Abstract:
An apparatus includes a housing having a first side and a second side, and a plurality of Registered Jack (RJ) plugs attached to the first side. A plurality of RJ jacks is also included in the device. The RJ jacks are disposed within the second side of the housing. Each RJ jack is electrically connected to a corresponding one of the plurality of RJ plugs on the first side of the housing. The apparatus also includes a securing mechanism associated with at least one of the plurality of plugs. The securing mechanism is operable to releasably connect the plurality of plugs to a second plurality of RJ jacks on the device, thereby facilitating insertion of the plurality of plugs into the second plurality of jacks.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to data communications and more particularly to a system and method for coupling a plurality of cables to a device. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Ethernet switches, and other types of devices, are often utilized in rugged environments such as a factory floor. Due to such a rugged environment, Ethernet switches may be damaged and need replacement. However, downtime associated with replacement of an Ethernet switch can often be expensive due to lost operability. 
     Conventionally, if it is desired to replace an Ethernet switch, all cables must be unplugged from the switch and then plugged back into a replacement Ethernet switch. It is important that each Ethernet cable be inserted into the replacement Ethernet device at the correct jack for proper operation of the switch. However, it is often difficult to rapidly insert all cables in the correct location. This contributes to additional expense associated with downtime. 
     In addition to Ethernet switches, attaching a plurality of cables to any device can be time consuming, and replacing such a device can be expensive in certain circumstances. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to one embodiment of the invention, an apparatus includes a housing having a first side and a second side, and a plurality of Registered Jack (RJ) plugs attached to the first side. A plurality of RJ jacks is also included in the device. The RJ jacks are disposed within the second side of the housing. Each RJ jack is electrically connected to a corresponding one of the plurality of RJ plugs on the first side of the housing. The apparatus also includes a securing mechanism associated with at least one of the plurality of plugs. The securing mechanism is operable to releasably connect the plurality of plugs to a second plurality of RJ jacks on the device, thereby facilitating insertion of the plurality of plugs into the second plurality of jacks. 
     Some embodiments of the invention provide numerous technical advantages. Some embodiments may benefit from some, none, or all of these advantages. For example, according to one embodiment of the invention, a ganged connector is utilized to facilitate coupling of a plurality of cables to a single device. By using such a ganged connector, the device may be replaced easily without requiring selective configuration of the plurality of cables within the device. Thus, downtime, which may be expensive, may be reduced, resulting in lower operation costs. 
     Other technical advantages may be readily ascertained by one of skill in the art. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numbers represent like parts, in which: 
     FIG. 1A is a perspective drawing of a system for coupling a plurality of cables to a device according to the teachings of the invention; 
     FIG. 1B is a perspective drawing showing portions of the connector of FIG. 1A according to one embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 1C is a perspective drawing showing portions of a connector according to another embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective drawing showing portions of the connector of FIG. 1A according to an alternative embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective drawing showing additional details of another alternative embodiment of the connector of FIG. 1A; and 
     FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method for coupling a plurality of cables to an Ethernet switch. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Embodiments of the invention are best understood by referring to FIGS. 1 through 4 of the drawings, like numerals being used for like and corresponding parts of the various drawings. 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective drawing of a system  10  for facilitating coupling of a plurality of cables to an Ethernet switch according to the teachings of the invention. System  10  includes a ganged connector, or simply connector,  12 , an Ethernet switch  14 , and a plurality of cables  16 . According to the teachings of the invention, ganged connector  12  includes a plurality of RJ jacks  18  each coupled to a corresponding RJ plug  20  for insertion into a corresponding RJ jack  22  on Ethernet switch  14 . It will be understood that the terms “RJ jack” and “RJ plug” refer to industry terminology that defines a plurality of different types of jacks and plugs, including RJ 11  and RJ 45 , as described in great detail below. According to the teachings of the invention, coupling cables  16  to Ethernet switch  14  is facilitated by use of ganged connector  12 . Cables  16  are connected to Ethernet switch  14  through ganged connector  12 , thereby allowing releasable connection of all cables  16  from Ethernet switch  14  at the same time. Thus, if Ethernet switch  14  needs to be replaced, all cables  16  may be disconnected and plugged into a corresponding replacement Ethernet switch (not explicitly shown) without the need to individually disconnect each cable  16  and plug it into the correct jack  22  on the replacement Ethernet switch  14 . By connecting and disconnecting cables  16  all at once, replacement time for Ethernet switches is reduced, thereby reducing the expense associated with downtime. As well, the chance for misconnecting is removed. The teachings of the invention are also applicable to connecting cables to devices other than Ethernet switches. 
     Ganged connector  12  may be formed from any suitable material, including plastics and metals. In addition to jacks  18  disposed on a first side of connector  12  and plugs  20  disposed on a second side of ganged connector  12 , ganged connector  12  may include, or have attached thereto, one or more latching mechanisms for individually or collectively latching RJ plugs  20  into RJ jacks  22 . Example latching mechanisms are illustrated in FIGS. 1B,  2  and  3 . Although many RJ jacks are conventionally formed individually with a separate latch, as used herein, RJ jack refers to the conventional RJ jack with, or without, the individual latch. 
     Ethernet switch  14  is utilized in this description as an example; however, other devices that utilize RJ jacks may also benefit from the teachings of the invention, including phones, computers, and other devices, regardless of whether the Ethernet communication protocol is utilized. 
     Cables  16  may be any suitable cables operable to be associated with respective plugs  26  for insertion into jacks  18 . Jacks  18  and  22 , and plugs  26  and  20  are RJ connectors. Example types of RJ connectors include RJ 45 , conventionally used on Ethernet switches, and RJ 11 , conventionally used on telephones; however, other types of RJ connectors may also be utilized. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, Ethernet switch  14  comprises a four by two array of plugs  22 , and ganged connector  12  comprises a corresponding four by two array of plugs  20  and jacks  18 ; however, any suitable arrangement of plugs and jacks may be utilized according to the desired need. For example, arrays of one by four, two by four, one by eight, two by eight, one by twelve, and two by twelve, as well as others are contemplated. 
     In operation, plugs  26  associated with cable  16  are inserted into jacks  18  of ganged connector  12 . Then plugs  20  of ganged connector  12  are inserted all at once into jacks  22  of Ethernet switch  14 . Alternatively, cables  26  may be inserted into ganged connector  12  after coupling of ganged connector  12  to Ethernet switch  14 . If it is desired to replace Ethernet switch  14 , then ganged connector  12  is detached from Ethernet switch  14  and inserted into a corresponding replacement device. Thus individual cables  16  do not need to be disconnected and then reinserted, which would require careful matching of the correct cable to the correct jack of the corresponding replacement Ethernet device. Such operation saves downtime and reduces associated costs and removes risk of miscabling. Examples of the latching mechanism for releasably securing plugs  20 , and therefore ganged connector  12 , to Ethernet switch  14  are described below in connection with FIGS. 1B,  2 , and  3 . A flowchart illustrating an example corresponding method is described with respect to FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 1B is a perspective drawing showing plugs  20  associated with ganged connector  12  of FIG.  1 A. In the illustrated example, plugs  20  are RJ 45  plugs having a plurality of conductors  30  individually isolated from each other by a plurality of insulators  32  for electricity coupling with corresponding conductors on jacks  22  (not explicitly shown). In this example the top left and right plugs  20  each include a latch member  34 . In this example, latch member  34  is the conventional latch utilized on individual RJ 45  plugs; however, other types of latches may be utilized. Also illustrated in FIG. 1B are latch extensions  36  coupled to latches  34 . Latch extensions  36  extend above ganged connector  12 , allowing a user to depress latch extensions  36 , and therefore causing latches  34  to latch or unlatch upon insertion or removal of ganged connector  12  from Ethernet switch  14 . Latches  34  sufficiently secure ganged connector  12  to Ethernet switch  14 , thus corresponding latches are not necessary for the other illustrated plugs  12 . 
     FIG. 1C is a perspective drawing showing portions of a connector according to another embodiment of the invention, which includes twelve RJ plugs  20  in one row. 
     FIG. 2 illustrates an alternative embodiment of ganged connector  12  utilizing a common latch extension  38 . In this example, common latch extension  38  allows depressing of latches  34  on each of plugs  20  to facilitate a detachment, and does not necessarily require the use of both hands by the operator. In this example, latches  34  are shown on all plugs  20  in the top row of plugs  20 ; however, latches  34  are not required for all plugs  20 . In addition, a second latch extension could be provided that is associated with the bottom row of plugs  20 , either above, below, or to the side of ganged connector  12 . In operation, a user may depress latch extension  38  in securing or detaching ganged connector  12  from Ethernet device  14 , thereby causing latches  34  to latch or unlatch accordingly. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective drawing showing yet another embodiment of ganged connector  12  according to the teachings of the invention. In this example, instead of utilizing a latching mechanism, apertures  40  are provided in portion  42  of ganged connector  12  in which screws or other fastening devices may attach connector  12  to Ethernet switch  14 , thereby eliminating the need for any latches, such as latches  34 . However, such latches  34  may also be utilized in this embodiment, as desired. In operation, ganged connector  12  may be attached or removed from Ethernet switch  14  through the use of screws or other fasteners (not explicitly shown) through apertures  40  into corresponding apertures on Ethernet device  14  (not explicitly shown). 
     FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method  100  for coupling a plurality of cables to an Ethernet switch. Although the below example method is described in the context of an Ethernet switch, the teachings of the invention are applicable to other devices to which cables are desired to be connected. The method begins at step  102 . At a step  104  a common connector is provided. Such a common connector could take the form of ganged connector  12 , or other form. In general, the common connector is a device that allows connection of a plurality of cables to it and that can be connected in a single installation to a device to which cables are desired to be connected. At a step  106 , the cables are connected to the common connector, and at step  108  the common connector is connected to the Ethernet switch (or other device). 
     At a step  110 , it may be desired to replace the Ethernet switch, in which case the common connector is detached from the Ethernet switch, thereby decoupling all cables at once from Ethernet switch  14 . At step  114  a replacement Ethernet switch is provided, and at step  116  the common connector is connected to the replacement Ethernet switch, thereby coupling all cables to the Ethernet switch. As described above such an approach reduces downtime, thereby reducing costs associated with replacing an Ethernet switch. It will be understood that various ones of the above acts could occur in varying order, as desired. For example, the order of steps  106  and  108  could be switched. 
     Although the present invention has been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions, and alterations can be made hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.