Apparatus, system, and method for preventing demate between field-replaceable units and telecommunications systems
地域：
CA
CA Sunnyvale
摘要
The disclosed apparatus may include (1) an FRU that (A) is designed to mate with a backplane of a telecommunications system and (B) facilitates communication among computing devices within a network and (2) at least one multi-bar ejector that (A) is coupled to the FRU, (B) fastens to a housing of the telecommunications system to enable the FRU to mate with the backplane of the telecommunications system, and (C) includes a spring coupled to at least one bar of the multi-bar ejector that, when the multi-bar ejector is fastened to the housing of the telecommunications system, applies a force on the FRU that pushes the FRU toward the backplane of the telecommunications system. Various other apparatuses, systems, and methods are also disclosed.
說明書
This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/118,639 filed 31 Aug. 2018, the disclosure of which is incorporated, in its entirety, by this reference.
Field-replaceable units (such as line cards) are often installed in telecommunications systems to facilitate communication among computing devices within a network. In this context, the term “field-replaceable unit” and its abbreviation “FRU” typically refer to modular devices that include one or more ports and/or interfaces that carry or forward traffic within a network and/or across multiple networks. For example, a router may include various Physical Interface Cards (PICs) and/or Flexible PIC Concentrators (FPCs) that facilitate communication among computing devices within a network and/or across multiple networks.
Unfortunately, FRUs often necessitate a certain degree of engineering tolerance to account for slightly different dimensions, properties, and/or specifications resulting from imperfections in the manufacturing process. As a result, some FRUs may fit differently than other FRUs within a telecommunications system. Such engineering tolerance and/or variance may lead some FRUs to demate and/or become disconnected from the backplane of the telecommunications system, potentially disrupting communications, impairing signal integrity, and/or impairing the performance and/or functionality of those FRUs and/or the telecommunications system.
The instant disclosure, therefore, identifies and addresses a need for improved and/or additional apparatuses, systems, and methods for preventing demate between FRUs and telecommunications systems.
權(quán)利要求
What is claimed is:1. An apparatus comprising:a field-replaceable unit that:is designed to mate with a backplane of a telecommunications system; and facilitates communication among computing devices within a network; at least one multi-bar ejector that:is coupled to the field-replaceable unit; fastens to a housing of the telecommunications system to enable the field-replaceable unit to mate with the backplane of the telecommunications system; includes a first lever that is coupled at one end to a bar attached to the field-replaceable unit; includes a second lever that is coupled at one end to the bar attached to the field-replaceable unit; includes a first link that is coupled between the field-replaceable unit and the first lever via a first joint; includes a second link that is coupled between the field-replaceable unit and the second lever via a second joint; includes a first set of Belleville disc springs that are stacked in series, wherein the first set of Belleville disc springs is coupled within the first link of the multi-bar ejector such that, when the multi-bar ejector is fastened to the housing of the telecommunications system, the first set of Belleville disc springs applies a first force on the field-replaceable unit that pushes the field-replaceable unit toward the backplane of the telecommunications system; and includes a second set of Belleville disc springs that are stacked in series, wherein the second set of Belleville disc springs is coupled within the second link of the multi-bar ejector such that, when the multi-bar ejector is fastened to the housing of the telecommunications system, the second set of Belleville disc springs applies a second force on the field-replaceable unit that pushes the field-replaceable unit toward the backplane of the telecommunications system. 2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first and second forces applied by the first and second sets of Belleville disc springs cause the field-replaceable unit to fully mate with the backplane of the telecommunications system. 3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first and second forces applied by the first and second sets of Belleville disc springs maintain the field-replaceable unit in a fully mated position with respect to the backplane of the telecommunications system such that, when the multi-bar ejector is fastened to the housing, the field-replaceable unit does not demate from the backplane of the telecommunications system. 4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:the first link is capable of rotating, at the first joint, in at least one direction with respect to the first lever; and the second link is capable of rotating, at the second joint, in at least one direction with respect to the second lever. 5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the first set of Belleville disc springs is coupled within the first link such that applying force to the first lever transmits force to the first set of Belleville disc springs. 6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the multi-bar ejector further comprises a pawl that, when engaged with the housing of the telecommunications system, facilitates fastening the field-replaceable unit to the housing of the telecommunications system. 7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein:an opposite end of the first link is coupled to the pawl via an additional joint attached to the opposite end of the first link; and when force is applied to the first lever, the force transmitted to the first set of Belleville disc springs applies a torque to the pawl such that the pawl engages with the housing of the telecommunications system. 8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:the field-replaceable unit includes a first side of at least one connector; the backplane of the telecommunications system includes a second side of the connector; and the multi-bar ejector, when fastened to the housing, causes the first side of the connector included on the field-replaceable unit to mate with the second side of the connector included on the backplane of the telecommunications system. 9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the first force applied by the first set of Belleville disc springs causes the field-replaceable unit to fully mate with the backplane of the telecommunications system such that no air gap exists between the first side of the connector included on the field-replaceable unit and the second side of the connector included on the backplane of the telecommunications system. 10. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the first force applied by the first set of Belleville disc springs causes the field-replaceable unit to fully mate with the backplane of the telecommunications system such that any air gap that exists between the first side of the connector included on the field-replaceable unit and the second side of the connector included on the backplane of the telecommunications system has a negligible effect on the integrity of signals exchanged between the field-replaceable unit and the backplane of the telecommunications system via the connector. 11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first set of Belleville disc springs is preloaded such that the first force that pushes the field-replaceable unit toward the backplane of the telecommunications system is sufficient to drive the field-replaceable unit into a fully mated position. 12. A field-replaceable unit comprising:a communications circuit that facilitates communication among computing devices within a network; at least one connector that facilitates communicatively coupling the communications circuit to a backplane of a telecommunications system; and at least one multi-bar ejector that:fastens to a housing of the telecommunications system to enable the connector to communicatively couple the communications circuit to the backplane of the telecommunications system; includes a first lever that is coupled at one end to a bar attached to the field-replaceable unit; includes a second lever that is coupled at one end to the bar attached to the field-replaceable unit; includes a first link that is coupled between the field-replaceable unit and the first lever via a first joint; includes a second link that is coupled between the field-replaceable unit and the second lever via a second joint; includes a first set of Belleville disc springs stacked in series within the first link such that, when the multi-bar ejector is fastened to the housing of the telecommunications system, the first set of Belleville disc springs applies a first force on the field-replaceable unit that pushes the connector toward the backplane of the telecommunications system; and includes a second set of Belleville disc springs stacked in series within the second link such that, when the multi-bar ejector is fastened to the housing of the telecommunications system, the second set of Belleville disc springs applies a second force on the field-replaceable unit that pushes the connector toward the backplane of the telecommunications system. 13. The field-replaceable unit of claim 12 , wherein the first and second forces applied by the first and second sets of Belleville disc springs cause the field-replaceable unit to fully mate with the backplane of the telecommunications system. 14. The field-replaceable unit of claim 12 , wherein the first and second forces applied by the first and second sets of Belleville disc springs maintain the field-replaceable unit in a fully mated position with respect to the backplane of the telecommunications system such that, when the multi-bar ejector is fastened to the housing, the field-replaceable unit does not demate from the backplane of the telecommunications system. 15. The field-replaceable unit of claim 12 , wherein:the first link is capable of rotating, at the first joint, in at least one direction with respect to the first lever; and the second link is capable of rotating, at the second joint, in at least one direction with respect to the second lever. 16. The field-replaceable unit of claim 15 , wherein the first set of Belleville disc springs is coupled within the first link such that applying force to the first lever transmits force to the first set of Belleville disc springs. 17. The field-replaceable unit of claim 12 , further comprising a pawl that, when engaged with the housing of the telecommunications system, facilitates fastening the field-replaceable unit to the housing of the telecommunications system. 18. A method comprising:securing a first set of Belleville disc springs stacked in series to a first link of a multi-bar ejector that fastens to a housing of a telecommunications system, the first link being coupled between a field-replaceable unit designed to mate with a backplane of the telecommunications system and a first lever via a first joint; coupling one end of the first lever to a bar attached to the field-replaceable unit; securing a second set of Belleville disc springs stacked in series to a second link the multi-bar ejector that fastens to the housing of the telecommunications system, the second link being coupled between the field-replaceable unit and a second lever via a second joint; coupling one end of the second lever to the bar attached to the field-replaceable unit; and coupling the multi-bar ejector to the field-replaceable unit such that, when the multi-bar ejector is fastened to the housing of the telecommunications system, the first and second sets of Belleville disc springs secured to the multi-bar ejector apply one or more forces on the field-replaceable unit that pushes the field-replaceable unit toward the backplane of the telecommunications system.
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