiment, the first plate  250 A and the second plate  250 B each may comprise a first lateral edge  260 A and  260 B respectively, and a second lateral edge  262 A and  262 B respectively opposite to the first lateral edge  260 A and  260 B respectively.  
         [0035]    In one embodiment, in coupling the first plate  250 A to the second plate  250 B, the one or more coupling elements  240  are operable to clamp the first keep-out region  230 A of the first module  200 A between the second lateral edge  262 A of the first plate  250 A and the second lateral edge  262 B of the second plate  250 B, and to clamp the second keep-out region  232 B of the second module  200 B between the first lateral edge  260 A of the first plate  250 A and the first lateral edge  260 B of the second plate  250 B, thereby coupling the first module  200 A to the second module  200 B to form a combined module  360  of a second size.  
         [0036]    In one embodiment, the combined module  360  is operable to be inserted into a slot in the chassis  100 , wherein the chassis  100  comprises one or more slots each operable to receive a module  360  of the second size.  
         [0037]    In one embodiment, the first size comprises a first height, wherein the front face  204 A and the back face  206 A of the first module  200 A and the second module  200 B each has the first height. The second size comprises a second height, which is at least twice the first height. In one embodiment, the first height is approximately 3U, and the second height is approximately 6U.  
         [0038]    In one embodiment, the combined module  360  comprises a back face  366 , wherein the back face  366  of the combined module  360  comprises one or more connectors for coupling to a chassis  100 . The combined module  360  may comprise the back face  206 A of the first module  200 A and the back face  206 B of the second module  200 B.  
         [0039]    In one embodiment, a card alignment guide  280  is operable to physically removably connect to the back face  206 A of the first module  200 A and to the back face  206 B of the second module  200 B to align the first module  200 A and the second module  200 B. The card alignment guide  280  may be used to position and align the first module  200 A and the second module  200 B while the apparatus is being applied to couple the first module  200 A and the second module  200 B together. In one embodiment, the card alignment guide  280  is operable to be removed from the back face  366  of the combined module  360  after the apparatus has been fixedly coupled to the first module  200 A and the second module  200 B.  
         [0040]    When the combined module  360  is inserted into a slot in the chassis  100 , the one or more connectors on each of the first module  200 A and the second module  200 B may be adapted to connect to corresponding connectors in the chassis  100 .  
         [0041]    In one embodiment, the first module  200 A and the second module  200 B comprise at least one injector/ejector lever  300 A,  300 B. The injector/ejector lever  300 A,  300 B is operable to inject/eject a module  200 A,  200 B, and  360  into/out of a chassis  100 .  
         [0042]    In one embodiment, the first plate  250 A may comprise a handle element  302 . The handle element  302  may couple to the second module  200 B. Referring now to FIG. 3B, in another embodiment, the first plate  250 A may comprise a lever mounting element  310 . The lever mounting element  310  may couple to the second module  200 B.  
         [0043]    FIGS.  4 A- 4 E and  5 A- 5 D—Exemplary Methods for Coupling First Module to Second Module  
         [0044]    FIGS.  4 A- 4 E and FIGS.  5 A- 5 D illustrate exemplary methods for coupling the adapter to the first module  200 A and to the second module  200 B. The first module  200 A and the second module  200 B each comprise a first side  290 A and  290 B respectively, and a second opposite side  292 A and  292 B respectively.  
         [0045]    In one embodiment, the method comprises positioning the first plate  250 A to physically contact an upper portion of the first side  290 A of the first module  200 A and a lower portion of the first side  290 B of the second module  200 B. The first plate  250 A has an interior side  254 A and an exterior side  256 A. In one embodiment, a lower portion of the interior side  254 A of the first plate is operable to contact the upper portion of the first side  290 A of the first module  200 A. In addition, an upper portion of the interior side  254 A of the first plate  250 A is operable to contact the lower portion of the first side  290 B of the second module  200 B.  
         [0046]    In one embodiment, the method comprises positioning the second plate  250 B to physically contact an upper portion of the second side  292 A of the first module  200 A and a lower portion of the second side  292 B of the second module  200 B. The second plate  250 B has an interior side  254 B and an exterior side  256 B. In one embodiment, a lower portion of the interior side  254 B of the second plate  250 B is operable to contact the upper portion of the second side  292 A of the first module  200 A. In addition, an upper portion of the interior side  254 B of the second plate  250 B is operable to contact the lower portion of the second side  292 B of the second module  200 B.  
         [0047]    In one embodiment, the method comprises applying one or more coupling elements  240  operable to couple the first plate  250 A to the second plate  250 B. In one embodiment. The coupling elements  240  operate to clamp the upper portions of the first side  290 A and the second side  292 A of the first module  200 A between the lower portion of the first plate  250 A and the lower portion of the second plate  250 B. The coupling elements  240  further operate to clamp the lower portions of the first side  290 B and the second side  292 B of the second module  200 B between an upper portion of the first plate  250 A and an upper portion of the second plate  250 B. The coupling elements  240  further operate to clamp the first plate  250 A and the second plate  250 B together, thereby coupling the first module  200 A to the second module  200 B to form a combined module  360  of a second size.  
         [0048]    The combined module  360  may then be inserted into a slot in the chassis  100 , wherein the chassis  100  comprises one or more slots each operable to receive a module of the second size.  
         [0049]    In one embodiment, the adapter may be coupled with the first module  200 A and the second module  200 B simultaneously. The adapter may be coupled with the first module  200 A first, then the second module  200 B. Alternatively, the adapter may be coupled with the second module  200 B first, then the first module  200 A.  
         [0050]    In one embodiment, the injector/ejector lever  300 B may be removed from the second module  200 B. In one embodiment, the handle  302  on the first plate  250 A may be coupled to the second module  200 B. In another embodiment, the lever mounting element  310  may be coupled to the second module  200 B.  
         [0051]    FIGS.  6 A- 6 B—Exemplary Method for Coupling a First Plate to the Second Module  
         [0052]    [0052]FIG. 6A illustrates an exemplary method for coupling the first plate  250 A to the second module  200 B, according to one embodiment. FIG. 6B illustrates a detailed coupling operation, where a coupling element  304  is used to couple the first plate  250 A to the second module  200 B. In one embodiment, the first plate  250 A comprises the handle element  302 .  
         [0053]    FIGS.  7 A— 7 C—Exemplary Embodiments of Outside Step-Down Regions  
         [0054]    FIGS.  7 A- 7 C illustrate exemplary embodiments of outside step-down regions. In one embodiment, at least one of the first plate  250 A and the second plate  250 B further comprises the outside step-down region  320 . Prior to clamping first plate  250 A and second plate  250 B together, the outside step-down region may be operable to provide guide rail functionality for the keep out region  232 A and  232 B of each of the first module  200 A and the second module  200 B during coupling. FIG. 7A shows the combined module  360  as viewed from the side, and FIGS. 7B and 7C show the combined module  360  as viewed from the back.  
         [0055]    In one embodiment, at least one of the first plate  250 A and the second plate  250 B further comprises one or more mounting holes  295  operable to couple with air flow deflectors (not shown).  
         [0056]    FIGS.  8 A- 8 D—Exemplary Embodiments of Coupling Apparatus  
         [0057]    FIGS.  8 A- 8 D illustrate exemplary embodiments of the coupling apparatus. FIG. 8A shows the coupling apparatus as viewed from the side, and FIG. 8B shows the coupling apparatus as viewed from the back. In one embodiment, as illustrated by FIGS. 8A and 8B, the second plate  250 B comprises two outside step-down regions  320 .  
         [0058]    In another embodiment, as illustrated by FIGS. 8C and 8D, the first plate  250 A and the second plate  250 B each comprises two outside step-down regions  320 . FIG. 8C shows the coupling apparatus as viewed from the side, and FIG. 8D shows the coupling apparatus as viewed from the back.  
         [0059]    In one embodiment, the apparatus is operable to absorb heat from the first module  200 A and the second module  200 B through the first and second lateral edges  220 A and  222 B respectively. The heat may be dissipated through optional heat sinks (not shown). Optional heat sinks may comprise air flow deflectors.  
         [0060]    In one embodiment, the apparatus further comprises a front bracket (not shown). The front bracket may be used for support, such as when the combined module  360  is injected/ejected in/out of the chassis  100 . The front bracket may also enable the adapter to work in a high shock and vibration environment.  
         [0061]    In one embodiment, the apparatus further comprises an EMC gasket (not shown), which may be used for Electromagnetic compatibility. The EMC gasket may also provide additional shielding and grounding functionality for the combined module  360  in the chassis  100 .  
         [0062]    In one embodiment, the apparatus is operable to provide a good grounding connection between the first module  200 A, the second module  200 B, and the chassis  100 .  
         [0063]    Numerous variations and modifications will become apparent to those skilled in art once the above disclosure is fully appreciated. It is intended that the following claims be interpreted to embrace all such variations and modifications.