Backplane Configuration for Electronic Crate Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic crate systems face challenges in providing high-frequency interconnections and reliable power supply due to shared backplanes with digital signals, leading to signal-integrity issues and reduced reliability and maintainability.
Innovation Solution
A backplane configuration with a standard AMC-backplane and a separate RTM-backplane, spatially separated to minimize electromagnetic interference, allowing for ultra-stable high-frequency and low-jitter digital signal distribution, and a dedicated high-performance analog power supply.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single shared backplane is used for both analog and digital signals, then device complexity is reduced, but signal integrity deteriorates due to electromagnetic interference
Solution Approach 1:
The single backplane is divided into two separate backplanes: a first backplane for analog signals and a second backplane for digital signals. This segmentation eliminates electromagnetic interference between analog and digital domains while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
A connector assembly acts as an intermediary between the two separate backplanes, providing controlled impedance interconnections that bridge the analog and digital domains while maintaining signal integrity through proper impedance matching and isolation.
2Productivity
If high-frequency interconnections are implemented on a shared backplane, then productivity is improved, but harmful electromagnetic interference increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the backplane into dedicated analog and digital sections, allowing high-frequency digital signals to be transmitted without generating harmful electromagnetic interference with analog signal paths. Each domain has its own isolated transmission medium.
Solution Approach 2:
The potential harmful electromagnetic interference from high-speed digital signals is converted into a benefit by using the isolation between backplanes to create a controlled environment where high-frequency signals can operate at full speed without degrading analog signal quality.
3Ease of manufacture
If analog and digital domains share the same backplane, then ease of manufacture is improved, but reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The backplane is segmented into separate analog and digital modules that can be manufactured and tested independently before assembly, improving reliability through dedicated signal paths while maintaining ease of manufacture through modular construction.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector assembly serves as a reliable intermediary that ensures proper electrical connection and isolation between the separate backplanes, maintaining system reliability while allowing independent manufacturing of each backplane module.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a backplane configuration for use in an electronic crate system, said backplane configuration comprising a first-type backplane and a second-type backplane; wherein the first-type backplane is coupled to the second-type backplane by mechanical connection means; wherein the first-type backplane and the second-type backplane are spatially separated from each other by a distance which is sufficient such that electromagnetic interferences between the first-type backplane and the second-type backplane are eliminated or at least minimized; and wherein the first-type backplane is adapted to be electrically coupled with at least one first-type module, and the second-type backplane is adapted to be electrically coupled with at least one second-type module.