Removable sensor modules
View Patent ↗A removable telecommunication sensor module is configured to be removably coupled between a power protection device and a backplane. The removable telecommunication sensor module monitors energy usage at a telecommunication equipment circuit level for a piece of telecommunication equipment arranged in a telecommunication network infrastructure.
1. A telecommunication sensor device to be removably coupled between a power protection device and a backplane, the monitoring device comprising:
a printed circuit assembly (PCA) having:
a first end opposite a second end; and
a first planar surface opposite a second planar surface, the first and second planar surfaces arranged between the first and second ends;
one or more clips fixed to the first end and arranged above one or more electrical contact pads arranged on top of the first planar surface, at least one of the one or more clips and the one or more electrical contact pads arranged to cooperatively couple with a power input contact of the power protection device, and at least one of the one or more clips and the one or more contact pads arranged to cooperatively couple with a power output contact of the power protection device,
wherein the one or more clips apply a spring force, in a direction towards the PCA, on the power protection device to force the power input contact of the power protection device and the power output contact of the power protection device against the one or more electrical contact pads arranged on top of the first planar surface.
2. The telecommunication sensor device of claim 1 , further comprising a cover having a wall arranged around a perimeter, the wall defining a case, the case arranged above at least a portion of the first planar surface to protect the first planar surface, and the case being absent above the second planar surface to leave the second planar surface unprotected.
3. The telecommunication sensor device of claim 2 , wherein the cover comprises a receptacle arranged in the wall and distal to the case to removeably receive the power protection device.
4. The telecommunication sensor device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more electrical contact pads comprise traces arranged on a top of the first planar surface.
5. The telecommunication sensor device of claim 1 , further comprising:
one or more power input and power output contacts arranged in the second end of the PCA to removeably couple with the backplane.
6. The telecommunication sensor device of claim 5 , further comprising:
one or more unprotected power input and power output traces arranged on a top of the second planar surface and arranged between, and electrically connecting, the one or more clips fixed to the first end and the one or more power input and power output contacts arranged in the second end, the one or more unprotected traces arranged on the top of the second planar surface to dissipate heat directly from the one or more unprotected traces to ambient air.
7. The telecommunication sensor device of claim 1 , wherein the power protection device comprises a fuse.
8. A monitoring device to be removably coupled to a backplane, the monitoring device comprising:
a printed circuit assembly (PCA) having:
a first end opposite a second end; and
a first planar surface opposite a second planar surface, the first and second planar surfaces arranged between the first and second ends;
a current monitor arranged on the PCA between the first end and the second end; and
a cover having a wall arranged around a perimeter, the wall defining a case, the wall fixed to the first planar surface and the case arranged above at least a portion of the first planar surface to protect the first planar surface, and the case being absent above the second planar surface to leave the second planar surface unprotected,
wherein the monitoring device further includes power input and power output contacts, each of the power input and power output contacts comprising exposed planar trace pads arranged at the second end of the PCA and on the first planar surface and/or the second planar surface, and the power input and power output contacts mate with cooperating power input and power output receptacles fixed on the backplane.
9. The monitoring device of claim 8 , wherein the current monitor comprises a Hall Effect current monitor.
10. The monitoring device of claim 8 , wherein the current monitor is disposed on the portion of the first planar surface protected by the case.
11. The monitoring device of claim 8 , further comprising one or more signal contacts fixed to the first planar surface and proximate to the second end, the one or more signal contacts arranged to removably couple with one or more cooperating signal contacts fixed to the backplane.
12. The telecommunication sensor device of claim 2 , wherein the cover comprises one or more vents arranged in the wall, the one or more vents to exhaust heat from an inside of the cover.
13. The telecommunication sensor device of claim 2 , wherein the cover comprises a light pipe arranged in the wall to receive light from a light-emitting diode (LED) arranged on the first planar surface of the PCA.
14. The telecommunication sensor device of claim 2 , wherein the cover is formed of a single unit of material.
15. The telecommunication sensor device of claim 14 , wherein the material comprises a plastic.
16. The monitoring device of claim 8 , wherein the cover comprises one or more vents arranged in the wall, the one or more vents to exhaust heat from an inside of the cover.
17. The monitoring device of claim 8 , wherein the cover comprises a light pipe arranged in the wall to receive light from a light-emitting diode (LED) arranged on the first planar surface of the PCA.
18. The monitoring device of claim 8 , wherein the cover is formed of a single unit of material.
19. The monitoring device of claim 18 , wherein the material comprises a plastic.