Cross-connect jumper assembly having tracer lamp

• US 20040219825A1
• Filed: 05/28/2004
• Published: 11/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ADC Telecommunications Incorporated (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Demulling, Richard T., Good, Thomas, Musolf, Bruce, Burroughs, Dennis
• Granted Patent: US 6,905,363 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/490
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/641 by indicating incorrect coupling; by indicating correct or full engagement
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/91 Observation aide, e.g. transparent material, window in housing

Abstract

A jumper assembly for a DSX system is disclosed herein. The jumper assembly includes a messenger wire for electrically connecting tracer lamp circuits corresponding to two cross-connected DSX modules. The jumper assembly also includes tracer lamp devices carried with the messenger wire.

Claims

1. A device for electrically connecting tracer lamp circuits corresponding to cross-connected DSX modules, the tracer lamp circuits of the DSX modules including pin jacks, the device comprising:

a wire;

lamp assemblies carried with the wire that illuminate when electrical current passes through the wire; and

conductive pins positioned at opposite ends of the device for connecting the wire to the pin jacks.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the lamp assemblies are offset from the conductive pins.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the lamp assemblies are offset from the conductive pins by a spacing of 2-8 inches.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the spacing is 3-6 inches.

5. The device of claim 2, wherein the wire includes a first portion that extends between the lamp assemblies, and second and third portions that extend between the lamp assemblies and the conductive pins to provide the offsets between the lamp assemblies and the conductive pins.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising cross-connect cables secured to the wire.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the lamp assemblies include translucent housings positioned at opposite ends of the wire, and wherein the conductive pins project outwardly from the housings.

8. A DSX system comprising:

first and second DSX devices cross-connected together by cross-connect cables, the DSX devices each including a front end and a rear end, the DSX devices also each including a tracer lamp circuit including pin jacks, a first tracer lamp, and a switch for activating the first tracer lamp, the first tracer lamps being positioned at the front ends of the DSX devices;

a messenger wire that electrically connects the tracer lamp circuits of the DSX devices, the messenger wire having conductive pins at opposite ends for connecting the wire to the pin jacks of the DSX devices; and

second tracer lamps mounted to the messenger wire, the second tracer lamps being visible from the rear ends of the DSX devices, the second tracer lamps being offset from the conductive pins, and the second tracer lamps being activated by the switches of the tracer lamp circuits of the DSX devices.

9. The DSX system of claim 8, wherein the second tracer lamps are offset from the conductive pins by a spacing of 2-8 inches.

10. The DSX system of claim 9, wherein the spacing is 3-6 inches.

11. The DSX system of claim 8, wherein the wire includes a first portion that extends between the second tracer lamps, and second and third portions that extend between the second tracer lamps and the conductive pins to provide the offsets between the second tracer lamps and the conductive pins.

12. The DSX system of claim 8, wherein the second tracer lamps include housings containing light emitting diodes, the housings being positioned between the messenger wire and tips of the conductive pins.

13. The DSX system of claim 12, wherein the conductive pins have base ends located within the housings, and wherein the tips of the conductive pins project outwardly from the housings.

14. The DSX system of claim 12, wherein the conductive pins are co-axially aligned with the housings.

15. A DSX system comprising:

first and second DSX devices cross-connected together by cross-connect cables, the DSX devices each including pin jacks;

a messenger wire that electrically connects the DSX devices, the messenger wire having conductive pins at opposite ends for connecting the wire to the pin jacks of the DSX devices; and

tracer lamps mounted to the messenger wire, the tracer lamps being offset from the conductive pins.

16. The DSX system of claim 15, wherein the tracer lamps are offset from the conductive pins by a spacing of 2-8 inches.

17. The DSX system of claim 16, wherein the spacing is 3-6 inches.

18. A method for tracing a cross-connection between two DSX devices, each of the DSX devices including a tracer lamp circuit having a first tracer lamp and a switch for illuminating the first tracer lamp, the method comprising:

electrically connecting the tracer lamp circuits of the DSX devices with a messenger wire having second tracer lamps secured to the messenger wire; and

tracing the cross-connection by activating at least one of the switches to cause the first tracer lamps and the second tracer lamps to be illuminated.