US Patent 8154867 High density switching platform with interbay connections arrangement

A high density switching platform arranges multiple circuit cards interconnected by a single backplane. A single backplane has three sets of circuit cards on one side. A shared ventilation chamber on the other side of the backplane draws ambient air through each of the three sets of circuit cards independently. The air flow also allows cooling of power modules that supply power to the circuit cards. The platform allows interconnection of its circuit cards with circuit cards in adjacent platforms.