Abstract:
A jack module sized to occupy only a portion of a telecommunications chassis. The jack module includes a front jack mount, a plurality of jacks and a rear connector mount. The rear connector mount supports a plurality of connectors. The connectors include housings defining ports for receiving plugs. In certain embodiments, the connectors can include RJ-45 connectors.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates generally to cross-connect assemblies and, in particular, to jack assemblies for digital cross-connect systems.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    A digital cross-connect system (DSX) provides a location for interconnecting two digital transmission paths. The apparatus for a DSX is located in one or more frames, or bays, usually in a telephone central office. The DSX apparatus also provides jack access to the transmission paths.  
           [0003]    DSX jacks are well known and typically include a plurality of bores sized for receiving tip-and-ring plugs. A plurality of spring contacts are provided within the bores for contacting the tip-and-ring plugs. The jacks are typically electrically connected to digital transmission lines, and are also electrically connected to a plurality of wire termination members used to cross-connect the jacks. By inserting plugs within the bores of the jacks, signals transmitted through the jacks can be interrupted or monitored.  
         SUMMARY  
         [0004]    One aspect of the present invention relates to a DSX system having modular connector mounts for mounting plug-receiving connectors such as RJ-45 connectors. In certain embodiments, multiple types of interchangeable connector mounts can be used, with each type of connector mount having a different style of connector.  
           [0005]    Another aspect of the present invention relates to a jack module sized to occupy only a portion of a telecommunications chassis. The jack module includes a front jack mount, a plurality of jacks and a rear connector mount. The rear connector mount supports a plurality of connectors. The connectors include housings defining ports for receiving plugs. In certain embodiments, the connectors can include RJ-45 connectors. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the description, illustrate several aspects of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. A brief description of the drawings is as follows:  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 1 is a rear, perspective view of a chassis constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 2 is a front, perspective view of a jack module constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention, the jack module is mountable in the chassis of FIG. 1;  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 3 is a rear, exploded view of the jack module of FIG. 2;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 4 is a front, elevational view of the jack module of FIG. 2;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 5 is a circuit schematic for an odd jack of the jack module of FIG. 2;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 6 is a circuit schematic for an even jack of the jack module of FIG. 2;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 7 is a rear, perspective view of a jack mount and cross-connect panel of the jack module of FIG. 2;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 8A is a rear, perspective view of a rear support of the jack mount of FIG. 2;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 8B is a front, perspective view of the rear support of FIG. 8A;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 8C is a rear, elevational view of the rear support of FIG. 8A;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 8D is a side, elevational view of the rear support of FIG. 2A;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 8E is a front, elevational view of the rear support of FIG. 8A;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 9 is a front, elevational view of the jack module of FIG. 2;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 10 is a partially cut-away view of the jack module of FIG. 2;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 11A is an exploded view of another jack module constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 11B is an assembled view of the jack module of FIG. 11A;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an alternative standoff configuration;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 13 is an exploded, perspective view of another jack module sized to fit within the chassis of FIG. 1; and  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 14 is an exploded, perspective view of a further jack module adapted to fit within the chassis of FIG. 1. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0026]    Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary aspects of the present invention which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a chassis  20  for housing a plurality of removable jack modules  22  constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention. The chassis  20  includes a front side  21  and a rear side  23 . For clarity, only one of the jack modules  22  is shown mounted in the chassis  20 , and a second module  22  is shown exploded from the chassis  20 . However, it will be appreciated that the chassis  20  is adapted for housing a relatively large number of jack modules  22 . For example, to conform with conventional international standards, the chassis  20  can house  16  jack modules  22  and have a length of about 19 inches. Alternatively, in accordance with standard United States specifications, the chassis could be configured to house  21  jack modules and have a length of about 23 inches. Of course, other sizes and other numbers of jack modules could also be used.  
         [0028]    Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, one of the jack modules  22  is shown in isolation from the chassis. The jack module  22  includes a jack mount  24  for holding a plurality of jacks (e.g., two odd jacks  26  and two even jacks  28 ). A cross connect block or panel  30  is mounted below the jack mount  24 . The cross-connect panel  30  includes a plurality of cross-connect contacts such as wire wrap pins  32  or other types of contacts/connectors (e.g., insulation displacement connectors). The jack module  22  further includes a rear interface assembly  34  including rearwardly facing connectors  36  such as RJ-45 connectors (best shown in FIG. 3). The connectors  36  are mounted on a rear support  40  (i.e., a rear cover or housing). A circuit board  42  is mounted between the jack mount  24  and the rear support  40 . As shown schematically at FIGS. 5 and 6, the circuit board  42  is adapted to provide electrical connections between the jacks  26  and  28 , the cross-connect panel  30  and the rear connectors  36 .  
         [0029]    The jacks  26  and  28  of the jack module  22  are preferably removably mounted in the jack mount  24 . For example, the jacks  26  and  28  can be retained within the jack mount  24  by resilient latches  44 . By flexing the latches  44 , the jacks  26  and  28  can be manually removed from the jack mount  24 . When the jacks  26  and  28  are removed from the jack mount  24 , the jacks  26  and  28  are electrically disconnected from the circuit board  42 . While the jack module  22  is shown as a “four-pack” (i.e., a module including four jacks), it will be appreciated that alternative modules can include jack mounts sized to receive more or fewer than four jacks.  
         [0030]    As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, each of the jacks  26  and  28  includes a front face defining an OUT port  46 , a MONITOR OUT port  48 , an IN port  50  and a MONITOR IN port  52 . When mounted in the jack mount  24 , the ports  46 - 52  of the odd jacks  26  are vertically offset from the respective ports  46 - 52  of the even jacks  28 .  
         [0031]    [0031]FIGS. 5 and 6 schematically depict the odd and even jacks  26  and  28 . As is evident from FIGS. 5 and 6, the jacks  26  and  28  have identical components arranged in only a slightly different configuration. Thus, for clarity and ease of explanation, similar parts will be assigned the same reference numbers.  
         [0032]    Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the jacks  26  and  28  include tip and ring springs  56  and  58  corresponding to each of the ports  46 - 52 . The tip and ring springs  56  and  58  of the OUT and IN ports  46  and  50  have corresponding normal springs  60 . A tracer lamp circuit  54  is positioned adjacent the top of each of the jacks  26  and  28 . Each tracer lamp circuit  54  is electrically connected to a voltage spring  59  and a tracer lamp spring  61 . The jacks  26  and  28  further include return ground springs  63  and sleeve ground contacts  65 . Additional details about the jacks  26  and  28  can be found in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,116,961 that is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.  
         [0033]    Referring to FIG. 7, the cross-connect panel  30  of the jack module  22  preferably includes openings  31  in which the wire wrap pins  32  are press fit. Rear ends  32 ′ of the wire wrap pins  32  preferably project rearwardly through the cross-connect panel  30 . Similarly, the jack mount  24  preferably includes a plurality of contacts having pins  33  that project outwardly from the back side of the jack mount  24 . The contacts are adapted to provide electrical connections with the jacks  26  and  28  when the jacks are inserted within the jack mount  24 . Further details relating to the contacts of the jack mount  24  can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,116,961, which was previously incorporated by reference.  
         [0034]    Referring now to FIGS.  8 A- 8 E, the rear support  40  of the rear interface assembly  34  is generally rectangular and is preferably made of a dielectric material such as molded plastic. The rear support  40  includes a connector mount such as a generally planar rear faceplate  64 . The rear faceplate  64  defines openings  38  for mounting the connectors  36 . Preferably, the openings  38  are generally rectangular and are aligned in a generally vertical column. The rear support  40  also includes top and bottom walls  68  and  70 , and side walls  72 . As shown in FIG. 8B, the top and bottom walls  68  and  70  and the side walls  72  cooperate to define a chamber  73 . It will be appreciated that other connector mount configurations could also be used.  
         [0035]    The rear support  40  further includes a plug receptacle  66  that projects outwardly from the rear faceplate  64 . The plug receptacle  66  is adapted to house power, return ground and sleeve ground contacts  67 ,  68  and  69  that are electrically connected to the circuit board  42  (see FIG. 3). The receptacle  66  is sized to receive a conventional power plug for providing power to the jack module  22  for use in illuminating the tracer lamp  54 .  
         [0036]    Referring to FIGS. 8D and 8E, the front side of the rear faceplate  64  defines a plurality of openings  74 . As shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of wire wrap pins  76  are preferably press fit in the openings  74 . The wire wrap pins  76  project in a forward direction from the rear faceplate  64 .  
         [0037]    As previously indicated, the openings  38  defined by the rear faceplate  64  are sized to receive the rear connectors  36 . As shown in FIGS. 3 and 9, the rear connectors  36  include four RJ-45 connectors having resilient cantilevers  80  for use in snap-fitting the RJ-45 connectors within the openings  38 . Each of the RJ-45 connectors includes a dielectric housing  82  defining a receptacle  84  sized for receiving a plug. A plurality of contact springs  86  (shown schematically in FIGS. 5 and 6) are mounted in the receptacle  84 . In the case of RJ-45 connectors, the contact springs  86  include eight separate springs. Leads  88  (i.e., wires) are connected to each of the contact springs  86 . In FIGS. 5 and 6, the leads  88  of four of the springs  86  (e.g., springs  1 ,  2 ,  4  and  5 ) are shown electrically connected to corresponding wire wrap pins  76  that are press fit within the back side of the rear support  40 . The leads  88  are preferably housed in the chamber  73  defined by the rear support  40  (see representative lead  88  in FIG. 10). The other springs (i.e.,  3 ,  6 ,  7  and  8 ) are not in use and their corresponding leads are preferably trimmed. It will be appreciated that any four of the springs can be used depending upon an end user&#39;s required specification.  
         [0038]    While the rear connectors  38  have been shown as RJ-45 connectors, it will be appreciated that other similar types of connectors could also be used. Exemplary similar types of connectors include other types of registered jacks such as RJ-11 connectors, RJ-14 connectors, RJ-21 connectors, RJ-22 connectors as well as other connectors such as DB-9 connectors or other D-sub connectors.  
         [0039]    To assemble the jack module  22 , the connectors  36  are preferably mounted in the openings  38 , and the leads  88  are connected to the wire wrap pins  76  press fit in the rear support  40 . The forward ends of the wire wrap pins  76  are then preferably press fit within plated through-holes  78  (shown in FIGS. 3 and 10) defined by a circuit board  42 . This provides electrical connections between the wire wrap pins  76  and the circuit board  42 , and also mechanically couples the rear support  40  to the circuit board  42 . The jack mount  24  and the cross-connect panel  30  are preferably coupled to the circuit board  42  in a similar manner. For example, to electrically and mechanically couple the cross-connect panel  30  to the circuit board  42 , the rear ends  32 ′ of the wire wrap pins  32  are preferably press fit within corresponding plated through-holes  57  (shown in FIGS. 3 and 10) defined by the circuit board  42 . To electrically and mechanically couple the jack mount  24  to the circuit board  42 , the contact pins  33  (shown in FIG. 7, but not FIGS. 3 and 10) are press fit within corresponding plated through-holes  62  (shown in FIG. 3) defined by the circuit board  42 . When the jack mount  22  is assembled, the top and bottom walls  68  and  70  and the side walls  72  function to provide an offset between the rear faceplate  64  and the circuit board  42 . Also, the leads  88  of the connectors  36  are preferably housed within the chamber  73  of the rear support (see representative lead  88  depicted in FIG. 10). After assembly, the jack module  22  can be connected to the chassis by fasteners  89  (see FIG. 3). In alternative embodiments, rather that connecting the leads  88  to the circuit board  42  by the wire wrap pins  76 , the leads  88  could be soldered or otherwise connected directly to the circuit board  42 .  
         [0040]    Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, representative circuitry for the jack module  22  is depicted. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the contact springs  86  of the rear connectors  36  are electrically connected to the wire wrap pins  76  via the leads  88 . The wire wrap pins  76  are shown electrically connected to the tip and ring springs  56  and  58  of the OUT and IN ports  46  and  50  by tracings  90  of the circuit board  42 . The circuit board  42  also includes tracings  92  that provide electrical connections between the wire wrap pins  32  of the cross connect panel  30  and the normal springs  60  of the jacks  26 ,  28 . Additionally, the circuit board  42  includes tracings  94  for electrically connecting the tip and ring springs  56  and  58  of the MONITOR ports  58  and  52  to the tracings  90 . Further, the circuit board  42  includes: tracing  96  for connecting voltage spring  59  to power contact  67 ; tracing  98  for connecting tracer lamp spring  61  to the cross-connect panel  30 ; tracing  100  for connecting return ground spring  63  to return ground contact  68 ; and tracing  102  for connecting sleeve ground contact  65  to sleeve ground contact  69 .  
         [0041]    In use of the system, two signals (e.g., an IN signal and an OUT signal) can be routed through each jack  26 ,  28 . For example, referring to FIG. 5, the OUT signal can be input to the jack module  22  through springs  4  and  5  of the connector  36 , routed through jack  26 , and then output from the jack module  22  through the OUT wire wrap pins  32  of the cross-connect panel  30 . The IN signal can be input to the jack module  22  through the IN wire wrap pins  32  of the cross-connect panel  30 , routed through jack  26 , and then output from the module  22  through springs  1  and  2  of the connector  36 . To interrupt the IN signal (e.g., for testing purposes), a tip-and-ring plug can be inserted in the IN port  50  causing the IN signal to be routed through the plug. To interrupt the OUT signal (e.g., for testing purposes), a tip-and-ring plug can be inserted in the OUT port  46  causing the OUT signal to be routed through the plug. The OUT and IN signals can be monitored without interruption by inserting tip-and-ring plugs into the respective MONITOR ports  48  and  52 .  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 11A and 11B shows an alternative jack module  22 ′ constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention. The module  22 ′ includes a modified rear interface assembly  34 ′ connected to the same jack mount  24 . The rear interface assembly  34 ′ includes a rear support  40 ′ having press-fit wire wrap pins  76 ′ that project rearwardly from the support  40 ′. A rear faceplate  64 ′ is connected to the rear support  40 ′ by offset posts  110  and fasteners  111 . The face plate  64 ′ defines openings  38 ′ for mounting connectors  36 ′. Leads of the connectors  36 ′ are preferably connected to the wire wrap pins  76 ′. The wire wrap pins  76 ′ are preferably electrically connected to jacks  26 ,  28  of the module  22 ′ in the same manner as the wire wrap pins  76  of the jack module  22 .  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 12 shows a modified faceplate  64 ″ that could be used with the jack module  22 ′. The faceplate  64 ″ has integral offset legs  112  that eliminate the need for the separate offset posts  110 .  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 13 shows a jack module  122  having a rear support  140  with rear connectors  138  in the form of wire wrap pins. The rear support  140  is configured to connect with the same jack mount  24  as the rear support  40  of FIGS. 2 and 3. Also, the jack module  122  is sized to fit in the same chassis  20  (shown in FIG. 1) as the jack module  22 .  
         [0045]    [0045]FIG. 14 shows a jack module  222  having a rear support  240  with rear connectors  238  in the form of coaxial connectors. The rear support  240  is configured to connect with the same jack mount  24  as the rear support  40  of FIGS. 2 and 3. Also, the jack module  222  is sized to fit in the same chassis  20  (shown in FIG. 1) as the jack module  22 .  
         [0046]    Having described preferred aspects and embodiments of the present invention, modifications and equivalents of the disclosed concepts may readily occur to one skilled in the art. However, it is intended that such modifications and equivalents be included within the scope of the claims which are appended hereto.