Connector block with built-in array test feature

• US 6,055,299 A
• Filed: 03/19/1998
• Issued: 04/25/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Avaya Technology Corporation Miami Lakes FLA US
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Daoud, Bassel Hage
• Primary Examiner(s): Loomis, Paul
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, QUOC DUC
• Application Number:
  US09/045,170
• Time in Patent Office: 768 Days
• Field of Search: 379/1, 379/21, 379/27, 379/29, 379/397, 379/399, 439/342
• US Class Current: 379/12
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/20 for testing or measuring purposes
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/14 by wrapping
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/15 Connectors for wire wrapping
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/2491 Terminal blocks structurally associated with plugs or sockets
• 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 1/028 Subscriber network interface devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/20 Testing circuits or apparatus; Circuits or apparatus for detecting, indicating, or signalling faults or troubles

Abstract

A connector block including a built in test device for testing a pair of wires connected to the block. The connection block includes a first terminal that is connected to a first one of the pair of wires and a second terminal that is connected to a second one of the pair of wires. A test board is slideably mounted on the connector block for slideable movement between a test position and an inactive position. A current indicator is disposed on the test board so that when the test board is in the test position, the current indicator forms an electrical connection between the first terminal and the second terminal indicating the presence of an electric current.

Claims

1. A connector block having a test device, comprising:

a first terminal for connection to a first wire of a pair of wires;

a second terminal for connection to a second wire of said pair of wires;

a test board moveably mounted on said connector block for movement between a test position and an inactive position; and

an indicator disposed on said test board, such that when said test board is moved into said test position, said indicator forms an electrical connection between said first terminal and said second terminal for indicating the presence of an electric current.

2. The connector block of claim 1, wherein when said test board is moved to said inactive position, said indicator forms no electrical connection between said first terminal and said second terminal.

3. The connector block of claim 1, wherein said indicator is a light-emitting diode.

4. The connector block of claim 2, wherein said test board has a first aperture and a second aperture for respectively receiving said first terminal and said second terminal for movement therein when said test board is moved from said test position to said inactive position.

5. The connector block of claim 4, wherein said current indicator has a first lead and a second lead;

and further comprising a first contact and a second contact mounted on said test board adjacent said first aperture and said second aperture, respectively, said first contact and said second contact being electrically coupled to said first lead and said second lead, respectively, said first contact and said second contact being electrically coupled with said first terminal and said second terminal, respectively, when said test board is in said test position, and not electrically coupled when said test board is in said inactive position.

6. The connector block of claim 5, wherein said first contact and said second contact are each flexible metallic contacts, and wherein said first aperture has as first stop wall and said second aperture has a second stop wall, said first stop wall and said second stop wall limiting flexure of said first contact and said second contact, respectively, when said test board is in said test position.

7. The connector block of claim 2, wherein said wiring block includes a biasing member for biasing said test board to said inactive position.

8. The connector block of claim 2, wherein said test board has an activation handle for exerting a sliding force on said test board so as to move said test board from said inactive position to said test position.

9. The connector block of claim 1, wherein said connector block has a top side and a bottom side, said test board being slideably mounted on said bottom side of said connector block, said current indicator being visible from said top side of said connector block through an aperture in said connector block.

10. The connector block of claim 9, wherein said connector block has a pair of channeling brackets extending towards said bottom side of said connector block, each of said channeling brackets forming a channel for slideably receiving said test board.

11. The connector block of claim 1, wherein said pair of wires are a tip-ring wire pair of a telephone line from a telephone central office.

12. A connector block having a test device for testing the continuity of a plurality of individual pairs of wires connected to said block, comprising:

a plurality of first terminals, each of said plural first terminals being connectable to a first wire of a respective selected one of said plural pairs of wires;

a plurality of second terminals, each of said plural second terminals being connectable to a second wire of said respective selected one of said plural pairs of wires;

a test board slideably mounted on said connector block for slideable movement between a test position and an inactive position; and

a plurality of current indicators disposed on said test board, each of said plural current indicators being adjacent to one of said plural first terminals and one of said plural second terminals, such that when said test board is moved into said test position, each of said plural current indicators forms an electrical connection between said adjacent first terminal and said adjacent second terminal for indicating the presence of an electric current therebetween, so that continuity of each connected wire pair may be tested.

13. The test block of claim 12, wherein said pairs of wires are tip-ring pairs of wires from a telephone central office.

14. A method for testing a connector block having a pair of wires connected thereto, comprising the steps of:

moving, from an inactive position to a test position, a test board that is slideably mounted on said connector block and that has an indicator disposed on said test board such that when said indicator is in said test position it visibly indicates if a voltage exists across said pair of wires;

observing said indicator to determine whether a loop condition exists; and

permitting said test board to return to said inactive position.