Abstract:
A connecting block with a plurality of staggered pairs of Insulative Displacement Contacts (IDCs) for terminating pairs of wires is provided. The connecting block comprises a molded plastic housing and can accommodate a two-pair or four-pair IDC configuration. The pairs of IDCs are positioned in multiple staggered rows for the purpose of minimizing crosstalk.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/156,780 filed Sep. 30, 1999, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Current 110 type connecting systems provide a flexible means of connecting or cross-connecting horizontal and backbone wiring within a building to either end-user equipment or communications networking. The 110 type connecting systems are designed to support digital data transmission as well as analog/digital voice over unshielded twisted pair (UTP) media through the use of wiring blocks, connecting blocks and patch cords or jumpers. 
     The connecting blocks employed utilize punch down Insulation Displacement Contacts (IDCs) to maximize density and ease of use. The conventional block system comprises IDCs that are aligned in a single row. As the rate of transmission increases within the system, radiation levels increase as well, causing near end crosstalk between IDC pairs. This crosstalk is not problematic when transmission occurs at low frequencies (around 16 Mhz), however, as the rate of transmission increases up to 400 Mhz the higher radiation levels produce a greater incidence of crosstalk. To reduce this crosstalk, connecting blocks have been developed utilizing conductive shields (plates) between adjacent pairs of IDCs. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The connecting block system of this invention includes a molded plastic housing which contains a number of conductive Insulation Displacement Contacts (IDCs) positioned in multiple staggered rows. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Referring now to the drawings wherein like elements are numbered alike in the several Figures: 
     FIGS. 1A through 1F represent a first embodiment illustrating IDC pairs staggered upon two axes. 
     FIGS. 2A through 2F represent a second embodiment illustrating IDCs staggered within each pair upon three axes. 
     FIGS. 3A through 3F represent a third embodiment illustrating IDCs staggered within each pair upon four axes. 
     FIGS. 4A through 4F represent a fourth embodiment illustrating IDC pairs which are angled and staggered upon two axes. 
     FIG. 5 represents an isometric view of a 110 type wiring block (or base) compatible for use with the connecting block set forth in FIGS. 1A through 1F. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to FIGS. 1A through 1F, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a connecting block shown generally at  30 , wherein 8 IDCs are paired and staggered along 2 axes. FIG. 1A is an isometric view of the connecting block  30 . FIGS. 1B,  1 C,  1 D,  1 E and  1 F, are front, top, side, bottom and rear views, respectively, of the connecting block  30 . It will be appreciated that FIGS. 1A,  1 C,  1 D, and  1 E depict connecting block  30  with a plurality of IDCs numbered  10 ,  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22 , and  24 , while FIGS. 1B and 1F depict only IDCs numbered  20 ,  24  and  14 ,  10  respectively. Each IDC in said connecting block comprises a pair of insulation penetrating contacts for terminating a pair of wires. IDCs  10  and  12  are paired and used for terminating a first pair of tip and ring wires. IDCs  14  and  16  are paired and used for terminating a second pair of tip and ring wires. IDCs  18  and  20  are paired and used for terminating a third pair of tip and ring wires. IDCs  22  and  24  are paired and used for terminating a fourth pair of tip and ring wires. 
     Referring to FIGS. 1A through 1F, IDCs  10 ,  12 ,  18 , and  20  are aligned on a first axis. The first axis is a first distance from edge  8 . IDCs  14 ,  16 ,  22 , and  24  are aligned on a second axis. The second axis is a second distance from edge  8 . The first and second axes are linear and parallel. It is understood that the location of the first and second axes need not be referenced from only edge  8 . Any reference on the connecting block may be used to indicate the position of the first axis and the second axis. 
     FIGS. 2A through 2F illustrate a second embodiment of a connecting block shown generally at  40 , wherein 8 IDCs are staggered within pairs and upon 3 different axes. FIG.  2 A is an isometric view of the connecting block  40 . FIGS. 2B,  2 C,  2 D,  2 E and  2 F, are front, top, side, bottom and rear views, respectively, of the connecting block  40 . It will be appreciated that FIGS. 2A,  2 C,  2 D, and  2 E depict connecting block  40  with a plurality of IDCs numbered  10 ,  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22 , and  24 , while FIGS. 2B and 2F depict only IDCs numbered  18 ,  24 ,  22  and  14 ,  12 ,  10  respectively. Each IDC in said connecting block  40  comprises a pair of insulation penetrating contacts for terminating a pair of wires. IDCs  10  and  12  are paired and used for terminating a first pair of tip and ring wires. IDCs  14  and  16  are paired and used for terminating a second pair of tip and ring wires. IDCs  18  and  20  are paired and used for terminating a third pair of tip and ring wires. IDCs  22  and  24  are paired and used for terminating a fourth pair of tip and ring wires. 
     Referring to FIGS. 2A through 2F, IDCs  10  and  18  are aligned on a first axis. The first axis is a first distance from edge  8 . IDCs  12 ,  16 ,  20 , and  24  are aligned on a second axis. The second axis is a second distance from edge  8 . IDCs  14  and  22  are aligned on a third axis. The third axis is a third distance from edge  8 . The first, second and third axes are linear and parallel. It is understood that the location of the first, second and third axes need not be referenced from only edge  8 . Any reference on the connecting block may be used to indicate the position of the first, second and third axes. 
     FIGS. 3A through 3F illustrate a third embodiment of a connecting block shown generally at  50  wherein  8  IDCs are staggered within pairs and aligned on four axes. FIG. 3A is an isometric view of the connecting block  50 . FIGS. 3B,  3 C,  3 D,  3 E and  3 F, are front, top, side, bottom and rear views, respectively, of the connecting block  50 . It will be appreciated that FIGS. 3A,  3 C,  3 D, and  3 E depict a connecting block  50  with a plurality of IDCs numbered  10 ,  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22 , and  24 , while FIGS. 3B and 3F depict only IDCs numbered  18 ,  20 ,  24 ,  22  and  14 ,  16 ,  12 ,  10  respectively. Each IDC in said connecting block  50  comprises a pair of insulation penetrating contacts for terminating a pair of wires. IDCs  10  and  12  are paired and used for terminating a first pair of tip and ring wires. IDCs  14  and  16  are paired and used for terminating a second pair of tip and ring wires. IDCs  18  and  20  are paired and used for terminating a third pair of tip and ring wires. IDCs  22  and  24  are paired and used for terminating a fourth pair of tip and ring wires. 
     Referring to FIGS. 3A through 3F, IDCs  10  and  18  are aligned on a first axis. The first axis is a first distance from edge  8 . IDCs  12  and  20  are aligned on a second axis. The second axis is a second distance from edge  8 . IDCs  14  and  22  are aligned on a third axis. The third axis is a third distance from edge  8 . IDCs  16  and  24  are aligned on a fourth axis. The fourth axis is a fourth distance from edge  8 . The first, second, third and fourth axes are linear and parallel. It is understood that the location of the first, second, third and fourth axes need not be referenced from only edge  8 . Any reference on the connecting block may be used to indicate the position of the first, second, third and fourth axes. 
     FIGS. 4A through 4F illustrate a fourth embodiment of a connecting block shown generally at  60  wherein 8 IDCs are paired and staggered upon two axes. Each IDC is angled with respect to a corresponding axis. FIG. 4A is an isometric view of the connecting block  60 . FIGS. 4B,  4 C,  4 D,  4 E and  4 F, are front, top, side, bottom and rear views, respectively, of the connecting block  60 . It will be appreciated that FIGS. 4A,  4 C,  4 D, and  4 E depict connecting block  60  with a plurality of IDCs numbered  10 ,  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22 , and  24 , while FIGS. 4B and 4F depict only IDCs numbered  24 ,  20  and  14 ,  10  respectively. Each IDC in said connecting block  60  comprises a pair of insulation penetrating contacts for terminating a pair of wires. IDCs  10  and  12  are paired and used for terminating a first pair of tip and ring wires. IDCs  14  and  16  are paired and used for terminating a second pair of tip and ring wires. IDCs  18  and  20  are paired and used for terminating a third pair of tip and ring wires. IDCs  22  and  24  are paired and used for terminating a fourth pair of rip and ring wires. 
     Referring to FIGS. 4A through 4F, IDCs  10 ,  12 ,  18 , and  20  are aligned on a first axis and angled with respect to the first axis. The first axis is a first distance from edge  8 . IDCs  14 ,  16 ,  22 , and  24  are aligned on a second axis angled with respect to the second axis. The second axis is a second distance from edge  8 . It is understood that the location of the first and second axes need not be referenced from only edge  8 . Any reference on the connecting block may be used to indicate the position of the first axis and the second axis. 
     FIG. 5 represents an isometric view of a wiring block with four connecting blocks that utilize the configuration set forth in FIGS. 1A through 1F above. 
     As the present invention is directed to improvements in the location of connecting block IDCs, the details of the connecting block are not fully disclosed in the drawings and description herein. Such details are known in the art as provided, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,964,812. 
     While preferred embodiments have been shown and described, various modifications and substitutions may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the present invention has been described by way of illustration and not limitation.