Telecommunications module storage apparatus and method

1. A telecommunications system comprising:

a chassis comprising an attaching mechanism, the attaching mechanism comprising:

a lever arm and a biasing member mounted to the chassis; and

a module stop member for halting the insertion of a removable module into the chassis and securing the removable module to the chassis until the lever arm and the biasing member attached to the chassis are activated, releasing the removable module;

wherein the attaching mechanism is configured to allow one or more removable modules to be freely inserted into the chassis before securing to the chassis in multiple positions; and

one or more removable modules configured to be securely positioned in the chassis in the multiple positions, wherein each of the one or more removable modules comprises:

a faceplate;

a plurality of ports disposed on the faceplate, the plurality of ports comprising:

a monitor port;

an input port; and

an output port;

a printed circuit board (PCB) with electrical components mounted thereon; and

one or more notches formed in an edge of the PCB to facilitate secure mounting of the removable module within the chassis in the multiple positions, wherein the multiple positions comprise:

a storage position for storage of the removable module; and

an engaged position for engagement of the removable module to a backplane; and

wherein the PCB comprises a front edge and a back edge, and

wherein the one or more notches are located at least two times closer to the front edge than to the back edge to enable storage of each of the one or more removable modules in the storage position.

2. The telecommunications system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more modules are communicatively coupled to a telecommunications infrastructure when in the engaged position.

3. The telecommunications system of claim 1 , further comprising the backplane, wherein the one or more modules can be communicatively coupled with the backplane when the one or more modules are in the engaged position.

4. The telecommunications system of claim 3 , wherein the one or more modules are not communicatively coupled with the backplane when the one or more modules are in the storage position.

5. The telecommunications system of claim 1 , further comprising a rack configured to couple with the chassis.

6. A method comprising:

storing a freely-insertable and removable telecommunications module in a chassis by activating a lever arm and a biasing member mounted to the chassis and by inserting the module into the chassis and securing the module in an intermediate position, wherein a module stop member of the chassis halts the insertion of the removable telecommunications module into the chassis and secures the removable telecommunications module in the intermediate position, and wherein the module comprises:

a faceplate;

a plurality of ports disposed on the faceplate, the plurality of ports comprising:

a monitor port;

an input port; and

an output port;

a printed circuit board (PCB) with electrical components mounted thereon; and

one or more notches formed in an edge of the PCB facilitate the securing of the module in the secured intermediate position, and wherein the PCB comprises a front edge and a back edge, and wherein the one or more notches are located at least two times closer to the front edge than to the back edge to enable storage of the module in the secured intermediate position;

releasing the module from the secured intermediate position by activating the lever arm and the biasing member mounted to the chassis; and

engaging the module so as to place the module in an operative position in the chassis.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the engaging of the module comprises placing the module in communication with a backplane.

8. The method of claim 6 further comprising releasing the module from its engaged position and returning the module to the secured intermediate position.

9. A removable telecommunications module comprising:

a faceplate;

a plurality of ports disposed on the faceplate, the plurality of ports comprising:

a monitor port;

an input port; and

an output port;

a printed circuit board (PCB) with electrical components mounted thereon; and

one or more notches formed in an edge of the PCB to facilitate secure mounting of the removable telecommunications module within a chassis in multiple positions, the chassis comprising an attaching mechanism, the attaching mechanism comprising:

a lever arm and a biasing member mounted to the chassis; and

a module stop member for halting the insertion of the removable telecommunications module into the chassis and securing the removable telecommunications module to the chassis until the lever arm and the biasing member attached to the chassis are activated, releasing the removable telecommunications module;

and wherein the attaching mechanism is configured to allow for free insertion of the removable telecommunication module into the chassis before the secure mounting of the removable telecommunication module in the multiple positions, and wherein the multiple positions comprise:

a storage position for storage of the removable telecommunications module; and

an engaged position for engagement of the removable telecommunications module to a backplane; and

wherein the PCB comprises a front edge and a back edge, and wherein the one or more notches are located at least two times closer to the front edge than to the back edge to enable storage of the removable telecommunications module in the storage position.

10. The removable telecommunications module of claim 9 , wherein:

at least one of the one or more notches is located at least three times closer to the front edge than to the back edge.

11. The telecommunications module of claim 9 , wherein the one or more notches are configured to secure the module in the storage position before the module may be placed in the engaged position.

12. A telecommunications system comprising:

one or more removable modules configured to freely insert and attach to a chassis, each of the one or more removable modules comprising:

a faceplate;

a plurality of ports disposed on the faceplate, the plurality of ports comprising:

a monitor port;

an input port; and

an output port;

a printed circuit board (PCB) with electrical components mounted thereon;

a chassis; and

means for attaching the one or more removable modules and the chassis, one to another, in at least two positions, the at least two positions including:

a first position for storing the removable module when the removable module is not in use; and

a second position for engaging the removable module with a backplane when the removable module is in use,

wherein the attaching means comprises: (i) one or more notches formed in an edge of the PCB of each of the one or more modules to facilitate secure mounting of the respective removable module within the chassis in the at least two positions, (ii) a lever arm and a biasing member mounted to the chassis, and (iii) a module stop member for halting the insertion of a removable module into the chassis and securing the removable module to the chassis until the lever arm and the biasing member attached to the chassis are activated, releasing the removable module; and

wherein each of the PCBs comprise a front edge and a back edge, and wherein the one or more notches are located at least two times closer to the front edge than to the back edge to enable storage of the respective removable module in the first position when the respective removable module is not in use.

13. The telecommunications system of claim 12 , wherein the attaching means is configured to allow the module to be freely inserted into the chassis until the module reaches the first position.

14. The telecommunications system of claim 13 , wherein the attaching means prevents the module from further insertion into the chassis and secures the module in the first position when the module reaches the first position.

15. The telecommunications system of claim 12 , further comprising the backplane for communicative coupling with the module, and wherein the first position comprises a position located before the module is communicatively coupled to the backplane.

16. The telecommunication system of claim 12 , further comprising the backplane for communicative coupling with the module, and wherein the second position comprises a position where the module is communicatively coupled to the backplane.