On demand plug-in jack card and monitor frame

• US 5,685,741 A
• Filed: 06/27/1996
• Issued: 11/11/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ADC Telecommunications Incorporated (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Fields, Steven W., Dewey, James D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Abrams, Neil
• Application Number:
  US08/669,808
• Time in Patent Office: 502 Days
• Field of Search: 439/188, 439/668, 439/669
• US Class Current: 439/668
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7031 Shorting, shunting or bussing of different terminals interrupted or effected on engagement of coupling part, e.g. for ESD protection, line continuity
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/16 for telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/58 Contacts spaced along longitudinal axis of engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/06 Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/94
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/30 for subscriber's lines , for the local loop
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/023 using sliding mechanisms for accessing the interior of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/14 Distribution frames

Abstract

An apparatus is disclosed for providing access to a plurality of telecommunications lines and for providing continuous monitoring access to the telecommunications signals on the lines. The apparatus includes a frame which carries a plurality of normally closed contacts and monitor ports and corresponding monitor circuits for providing continuous access to the telecommunications lines. The telecommunications lines are terminated on the normally closed contacts. A plurality of modules may be releasably attached to the frame with electrical circuit elements on the modules breaking the normally closed contacts to create a new signal path through the module. The modules need only be attached to the frame when direct access to the signal is desired.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing access to a plurality of telecommunications lines, said apparatus comprising:

a plurality of normally closed contacts, each of said contacts having means for terminating said telecommunications lines on said contacts, said plurality of contacts including a plurality of pairs of first and second contacts biased into electrical connection for a signal flow on said telecommunications lines terminated at said first and second contacts of a pair to pass through said first and second contacts of a pair, said plurality of pairs including an IN pair and an OUT pair;

a plurality of monitor springs with at least one of said monitor springs electrically connected to one of said first and second contacts of a pair; and

a frame supporting said plurality of normally closed contacts and said plurality of monitor springs, said frame having a forward end with first and second substantially horizontal panels extending rearwardly therefrom, said forward end having first and second faces with said first and second panels spaced therebetween, said first and second panels defining a chamber with at least one of said panels having a plurality of slots defining horizontally aligned receiving channels for receiving modules therein; and

a plurality of monitor ports, each of said plurality of monitor ports carried on one of said forward faces and positioned in substantially linear alignment with a corresponding receiving channel, each of said plurality of monitor ports configured for receiving a plug to electrically engage said monitor springs such that a telecommunications signal flowing therethrough can be monitored without interruption of said signal flow;

wherein each of said modules has circuit interruption means for opening said normally closed contacts against said bias such that said signal flow can be redirected.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1

wherein said terminating means includes termination pins;

and

wherein said frame further includes a rear end having upper and lower rear faces with at least one of said rear faces carrying said termination pins.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said upper rear face is laterally spaced from said lower rear face, with a bottom edge of said upper rear face and a top edge of said lower rear face positioned in substantially a same plane.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said two forward faces are in substantially planar, vertical alignment.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1

wherein said terminating means includes a plurality of pairs of OUT conductors;

and

wherein each of said plurality of monitor springs is electrically connected to one of said OUT conductors across a resistance.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1

wherein said frame further comprises third and fourth panels extending rearwardly from said forward end in substantially parallel relation, said third and fourth panels spaced beneath said second forward face, with said panels defining a chamber therebetween;

and

wherein at least one of said third and fourth panels has a plurality of slots defining horizontally aligned receiving channels for receiving modules therein.

7. An apparatus for providing access to a plurality of telecommunications lines, said apparatus comprising:

a frame having a forward end with first and second substantially horizontal panels extending rearwardly therefrom, said forward end having first and second forward faces with said first and second panels spaced therebetween, said first and second panels defining a chamber with at least one of said panels having a plurality of slots defining horizontally aligned receiving channels for receiving modules therein; and

a plurality of normally closed contacts carried on said frame, each of said contacts having means for terminating said telecommunications lines on said contacts, said plurality of contacts including a plurality of pairs of first and second contacts biased into electrical connection for a signal flow on said telecommunications lines terminated at said first and second contacts of a pair to pass through said first and second contacts of a pair, said plurality of pairs including an IN pair and an OUT pair;

a plurality of monitor springs, with at least one of said monitor springs electrically connected to one of said first and second contacts of a pair;

a plurality of monitor ports carried on at least one of said forward faces and positioned in substantially linear alignment with a corresponding receiving channel, each of said monitor ports configured for receiving a plug for electrically engaging said monitor springs without interruption of said signal flow;

a plurality of modules releasably insertable into said receiving channels of said frame, each of said modules having circuit interruption means on a first side thereof for opening said normally closed contacts against said bias upon being inserted into said receiving channels;

each of said modules including a pair of first and second IN springs and a pair of first and second OUT springs with springs of a pair biased into normally closed electrical connection;

at least one port on a second side of said module for receiving a plug separating and electrically engaging one of said first and second IN springs and said first and second OUT springs; and

a plurality of electrically conductive contact locations disposed on said module, said plurality of electrically conductive contact locations including at least a pair of first and second IN contact locations and a pair of first and second OUT contact locations, said locations disposed for said first IN contact location to electrically engage said first IN contact, said second IN contact location to electrically engage said second IN contact, said first OUT contact location to electrically engage said first OUT contact and said second OUT contact location to electrically engage said second OUT contact upon said securing of said module to said frame;

wherein said first IN spring is electrically connected to said first IN contact location, said second IN spring is electrically connected to said second IN contact location, said first OUT spring is electrically connected to said first OUT contact location and said second OUT spring is electrically connected to said second OUT contact location.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7

wherein said terminating means includes a plurality of pairs of OUT conductors;

and

wherein each of said plurality of monitor springs is electrically connected to one of said OUT conductors across a resistance.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said resistance is 430 ohms.

10. An apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said normally closed contacts are make-before-break normally closed contacts.

11. An apparatus according to claim 7 wherein a signal flow can be monitored upon insertion of a plug into a monitor port corresponding to monitor springs, said monitor springs electrically connected to said terminating means, without said frame having a module inserted therein.

12. A signal flow-through module for providing access to telecommunications lines upon insertion into a frame having a first panel and a second panel, with at least one of said first and second panels having a plurality of receiving slots defining a plurality of channels for receiving said modules, said frame carrying a plurality of normally closed contacts, each of said contacts having an electrical conductor for terminating a telecommunications line, said plurality of contacts including a plurality of pairs of first and second contacts biased into electrical connection for a signal flow on said telecommunications lines terminated at said first and second contacts of a pair to pass through said first and second contacts of a pair, said plurality of pairs including an IN pair and an OUT pair, said frame carrying a plurality of monitor circuits electrically connected to said contacts, said module comprising:

a first end;

a second end opposite said first end;

at least one bar extending along an edge of said module interposed between said first end and said second end, said bar engaging said slot formed in one of said upper and lower panels of said frame;

circuit interruption means located on said second end of said module for opening said normally closed contacts against said bias upon insertion of said module into one of said channels of said frame;

a pair of first and second IN springs and a pair of first and second OUT springs with springs of said pairs located on said module and biased into normally closed electrical connection with each of said pairs of springs;

an IN port on said first end of said module for receiving a plug separating and electrically engaging one of said first and second IN springs;

an OUT port on said first end of said module for receiving a plug separating and electrically engaging one of said first and second OUT springs;

a plurality of electrically conductive contact locations disposed on said second end of said module, said plurality of electrically conductive contact locations including at least a pair of first and second IN contact locations and a pair of first and second OUT contact locations, said locations disposed for said first IN contact location to electrically engage said first IN contact, said second IN contact location to electrically engage said second IN contact, said first OUT contact location to electrically engage said first OUT contact and said second OUT contact location to electrically engage said second OUT contact upon said securing of said module to said frame; and

wherein said first IN spring is electrically connected to said first IN contact location, said second IN spring is electrically connected to said second IN contact location, said first OUT spring is electrically connected to said first OUT contact location and said second OUT spring is electrically connected to said second OUT contact location.