Abstract:
A patching system is disclosed herein. The patching system includes a plurality of patching jacks. The jacks include switches for changing the circuit configurations of the patching circuitry of the jacks. The switches are positioned to enhance the circuit density of the patching system.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to patching systems for audio and video applications. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Analog and digital audio signals are transmitted over balanced and shielded twisted pair cables. These cables include a pair of insulated conductors, either stranded or solid wire, which are surrounded by a metal foil shield. The shield serves to reduce the impact of external electromagnetic inference on the signal being transmitted over the cable and also to reduce the electromagnetic field generated by the signals being transmitted over the cable. 
     In a professional audio and video industry application, a large number of such cables will be in use to carry signals from sources to processing devices such as mixers or equalizers and further to amplifiers or other downstream devices. The environment in which these signals are generated is quite dynamic and requires the ability to quickly and easily shift connections between sources, and downstream devices. A jack field provides this sort of connection flexibility. A jack field allows incoming signals to be patched into circuits connected to devices and signals returning from devices to be patched into circuits connected to downstream devices. Each jack in this jack field requires three conducting paths, two for the balanced audio signal and one for the shield to serve as a grounding path. There are three principal ways to connect these jacks to one another, depending on the needs of the particular situation. 
     First, a jack field may be set up for non-normal connections, meaning that each jack is connected directly to another jack. When a connection between devices is needed, a patch cord must be used. For example, a source is connected to J 1  and J 1  is electronically linked to jack  1 . A device is connected to J 2  and J 2  is electronically linked to jack  2 . To link the source to the device, a patch cord would be used to electronically link jack  1  to jack  2 , as shown in  FIG. 1   b . Without a patch cord in place in jack  1  or jack  2 , no connection will exist for either the source or the device, as shown in  FIG. 1   a.    
     A second method of connecting jacks is referred to as normal. As an example, a source and an device are designated to be linked together electronically as a default or normal condition, but it is still necessary to be able to switch the source to another device, or connect another source to the device, on occasion. To accomplish this, a source is connected to J 1  and an device is connected to J 2 . J 1  is also electronically connected to J 2 . Jacks  1  and  2  are placed in the circuit connecting J 1  and J 2 , as shown in  FIG. 2   a,  and are configured such that, if a patch cord is inserted into jack  1  or jack  2 , the connection between J 1  and J 2  is broken, as shown in  FIG. 2   b.  If a patch cord is inserted into jack  1 , it will not only break the J 1 -J 2  connection, but the patch cord will be electronically linked to the source connected to J 1 . Similarly, a patch cord inserted into jack  2  will break the J 1 -J 2  connection and be electronically linked with the device connected to J 2 . So, in a normal configured jack field, two elements can be configured to be normally electronically connected to one another but that normal connection can be broken and the connections redirected as necessary. 
     A third method of connecting jacks is referred to as half-normal. In the default state, a source connected to J 1  and an device connected to J 2  are connected together through jack  1  and jack  2 , as shown in  FIG. 3   a.  This arrangement allows, for example, the feed coming from a source to J 1  to be monitored by a device connected into the normal circuit by a patch cord inserted into jack  1  without the insertion of the patch cord into jack  2  causing the connection between the source and the device connected to J 2  to be broken, as shown in  FIG. 3   b.  In addition, the connection between the source and the device can be broken by the insertion of a patch cord in jack  2 . When a patch cord is inserted into jack  2 , the patch cord in jack  1  can then be used to patch the source to another device and patch cord in jack  2  can be used to patch another source to the device, as shown in  FIG. 3   c.    
     Another aspect of the connection between jacks and devices connected to the jacks is the treatment of the shield. Typically, the shield of the cable connected to the first jack is electronically linked to the shield of the cable connected to the second jack when the first jack and the second jack are electronically linked. It is desirable to have the ability to link the shields either individually or jointly to a common ground. This allows maximum flexibility in the configuration in the electronic linkages between the jacks, depending on the devices connected to the jacks. 
     While these connection schemes within a jack field are known, the ability of users to reconfigure a jack field or a jack pair within a jack field from one to another of the three arrangements could be improved. A variety of approaches have been used in the past, including wire wrapping leads together between the jacks, soldering the leads together between the jacks, using straps or jumpers to reconfigure connections between jacks, or using small metal plates of different sizes and shapes to reconfigure the connection between jacks. In some designs, the entire jack field would need to be exchanged to reconfigure the arrangement. This type of design does not allow the users to configure the circuits connected to individual devices and required all devices connected to a particular jack field to be configured identically. Improvement to the ability to create and modify the state of the connection between jacks and individual devices in the jack fields is desirable. 
     In addition, users of these types of devices and jack fields have very complex and dense wiring environments within their physical plants. Improvement to the density of connections possible in the limited space available within their physical plant without a loss of flexibility of configuration is desirable. 
     SUMMARY 
     One inventive aspect of the present disclosure relates to a high density patching system. The patching system includes a plurality of jacks patching circuitry for providing patching functions. The jacks also include integral switching devices for changing the circuit configurations of the patching circuitry. For example, in one embodiment, the switching devices are adapted for changing the patching circuitry between a normal-out configuration, a half-normal configuration, a normal-strapped configuration and a sleeve-normal configuration. In one embodiment, the circuit density of the system is enhanced by positioning the switching devices directly behind the patching circuitry. 
     A variety of other inventive aspects of the disclosure are set forth in part in the description that follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practicing the inventive aspects. The inventive aspects relate to individual features as well as combinations of features. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention as claimed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1   a  schematically illustrates two prior art jacks having normal-out circuit configurations; 
         FIG. 1   b  illustrates the prior art jacks of  FIG. 1   a  patched together with a patch cord; 
         FIG. 2   a  illustrates two prior art jacks having a normal-strapped circuit configuration; 
         FIG. 2   b  illustrate the jacks of  FIG. 2   a  with jack  1  patched to a device and with jack  2  patched to a source; 
         FIG. 3   a  illustrates two jacks having a half-normal circuit configuration; 
         FIG. 3   b  illustrates the jacks of  FIG. 3   a  with a patch cord inserted within jack  1  to provide a monitor function; 
         FIG. 3   c  illustrates the jacks of  FIG. 3   a  with jack  1  patched to a device and with jack  2  patched to a source; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded, front perspective view of a patching system having inventive aspects in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 5  is an assembled, front perspective view of the patching system of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  shows the patching system of  FIG. 5  with the chassis fully loaded with jacks; 
         FIG. 7  is a rear, perspective view of the patching system of  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 8  is an exploded view of a rear interface assembly of the patching system of  FIGS. 4-7 ; 
         FIG. 9  is an exploded view of another rear interface assembly of the patching system of  FIGS. 4-7 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a front perspective view of one of the jacks of the patching system of  FIGS. 4-7 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a rear perspective of the jack of  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a side view of the jack of  FIGS. 10 and 11  with a side panel removed to expose internal contact springs; 
         FIG. 13  is atop view of the jack of  FIGS. 10 and 11 ; 
         FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional view taken along section line  14 — 14  of  FIG. 13 ; 
         FIG. 15  is a cross-sectional view taken along section line  14 — 14  of  FIG. 14 ; 
         FIG. 16  is a schematic depiction of the jack of  FIGS. 10 and 11  in a normal-out circuit configuration; 
         FIG. 17  is a schematic depiction of the jack of  FIGS. 10 and 11  in a half-normal circuit configuration; 
         FIG. 18  is a schematic depiction of the jack of  FIGS. 10 and 11  in a normal-strapped circuit configuration; and 
         FIG. 19  is a schematic depiction of the jack of  FIGS. 10 and 11  in a sleeve-normal configuration. 
     
    
    
     While the embodiments disclosed herein are amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail below. It is to be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit the inventive aspects of the present disclosure to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the disclosed embodiments are merely examples of how certain inventive aspects may be practiced, and that other embodiments are not excluded. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following detailed description, references are made to the accompanying drawings that depict various embodiments in which the inventive aspects may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized, and structural and functional changes may be made without departing from the scope of the inventive aspects. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a patching system  20  having features that are examples of inventive aspects in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure. The patching system  20  includes a chassis  22  having a front side  24  and a rear side  26 . The patching system  20  also includes jacks  28  that insert into the chassis  22  through the front side  24  of the chassis  22 , and a rear connector assembly  36  accessible from the rear side  26  of the chassis  22 . The jacks  28  provide patch plug access (e.g., via upper and lower ports  35 ,  37 ), and the rear connector assembly  36  includes connectors  38   a,    38   b  adapted for connection to equipment such as audio and data streaming equipment. The patching system  20  further includes a back-plane board  30  that mounts to the rear of the chassis  22  and provides an electrical interface between the rear connector assembly  36  and the jacks  28 . 
     A. Chassis 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4-6 , the chassis  22  has a generally rectangular configuration and includes a top wall  40 , a bottom wall  42 , a left wall  44  and a right wall  46 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the front and rear sides  24 ,  26  of the chassis  22  are open. Flanges  48  are mounted to the left and right walls  44 ,  46 . The flanges  48  facilitate securing the chassis  22  to a conventional rack or frame. The chassis  22  preferably also includes structure for facilitating receipt/insertion of the jacks  28 . For example, the top and bottom walls  40 ,  42  of the chassis  22  are shown including opposing guide slots  50  for receiving top and bottom guides  52  of the jacks  28 . The guide slots  50  ensure the jacks  28  are inserted into the chassis at the proper orientation and location. Cover panels  79  can be mounted to the front of the chassis  22  adjacent the left and right walls  44 ,  46 . The panels  79  provide vertical, forwardly facing surfaces for vertical designation labels. 
     B. Back-plane Board 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the back-plane board  30  is aligned perpendicular relative to a direction of insertion of the jacks  28 , and includes a front side  54  positioned and a rear side  56 . Jack interface connectors  32  are mounted in a horizontal row across the front side  54  of the back-plane board  30 . The jack interface connectors  32  are adapted to mate with corresponding rear connectors  55  of the jacks  28 . The jack interface connectors  32  are elongated in a vertical direction and include a vertical row of sockets  58  adapted for receiving conductive pins  600 - 606  (see  FIG. 14 ) of the rear connectors  55  of the jacks  28 . When the back-plane board  30  is mounted at the rear side  26  of the chassis  22 , the jack interface connectors  32  preferably project into the interior of the chassis and align with the sets of guide slots  50  of the chassis  22 . The alignment between the guide slots  50  and the jack interface connectors  32  ensures that when a jack  28  is inserted within a set of the guide slots  50 , the rear connector  55  of the jack  28  will mate with a corresponding jack interface connector  32  of the back-plane board  30 . 
     Referring still to  FIG. 4 , rear module interface connectors  34  are mounted at the back side  56  of the back-plane board  30 . The rear module interface connectors  34  are adapted to mate with corresponding rear module connectors  62  of the rear connector assembly  36 . For example, the rear module interface connectors  34  can include two rows of sockets (not shown) adapted to receive corresponding conductive pins  63  of the rear module connectors  62 . The jack interface connectors  32  are electrically connected to the rear module interface connectors  34  by tracings provided on the back-plane board  30 . 
     C. Rear Connector Assembly 
     Referring again to  FIG. 4 , the rear connector assembly  36  includes two pairs of rear modules  69   a,    69   b.  The modules  69   a,    69   b  each include a separate circuit board  70   a,    70   b.  The rear module connectors  62  are mounted to front sides of the circuit boards  70   a,    70   b.  As shown in  FIGS. 7-9 , protective panels  72   a,    72   b  cover back sides of the circuit boards  70   a,    70   b.  The rear connectors  38   a,    38   b  are electrically connected to the back sides of their respective circuit boards  70   a,    70   b  and project through openings defined by the protective panels  72   a,    72   b.  As best show in  FIG. 8 , the rear connectors  38   a  are depicted as rack and panel  3  pin connectors. As best show in  FIG. 9 , the connectors  38   b  are depicted as rack and panel  90  pin connectors. The rear connectors  38   a,    38   b  are electrically connected to corresponding pins  63  of the connectors  62  by tracings provided on the circuit boards  70   a,    70   b.  It will be appreciated that other connectors types could also be used. Further, it will be appreciated that the modularity of the rear interface assembly  36  facilitates use of different types of connectors thereby providing greater design flexibility. However, in alternative embodiments, the multiple circuit boards  70   a,    70   b  could be replaced with a single circuit board. 
     D. Jack 
       FIGS. 10 and 11  illustrate one of the patching jacks  28  in isolation from the patching system  20 . The jack  28  includes a dielectric body  100  having a front end  101  and a back end  103 . A mounting panel  102  is located at the front end  101 , and the jack connector  55  is located at the back end  103 . The dielectric body  100  also defines the top and bottom guides  52  of the jack  28 . 
     The mounting panel  102  of the dielectric body defines a fastener opening  104  for receiving a fastener for attaching the jack  28  to the chassis  22 . The mounting panel  102  also includes an intermediate region  106  in which a single pair of patching ports  35 ,  37  are defined. As labeled in  FIG. 10 , the front panel  102  defines a height H and a width W of the jack  28 . Preferably, the width W is less than 0.35 inches and the height H is less than 2 inches. 
     The dielectric body  100  is adapted for holding/supporting a plurality of contact springs. For example, referring to  FIG. 12 , the dielectric body  100  defines upper and lower spring mounting regions  107 ,  108  separated by a divider  105 . Upper and lower spring assemblies  200 ,  300  are respectively mounted at the upper and lower spring mounting regions  107 ,  108 . Each of the first and second spring assemblies  200 ,  300  respectively includes a tip spring  201 ,  301 , a normal spring  202 ,  302  corresponding to the tip spring  201 ,  301 , a ring spring  203 ,  303  and a normal spring  204 ,  304  corresponding to the ring spring  203 ,  303 . The spring assemblies  200 ,  300  also each respectively include sleeve ground springs  205 ,  305 . 
     The first spring assembly  200  corresponds to the upper patching port  35  and the second spring assembly  300  corresponds to the lower patching port  37 . The tip and ring springs  201 ,  203  are positioned such that when a tip and ring plug is inserted within the upper patching port  35 , the springs  201 ,  203  are disconnected from their corresponding normal contacts  202 ,  204  and connected to the plug. Concurrently, the sleeve ground spring  205  contacts the sleeve ground of the plug inserted within the port  35 . It will be appreciated that the second spring assembly  300  operates in a similar manner. For example, when a patch plug is inserted within the lower patching port  301 , the tip and ring springs  301 ,  303  are disconnected from their corresponding normal springs  302 ,  304  and connected to the plug. Concurrently, the sleeve ground  305  is electrically connected to the sleeve of the plug. 
     The springs  201 - 205  and  301 - 305  can be secured to the jack body  100  by any number of known techniques. As shown in  FIG. 12 , the springs  201 - 205  and  301 - 305  are press fit within slots defined by the jack body  100 . As shown in  FIG. 11 , the springs  201 - 205  and  301 - 305  have post ends  201 ′- 205 ′ and  301 ′- 305 ′ terminated to a circuit board  400 . The circuit board  400  provides electrical connections between the springs  201 - 205  and  301 - 305  and the conductive pins  600 - 606  of the rear connector  55 . For example, as shown schematically in  FIGS. 16-19 , the circuit board  400  electrically connects tip spring  201  to pin  600 , ring spring  203  to pin  601 , sleeve ground spring  205  to pin  602 , tip spring  301  to pin  603 , ring spring  303  to pin  604  and sleeve ground spring  305  to sleeve ground pin  605 . 
     As described in more detail later in the specification, the circuit board  400  also electrically connects to pins  600 - 606  and the springs  201 - 205  and  301 - 305  to a switching device  500  for changing the circuit configuration of the jack  28  between a normal-out configuration (see FIG.  16 ), a half-normal configuration (see  FIG. 17 ) and a normal-strapped configuration (see FIG.  18 ). The switching device  500  also allows the jack  28  to be switched to a sleeve-normal position (see FIG.  19 ). As shown in  FIG. 10 , the dielectric body  100  defines a window  150  for allowing the switching device  500  to be accessed from the left side of the jack  28 . The window  150  allows a user to change the circuit configuration of the jack  28 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 14 and 15 , the rear connector  55  of the jack  28  includes a single row header having a single row of conductive pins (i.e., pins  600 - 606 ) housed within a dielectric shroud  130 . The conductive pins include first portions that project into the shroud  130  (see portion  603   a  of pin  603  in FIG.  15 ), and second portions (see portion  603   b  of pin  603  in  FIG. 15 ) that terminate at the circuit board  400 . The first portions are connected to the second-portions by a curved portion (e.g., a 90-degree bend portion). 
     It is preferred for all of the components of the dielectric jack body  100  to be integrally molded or formed as a single unitary piece. For example, it is preferred for the front panel  102 , the rear shroud  130 , the spring mounting regions  107 ,  108 , the divider  105  and the guides  52  to be molded as a single unitary piece of dielectric material (e.g., plastic). 
     Referring to  FIG. 12 , the switching device  500  is depicted as a DIP switch having 6 two-position switches. It will be appreciated that other types of switches (e.g., dial switches, rotary switches, multi-position switches, etc.) can also be used. A jack device having a switching device is also disclosed in U.S. application Ser. No. 09/828,706, filed Apr. 6, 2001, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     E. Spacial Relationships of the Jack Component 
     As shown in  FIGS. 12 ,  14  and  15 , the switching device  500  is located directly behind the upper and lower spring assemblies  200 ,  300 . The term “directly behind”, means that at least a portion of the switching device  500  is located behind the first and second spring assemblies  200 ,  300  in the region R 1  (see  FIG. 12 ) defined between the uppermost spring of the upper spring assembly  200  (namely spring  205  in the depicted embodiment) and the lowermost spring of the lower spring assembly  300  (namely spring  305  in the depicted embodiment). At least a portion of the switching device  500  is also located in the region R 2  (see  FIG. 15 ) defined by the widths of the springs  201 - 205  and  301 - 305 . 
     Referring back to  FIG. 10 , at least a portion of the switching device  500  is also located within the outer boundary defined by the height H and width W of the front panel  102 . To demonstrate this point, the height and width H and W of the front panel  102  have been projected rearwardly by dashed lines  160 . In this view, it is clear that the switching device  500  is located within the boundary defined by the dashed lines  160 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 12 , the switching device  500  is elongated in a horizontal direction and is aligned along a central longitudinal axis LA of the jack  28 . The axis LA extends between the spring assemblies  200 ,  300  and also between the ports  35 ,  37 . The switching device  500  is located physically between the spring assemblies  200 ,  300  and the rear connector  55 . As shown in  FIG. 13 , the circuit board  400  is offset from a vertical plane (aligned along cross-section line  14 — 14 ) that bisects the ports  35 ,  37 . As shown in  FIG. 14 , the vertical plane cuts through the springs  201 - 205  and  301 - 305  as well as the switching device  500 . 
     F. Circuit Configurations 
       FIG. 16  shows the jack  28  in a normal-out configuration. In this configuration, all of the switches of the switching assembly  500  are open such that no electric connection is provided between the two switching assemblies  200 ,  300 . Thus, in this configuration, the jack  28  merely provides patching capabilities. 
       FIG. 17  shows the jack  28  in a half-normal circuit configuration. In this configuration, switches  2  and  4  of the switching device  500  have been closed. With switches  2  and  4  closed, the connector pins  600 ,  601  are electrically connected to the connector pins  603 ,  604  through the second spring assembly  300 . In this configuration, signals traveling through the jack  28  can be monitored without interruption by inserting a patching plug into the upper patch port  35 . By inserting a patch plug into the lower port  37 , the connection between the pins  601 ,  602  and the pins  603 ,′ 604  is broken, and the patch plug is electrically connected to the pins  603 ,  604 . 
       FIG. 18  shows the jack  28  in a normal-strapped circuit configuration in which switches  1  and  3  are closed. In this configuration, the connector pins  600 ,  601  are interconnected to the connector pins  603 ,  604  through both of the spring assemblies  200 ,  300 . In the normal-strapped configuration, the connection between the pins  600 ,  601  and the pins  603 ,  604  can be broken by inserting a patch plug into either of the patch ports. When a patch plug is inserted into the upper patch port, the connection between the pins  600 ,  601  and  603 ,  604  is broken, and a patch plug connection is made with the pins  600 ,  601 . When a patch plug is inserted into the lower patch plug port, the connection between the pins  600 ,  601  and the pins  603 ,  604  is broken, and a patch plug connection is made with the pins  603 ,  604 . 
       FIG. 19  shows the jack  28  in a sleeve-normal circuit configuration. In this configuration, switches  5  and  6  of the switching device  500  are closed. With switches  5  and  6  closed, the two sleeve ground springs  210 ,  310  are electrically connected to a sleeve bus pin  606  of the rear connector. This type of configuration allows multiple sleeve ground springs to be linked (i.e., daisy-chains) together to a common ground for convenience. 
     Since many embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.