Data distribution assembly

Abstract: A data distribution panel includes a conductive panel (250) having openings (256) for the receipt of electrical data connector from the rear thereof. Shielded data connectors are installed from the rear of the panel and are electrically commoned to the panel. The elect­ rical connectors are in the form of shielded subassemblies (2) which , when interconnected to the panel, are commoned by a finger (272) which extends from the panel thereby contacting the subassemblies. The panel (250) is for use with a patch cable (120) having at each end, conn­ ectors which can be latchably interconnected to the panel to interconnect shielded subassemblies (2) together. An interface member is also available which can inter­ connect electrical connectors thereto which have T-bars and T-slots.

Description: The invention relates to a data distribution assembly for the interconnection of a plurality of electrically shielded data connectors which are interconnected to shielded data cables. Data connectors of the type shown in U.S. Reissue Patent 32,760 (European Patent EP-A-112,711) are utilized within data distribution systems where the various distribution end points are subject to change. For example, several computer terminals could be interconnected to various associated printing stations. If the data cable is continuous between a first point, which could be a terminal, and between a second end, which could be a printing station, the cable would have to be severed at some position within the cable length to interconnect one terminal to a different printing station. For this reason, data distribution panels are incorporated within the system acting as links to the various end points. These panels are located intermediate the destinations, typically in a wiring closet, and include shielded cable coming from one destination, such as a terminal, which is terminated to an electrical connector and mounted within a panel. A second shielded cable coming from a second destination, such as from a printing station, is interconnected to a second electrical connector and the second electrical connector is mounted within the panel adjacent to the first electrical connector. A patch cable is utilized which includes a short length of shielded data cable having two electrical connectors at opposite ends which are matable with the first and second electrical connectors mounted within the panel. In all likelihood, a mass array of first electrical connectors and a mass array of second electrical connectors are disposed in a matrix and mounted to the panel. Several patch cables are available to change and interconnect, the various interconnections possible between the first and second connectors. A requirement of these distribution panels is that the shielded cable of the first and second cables is commoned together and to the conductive panel to which the first and second connectors are mounted. The present invention consists in a data distribution assembly as defined in claim 1. A data distribution assembly according to the preamble of claim 1 is the subject of "IBM Cabling System Planning and Installation Guide, seventh edition (June 1986)". US-A-4 619 494 discloses a shielded electrical connector having an insulative housing, a compartment of which is electrically shielded including a conductive member having a conductive wall between said compartment and a second compartment. The housing has latch arms for attaching the connector to a panel. Advantages of the present invention are that the distribution panel is much less expensive and much easier to install. Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a pictorial view of a data panel according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is an isometric view of the data panel showing a matching connector poised for receipt; Figure 3A is an isometric view of the shielded subassembly in an exploded configuration; Figure 3B is an isometric view of the shielded subassembly in an assembled configuration; Figure 4 is an isometric view of the insulative housing of the shielded subassembly; Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the insulative housing with the lower shield in place; Figure 6 is an exploded view showing the connector assembly which mates with the data panel; Figure 7 is an isometric view of the insulative housing partially broken away to show the internal structure; Figure 8 is a cross sectional view through lines 8-8 of Figure 2; Figure 9 is an isometric view of a modification to the data panel to change the latching configuration; Figure 10 is an isometric view similar to Figure 8 showing the mating connector poised for receipt; Figure 11 is a front plan view of the face plate which includes the modified latching configuration; Figure 12 shows an alternate version of distribution panel; and Figure 13 is a side view of the panel shown in Figure 12. Referring first to Figure 1 shows the data distribution panel of the instant invention as generally including a conductive panel, such as 250, which would include upper and lower panels, such as 250a and 250b. Shielded data cable, such as 180a and 180b, would be terminated to an electrical connector and latched to the rear of the panels 250a and 250b, and each of the shielded data cables 180a and 180b would be terminated at their opposite ends to a user point. It should be noted that all cables such as 180a follow a similar route through a building to a similar destination while the cables such as 180b follow an opposite route and terminate in another location. It is typical then that all connectors which connect to cables 180a are grouped into an array of connectors within one panel, such as 250a, while all connectors which interconnect to cables such as 180b are grouped into a second similar array of connectors within a panel such as 250b. However it should also be noted that such a grouping is not requisite for the type of distribution panel discussed herein, but is only mentioned as illustrative to a typical distribution panel. Patch cables, such as 120, are included which electrically interconnect a selected shielded data cable 180a to a selected shielded data cable 180b. The electrical interconnection between data cables 180a and 180b may be changed by merely disconnecting one or both ends of the patch cable 120 and selecting a new interconnection point to a new shielded data cable. With reference now to Figure 2, the conductive panel will be described in greater detail, although the description will be to a conductive panel generally termed 250 and will be identical whether used as panel 250a or 250b. Conductive panel 250 includes a front mating face, such as 252, and a rear face 254 having a plurality of connector receiving openings 256 therein. Each of the openings 256 is generally defined by sidewalls 258 and upper and lower walls 260. A plurality of fingers 272 extend upwardly and downwardly, respectively, from the lower and upper walls 260, and each finger 272 includes a contact portion 274 and a free end 276. Referring now to Figures 3A-4, the shielded subassembly 2 generally includes a housing member 5, a stuffer cap 50, and shield members 70 and 100. The data connector housing 5 will be described in greater detail, with reference to Figures 3A and 4. With reference first to Figure 4, the housing 5 generally comprises a terminal support floor 10 having a plurality of channels 12 therein for receiving terminals 30. Extending upwardly from the terminal support floor are sidewalls 14 having internal grooves 22 and external ribs 20. A bridge portion 6 extends across the two sidewalls and below the bridge 6 is a rib 25 which extends from the rear edge of the bridge (Figure 4) to the forward edge of the bridge (Figure 3A). The rib 25 defines two windows 8 which also extend from the rear edge of the bridge to the forward edge of the bridge to define two shield receiving surfaces 24 (Figure 3A). The sidewalls 14 extend from the rear of the data connector 5 to the front mating face of the data connector to define two 45 degree surfaces at the front mating face, referred to generally as 18. Terminals 30 include insulation displacement wire barrels 32, a blade portion 34, a resilient contact portion 36 and a commoning foot 38. The resilient contact portion 36 is looped back upon itself and spaced above the terminal support floor. The resilient contact portion 36 is disposed at the front mating face of the housing 5 for overlapping interconnection with like terminals, the two resilient contact portions of mating connectors contacting each other to deflect respective resilient contact portions towards the blade portion of respective terminals. Stuffer cap 50 includes alignment ribs 52 along the sides, wire receiving slots 54 and stuffer cylinders 56, the stuffer cylinders 56 having an inside diameter larger than the outside diameter of the barrels 32 of the terminals 30. Referring now to Figure 3A, the shield member 70 includes a plate member 72 with continuous shield members 90 extending from the plate member 72 through a bent portion 92, the two shield members 90 defining a slot 94 therebetween. The plate member 72 further includes two locking lances 74. The shield member 70 is shown in Figure 5 as including a rear wall 78 extending from the plate member 72 with a semicircular shielding tail 76 extending from the rear wall 78. With reference again to Figure 3A, the shield member 70 further includes integral sidewalls 80 having apertures 84 and 86 stamped therefrom. The forward edges of the sidewalls 80 are defined by two 45 degree surfaces 82. Shield member 100 is shown as including a plate member 102 with integral shielding portions 110 extending from the front edge thereof, the two shield members 110 defining a slot 112 therebetween. The shield member 100 further includes a rear wall portion 114 having a semicircular shield tail 116 extending from the rear wall 114. Plate member 102 further comprises locking lances 106, and tabs 104 and 108 extending from the side edges thereof. The assembly further includes a ferrule 170 having semicircular portions 172 and collapsible portions 174. The shielded cable 180 includes outer insulation 182, a shielding braid 184, inner insulation 188 and individual insulated conductors 186. To interconnect the shielded cable 180 to the electrical terminals, the housing portion 5, of Figure 4, is a first assembled. With the shorting bars 60 removed, the terminals 30 are slidably received in respective channels 12 until latched in place. The shorting bars 60 are then inserted in respective grooves 23, the shorting bars 60 contacting the commoning foot 38 on alternate terminals to common alternate terminals when the data connector 4 is an unmated condition. Also, prior to preparing the end of the cable, the collapsible ferrule 170 is slid over the end of the cable and is placed back upon the cable for later use. The end of the shielded cable can then be prepared by stripping a portion of the outer insulation 182 from the end of the cable to expose a portion of the shield 184, the exposed shielding braid 184 is dressed over the outer insulation 182, as shown in Figure 3A. Stripping the outer insulation 182 exposes the insulated conductors 186 and each individual wire 186 is placed in the stuffer cap 50 through a respective slot 54, with the ends of the wire 186 extending into the barrels 56 through the slot 58. The stuffer cap 50 and the individual wire 186 are then placed over the insulative housing 5 such that ribs 52 on the stuffer cap 50 are aligned with channels 22 in the insulative housing 5, which in turn aligns the stuffer cap barrels 56 with the insulation displacement wire barrels 32 on the terminals 30. The stuffer cap 50 is then pushed downwardly until each of the individual conductors 186 is terminated within respective wire barrels 32 of terminals 30. With the conductors terminated, the shield members 70 and 100 can be assembled to the housings. The shield member 70 is first assembled to the insulative housing 5 such that the apertures 84 in the shield member overlie the ribs 20 on the exterior of the insulative housing. When the shield member 70 is placed over the housing, the shield extension tail 76 overlies the dressed braid 184. The shield member 100 is then assembled to the insulative housing 5 with the shield contact portions 110 disposed within the windows 8 (Figure 4) of the insulative housing such that the shield contact portions 110 lie adjacent to surfaces 24, as shown in Figure 3B. Shield member 100 is held in place to shield member 70 with tabs 104 on each side edge of plate member 102 being disposed within apertures 86 in the sidewalls 80 of the shield member 70. To retain the two sidewalls 80 from outer expansion, two flaps, such as 108, are bent over the sidewalls 80 of the shield member 70 which also retain the downward movement of the flat plate portion 102 of the shield member 100. With the shield member 100 so installed, the shielding extension tail 116 also overlies the shielding braid as the two shielding tails 76 and 116 are complementary semicircular portions. As installed, the plate member 102 of the shield member 100 overlies the terminals 30 within the connector housing 5. The rear wall 114 of the shield member 100 encloses the rear edge of the connector housing 5 with edge 115 of the rear wall 114 substantially adjacent to edge 79 (Figure 5) of rear wall 78 to totally enclose the connector housing. Also as installed, the semicircular shield tail 116 overlies and is substantially adjacent to the dressed braid. The previously installed ferrule 170 can then be slid forwardly to overlie the semicircular shield tails 76 and 116, and the ferrule 170 can be crimped to a configuration as shown in Figure 3B. The collapsible ferrule provides for a permanent electrical connection between the shielding components, that is, the shielding braid 184 is trapped beneath the metallic shield tails 76 and 116. It should be understood that the crimped connection also provides for an excellent strain relief as the shield members are crimped directly to the outer insulation of the data cable. It should be understood that the above mentioned assembly is compatible with the commercially available data cables, such as plenum and non-plenum configurations of Data Cable Types 1, 2, 6 and 9. However as Type 9 data cable includes an outer diameter which is smaller than other data cables, a NYLON (R) spacer, such as 178 (Figures 3A and 6) can be used as a spacer. It should be understood that the assembly as previously described can be installed within the user's facility without any assembly equipment. At most, a pocket knife is required to strip the cable and a pair of pliers is required to push the stuffer cap down to terminate the insulated conductors, and to crimp the ferrule 170. With the shielded subassembly 2 assembled as previously described, the shielded subassembly is prepared for receipt within the conductive panel 250. A shielded subassembly 2 can be inserted through the rear face 254 into each of the openings 256 such that the tabs 88 on either side of the shielded subassembly snap past the sidewalls 258 (shown in phantom in Figure 8) retaining the shielded subassembly from moving in one direction. The fingers 272 which extend from the upper and lower edges 260 of the conductive panel 250 serve two functions. First, the free ends 276 of the fingers 272 abut the ends of the tabs 74 and 106, as shown in Figure 8, which retain the shielded subassembly from moving forward within the openings 256 of the conductive panel 250. Thus the tabs 88, 74 and 106 cooperatively retain the shielded subassembly 2 in retention within the conductive panel 250. Second, the fingers 272 have contact portions 274 which abut the upper and lower shield portions, thereby commoning the shielded subassembly 2 to the conductive panel 250. With the conductive panel 250 fully loaded with a mass array of shielded subassemblies 2, the distribution panel can be programmed by the use of patch cables 120 to direct the interconnections between shielded cables, such as between data cables 180a and 180b shown in Figure 1. With reference to Figure 6, one version of the patch cable will be described in detail. The patch cable 120 can generally include an insulative housing, such as 124, which incorporates therein a shielded data cable 180 which is similar and complementary with the data cable which is used in the data distribution panel. The inner core of the patch connector 122 is identical to the shielded subassembly 2 which was previously described. With reference to Figure 7, the insulative housing 124 would generally include a connector receiving cavity, such as 123, having sidewalls 144 and a lower floor 148 with an upper wall 146. The housing generally includes a forward latching portion 128, a central body portion 130 and a rear cable receiving section 132. The rear portion 132 includes two ribs, such as 152, disposed on the lower and the upper walls having stop surfaces such as 154. The rear wall of the insulative housing 124 has a cable receiving opening, such as 150 therethrough, for the entry of the shielded data cable, such as 180. The patch cables 120 would be similarly assembled as the shielded subassemblies previously described, although the shielded data cable 180 must be inserted through the cable receiving opening 150 of the insulative housing 124 prior to its preparation. After the cable is inserted through the opening 150, a collapsible ferrule 170 is placed over the end of the cable. The outer insulation could then be stripped and the shielded braid, such as 184, could be dressed over the outer insulation. The conductors, such as 186, are then terminated to the respective terminals 30 as previously described with reference to the assemblage of the shielded subassemblies 2. It should be noted that one of the connectors 122 will be at each end of the patch cable for interconnection to selected shielded subassemblies 2 in the panel 250. Once the shielded subassemblies at each end of the patch cable are assembled, the insulative housing 124 can be slid forwardly until the rear walls of the shield members 70 and 100 abut the stop surfaces 154 of the housing. The shielded subassembly 2 and the housing 124 are interferingly fit such that the struck out tabs 74 and 106 are deflected inwardly which retain the shielded subassemblies 2 within the insulative housings. It should be noted that by having the shielded subassemblies interference fit within the housings, that the housings can be molded from a single draw mold which greatly simplifies the molding procedures and which greatly reduces the cost of the molds to be produced. Said differently, the housings 124 do not require latching shoulders to retain the housings in place, latches which would require side draw dies within the mold. With the patch cables fully assembled, the patch cables 120 can be interconnected to selected shielded subassemblies 2 contained within the data distribution panel 250 to interconnect selected data cables 180a to 180b. As shown in Figure 2, the latches 134 are resiliently deflectable inwardly such that upon movement of the housing 124 into registration with the conductive panel 250, the latches bias inwardly until the latch surfaces 138 (Figure 7) are engaged with the rear face 254 of the conductive panel. It should be noted from Figure 2 and 8 that a portion of the shielded subassemblies 2 project from the rear of the conductive panel 250 through the front face of the panel. The housings 124 were designed such the shielded subassemblies 2 within the housing were slightly recessed therein. This allows a flush mount fit of the housings 124 against the front face 252 of the panel 250, as shown in Figure 2, insulating those portions of the shielded subassemblies which project through the rear face. The patch cable connectors are easily removable by compressing the upper and lower latch members 134 which releases the data connectors for interconnection to various other shielded subassemblies 2. With reference now to Figure 9, a modification can be made to the previously described data distribution panel where patch cables are used where the connectors at each end of the patch cable are similar to the connectors shown in U.S. Patent 4,501,459. In all respects, conductive panel 250 and the shielded subassemblies 2 are identical to those previously described. As shown in Figure 9 and 10, electrical connectors such as 300 can also be used as ends to patch cables. However connectors 300 have latch plates 320 and 322 having a T-bar 310 and a T-slot 302 which are hermaphroditically interconnectable to a T-slot and a T-bar on an associated data connector. In this instance, however, since the connector 300 is not interconnected to another identical connector, an interface or adapter, such as 200, must be incorporated into the data distribution panel 250. With reference now to Figure 11, the interface 200 generally comprises a shroud member 204 forming a peripheral wall surrounding the data connection opening to partially insulate the electrical connection between the two mating electrical components. The shroud member 204 defines an internal upper surface 210, a lower surface 208 and side surfaces 214 and 212. Also within the periphery of the shroud 204 are back wall sections 226, and 228. In between the wall portion 226 and 228 is an opening defined by edge 234 of rear wall 226, edge 236 of rear wall 228 and the sidewalls 212 and 214. This opening is defined to allow the placement of the interface 200 over the shielded subassemblies 2 which are latched to the rear face 254 of the panel 250. Also within the periphery of the shroud member 204 is a T-bar member 220 and a T-slot member 240. The T-bar 220 and the T-slot 240 are profiled to simulate the T-bar and T-slot of the data connectors as previously described, for example in U.S. Patent US-A-4,501,459. Referring first to the T-bar member 220, the member generally includes a bar member 224 interconnected to the internal surface 210 and to the rear wall 226. The rear surface of the bar 224 defines a latching surface, and directly behind the latching surface of the bar 224 and defined in the rear wall 226 is a pair of apertures 230 which extend through the wall and are generally defined by the retractable pins which define the rear latching surfaces during the molding process. Referring still to Figures 11, the detail of the T-slot will be described in greater detail. The T-slot extends between sidewalls 212 and 214 and is integrally molded therein. The rear portion of the T-slot is integrally molded with the back wall portion 228 and include arms 242 extending inwardly from the sidewalls 212 and 214 towards the center of the interface. Each of the arms 242 is spaced from each other as defined by end surfaces 244 which define a slot therebetween. The rear edge of the arms 242 each define a latching surface, which is similarly formed by retracting pins of the dies during the molding process thereby leaving a window 238 behind the rear edge of the arms 242. As shown in Figures 9 and 10, the interface member 200 includes latches 216 which are complementary with the apertures 268, 270 for retaining the interface member 200 to the panel 250. When the interface members 200 are placed over the shielded subassemblies 2, the opening within the interface member 200 surrounds the shielded subassembly. The T-bar 220 and the T-slot 240 of the interface member simulate the T-bar 310 and T-slot 302 of a matable hermaphroditic connector, identical with connector 300. Thus, the interface member 200 provides a complementary latching arrangement for the interconnection of the patch cable having a data connector such as 300 at each end. With reference now to Figures 12 and 13, a further distribution panel 400 is shown which includes a distribution box such as 402 which includes a base portion 408, sidewalls 404, and a rear wall 406. Cable leadouts such as 410 would be included which would open to the exterior of the box 402. The interior of the box 402 would include mounting panels 412 which include sections 414 interconnected to the base wall 408 by means such as spot welding, or the like. The mounting panels include walls such as 416 which extend across the box 402 at an angle relative to the base wall 408. Each of the walls 416 would include a plurality of openings 422 which would be profiled as the openings 256 described above and would include fingers such as 418 which are integral therewith. The openings 422 would be staggered which facilitates easy cable management through the rear wall 406 through openings 410 and through the front face 405. This distribution panel 400 could be centrally located within a portion of a building where interconnections are likely to rapidly or periodically change and where continual access to the wire closet would be inconvenient. This may be located within a computer room having a plurality of network tied to computer terminals or it may be located out on the floor within a centrally located work station area. In any event it should be appreciated that this distribution box would allow easy access to the network interconnections. With the box located within a central area of a building, a plurality of shielded subassemblies would be assembled as before and would be interconnected to the rear of the walls 416 in a similar manner to the patch panel of Figure 2. A plurality of connectors 124 would be employed which are identical to those shown in Figure 2 and could be interconnected to the shielded subassemblies 2. As the connectors 124 are easily removed, the connectors could be unlatched and simply reconnected to another location within the same distribution box 402. As the walls 416 are at a slight angle relative to vertical, approximately 25°, the connectors 124 are easily reached for removal and for reconnection. Alternatively, an adapter such as 200 shown in Figure 9 could be incorporated to the walls 416 and the adapters could be snap latched to the walls to facilitate interconnection of connectors such as 300 shown in Figure 10. This would allow connectors which already incorporate connectors such as 300 to be utilized within the network. A plastic cover (not shown) would complete the assembly to insulatively surround the box and to enclose the connections.

Claims: A data distribution assembly for the interconnection of a plurality of electrically shielded data connectors (2) which are interconnected to shielded data cable (180), the assembly comprising a conductive panel assembly (250,400) at least partially enclosed, and having at least one interconnection wall (250A,250B,412) upstanding from a base wall and extending at least partially across the base wall, the interconnection wall (250A,250B,412) including a plurality of openings (256,422) for receiving said electrically shielded data connectors (2), wherein the shielded cable (180) is commoned to the conductive panel assembly (250,400), each shielded data connector (2) including an insulative housing means (5) including a terminal support platform (10), two side walls (14) upstanding from the platform (10) forming an open upper face of the housing means (5), a plurality of electrical terminals (30), positioned along and supported by, the terminal support platform (10), each of the electrical terminals (30) including a resilient contact portion (36) for interconnection to a like contact portion (36) in a complementary electrical connector, the data distribution assembly being characterised in that the shielded data connectors (2) have shield means (70,100) being directly commoned to the shielding braid of the shielded cable and directly commoned to the interconnection wall (250A,250B,412). An assembly as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that two interconnection walls (250A,250B,412) extend at least partially across the base wall. An assembly as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the openings (422) in one of the interconnection walls (412) are laterally staggered from the openings in the other interconnection wall (412). An assembly as claimed in any of claims 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the assembly further comprises an insulative member (200) at least partly surrounding the shielded connector member (2), wherein the insulative member (200) is latchable to the interconnection wall (250A,250B,412), and includes a latching structure (220,240) for latchable connection to a matable electrical connector (300). An assembly as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the insulative member (200) is profiled as a face plate means which is securable to the interconnection wall (250A,250B,412) and which integrally incorporates therein the mating profile of hermaphroditic latching members of a hermaphroditic data connector. An assembly as claimed in claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the member (200) is comprised of insulative material and includes a complementary T-bar (310) and T-slot (302) which is matable with a respective T-slot and T-bar of the matable hermaphroditic data connector. An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least a portion of the shielding means (70,100) along at least one side edge thereof is exposed for commoning with the interconnection wall (250A,250B,412). An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the shielded data connectors include means to retain the shielding means (70,100) to the housing (5).

Inventors: FOSTER GEORGE H JR, LANE DAVID, SIGMON NED ALAN, FOSTER, GEORGE H., JR., LANE, DAVID, SIGMON, NED ALAN
Applicants: WHITAKER CORP, THE WHITAKER CORPORATION
Application year: 1988
Main classification: H01R13
IPC codes: H01R13, H01R29, H01R9