Abstract: A rack assembly includes a nineteen-inch sub-assembly coupled to a four-inch extension that comprises two substantially closed side panels adjacent to each other, two substantially open sides adjacent to each other, a closed top and bottom, a plurality of mounting flanges for attaching the extension to a nineteen-inch sub-assembly and a plurality of embossments for receiving mounting hardware for installing the sub-assembly and extension into a twenty-three-inch rack. The four-inch extension is formed not only to allow a nineteen-inch rack sub-assembly to be installed in a twenty-three-inch rack, but also is formed to conduct air exhausted from a side of the nineteen-inch sub-assembly towards a rear end of the twenty-three-inch rack.

Abstract: A subassembly includes a plurality of card guides formed to receive card assemblies and also to conduct air for cooling purposes to improve cooling of components on the card guide. The card guides are particularly formed to place the cards in a location to facilitate airflow and to more evenly distribute the airflow. The invention further includes a method for designing the card guides to achieve the stated functionality. The method of designing the card guides includes determining a first and a second volume of space that is desired in relation to the amount of expected heat that is to be generated within the first and second volumes of space.

Abstract: A system for managing optical fiber media coupled to a circuit board residing within a housing includes an optical fiber media coupler coupled to a surface of the circuit board that receives an optical fiber media in a direction parallel to the front edge of the circuit board and an optical fiber media guide coupled to the surface of the circuit board, wherein the optical fiber media guide tangentially receives the optical fiber media such that the optical fiber media extends from the housing opening substantially parallel to the front edge of the circuit board and such that the fiber media forms a semicircle with a minimum radius about the optical fiber media guide.

Abstract: A rack assembly includes a nineteen-inch sub-assembly coupled to a four-inch extension that comprises two substantially closed side panels adjacent to each other, two substantially open sides adjacent to each other, a closed top and bottom, a plurality of mounting flanges for attaching the extension to a nineteen-inch sub-assembly and a plurality of embossments for receiving mounting hardware for installing the sub-assembly and extension into a twenty-three-inch rack. The four-inch extension is formed not only to allow a nineteen-inch rack sub-assembly to be installed in a twenty-three-inch rack, but also is formed to conduct air exhausted from a side of the nineteen-inch subassembly towards a rear end of the twenty-three-inch rack.

Abstract: A rack-mountable system for housing a plurality of circuit boards includes a cooling fan tray, the tray for receiving insertable and removable fans, the fans further comprising a flange located at one end of the housing that is formed to mate with and be secured by the cooling fan tray. The fan tray includes a front surface having a plurality of front airflow apertures a plurality of fingers for securely and removably engaging the flange of one of the plurality of fans, and a bottom surface that vertically limits an engaged position of each of the plurality of fans. The tray also has a back surface having a plurality of back airflow apertures that proximately limit air backflow.

Abstract: A latch assembly for removably attaching a motherboard within an enclosure and for removably attaching a co-planar daughter board to the motherboard includes a first latch that is pivotally attached to the motherboard and a first latch actuator, wherein in an engaged position, the first latch extractor engages a first extraction surface of the enclosure. The assembly further includes a second latch that is pivotally attached to the daughter board, the second latch having a second latch extractor and a second latch actuator, wherein in the engaged position, the second latch extractor engages a second extraction surface of the motherboard. The first latch and the second latch pivot in adjacent planes. The second latch, however, may be disengaged to remove the daughter board from the motherboard without disengaging the first latch.

Abstract: A subassembly includes a plurality of card guides formed to receive card assemblies and also to conduct air for cooling purposes to improve cooling of components on the card guide. The card guides are particularly formed to place the cards in a location to facilitate airflow and to more evenly distribute the airflow. The invention further includes a method for designing the card guides to achieve the stated functionality. The method of designing the card guides includes determining a first and a second volume of space that is desired in relation to the amount of expected heat that is to be generated within the first and second volumes of space.

Abstract: A latch assembly for removably attaching a motherboard within an enclosure and for removably attaching a co-planar daughter board to the motherboard includes a first latch that is pivotally attached to the motherboard and a first latch actuator, wherein in an engaged position, the first latch extractor engages a first extraction surface of the enclosure. The assembly further includes a second latch that is pivotally attached to the daughter board, the second latch having a second latch extractor and a second latch actuator, wherein in the engaged position, the second latch extractor engages a second extraction surface of the motherboard. The first latch and the second latch pivot in adjacent planes. The second latch, however, may be disengaged to remove the daughter board from the motherboard without disengaging the first latch.

Abstract: A rack-mountable system enclosure for limiting the escape of internally generated electromagnetic interference includes a system case, a front panel, a back panel, overlapped seams formed to couple the front panel and the back panel to the system case such that no gaskets and a minimal number of fasteners including welds, screws and rivets are required, at least one front opening through which communication media passes and apertures formed within the system case for providing air inlet and egress ports.

Abstract: A circuit board assembly for use in a communication system switch includes a motherboard that comprises a planar, substantially rigid, and substantially dielectric circuit, a back plane connector affixed to the circuit board and a pair of daughter board connectors affixed to the circuit board, each of which is for coplanerly coupling with a daughter board. Each daughter board includes rigid dielectric circuit board, a plurality of integrated circuit components disposed thereon, at least one media coupler affixed to the circuit board and a motherboard connector affixed to the circuit board for coplanerly coupling with the motherboard. Finally, a pair of guides affixed to the circuit board for removably engaging a pair of daughter board slot assemblies of the motherboard to mate the daughter board with the motherboard.