Abstract:
The present disclosure relates to a DSX device including a jack body with three ports including a monitor port, a switching mechanism within the jack body for making and breaking an electrical connection between the other two ports when a plug is withdrawn or inserted and a monitor network including a dielectric substrate electrically connecting the monitor port and one of the other ports. The present disclosure also relates to DSX modules incorporating DSX devices.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates generally to digital cross-connect equipment. More particularly, the present invention relates to monitor arrangements for cross-connect switching modules.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    In the telecommunications industry, the use of switching jacks to perform cross-connect and monitoring functions is well known. The jacks may be mounted to replaceable cards or modules which in turn may be mounted in a chassis, and multiple chassis may be mounted together in an equipment rack. Modules for use in co-axial environments are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,913,701, which is incorporated herein by reference. Modules for use in twisted pair applications are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,116,961. Cross-connect modules are also used with fiber optic communications systems.  
           [0003]    [0003]FIG. 1 shows a prior art cross-connect arrangement of the type used for co-axial applications. The depicted arrangement includes two jack modules  20 ,  22 . The jack modules  20 ,  22  may be mounted in separate chassis that are in turn mounted on separate racks. Each jack module  20 ,  22  is cabled to a separate network element (i.e., piece of telecommunications equipment). For example, jack module  20  is connected to equipment  24  by cables  26 , and jack module  22  is connected to equipment  28  by cables  30 . The pieces of equipment  24  and  28  are interconnected by cross-connect jumpers  32  placed between the two jack modules  20  and  22 . Each jack module  20 ,  22  includes IN and OUT ports  34  and  36  for direct access to the equipment&#39;s input and output signals. Each module  20 ,  22  also includes X-IN and X-OUT ports  35 ,  37  for providing direct access to the cross-connect input and cross-connect output signals. Ports  34 - 37  provide a means to temporarily break the connection between the pieces of equipment  24  and  28  that are cross-connected together, and to allow access to the signals for test and patching operations. The jack modules  20 ,  22  also include monitor ports  38  for non-intrusive access to the input and output signals of each piece of telecommunications equipment  24 ,  28 .  
           [0004]    A typical telecommunications central office includes many jack modules and a large number of bundled cables interconnecting the modules. Consequently, absent indicators, it is difficult to quickly determine which two jack modules are cross-connected together. To assist in this function, the jack modules  20 ,  22  include indicator lights  40  wired to power  42  and ground  44 . Switches  46  are positioned between the indicator lights  40  and ground  44 . The indicator lights  40  are also electrically connected to pin jacks  48  located at the rear of the jack modules  20 ,  22 . The pin jacks  48  provide connection locations for allowing the tracer lamp circuits corresponding to each of the modules  20 ,  22  to be interconnected by a cable  50 . The cable  50  is typically bundled with the cross-connect cables  32 . When either switch  46  is closed, the indicator lamps  40  corresponding to both of the jack modules  20 ,  22  are connected to ground and thereby illuminated. Thus, by closing one of the switches  46 , the two jack modules  20 ,  22  that are cross-connected can be easily identified by merely locating the illuminated tracer lamps.  
         SUMMARY  
         [0005]    The present disclosure describes representative embodiments that include examples of how several different inventive concepts can be practiced. It will be appreciated that the inventions can be used together or separately from one another. It will further be appreciated that the examples embodying the inventive concepts are merely illustrative, and that variations can be made with respect to the depicted examples without departing from the broad scope of the inventive concepts.  
           [0006]    An example embodiment disclosed herein relates to a jack module having a monitor network that can be efficiently manufactured with minimal labor.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate various embodiments that are examples of how certain inventions can be put into practice. A brief description of the drawings is as follows:  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 1 shows a prior art cross-connect arrangement of the type used for co-axial applications;  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-connect module including examples of numerous inventive concepts can be put into practice;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of a switching jack of the module of FIG. 2;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 4 is a rear, exploded view of the switching jack of FIG. 3;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 5 is a front, exploded view of the switching jack of FIG. 3;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 6 is a schematic circuit diagram of the switching jack of FIG. 3;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 7 illustrates the circuit diagram of FIG. 6 with a plug inserted within the cross-connect axis port;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 8 illustrates the circuit diagram of FIG. 6 with a plug inserted within the equipment access port;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 9 is a rear perspective view of the monitor circuit of the switching jack of FIGS. 4 and 5;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 10 is a front perspective view of a first alternative embodiment of the monitor circuit of the switching jack FIGS. 4 and 5;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 11 is a front perspective view of a second alternative embodiment of a monitor circuit for use with the switching jack FIGS. 4 and 5;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 12 is a rear perspective view of a third alternative embodiment of a monitor circuit for use with the switching jack of FIGS. 4 and 5.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0020]    [0020]FIG. 2 illustrates a jack module  120  including examples of numerous inventive concepts. The jack module  120  includes a housing  122  having a main frame  124 . The main frame  124  includes a front end  126  positioned opposite from a rear end  128 . A front jack mount  130  is mounted at the front end  126  of the main frame  124 . The front jack mount  130  includes pockets  132   a ,  132   b  for respectively receiving jack devices  134   a ,  134   b . Front ends of the pockets  132   a ,  132   b  are open, and back ends of the pockets  132   a ,  132   b  are closed by a rear wall  136  of the front jack mount  130 . Connector mounts  138  are defined within the rear wall  136 . The connector mounts  138  are adapted for receiving jack interface connectors  140   IN ,  140   OUT ,  140   X - IN ,  140   X - OUT  (collectively referred to with reference number  140 ). When the jack devices  134   a ,  134   b  are inserted within the pockets  132   a ,  132   b , connectors  142  corresponding to the jack devices  134   a ,  134   b  interconnect with the jack interface connectors  140 . The front side of the front jack mount  130  is enclosed by a removable front cover  144 .  
         [0021]    Referring still to FIG. 2, the rear end  128  of the main frame  124  includes a rear wall  129  having upper and lower connector mounting locations  146 ,  148 . The lower mounting location  148  is inset relative to the upper mounting location  146 . Rear connectors  150   X - OUT ,  150   X - IN ,  150   OUT  and  150   IN  (collectively referred to with reference number  150 ) are mounted at the rear end  128 . For example, connectors  150   X - OUT  and  150   X - IN  are mounted at the upper mounting location  146 , and connectors  150   OUT  and  150   IN  are mounted at the lower mounting location  148 . Connectors  150   X - OUT  and  150   X - IN  are adapted for providing cross-connections between modules while the connectors  150   OUT  and  150   IN  are adapted for providing connections to network elements (e.g., telecommunications equipment). As shown in FIG. 2, cables  152   X - OUT ,  152   X - IN ,  152   IN  and  152   OUT  (collectively referred to with reference number  152 ) electrically connect the jack devices  134   a ,  134   b  to the rear connectors  150 . For example, cable  152   X - OUT  connects connector  150   X - OUT  to connector  140   X - OUT , cable  152   X - IN  connects connector  150   X - IN  to connector  140   X - IN , cable  152   OUT  connects connector  150   OUT  to connector  140   OUT , and cable  152   IN  connects connector  150   IN  to connector  140   IN .  
         [0022]    Referring still to FIG. 2, the jack module  120  is also preferably equipped with a tracer lamp circuit. The tracer lamp circuit includes a tracer lamp such as a light emitting diode (LED)  156  mounted at the front of the module  120 . A tracer lamp switch  155  is positioned adjacent the LED  156 . The tracer lamp circuit also includes a pin jack housing  158  mounted at the upper mounting location  146  and a card edge connector  160  mounted at the lower mounting location  148 . A harness  162  electrically connects the card edge connector  160 , the pin jack housing  158 , and the switch  155  to the LED  156 . It will be appreciated that the pin jack housing  158  is adapted for connecting the tracer lamp circuit  154  to the tracer lamp circuit of a cross-connected jack module, and the card edge connector  160  is adapted for connecting the tracer lamp circuit  154  to power and ground.  
         [0023]    The jack module  120  is also described in U.S. application Ser. No. ______ (not yet assigned) entitled Digital Switching Cross-Connect Module, which has attorney docket No. 2316.1362US01, which was filed on a date concurrent herewith, and which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.  
         [0024]    I. Switching Assemblies  
         [0025]    FIGS.  3 - 5  show one of the jack devices  134   a ,  134   b  in isolation from the jack module  120 . Preferably, the two jack devices  134   a ,  134   b  have identical configurations to promote manufacturing efficiency. However, jacks of different configurations could also be used.  
         [0026]    Referring to FIGS.  3 - 5 , the depicted jack device  134   a ,  134   b  includes a front body  202  interconnected with a rear body  204 . In a non-limiting embodiment, the front and rear bodies  202 ,  204  can be made of separate die cast metal pieces. The front body  202  includes front sleeves  212  that define a monitor port  206 , a cross-connect access port  208  and an equipment access port  210 . The front body  202  also includes a circuitry housing positioned between the sleeves  212  and the rear body  204  for housing switches and other circuit components. The rear body  204  includes sleeves  220  that define the connectors  142 . The jack devices  134   a ,  134   b  also include center conductors  240 ,  241  and  242  that respectively correspond to the monitor port  206 , the cross-connect access port  208  and the equipment access port  210 . The conductors  240 - 242  include compliant spring portions  244  (see FIG. 4) positioned adjacent the rear end of the front body  202 . The jack devices  134   a ,  134   b  also include monitor networks for providing electrical connections between the conductors  240  of the monitor ports  206  and the conductors  241  of the cross-connect access ports  208 . As shown in FIG. 4, the monitor network includes a printed circuit board  260  having through-holes  250 - 252  for respectively receiving the conductors  240 - 242 . Also included in the monitor network is a grounding contact  261 . At least the through-holes  250  and  251  are plated with an electrically conductive material such that the spring portions  244  of the corresponding center conductors  240  and  241  make electrical contact with tracings on the circuit board  260 . As will be described in greater detail below, the tracings provide an electrical connection between the center conductors  240  and  241 .  
         [0027]    FIGS.  6 - 8  schematically show an exemplary switching circuit configuration for the jack devices  134   a ,  134   b . When no plug is inserted within either of the ports  208 ,  210 , connectors  142   a  and  142   b  are electrically connected by springs  222  and  224  which engage the center conductors  241  and  242 . When a plug is inserted into port  208  as shown in FIG. 7, the electrical connection between the connectors  142   a  and  142   b  is broken (i.e., the spring  222  disengages the center conductor  241 ) and a direct electrical connection is provided between port  208  and the connector  142   a . Concurrently, the center conductor  242  is grounded. When a plug inserted within port  210  as shown in FIG. 8, the electrical connection between connectors  142   a  and  142   b  is broken (i.e., the spring  224  disengages from the center conductor  242 ) and a direct electrical connection is provided between port  210  and connector  142   b . Concurrently, the center conductor  242  is electrically connected to ground.  
         [0028]    The port  206  allows signals being transferred through the jack device to be non-intrusively monitored. To provide access to signals passing through the center conductor  241  of the port  208 , the monitor network includes a first electrical pathway  280  between the center conductor  241  and the center conductor  240 . The first electrical pathway  280  includes a resister  281  adapted for providing a monitor level signal at the monitor port  206  (e.g., a 464 ohm resistor). The monitor network also includes a second electrical pathway  282  between the first electrical pathway  280  and ground (e.g., the die cast body of the jack device). A resistor  283  (e.g., a 93.1 ohm resistor) is positioned along the second electrical pathway  282 .  
         [0029]    Elements of the monitor network may be mounted to or supported by a variety of forms of dielectric substrates. FIGS. 9 and 10 show the dielectric substrate in the form of a circuit board to which resistors may be mounted and on which the electrical pathways may be laid. FIGS. 11 and 12 show the dielectric substrate in the form of a molded or shaped housing (e.g., a plastic housing) within which the electrical pathways are defined and the resistors are supported. The substrate also holds contacts of the electrical pathways in a fixed orientation that is closely matched to the spacing of the conductors of the jack device. In doing so, installation of the monitor circuit into the jack device is simplified. The substrate containing the monitor circuits and contacts is placed within the jack device so that the contacts engage the appropriate conductors within the jack device. No additional wiring or soldering of connectors is required. It is anticipated that other forms of dielectric substrates may be used to form monitor networks within the scope of the present invention.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 9 shows the physical layout of the electrical pathways  280  and  282  on the circuit board  260 . The second electrical pathway  282  includes a throughhole  253  into which is inserted a grounding contact  261 . When assembled into the switching jack  134   a  or  134   b , the grounding contact  261  provides electrical connectivity and a ground path between the second electrical pathway and the body of the jack device. Configured as shown, the monitor circuit permits monitoring of electrical signals being transmitted through port  208 . Alternatively, the first electrical path  280  could electrical connect to through-hole  252  to monitor electrical signals being transmitted through port  210 .  
         [0031]    Alternative embodiments of the monitor circuit are shown in FIGS. 10 through 12. A first alternative embodiment monitor circuit is shown in FIG. 10, including a circuit board  300  on which are the first electrical path  280  with resistor  281  and the second electrical path  282  with resistor  283 . Grounding contact  306  is included in electrical path  282  and provides contact between the second electrical path  282  and a ground (e.g., the body of the jack device). The first electrical path  280  includes a pin  302  which mates with center conductor  240  and a contact  304  which makes electrical contact with center conductor  242 . The circuit board  300  holds the contacts  304 ,  302  at a pre-defined spacing that generally equals a spacing between the conductors  240 ,  242 . Configured as shown in FIG. 10, the monitor circuit permits monitoring of the electrical signals being transmitted through port  210 . Alternatively, contact  304  could be positioned to make electrical contact with center conductor  241  and permit monitoring of the electrical signals passing through port  208 .  
         [0032]    A second alternative embodiment monitor circuit is shown in FIG. 11, including a housing  308 , made of a dielectric material, within which are located the embedded electrical paths  280  and  281  with embedded resistors  281  and  283 . Housing  308  extends from pin  302  to a contact  310  which makes electrical contact with center conductor  242 , and includes ground contact  306 , allowing monitoring of the electrical signals carried through port  210 . Alternatively, housing  308  could be configured to permit contact  310  to make electrical contact with center conductor  241 , allowing monitoring of the electrical signals carried through port  208 .  
         [0033]    A third alternative embodiment monitor circuit is shown in FIG. 12. This embodiment includes a housing  312  made of a dielectric material (e.g., a polymeric material such as polycarbonate or other plastic material) with a main body  316  housing electrical paths  280  and  282 , and resistors  281  and  283 . Housing  312  also includes integrally formed insulators  314  extending into the rear of each of the ports  206 ,  208  and  210 . Openings  250 ,  251 , and  252  receive center conductors  240 ,  241 , and  242 , respectively, when assembled in a switching jack  134   a  or  134   b , and electrically isolate the center conductors from the jack body. Within opening  250 , contacts  324  and  326  are located so that they will be in electrical contact with center conductor  240  when so assembled. Similarly, within opening  252  is a contact  328  which will be in electrical contact with center conductor  242  when assembled. Also extending from the front of the housing  312  is a grounding contact  320  (shown in hidden lines) which makes electrical contact with the jack body and provides a ground path for the second electrical path  282 . The first electrical path  280  is carried by a first member  318  (e.g., a bare wire) embedded within main body  316 , electrically connecting with center conductors  240  and  242  through contacts  324  and  328 , respectively. The housing  312  is preferably sufficiently rigid to hold or retain the contacts  324 ,  328  at a fixed spacing that corresponds to a spacing between the conductors  240 ,  242 . The second electrical path  282  is carried by a second member  322  (e.g., a bare wire) and electrically connects center conductor  240  (via contact  326 ) with grounding contact  320 . This configuration allows monitoring of the signals being transmitted through port  210 . Alternatively, first member  318  might electrically connect center conductors  241  and  240 , permitting monitoring of the electrical signals being transmitted through port  208 .  
         [0034]    It will be appreciated that many embodiments of the inventions can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventions.