Front removable/serviceable RF backplane

Claim 2

An electronic backplane for electrically interconnecting a plurality of electronic components housed within a rack having an open top for receiving electronic components inserted therein, said backplane comprising: a first frame member having an aperture defined therein, said first frame member being fixedly mounted within said rack and said first frame member having at least one of said plurality of electronic components attachable thereto; a second frame member aligned and removably attached atop said first frame member, said second frame member substantially overlapping said first frame member and having at least one of said plurality of electronic components attachable thereto, whereby said plurality of electronic components attached to said first frame member may be removed through said aperture in said first frame member when said second frame member has been removed from said rack; and electrical connector means mounted to at least one of said first frame member and said second frame member for electrically interconnecting said electronic components.

Claim 3

The backplane of claim 1 further comprising a third frame member removably attached and aligned atop said first frame member, said third frame member substantially overlapping said first frame member and having at least one of said plurality of electronic components attachable thereto, all of said electronic components attached to said first frame member being removable through said aperture in said first frame member when said second and third frame members have been removed from said rack.

Claim 4

The backplane of claim 2 wherein said second and third frame members are coplanar.

Claim 5

The backplane of claim 1 wherein said rack is installed in a vehicle and said plurality of components are removable from said rack without removal of said rack from the vehicle.

Claim 6

The backplane of claim 1 further comprising a pin on said second frame member and a corresponding aperture in said first frame member for aligning and positioning said second frame member with respect to said first frame member.

Claim 7

The backplane of claim 1 further comprising a captive threaded fastener for removably fastening said second frame member to said first frame member.

Claim 8

The backplane of claim 2 wherein said rack is shaped as a five-sided box with said open top being disposed toward said second and third frame members, each of said plurality of electronic components attached to said first frame member being accessible from said open top of said rack upon removal of said second and third frame members.

Claim 9

The backplane of claim 1 wherein said electrical connector means includes a multilayer printed wiring board connector disposed on said second frame member.

Claim 10

The backplane of claim 1 wherein said second frame member has at least one aperture formed therein for receiving a protruding member on one of said electronic components in order to facilitate interconnection of said electronic component and said first frame member.

Claim 11

The backplane of claim 1 wherein at least one of said electronic components is a line replaceable module.

Claim 12

The backplane of claim 10 further comprising a pin on said line replaceable module which passes through a corresponding aperture in said second frame member and mates with a mating connector on said first frame member for aligning said line replaceable module with respect to said first and second frame members.

Claim 13

The backplane of claim 11 wherein said electrical connector means includes at least one printed wiring board connector mounted to said second frame member, said printed wiring board connector being electrically interconnectable with said line replaceable module.

Claim 14

The backplane of claim 1 wherein at least one of said electronic components is an RF cable and wherein said RF cable is attachable to said first frame member by a blind mating connector.

Claim 15

The backplane of claim 13 wherein at least one of said electronic components is a line replaceable module and said module includes a connecting pin, said blind mating connector enabling electrical connection of said connecting pin to said RF cable.

Claim 16

The backplane of claim 1 wherein at least one of said electronic components is an input/output cable assembly and wherein said input/output cable assembly is removably attached to a bracket disposed within said aperture in said first frame member.

Claim 17

The backplane of claim 5 further comprising captive threaded fastening means for attaching said input/output cable assembly to said bracket.

Claim 18

The backplane of claim 10 wherein said rack includes means for slidably engaging said line replaceable modules.

Claim 19

The backplane of claim 1 wherein said electronic components include cables attached on a surface of said first frame member opposite said second frame member.

Claim 20

The backplane of claim 1 wherein said first frame member is attached about its periphery to said rack.

Claim 21

An electronic backplane for electrically interconnecting a plurality of electronic components housed within a rack, said rack being a box-like structure having an open top, said electronic components including a line replaceable module and a cable, said backplane comprising: a first frame member having an aperture defined therein, said first frame member being fixedly mounted towards a bottom portion of said rack and lying parallel to the top of the rack; a second frame member removably attached atop said first frame member; means for aligning said second frame member with respect to said first frame member; means for aligning said line replaceable module with respect to said first and second frame members, said means including a protruding member extending from bottom portions of the module through openings in the second frame member into connectors on peripheral portions of the first frame member; a cable connector on the second frame member for removably mating the module with the cable; and a connector on said module for engaging said cable connector when said module is fully received in said rack.

Claim 22

An electronic backplane for electrically interconnecting a plurality of electronic components housed within a rack, said rack being a box-like structure having an open top, said electronic components including a line replaceable module and a cable, said backplane comprising: a first frame member having an aperture defined therein, said first frame member being fixedly mounted towards a bottom portion of said rack and lying parallel to the top of the rack; a second frame member removably attached atop said first frame member; means for aligning said second frame member with respect to said first frame member; means for aligning said line replaceable module with respect to said first and second frame members, said means including a protruding member extending from bottom portions of the module through openings in the second frame member into connectors on peripheral portions of the first frame member; a cable connector on the second frame member for removably mating the module with the cable; and a connector on said module for engaging said cable connector when said module is fully received in said rack.