Timing output panel

• US 6,838,884 B1
• Filed: 12/19/2001
• Issued: 01/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: WorldCom, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Dagate, Lawrence N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lair, Donald M
• Application Number:
  US10/020,893
• Time in Patent Office: 1,112 Days
• Field of Search: 324/538, 324/539, 324/66, 370/400, 370/423, 370/351, 370/438, 370/422, 370/424, 370/395.51, 370/395.52, 370/395.53, 379/25, 379/26.01, 379/1.01
• US Class Current: 324/538
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/0685 Clock or time synchronisation in a node; Intranode synchronisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13003 Constructional details of switching devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13076 Distributing frame, MDF, cross-connect switch
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13213 Counting, timing circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1329 Asynchronous transfer mode, ATM
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1334 Configuration within the switch
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1336 Synchronisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13367 Hierarchical multiplexing, add-drop multiplexing

Abstract

A timing output panel may include a rear portion and a front portion. The rear portion may include a number of network connectors respectively configured to connect to a number of network elements, and at least one timing connector connected to the number of network connectors and configured to connect to synchronization electronics. The front portion may include a number of equipment jacks corresponding to and electrically connected to the number of network connectors. The equipment jacks may facilitate temporary connection of cables for testing or patching signals to the network elements. The front portion also may include a number of timing jacks corresponding to and electrically connected to the at least one timing connector. The timing jacks may facilitate temporary connection of cables for testing the synchronization electronics or patching to the equipment jacks.

Claims

1. A panel, comprising:

a first side, including;

at least one first connector configured to connect to synchronization electronics and receive a plurality of signals from the synchronization electronics, the at least one first connector including an integrated connector having a number of contact points therein, and

a plurality of second connectors respectively configured to connect to a plurality of network devices and deliver the plurality of signals to the plurality of network devices; and

a second side opposite from the first side, including;

a plurality of third connectors respectively coupled to at least one of the at least one first connector and the plurality of second connectors and configured to provide temporary connection to at least one of the synchronization electronics and the plurality of network devices.

2. The panel of claim 1, wherein the second connectors include wire wrap pins.

3. The panel of claim 1, wherein the at least one first connector is electrically connected to the plurality of second connectors to deliver the plurality of signals from the electrical equipment to the plurality of network devices.

4. The panel of claim 1, wherein the plurality of third connectors includes:

a plurality of fourth connectors electrically connected to the at least one first connector and configured to provide temporary connections from the electrical equipment.

5. The panel of claim 4, wherein the plurality of third connectors further includes:

a plurality of fifth connectors electrically connected to the plurality of second connectors and configured to provide temporary connections to the plurality of network devices from the plurality of fourth connectors.

6. The panel of claim 4, wherein the plurality of third connectors further includes:

a plurality of sixth connectors electrically connected to the plurality of second connectors via a respective plurality of resistors and configured to provide high impedance connections to the plurality of network devices.

7. The panel of claim 1, wherein the at least one first connector and the plurality of second connectors each includes a primary group of connectors and a secondary group of connectors for connecting primary and secondary groups of signals between the electrical equipment and the plurality of network devices.

8. A timing output panel, comprising:

a rear portion, including;

a plurality of network connectors respectively configured to connect to a plurality of network elements, and

at least one timing connector connected to the plurality of network connectors and configured to connect to synchronization electronics, the at least one timing connector including a unitary connector having multiple pins corresponding to a number of signals from the synchronization electronics; and

a front portion, including;

a plurality of equipment jacks corresponding to and electrically connected to the plurality network connectors, the equipment jacks facilitating temporary connection of cables for testing or patching signals to the network elements, and

a plurality of timing jacks corresponding to and electrically connected to the at least one timing connector, the timing jacks facilitating temporary connection of cables for testing the synchronization electronics or patching to the equipment jacks.

9. The timing output panel of claim 8, wherein the network connectors include wire wrap pins.

10. The timing output panel of claim 8, wherein the front portion further includes:

a plurality of monitor jacks electrically connected to the plurality of equipment jacks by a respective plurality of resistors.

11. The timing output panel of claim 8, wherein the network connectors include:

a primary group of network connectors, and

a secondary group of network connectors that are spatially separated from the primary group of network connectors.

12. The timing output panel of claim 8, wherein the at least one timing connector include:

a primary timing connector, and

a secondary timing connector that is spatially separated from the primary timing connector.

13. The timing output panel of claim 8, wherein the equipment jacks include:

a primary group of equipment jacks, and

a secondary group of equipment jacks that are spatially separated from the primary group of equipment jacks.

14. The timing output panel of claim 10, wherein the equipment jacks, the timing jacks, and the monitor jacks include an identical type of connector.

15. A panel, comprising:

a rear portion, including;

means for connecting to a plurality of network elements, and

means for connecting to synchronization electronics; and

a front portion, including;

means for testing at least one of the plurality of network elements and the synchronization electronics, wherein

the means for connecting to synchronization electronics includes at least one connector including an integrated connector having a number of contact points therein.

16. The panel of claim 15, wherein the front portion further includes:

means for monitoring signals associated with the synchronization electronics.

17. The panel of claim 15, wherein the means for testing includes:

means for removably accepting a patch cable.

18. The panel of claim 15, wherein the means for connecting to the plurality of network elements includes:

means for perpetually receiving and holding one or more connection wires.

19. A system, comprising:

a plurality of network elements, each network element respectively receiving an input timing signal;

a timing signal generator configured to generate the synchronization signals for the plurality of network elements; and

a timing output panel connected between the plurality of network elements and the timing signal generator, the timing output panel including;

at least one first connector configured to receive the output signals from the timing signal generator,

a plurality of second connectors configured to send the output signals to the plurality of network elements, and

a plurality of third connectors spaced apart from the first and second connectors and configured to facilitate testing of the output signals and patching of the output signals.

20. A timing output panel comprising:

a first side, including;

a plurality of first connectors configured to be connected to respective reference timing inputs of network elements, the plurality of first connectors including a plurality of primary first connectors and a plurality of secondary first connectors, the first connectors including standard Bantam type intrusive DSX-1 jacks for temporary connections;

a plurality of second connectors, the second connectors being configured to connect to respective outputs of a timing signal generator, each of the second connectors including standard Bantam type intrusive DSX-1 jacks for temporary connections; and

a plurality of monitor connectors, the monitor connectors including a plurality of primary monitor connectors and a plurality of secondary monitor connectors configured to be connected to respective outputs of the timing signal generator via resistors, the monitor connectors including standard Bantam type intrusive DSX-1 jacks for temporary connections; and

a second side including;

a plurality of tip and ring connectors configured be connected to one of the reference timing inputs of the network elements using 1-pair shielded cables and respective contact points of the first connectors within the timing output panel, the tip and ring connectors including feed-through wire wrap pins; and

a primary and secondary timing signal generator connector, each of the timing signal generator connectors including a 50-pin amphenol-type connector configured to be connected to the outputs of the timing signal generator.