Patent Publication Number: US-2013229780-A1

Title: Patch panel and method of facilitating access to rear ports of a component

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     In a computing system environment including a plurality of racks for network components, the network components may include ports both on the front and the rear. Such ports may provide connections to other components or may be connected to a power source to provide power to the component. Depending on the arrangement of racks and components, access to the ports in the back may be difficult. Additionally, the ports and corresponding cables in the rear of a network component may prevent the installation of additional devices which interface with the rear of the networking component. 
     SUMMARY 
     One aspect of the disclosure provides a patch panel for a component. According to an aspect of the disclosure, the patch panel may have a substantially planar body and a face arranged substantially perpendicularly to the body. The patch panel may also include a connection interface mounted to the face, the connection interface including at least a first port and a second port. The patch panel may also include at least one jumper having an end adapted to be connected to the connection interface, and wherein the jumper is secured to the body. 
     In one example, the patch may further include a mounting portion configured to secure the patch panel to the component, wherein the mounting portion comprises at least one aperture adapted to receive a fixation element. 
     In another example, the patch panel may include at least one fastener securing the at least one jumper to the body. The fastener may include a plurality of fasteners, with the plurality of fasteners arranged to prevent a curvature of the jumper beyond a minimum bend radius. In yet another example, the fastener may be a clamp and screw. 
     According to another aspect of the disclosure, the body of the patch panel may be formed integrally with the face. 
     According to one aspect, the first port includes an interior port disposed on an interior surface of the face adjacent to the body, and the second port includes an exterior port disposed on an opposing surface of the face with respect to the interior port. The jumper may be connected to the interior port of the connection interface. The exterior port and interior port may be coupled so as to provide a signal carrying connection between the exterior port and the rear port through the interior port and the at least one jumper. In one example, the at least one jumper is integrally formed with the interior port. The jumper may be selected from a group consisting of a fiber optic cable, a power cable, and a networking cable. 
     Another aspect of the disclosure provides a rack system including at least one shelf, a component secured within the at least one shelf, and a patch panel secured to the component. The patch panel may include a substantially planar body and a face arranged substantially perpendicularly to the body. The patch panel may further include a connection interface mounted to the face, the connection interface including at least a first port and a second port. The patch panel may also include at least one jumper having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is adapted to be connected to the connection interface and the second end is adapted to be connect to a rear port of the component, and wherein the jumper is secured to the body. 
     Another aspect of the disclosure provides a method of facilitating access to a rear port of a component, including providing a patch panel. The patch panel may include a substantially planar body and a face arranged substantially perpendicularly to the body. The patch panel may further include a connection interface mounted to the face, the connection interface including at least a first port and a second port, wherein the first and second port are communicatively coupled. The patch panel may further include at least one jumper having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is adapted to be connected to the connection interface, and the second end is adapted to be connected to a rear port of the component, and wherein the jumper is secured to the body. The patch panel may then be mounted to the component, and the at least one jumper may be coupled to the rear port of the component. The at least one jumper may then be coupled to the first port of the connection interface thereby providing a connection between the second port and the rear port through the first port and the at least one jumper. The at least one jumper may then be secured to the body. In another example, an external device may be coupled to the second port of the connection interface. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an example diagram of a rack architecture in accordance with aspects of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a view of an exemplary patch panel. 
         FIG. 3A  is a bottom view of an exemplary patch panel according to aspects of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 3B  is a front view of an exemplary patch panel according to aspects of the disclosure. 
         FIGS. 4A-4B  are views of an exemplary patch panel system in accordance with aspects of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a flow chart depicting a method of facilitating access to the rear ports of a component according to aspects of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     According to aspects of the disclosure, an exemplary patch panel for a component is disclosed. The exemplary patch panel may be secured to a component, such as a networking component, and may allow ports on the rear of the component to be accessed from the front of the component. The patch panel may include a plurality of jumpers, which provide a connection between rear ports of a component and a connection interface mounted to the face of the patch panel. The ports located at the rear of the component may then be accessed at the connection interface on the face of the patch panel. 
       FIG. 1  is an example of a mobile rack server system  100 . The server system  100  may include a mobile rack  110  having wheels  112 , a plurality of shelves  114  for holding components, a rack monitoring unit (RMU)  118  for monitoring the status of the features of the rack. In addition, the server system  100  may also include a plurality of rectifiers  124 , a battery backup  126 , battery boxes  128 ,  129 , and a plurality of computing components  130 - 132 . The server system  100  may supply power from a power source to the computing components  130 - 132 . For example, though not shown in the figures, each of the shelves of the rack may be connected, directly or indirectly, to a power supply, such as an AC or DC power source. The power supply may provide power or data to the components  130 - 132 , or battery backup  126  or battery boxes  128 ,  129 . Rectifiers  124  may modify the incoming power from the power supply, and in one example, may convert an incoming AC signal to a DC signal for use by the plurality of computing components  130 - 132 . 
     As will be described in further detail below, mobile rack  110  may house a plurality of computing components  130 - 132  which may be used in cooperation with an exemplary patch panel. In one example, the components  130 - 132  may be networking devices, such as servers, switches, or routers. 
       FIG. 2  is a bottom view of an exemplary patch panel  200  according to one aspect of the disclosure. In this example, the patch panel  200  may be mounted to a component  218 , which may be any of components  130 - 132  as shown in  FIG. 1 . For example, component  218  may be a server, a router, a switch, a host, a storage medium, or any other type of computing device. The component  218 , with the mounted patch panel  200 , may be housed in a mobile rack, such as the mobile rack  110  of server system  100  of  FIG. 1 . 
     Patch panel  200  may include a body  202  and a face  204 . Body  202  may be secured to the component  218  and may guide or support a plurality of jumpers from a rear port of the component to the face  204  of the patch panel  200 . The face may be attached to the body  202 , and may provide a connection interface for the jumpers and provide a connection to the rear ports of the component. 
     Patch panel  200 , including body  202  and face  204 , may be made of sheet metal, aluminum, plastic, or any other suitable material. In one example, a material selected for one or both of body  202  and face  204  may be selected so as not to cause an interference with the operation of component  218 . A non-magnetic or non-conductive material may be used to prevent such interference. Body  202  and face  204  may be formed of the same material or of different materials. Body  202  and face  204  may also be formed integrally or may be two separate pieces mounted together by welding or some other fixation method. 
     Body  202  may be of any size or dimension appropriate to accommodate a component  218 . In one example, body  202  may be substantially planar and may be arranged along a bottom or top surface of component  218 . Body  202  may extend from a front portion to the rear portion of the component  218 . In one example, component  218  may be shaped as a substantially rectangular box. It is understood that a front portion of component  218  may be a portion accessible by a user when component  218  is secured within a rack as depicted, for example, in  FIGS. 1 and 4A . Component  218  may also have a rear portion, opposite the front portion of component  218 , which may include rear ports  220  as described below and depicted in  FIG. 4B . A length of body  202  may be approximately the length, e.g., +/−1 in. of the component  218  from front to back. Body  202  may have a thickness of approximately  3 mm or less to allow a component  218 , with a patch panel  200  mounted thereto, to fit securely within a mobile rack. Body  202  may also have a width which corresponds to an arrangement of rear ports of a component  218 . For example, if component  218  includes a single port, body  202  may be of a width of approximately two inches to accommodate a single jumper. In another example, body  202  may have up to a width approximately equal to the width of a component  218  where the component has many rear ports which are spaced out. 
     When a patch panel  200  is mounted to a component, face  204  provides the connection interface which allows connection to the rear ports from the front of the component. Face  204  is arranged along a perimeter of component  218 , so as not to overlap or obscure a front panel of component  218 , and may extend (e.g., up to approximately an inch) away from the front surface of component  218 . Thus, an overall width of face  204  may be wider than 19″ and still allow patch panel  200  to be secured to a mobile rack. Face  204  may be arranged substantially perpendicularly, e.g., +/−5 degrees, to body  202  such that both body  202  and face  204  conform to the shape of the component  218 . In one example, face  204  may have a height and width to ensure that the component  218 , with a patch panel  200  mounted thereto, fits properly within a 19″ rack. 
     Patch panel may also include one or more body mounting portions  206 , and one or more face mounting portions  208 . In this example, the body mounting portions  206  may include one or more apertures which align with corresponding apertures in the component  218 . The body  202  may then be secured to the bottom of component  218  with a screw, bolt or any other suitable fixation device. In another implementation, body  202  may be secured to the top of component  218 . In such an arrangement, the corresponding apertures on component  218  may be on the top of the component  218 . Alternatively, or in combination with body mounting portions  206 , face mounting portions  208  may include one or more brackets arranged perpendicular to face portion  204  which engage with a corresponding portion on component  218 . In yet another implementation, face mounting portions  208  may include apertures designed to mate with corresponding apertures on a mobile rack for securing the patch panel  200  to the mobile rack. 
     Patch panel  200  may also include fasteners  212  for securing jumpers  214  ( FIG. 2 ) to body  202 . For example, jumpers  214  may include any types of cables which transfer data or power, such as optical fiber cables, power cables, coaxial cables, or any type of networking cables, such as Ethernet cables or twister pair cable. Jumpers  214  may connect to a rear port  220  of the component  218  at one end (e.g., a rear surface of the component  218 ), and may also connect to a connection interface  216  at another end (e.g., a front surface of the component  218 ), which will be described in greater detail below. Jumpers  214  may be approximately as long as body  202  and component. In one aspect, jumpers  214  may be optical fiber jumpers, and fasteners  212  may be positioned to maintain an appropriate bend radius to ensure data integrity and prevent mechanical destruction of cables. For example,  FIG. 2  depicts a plurality of fasteners  212  for each jumper  214 . Starting with the rear point  220  of the component  218 , jumper  214  may be secured to body  202  by a first fastener  212  located near the rear portion of the component  218 . Since the jumper  214  must complete a  180  degree turn, the first fastener may be located at a position which is offset from the location of the rear point  220 , e.g., vertically and/or horizontally offset from a plane which passes through both a front portion and rear portion of component  218 . For example, an offset distance may correspond to a minimum bend radius of jumpers  214 . In this way, a bend radius of jumper  214  does not surpass the minimum bend radius of the jumper  214  during the  180  degree turn between rear point  220  and the first fastener  212 , since a greater offset distance allows an increased bend radius of jumpers  214 . The subsequent fasteners  212  may also be oriented to maintain the appropriate bend radius for the jumper  212 . A minimum bend radius for jumpers  214  may vary based on a number of factors, such as cable type, material used to form jumpers  214 , diameter of jumper  214 , as well as other factors. According to an aspect of the disclosure, jumpers  214  may be optical fiber jumpers and may have a diameter of up to approximately 0.5 cm to 1.5 cm, e.g., 0.5 cm to 1.5 cm+/−0.25 cm. A minimum bend radius may be provided as a multiple of the diameter of jumpers  214 , depending on the factors discussed above, and in one example may be up to 20 times a diameter of jumpers  214 , or 30 cm in the example of a diameter of 1.5 cm. In another example, a minimum bend radius may be 10 times a diameter of jumpers  214 , i.e., approximately 10 cm for jumpers  214  with a diameter of 1 cm. It is understood that the diameters and minimum bend radii provided above are not exhaustive, and that any type of cable with any minimum bend radius may be used as one of jumpers  214 . 
     Fasteners  212  may be arranged on the body  202  based on the location and types of rear ports  220 . Fasteners  212  may secure jumpers  214  to body  202  by a clamp and screw, a slot and a clip, an integral flanged holding component, or any other appropriate fixation devices. Body  202  may also include a plurality of fastener points  228  thereon for securing fasteners  212  to body  202 . In one example, fastener points  228  correspond to fasteners  212 . In another example, fastener points  228  may include a plurality of apertures in body  202  for allowing fasteners  212  to be secured directly to component  218 . In another example, fastener points  228  may include a plurality of posts that engage with fasteners  212 . During installation of jumpers  214 , one of jumpers  214  may be inserted into the clamp of fastener  212 . Once inserted, the clamp may be tightened by way of a screw. Once tightened, jumper  214  is secured to body  202  and is less prone to movement or disconnection if component  218  is moved. In the example of  FIG. 2 , the rear ports  220  of component  218  include four optical fiber ports and one power port. Fasteners  212  may be arranged to include three fasteners  212  for each jumper  214  connected to the optical fiber ports, and two fasteners  212  for the jumper  214  connected to the power port. According to one aspect, tightening a screw of fastener  212  both secures the jumper  214  within a channel of the fastener  212 , as well as secures the fastener  212  and jumper  214  to body  202 . In another example, fasteners  212  may be integral with body  202 , and jumpers  214  may be snap-fit within a corresponding channel of fasteners  212 . In yet another aspect, fasteners  212  may secure body  202  directly to component  218 , in addition to securing jumpers  214 . For example, where the fasteners  212  include a clamp and screw, the screw may also affix the panel  200  to the component  218 . 
     Although the jumpers  214  are illustrated in the figures as being fastened to an external surface of the panel  200 , it should be understood that the jumpers may alternatively be fastened to the panel  200  between the panel  200  and the component  218 . For example, the jumpers  214  may be temporarily, permanently, or semi-permanently affixed (e.g., clipped, clamped, or glued) to an interior surface of the panel  200  prior to affixing the panel  200  to the component  218 . 
     Patch panel  200  may include one or more connection interfaces  216  to which jumpers  214  are connected. Once connected, a user may access the rear ports  220  of component  218  via the connection interface  216 . Connection interfaces  216  may be inserted through a plurality of corresponding cutouts  230 , as depicted in  FIG. 3B . Cutouts  230  may be a plurality of cutout portions in face  204  which allow connection interfaces to pass therethrough. Once connection interfaces  216  are inserted into cutouts  230 , they may be secured to the face  204  by any fixation device, such as by a screw and nut. In another example, connection interfaces  216  may include integrally formed snap-features which allow connection interfaces  216  to be snap fit with respect to face  204 . Each of the connection interfaces  216  may include an interior port  224  and an exterior port  226 . Interior port  224  may be connected to rear ports  220  by way of jumpers  214 . Exterior port  226  provides an external connection on face  204 , such that a user may access the rear ports  220  on the front of the component  218 . Thus, instead of connecting an external cable to rear ports  220 , a user may connect it to exterior port  226 . In one example, both interior port  224  and exterior port  226  are female ports, and may receive a corresponding connection cable. In another example, interior port  224  may be a male port interface to receive a corresponding jumper  214  with a female interface. In yet another example, jumper  214  may be integral with connection interface  216 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , jumper  214  may connect at one end to a port on the rear ports  220  of component  218 . At the other end, jumper  214  may connect to an interior port  224  of connection interface  216 . In this way, interior port  224  may be a portion of connection interface  216  that is accessible at an interior surface of face  204  adjacent body  202 , and may be oriented at an interior portion of a plane formed by face  204 . Exterior port  226  may be a portion of connection interface  216  that is oriented on an opposing face of the plane formed by face  204 . Interior port  224  and exterior port  226  may be communicatively coupled to provide a signal carrying connection therebetween. This communicative coupling may allow jumpers  214  to communicate with exterior port  226 . Such communicative coupling may include a connection of any type, such as an electrical connection, an optical connection, or any other type of data or power connection. For example, the interior ports  224  and exterior ports  226  of connection interfaces  216  can be adapted to receive any type of connector that the component  218  is designed to receive, such as any cables which transfer data or power including optical fiber cables, power cables, coaxial cables, or any type of networking cables, such as Ethernet cables or twister pair cable. In one example, the interior ports  224  correspond to the rear ports  220  of component, to allow the use of a jumper  214  with matching ends. When jumpers  214  are secured to both rear ports  220  and interior ports  224 , exterior ports  226  may be used to connect to external devices, such as other networking devices, processors, personal computers, or any other device. 
       FIG. 4A  is a front perspective view of an exemplary patch panel according to one aspect of the disclosure. In this example, patch panel  200  is shown mounted to the component  218  by face mounting portion  208 . In this example, only the housing of component  218  is depicted, and any internal subcomponents of component  218  are not shown. According to one aspect of the disclosure, face  204  can be arranged such that it does not obscure controls or ports on a front portion of component  218 . Face  204  can be arranged below a front portion and to the sides of the component  218  such that it does not overlap with a front panel of a component  218 . This allows a user to have full access to the controls and ports on the front of component  218 . In another implementation, face  204  can be arranged above a front portion  222  of a component  218 . In this case, body  202  ( FIG. 2 ) may be secured to the top of component  218 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4A , connection interfaces  216  and exterior ports  226  are disposed on face  204 , allowing for access to the rear ports  220  without having to access the rear of component  218 . Connection interfaces  216  may be disposed along a periphery of a front portion of component  218 . As shown in  FIG. 4A , the face  204  of patch panel  200  may be adjacent to a front portion of component  218 , and connection interfaces  216  may be adjacent to the front portion of component  218  near a bottom surface of component  218 . In this implementation, connection interfaces  216  are arranged below a front portion of component  218  when secured within a rack architecture. In another example, connection interfaces  216  may be disposed above a front portion of component  218 , such that connection interfaces  216  may be adjacent to a front portion of component  218  near a top surface of component  218 . 
       FIG. 4B  is a rear perspective view of the exemplary patch panel  200  of  FIG. 3A . In this example, jumpers  214  are not secured to body  202 . Rather, rear ports  220  can be seen at the rear of component  218 . Jumpers  214  may connect to rear ports  220  and may be secured to patch panel  200  by fasteners  212 . Jumpers  214  may then be connected to interior ports  224  of connection interface  216 . 
       FIG. 5  is a flow chart  500  depicting a method of facilitating access to the rear ports  220  of a component  218  according to aspects of the disclosure. 
     A patch panel may be provided at block  502 . In one example, patch panel may be an exemplary patch panel  200  as described above. While various stages of the method are illustrated and described in a particular order, it should be understood that these stages do not have to be performed in this order. Rather, various stages may be handled in a different order or simultaneously, and stages may also be added or omitted unless otherwise stated. 
     At block  504 , the patch panel  200  may be mounted to a component  218 . This may be done by inserting a screw into body mounting portions  206  and threadably engaging the screw with a corresponding aperture on component  218 . In another example, fasteners  212  may include a clamp and screw to secure body  202  to component  218 . As described above, patch panel  200  may be secured to either a top portion or bottom portion of component  218 . 
     At block  506 , one end of a jumper  214  may be coupled to a rear port  220  of a component  218 , and at block  508  the other end of the jumper  214  may be secured to a connection interface  216  of the face  204  of patch panel  200 . As described above, jumper  214  may include any types of cables which transfer data or power including optical fiber cables, power cables, coaxial cables, or any type of networking cables, such as Ethernet cables or twister pair cable. 
     At block  510 , the jumper  214  may be secured to the body  202  of patch panel  200 . Jumper  214  may be secured by way of a fastener  214 , such that jumper  214  may be inserted into a clamp and the clamp may be tightened by a screw. Once connected and secured, a user may connect a cable to the connection interface  216  at the front of component  218  instead of the rear port  220  of the component  218 . 
     Securing the patch panel to a networking component, as described above, may allow access to the rear ports of the component without having to physically access the rear portion of a component. Thus, the rear ports may be connected or disconnected to an external device at a connection interface on the face of the patch panel. Based on this, a network administrator need not walk back and forth between a front and a rear of a component for configuration. Additionally, multiple mobile racks may be arranged more efficiently since access to the rear of the individual components is not necessary. Alternatively, when the patch panel is mounted on a component, there is extra space in the rear of the component to install additional devices which may improve operation of the component. In one example, an additional device may include a cooling unit which may be interfaced with the rear of a component to provide increased cooling of the component. 
     As these and other variations and combinations of the features discussed above can be utilized without departing from the subject matter defined by the claims, the foregoing description of the embodiments should be taken by way of illustration rather than by way of limitation of the subject matter defined by the claims. It will also be understood that the provision of the examples disclosed herein (as well as clauses phrased as “such as,” “including” and the like) should not be interpreted as limiting the claimed subject matter to the specific examples; rather, the examples are intended to illustrate only one of many possible embodiments. Further, the same reference numbers in different drawings may identify the same or similar elements.