Optical network unit

Abstract

An optical network unit having an environmentally sealed printed circuit board arrangement within a first compartment and a signal in/out arrangement in a second compartment. The compartments are provided by two housings. Instead of replacing individual circuit boards in the case of breakdown or malfunction, replacement of the whole of the printed circuit board arrangement is necessary thereby eliminating human error and minimizing downtime. Two housings provide the two compartments. These housings are preferably mounted upon a housing mount and a carrier for the optical network unit is also preferably mounted upon the housing mount. This housing and carrier arrangement simplifies assembly and disassembly of parts of the unit for maintenance and replacement purposes.

1 . An optical network unit comprising: 
 an environmentally sealed printed circuit board arrangement which is removeable from the optical network unit while remaining closed; and    a housed telecommunications signal in/out arrangement interconnected for signal transmission to the printed circuit board arrangement.    
   
   
       2 - 10 . (canceled)  
   
   
       11 . An assembly of an optical network unit and a carrier member for the optical network unit, the optical network unit comprising: 
 a first housing member defining at least part of a first compartment;    an environmentally sealed printed circuit board arrangement located within the first compartment;    a second housing member defining at least part of a second compartment;    a telecommunications signal in/out arrangement located within the second compartment and interconnected for signal transmission to the printed circuit board arrangement; and    a housing mount, the first housing members detachably assembled to the housing mount; and    the carrier member is also detachably assembled to the housing mount.    
   
   
       12 . An assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein the first and second housing members are assembled to opposite sides of the housing mount and the second housing member includes a closure element which is movable into and out of a position in which it closes an access opening to the second compartment, and each of the housing members is secured to the housing mount by securing means accessible through the access opening and into the second compartment to enable individual removal of that member from the housing mount.  
   
   
       13 . An assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein the housing mount comprises a plate with each of the housing and carrier members detachably assembled to the plate.  
   
   
       14 . An optical network unit comprising: 
 a housing defining an upper compartment and a lower compartment;    an environmentally sealed printed circuit board arrangement located within the upper compartment; and    a telecommunications signal in/out arrangement located within the lower compartment, the signal in/out arrangement interconnected for signal transmission to the printed circuit board arrangement.    
   
   
       15 . An optical network unit according to  claim 14 , wherein an upper housing member defines at least part of the upper compartment and a lower housing member defines at least part of the lower compartment, and a housing mount is provided, each of the housing members being detachably assembled to the housing mount.  
   
   
       16 . An optical network unit according to  claim 15 , wherein signal transmission members extend from the signal in/out arrangement to printed circuit boards of the printed circuit board arrangement, through the housing mount and are environmentally sealed into the printed circuit board arrangement.  
   
   
       17 . An optical network unit according to  claim 15 , wherein the printed circuit board arrangement is also detachably assembled to the housing mount.  
   
   
       18 . An optical network unit according to  claim 17 , wherein the upper and lower housing members are assembled to opposite sides of the housing mount and the lower housing member includes a closure element which is movable into and out of a position in which it closes an access opening to the lower compartment and each of the housing members is secured to the housing mount by securing means accessible through the access opening and into the lower compartment to enable removal of the housing members from the housing mount.  
   
   
       19 . An optical network unit according to  claim 18 , wherein a printed circuit board arrangement is detachably assembled to the housing mount by another securing means accessible through the access opening and, after removal of the upper housing member, the printed circuit board arrangement is removable from the housing mount while the lower housing member remains assembled to the housing mount.  
   
   
       20 . An optical network unit according to  claim 18 , wherein the upper housing member has sides and one end defining part of the upper compartment and the housing mount also defines part of the upper compartment, and, upon removal of the upper housing member from the housing mount, the printed circuit board arrangement is in a fully exposed position extending from the housing mount.  
   
   
       21 . An optical network unit according to  claim 14 , wherein vertically spaced air vents are provided in the upper housing member, and an airflow passage is defined between the upper housing member and the printed circuit board arrangement to promote heat removal from the printed circuit board arrangement by convection air flow, for cooling air to enter the lower vent, and pass upwards through the passage to collect heat, and for heated air to exit through the upper vent.  
   
   
       22 . An optical network unit according to  claim 21 , wherein the printed circuit board arrangement has heat exchange fins extending into the airflow passage.  
   
   
       23 . An assembly of an optical network unit and a carrier member for the optical network unit, the optical network unit comprising: 
 an upper housing member defining at least part of an upper compartment;    an environmentally sealed printed circuit board arrangement located within the upper compartment;    a lower housing member defining at least part of a lower compartment;    a telecommunications signal in/out arrangement located within the lower compartment and interconnected for signal transmission to the printed circuit board arrangement; and    a housing mount, the upper and lower housing members detachably assembled to the housing mount; and    the carrier member is also detachably assembled to the housing mount.    
   
   
       24 . An assembly according to  claim 23 , wherein the upper and lower housing members are assembled to opposite sides of the housing mount and the lower housing member includes a closure element which is movable into and out of a position in which it closes an access opening to the lower compartment, and each of the housing members is secured to the housing mount by securing means accessible through the access opening and into the lower compartment to enable individual removal of that member from the housing mount.  
   
   
       25 . An assembly according to  claim 24 , wherein the printed circuit board arrangement is detachably assembled to the housing mount by a further securing means accessible through the access opening and, after removal of the upper housing member, the printed circuit board arrangement is removable from the housing mount while the lower housing member remains assembled to the housing mount.  
   
   
       26 . An assembly according to  claim 24 , wherein the housing mount is removable from the carrier member while the upper and lower housing members remain assembled to the housing mount.  
   
   
       27 . An assembly according to  claim 23 , wherein the housing mount comprises a horizontal plate with the upper housing member detachably assembled to and extending upwards from the plate and the lower housing member detachably assembled to and extending downwards from the plate.  
   
   
       28 . An assembly according to  claim 23 , wherein the carrier member comprises two opposing upwardly extending flanges and the horizontal plate extends between the flanges, the flanges having inwardly turned ends which confront marginal edge regions of the plate to support the weight of the optical network unit.  
   
   
       29 . An optical network unit having an electronic circuitry housed within an environmentally sealed first chamber; and 
 a telecommunications signal in/out arrangement interconnected for signal transmission to the electronic circuitry, the in/out arrangement housed within an environmentally sealed second chamber.    
   
   
       30 . An optical network unit according to  claim 29 , wherein a housing mount is provided and a first housing defining the first chamber is mounted on one side of the housing mount, and a second housing defining the second chamber is mounted on the other side of the housing mount.  
   
   
       31 . A mounting for electronic equipment and comprising a mounting carrier with a housing mount secured thereto, the housing mount provided with two sides and having means to assist in securing an electronic circuitry arrangement to one of its two sides and means to assist in securing a housing for containing a telecommunications signal in/out arrangement to the other of its two sides.  
   
   
       32 . A mounting according to  claim 31 , wherein the housing mount is formed with at least one aperture to enable elongate signal transmission elements to pass therethrough and interconnect electronic circuitry of the electronic circuitry arrangement to the signal in/out arrangement.