Ciena Corporation
High-density network element cooling via unequipped pluggable optical module cages

Abstract:

A platform includes a housing with a front side, a rear side opposite the front side, a right side adjacent to both the front side and the rear side, and a left side opposite the right side and adjacent to both the front side and the rear side, wherein airflow in the platform is between the front side and the rear side or between the front side and the front side; one or more modules in the housing each including a plurality of cages supporting removable interface cards, wherein the airflow includes an air path that is over the one or more modules between a bottom portion of the one or more modules and a top portion of the one or more modules; and at least one dust cap in one of the plurality of cages, wherein the dust cap includes an air filter medium enabling airflow at an intermediate point of the air path.