EP0412045A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Digital cross-connect assembly
Assignee: Commscope Connectivity LLC
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Filing: 1990-05-04
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2010-05-04
Abstract
Abstract A modular digital signal cross-connect assembly (10) is disclosed having housing (12) and a plurality of coax digital signal cross-connect modules (14). Each of the modules has a frame (16) that is slidably received within the housing. Each frame carries coax DSX circuitry, including a plurality of jacks on a forward wall (26) of the module. Rear walls (34) of the module carry coax connectors which are slidably engageable with coax connectors mounted on the housing. The coax connectors are aligned for the housing and the frame connectors to mate as the frame is slid into the housing to an inserted position. In alternative embodiments, the modules include a monitor switch to permit monitoring of any one of a plurality of circuit path in said modules.
Inventors
- 👤 Todd Allen Morgenstern
- 👤 Dennis M. Burroughs
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 19:30
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04Q; H04Q1/00; H04Q1/02; H04Q1/14; H04Q1/142; H01; H01R; H01R24/00; H01R24/20; H01R24/38; H01R24/40; H04Q1/023; H01R2103/00; H01R2107/00; H01R24/54; H01R24/542; H01R24/58
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
425 words
A modular digital signal cross-connect assembly for electrical signals carried by coaxial cables, said assembly comprising: (a) a housing having wall means defining a housing exterior and having at least a partially opened front surface; (b) a plurality of coaxial connectors each having a pair of mating means releasably connectible and disconnectible by relative movement of said pair of mating means toward and away, respectively, from each other along a predetermined axis of alignment, each of said pair of mating means having means for electrical connection to a coaxial cable; (c) a plurality of digital signal cross-connect modules each having: (i) a frame having a forward face, said frame sized to be slidably received within said housing interior when said frame is inserted in a predetermined direction of travel toward an inserted position. said forward face exposed to an operator facing said front surface when said frame is in said inserted position; (ii) a plurality of jacks carried by said frame and including at least a signal-in jack and a signal-out jack, each of said jacks disposed to releasably receive a plug inserted into said module at said forward face; (iii) a plurality of electrical connector means carried on said frame and including at least an equipment-out connector and an equipment-in connector; (iv) electrical cross-connect circuit means including a cross-connect-out connector and a cross-connect-in connector, and further including a plurality of coaxial cables connecting said plurality of jacks with said plurality of electrical connector means, said cross-connect circuit means including: (A) said equipment-in connector connected through a first circuit path to said cross-connect-in connector; (B) said equipment-out connector connected through a second circuit path to said cross-connect-out connector; (C) first switch means activated by connection of a plug to said signal-in jack for opening said first circuit path and connecting said signal-in jack to said equipment-in connector; (D) second switch means activated by connection of a plug to said signal-out jack for opening said second circuit path and connecting said signal-out jack to said equipment-out connector; (d) at least said equipment-in connectors and said equipment-out connectors each comprising one of a pair of said mating means with a cooperating other of said pair carried on said housing; (e) each of said one of said pair and said cooperating other of said pair disposed to be in alignment along said axis of alignment as said module is inserted along said direction of travel with each of said one of said pair and said cooperating other in electrical connection when said module is in said inserted position
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
425 words
A modular digital signal cross-connect assembly for electrical signals carried by coaxial cables, said assembly comprising: (a) a housing having wall means defining a housing exterior and having at least a partially opened front surface; (b) a plurality of coaxial connectors each having a pair of mating means releasably connectible and disconnectible by relative movement of said pair of mating means toward and away, respectively, from each other along a predetermined axis of alignment, each of said pair of mating means having means for electrical connection to a coaxial cable; (c) a plurality of digital signal cross-connect modules each having: (i) a frame having a forward face, said frame sized to be slidably received within said housing interior when said frame is inserted in a predetermined direction of travel toward an inserted position. said forward face exposed to an operator facing said front surface when said frame is in said inserted position; (ii) a plurality of jacks carried by said frame and including at least a signal-in jack and a signal-out jack, each of said jacks disposed to releasably receive a plug inserted into said module at said forward face; (iii) a plurality of electrical connector means carried on said frame and including at least an equipment-out connector and an equipment-in connector; (iv) electrical cross-connect circuit means including a cross-connect-out connector and a cross-connect-in connector, and further including a plurality of coaxial cables connecting said plurality of jacks with said plurality of electrical connector means, said cross-connect circuit means including: (A) said equipment-in connector connected through a first circuit path to said cross-connect-in connector; (B) said equipment-out connector connected through a second circuit path to said cross-connect-out connector; (C) first switch means activated by connection of a plug to said signal-in jack for opening said first circuit path and connecting said signal-in jack to said equipment-in connector; (D) second switch means activated by connection of a plug to said signal-out jack for opening said second circuit path and connecting said signal-out jack to said equipment-out connector; (d) at least said equipment-in connectors and said equipment-out connectors each comprising one of a pair of said mating means with a cooperating other of said pair carried on said housing; (e) each of said one of said pair and said cooperating other of said pair disposed to be in alignment along said axis of alignment as said module is inserted along said direction of travel with each of said one of said pair and said cooperating other in electrical connection when said module is in said inserted position
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
An assembly according to claim 1 wherein said cross-connect-in connector and said cross-connect-out connector are mounted to said frame to be exposed through the rear of said housing, or alternatively wherein said cross-connect-in connector and said cross-connect-out connector are each one of said plurality of jacks
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
An assembly according to any of the claims 1 or 2 wherein said plurality of jacks includes a monitor jack; said cross-connect circuit means including means electrically connected to said monitor jack for said monitor jack to be electrically connected to a predetermined signal path of said cross.connect circuit means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
An assembly according to any of the claims 1-3 wherein said module includes monitor circuit means including indicator means exposed to an operator for identifying a cross-connection
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
75 words
An assembly according to claim 5 comprising switch means for activating said indicator means, and said switch means preferably including first and second contact elements disposed adjacent said monitor jack, said second element movable between first and second positions upon insertion of a plug into said jack, said second element in said first position disposed electrically disengaged from said first element. said second element in said second position disposed electrically engaged with said first element
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
58 words
An assembly according to any of the claims 1-5 wherein said forward face has bore defining surfaces for defining a bore sized to receive a plug to be inserted into said monitor jack, said bore defining surfaces including a resilient cam for urging said second element to said second position upon insertion of a plug into said bore.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
56 words
An assembly according to any of the claims 4-6 wherein said monitor circuit means includes a first connector element carried on said frame, said housing including a second connector element carried on said housing, said first and second connector elements disposed to be releasably connected in electrical engagement when said module is in said inserted position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
An assembly according to any of the claims 3-7 wherein said cross-connect circuit means includes a monitor switch means having an operator engageable switch for selecting said predetermined signal path to be any one of a plurality of signal paths of said cross-connect circuit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
An assembly according to any of the claims 1-8 wherein said cross-connect circuit means includes a coax circuit board carried by said frame and further includes a coax circuit board connector for connecting coaxial cables from said jack and electrical connector means to said circuit board.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
10 An assembly according to any of the claims 4-9 wherein at least a portion of said cross-connect circuit means and said monitor circuit means are carried on a circuit board mounted on said frame
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
An assembly according to any of the claims 9-10 wherein said circuit board carries signal enhancement circuitry, and wherein said enhancement circuitry preferably includes a repeater circuit
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
An assembly according to claim 10 wherein said circuit board includes exposed electrical contacts, said housing including a board connector disposed to electrically engage said contacts when said module is in said inserted position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
An assembly according to any of the claims 1-12 wherein said mating means includes a female and male coax connector, said male and female connectors having mating elements selected to electrically engage said connectors upon sliding axially aligned engagement of said connectors.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
An assembly according to any of the claims 1-13 wherein said frame and said housing include cooperating rails and slots for said frame to be slidable received within said housing and directed in said direction of travel.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
216 words
A digital signal cross connect assembly comprising: a plug receiving front face; a plurality of jacks including at least a signal-in jack and a signal-out jack, each of said jacks disposed to releasably receive a plug inserted into said forward face; a plurality of electrical connector means including at least a cross-connect-out connector, a cross-connect-in connector, an equipment-out connector and an equipment-in connector; electrical cross-connect circuit means for providing a plurality of signal paths between said jacks and said connectors, said circuit means including: (a) said equipment-in connector connected through a first circuit path to said cross-connect-in connector; (b) said equipment-out connector connected through a second circuit path to said cross-connect-out connector; (c) first switch means activated by connection of a plug to said signal-in jack for opening said first circuit path and connecting said signal-in jack to said equipment-in connector; (d) second switch means activated by connection of a plug to said signal-out jack for opening said second circuit path and connecting said signal-out jack to said equipment-out connector; a monitor jack for releasably receiving a monitor plug; said circuit means including monitor switch means connected to said monitor jack for said monitor jack to be electrically connected to monitor a signal along any one of a plurality of signal paths in said cross-connect circuitry
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
216 words
A digital signal cross connect assembly comprising: a plug receiving front face; a plurality of jacks including at least a signal-in jack and a signal-out jack, each of said jacks disposed to releasably receive a plug inserted into said forward face; a plurality of electrical connector means including at least a cross-connect-out connector, a cross-connect-in connector, an equipment-out connector and an equipment-in connector; electrical cross-connect circuit means for providing a plurality of signal paths between said jacks and said connectors, said circuit means including: (a) said equipment-in connector connected through a first circuit path to said cross-connect-in connector; (b) said equipment-out connector connected through a second circuit path to said cross-connect-out connector; (c) first switch means activated by connection of a plug to said signal-in jack for opening said first circuit path and connecting said signal-in jack to said equipment-in connector; (d) second switch means activated by connection of a plug to said signal-out jack for opening said second circuit path and connecting said signal-out jack to said equipment-out connector; a monitor jack for releasably receiving a monitor plug; said circuit means including monitor switch means connected to said monitor jack for said monitor jack to be electrically connected to monitor a signal along any one of a plurality of signal paths in said cross-connect circuitry
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
38 words
An assembly according to claim 15 comprising an operator engageable switch handle means movable between any one of a plurality of positions, said switch handle means connected to said monitor switch means to activate said monitor switch means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
A digital signal cross-connect assembly according to any of the claims 15 or 16 wherein said cross-connect-in connector and cross-connect out connectors are jacks accessible through said forward face.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
32 words
A digital signal cross-connect assembly according to any of the claims 15-17 wherein said cross-connect-in connector and said cross-connect-out connector are accessible on a side of said assembly opposite said forward face.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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