Abstract:
In one embodiment, a locking mechanism comprises: a lever-arm-component coupled to a first side of an module and a second side of the module that opposes the first side; the lever-arm-component rotates about a first axis; first and second latching-arm-components including latching-hooks, the first latching-arm-component coupled to the lever-arm-component on the first side and rotating about a second axis that run parallel to and offset from the first axis; the second latching-arm-component coupled to the lever-arm-component on the second side and rotating about the second axis; and a secondary fastener. The first and second axes are oriented in an over-center configuration such that when the lever-arm-component is rotated about the first axis from a first to second position, the second axis will pass through a locking axis and the latching-hooks apply a force against a mechanism of the enclosure that presses the module against a heat sink of the enclosure.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    In the field of telecommunications, there is a trend to reduce both the size and the expenses associated with infrastructure equipment. The result is a demand on telecommunications infrastructure equipment providers to manufacture smaller equipment that can be operated and maintained in a more cost effective manner, while retaining all the functionality of legacy equipment. The modularity of designs proposed for such equipment, along with the desire of equipment operators to be able to quickly change out modular components with minimal impact on service availability, has introduced new thermal management challenges for dissipating heat generated by telecommunications infrastructure equipment. 
         [0002]    For the reasons stated above and for other reasons stated below which will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the specification, there is a need in the art for improved systems for modular equipment mounting in telecommunications system. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    The Embodiments of the present invention provide methods and systems for cooling electronics equipment enclosures, and will be understood by reading and studying the following specification. 
         [0004]    In one embodiment, a locking mechanism for securing a module within an electronics enclosure comprises: a lever arm component rotatably coupled to a first side of an electronics module and a second side of the electronics module that opposes the first side, wherein the lever arm component rotates about a first axis that passes through the electronics module; a first latching arm component including a first latching hook, the first latching arm component rotatably coupled to the lever arm component on the first side of the electronics module, wherein the first latching arm component rotates about a second axis that run parallel to and offset from the first axis; a second latching arm component including a second latching hook, the second latching arm component rotatably coupled to the lever arm component on the second side of the electronics module, wherein the second latching arm component rotates about the second axis that runs parallel to and offset from the first axis; and at least one secondary fastener coupled to the electronics module. The first axis and second axis are oriented in an over-center configuration such that when the lever arm component is rotated about the first axis from a first position to a second position, the second axis will pass through a locking axis. When the lever arm component is rotated about the first axis from the first position to the second position, the first latching hook and the second latching hook apply a force against at least a first hook mechanism of the electronics enclosure that presses the electronics module against a heat sink of the electronics enclosure. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    Embodiments of the present invention can be more easily understood and further advantages and uses thereof more readily apparent, when considered in view of the description of the preferred embodiments and the following figures in which: 
           [0006]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  are diagrams illustrating two sides of an electronics module having a mounting mechanism of one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0007]      FIG. 1C  is a close-up detail of the mounting mechanism of one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  illustrates an electronics enclosure for housing the electronics module of  FIGS. 1A and 1B ; and 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating of an electronics module with a mounting mechanism in its fully engaged position. 
       
    
    
       [0010]    In accordance with common practice, the various described features are not drawn to scale but are drawn to emphasize features relevant to the present invention. Reference characters denote like elements throughout figures and text. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0011]    In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of specific illustrative embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that logical, mechanical and electrical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense. 
         [0012]    This disclosure describes improved systems for modular equipment mounting in telecommunications system. Embodiments of the present invention described herein provide means for removing heat from modularized telecommunications electronics, particularly modules comprising high power amplifiers used in wireless telecommunications, while also providing a means for quickly and securely mounting such modules within an electronics enclosure. Further, one or more embodiments of the present invention described herein further provide means that assist a technicians in carrying and handling such modules during the installation or removal process. 
         [0013]    Solutions provided by embodiments of the present invention provide a mounting mechanism in the form of a lever arm component of an electronics module that is designed to provide a force onto a hook feature that secures a heat transferring surface of the electronics module to a heat sink feature of an electronics enclosure that houses the electronics module. The lever arm component provides a means for amplifying the force exerted by the technician when latching the electronics module to the heat sink, increasing the force that holds the electronics module to the heat sink to provide for a correspondingly better thermal connection between the two, thus improving thermal performance. The lever arm components further spans the width of the module and to serve as a handle that provides a gripping point for the module. Once installed into the electronics enclosure the handle provided by the lever arm tucks out of the way so that no portion of the lever arm protrudes above the upper surface or past any side surface of the module. This ensures that sufficient clearance is provided so that the enclosure doors can be sealed once the module is installed. 
         [0014]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  are diagrams illustrating generally at  100  an electronics module  110  having a mounting mechanism (shown generally at  120 ) of one embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 1A  illustrates an upper (or first) side of module  110  which  FIG. 1B  illustrates the opposing lower (or second) side of module  110 . In one embodiment, electronics module  110  comprises electrical components for implementing broad-band wireless telecommunications within a radio frequency (RF) band, based on modulation standards such as, but not limited to, Advanced Mobile Phone System (AMPS), code division multiple access (CDMA), Wide-band CDMA (WCDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), Global System for Mobile communications (GSM), Cellular Digital Packet Data (CDPD), Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Integrated Digital Enhanced Network (iDEN), and Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM), Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax), and Long Term Evolution (LTE). As such, electronics module  110  includes one or more high power electronic components  115 , such as a high power RF amplifier. 
         [0015]    Electronics module  110  is installed within an enclosure  130 , such as shown in  FIG. 2 . Enclosure  130  comprises a heat sink  132  that acts as a backplane for enclosure  130 . Enclosure  130  further includes upper and lower panels  134  and  136  coupled to the heat sink  132 , and enclosure doors  160  each attached via a respective hinge  135  to the heat sink  132 . Enclosure doors  160  close to form a weatherproof seal around the upper and lower panels  134  and  136 , and seal against each other, to create an enclosed environment that protects electronics module  110  from environmental elements and from tampering. 
         [0016]    The high power electronic components  115  are located within electronics module  110  such that they either directly or indirectly establish a heat transferring interface  140  that facilitates the transfer of thermal energy generated by the components  115  to the heat sink  132 . Heat sink  132 , in turn, facilitates dissipation of that thermal energy to the external environment surrounding the enclosure  130 . In one embodiment, the heat transferring interface  140  comprises part of the device body of the high power electronic components  115 . In one embodiment, either the heat transferring interface  140  or the heat sink  132  further comprises a thermal phase-change material, or other thermally conducting material. 
         [0017]    In order to secure electronics module  110  within enclosure  130  so that the heat transferring interface  140  of module  110  is firmly in contact with heat sink  132 , the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B  provides the mounting mechanism  120 . Referring to  FIG. 1A , mounting mechanism  120  comprises a lever arm component  122  and a first latching arm component  123  that further comprises a latching hook  124 . Module  110  further comprises a secondary fastener shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B  as a hook  125 . As shown in  FIG. 1B , mounting mechanism  120  further comprises a second latching arm component  123 ′ with a latching hook  124 ′ that are mirror images of latching arm component  123  and latching hook  124 , respectively. 
         [0018]    Mounting mechanism  120  secures electronics module  110  onto heat sink  132  by engaging the latching hooks  124  and  124 ′, and secondary fastener  125 , with corresponding hook mechanism  142  and  144  located on heat sink  132 . In one embodiment, hook mechanism  142  and  144  are continuous extruded metal components mounted in parallel to the length of heat sink  132  from approximately upper panel  134  towards lower panel  136 . In one embodiment secondary fastener  125  is also an extruded metal component running the width of module  110 . 
         [0019]    The lever arm component  122  and latching arm components  123  and  123 ′ are coupled together, and to the module  110  using an “over-center” dual pivot-axis configuration. The lever arm component  122  spans the width of module  110  from the first side of module  110  to the second side of module  110 . The lever arm component  122  is coupled to the module  110  at pivot points  160  and  160 ′. The pivot points  160  and  160 ′ are aligned to form a first axis of rotation for lever arm component  122  about module  110 . The latching arm components  123  and  123 ′ are each respectively coupled to the lever arm component  122  at a pivot point  164  and  164 ′. Pivot points  164 ,  164 ′ form a second axis or rotation that is offset from the first axis formed by pivot points  160 ,  160 ′ such that the pivot points  164 ,  164 ′ will rotate about pivot points  160 ,  160 ′ via an arced path as lever arm component  122  is operated. 
         [0020]    In operation, electronics module  110  is installed by first engaging secondary fastener  125  into the heat sink&#39;s second hook mechanism  144 . With the lever arm component  122  rotated into a disengaged position (that is, clockwise as viewed from  FIG. 1A ) the latching arm components  123 ,  123 ′ are free to swing. Electronics module  110  is rotated into position so that the heat transferring interface  140  is pressed flush against heat sink  132 . Then, as the lever arm component  122  is rotated towards module  110  and into the engaged position, latching hooks  124 ,  124 ′ will catch the heat sink&#39;s first hook mechanism  142 . As the lever arm component  122  rotates into the engaged position, each latching hook  124 ,  124 ′ will exert a force onto heat sink hook mechanism  142  which will press heat transferring interface  140  into firm contact with heat sink  132 . 
         [0021]      FIG. 1C  provides a detailed view of the junction between lever arm component  122  and latching arm component  123 . Once lever arm component  122  is rotated such that latching arm component  123  catches heat sink hook mechanism  142 , a locking axis  180  is defined. In one embodiment, locking axis  180  is defined by the line that connects the interface of latching hook  124  and hook mechanism  142  with pivot point  160 . When lever arm component  122  is engaged such that pivot point  164  crosses locking axis  180 , the mounting mechanism  120  will “lock” such that it will require a non-trivial force applied to the lever arm component  122  to swing pivot point  164  clockwise back past pivot point  160 . This over-center configuration of the lever arm and latching arm components  122  and  123  produces a “snapping” action as the mechanism  110  is locked, providing feedback to the installer that the latching mechanism is properly engaged. 
         [0022]    In alternate embodiments the electronics enclosure  130  is sized to accommodate one or more additional electronics modules such as module  110 . In one such embodiment, these additional modules are installed onto heat sink  132  using the same heat sink hook mechanisms  142  and  144  described above for mounting module  110 . 
         [0023]    As shown in  FIG. 3  generally at  300 , in one embodiment, installing module  110  with the lever arm component  122  rotated into the fully engaged position also positions the lever arm component  122  within the profile of module  110  such that lever arm component will not interfere with the closing of enclosure doors  160 . In one embodiment, failure to fully engage lever arm component  122  will cause a portion of the lever arm component to protrude beyond the profile of module  110  so that enclosure doors  160  cannot be secured together. This further provides feedback to the installer that the latching mechanism  120  is properly engaged. 
         [0024]    In one embodiment, in operation, de-installation of electronics module  110  is performed by rotating the lever arm component  122  to disengage the latching mechanism  120  and rotating electronics module  110  to disengage secondary fastener  125  from heat sink hook  144 . When electronics module  110  is not installed in enclosure  130 , lever arm component  122  functions as a handle for holding and carrying the electronics module  110 . In one embodiment, electronics module  110  weight approximately 16-18 pounds. Accordingly, in one embodiment, the hardware for implementing mounting mechanism  120  is specified to support the weight of electronics module  110  when carried by lever arm component  122 . 
         [0025]    Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that any arrangement, which is calculated to achieve the same purpose, may be substituted for the specific embodiment shown. This disclosure is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the present invention. Therefore, it is manifestly intended that this invention be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.