Front-rear modular unit

Claim 2

A front and rear modular conversion unit comprising: a chassis including four side-walls and open front and rear ends; a motherboard printed circuit board mounted inside said chassis to form a front module insertion area and a rear module insertion area, said motherboard including a plurality of connectors for receiving a cooperating mating connector, said connectors mounted on both sides of said motherboard; means for connecting connectors on opposite sides of said motherboard in pairs; one or more conversion card module means for converting a conditioned electrical signal to a fiber optic signal mounted in the front end of said chassis and mating with said connectors; one or more rear card module means each for conditioning electrical signals to provide said conditioned electrical signals, said rear card module means mounted in the rear of said chassis and mating with said connectors on said motherboard, said rear card module means including connector means for connecting to an electrical cable carrying signal to be converted by said conversion card module means; and whereby electrical signals can be connected to said rear card module means, processed on said rear card module means, connected through to said conversion card module means through said connectors on said motherboard, and converted on said conversion card module means.

Claim 3

The front and rear modular conversion unit as recited in claim 1 further including a panel, said panel and said motherboard printed circuit board forming a wall from top to bottom and side to side within said chassis separating said front and rear modular insertion areas.

Claim 4

The front and rear modular conversion unit as recited in claim 1 wherein said chassis includes a plurality of card guides providing means for supporting said conversion card module means, whereby said conversion card module means may be slideably mounted in the front insertion area of said chassis.

Claim 5

The front and rear modular conversion unit as recited in claim 3 wherein said conversion card module means comprises a printed circuit board mounted to a sheet metal support, said sheet metal support sized to slide into said card guides.

Claim 6

The front and rear modular conversion unit as recited in claim 1 further comprising power bus supply traces located on said motherboard printed circuit board for carrying power to said conversion card module means.

Claim 7

The front and rear modular conversion unit as recited in claim 1 wherein said rear card module means comprises a printed circuit board mounted to a sheet metal support.

Claim 8

The front and rear modular conversion unit as recited in claim 1 wherein said rear card module means further includes a connector for connecting to incoming and outgoing electrical cables.

Claim 9

The front and rear modular conversion unit as recited in claim 7 wherein a said conversion card module means and a said rear card module means are mounted in corresponding pairs in said chassis and electrically connected through said motherboard printed circuit board via said connectors and said means for connecting, and wherein said rear card module means of said pair includes electrical circuit means for providing a straight-through connection to said connector on said rear card module means.

Claim 10

The front and rear modular conversion unit as recited in claim 7 wherein a said conversion card module means and a said rear card module means are mounted in corresponding pairs in said chassis and electrically connected through said motherboard printed circuit board via said connectors and said means for connecting, and wherein said rear card module means of said pair includes electrical circuit means for providing filtering circuitry.

Claim 11

The front and rear modular conversion unit as recited in claim 7 wherein a said conversion card module means and a said rear card module means are mounted in corresponding pairs in said chassis and electrically connected through said motherboard printed circuit board via said connectors and said means for connecting, and wherein said rear card module means includes electrical circuit means for providing waveshaping circuitry.

Claim 12

The front and rear modular conversion unit as recited in claim 7 wherein a said conversion card module means and a said rear card module means are mounted in corresponding pairs in said chassis and electrically connected through said motherboard printed circuit board via said connectors and said means for connecting, and wherein said rear card module means of said pair includes electrical circuit means for providing protection circuitry.

Claim 13

The front and rear modular conversion unit as recited in claim 7 wherein a said conversion card module means and a said rear card module means are mounted in corresponding pairs in said chassis and electrically connected through said motherboard printed circuit board via said connectors and said means for connecting, and wherein said rear card module means of said pair includes electrical circuit means for providing level conversion circuitry.

Claim 14

The front and rear modular conversion unit as recited in claim 1 wherein said rear card module means further includes a rear panel member mounted on the end of said module means to cover a portion of said rear end of said chassis and further wherein said module means includes a RFI waveguide which extends through said rear panel member whereby fiber optic cables can be fed into and out of said chassis.

Claim 15

The front and rear modular conversion unit as recited in claim 1 wherein said conversion card module means further includes means for containing RF emission therefrom.

Claim 16

The front and rear modular conversion unit as recited in claim 14 wherein said conditioning performed by said rear card module means is performed at a frequency that does not give rise to RF emission requiring containment as compared to a frequency at which the conversion is performed by the conversion card module means requiring containment, whereby the rear card modular means does not require said means for containing of said RF emission.

Claim 17

The front and rear modular conversion unit as recited in claim 1 wherein said conversion card module means includes a printed circuit board implementing a standardized circuit for converting electrical signals to fiber optic signals and wherein said electrical signal conditioning performed by said rear module means is a custom application adapting said standardized circuit to a particular fiber optic to electrical signal application.

Claim 18

The front and rear modular conversion unit as recited in claim 16 wherein said standardized circuit is implemented in a multilayered printed circuit board.

Claim 19

The front and rear modular conversion unit as recited in claim 17 wherein said conversion card module means includes means for conditioning RF emission.

Claim 20

A front and rear modular conversion unit comprising: a chassis including four side-walls and open front and rear ends; a motherboard printed circuit board mounted inside said chassis to form a front module insertion area and a rear module insertion area, said motherboard including a plurality of connectors for receiving a cooperating mating connector, said connectors mounted on both sides of said motherboard; means for connecting connectors on opposite sides of said motherboard in pairs; one or more conversion card modules for converting electrical signals to fiber optic signals mounted in the front end of said chassis and mating with said connectors; one or more rear card modules for conditioning electrical signals, said rear card modules mounted in the rear of said chassis and mating with said connectors on said motherboard, said rear card modules including connector means for connecting to an electrical cable carrying signal to be converted by said conversion card modules; a rear panel member mounted on the end of said module to cover a portion of said rear end of said chassis, and a RFI waveguide which extends through said rear panel member whereby fiber optic cables can be fed into and out of said chassis; and whereby electrical signals can be connected to said rear card modules, processed on said rear card modules, connected through to said conversion card modules through said connectors on said motherboard, and converted on said front modules.

Claim 21

A front and rear modular conversion unit comprising: a chassis including four side-walls and open front and rear ends; a motherboard printed circuit board mounted inside said chassis to form a front module insertion area and a rear module insertion area, said motherboard including a plurality of connectors for receiving a cooperating mating connector, said connectors mounted on both sides of said motherboard; means for connecting connectors on opposite sides of said motherboard in pairs; one or more conversion card modules for converting electrical signals to fiber optic signals mounted in the front end of said chassis and mating with said connectors; one or more rear card modules for conditioning electrical signals, said rear card modules mounted in the rear of said chassis and mating with said connectors on said motherboard, said rear card modules including connector means for connecting to an electrical cable carrying signal to be converted by said conversion card modules; a rear panel member mounted on the end of said module to cover a portion of said rear end of said chassis, and a RFI waveguide which extends through said rear panel member whereby fiber optic cables can be fed into and out of said chassis; and whereby electrical signals can be connected to said rear card modules, processed on said rear card modules, connected through to said conversion card modules through said connectors on said motherboard, and converted on said front modules.

Claim 22

A front and rear module conversion unit comprising: a chassis including four side-walls and open front and rear ends; a motherboard printed circuit board mounted inside said chassis to form a front module insertion area and a rear module insertion area, said motherboard including a plurality of connectors for receiving a cooperating mating connector, said connectors mounted on both sides of said motherboard; means for connecting connectors on opposite sides of said motherboard in pairs; one or more conversion card modules for converting electrical signals to fiber optic signals mounted in the front end of said chassis and mating with said connectors; one or more rear card modules for conditioning electrical signals, said rear card modules mounted in the rear of said chassis and mating with said connectors on said motherboard, said rear card modules including connector means for connecting to incoming and outgoing electrical cable carrying signals to be converted by said conversion card modules, a said conversion card module and a said rear card module are mounted in corresponding pairs in said chassis and electrically connected through said motherboard printed circuit board via said connectors and said means for connecting, said rear card module of said pair includes electrical circuit means for providing a straight through connection to said connector means for connecting to electrical cable; and whereby electrical signals can be connected to said rear card modules, processed on said rear card modules, connected through to said conversion card modules through said connectors on said motherboard, and converted on said front modules.

Claim 23

A front and rear module conversion unit comprising: a chassis including four side-walls and open front and rear ends; a motherboard printed circuit board mounted inside said chassis to form a front module insertion area and a rear module insertion area, said motherboard including a plurality of connectors for receiving a cooperating mating connector, said connectors mounted on both sides of said motherboard; means for connecting connectors on opposite sides of said motherboard in pairs; one or more conversion card modules for converting electrical signals to fiber optic signals mounted in the front end of said chassis and mating with said connectors; one or more rear card modules for conditioning electrical signals, said rear card modules mounted in the rear of said chassis and mating with said connectors on said motherboard, said rear card modules including connector means for connecting to incoming and outgoing electrical cable carrying signals to be converted by said conversion card modules, a said conversion card module and a said rear card module are mounted in corresponding pairs in said chassis and electrically connected through said motherboard printed circuit board via said connectors and said means for connecting, said rear card module of said pair includes electrical circuit means for providing a straight through connection to said connector means for connecting to electrical cable; and whereby electrical signals can be connected to said rear card modules, processed on said rear card modules, connected through to said conversion card modules through said connectors on said motherboard, and converted on said front modules.

Claim 24

A front and rear modular conversion unit comprising: a chassis including four side-walls and open front and rear ends; a motherboard printed circuit board mounted inside said chassis to form a front module insertion area and a rear module insertion area, said motherboard including a plurality of connectors for receiving a cooperating mating connector, said connectors mounted on both sides of said motherboard; means for connecting connectors on opposite sides of said motherboard in pairs; one or more conversion card modules for converting electrical signals to fiber optic signals mounted in the front end of said chassis and mating with said connectors; one or more rear card modules for conditioning electrical signals, said rear card modules mounted in the rear of said chassis and mating with said connectors on said motherboard, said rear card modules including connector means for connecting to incoming and outgoing electrical cable carrying signals to be converted by said conversion card modules, a said conversion card module and a said rear card module are mounted in corresponding pairs in said chassis and electrically connected through said motherboard printed circuit board via said connectors and said means for connecting, said rear card module of said pair includes electrical circuit means for providing filtering circuitry; and whereby electrical signals can be connected to said rear card modules, processed on said rear card modules, connected through to said conversion card modules through said connectors on said motherboard, and converted on said front modules.

Claim 25

A front and rear modular conversion unit comprising: a chassis including four side-walls and open front and rear ends; a motherboard printed circuit board mounted inside said chassis to form a front module insertion area and a rear module insertion area, said motherboard including a plurality of connectors for receiving a cooperating mating connector, said connectors mounted on both sides of said motherboard; means for connecting connectors on opposite sides of said motherboard in pairs; one or more conversion card modules for converting electrical signals to fiber optic signals mounted in the front end of said chassis and mating with said connectors; one or more rear card modules for conditioning electrical signals, said rear card modules mounted in the rear of said chassis and mating with said connectors on said motherboard, said rear card modules including connector means for connecting to incoming and outgoing electrical cable carrying signals to be converted by said conversion card modules, a said conversion card module and a said rear card module are mounted in corresponding pairs in said chassis and electrically connected through said motherboard printed circuit board via said connectors and said means for connecting, said rear card module of said pair includes electrical circuit means for providing filtering circuitry; and whereby electrical signals can be connected to said rear card modules, processed on said rear card modules, connected through to said conversion card modules through said connectors on said motherboard, and converted on said front modules.

Claim 26

A front and rear modular conversion unit comprising: a chassis including four side-walls and open front and rear ends; a motherboard printed circuit board mounted inside said chassis to form a front module insertion area and a rear module insertion area, said motherboard including a plurality of connectors for receiving a cooperating mating connector, said connectors mounted on both sides of said motherboard; means for connecting connectors on opposite sides of said motherboard in pairs; one or more conversion card modules for converting electrical signals to fiber optic signals mounted in the front end of said chassis and mating with said connectors; one or more rear card modules for conditioning electrical signals, said rear card modules mounted in the rear of said chassis and mating with said connectors on said motherboard, said rear card modules including connector means for connecting to incoming and outgoing electrical cable carrying signals to be converted by said conversion card modules, a said conversion card module and a said rear card module are mounted in corresponding pairs in said chassis and electrically connected through said motherboard printed circuit board via said connectors and said means for connecting, said rear card modules includes electrical circuit means for providing waveshaping circuitry; and whereby electrical signals can be connected to said rear card modules, processed on said rear card modules, connected through to said conversion card modules through said connectors on said motherboard, and converted on said front modules.

Claim 27

A front and rear modular conversion unit comprising: a chassis including four side-walls and open front and rear ends; a motherboard printed circuit board mounted inside said chassis to form a front module insertion area and a rear module insertion area, said motherboard including a plurality of connectors for receiving a cooperating mating connector, said connectors mounted on both sides of said motherboard; means for connecting connectors on opposite sides of said motherboard in pairs; one or more conversion card modules for converting electrical signals to fiber optic signals mounted in the front end of said chassis and mating with said connectors; one or more rear card modules for conditioning electrical signals, said rear card modules mounted in the rear of said chassis and mating with said connectors on said motherboard, said rear card modules including connector means for connecting to incoming and outgoing electrical cable carrying signals to be converted by said conversion card modules, a said conversion card module and a said rear card module are mounted in corresponding pairs in said chassis and electrically connected through said motherboard printed circuit board via said connectors and said means for connecting, said rear card modules includes electrical circuit means for providing waveshaping circuitry; and whereby electrical signals can be connected to said rear card modules, processed on said rear card modules, connected through to said conversion card modules through said connectors on said motherboard, and converted on said front modules.

Claim 28

A front and rear modular conversion unit comprising: a chassis including four side-walls and open front and rear ends; a motherboard printed circuit board mounted inside said chassis to form a front module insertion area and a rear module insertion area, said motherboard including a plurality of connectors for receiving a cooperating mating connector, said connectors mounted on both sides of said motherboard; means for connecting connectors on opposite sides of said motherboard in pairs; one or more conversion card modules for converting electrical signals to fiber optic signals mounted in the front end of said chassis and mating with said connectors; one or more rear card modules for conditioning electrical signals, said rear card modules mounted in the rear of said chassis and mating with said connectors on said motherboard, said rear card modules including connector means for connecting to incoming and outgoing electrical cable carrying signals to be converted by said conversion card modules, a said conversion card module and a said rear card module are mounted in corresponding pairs in said chassis and electrically connected through said motherboard printed circuit board via said connectors and said means for connecting, said rear card module of said pair includes electrical circuit means for providing protection circuitry; and whereby electrical signals can be connected to said rear card modules, processed on said rear card modules, connected through to said conversion card modules through said connectors on said motherboard, and converted on said front modules.

Claim 29

A front and rear modular conversion unit comprising: a chassis including four side-walls and open front and rear ends; a motherboard printed circuit board mounted inside said chassis to form a front module insertion area and a rear module insertion area, said motherboard including a plurality of connectors for receiving a cooperating mating connector, said connectors mounted on both sides of said motherboard; means for connecting connectors on opposite sides of said motherboard in pairs; one or more conversion card modules for converting electrical signals to fiber optic signals mounted in the front end of said chassis and mating with said connectors; one or more rear card modules for conditioning electrical signals, said rear card modules mounted in the rear of said chassis and mating with said connectors on said motherboard, said rear card modules including connector means for connecting to incoming and outgoing electrical cable carrying signals to be converted by said conversion card modules, a said conversion card module and a said rear card module are mounted in corresponding pairs in said chassis and electrically connected through said motherboard printed circuit board via said connectors and said means for connecting, said rear card module of said pair includes electrical circuit means for providing protection circuitry; and whereby electrical signals can be connected to said rear card modules, processed on said rear card modules, connected through to said conversion card modules through said connectors on said motherboard, and converted on said front modules.

Claim 30

A front and rear modular conversion unit comprising: a chassis including four side-walls and open front and rear ends; a motherboard printed circuit board mounted inside said chassis to form a front module insertion area and a rear module insertion area, said motherboard including a plurality of connectors for receiving a cooperating mating connector, said connectors mounted on both sides of said motherboard; means for connecting connectors on opposite sides of said motherboard in pairs; one or more conversion card modules for converting electrical signals to fiber optic signals mounted in the front end of said chassis and mating with said connectors; one or more rear card modules for conditioning electrical signals, said rear card modules mounted in the rear of said chassis and mating with said connectors on said motherboard, said rear card modules including connector means for connecting to incoming and outgoing electrical cable carrying signals to be converted by said conversion card modules, a said conversion card module and a said rear card module are mounted in corresponding pairs in said chassis and electrically connected through said motherboard printed circuit board via said connectors and said means for connecting, said rear card module of said pair includes electrical circuit means for providing level conversion circuitry; and whereby electrical signals can be connected said rear card modules, processed on said rear card modules, connected through to said conversion card modules through said connectors on said motherboard, and converted on said front modules.

Claim 31

A front and rear modular conversion unit comprising: a chassis including four side-walls and open front and rear ends; a motherboard printed circuit board mounted inside said chassis to form a front module insertion area and a rear module insertion area, said motherboard including a plurality of connectors for receiving a cooperating mating connector, said connectors mounted on both sides of said motherboard; means for connecting connectors on opposite sides of said motherboard in pairs; one or more conversion card modules for converting electrical signals to fiber optic signals mounted in the front end of said chassis and mating with said connectors; one or more rear card modules for conditioning electrical signals, said rear card modules mounted in the rear of said chassis and mating with said connectors on said motherboard, said rear card modules including connector means for connecting to incoming and outgoing electrical cable carrying signals to be converted by said conversion card modules, a said conversion card module and a said rear card module are mounted in corresponding pairs in said chassis and electrically connected through said motherboard printed circuit board via said connectors and said means for connecting, said rear card module of said pair includes electrical circuit means for providing level conversion circuitry; and whereby electrical signals can be connected said rear card modules, processed on said rear card modules, connected through to said conversion card modules through said connectors on said motherboard, and converted on said front modules.

Claim 32

A front and rear modular conversion unit comprising: a chassis including four side-walls and open front and rear ends; a motherboard printed circuit board mounted inside said chassis to form a front module insertion area and a rear module insertion area, said motherboard including a plurality of connectors for receiving a cooperating mating connector, said connectors mounted on both sides of said motherboard; means for connecting connectors on opposite sides of said motherboard in pairs; one or more conversion card modules for converting electrical signals to fiber optic signals mounted in the front end of said chassis and mating with said connectors, said conversion card modules, including means for containing RF emission therefrom; one or more rear card modules for conditioning electrical signals, said rear card modules mounted in the rear of said chassis and mating with said connectors on said motherboard, said rear card modules including connector means for connecting to an electrical cable carrying signals to be converted by said conversion card modules, and whereby electrical signals can be connected to said rear card modules, processed on said rear card modules, connected through to said conversion card modules through said connectors on said motherboard, and converted on said front modules.

Claim 33

A front and rear modular conversion unit comprising: a chassis including four side-walls and open front and rear ends; a motherboard printed circuit board mounted inside said chassis to form a front module insertion area and a rear module insertion area, said motherboard including a plurality of connectors for receiving a cooperating mating connector, said connectors mounted on both sides of said motherboard; means for connecting connectors on opposite sides of said motherboard in pairs; one or more conversion card modules for converting electrical signals to fiber optic signals mounted in the front end of said chassis and mating with said connectors, said conversion card modules, including means for containing RF emission therefrom; one or more rear card modules for conditioning electrical signals, said rear card modules mounted in the rear of said chassis and mating with said connectors on said motherboard, said rear card modules including connector means for connecting to an electrical cable carrying signals to be converted by said conversion card modules, and whereby electrical signals can be connected to said rear card modules, processed on said rear card modules, connected through to said conversion card modules through said connectors on said motherboard, and converted on said front modules.

Claim 34

The front and rear modular conversion unit as recited in claim 25 wherein said conditioning performed by said rear card module is performed at a frequency that does not give rise to RF emission requiring containment as compared to the frequency at which the conversion is performed by the conversion card module requiring containment, whereby the rear card module does not require said means for containing of said RF emission.

Claim 35

A front and rear modular conversion unit comprising: a chassis including four side-walls and open front and rear ends; a motherboard printed circuit board mounted inside said chassis to form a front module insertion area and a rear module insertion area, said motherboard including a plurality of connectors for receiving a cooperating mating connector, said connectors mounted on both sides of said motherboard; means for connecting connectors on opposite sides of said motherboard in pairs; one or more conversion card modules for converting electrical signals to fiber optic signals mounted in the front end of said chassis and mating with said connectors, said conversion card modules including a printed circuit board implementing a standardized circuit for converting electrical signals to fiber optic signals and wherein said electrical signal conditioning performed by said rear card module is a custom application adapting said standardized circuit to a particular fiber optic to electrical signal application; one or more rear card modules for conditioning electrical signals, said rear card modules mounted in the rear of said chassis and mating with said connectors on said motherboard, said rear card modules including connector means for connecting to an electrical cable carrying signals to be converted by said conversion card modules, and whereby electrical signals can be connected to said rear card modules, processed on said rear card modules, connected through to said conversion card modules through said connectors on said motherboard, and converted on said front modules.

Claim 36

A front and rear modular conversion unit comprising: a chassis including four side-walls and open front and rear ends; a motherboard printed circuit board mounted inside said chassis to form a front module insertion area and a rear module insertion area, said motherboard including a plurality of connectors for receiving a cooperating mating connector, said connectors mounted on both sides of said motherboard; means for connecting connectors on opposite sides of said motherboard in pairs; one or more conversion card modules for converting electrical signals to fiber optic signals mounted in the front end of said chassis and mating with said connectors, said conversion card modules including a printed circuit board implementing a standardized circuit for converting electrical signals to fiber optic signals and wherein said electrical signal conditioning performed by said rear card module is a custom application adapting said standardized circuit to a particular fiber optic to electrical signal application; one or more rear card modules for conditioning electrical signals, said rear card modules mounted in the rear of said chassis and mating with said connectors on said motherboard, said rear card modules including connector means for connecting to an electrical cable carrying signals to be converted by said conversion card modules, and whereby electrical signals can be connected to said rear card modules, processed on said rear card modules, connected through to said conversion card modules through said connectors on said motherboard, and converted on said front modules.

Claim 37

The front and rear modular conversion unit as recited in claim 27 wherein said standardized circuit is implemented in a multilayered printed circuit board.

Claim 38

The front and rear modular conversion unit as recited in claim 28, wherein said conversion card module means includes means for conditioning RF emission.