Network extender

Claim 2

An extender for use in with a cascade stack of network devices, comprising: (a) an electronic circuit which has three ports each for the reception and transmission of data messages, and circuit connections coupling each of the three ports to each of the other two ports; (b) port connectors for each port; (c) a two-part housing of which a first part has an end wall having two apertures for the protrusion of a first and a second of said port connectors respectively and a second part has an end wall having an aperture for the protrusion of a third of said port connectors; and (d) fixing means for securing said first and second housing parts together to enclose the electronic circuit.

Claim 3

An extender according to claim 1 wherein each of the housing parts has an internal conductive coating so as to constitute a Faraday cage around said electronic circuit.

Claim 4

An extender according to claim 1 wherein said fixing means comprises fixing screws extending within side walls of said first housing part to anchorages in said second housing part.

Claim 5

A network extender comprising: (i) a housing composed of two principal interfitting parts, said parts consisting of: a first elongate open tub having side walls and an end wall, said end wall including two apertures; and a second trough shaped part having an end wall with an aperture therein and side walls having a margin interfitting with a margin of the side walls of the first part; (ii) a three-port electronic circuit having multiplexer connections coupling each of the ports to each of the two other ports; and (iii) connector assemblies for each of said ports, said connector assemblies each protruding from a respective one of said apertures.

Claim 6

A network extender comprising: (i) a housing composed of two principal interfitting parts, said parts consisting of: a first elongate open tub having side walls and an end wall, said end wall including two apertures; and a second trough shaped part having an end wall with an aperture therein and side walls having a margin interfitting with a margin of the side walls of the first part; (ii) a three-port electronic circuit having multiplexer connections coupling each of the ports to each of the two other ports; and (iii) connector assemblies for each of said ports, said connector assemblies each protruding from a respective one of said apertures.

Claim 7

An extender for use in a cascade stack of network devices, said extender comprising: (a) an electronic circuit which has first, second and third ports each for the reception and transmission of data messages, and circuit connections enabling data messages received at any of the ports to be forwarded from either of the other two ports; (b) first second and third port connects, one for each of said ports, (c) a two-part housing of which a first part is in the form of a tub having side walls and an end wall, said end wall having two apertures for the protrusion of the first and a second of said port connectors respectively and a second part is in the form of a trough having side walls and an end wall having an aperture for the protrusion and third of said port connections; and (d) fixing means for securing said first and second housing parts together to enclose the electronic circuit.

Claim 8

An extender for use in a cascade stack of network devices, said extender comprising: (a) an electronic circuit which has first, second and third ports each for the reception and transmission of data messages, and circuit connections enabling data messages received at any of the ports to be forwarded from either of the other two ports; (b) first second and third port connects, one for each of said ports, (c) a two-part housing of which a first part is in the form of a tub having side walls and an end wall, said end wall having two apertures for the protrusion of the first and a second of said port connectors respectively and a second part is in the form of a trough having side walls and an end wall having an aperture for the protrusion and third of said port connections; and (d) fixing means for securing said first and second housing parts together to enclose the electronic circuit.

Claim 9

An extender as in claim 5 wherein each of the first and second parts has an internal conductive coating so as to constitute a Faraday cage around said electronic circuit.

Claim 10

An extender as in claim 5 wherein said fixing means comprises fixing screws extending within side walls of said first housing part to anchorages in said second housing part.

Claim 11

A network extender comprising: (i) a housing composed of two principal interfitting parts, said parts including a first, elongate open tube having side walls and an end wall, said end wall including two apertures, and a second trough shaped part having an end wall with an aperture therein and side walls having a margin interfitting with a margin of the side walls of the first part, (ii) an electronic circuit having three ports, each port having lines for the reception and transmission of data messages and lines for the reception and transmission of control messages, said electronic circuit further comprising multiplexer connections for coupling data messages received at any of said ports to either one of the other two ports, and a logic circuit coupled to receive said control messages coupling each of the ports to each of the two other ports; and (iii) three connector assemblies, one for each of said ports, said connector assemblies each protruding from a respective one of said apertures.

Claim 12

A network extender comprising: (i) a housing composed of two principal interfitting parts, said parts including a first, elongate open tube having side walls and an end wall, said end wall including two apertures, and a second trough shaped part having an end wall with an aperture therein and side walls having a margin interfitting with a margin of the side walls of the first part, (ii) an electronic circuit having three ports, each port having lines for the reception and transmission of data messages and lines for the reception and transmission of control messages, said electronic circuit further comprising multiplexer connections for coupling data messages received at any of said ports to either one of the other two ports, and a logic circuit coupled to receive said control messages coupling each of the ports to each of the two other ports; and (iii) three connector assemblies, one for each of said ports, said connector assemblies each protruding from a respective one of said apertures.

Claim 13

An extender for use in a cascade stack of network devices, said extender comprising: (a) an electronic circuit disposed on a generally planar circuit board having a first I/O port at one edge of the board and having second and third spaced-apart I/O ports at an opposite edge of the board, each of said ports being interconnected by electronic signal processing circuits enabling digital data messages received at any one of the ports to be forwarded from either of the other two ports; (b) a male port connector attached to said first I/O port and having connection pins therein extending generally parallel to said board; (c) first and second spaced-apart female port connectors respectively attached to said second and third I/O ports and having connection sockets therein extending generally parallel to said board; (d) a two-part hollow housing adapted to contain said electronic circuit therewithin and having (i) a first opening in an end wall of a first, trough-shaped, part of the hollow housing through which said male port connector extends and (ii) second and third spaced-apart openings in an end wall of a second, tub-shaped, part of the hollow housing through which said female port connectors respectively extend, and (e) fixing means for securing said first and second housing parts together to enclose said electronic circuit.

Claim 14

An extender for use in a cascade stack of network devices, said extender comprising: (a) an electronic circuit disposed on a generally planar circuit board having a first I/O port at one edge of the board and having second and third spaced-apart I/O ports at an opposite edge of the board, each of said ports being interconnected by electronic signal processing circuits enabling digital data messages received at any one of the ports to be forwarded from either of the other two ports; (b) a male port connector attached to said first I/O port and having connection pins therein extending generally parallel to said board; (c) first and second spaced-apart female port connectors respectively attached to said second and third I/O ports and having connection sockets therein extending generally parallel to said board; (d) a two-part hollow housing adapted to contain said electronic circuit therewithin and having (i) a first opening in an end wall of a first, trough-shaped, part of the hollow housing through which said male port connector extends and (ii) second and third spaced-apart openings in an end wall of a second, tub-shaped, part of the hollow housing through which said female port connectors respectively extend, and (e) fixing means for securing said first and second housing parts together to enclose said electronic circuit.

Claim 15

An extender as in claim 9 wherein each of the first and second parts has an internal conductive coating so as to constitute a Faraday cage around said electronic circuit.

Claim 16

An extender as in claim 9 wherein said fixing means comprises fixing screws extending within side walls of said first housing part to anchorages in said second housing part.