Network interface device with circuit board architecture

• US 6,322,375 B1
• Filed: 09/29/1997
• Issued: 11/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Commscope Inc of North Carolina (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Avaya Technology Corporation Miami Lakes FLA US
• Inventors: Kluska, Theodore Edward, Roach, Leonard Brian, Tancreto, Anthony Robert, Pawlenko, Ivan, Kerr, David Stevens, Cowan, Douglas Lewis, Daoud, Bassel Hage, Cole, Thelma E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Abrams, Neil
• Application Number:
  US08/939,747
• Time in Patent Office: 1,520 Days
• Field of Search: 439/76.1, 439/409, 439/410, 379/399, 361/119
• US Class Current: 439/76.1
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6658 on printed circuit board H01R13/6666 - H01R13/6691 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6666 with built-in overvoltage protection
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/2433 one part of the base being movable to push the cable into the slot

Abstract

A network interface device includes a base, a cover and a circuit board secured in the base. The circuit board includes terminations for input and output communication lines. Each pair of input and output communication lines corresponds to a single standard telephone line, a high speed data line or other type of line. The communication line terminations may be implemented as insulation displacement connectors, and the cover may include projections on its inner surface such that closing the cover also closes the insulation displacement connectors on the circuit board. For each communication line, the circuit board may include a subscriber bridge which establishes a breakable connection between the input and output line terminations via traces in the circuit board. In fixed wireless, fiber-to-the-home (FITI) and other similar applications, the circuit board may also include terminations for input and output power lines, and the base and cover may be extended to accommodate an uninterruptible power supply. The power supply supplies the input power line to the corresponding termination on the circuit board, and the output power line is supplied to a power input of a remote unit in a fixed wireless system or other electronic unit external to the network interface device. The circuit board may also include power protection circuitry for protecting against surges on the input and output communication and power lines. The network interface device may further include a battery back-up associated with the power supply.

Claims

1. A network interface device, comprising:

a base;

a cover attached to the base; and

a circuit board secured within the base, the circuit board including terminations for at least one input communication line and at least one output communication line, and terminations for at least one input power line and at least one output power line, the power lines being separate from the communication lines, wherein the circuit board farther includes power protection circuitry for the input and output power lines, and further wherein the power protection circuitry is connected between the input and output power line terminations via traces associated with the circuit board, the terminations for the input and output communication lines, the terminations for the input and output power lines, and the power protection circuitry thereby all being part of the same circuit board.

2. The network interface device of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the communication line terminations are implemented as insulation displacement connecting devices.

3. The network interface device of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the communication line terminations are implemented as binding post contacts.

4. The network interface device of claim 1 wherein the input and output communication lines comprise a telephony line.

5. The network interface device of claim 1 wherein the input and output communication lines comprise a data line.

6. The network interface device of claim 1 wherein the input and output communication lines comprise a video line.

7. The network interface device of claim 1 wherein the input and output communication lines comprise an interactive signal line.

8. The network interface device of claim 1 wherein the circuit board further includes a subscriber bridge comprising a communication line jack and a corresponding communication line plug connected between the input line termination and output line termination, such that inserting the plug in the jack establishes a connection through traces in the circuit board between the input line termination and the output line termination.

9. The network interface device of claim 8 wherein the subscriber bridge is accessible when the cover is in a closed position through an access door in the cover, such that the plug can be disconnected from the jack for testing the communication line.

10. The network interface device of claim 1 wherein the circuit board further includes a subscriber bridge comprising a self-disconnecting jack.

11. The network interface device of claim 1 further including a compartment adapted to at least partially enclose a power supply, wherein at least one connection between a power line associated with the power supply and a corresponding power line termination on the circuit board is implemented via a trace in the circuit board.

12. The network interface device of claim 11 wherein an extension of the base at least partially defines the compartment.

13. The network interface device of claim 1 wherein the input power line is supplied from a power supply and the output power line is supplied to a power input of an external electronic device.

14. The network interface device of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the power line terminations are implemented as insulation displacement connecting devices.

15. The network interface device of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the power line terminations are implemented as binding post contacts.

16. A network interface device, comprising:

a base;

a cover attached to the base;

a circuit board secured within the base, the circuit board including terminations for at least one input communication line and at least one output communication line, and a termination for at least one power line separate from the communication lines; and

a compartment associated with the base and adapted to at least partially enclose a power supply for supplying the at least one power line to the power line termination on the circuit board.

17. The network interface device of claim 16 wherein the power supply serves as a power source for an electronic unit external to the network interface device.

18. The network interface device of claim 16 wherein the compartment is further configured to at least partially enclose a battery back-up associated with the power supply.

19. The network interface device of claim 16 wherein the power supply is at least partially implemented on the circuit board.

20. The network interface device of claim 16 wherein the compartment is at least partially defined by an extension of the base.

21. The network interface device of claim 16 wherein the circuit board further includes terminations for at least one input power line and at least one output power line.

22. The network interface device of claim 21 wherein the power supply supplies the input power line to the corresponding termination on the circuit board, and the output power line is supplied to a power input of an electronic unit external to the network interface device.

23. The network interface device of claim 21 wherein the input power line is supplied from the power supply to the corresponding termination on the circuit board at least in part through a trace in the circuit board.

24. The network interface device of claim 21 wherein at least a portion of the power line terminations are implemented as insulation displacement connecting devices.

25. The network interface device of claim 21 wherein at least a portion of the power line terminations are implemented as binding post contacts.

26. The network interface device of claim 21 wherein the circuit board further includes power protection circuitry for the input and output power lines, and further wherein the power protection circuitry is connected between the input and output power line terminations via traces in the circuit board.

27. The network interface device of claim 26 wherein the power protection circuitry further includes a series circuit connected between a first and second power line, the series circuit comprising a series connection of a first fuse, a first varistor, a second varistor and a second fuse, wherein the interconnection of the first and second varistor in the series connection is further connected to ground potential.

28. The network interface device of claim 26 wherein the power protection circuitry further includes a series circuit connected between a first and second power line, the series circuit comprising a series connection of a first varistor, a first fuse, a second fuse and a second varistor, wherein the interconnection of the first and second fuse in the series connection is further connected to ground potential.

29. A network interface device, comprising:

a base;

a cover attached to the base;

a circuit board secured in the base, the circuit board including terminations for one or more communication lines and terminations for at least one input power line and at least one output power line, the input and output power lines being separate from the one or more communication lines; and

power protection circuitry for protecting the input and output power lines, wherein the power protection circuitry is mounted on the circuit board and connected between the input and output power line terminations,

the terminations for the input and output communication lines, the terminations for the input and output power lines, and the power protection circuitry thereby all being part of the same circuit board.

30. The network interface device of claim 29 wherein the circuit board further includes terminations for at least one input communication line and at least one output communication line.

31. The network interface device of claim 29 wherein the power protection circuitry further includes a series circuit connected between a first and second power line, the series circuit comprising a series connection of a first fuse, a first varistor, a second varistor and a second fuse, wherein the interconnection of the first and second varistor in the series connection is further connected to ground potential.

32. The network interface device of claim 29 wherein the power protection circuitry further includes a series circuit connected between a first and second power line, the series circuit comprising a series connection of a first varistor, a first fuse, a second fuse and a second varistor, wherein the interconnection of the first and second fuse in the series connection is further connected to ground potential.

33. The network interface device of claim 29 wherein the power protection circuitry is connected between the input and output power line terminations via traces in the circuit board.

34. The network interface device of claim 29 wherein a compartment at least partially defined by an extension of the base is configured to at least partially enclose a power supply.

35. The network interface device of claim 34 wherein the power supply serves as a power source for an electronic unit external to the network interface device.

36. The network interface device of claim 34 wherein the compartment is further configured to at least partially enclose a battery back-up associated with the power supply.

37. The network interface device of claim 34 wherein the power supply supplies the input power line to the corresponding power line termination, and the output power line is supplied to a power input of an electronic unit external to the network interface device.

38. The network interface device of claim 29 wherein at least a portion of the power line terminations are implemented as insulation displacement connecting devices on the circuit board.

39. The network interface device of claim 29 wherein at least a portion of the power line terminations are implemented as binding post contacts on the circuit board.