Method and device for detecting the presence of a patch cord connector in a telecommunications patch system
First Claim
1. A patch cord tracing module assembly that is adapted to be affixed to the face of a patch panel having a plurality of connector ports aligned in a row in a telecommunications system, comprising:
- a circuit board containing a plurality of mechanical switches thereon aligned in a row;
a support frame for supporting said circuit board, said support frame having a bottom edge and a plurality of hinged levers pivotally extending from said bottom edge, wherein each of said hinged levers engages and activates a corresponding one of said mechanical switches when biased toward that mechanical switch by a predetermined force.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system having a plurality of tracing interface modules that attach to the patch panels of a telecommunications patching system in a telecommunications closet. On the patch panels in a telecommunications closet are located a plurality of connector ports that receive the terminated ends of patch cords. The tracing interface modules mount to the patch panels and provide a mechanical sensor that can detect when a patch cord connector has been added to, or removed from, a connector port within the telecommunications closet. Accordingly, by connecting a computer controller to the various mechanical sensors, the computer can monitor and log all changes to the patch cord interconnections in an automated fashion.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. A patch cord tracing module assembly that is adapted to be affixed to the face of a patch panel having a plurality of connector ports aligned in a row in a telecommunications system, comprising:
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a circuit board containing a plurality of mechanical switches thereon aligned in a row;
a support frame for supporting said circuit board, said support frame having a bottom edge and a plurality of hinged levers pivotally extending from said bottom edge, wherein each of said hinged levers engages and activates a corresponding one of said mechanical switches when biased toward that mechanical switch by a predetermined force. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A telecommunications system having point-to-point tracing capabilities, comprising:
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at least one rack structure;
a plurality of patch panels mounted to each said rack structure and having an outer face;
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 outer face of said patch panels above said connector ports, wherein said tracing modules contain mechanical switches that detect the presence of a patch cord in each connector port. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5)
a circuit board upon which said mechanical switches are mounted;
a support frame for supporting said circuit board, said support frame containing a plurality of hinged levers that correspond in position to said mechanical switches, wherein said hinged levers engage and activate said mechanical switches when contacted by a patch cord when that patch cord is inserted into one of said connector ports.
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6. A method of detecting the presence of a patch cord connector in a connector port within a telecommunications closet, comprising the steps of;
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providing a mechanical switch proximate each of the connector ports by positioning a mechanical switch at a point external to each of the connector ports, wherein each mechanical switch within a connector port is activated by the insertion of a patch cord connector into that connector port;
coupling each of said mechanical switches to a controller that monitors the switching status associated with each of said mechanical switches. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
a circuit board upon which each said mechanical switch is mounted;
a support frame for supporting said circuit board, said support frame containing a plurality of hinged levers that correspond in position to each said mechanical switch, wherein a hinged lever engages and activates each of said mechanical switches when contacted by a patch cord when that patch cord is inserted into one of said connector ports.
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Specification