Enhanced services network interface device

• US 6,795,552 B1
• Filed: 12/14/1999
• Issued: 09/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Corning Optical Communications LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Corning Cable Systems LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Inventors: Stanush, Andrew G., James, Michael K.
• Primary Examiner(s): BARNIE, REXFORD N
• Application Number:
  US09/460,790
• Time in Patent Office: 1,743 Days
• Field of Search: 379/399.01, 379/413.01, 379/413.02, 379/413.03, 379/413.04, 379/414, 379/402, 379/413, 379/93.05
• US Class Current: 379/413.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/026 characterized by door details
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/028 Subscriber network interface devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/03 Power distribution arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/116 lightning or EMI protection, e.g. shielding or grounding
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/144 Plugs used in distribution frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2201/10 Housing details
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2201/12 Printed circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2201/16 Coaxial cable connectors
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2201/802 in data transmission systems

Abstract

A network interface device includes an enclosure that houses active electronics for accommodating twisted-pair telephone wires and coaxial cable. The housing has a base that connects to a building wall. A shield locates within the housing, the shield having a platform and a perimeter wall that extends around the platform. A printed circuit board mounts within the shield between the base and the platform. The shield is hinged to the base so that it may be readily removed with the printed circuit board if repair is needed. A subscriber bridge module mounts on the platform. The subscriber bridge module has subscriber line termination points on one side that electrically connect with the subscriber lines. The subscriber bridge module also has telephone jacks electrically connected between the subscriber termination points and the provider line. This provides a demarcation between the subscriber lines and the provider line. An inner cover encloses a provider line port, any voltage protecting devices mounted on the platform, and power terminals on the subscriber bridge module.

Claims

1. A network interface device, comprising:

a housing having a base adapted to be connected to a structure and an outer cover hinged to the base;

a shield located within the housing, defining a cavity between the base and the shield to hold a printed circuit board having circuitry for controlling and routing telecommunication signals between a provider line and a subscriber line leading to subscriber equipment within the structure;

a provider line port in the shield for connecting the provider line to the printed circuit board;

a hinged inner cover mounted to the shield over the provider line port for blocking access to the provider line port, the inner cover being movable between open and closed positions; and

a subscriber bridge module mounted on the shield, the subscriber bridge module having a subscriber line termination point adapted to be electrically connected with the subscriber line in the structure and a telephone jack adapted to be connected to the provider line and to the subscriber line termination point for providing a demarcation between the subscriber line and the provider line, the telephone jack and the termination point being positioned outside of the inner cover while the inner cover is in the closed position; and

wherein

while in a closed position, the outer cover of the housing encloses the shield inner cover, and subscriber bridge module.

2. The network interface device according to claim 1, further comprising a door hinged to the subscriber bridge module for releasably enclosing the jack, the door being positioned outside of the inner cover while the inner cover is in the closed position and being enclosed by the outer cover of the housing while the outer cover is in the closed position.

3. The network interface device according to claim 1, further comprising a safety plug configured to be received in the telephone jack for interrupting any voltage to the subscriber line termination point.

4. The network interface device according to claim 3, wherein the safety plug is secured by a flexible link to the subscriber bridge module.

5. The network interface device according to claim 1, wherein,

the shield has a first level spaced a first distance from the base, a second level spaced a greater distance from the base than the first level and a bulkhead joining the first and second levels;

the provider line port is located in the bulkhead, and the subscriber bridge module is mounted on the first level; and

the inner cover extends over a portion of the first level and has a portion substantially flush with a portion of the second level while the inner cover is in the closed position.

6. The network interface device according to claim 1, wherein the provider line comprises coaxial cable, and wherein the device further comprises:

a coaxial protector adapted to be electrically connected to the provider line, mounted to an exterior side of the shield and enclosed by the inner cover while the inner cover is in the closed position, the coaxial protector protecting against excess voltage.

7. The network interface device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a power terminal mounted to the subscriber bridge module for connection to a power line for supplying power to the printed circuit board; and

wherein the inner cover encloses the power terminal while the inner cover is in the closed position.

8. The network interface device according to claim 1, wherein the shield has a platform spaced from the base and a perimeter wall surrounding the platform and extending form the platform toward the base, the perimeter wall being releasably fastened to the base.

9. A network interface device for a coaxial provider line, comprising:

a housing having a base adapted to be connected to a structure and an outer cover hinged to the base;

a shield located within the housing, defining a cavity between the base and the shield;

a coaxial protector for protecting against excess voltage mounted to an exterior side of the shield and adapted to be connected to a coaxial provider line;

a printed circuit board mounted to an interior side of the shield within the cavity, the printed circuit board having circuitry for routing telecommunication signals between the coaxial provider line and both twisted-pair line subscriber equipment and coaxial line subscriber equipment;

a subscriber bridge module mounted on the exterior side of the shield, the subscriber bridge module having a subscriber line termination point adapted to be electrically connected with a subscriber line in the structure and a telephone jack electrically connected to the termination point and to the printed circuit board, for providing a demarcation between the subscriber line and the provider line;

the shield being releasably fastened to the base so as to be removable along with the printed circuit board and subscriber bridge module for repair or replacement while the base remains secure to the structure;

a hinged inner cover mounted to the shield adjacent the coaxial protector and the provider port for enclosing the coaxial protector and provider port, the inner cover being movable between open and closed positions, the telephone jack and the subscriber line termination point being positioned outside of the inner cover while the inner cover is in the closed position; and

wherein

while in a closed position, the outer cover of the housing encloses the shield, inner cover, and subscriber bridge module.

10. The network interface device according to claim 9, wherein the shield is hinged to the base.

11. The network interface device according to claim 9, further comprising a door hinged to the shield for releasably enclosing the jack, the door being positioned outside of the inner cover while the inner cover is in the closed position and being enclosed by the outer cover of the housing while the outer cover is in the closed position.

12. The network interface device according to claim 9, further comprising a safety plug configured to be received in the telephone jack for interrupting any voltage to the subscriber line termination point, the safety plug being free of electrical components.

13. The network interface device according to claim 9, wherein the safety plug is secured by a flexible link to the subscriber bridge module.

14. The network interface device according to claim 9, wherein:

the shield has a first level spaced a first distance from the base, a second level spaced a greater distance from the base than the first level, and a bulkhead joining the first and second levels and wherein the network interface device further comprises;

a coaxial provider line port in the bulkhead for connecting to the coaxial provider line;

a coaxial subscriber line port in the bulkhead for connecting to the subscriber line;

wherein the coaxial protector and subscriber bridge module are mounted on the first level; and

the inner cover encloses the coaxial provider line port and has a portion substantially flush with a portion of the second level while the inner cover is in the closed position.

15. The network interface device according to claim 9, further comprising;

a power terminal mounted to the subscriber bridge module for connection to a power line for supplying power to the printed circuit board; and

wherein

the power terminal is enclosed by the inner cover while the inner cover is in the closed position.

16. A network interface device for a provider line having coaxial cable, comprising:

a housing having a base adapted to be connected to a structure and an outer cover hinged to the base;

a subscriber bridge module mounted in the housing, the subscriber bridge module having at least one subscriber line termination point adapted to be electrically connected with a subscriber line and at least one telephone jack electrically connected to the termination point and adapted to be electrically connected with the provider line for providing a demarcation between the subscriber line and the termination point, the jack having a normally closed switch therein that electrically connects the provider line with the termination point; and

a safety plug selectively insertable into the telephone jack for opening the switch to break electrical connection of the subscriber line with the provider line, the safety plug being a passive member free of any electrical wiring.

17. The network interface device according to claim 16, wherein the safety plug is tethered to the subscriber bridge module.

18. The network interface device according to claim 16, further comprising;

a shield located within the housing the shield having a platform and a perimeter wall extending around the platform, the perimeter wall being releasably fastened to the base, defining a cavity between the base and the platform;

a printed circuit board mounted to an interior side of the shield within the cavity, the printed circuit board having circuitry for routing telecommunication signals between the provider line an the subscriber line; and

wherein the shield is removable from the base along with the printed circuit board.

19. The network interface device according to claim 16, further comprising a door hinged to the shield for releasably enclosing the jack, the door being enclosed by the outer cover of the housing while the outer cover is in the closed position.

20. The network interface device according to claim 19 wherein the door is attached to the subscriber bridge module by a flexible link.

21. A network interface device comprising:

a base;

an outer cover hinged to the base;

a subscriber bridge module mounted to the base, the subscriber bridge module having at least one subscriber line termination point adapted to be electrically connected with a subscriber line and at least one telephone jack electrically connected to the termination point and adapted to be electrically connected with a provider line to provide a demarcation between the subscriber line and the termination point;

a printed circuit board mounted to the base, the printed circuit board having circuitry for routing twisted-pair and coaxial telecommunication signals between the provider line and the subscriber line,

a shield defining a cavity between the base and the shield to hold the printed circuit board;

a provider line port in the shield for connecting the provider line to the printed circuit board; and

a hinged inner cover mounted to the shield over the provider line port for blocking access to the provider line port, the inner cover being movable between open and closed positions.

22. The network interface device according to claim 21 further comprising a door attached to the subscriber bridge module by a flexible link, the door being movable between an open position and a closed position to selectively cover the termination point and the telephone jack in the closed position.