Abstract:
A patching system includes network equipment in a cabinet; a first patch panel cabinet; a second patch panel cabinet; a vertical patch panel mounted between the first patch panel cabinet and the second patch panel cabinet, the vertical patch panel having telecommunications connectors mounted therein; and a vertical cable manager mounted adjacent to one of the first patch panel cabinet and the second patch panel cabinet.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/983,634, filed Oct. 30, 2007, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Embodiments relate to rack and cabinet systems for mounting patch panels and active equipment. Patch panels or cross-connect products provide a centralized point for connecting voice and/or data lines to active equipment. Patch panels include a plurality of energy transmission connectors, e.g., electrical connectors and/or fiber optic cable connectors. Patch panels are commonly located in confined, relatively remote areas, such as termination closets. Installers generally perform wire terminations with little room to maneuver patch panels or themselves. Therefore, patch panel assemblies must be compact to save space, and to facilitate installer access to each patch panel. 
         [0003]    High connector density from active equipment such as switches and servers or patch panels is used to allow the maximum quantity of connectors in a limited rack, cabinet or closet space. Relatively large numbers of connectors and cables or patch cords within a limited space requires efficient use of the space without undue complexity and without undue restriction on the ability to make and break the connections. 
         [0004]    Most patch panels are mounted on either a rack, in a cabinet or on a wall mount bracket and require rear access. When individual conductors are to be coupled to the insulation displacement contacts on the jacks or connectors, the limited space available when the patch panels are mounted in a rack or cabinet makes maintenance difficult. Also, conventional bracket mounted patch panels cannot be densely stacked and provide limited patch panel access. Additionally, cable access to conventional mounted brackets occurs through the top or bottom of the bracket to prohibit stacking. Thus, there is a need for improved patching systems. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    Embodiments of the invention include a patching system including network equipment in a cabinet; a first patch panel cabinet; a second patch panel cabinet; a vertical patch panel mounted between the first patch panel cabinet and the second patch panel cabinet, the vertical patch panel having telecommunications connectors mounted therein; and a vertical cable manager mounted adjacent to one of the first patch panel cabinet and the second patch panel cabinet. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of two cabinets in exemplary embodiments. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a vertical patch panel mounted between two cabinets. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a vertical cable manager mounted between two cabinets. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  illustrates a vertical patch panel positioned between cabinet areas in exemplary embodiments. 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  illustrates a vertical support panel in exemplary embodiments. 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  illustrates rear doors on a cabinet in exemplary embodiments. 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  illustrates cable panel trays on a side of a cabinet in exemplary embodiments. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]    Cable management solutions have been available within the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector for a number of years. To date, cable management solutions have been designed for patch cord management either in an open rack design or singularly within a four post fully enclosed equipment cabinet. Embodiments of the invention go beyond this simplistic approach and define a solution that supports storage and network enterprise equipment. 
         [0014]    Security within ICT spaces is becoming increasing important especially with the advent of co-location areas where multiple parties have access to the space, however a secure environment is required for the enterprise equipment. Embodiments of the invention address this issue. 
         [0015]    The fundamental reasoning behind embodiments of the invention is that both rack mounted server/storage equipment and network equipment have fundamentally different ways in dealing with patch cord management and as such the solution for each is different. It is this fundamental difference that embodiments of the invention seek to solve and is the reason why a holistic approach is used when considering this solution. 
         [0016]    There are three fundamental locations where enterprise solutions are used within data centers and ICT spaces as defined within ANSI/TIA-942-2005, these are Main Distribution Area (MDA), Horizontal Distribution Area (HDA) and Equipment Distribution Area (EDA). Each of these areas has different challenges for management of patch cords and embodiments of the invention are able to uniquely address the specific requirements for patch cord management within these areas. Embodiments of the invention include elements as follows: a vertical patch panel, integrated vertical cable manager and recessed cable zone as described in further detail herein. 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of two cabinets  104  in exemplary embodiments. Cabinets  104  may contain a variety of telecommunications equipment such as patch panels, active equipment, etc. Each cabinet has a front door  102  shown closed in  FIG. 1 . As described in further detail herein, a variety of vertical elements may be positioned between two cabinets  104 . These vertical elements include vertical patch panels, vertical cable managers and vertical power distribution panels. 
         [0018]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a vertical patch panel  108  mounted between two cabinets  104 , with doors  102  removed. The vertical patch panels  108  include openings that receive a variety of connectors, both copper and fiber. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the vertical patch panel  108  is fitted with a plurality of copper (e.g., RJ-45) and fiber connectors. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the vertical patch panel  108  is recessed relative to the front face of the cabinet rack frame  120 . This recess provides an area where cables (e.g., copper, fiber, coax, etc.) may be placed whilst still located behind the closed door  102 . The vertical patch panel  108  includes copper connectors  110  positioned on either side of fiber connectors  112 . It is understood that other arrangements of connectors may be used in embodiments of the invention. The copper connectors  110  are angled such that copper connectors on the left side of the vertical patch panel  108  are angle left and copper connectors on the right side of the vertical patch panel  108  are angled right. It is understood that any type of connector may be angled and embodiments are not limited to copper connectors. 
         [0019]    The vertical patch panel  108  is customized for the space between two cabinets  104  allowing for port identification and outlet orientation to be properly aligned for the end-user. Additional benefits include removal of cable from the server cabinet space to the space between cabinets. This promotes improved airflow within the cabinet for cooling and allows for greater active equipment density. 
         [0020]      FIG. 3  illustrates a vertical cable manager  106 , with a front cover  105  in an open position. The vertical cable manager  106  may be similar to those commercially available from The Siemon Company. As with the vertical patch panel  108 , the vertical cable manager  106  is recessed relative to the face  120  of the rack frame. This provides a clear and unencumbered cable zone for connecting equipment to the network. The vertical cable manager  106  is secured to both cabinets  104 . 
         [0021]    Vertical cable management systems have been on the market for a number of years. These cable management systems have been designed to reduce the complexity of managing the excess amount of patch cords. All cable management solutions have concentrated on the cross-connect panels where the switch and network equipment is located. Additionally these locations are also using an open lab rack solution combined with vertical managers. 
         [0022]    Server equipment cabinets generally have their patch panels mounted in the top of the cabinet so as to maximize the space allocation for additional server equipment. Embodiments of the invention mount the connecting hardware on vertical patch panel  108  in between the cabinets in the dedicated cable zone. The benefit of the design has a number of advantages including only one length of cord is required (typically 1 m), reduced water fall effect, horizontal cables are exterior (inside the cable zone) to the equipment cabinet, utilization of space within cabinet(s) to create an effective patch zone, moves adds and changes are significantly easier, increased and more efficient air flow reducing hot spots and a fully enclosed and lockable design. 
         [0023]    The vertical patch panel  108  enhances the design. Industry standard is that typically the patch panels (both copper and optical fiber) are located in the upper most locations within the equipment cabinet  104  and generally occupy approx  6  rack units (RU) including horizontal cable managers. The primary issue with this type of design is that different length patch cords are required to connect enterprise equipment to the network. This equipment cords may vary in length from 1 m to 5 m depending on the requirement. 
         [0024]    It is the different length cords that contribute to the problem of “water falls” within cabinets and can be a major cause of hot spots (high localized temperature) within equipment cabinets not to mention the difficulty in effecting Moves Adds or Changes (MAC&#39;s). Embodiments of the invention solve this issue of over-length patch cords by providing the ports in a vertical manner in a vertical patch panel  108  as shown in  FIG. 2 , for example. Common lengths of patch cords are used to patch equipment into the network. This vertical patch panel  108  is also recessed into the equipment cabinet and can be enclosed behind a cover plate that can also be locked without fouling on either the cover plate or the lockable doors on either side. The vertical cable manager  106  may be mounted on the backside of two cabinets  104  with the vertical patch panels  108  on the front side as shown in  FIG. 3 . Alternatively, a vertical cable manager  106  may be mounted directly above a vertical patch panel  108 . 
         [0025]    The vertical cable manager  106  provides several benefits. In order to have a complete solution for infrastructure management it is essential to also understand and address the issues related to not just servers and storage but additionally to network equipment. Network cabinets are traditionally an area where patch cords congestion is a significant problem and this area of the solution covers the answers to this problem. The integrated vertical cable manager  106  may be implemented using an existing product made by the Siemon Company and fits very well with the rest of the solution. Because of the recessed corner rails of the equipment cabinet, free and unabated access to the vertical cable manager  106  from behind the equipment cabinet doors is achievable. 
         [0026]    The vertical cable manager  106  provides a recessed cable zone that can be installed in between the cabinets. This enables all structured cabling to enter from in between the equipment cabinets and not from inside the cabinet. History has shown that there have been many problems when large amounts of cable are installed inside a cabinet, causing installation issues with equipment and even larger problems with poor ventilation inside. The recessed cable zone alleviates this problem. 
         [0027]    Embodiments of the invention have a number of potential variations, however the basic and fundamental concept is still the same. Patch panels and/or network equipment including power supply and conditioning equipment mounted vertically with rear cable management in between fully enclosed equipment cabinets. The current design allows for Siemon Angled Jacks along with MPO fibre modules however a variant of this design is to form a cut out in the metal work that is that same width as a standard 19 inch mounting rail and mount the patch panels and fibre enclosures vertically in the same space. The angled jack feature may be eliminated for the copper patch panel however other equipment could be mounted into this location such as SAN Switches and the like. 
         [0028]      FIG. 4  illustrates a vertical patch panel  108  in an alternate embodiment. In this embodiment, the vertical patch panel  108  is mounted on rails  130  to allow the vertical patch panel  108  to slide out away from the face of the cabinets  104 . This allows access to the rear side of the vertical patch panel  108  when needed. A pull  131  is provided on the front face of the vertical patch panel  108  to facilitate sliding the vertical patch panel  108  in and out. 
         [0029]      FIG. 5  illustrates a slideable support panel  170 . The slideable support panel  170  is mounted on rails  130  to allow the slideable support panel  170  to be mounted to cabinets  104  and slide in and out. The slideable support panel  170  includes openings  172  sized to fit standard rack equipment. For example, the vertical dimension of opening  172  may be 19 inches, which is a standard rack width. This allows existing components to be mounted to the slideable support panel  170  in a vertical orientation.  FIG. 5  depicts a vertical power distribution panel  107 . Further, existing patch panels (copper, fiber, etc.) may be mounted in opening  172 . The vertical power distribution panels  107  provide access points for power to cabinet equipment. 
         [0030]      FIG. 6  illustrates a cabinet  104  having dual hinging rear doors  150 . Each dual hinging rear door  150  includes two handles  152 . Each handle  152  operates a latching mechanism that drives pins  154  into recesses  156  in cabinet  104 . In a latched position, the pins  154  extend into recesses  156  in cabinet  104  to hinge the door  150  to the cabinet  104 . When the handle  152  is turned to an unlatched position, the pins  154  are retracted from recesses  156 . This allows doors  150  to open to the left side or to the right. This allows the rear doors  150  to move out of the way of vertical patch panel  108  or vertical cable manager  106  positioned between the cabinets  104 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 7  illustrates a side view of a cabinet and illustrates a number of cable tray panels  160 . Cable tray panels  160  include cable manager mounts in the form of openings  162  that receive cable managers fitted with a quarter-turn fastener. Cable tray panel  160  also includes raised arch members  164  that receive cable managers having a mounting strap (e.g., Velcro band). The cable tray panels  160  provide for cable management in vertical space between cabinets as well as provide cabinet-to-cabinet isolation for improved thermal management. Completely covering cabinet sidewalls with cable tray panels  160  provides containment of heat within the cabinet. One or more cable tray panels  160  can be removed to allow for thermal exchange between adjacent cabinets. In exemplary embodiments, four cable tray panels  160  are used to cover a side of a cabinet. Any number of the cable tray panels  160  can be removed to manage thermal exchange between two adjacent cabinets. 
         [0032]    While the invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt to a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed for carrying out this invention.