Powered patch panel

• US 20050245127A1
• Filed: 04/29/2005
• Published: 11/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panduit Corporation
• Original Assignee: Panduit Corporation
• Inventors: Bolouri-Saransar, Masud, Nordin, Ronald A., Doorhy, Michael V.
• Granted Patent: US 7,455,527 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/540.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/03 Power distribution arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/035 Cooling of active equipments, e.g. air ducts
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/136 having patch field management or physical layer management arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/14 Distribution frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2201/802 in data transmission systems

Abstract

A powered communications patch panel is adapted to power network devices connected to the communications patch panel. Power is supplied to the network devices by the powered communications patch panel over the communication cabling. The powered communications patch panel may be provided with a management port to allow remote management of the patch panel via a network connection. Multiple management ports may be provided, allowing patch panels to be connected to one another in a daisy-chain configuration.

Claims

1. A communications patch panel for connection between endpoint devices and upstream network devices in a network, said communications patch panel comprising:

a plurality of front-side communications connectors provided in a front panel of said communications patch panel;

a plurality of back-side communications connectors provided in a rear panel of said communications patch panel, each of said back-side communication connectors being electrically connected to a corresponding one of said plurality of front-side communications connectors;

power source control circuitry connected intermediate each of the plurality of front-side communications connectors and the plurality of back-side communications connectors, said power source control circuitry being operative to supply power from a power supply to endpoint devices along communications cables; and

a first management port providing connectivity between the communications patch panel and a network management system of said network.

2. The communications patch panel of claim 1 wherein said plurality of front-side communications connectors comprise RJ-45 jacks.

3. The communications patch panel of claim 1 wherein said plurality of back-side communications connectors comprise punch-down blocks.

4. The communications patch panel of claim 1 further comprising a second management port whereby multiple communications patch panels may be connected to a single Ethernet switch port for management, using a daisy-chain connection.

5. The communications patch panel of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of power indicator lights on the front panel of the communications patch panel, each of said power indicator lights being associated with one of said front-side ports and indicating the status of an endpoint device associated with the corresponding front-side port.

6. The communications patch panel of claim 5 wherein each of said power indicator lights comprises an LED mounted on a circuit board within said communications patch panel and a light pipe connected between said LED and said front panel of said communications patch panel.

7. The communications patch panel of claim 1 wherein said power source control circuitry is operative to execute management commands, said management commands including at least one command selected from the group consisting of:

allowing a network administrator to discover all compatible powered patch panels, conveying information about the physical location of the communications patch panel, selectively powering communications connectors, and providing real-time information on panel power status and fault conditions.

8. A communications patch panel for connection between endpoint devices and upstream network devices in a network, said communications patch panel comprising:

a plurality of front-side RJ-45 communications connectors provided in a front panel of said communications patch panel;

a plurality of back-side punch-down communications connectors provided in a rear panel of said communications patch panel, each of said back-side communication connectors being electrically connected to a corresponding one of said plurality of front-side communications connectors; and

power source control circuitry connected intermediate each of the plurality of front-side communications connectors and the plurality of back-side communications connectors, said power source control circuitry being operative to supply power from a power supply to endpoint devices along communications cables.

9. The communications patch panel of claim 8 further comprising first and second management ports for providing connectivity between the communications patch panel and a network management system of said network and further providing for the connection of multiple patch panels to a single Ethernet switch port for management using a daisy-chain connection.

10. The communications patch panel of claim 8 further comprising a plurality of power indicator lights on the front face of the communications patch panel, each of said power indicator lights being associated with one of said front side RJ-45 communications connectors and indicating the status of an endpoint device associated with the corresponding RJ-45 communications connector.

11. The communications patch panel of claim 10 wherein each of said power indicator lights comprises an LED mounted on a circuit board within said communications patch panel and a light pipe connected between said LED and said front panel of said communications patch panel.

12. The communications patch panel of claim 8 wherein said power source control circuitry is operative to execute management commands, said management commands including at least one command selected from the group consisting of:

allowing a network administrator to discover all compatible powered patch panels, conveying information about the physical location of the communications patch panel, selectively powering communications connectors, and providing real-time information on panel power status and fault conditions.

13. A communications patch panel for connection between endpoint devices and upstream network devices in a network, said communications patch panel comprising:

a plurality of front-side RJ-45 communications connectors provided in a front panel of said communications patch panel for connection to an upstream network device in said network;

a plurality of back-side punch-down communications connectors provided in a rear panel of said communications patch panel for connection to endpoint devices in said network, each of said back-side punch-down communications connectors being electrically connected to a corresponding one of said plurality of front-side RJ-45 communications connectors;

power source control circuitry connected intermediate each of the plurality of front-side RJ-45 communications connectors and the plurality of back-side punch-down communications connectors, said power source control circuitry being operative to supply power from a power supply to endpoint devices along communications cables;

a first management port providing connectivity between the communications patch panel and a network management system of said network; and

a second management port whereby multiple communications patch panels may be connected to a single Ethernet switch port for management, using a daisy-chain connection;

wherein said power source control circuitry is operative to execute management commands, said management commands including at least one command selected from the group consisting of;

allowing a network administrator to discover all compatible powered patch panels, conveying information about the physical location of the communications patch panel, selectively powering communications connectors, and providing real-time information on panel power status and fault conditions.

14. The communications patch panel of claim 13 wherein said plurality of front-side RJ-45 communications connectors are connected to said circuit board via flexible connections.

15. The communications patch panel of claim 13 wherein said plurality of back-side punch-down communications connectors are connected to said circuit board via flexible connections.