Universal interconnection system having interchangeable circuit boards
First Claim
1. A universal interconnection system for coupling at least a first electronic apparatus to a second electronic apparatus, each of said first and second electronic apparatuses having at least a first and second connection terminal, said interconnection system comprising:
- first and second cables, each cable having at least a first and second conductor extending substantially therethrough;
first and second connectors, each affixed to a first end of each of said cables, respectively, and having at least a first and second connection terminal connected to said first and second conductors, respectively, and matingly compatible with said first and second connection terminals of said first and second electronic apparatuses, respectively;
third and fourth connectors, each affixed to a second end of each of said cables, respectively, and having at least a first and second connection terminal connected to said first and second conductors, respectively, and adapted to directly connect with the outer edge of a contact plate;
an interconnect housing including a plurality of connectors matingly compatible with said third and fourth connectors, said housing connectors and said third and fourth connectors having keying means for restricting the manner in which they mate, said interconnect housing being solely supportable by said first and second cables when mated to said third and fourth connectors; and
a plurality of interchangeable interconnect circuit means, each formed in the shape of a contact plate but each having different electrical circuit configurations, at least one being removably disposed within said interconnect housing, for coupling said first and second connection terminals of said third connector with those of said fourth connector in a plurality of different electrical circuit configurations, such that said connection terminals of each of said electronic apparatuses may be interconnected in various ways be removing and changing said interconnect circuit means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for interconnecting the connectors of two or more electrical appliances, each preferably having two or more terminals, wherein the connectors and terminals may be of different physical configurations. The system includes one conductor for connection to each terminal of each appliance, a connector at one end of each conductor to mate with one of the terminals, a coupler connector at a second end of each conductor, and an interface module interconnecting the coupler connectors. The interface module comprises a connector enclosure in which interchangeable transfer circuit boards are carried. By replacing circuit boards, numerous types of different electrical interconnections can be made using only a few types of interconnect cables.
65 Citations
47 Claims
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1. A universal interconnection system for coupling at least a first electronic apparatus to a second electronic apparatus, each of said first and second electronic apparatuses having at least a first and second connection terminal, said interconnection system comprising:
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first and second cables, each cable having at least a first and second conductor extending substantially therethrough; first and second connectors, each affixed to a first end of each of said cables, respectively, and having at least a first and second connection terminal connected to said first and second conductors, respectively, and matingly compatible with said first and second connection terminals of said first and second electronic apparatuses, respectively; third and fourth connectors, each affixed to a second end of each of said cables, respectively, and having at least a first and second connection terminal connected to said first and second conductors, respectively, and adapted to directly connect with the outer edge of a contact plate; an interconnect housing including a plurality of connectors matingly compatible with said third and fourth connectors, said housing connectors and said third and fourth connectors having keying means for restricting the manner in which they mate, said interconnect housing being solely supportable by said first and second cables when mated to said third and fourth connectors; and a plurality of interchangeable interconnect circuit means, each formed in the shape of a contact plate but each having different electrical circuit configurations, at least one being removably disposed within said interconnect housing, for coupling said first and second connection terminals of said third connector with those of said fourth connector in a plurality of different electrical circuit configurations, such that said connection terminals of each of said electronic apparatuses may be interconnected in various ways be removing and changing said interconnect circuit means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A universal interconnection cable for interconnecting two or more distinct electrical devices, each including at least one connector having at least two terminals, wherein said electrical device connectors may be of different connector types, said interconnection cable comprising:
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two pair of wire leads; two mating connectors , each mating connector connected to a first end of one of said two pair of leads, and each mating connector adapted to mate with one of said device connectors; two coupler connectors, each couplet connector connected to a second end of one of said two pair of leads, each coupler connector having at least two terminals, and both of said two couplet connectors being of the type which are adapted to mate with the outer edge of a printed circuit board; interface module means for mating with both of said two coupler connectors, said interface module means having an enclosure section; and contact plate means, having the shape of a printed circuit board and installed within said enclosure section, for mating with and for interconnecting said terminals of said two coupler connectors mated with said interface module means, said contact plate means having printed circuit means, on at least one surface thereof, for defining a particular electrical connection between said terminals of said two mated coupler connectors based upon the particular electrical circuit configuration of said contact plate means, whereby said terminals of said two mated coupler connectors may be interconnected in different ways by installing contact plate means having different electrical circuit configurations. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. An in-line connector system for coupling at least a first cable to a second cable, each of said first and second cables having at least a first and second conductor extending substantially therethrough, said connector system comprising:
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first and second coupler connectors, each affixed to a first end of each of said cables, respectively, and having at least a first and second connection terminal connected to said first and second conductors, respectively, and wherein each of said coupler connectors is adapted to mate with the outer edge of a printed circuit board; an interconnect housing including a plurality of receptacles matingly compatible with said first and second coupler connectors along a single axis of mating, said housing receptacles and said coupler connectors having keying means for restricting the manner in which they mate, said interconnect housing being solely supportable by said first and second cables when mated with said coupler connectors; and a plurality of interchangeable printed circuit board means, each having different electrical circuit configurations, at least one being removably and entirely disposed within said interconnect housing and directly connected along opposing outer edges of said printed circuit board to said first and second connection terminals of both said first and second coupler connectors, for providing on-line interconnection between said terminals of said first and second coupler connectors when mated with said interconnect housing, and for defining a plurality of different electrical circuit configurations of said terminals of said first and second coupler connectors based upon the particular electrical circuit configurations of said plurality of printed circuit boards. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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Specification