Abstract: An apparatus and system includes a radiation generation device for generating radiation and a radiation detection device. A first radiation channel is optically-coupled on a first end to the radiation generation device and configured to direct the radiation generated by the radiation generation device to a second end of the first radiation channel. A second radiation channel is optically-coupled on a first end to the radiation detection device and configured to direct radiation from a second end of the second radiation channel to the radiation detection device. An optical switch is configured to selectively interrupt the transmission of radiation from the second end of the first radiation channel to the second end of the second radiation channel.

Abstract: A method according to one embodiment may include providing a circuit board having a connector footprint including a plurality of electrical contacts and providing a mezzanine card including a first plurality of conductive traces on a first side of the mezzanine card. The method of this embodiment may also include providing a first wiring board disposed between at least a portion of the circuit board and at least a portion of the mezzanine card. The first wiring board may electrically couple at least a portion of the electrical contacts of the connector footprint to at least a portion of the conductive traces of the mezzanine card. Of course, many alternatives, variations, and modifications are possible without departing from this embodiment.

Abstract: A two-dimensional adjustable edge connector adaptor to support high bandwidth signal paths. The edge connector adapter includes a housing having a cavity formed in one side and an edge connector extending outward from an opposing side. The edge connector includes contact members that are configured to function as conventional edge connector contacts on one end, while the opposing end includes a leg that is in contact with first side of an elastomer connector disposed in the cavity. The elastomer connector facilitates electrical coupling between each contact member and a corresponding board contact on a board having a connector edge that is inserted into the cavity, wherein each board contact includes a leg that is in contact with a second side of the elastomer connector. The adjustable edge connector adaptor enables the board to be positioned in both the horizontal and vertical directions relative to the edge connector.

Abstract: A stacked multiple connection module that provides multiple times the input/output (I/O) signal capacity of a single connection module. In one embodiment, a stacked dual connection module includes first and second circuit boards with respective edge connectors maintained at a parallel offset and configured to couple to a mating two slotted stacked edge connector. A connection means is provided to couple signals between the first and second circuit boards, such that components mounted on the first and/or second circuit board are enabled to access I/O signals via both of the edge connectors, thus doubling I/O signal capacity. In one embodiment, the stacked dual connection module comprises an Advanced Mezzanine Card (AdvancedMC) module having edge connectors configured to mate with an AdvancedMC connector.

Abstract: A shock absorbing system may be mounted on a circuit board, such as a carrier card, to reinforce the circuit board and/or to absorb shock forces from a neighboring circuit board, such as a mezzanine card coupled to the carrier card. The shock absorbing system may include one or more support members extending across at least a portion of the carrier card. One or more rollers may be supported on the support member(s) in a manner that allows rotation to facilitate insertion and/or extraction of mezzanine cards from the carrier card. Of course, many alternatives, variations, and modifications are possible without departing from this embodiment.

Abstract: A method according to one embodiment may include providing circuit board having a faceplate. The method of this embodiment may also include providing a label surface capable of moving between a deployed position and a stowed position. When the label surface is in a deployed position at least a portion of the label surface extends outwardly from the faceplate relative to the circuit board. Of course, many alternatives, variations, and modifications are possible without departing from this embodiment.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to couple a rear transition module to a carrier board includes detecting a rear transition module (RTM) coupled to an interface resident on a carrier board, the carrier board coupled to a backplane. The method further includes logically coupling the RTM to a management controller resident on the carrier board and managing the RTM in a same manner as a front accessible module coupled to another interface resident on the carrier board.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are generally directed to a connector. In one embodiment, the connector includes a plurality of flexible circuit partitions and a first mating portion to receive and couple a contact for a device to a first end of one or more flexible circuit partitions. The connector also includes a second mating portion to receive and couple a contact for another device to a second end of the one or more flexible circuit partitions. A connector housing is connected to the other device to contain the first and second mating portions. Each flexible circuit partition further includes a twist to increase a range of movement along three axes of movement in which the first mating portion receives and couples the device's contact to the first end of one or more flexible circuit partitions without a proportional increase in movement of either end of each flexible circuit partition.

Abstract: A switching system includes a backplane having slots, each including a first set of connectors designed according to a common specification. The slots include at least one extended slot and at least two normal slots, each normal slot including the first set of connectors, each extended slot including the first set of connectors and an additional second set of connectors. The backplane has signal lines to support a data channel between first set of connectors of the normal slot and the extended slot. The backplane also has signal lines to support a data channel between first set of connectors of the normal slot and the second set of connectors of the extended slot.

Abstract: A reconfigurable interconnect/switch for selectably coupling network devices, media, and switch fabric. The reconfigurable interconnect/switch enables network devices, such as network processor units (NPUs) to selectively communicate with other NPUS, media (via a media interface), and switch fabric (via a switch fabric interface), thus providing flexibility in the use of network line cards and the like. Embodiments of the switching/routing scheme may be employed to support network devices having separate media and/or switch fabric interfaces, as well as network devices having selectable media switch fabric (MSF) interfaces that share signal lines.

Abstract: Embodiments are generally directed to a method and apparatus to couple a module to a management controller on an interconnect. In one embodiment, a method includes detecting that a module has coupled to an interconnect, the interconnect coupled to a modular platform backplane. The method further includes logically coupling the module to one of a plurality of management controllers resident on the interconnect, each management controller logically appears as a management controller for different interconnects coupled to the modular platform backplane.

Abstract: The application describes embodiments of an apparatus including a plurality of first channels, each having an inlet, an outlet, and a first path length between the inlet and the outlet, and a plurality of second channels, each having an inlet, an outlet, and a second path length between the inlet and the outlet. The second path length is different from the first path length, and each second channel is adjacent to at least one first channel. The application also describes embodiments of a process including suppressing electromagnetic radiation using a filter comprising a plurality channels, and simultaneously passively canceling noise at the outlets of the plurality of channels. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: A switching system includes a backplane having slots, each including a first set of connectors designed according to a common specification. The slots include at least one extended slot and at least two normal slots, each normal slot including the first set of connectors, each extended slot including the first set of connectors and an additional second set of connectors. The backplane has signal lines to connect the connectors of the extended and normal slots to support at least one data channel between the first set of connectors of each of one or more of the at least one extended slot and the first set of connectors of each of one or more of the at least two normal slots. The backplane also has signal lines to connect the connectors of the extended and normal slots to support at least one data channel between the second set of connectors of each of one or more of the at least one extended slot and the first set of connectors of each of one or more of the at least two normal slots.

Abstract: An integrated heatsink and core power distribution mechanism. First and second power rails are disposed on opposite sides of one of more integrated circuits on a printed circuit board (PCB). The power rails are electrically coupled to a power supply and the integrated circuits. At the same time, the power rails are used to thermally couple one or more heatsinks to the integrated circuit(s). Each power rails includes at least one slot configured to receive a flange on the heatsink(s). In situations under which different voltages are supplied via the power rails, means are provided to electrically insulate at least one power rail from the heatsink(s) while maintaining thermal coupling to the power rails. In one embodiment, a split-rail configuration is used, wherein the power rail includes multiple conductive sections separated by one or more insulator sections. The scheme is well-suited for modular board/blade architectures, such as the Advanced Telecommunications Architecture (ATCA).

Abstract: An adjustable-width, dual-connector card module. The module includes an adjustable-width printed circuit board (PCB) assembly including first and second PCBs, each having a respective end connector. A flexible connector is coupled to each of the PCBs to enable electrical signals to pass therebetween. An adjustable width stiffening mechanisms is employed to maintain the end connectors in a common plane, while enabling the distance between the PCBs to be adjusted. In one embodiment, the end connectors are edge connectors that are designed to mate with corresponding Advance Mezzanine Card (AMC) connectors, and the module is configured to have a form factor corresponding to either a full-height or half-height double-width AMC module. In one embodiment, one or more AMC modules of these configurations are installed in an Advanced Telecom Computing Architecture (ATCA) carrier board, which in turn is installed in an ATCA chassis.

Abstract: An interface enhancing apparatus is provided for increasing the potential number of interfaces on the interface panel of a modular platform board. The interface enhancing apparatus may include a first component coupled an interface panel of a modular platform board and second component coupled to the first component. The second component may be substantially parallel with the interface panel when the first component is mated with the interface panel, and the second component may have one or more enhanced interfaces configured for electrical communication with the modular platform board.

Abstract: A thermal management apparatus is provided, wherein heat generated by an electronic component coupled to a backside of a carrier substrate may be transferred to an opposite front side of the carrier substrate through a thermal conductor sized to pass through an opening in the carrier substrate.

Abstract: A communicator (10) includes a plurality of reconfigurable resource units (13) that can each be dynamically altered to perform any of a multitude of processing tasks. A controller (16) determines a plurality of processing tasks to be supported by the communicator (10) and configures the plurality of reconfigurable resource units (13) accordingly. A memory (18) stores a library of configuration files for use by the controller (16) in configuring the plurality of reconfigurable resource units (13). In one embodiment, the controller (16) continuously adapts the plurality of reconfigurable resource units (13) according to present system requirements.