Patent · US Expired

Backplane extension apparatus and method

US7576997B2 · kind B2 · utility

4Cited by
16References
3Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 20, 2004
Grant dateAug 18, 2009
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 6, 2024

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01R31/06
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method and apparatus for adapting a backplane from one type of connector to another type of connector is disclosed. The method includes providing a backplane with a plurality of connectors, each connector being of a first type of connector, providing at least one extension module having a plurality of connectors, each connector being of a second type of connector, and plugging the at least one extension module into at least one of the first plurality of first type of connectors, thereby converting the first type of connectors into the second type of connectors. In a preferred embodiment, the backplane is used in a SONET communications system, and the conversion is from DS1 to DS3 connectors. The conversion allows an individual user to begin with one type of connector, and later expand as the need arises to an additional type or types of connectors.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.