Abstract: A reconfigurable apparatus providing 1:N redundancy and 1:1 redundancy for high speed broadband interfaces with 1+1 and 1:N Automatic protection Switching (APS), is presented. The apparatus includes a mini-midplane having a redundant slot, a plurality of active slots and capable of communication with a gateway. The mini-midplane includes at least one set of cross-coupled APS lines for implementing 1:1 equipment redundancy for high speed broadband interfaces with 1+1/1:N APS and a plurality of point-to-point traces between redundant slot and each of the active slots for implementing 1:N equipment redundancy for high speed broadband interfaces with 1+1/1:N APS. The mini-midplane may further include a plurality of shared traces between the redundant slot and said at least one active slot for implementing 1:N equipment protection for low speed narrowband interfaces.

Abstract: A reconfigurable apparatus providing 1:N redundancy and 1:1 redundancy for high speed broadband interfaces with 1+1 and 1:N Automatic protection Switching (APS), is presented. The apparatus includes a mini-midplane having a redundant slot, a plurality of active slots and capable of communication with a gateway. The mini-midplane includes at least one set of cross-coupled APS lines for implementing 1:1 equipment redundancy for high speed broadband interfaces with 1+1/1:N APS and a plurality of point-to-point traces between redundant slot and each of the active slots for implementing 1:N equipment redundancy for high speed broadband interfaces with 1+1/1:N APS. The mini-midplane may further include a plurality of shared traces between the redundant slot and said at least one active slot for implementing 1:N equipment protection for low speed narrowband interfaces.

Abstract: An insertion delay subassembly includes a support member which is configured to mount to the circuit board, and a lever coupled to the support member. The lever is configured to reside in a first orientation relative to the support member when the circuit board initially engages with a card cage, and pivot from the first orientation to a second orientation relative to the support member when the circuit board subsequently installs fully within the card cage. The insertion delay subassembly further includes an insertion delay latch coupled to one of the support member and the lever. The insertion delay latch is configured to selectively (i) block movement of the lever from the first orientation to the second orientation, and (ii) enable movement of the lever from the first orientation to the second orientation.

Abstract: An apparatus for protecting an electronic card is described. The apparatus has a protective contact. The protective contact has a contact face that, when the apparatus is in a locked protruding state, makes contact with a first incorrect card slot backplane feature. In the locked protruding state, the contact face extends outward a first distance from a feature of the card that can receive resultant damage if the card is fully inserted into the incorrect card slot. The first distance is greater than a second distance between a second incorrect card slot backplane feature that can cause the resultant damage and the first incorrect card slot backplane feature. The apparatus includes a guide along which the protective contact slides in order to transition between the locked protruding state and a collapsed state. The protective contact extends less outward from the card in the collapsed state as compared to the locked protruding state so as to allow the card to be fully inserted into a correct card slot.