Tracing interface module for patch cords in a telecommunications system

• US 6,234,830 B1
• Filed: 02/10/1999
• Issued: 05/22/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Commscope Inc of North Carolina (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Avaya Technology Corporation Miami Lakes FLA US
• Inventors: Frick, Harold B., Macauley, Daniel Warren, German, Michael Gregory, Ensz, Lyndon D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Donovan, Lincoln
• Assistant Examiner(s): Webb, Brian S.
• Application Number:
  US09/247,269
• Time in Patent Office: 832 Days
• Field of Search: 439/491, 439/490, 439/76, 439/49, 340/654, 340/656, 340/687, 200/51.02, 200/51.04
• US Class Current: 439/491
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/2475 Means facilitating correct wiring, e.g. marking plates, identification tags
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/136 having patch field management or physical layer management arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/148 Identification strips for distribution frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2201/12 Printed circuits

Abstract

A tracing interface module for use in a patch cord tracing system, wherein the patch cord tracing system traces patch cords in a telecommunications patching system. The tracing interface module attaches to the face of the patch panels in a telecommunications closet. The tracing interface modules provide a means of detecting when patch cords have been removed from, or added to, the connector ports on the patch panels. The tracing interface module has three primary components. The first component is a support plate that attaches to the patch panel. The second component is a printed circuit board that is supported by the support plate. The support plate is manufactured with voids that correspond in position to surface mounted components on the printed circuit board. Consequently, the components on the printed circuit board pass into the support plate, thereby creating a highly space efficient assembly. The third major component of the tracing interface module is a graphics overlay that protects the printed circuit board and helps identify the visual manifestations of the various functions performed by the printed circuit board.

Claims

1. A patch cord tracing module assembly, comprising:

a circuit board having a bottom surface and a top surface, said circuit board containing a plurality of connector sensors operable to detect a proximately connected patch cord;

a support frame for supporting said circuit board, said support frame defining a plurality of voids, wherein said voids are positioned to receive said connector sensors when said circuit board is placed against said support frame; and

a graphics overlay affixed to said top surface of said circuit board, wherein said graphics overlay contains a visual display that identifies each of said connector sensors on said circuit board and a human interface device associated with at least one of said connector sensors.

2. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said circuit board has numerous surface mounted elements extending from said bottom surface thereof, and said support frame defines voids that correspond in position with said surface mounted elements, thereby enabling said circuit board to lay flat against said support frame.

3. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of LEDs extend from said top surface of said circuit board, each LED being positioned to correspond with the position of one of said connector sensors.

4. The assembly according to claim 3, wherein said graphics overlay contains apertures through which said LEDs on said circuit board can be viewed.

5. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said human interface device is implemented as a push button disposed on said top surface of said circuit board, ones of said push buttons being positioned to correspond in position with ones of said connector sensors.

6. The assembly according to claim 5, wherein said graphics overlay provides an identifying indicia to each of said push buttons.

7. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said visual display on said graphic overlay is a labeling area wherein the identity of a connector sensor can be written.

8. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said connector sensors are mechanical switches.

9. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said support frame is comprised of a plurality of separate pieces that interconnect to form a single support frame capable of supporting said circuit board.

10. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said support frame has a first end and a second end, wherein mounted apertures are defined by said support frame proximate said first end and said second end.

11. The assembly according to claim 10, wherein alignment pins extend from said support frame at points proximate said first end and said second end.

12. A telecommunications system having point-to-point tracing capabilities, comprising:

at least one rack structure;

a plurality of patch panels mounted to each said rack structure;

a plurality of connector ports disposed on each of said patch panels;

a plurality of patch cords for selectively interconnecting different pairs of connector ports;

tracing modules mounted to said patch panels above said connector ports, wherein said tracing modules contain patch cord sensors for sensing the presence of a patch cord in each connector ports, a visible indicator for identifying a position of a selected connected port from among said plurality of connector ports and a human interface device associated with at least one of said patch cord sensors.

13. The system according to claim 12, further including a controller on each said rack structure that is coupled to each of said tracing modules on that rack structure.

14. The system according to claim 12, wherein said tracing module contains:

a circuit board having a bottom surface and a top surface, said circuit board containing a plurality of patch cord sensors operable to detect a proximately connected patch cord;

a support frame for supporting said circuit-board, said support frame defining a plurality of voids, wherein said voids are positioned to receive said patch cord sensors when said circuit board is placed against said support frame; and

a graphics overlay affixed to said top surface of said circuit board, wherein said graphics overlay contains a visual display that identifies each of said patch cord sensors on said circuit board.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein said circuit board has numerous surface mounted elements extending from said bottom surface thereof, and said support frame defines voids that correspond in position with said surface mounted elements, thereby enabling said circuit board to lay flat against said support frame.

16. The system according to claim 14, wherein a plurality of LEDs extend from said top surface of said circuit board, each LED being positioned to correspond with the position of one of said patch cord sensors.

17. The system according to claim 14, wherein said human interface device is implemented as a push button disposed on said top surface of said circuit board, ones of said push buttons being positioned to correspond in position with ones of said patch cord sensors.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein said graphic overlay provides an identifying indicia to each of said push buttons.

19. The system according to claim 14, wherein said patch cord sensors are mechanical switches.