WO2003073202A2

WO2003073202A2 - Electronic circuit card guide

Info

Publication number: WO2003073202A2
Application number: PCT/US2003/004842
Authority: WO
Inventors: Edward Levy; Steffen Hagene
Original assignee: Maple Optical Systems, Inc.
Priority date: 2002-02-22
Filing date: 2003-02-21
Publication date: 2003-09-04
Also published as: AU2003219794A1; WO2003073202A3; AU2003219794A8

Abstract

The invention provides a method and apparatus for reconfiguring an existing mounting chassis (600) of an electronic equipment to accommodate smaller sized circuit cards (602) within individual card slots. As a result, a user may place a multiple of smaller cards (602) with an individual circuit in a single card slot rather than having one full-length circuit card (602) to which numerous circuits are connected. As a result, fewer connections (618) are disabled during the removal process making the removal process faster and simpler, with less downtime. Moreover, by having fewer connections (618) disabled, less data is lost during replacement. In one embodiment, removable card guides (616) are placed within the card slot to reconfigure the slot to accept smaller circuit cards (602). The card guides (616) receive and hold a slot card (608) within the card slot in which the card guide (616) is placed. An alternative embodiment provides removable plates (604) with card mounts (616) that reconfigure the slot to accept smaller circuit cards (602).

Description

ELECTRONIC CIRCUIT CARD GUIDE

Field of the Invention

The invention relates generally to chasses configured to receive removable circuit cards and, more particularly, to a device and method to allow a chassis to accommodate smaller circuit cards configured to perform individual functions so that, during removal of the circuit card, fewer circuits are shut down. Background

In commercial electronic network systems, mounting chassis are used for attaching circuit cards, also referred to as a printed circuit boards (PCBs). These cards can include electronic components and circuits, optical couplings and components, and other devices. The chassis typically have a plurality of slots for receiving and housing circuit cards. The slots are designed to receive circuit cards that are the full length of the slots. Thus, each slot is able only hold one circuit card, and the chassis is limited to accommodate circuit cards of only one size. Also, in order to utilize the limited space of each card, each must be configured to accommodate more circuits, resulting in more connections.

Problems occur when any one circuit needs to be replaced. This is often required in ever changing network systems. With large circuit cards, individual circuits cannot be removed and replaced. Only entire circuit cards can be removed from a chassis. As a result, every circuit on a circuit card must be shut down and every related connection must be disconnected in order to service or replace any one circuit. This can be especially critical in optical systems, were the handling of sensitive optical fibers and components are difficult. This makes the removal of an entire circuit card exceptionally tedious and subject to error, causing wasteful downtime in a system. The result is lost time, lost data and other consequential costs. The amount of lost data may be even more significant when high-speed networking is involved, such as in optical networks.

Thus, there exists a need for more efficient devices aimed at reducing downtime in such changeover operations. As will be seen, the invention does this in an elegant manner. Summary of the Invention

The invention provides a method and apparatus for reconfiguring an existing chassis to accommodate smaller circuit cards. The invention enables multiple various sized circuit cards to be placed in one slot of a chassis housing contained in electrical equipment, such as computer servers. Such devices and related systems can benefit from incorporating the invention by allowing the removal of a single small circuit that needs to be replaced or modified, without the need to remove multiple, possibly unrelated or separable circuits.

Then invention provides card guides that are placed in a chassis slot to divide the slot into multiple spaces. The card guide is configured to divide the slot into a plurality of spaces when installed to accommodate more than one circuit card. For example, a card guide can be installed in the middle of a slot, dividing the slot in two, one space occurring above the guide and one below the guide. The card guide contains one card mount for receiving a circuit card placed in the space above it and another card mount for receiving a circuit card placed in the space below it. Any multiple of circuit cards may be accommodated. The number of card guides to be placed in the slot depends on the number and sizes of circuit cards that are being placed in that slot.

The invention further provides removable chassis plates having card mounts attached to them. The chassis plates are aligned in parallel creating slots for receiving circuit cards and are removable. The card mounts divide the slot into multiple spaces to accommodate circuit cards. The chassis plates include card mounts having one groove for receiving a circuit card placed below it and another groove for receiving a circuit card placed above it.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure la illustrates a perspective view of a chassis for electronic equipment in accordance with the invention;

Figure lb illustrates a side plan view of the chassis of Figure 1;

Figure 2a illustrates a side plan view of a circuit card guide in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2b illustrates an opposite side plan view of the circuit card guide; Figure 2c illustrates an end view of the circuit card guide;

Figure 2d illustrates an opposite end view of the circuit card guide;

Figure 3 illustrates a plan view of a plate for receiving the circuit card guide;

Figures 4a-4b illustrate end views of the circuit card guide during the installation process;

Figures 5a-5b are illustrations of the attachment process of the mounting pins to the key way in accordance with the invention;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a mounting chassis 600 for electrical equipment in accordance with the alternative embodiment;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a removable chassis plate;

Figure 8 illustrates the spring-clip bracket from a bottom to top view; and

Figure 9 illustrates the final installed position of the chassis plate 604.

Detailed Description

The invention provides a method and apparatus for placing multiple circuit cards of various sizes in a single slot of a chassis housing contained in electrical equipment. Examples include computer servers, optical networking servers, and other applications where the accommodation of multiple circuit cards is preferable over only a few cards. Such systems would benefit by allowing the removal of a single small circuit that needs to be replaced or modified, without the need to remove multiple, possibly unrelated or separable circuits to do so.

A conventional mounting chassis of such electronic equipment may include plates, which are arranged to create slots to hold circuit cards. Conventional devices have slots that can only accommodate a circuit card that has the same length as the slot. Thus, the cards are referred to as full-slot length circuit cards. One embodiment of the invention consists of card guides that are placed in a chassis slot to divide the slot into multiple spaces. For example, a user may place one card guide in a chassis slot, dividing the slot into two spaces, one above the guide and one below the guide, each having a length of half of the original slot. Each space may now house a separate circuit card. The card guide contains a card mount for receiving a circuit card placed in the space above it and a card mount for receiving a circuit card placed in the space below it. Any number of card guides may be placed in a slot to accommodate any number and size of circuit cards within that slot.

According to the invention, a card guide may be made out of metallic material such as die-cast aluminum, magnesium or zinc. The card guide may have a unitary body with no movable parts or may include special fasteners with moving parts. The card guide may also include card mounts for receiving the circuit card, as well as a device for attaching to the chassis slot, such as attachment pins.

According to the invention, each chassis slot contains a plurality of keyways for accepting the attachment pins attached to or formed with the chassis card guide. In one embodiment, to install the card guide, it is rotated until it can fit into the slot. The guide is then inserted at an angle until the attachment pins line up with the keyways. The guide is then rotated back into its back into place. As the guide is rotated into place, the pins engage the key way and lock into place in a catching mechanism, such as a detent. To remove the card guide, a manual force must be applied to the card guide to unlock it from the detent. It is then rotated until it can be removed from the chassis length. According to the invention, the circuit card guide may then be installed or removed manually without special skills, keeping the installation time of the card guide to a minimum.

In one embodiment, the circuit card has two ends, a connection end that plugs into the electronic equipment port and another end that attaches to a faceplate. The circuit card is configured to be seated between two card guides. The circuit card may then be slid along the mounts of the card guides until the connection end of the card plugs into the chassis port. The circuit card may be then secured to the card guide by a snap on clip or fastener, or by manually tightening a fastener, such as a screw, to fasten the circuit card faceplate to an aperture in the card guide. Each circuit card may be attached to the chassis, independently from other circuit cards. Thus, a circuit card may be removed from the chassis without having to remove all of the circuit cards in that slot.

In another embodiment, removable plates are slid into the chassis having one or more card mounts to create lengths or slots in which an electronic circuit card may be placed. Once installed, the plates may be similar in function with respect to installing the plates mentioned in the previous embodiment. The plates are removable and may contain a plurality of card mounts. The card mounts divide the slot into multiple spaces to accommodate a plurality of circuit cards. For example, if a plate with an attached card mount is placed in the chassis, the slot is now divided into two spaces, one above the card mount and one below the card mount. Each space can now house one circuit card. The card mount contains one groove for receiving a circuit card placed below it and a groove for receiving a circuit card placed above it. The number of card mounts placed on a chassis plate will depend on the number and sizes of circuit cards that are desired in a single slot. Plates that contain card mounts are used when placing less than the full-slot length circuit cards.

The embodiment further includes a guide bracket for seating the plate as well as the circuit card in the chassis and a spring-clip bracket. The spring-clip bracket locks the plate into its final position. The guide bracket and the spring-clip bracket may be included in a unitary body made out of plastic or another suitable material. The brackets may optionally be configured to have no movable parts, making them relatively inexpensive to produce than conventional methods.

The embodiments do not require any special tools or skills to install. A removable plate may be seated on the guide bracket and translated through notches located on the mounting bracket. The plates are translated until they are locked into their final place by the spring-clip. To remove the plate, the spring-clip is pressed and the plate is released from the clip, allowing the plate to be translated out of the chassis.

Both embodiments of the invention provide a method for accommodating multiple circuit cards in one chassis slot. This may create significant advantages for the user. First, the electronic equipment can be customized to the desired preferences needed. Previously, the electronic equipment was limited to using one type of circuit card. In accordance with the invention, the chassis can accommodate cards of different sizes and functions. Therefore, the user has a greater variety of cards with more options to choose from. Accordingly, the flexibility of the electronic equipment may be greatly increased.

With the need for flexibility to adapt to constantly changing designs, requiring circuits to be updated, the user may need to replace a circuit on a particular card. During the replacement process, the entire circuit card must be disabled if any one circuit is to be replaced. The invention further allows the chassis to accommodate smaller circuit cards. Therefore, fewer circuits are placed on each card. For example, four smaller circuit cards may be placed in a particular chassis slot, each performing one function, rather than one full-slot length circuit card performing four functions. As a result, there are fewer connections that need to be disabled during the removal process, making the removal and installation process faster and simpler, with less downtime. Moreover, by having fewer connections disabled, there is less risk of data being lost during the replacement of a circuit card.

Referring to Figure 1 A, a perspective view of a mounting chassis 100 in accordance with the invention is shown. The mounting chassis 100 is configured to hold electronic circuit cards 102 to be connected with other circuitry inside such electronic equipment. Included in the mounting chassis 100 are plates 104 to which the circuit cards 102 attach. The plates 104 may be made out of a metallic material and are generally placed in parallel to each other. In between the chassis plates 104, are apertures or lengths 106a-106e, for receiving circuit cards 102. In conventional systems, the spaces or the lengths 106b can only hold circuit cards 102 with the same dimensions of the chassis length 106. Therefore, each chassis length 106 would only accommodate one circuit card 102. By only having the capability to accommodate one circuit card 102, the chassis 100 would be limited in the variety of circuit cards 102 that can be used. According to the invention, however, more than a single circuit card may be placed in any one slot.

Still referring to Figure 1A, Length 106a is an open slot illustrated with no electronic circuit cards 102 placed in it. Length 106a further does not contain any card guides 108 and therefore can only accommodate one full-slot length circuit card 102. Length 106b contains one full-slot length circuit card 102. As illustrated, a card guide 108, in accordance with the invention, is placed in a length 106c and attaches to two plates 104 as illustrated. The card guide 108 may be placed in the center of chassis length 106c. The card guide 108 divides the length 106c into two spaces, one above the circuit card and one below the circuit card. Each space may now hold an individual circuit card 102 with a half-slot length. A circuit card 102 of half-slot length, as illustrated, is placed in the top space of length 106c and the bottom space is left open, and ready to accommodate a half-slot length circuit card, or divided into two more spaces by placing another circuit card guide 108 in the space. Thus, the card guide 108 provides a means for each length 106 to hold a plurality of circuit cards 102 of different sizes in a single chassis length 106. Length 106d, as illustrated, is housing four circuit cards 102 of quarter-slot length. In order to accommodate four circuit cards, there must be three circuit card guides 108 (not shown) placed in the length 106d. For illustration contrast, 106e does not have any circuit cards 102 or any circuit card guides 108.

Figure IB illustrates a front view of the chassis 100 of Figure la. The chassis 100 includes two mounting plates 110 and 112 on which the plates 104 are mounted. The chassis 100 may be attached to some larger electronic equipment with the use of an angle bracket 114. The angle bracket 114, as illustrated, incorporates a fastener such as a nut and bolt fastener to secure the chassis to the larger electronic equipment. Another feature that may optionally be included in the chassis is a fastening device 116, such as a nut and bolt fastener. The fastening device 116 may be located at the top of each length attached to the chassis plate 104. Circuit cards 102, mounted in each length 106, may be secured to the chassis 100 using the fastening device 116. Other fastening devices may include a removable snap-fit fastener or other fasteners designed for convenient and economic use (not illustrated). Further illustrated, are card mounts 118 and 120 placed in each length 106. A first card mount 118 is attached mounting plate 110 while the second card mount 120 is attached to mounting plate 112. The card mounts 118 and 120 may be a unitary body with a groove or a slot for receiving the circuit card 102. A full-length circuit card 102, during the installation process, is seated between card mount 120 and card mount 118. The circuit card 102 may then be slid along the grove of the card mounts 120 and 118, until it plugs into a chassis port (not illustrated). The invention may act as a substitute for a card mount 120 when installing circuit cards 102 that are less than full length.

Figure 2A illustrates a side plan view of a card guide 108 in accordance with the invention. The card guide 108 may be made out of a metallic material, such as die-cast aluminum, magnesium, zinc, or other suitable material. The card guide 108 may be a unitary body with no movable parts. The card guide 108 may include one or more mounting pins 200 for attaching the circuit guide to the chassis 100. The illustration provides an example of a card guide 108, which uses four pins 200 to attach to the adjacent chassis plate 104 further described in Figures 5A-5B. Also, included in the card guide 108 is a card mount 202 for receiving the circuit card 102. The card mount 202 may be a slot or a groove that runs from one end of the card guide 108 to the other. The circuit card 102 may be seated on the card mount 202 and translated along the grove during the mounting process. The circuit card 102 is translated along the groove of the card mount 202 until the connection end of the circuit card plugs into the chassis port. In addition, spacers 204 may be included in the circuit card guide 108 for accurately positioning the card guide. The spacers 204 may be located on one side of the card guide 108 and may align flush against the plate 104 to ensure that the card guide 108 is properly positioned.

Figure 2B illustrates an opposite side plan view of the card guide 108. Illustrated in Figure 2b are the attachment pins 200, and the spacers 204. In addition, included in the card guide 108 is a second card mount 206. This card mount 206 is similar in function to the aforementioned card mount 202 (Figure 2a), located on the opposite side of the card guide 108. The card mount 206 may be a slot or a grove that runs from one end to another, as is the first card mount 202. This card mount 206 is used for receiving circuit cards 102 mounted directly below it. The top of the circuit card 102 may be translated along the card mount 206 during the installation process.

Figure 2C illustrates an end view of the card guide 108. Illustrated in Figure 2C, are the attachment pins 200 and the first and second card mounts 202 and 206 for receiving electronic circuit cards 102. Further, the embodiment as depicted in Figure 2c illustrates a card guide 108 may include an aperture 208 for receiving a fastener, such as a screw. The aperture 208 is used to fasten the circuit card 102 to the card guide 108. However, one of ordinary skill in the art would certainly recognize that various other forms of securing the circuit card might be used. Figure 2d illustrates an end view (opposite to that of Figure 2c) of the card guide 108. Illustrated in Figure 2D, are the attachment pins 200 and the first and second card mounts 202 and 206.

The installation process of a circuit card 102 less than full-slot length is as follows. The circuit card 102 has two ends, a connection end that plugs into the electronic equipment port and an end attached to a faceplate. The circuit card 102 may be seated, connection end first (not shown), in between circuit card guides 108. The circuit card 102 slides along the card mounts 202 and 206 of the respective card guides 108, until the connection end of the card is plugged into the chassis port. The circuit card 102 may be then secured to the card guide 108 by tightening a fastener, such as a screw, which fastens the circuit card faceplate (not shown) to the card guide aperture 208. Each circuit card 102 is attached to the chassis 100, independently from other circuit cards 102. Thus, a circuit card 102 may be removed from the chassis 100 without having to remove all of the circuit cards 102 in that length 106. Therefore, each circuit card can be removed without removing any other circuit card.

Figure 3 illustrates a plan view of a plate 104 for receiving the card guide 108. The plate 104 as mentioned above may be made out of a metallic material such as steel. The plate 104 may include a plurality of keyways 300 for receiving the attachment pins 200. The attachment process of the attachment pins 200 to the keyway 300 is further described in Figures 5A-5B.

Figures 4A-4B illustrate end views of the card guide 108 during the installation of the card guide 108 to the mounting chassis 100. As illustrated, the card guide 108 is rotated until it can be inserted into a length 106 located between two plates 104. The card guide 108 is then inserted at that angle until the attachment pins 200 align with its designated keyway 300. At this point, the card guide 108 is rotated back into position, illustrated in Figure 4B. As the card guide 108 is rotated back the attachment pins 200 engage the keyways 300 further described in Figures 5A-5B. The card guide 108 is then pulled towards the entrance end of the chassis length 106 to lock the attachment pins 200 into the keyway 300.

Figure 5A-5B are illustrations of the attachment process of the mounting pins 200 to the keyway 300 located on a plate 104 of Figure 3. The keyways 300 may be slots cut out of the plate 104 in the shape of an "L". The keyway 300 may include a long portion 500, a short portion 502 and a detent 504. As illustrated in Figure 4a, the card guide is rotated until the guide 108 can be inserted into the length 106. The guide 108 is then inserted until the attachment pins are aligned with the keyholes 300. As the card guide is rotated back to the position illustrated in Figure 4B, the attachment pin 200 travels down the long-portion 500 of the keyway 300, illustrated in Figure 5a. As the card guide 108 is pulled back towards the entrance end of the chassis length 106, the attachment pin 200 is translated along the short portion 502 of the keyway 300. It is slid along the short portion 502 until the detent 504 catches the pin 200, therefore, locking the pin 200 and the card guide 108 into place.

To remove the card guide 108, the pin is unlocked from the detent 504. This is achieved by manually placing a force on the card guide towards the port end of the chassis length 106. The detent 504 releases the pin 200, thus, allowing the card guide 108 to be translated along the short portion 502 of the keyway 300. The card guide 108 is then rotated until the card guide 108 can be removed from the chassis length 106.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a mounting chassis 600 of an alternative embodiment. The mounting chassis 600 similar to the mounting chassis 100 described in the previous embodiment holds circuit cards 602 to be connected with other circuitry inside such electronic equipment. The chassis 600 includes plates 604. The plates 604 may be placed in parallel to each other creating a space or a length 606 for receiving circuit cards 602 in between two plates 604. As discussed above, in conventional devices, the space or length 606 can only hold circuit cards 602 with the same dimensions of the chassis length. Thus, unlike devices configured according to the invention, each chassis length 606 can only accommodate one circuit card.

Circuit cards 602, as illustrated are less than full-slot length. The circuit cards 602 have two ends, a connection end (not shown) and a faceplate 624. Also included on the faceplate may be a handle 626. The handle 626 is used for pulling the circuit card 602 during the removal process. The handle 626 may have another function as a holding connection for wires.

Chassis plates 604 are removable and may contain card mounts 608. The card mounts 608 divide the length 606 into multiple spaces. Therefore, the removable plates 604 with card mounts 608 provide the ability for each length 606 to hold a plurality of circuit cards 602 of different sizes. By providing a means for allowing more circuit cards 602 to be placed in the chassis 600, the alternative embodiment increases the flexibility of the electronic equipment. The chassis 600 is not limited to circuit cards 602 of one size, and therefore can utilize a wider variety of circuit cards 602 which may increase the different functions the electronic equipment can now perform. In addition, the alternative embodiment allows the chassis 600 to hold more circuit cards 602 in the same amount of space. Since space utilization is often a concern in applications, providing a means to increase the functions that can be performed by electronic equipment without having to increase the size of the equipment provides multiple benefits. Alternatively, by allowing a means for placing more circuit cards 602 in the chassis, each circuit card 602 may perform fewer functions. This may be useful when removing and replacing a circuit card 602. Before the removal process, the functions on each circuit card 602 must be shut down. By having fewer functions being performed by each card 602, the user does not have to shut down as many functions when removing the card 602. Thus, the removal process may be more efficient and may result in an economic benefit.

Further included in the chassis, are a guide bracket 610 and a spring-clip bracket 612. The guide bracket 610 is used in conjunction with the spring-clip bracket 612 to seat the chassis plate 604. The spring-clip bracket 612 locks the chassis plate 604 into place in its final installed position, keeping the plate secure during times of non- installation. The guide bracket further seats the circuit card 102, which in its final installed position will plug into the chassis port 618.

The guide bracket 610, illustrated in Figure 6 may be used to seat both the removable chassis plate 604 and the circuit card 602 in accordance with the alternative embodiment. The guide bracket 610 may be a unitary body made of plastic or any other suitable material. There are no movable parts on the bracket 610 therefore keeping the price and difficulty of producing the bracket relatively low.

Located on the guide bracket 610 may be a plurality of notches 614 aligned in multiple rows. The bracket 610, as illustrated, contains two rows of notches 614. These notches 614 may be uniformly spaced in a particular row to follow the spacing plan of the removable plates and thus creating lengths or spaces 606 for accepting the circuit card 602. To install a chassis plate 604, the plate 604 may be seated on the guide bracket 610 and translated through the corresponding notches 614 in that row until it is locked into place by the spring-clip bracket 612. The notches 614 may help align the removable plates 604 during the installation/removal process. Further, the notches 614 may serve to help stabilize the plate 604 in its final installed position.

Also located on the guide bracket 610, may be a card mount 616. The card mount 616 may be used to seat the circuit card 602. The card mount 616 may be a groove, depression, indentation etc. in the bracket 614 and need not be any attached structure. A circuit card 602 is seated and translated on the card mount 616 until the connection end of the circuit card 602 plugs into the chassis port 618. The guide bracket 614 may also contain apertures 620 for receiving a fastener, such as a nut and bolt fastener, which may be used to attach to the chassis 600. The user may install the circuit card guide without special skills, tools, or additional hardware.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a removable chassis plate 604. The removable chassis plates 604 may be made of a metallic material and may be placed in parallel to each other. The removable chassis plates 604 may have card mounts 608 attached to them. The card mounts 608 are used to receive circuit cards 602 of various sizes. Card mounts 608 may be a unitary body made out of plastic or another suitable material. The card mount 608 may include a base 702 that attaches to the chassis plate 604. The base 702 may lay flat against the chassis plate. A fastener, such as an adhesive, epoxy, hot glue etc. may be used to attach the base 702 to the chassis plate 604. The card mount 608 may further include a groove or slot 704 for receiving the electronic circuit card 602. The groove 704 may run along the entire length of the card mount 608. During installation a circuit card 602 less than full slot length, the card is seated between two card mounts 608 and then translated along the grove 704 until it plugs into a chassis port 618 (Figure 6).

Optionally, included on the chassis plate 604 may be a cutout 706. The cutout 706 is used to lock the chassis plate 604 into its final installed position. During installation, the chassis plate 604 may be translated over the spring-clip bracket 612. The cutout 706 catches the spring clip bracket 612 and creates a method for securing the plate. The bracket 612 after being received by the cutout 706 impedes the translation of the chassis plate 604 in either direction.

Figure 8 illustrates the spring-clip bracket 612 from a bottom to top view. The spring-clip bracket 612 is used for locking a removable chassis plate 604 in its final installed position. The bracket 612 may be a unitary body made of plastic or any other suitable material. Again, the bracket 612 contains no movable parts keeping the cost and difficulty in producing the bracket relatively low. The bracket 612 may contain a plurality of apertures 802 that align with apertures 620 located on the guide bracket 610. These apertures 802, 620 may be used for receiving a fastener, such as a nut and bolt fastener, to secure the spring-clip bracket 640 to the guide bracket 614. Further, the bracket 612 may contain a plurality of spring-clips 804. The spring-clips 804 may be uniformly spaced along the bracket 612. Each spring-clip 804 may contain a locking clip 806 and an unlocking clip 808. The locking and unlocking clips 806, 808 are used to secure and release the chassis plate 604 from the chassis 600.

Figure 9 illustrates the final installed position of the chassis plate 604. The installation process of the chassis plate is as follows. The chassis plate 604 may be translated through a notch 616 as well as over the locking clip 804, using the weight of the plate to bend the locking clip 804 back, and allowing the chassis plate 604 to continue along its installation path. The final installation point is indicated by the cutout 706 on the chassis plate 604 (Figure 7). At this point, the chassis plate 604 no longer engages the locking clip 708. Since the weight of the plate 604 is no longer on the locking clip 806, the locking clip 806 springs back into its initial position and filling in the cutout 706. The locking clip 806 now impedes the translation of the chassis plate 604 in either direction, locking the plate 604 into place.

To remove the plate the user may apply a force to the unlocking clip 808, such as pressing the clip with a finger. The force may cause the spring clip 804 to bend back. As the spring clip 702 bends back, the locking clip 804 bends back as well, releasing the plate 604 and enabling the user to translate the plate 604 out of the chassis 600. In addition, the remaining spring-clips 804 bend forward to keep the other chassis plates 604 from being released.

While the foregoing has been with reference to particular embodiments of the invention, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes in these embodiments may be made without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. An electronic housing device configured to house electronic equipment including electronic and optical circuits, comprising: a chassis configured to house circuit cards within apertures defining card slots, wherein the circuit cards are configured to receive optical circuit connections when installed within the card slots; and a removable card guide that is removably attachable to the chassis within the card slots, wherein the card guides can be placed within the card slots to reconfigure the chassis to accept smaller circuit cards.

2. A device according to Claim 1, wherein the chassis is configured to receive optical connections through a rear panel, and to receive the circuit cards through slot card openings; wherein the circuit cards are configured to occupy less than an entire slot opening; and wherein the removable card guide is configured to receive and hold a slot card within the card slot within which the removable card guide is located; and wherein the circuit cards are configured with specialized circuits for performing predetermined functions so that, when removed, only the predetermined functions operable by the circuit cards need to be shut down.

3. A device according to Claim 2, wherein the circuit cards are configured to accommodate a limited number of optical connections through the rear panel that are related only to the function of the predetermined functions of the circuit card, wherein, when the circuit card is removed, only the limited number of optical connections need to be disconnected.

4. A device according to Claim 1, wherein the chassis is configured to receive network connections through a rear panel, and to receive the circuit cards through slot card openings; wherein the circuit cards are configured to occupy less than an entire slot opening; and wherein the removable card guide is configured to receive and hold a slot card within the card slot within which the removable card guide is located; and wherein the circuit cards are configured with specialized circuits for performing predetermined functions so that, when removed, only the predetermined functions operable by the circuit card are disconnected from the server.

5. A device according to Claim 1, wherein the chassis include a plurality of keyways; wherein the removable card guide include pins that engage the keyways; and wherein the pins are removably locked by detents on the chassis.

6. A removable circuit card guide that is removably attached to a chassis of an electrical housing device configured to house electrical equipment comprising of: a unitary body having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side surface and a second side surface; a first card mount attached to said top surface for seating a circuit card; a second card mount attached to said bottom surface for seating a circuit card; and one or more pins attached to said first and said second side surfaces.

7. The removable card guide according to claim 6, wherein said unitary body is rigid, and wherein the first and second card mounts are configured to receiving and holding an optical network card.

8. The removable card guide according to claim 6, wherein said first card mount and said second card mount are grooves along the said unitary body;

9. The removable card guide according to claim 8, wherein a circuit card is removably slid along said groove during installation of said circuit card.

10. The removable card guide according to claim 6, wherein said pins engage attach to said chassis; and wherein said pins are removably fixed into position by said chassis.

12. The removable card guide according to claim 6, further includes an aperture for receiving a means for securing the circuit card.

13. The removable card guide according to claim 6, further includes spacers attached to said first and said second side surfaces for positioning the guide in the chassis length; wherein said spacers include a flat surface for aligning with chassis; and wherein said flat surface is attached a set distance away from said removable card guide such that said removable card guide is positioned said distance from the chassis.

16. A method for reconfiguring a chassis of an electronic housing device configured to house electronic equipment to receive smaller circuit cards, wherein said chassis is configured to house circuit cards within apertures defining card slots, wherein said chassis having a first plate positioned substantially in parallel with said card slot and on a first side of said card slot and a second plate positioned substantially in parallel with and on a second side said card slot and wherein said first and said second plates include keyways substantially L-shaped, having a long portion and a short portion connected to said long portion comprising: inserting a removable card guide, having one or more pins, into said length; rotating said removable card guide in said length allowing said pins to engage said long portion of keyway and traveling along said portion; and securing said removable card guide to said first and said second plates by translating said pins along said short portion and removably locking said pin into a detent.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein said removable card guide provides a means for accommodating and securing said smaller circuit cards.

18. An electronic housing device configured to house electronic equipment including electronic and optical circuits, comprising: a chassis configured to house circuit cards within apertures defining card slots, wherein the circuit cards are configured to receive optical circuit connections when installed within the card slots; and removable plates for reconfiguring said chassis to accommodate smaller circuit cards.

19. The device according to claim 18, wherein the removable plates are placed in said chassis substantially in parallel with the card slots wherein a first removable plate is placed on a first side of the card slot and wherein a second removable plate is placed on a second side of the card slot.

20. The device according to claim 18, wherein said removable plates include card mounts; wherein said card mount includes a groove for accommodating said smaller circuit cards; wherein said smaller circuit cards are translated on said groove during installation.

21. The device according to claim 18, wherein removable plates with card mounts are only used to accommodate less than full-length circuit cards.