Modular communication interconnection system
First Claim
1. A wiring arrangement for providing communication channels to a plurality of workstations, the wiring arrangement comprisinga plurality of communication connectors, each having respectively n terminals, at each of the plurality of workstations;
- a plurality of modular assemblies comprising first and second connectors, each having m connection terminals, with the mth terminal of the first connector being electrically connected to the mth +i terminal of the second connector, where i is an integer, said modular assemblies being serially arranged whereby a first connector of one assembly matingly engages a second connector of an adjacent assembly at each of said workstations; and
means for connecting the terminals of the first and second connectors on respective first and second free ends of said serially arranged assemblies to communication channels;
wherein each of the n terminals of the communication connectors is connected to an mth terminal of the first and second connectors at the workstations to provide each of the plurality of workstations access to the communication channels.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A wiring arrangement for providing communication channels to a plurality of workstations includes multiple communication connector having respectively n terminals at each of the plurality of workstations. A plurality of modular wiring assemblies are serially arranged between the workstations. Each wiring assembly comprises first and second connectors, each having m terminals, connected by wires in permutated fashion such that the mth terminal of the first connector is connected to the mth +i terminal of the second connector, where i is a positive or negative integer. The first connector of each assembly matingly engages the second connector of an adjacent assembly at each workstation. Terminals of the communication connectors are connected to selected terminals of the first and second connectors so as to provide voice and data communications to each workstation. The permutation allows for provision of voice and data communication channels at each workstation using fewer interconnecting wires than would otherwise be required. Permutation may also be effected by interconnection modules positioned between the connectors of adjacent, serially arranged wiring assemblies having identically wired connector pairs.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A wiring arrangement for providing communication channels to a plurality of workstations, the wiring arrangement comprising
a plurality of communication connectors, each having respectively n terminals, at each of the plurality of workstations; -
a plurality of modular assemblies comprising first and second connectors, each having m connection terminals, with the mth terminal of the first connector being electrically connected to the mth +i terminal of the second connector, where i is an integer, said modular assemblies being serially arranged whereby a first connector of one assembly matingly engages a second connector of an adjacent assembly at each of said workstations; and means for connecting the terminals of the first and second connectors on respective first and second free ends of said serially arranged assemblies to communication channels; wherein each of the n terminals of the communication connectors is connected to an mth terminal of the first and second connectors at the workstations to provide each of the plurality of workstations access to the communication channels. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A wiring arrangement for providing data and phone communication channels to a plurality of workstations, the wiring arrangement comprising:
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data and phone connectors having respectively n terminals at each of the plurality of workstations, a plurality of modular wiring assemblies, each comprising a first connector and a second connector, each connector having respectively m terminals interconnected by a plurality of wires, with the mth terminal of the first connector being connected to the mth +i terminal of the second connector, said plurality of wiring assemblies being serially arranged such that a first connector from one assembly matingly engages a second connector of an adjacent assembly at each workstation, and means for connecting the terminals of a first connector on a first free end of the serially arranged assemblies to a plurality of data channels, and means for connecting the terminals of a second connector on a second free end of the assemblies to a plurality of phone channels, wherein the n terminals of the data connector are connected to terminals of the first connector and the n terminals of the phone connector are connected to terminals of the second connector at each workstation to allow each of the plurality of workstations access to the data and phone communication channels.
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7. A wiring arrangement for providing a plurality of workstations N with data and voice communication channels through a plurality of serially connected modular assemblies, each modular assembly comprising:
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first and second connectors, each connector having m terminals; means for connecting the terminals of the first connector to the terminals of the second connector such that the mth terminal of the first connector is connected to the mth +i terminal of the second connector, where i is an integer; a data connector having a plurality of terminals connected to a first subset of terminals of the first or second connector; and a phone connector having a plurality of terminals connected to a second subset of terminals of the first or second connector. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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9. A wiring arrangement for providing communication channels to a plurality of workstations, the wiring arrangement comprising:
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multiple communication connectors having respectively n terminals at each of the plurality of workstations; a plurality of serially arranged wiring assemblies, each having paired first and second connectors having respectively m connection terminals, with the mth terminal of the first connector connected to the mth terminal of the second connector; means for connecting the m terminals of the first and second connectors on respective first and second free ends of the serially arranged assemblies to a plurality of communication channels; and a plurality of interconnection modules disposed between the first and second connectors of adjacent wiring assemblies and between the multiple communication connectors and the first and second connectors, each interconnection module connecting the mth connection terminal of the first connector to the mth +i connection terminal of the second connector of the adjacent assembly, where i is an integer, and connecting the n terminals of the communication connectors to a subset of terminals of the first or second connectors, so as to allow each of the plurality of workstations to be addressed through the multiple communication connectors. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A wiring arrangement for providing voice and data communication channels to each of a plurality of workstations, comprising:
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a plurality of wiring assemblies, each comprising first and second m-terminal connectors and wiring means for connecting an mth terminal of the first connector to an mth +i terminal of the second connector, said plurality of wiring assemblies being serially arranged such that the first m-terminal connector of one assembly matingly engages the second m-terminal connector of an adjacent assembly at each workstation; means for connecting a first free end of said serial arrangement of wiring assemblies to a plurality of voice communication channels; means for connecting a second free end of said serial arrangement of wiring assemblies to a plurality of data communication channels; and a plurality of voice communication connectors, each having n terminals connected to selected terminals of each of said first m-terminal connectors, and a plurality of data communication connectors, each having q terminals connected to selected terminals of said second m-terminal connectors, so as to provide access to respective ones of said pluralities of voice and data communication channels at each of said plurality of workstations. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification