Patent Publication Number: US-2023140400-A1

Title: Network switch including transmission ports which are not arranged toward a same direction

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/274,528, filed on Nov. 2, 2021. The content of the application is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The disclosure is related to a network switch, and more particularly, a network switch including transmission ports which are not arranged toward a same direction. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     On a circuit board, the transmission ports located on the edge of the circuit board are usually laid out in the same direction. For example, on a printed circuit board (PCB), the transmission ports of user-network interface (UNI) and network-to-network interface (NNI) are usually laid out in the same direction. In other words, when the edge of the circuit board is parallel to the straight edge of the chassis opening, the plurality of transmission ports can be arranged along the straight edge of the circuit board. This setting is relatively simple in design, convenient for the user to plug and unplug the transceiver, and also convenient for observing the number and status of the transmission ports. 
     However, for high-speed signal transmission requirements, shortcomings of the above-mentioned technologies have been observed. When the chip is placed on the circuit board, the pins of the chip and the transmission port of the circuit board can be coupled through wires. However, for high-speed signal transmission, such as pulse amplitude modulation (PAM) signals of 50 Giga bits per second/lane (50 Gbps/lane) or even 112 Giga bits per second/lane (112 Gbps/lane), the signal paths between the chip pins and the leftmost transmission ports on the circuit board are too long. Similarly, the signal paths between the chip pins and the rightmost transmission ports on the circuit board are too long for high speed signals. The insertion loss caused by excessively long paths cannot be neglected, and the high speed signals cannot be transmitted smoothly. 
     In theory, a re-timer component or a gearbox component can be disposed between a transmission port and a chip pin to reduce the insertion loss. However, this solution will result in high hardware and software cost and excessive power consumption, so the feasibility is very low. In addition, flyover wires can be used for reducing the insertion loss, but this solution will result in lower yield and lower reliability. 
     Moreover, if the dielectric constant of the circuit board can be decreased, it is possible to reduce the insertion loss. However, with the development of material technology, it is difficult to reduce the dielectric constant of the circuit board. Hence, a solution is still in need to resolve the problem that the signal path between the transmission port of the circuit board and the chip pin is too long. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An embodiment includes a network switch including a circuit board and a plurality of transmission ports. The circuit board is disposed in a chassis, and an opening of the chassis is corresponding to a first reference line. The plurality of transmission ports are disposed on an edge of the circuit board, the edge is corresponding to a second reference line, and the first reference line and the second reference line form an acute angle. 
     Another embodiment includes a network switch including a circuit board, a plurality of first transmission ports and a plurality of second transmission ports. The circuit board is disposed in a chassis and includes a first edge, a second edge and a third edge. The first edge is substantially parallel to the second edge, and the third edge is inside the chassis. A first distance between the first edge and the third edge is shorter than a second distance between the second edge and the third edge. The plurality of first transmission ports are disposed on the first edge. The plurality of second transmission ports are disposed on the second edge. 
     These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment that is illustrated in the various figures and drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    to  FIG.  10    illustrates network switches according to different embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG.  1    illustrates a network switch  100  according to an embodiment. The network switch  100  can include a circuit board  105  and a plurality of first transmission ports  110 . The circuit board  105  can be disposed in a chassis  190 , and an opening  195  of the chassis  190  can be corresponding to a first reference line L 1 . As shown in  FIG.  1   , a plurality of fans  170  and a set of power supply units (PSUs) can be disposed in the chassis  190 . The plurality of first transmission ports  110  can be disposed on a first edge E 1  of the circuit board  105  for transmitting and/or receiving signals. The first edge E 1  can be corresponding to a second reference line L 2 . The first reference line L 1  and the second reference line L 2  can form a first acute angle θ 1 . 
     In  FIG.  1   , the first transmission ports  110  are not disposed along the first reference line L 1  corresponding the opening  195 , and are disposed along the second reference line L 2  which is not parallel to the first reference line L 1 . Hence, each of the first transmission ports  110  is arranged toward a direction different from a direction d 0  of the opening  195 . Since the first transmission ports  110  are not arranged toward the same direction of the opening  195 , the lengths of the conductive paths (e.g. the path P 1  in  FIG.  1   ) between the conductive interfaces of a chip  188  (e.g. pins or solder balls) and the first transmission ports  110  can be reduced. As a result, the insertion loss of transmitting signals is reduced. For example, the chip  188  can be an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). 
     In  FIG.  1   , the network switch  100  can optionally further include a plurality of second transmission ports  120  disposed on a second edge E 2  of the circuit board  105 . The second edge E 2  can be corresponding to a third reference line L 3 , and the first reference line L 1  and the third reference line L 3  can form a second acute angle θ 2 . Like the first transmission ports  110 , the second transmission ports  120  are not disposed along the first reference line L 1  corresponding the opening  195 . The second transmission ports  120  can be disposed along the third reference line L 3  which is not parallel to the first reference line L 1 . Hence, each of the second transmission ports  120  is arranged toward a direction different from the direction d 0  of the opening  195  and the direction of the first transmission ports  110 . The conductive paths (e.g. the path P 2  in  FIG.  1   ) between the conductive interfaces of a chip  188  (e.g. pins or solder balls) and the second transmission ports  120  can therefore be shortened. As a result, the insertion loss of transmitting signals is reduced. 
       FIG.  2    illustrates a network switch  200  according to another embodiment. Like the network switch  100 , the network switch  200  can include the first transmission ports  110  and the second transmission ports  120  which are arranged toward directions different from the direction d 0  of the opening  195 . As a result, the paths such as the paths P 1  and P 2  are shortened. In addition, as shown in  FIG.  2   , the network switch  200  can further include a plurality of third transmission ports  130  disposed on a third edge E 3  of the circuit board  105 , and the third edge E 3  can be corresponding to the first reference line L 1 . In other words, in a top view, the third transmission ports  130  can be arranged along a line parallel to the opening  195  of the chassis  190 , and the third transmission ports  130  can be arranged toward the same direction as the direction d 0 . 
     In  FIG.  2   , the circuit board  105  can optionally further include venting holes Vh. The venting holes Vh in  FIG.  2    are shown as an example, and the circuit board  105  in each of  FIG.  1    to  FIG.  10    can also optionally include one or more venting hole(s). 
       FIG.  3    illustrates a network switch  300  according to an embodiment. Like the network switch  200  in  FIG.  2   , the network switch  300  can include the first transmission ports  110  and the second transmission ports  120  arranged toward directions different from the direction d 0  of the opening  195 , and the transmission ports  130  can be arranged toward the same direction as the direction d 0 . However, in  FIG.  3   , the circuit board  105  can further include recessing edges Er. One of the recessing edges Er can be located between the first edge E 1  and the third edge E 3 . In addition, the other one of the recessing edges Er can be located between the second edge E 2  and the third edge E 3 . The paths between the chip and the transmission ports (e.g. the paths P 1  and P 2 ) can be further shortened by using the recessing edges Er. 
     As shown in  FIG.  1    to  FIG.  3   , the chip  188  can be disposed on the circuit board  105  and electrically connected to the first transmission ports  110  and the second transmission ports  120 . A bottom side Eb of the chip  188  can be substantially parallel to the first reference line L 1  in a top view. In other words, the bottom side Eb of the chip  188  can be substantially parallel to the opening  195  of the chassis  190 . 
       FIG.  4    illustrates a network switch  400  according to another embodiment. In  FIG.  4   , the chip  188  can be arranged in another way. In  FIG.  4   , the bottom side Eb of the chip  188  can be substantially not parallel to the first reference line L 1  in a top view. In other words, the bottom side Eb of the chip  188  can be substantially not parallel to the opening  195  of the chassis  190 . Compared with  FIG.  1    to  FIG.  3   , the chip  188  in  FIG.  4    can be rotated by a predetermined angle to be disposed. By rotating the chip  188  by a predetermined angle, the paths between the chip  188  and the transmission ports (e.g. the paths P 1  and P 3  in  FIG.  4   ) can be further shortened to reduce the insertion loss. 
     In  FIG.  4   , the layout of the transmission ports is similar to that in  FIG.  1   . However, this is an example, and the chip  188  in each of  FIG.  1    to  FIG.  10    can be optionally rotated to meet requirements. 
       FIG.  5    illustrates a network switch  500  according to another embodiment. The network switch  500  can be similar to the network switch  200  in  FIG.  2   . However, as shown in  FIG.  5   , the first transmission ports  110  of the network switch  500  can be disposed along a reference convex line C 1 . In a top view, the reference convex line C 1  can be convex toward a direction d 1 . Likewise, in  FIG.  5   , the second transmission ports  120  of the network switch  500  can be disposed along a reference convex line C 2 , and the reference convex line C 2  can be convex toward a direction d 2  in the top view. In  FIG.  5   , the first edge E 1  of the circuit board  105  can be convex toward the direction d 1  instead of being straight, and/or the second edge E 2  of the circuit board  105  can be convex toward the direction d 2  instead of being straight. By disposing the first transmission ports  110  and/or the second transmission ports  120  along reference convex line(s), the flexibility of design is increased. In  FIG.  5   , for example, the second reference line L 2  can be parallel to a straight line passing through a connection terminal T 11  of the first one of the first transmission ports  110  and a connection terminal T 1 L of the last one of the first transmission ports  110 . 
       FIG.  6    illustrates a network switch  600  according to an embodiment. The network switch  600  can be similar to the network switch  200  in  FIG.  2   . However, as shown in  FIG.  6   , the first transmission ports  110  of the network switch  600  can be disposed along a reference concave line C 61 . In a top view, the reference concave line C 61  can be concave toward a direction d 61 . Likewise, in  FIG.  6   , the second transmission ports  120  of the network switch  600  can be disposed along a reference concave line C 62 , and the reference concave line C 62  can be concave toward a direction d 62  in the top view. In  FIG.  6   , the first edge E 1  of the circuit board  105  can be concave toward the direction d 61  instead of being straight, and/or the second edge E 2  of the circuit board  105  can be concave toward the direction d 2  instead of being straight. By disposing the first transmission ports  110  and/or the second transmission ports  120  along reference concave line(s), the design flexibility is increased. In  FIG.  6   , for example, the second reference line L 2  can be parallel to a straight line passing through a connection terminal T 11  of the first one of the first transmission ports  110  and a connection terminal T 1 L of the last one of the first transmission ports  110 . 
       FIG.  7    illustrates a network switch  700  according to another embodiment. In  FIG.  7   , the first transmission ports  110  can be disposed in a stepped manner along a step-shaped reference line L 71 . For example, a second reference line L 2  corresponding to the first transmission ports  110  can be parallel to a straight line passing through a connection terminal T 11  of the first one of the first transmission ports  110  and a terminal connection T 1 L of the last one of the first transmission ports  110 . In  FIG.  7   , like  FIG.  3   , the circuit board  105  can have recessing edges Er to adjust the lengths of the paths between the transmission ports and the conductive interfaces of a chip  188  (e.g. pins or solder balls). 
       FIG.  8    illustrates a network switch  800  according to another embodiment. In  FIG.  8   , the connection terminals T 11  to T 1 L of the first transmission ports  110  can be located outside the opening  195  of the chassis  190 . Hence, it is convenient to connect external cables to the first transmission ports  110  and observe the statuses of the first transmission ports  110 . Likewise, the connection terminals of the second transmission ports  120  and the third transmission ports  130  can be located outside the opening  195 . 
       FIG.  9    illustrates a network switch  900  according to another embodiment. The network switch  900  can include a circuit board  905 , a plurality of first transmission ports  910  and a plurality of second transmission ports  920 . The circuit board  905  can be disposed in a chassis  990  and include a first edge E 91 , a second edge E 92  and a third edge E 93 . The first transmission ports  910  can be disposed on the first edge E 91 . The second transmission ports  920  can be disposed on the second edge E 92 . The first edge E 91  can be substantially parallel to the second edge E 92 . The third edge E 93  can be inside the chassis  990 . A first distance dt 91  between the first edge E 91  and the third edge E 93  can be shorter than a second distance dt 92  between the second edge E 92  and the third edge E 93 . In  FIG.  9   , the circuit board  905  can have a recessing edge Er between the first edge E 91  and the second edge E 92 . 
     By disposing the first transmission ports  910  and the second transmission ports  920  as shown in  FIG.  9   , the paths between the transmission ports and the conductive interfaces of a chip  188  (e.g. pins or solder balls) can be shortened. Since the distance between the first transmission ports  910  and the third edge E 93  is different from the distance between the second transmission ports  920  and the third edge E 93 , it can regarded that the transmission ports are not arranged in a row. 
     In  FIG.  9   , paths P 91 , P 92 , P 93  and P 94  seem to overlap with the components of the transmission ports and overlap with one another in a top view. However, since different paths can be implemented with different conductive layers of the circuit board  905 , signals can be effectively transmitted between the chip  988  and the transmission ports. 
       FIG.  10    illustrates a network switch  1000  according to an embodiment. The network switch  1000  can be similar to the network switch  400  in  FIG.  4   , and the similarities are not repeatedly described. In  FIG.  10   , the network switch  1000  can further include a light-emitting device  1050  coupled to the first transmission ports  110  for emitting light signals to indicate statuses of the first transmission ports  110 . The light-emitting device  1050  can include a control unit  1052  and lights  1054 . For example, the lights  1054  can include light-emitting diodes (LEDs). 
     In  FIG.  10   , the network switch  1000  can further include an optical reflection device  1060  used to reflect light signals of the first transmission ports  110  to indicate statuses of the first transmission ports  110 . For example, the optical reflection device  1060  can include a light source and a reflector (e.g. mirror), so that a user can observe the light signals of the transmission ports  110  through reflection. In  FIG.  10   , the light-emitting device  1050  and the optical reflection device  1060  can be used alternatively for a user to observe the statuses of the first transmission ports  110  inside the chassis  190 . 
     In  FIG.  10   , the placement and setting of the transmission ports and the chip can be like that in  FIG.  4   . This is an example, and embodiments are not limited thereto. In the network switches of  FIG.  1    to  FIG.  7    and  FIG.  9   , the light-emitting device  1050  and/or the optical reflection device  1060  of  FIG.  10    can be installed for the convenience of observing the statuses of the transmission ports. 
     In  FIG.  1    to  FIG.  10   , the circuit boards can be printed circuit boards (PCBs). A path between a transmission port on an edge of a circuit board and a conductive interface of a chip (e.g. pin or solder ball) can be shorter than 12 inches. The chip can be coupled to the transmission ports using the conductive traces of the circuit board without using a re-timer component, a gearbox component or a flyover wire. In  FIG.  1    to  FIG.  10   , each transmission port disposed on the edge of the circuit board can meet the requirements of pulse amplitude modulation (PAM) specification. In  FIG.  1    to  FIG.  10   , each transmission port disposed on the edge of the circuit board can transmit, receive or transceive signals. In  FIG.  1    to  FIG.  10   , each transmission port disposed on the edge of the circuit board can support the user-network interface (UNI) and/or the network-to-network interface (NNI). 
     In summary, by using one of the network switches  100  to  1000 , the shape of the circuit board can be adjusted to adjust the layout of the transmission ports on the edges of the circuit board, so as to shorten the paths between the transmission ports and the conductive interfaces of the chip. With the solutions provided by embodiments, the difficulties of reducing the dielectric constant of the circuit board can be avoided. For high speed applications, such as signal transmissions defined in the specifications of 50G PAM and 112G PAM, the solutions provided by embodiments are helpful to reduce the insertion loss, thereby solving the problems of high speed signal transmissions. 
     Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device and method may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and bounds of the appended claims.