The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 05, 1986
Filed:
Feb. 13, 1985
Michael H Fitzpatrick, Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Northern Telecom Limited, Montreal, CA;
Abstract
A back plane for a shelf of electronic circuit modules includes back plane connectors for providing signal and power connections with circuit module connectors near a front face of the back plane and for providing connection with bus or cable connectors near a back face of the back plane. A connector shroud includes a body or base portion and side walls extending from the base portion for guiding the bus or cable connector in alignment with pins of the back plane connector. The base portion includes apertures for accepting the pins which protrude therethrough. Most of the apertures are of sufficient size to freely accept the pins and the remainder of the apertures are of a size to provide an interference fit with corresponding ones of the pins. A key member extends normal to the base portion in a direction opposite of the side walls. In assembly with the back plane, the key member extends through part of an elongated opening in the back plane adjacent the back plane connector. The key member is positioned to cooperate with a complementary structure in an electronic circuit module of a type acceptable for connection to the back plane connector. A keyway defined in one of the side walls of the shroud is of a predetermined position in relation to a particular position of the key member and defines which of the bus and/or cable connectors are connectable with the back plane connector. The key member also includes a releasable latch for retaining the connector shroud in assembly with the back plane.