US3796848A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pin connector switch
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1972-10-06
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Granted: 1974-03-12
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Expires: 1992-10-06
Abstract
Abstract A distribution board or pin connector switch for a main distributing frame utilizes a printed circuit pin board with a special pin arrangement to obtain the advantages of a pin crosspoint switch simultaneous with a substantial reduction in the number of pins required in comparison with such a crosspoint switch. Input conductors are connected to pins in alternate rows with each group of four consecutive input conductors being connected to a plurality of groups of pins within one of the rows depending upon the total number of crosspoints. The output conductors are divided into two groups with the conductors of these groups being consecutively connected to the pins in the two rows on each side of the rows of input pins. This produces in essence a symmetrical pin arrangement wherein an input pin is shared by eight output pins and conversely. Thus the total number of pins required by the board is reduced by a factor of approximately eight as compared with a pin crosspoint switch. Connections between any input and output conductor can be effected by automated apparatus utilizing a small rigid connector to connect the appropriate input and output pins.
Inventors
- 👤 H Southworth
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 10:44
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04Q; H04Q1/00; H04Q1/02; H04Q1/14; H04Q1/147; H04Q1/145; H05; H05K; H05K1/00; H05K1/02; H05K1/0286; H05K1/0287; H05K1/0289
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
266 words
Apparatus for selectively interconnecting a plurality of first conductors with a plurality of second conductors comprising, in combination: a mounting board having thereon a plurality of substantially parallel rows of conductive pins including a first plurality of rows of first pins, a seocnd plurality of rows of second pins and a third plurality of rows of second pins, each of said first plurality of rows having one of said second plurality of rows on one side thereof and one of said third plurality of rows on the other side thereof, said conductive pins in said plurality of rows having substantially equal spacings therebetween within each of said rows arranging said pins in columns; said first conductors being divided into groups of four conductors, each of said groups having said conductors therein connected to respective ones of said first pins in one of said first plurality of rows in a repetitive sequence so that each of said first conductors in said group is connected to a plurality of said first pins within said one row; said second conductors being diviDed into first and second groups, said first group having said conductors therein connected to respective ones of said second pins in each of said second plurality of rows, said second group having said conductors therein connected to respective ones of said second pins in each of said third plurality of rows; and means for interconnecting two of said pins located within a spacing no greater than one of said rows and three of said columns of each other for thereby selectively interconnecting said first and second conductors.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
266 words
Apparatus for selectively interconnecting a plurality of first conductors with a plurality of second conductors comprising, in combination: a mounting board having thereon a plurality of substantially parallel rows of conductive pins including a first plurality of rows of first pins, a seocnd plurality of rows of second pins and a third plurality of rows of second pins, each of said first plurality of rows having one of said second plurality of rows on one side thereof and one of said third plurality of rows on the other side thereof, said conductive pins in said plurality of rows having substantially equal spacings therebetween within each of said rows arranging said pins in columns; said first conductors being divided into groups of four conductors, each of said groups having said conductors therein connected to respective ones of said first pins in one of said first plurality of rows in a repetitive sequence so that each of said first conductors in said group is connected to a plurality of said first pins within said one row; said second conductors being diviDed into first and second groups, said first group having said conductors therein connected to respective ones of said second pins in each of said second plurality of rows, said second group having said conductors therein connected to respective ones of said second pins in each of said third plurality of rows; and means for interconnecting two of said pins located within a spacing no greater than one of said rows and three of said columns of each other for thereby selectively interconnecting said first and second conductors.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
77 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said plurality of first conductors and said plurality of second conductors each comprises 64 conductors; said first, second and third pluralities of rows respectively comprise sixteen, nine, and eight rows of conductive pins; and each of said plurality of rows includes at least 32 of said pins whereby each of said first and said second conductors is connected to at least eight different ones of said pins on said board.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
122 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein each of said 16 rows includes 34 pins, each of said 16 rows having the first two and the last two pins therein respectively connected to the same ones of said first conductors; and each of said nine rows and said eight rows includes 33 pins, each of said nine rows and said eight rows having the first and last pins therein connected to the same one of said second conductors, whereby each one of said first conductors has one of said first pins connected thereto within a spacing of one of said rows and three of said columns of one of said second pins which is connected to each one of said second conductors.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
71 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said plurality of first conductors comprises M conductors and said plurality of second conductors comprises N conductors where M and N are multiples of four: said first plurality of rows comprises M/4 rows; said second plurality of rows comprises M/8 + 1 rows; said third plurality of rows comprises M/8 rows; and each of said plurality of rows includes at least N/2 pins therein.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
233 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said pins in said first plurality of rows form a first series of said columns, said pins in said second and said third pluralities of rows form a second series of said columns alternating with said first series, each of said columns of said second series being centered between two of said columns of said first series, each of said first pins in the Kth one of said columns is centered with respect to the eight closest ones of said second pins each of which is connected to a respective one of said second conductors, and each of said second pins in said Mth column and the Nth one of said plurality of rows is centered with respect to the eight closest ones of said first pins each of which is connected to a respective one of said first conductors, where K and M are integers representing the relative positions of said columns and have values of 4 < or = K < or = P - 4 and 4 < or = M < or = P -4 where P is the total number of said columns, and N is an integer representing the relative position of said row and has a value 2 < or = N < or = Q - 2 where Q is the total number of said plurality of rows.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein each of said pins comprises a pair of pin terminals and each of said first and second conductors comprises a pair of conductive members.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
251 words
Apparatus for selectively interconnecting a plurality of first conductors with a plurality of second conductors comprising a mounting board having thereon at least one row of first conductive pins connected to said first conductors, first and second rows of second conductive pins on respective first and second sides of said one row of first pins and connected to said second conductors, and means for connecting said first pins with said seCond pins to selectively interconnect said first and second conductors characterized in that: said first conductors are divided into groups of four conductors; said first pins in said one row are divided into groups of four first pins; said conductors in each of said groups of first conductors are connected to respective pins in a plurality of said groups of said first pins in a repetitive sequence so that each of said first conductors is connected to a plurality of said first pins; said second conductors are divided into first and second groups, said conductors in said first and second groups are connected to respective pins in said first and second rows of second pins, respectively; and said pins have substantially equally spacings therebetween within said rows so that said pins are arranged in columns whereby each one of said first conductors has at least one of said first pins connected thereto located within a spacing of three of said columns and one of said rows of said second pins which are connected to every respective one of said second conductors.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
251 words
Apparatus for selectively interconnecting a plurality of first conductors with a plurality of second conductors comprising a mounting board having thereon at least one row of first conductive pins connected to said first conductors, first and second rows of second conductive pins on respective first and second sides of said one row of first pins and connected to said second conductors, and means for connecting said first pins with said seCond pins to selectively interconnect said first and second conductors characterized in that: said first conductors are divided into groups of four conductors; said first pins in said one row are divided into groups of four first pins; said conductors in each of said groups of first conductors are connected to respective pins in a plurality of said groups of said first pins in a repetitive sequence so that each of said first conductors is connected to a plurality of said first pins; said second conductors are divided into first and second groups, said conductors in said first and second groups are connected to respective pins in said first and second rows of second pins, respectively; and said pins have substantially equally spacings therebetween within said rows so that said pins are arranged in columns whereby each one of said first conductors has at least one of said first pins connected thereto located within a spacing of three of said columns and one of said rows of said second pins which are connected to every respective one of said second conductors.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
141 words
Apparatus for selectively interconnecting a plurality of first conductors with a plurality of second conductors comprising, in combination: a mounting board having thereon a plurality of rows of first contact members; said first conductors being divided into first groups, each of said first groups having said conductors therein connected to a plurality of said first contact members in one of said rows in a repetitive sequence; said second conductors being divided into second groups, said second groups having said second conductors therein connected to respective ones of said first contact members in said rows adjacent said one row; and connector means including second contact members adapted to mate with said first contact members for interconnecting said first contact members in said one row with said first contact members in said adjacent rows for thereby selectively interconnecting said first and second conductors.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
141 words
Apparatus for selectively interconnecting a plurality of first conductors with a plurality of second conductors comprising, in combination: a mounting board having thereon a plurality of rows of first contact members; said first conductors being divided into first groups, each of said first groups having said conductors therein connected to a plurality of said first contact members in one of said rows in a repetitive sequence; said second conductors being divided into second groups, said second groups having said second conductors therein connected to respective ones of said first contact members in said rows adjacent said one row; and connector means including second contact members adapted to mate with said first contact members for interconnecting said first contact members in said one row with said first contact members in said adjacent rows for thereby selectively interconnecting said first and second conductors.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
105 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein said plurality of first conductors comprises M conductors and said plurality of second conductors comprises N conductors; said first groups comprise M/4 groups having said conductors therein connected to respective ones of said first contact members in a respective one of said M/4 of said rows in a repetitive sequence; said second groups comprise two groups having said conductors therein connected to respective ones of said first contact members in a respective one of said rows adjacent said respective one of said M/4 rows, where M is a multiple of 4 and N is a multiple of 2.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein said first and second contact members comprise a pair of pin terminals and a pair of pin receptacles, respectively, and said first and second conductors comprise pairs of conductive members.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
199 words
A pin connector switch for interconnecting any one of a plurality of input conductors with any one of a plurality of output conductors comprising a printed circuit board having said input and output conductors thereon, and a plurality of alternating rows of input and output contact means on said board connected to said input and output conductors, respectively, so that said input and output conductors can be interconnected by interconnecting said input and output contact means, characterized in that: said input conductors are divided into groups of four input conductors, said four input conductors of respective groups being connected to respective ones of said input contact means within one of said rows in a repetitive sequence; and said output conductors are divided into two substantially equal groups, said output conductors in respective ones of said two groups being connected to respective output contact means in respective ones of said rows on respective sides of said rows of said input contact means, whereby the four of said input cOntact means within one of said rows closest to a respective output contact means in an adjacent one of said rows are connected to different ones of said input conductors and conversely.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
199 words
A pin connector switch for interconnecting any one of a plurality of input conductors with any one of a plurality of output conductors comprising a printed circuit board having said input and output conductors thereon, and a plurality of alternating rows of input and output contact means on said board connected to said input and output conductors, respectively, so that said input and output conductors can be interconnected by interconnecting said input and output contact means, characterized in that: said input conductors are divided into groups of four input conductors, said four input conductors of respective groups being connected to respective ones of said input contact means within one of said rows in a repetitive sequence; and said output conductors are divided into two substantially equal groups, said output conductors in respective ones of said two groups being connected to respective output contact means in respective ones of said rows on respective sides of said rows of said input contact means, whereby the four of said input cOntact means within one of said rows closest to a respective output contact means in an adjacent one of said rows are connected to different ones of said input conductors and conversely.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 11 wherein said input and output conductors each comprises a pair of conductive elements and said input and output contact means each comprises a pair of pin terminals which connect to respective ones of said conductive elements.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
91 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 11 wherein said input and output contact means have substantially equal spacings therebetween within respective rows so that said input and output contact means are arranged in columns; and said sequence is repeated a sufficient number of times so that each of said input conductors has at least one of said input contact means connected thereto located within a spacing of three of said columns and one of said rows of said output contact means which are connected to every respective one of said output conductors.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-03-11 | 1977-09-10 | 1978-03-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-03-11 | 1981-09-10 | 1982-03-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-03-11 | 1985-09-10 | 1986-03-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |