Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
7~35
CO~qUNICATION SYSTEM AND ~/EANS
FOR IN~ERCONNECTION OF SAME
_
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present inbrnyion is directed generally to a
manually programmable multi-channel communicaklon net-
work capable o~ linking a plurality o~ di~erent
information terminal locations within an o~fic~ building
or the like. More particularly, the invention relates
lO to a mechanically programmable interconnection or
"cro~s-connect" system for a telephone installation pro-
vidlng service to a multiple telephone service area,
The invention is most advantageously employed in an
intrabuilding environment where a large number of in-
15 dividual telephone instruments or handsets are locatedthroughout a glven service area.
~ACKGROUND OF I~E PRIOR ART
In recent years, the telephone industry has made
great strides in reduclng the costs of telephone equip-
20 ment and the expenses attendant to its installation andmaintenance, An area of particular concern has been
khe need to reduce the labor costs in initially arrang-
ing or "programmlng" and thereafter rearranging or
"reprogrammlng" the numerous telephone numbers to di~-
25 ferent locatlons wikhin a given service area Accord-
ingly, modularized syskems have been developed which
reduce fie~d wirlng and simplify the procedures employed
in installing or reprogramming the telephone ~ystem.
One example of a prior art system intended to address
30 these problems is that disclosed in United States
Patent No. 3,869,582~ owned by Allstate Insurance
Company. The telephone ByBtem deBCrlbed in the All-
~tate patent generally includes a central distribut~on
panel and one or more remote or "satellite" distribution
35 panels which are permanently wired to the central
distribution panel Patchcords are used with both the
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~ central and satellite panels to enable physical rearrange-
ment or relocation of the telephone numbers to
different parts of the service area. The All-
state system, however, is still relatively ex-
pensive, requiring multiple distribution panels,
and often requires rearrangement of patchcords at
more than onelocation, which complicates the re-
programming procedure and increases the attendant
reconnection costs, as well.
Another prior art system is disclosed
in Canadian Patent Application Serial No. 356,222
filed on July 15, 1980 in the name of Arie Verhagen
and assigned to Bunker Ramo Corporation, the as-
signee of this application. The Verhagen applica-
tion discloses an interconnection or cross-connect
approach wherein the incoming telephone lines are
hard-wired or otherwise affixed to individual re-
ceptacle members and the station cables are field
terminated to individual plug connectors. The
Verhagen system represents a significant advance
over the Allstate approach, since it is extremely
low cost, it saves space and only a single junction
is required which can be serviced by relatively un-
skilled personnel. Nevertheless, it suffers from
~5 the disadvantage that each of the station cables
must be terminated in the field to a connector which
may be subjected to many mating cycles during its
useful life. Such field terminable connectors are
inherently less reliable than factory assembled
terminations and their use increases the costs of
initial installation.
Other electronic systems have been de-
veloped for electronic reprogramming of telephone
systems but these require specific equipment to
electronically "enter" the system as well as a
trained operator skilled in working with computer
software.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a novel
5~785
interconnection system used to provide service to a
multi-channel telephone, data processing or other
communlcation installation. Because o~ its unique
assemblage of components, the system is extremely low
cost, occupies very little space and is mechanically
programmable and reprogrammable by a simple manual
technlque easily completed on-si~e by relatively un-
skilled personnel. In addition, the communication
channels may be relocated throughout the entire service
10 area ~rom a single location. The modular design o~ the
present invention also permits its expeditious adapta
tion to communication or telephonic installation of
di~ferent sizes.
Generally, the lnterconnection or cross-connect
sy~tem o~ the present invention includes one or more
multi-circuit connectors, a plurality of connector mem-
bers and means for interconnecting them. The multi-
circuit connectors are adapted to receive and couple
with the communication trunk lines, whereas the con-
20 nector members terminate the individual informationtransmission cables associated with the various discrete
physical locations or "station~" throughout the service
area, The interconnecting means includes a plurality
o~ conductor mean~, ea¢h hard-wired or otherwise
permanently affixed at one end to a multi-circuit
connector and at its other end to a relocatable con-
nector. Each connector member is identifiable with a
given station, and each relocatable connector is
identifiable with a given communication channel or
channel identi~ier, l.e., a telephone number, and is
directly matable with any of the connector members.
Accordingly, the communication network is programmed or
reprogrammed s-lmply by mating the "channel identiried"
relocatable connectors with the "station idenki~ied"
connector members.
.
~1~1785
An important aspect of the invention is the
recognition that factory assembled or "prewired" com-
ponents provide a greater measure o~ ruggedness and
reliabilit~ with ~he additional advantage of reducing
field installation costs. Accordingly, khe unique
arrangement of components used in the present invention
allows for the ~actory assembly o~ the interconnecting
mean~ itself, and the prewiring o~ the interconnecting
mean~ to the individual multi-circuit connectors when
10 deslred.
Another important aspect of the invention is ~he
recognition th~t the terminus o~ the telephone or other
communication trunk lines will ordinarily be physically
proximate to the location o~ the cross-connect system.
15 Accordingly, the interconnecting mean~ can be pre-
fabricated at the factory as an integral cable assembly,
having indlvidual conductor means terminated to relo-
¢atable connectors and extending from a cable of a
predetermined and relatively short length.
Another aspect o~ the invention is the provision
of modularized component~ which facilitate~ adaption
o~ the cro~-connect system to different sized commun-
ication networks, redu¢es space requirements and mlni-
mlze~ installation costs. For example, in accord with
25 the present invention the multi-circuit connectors or
connector members may be mounted on one ~ more sub-
modules which, in turn, may be assembled to a main
termination module. The integrated a~sembly permits
installation o~ the cross-connect system simply by
30 terminating the telephone trunk line~ and information
transmi3~ion cable~ to the multi-circuit connectors and
connector member3J respectively, and therea~ter mating
the various relocatable connectors wlth the connector
members. The use of modularized components and pre-
fabricated cable a3~emblies also permit3 the adaptation
~15~785
--5 -
o~ the cross-connect system to a kit form for convenient
and low cost shipment and expedlent assembly in the ~ield.
A still further aspect of the lnventlon ls the
provision of an interconnection system which facili-
tates and slmpl~fies the reprogramming of the communi-
cation network.
A further aspect of the inventi~n is the provision
of a manually programmable telephone or other communl-
cation installation having a connectorized and modu-
10 larized cross-connect system located at a single locus
within the service area, the individual components ~
the system being ruggedly constructed to withætand the
repeated mating cycles incident to the periodic repro-
gramming of the installation.
:ER:rEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The novel features which are characteristic of
the invention are ~et forth in the appended claims. The
invention it~elf, however, together with ~urther aspects
and attendant advantages thereo~, will be best under-
20 ~tood by references to the following description takenin connection with the accompanying drawings in which:
FIGURE 1 is a ~chematic representation illus-
trating the use of the interconnection ~ystem o~ the
present invention with a conventional multiphone tele-
25 phone installation;
FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a preferredembodiment of the present invention showing its modular
constructlon;
FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the modular cross-
30 connect ~ystem shown in FIGURE 2;
FI~U~E 4 i~ a cros~-sectional view taken along
line 4-4 o~ FI~URE 3;
FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along
line 5-5 o~ FIGURE 4;
FIGURE 6 is a plan view of the modular cross-
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connect system shown in FIGURE 2J but with some modifi-
cation to provide additional ~unctions;
FIGURE 7 is an enlarged plan vlew showlng in
greater detail the interconnection o~ the relocatable
connectors and cormector members;
FIGURE 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along
line 8-8 of FIGURE 7 illustrating details of the con-
struction of a cormector member suitable for use in the
present invention; and
FIGURE 9 is a schematic representation showing
the spatial arrangement of the cross-connect system o~
the present invention to a physically proximate switch-
ing device, the cross-connect system being shown in plan
view and illustrating another preferred modular embodi-
15 ment together with an integral cable assembly.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In FIG~RE 1 the lnterconnection system o~ the
presenk invention, designated ~enerally as 10, is shown
as it might be used in a multi-telephone installation.
20 The invention wlll be described in the context o~ such
telephone installation, but those skilled in the art
will recognize that the invention may be used ln data
processing or other multl-channel communication net-
works as well. The telephone lnstallat~on shown in
25 FIGURE 1 includes telephone trunk lines 12, transmission
or "station" cables 14 and a plurality of telephone
handsets 16 each posltloned within a specific location
or station 18. The telephone installatlon also includes
a switching means 20, such as a private automatic branch
30 eY~change (PABX), which provides an lnterface between the
telephone trunk llnes and the lnterconnectlon system
The swltchlng means, however, ls not essential, and
the trunk lines 12 r~y be coupled directly to the inter-
connection system 10 as described ln detail below.
Referring now to FIGUR~S 2-4J the interconnection
~1~17t35
--7--
or cross-connect system 10 is shown to include a plur-
ality of ~ulti-circuit connectors 22 and connector
members 24, and means for interconnecting then]. The
interconnecting means comprises a plurality o~ condRctor
means, such as insulated conductors 26, and relocatable
connectors 28.
The multi-circuit connectors 22 are preferably
ribbon type contact connectors, although other sui~able
connector desi~ns will be apparent to those skilled in
10 the art. The connectors 22 are adapted to receive and
couple with the telephone trunk lines directly or, as
illustrated in FIGURES 1-4, with the connectorized
cable 30 carrying the output circuits of the switching
means 20. Connectors 22 may be mounted to a panel or
15 sub-module 31 which is assembled in the factor~ prior to
installation in the field. As mentioned below, how-
ever, ln the use of an alternative embodlment, sub-
module 31 may be eliminated.
The connector members 24 are al~o assembled in
20 ~ub-modules 32 which may take the form shown in FIGU~ES
7 and 8. They are identifled on the sub-module 32 by
30me indi¢ia (i.e , the illustrated numerals 01, 02,
etc ) repre~enting the various station~ within the
telephone service area, and each includes a mating
25 portion 34 and a terminal portion 37 adapted to termlnate
the respectlve station cables 14. Mating portion 34
pre~erably includes a receptacle means having one or
more apertures 36 housing an active contact element 38
and configured to mate directl~ with any of the relocat-
30 able connectors 28. Terminal portion 37 includes a fieldterminable contact element, such as the illustrated
insulation-piercing contact element 40~ whlch extends
into rece~s 42 of sub-module 32, Of course, the sub-
modules 32 are assemble~ and mounted onto a termination
35 module ll, as shown most clearl~ ln FIGURE 2, and the
~5~78S
--8--
number ~ sub-modules employed will be dependent upon
the number of stations within the telephone installation
and the anticipated expansion of the installation, if
any.
The interconnecting means which provides the
connectorized ~unction between the telephone trunk lines
and the connector members is an important aspect of the
pre~ent invention. The conductors 26 are hard-wired or
otherwise permanently affixed to the multi-circuit
10 connectors 22 and, at their distal or free ends, to the
relocatable connectors 28. Of course, each o~ the
conductors has a length sufficlent to reach the connec-
tor member positioned at the most remote ~ farthest
point ~rom sub-module 31. Since the interconnecting
15 means may be assembled and prewired to the multi-circuit
connectors at the factory, more reliable manu~acturing
techniques can be employed to provide a more rugged
and durable as~embly. In addition, space sav~ngs can
be e~ected ~ince factory assembly procedures can be
20 more readily adapted to miniaturized circuitry and
termina~ion~, As ~hown mo~t clearly in FIGURES 7 and 8
the relo¢àtable connectors 28 mate directly with the
mating portion~ 34 o~ the connector members 24, and each
bear~ indi¢ia repre~enting the multi~cir¢uit ¢onnector
25 wlth which it is coupled and the individual line therein.
In this manner, the relocatable connector~ are identi-
fiable with indiVidual communication channels.
A~ an alternative embodiment and one dls¢u~sed
in greater detail below, the conductors 26 and relo-
30 catable connector~ 28 may be manufactured as an integralcable assembly which may include the multi-circuit con-
nectors 22, a~ well. The multi-circuit connector would
then mate with a switchlng device or the cable assembly
~ay couple directly to the lncoming trunk lines 12,
35 thereby ellminating the need for sub-mo~ule 31.
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~1517B5
Means are also provided to route ~he various
cables and conductors used in the cross-connect system
10. For exampleJ the station cables 14 are routed
through a central channel 44 and are dressed through
apertures 46 in the sidewalls o~ the channel. Siml-
larly, the interconnecting conductors 26 are dressed
through a comb-like element 48 at the edge o~ sub-module
31 and into an upper channel 50 mounted above channel
44 Again, the conductors 26 are dressed through aper-
10 tures 52 in the sidewalls o~ channel 50 By selectlngthe appropriate apertures 46 and 52, the wiring of the
entire cross-connect system is ordered and more easily
serviced FIGURE 5 illustrates the use Or comb element
48 which is used in the conventional and well-known
15 manner to take up any unwanted slack in the conductors
26.
As is evident from the drawings, the sub-modules
31 and 32 and the routing channels 44 and 50 may all be
pre-assembled to main termination module 11 and can be
20 mounted as an integral assembly ln the field. Once
mounted, the installati~n is completed ~imply by ~irst
coupllng the trunk lines 12 to the multl-circuit
connector~ 22, terminating the indivldual station cables
14 to the terminal portions 36 of the connector members
25 and then mating the relocatable connectors 28 and
connector members 24(a~required.
A modl~ied form o~ the modularized cro~s-connect
system o~ the present invention is illustrated in FIGURE
6 and designated generally as 10'. Module 10' includes
30 multi-¢lr¢uit connector~ 2~ and connector members 24,
and interconnectlng mean~ as described above In addi-
tion~ means are provided to couple the circuitry o~
module 10' with that o~ another module 13, thereby
enabllng the interconnection of trunk llne~ 1~ to any
35 o~ the connector members 24 on module 13. As a resultJ
"
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--10--
the number of stations serviced by khe cross-connect
system of the present invention is unlimited. Specifi-
cally, module lO' includes at least one trans~er sub-
module 60 having trans~er connectors 61 identical in
configuration with the mating portion of connector
members 24. These transfer connectors are wired by con-
ductors 63 to an inter-module connector 62 which is
preferably a ribbon type contact connector like those
used for multi-circuit connector 22, Using a suitably
10 connectorized cable assembly 64, the inter-module
connector 62 and, in turn, the trans~er connectors 61
are coupled to the connectors 22 o~ module 13. Thus,
by mating the relocatable connector member 28' w~th one
of the transfer connectors 61, trunk llne 12 of module
10' may be coupled wLth any o~ the stations associated
wlth module 13. This unique assemblage Or components
permits simple and expeditious modific~ion of the cross-
connect system to accommodate an expanded service area
~or the communlcation network.
Module lO' also includes a multiplier module 70
having a plurality o~ multiplying connectors 72. The
multiplying connectors accept one or more relocatable
connectors and are coupled to the connector member~ 24
of ~ne or more stations by means of patchcords or the
~5 like, Accordingly, one ~ more channels may be asso-
clated with a plurality of stations.
As noted above, the present invention also con-
templates an embodiment wherein the need ~or sub-module
31 is eliminated. This embodlment is illustr~ted in
30 FIGURE 9 and includes a main termination module 80 on
which the sub-modules 32 and, in turn, connector members
24 are mounted. The module 80 is itself mounted within
the telephone network at a location physically proximate
to the terminus of the telephone trunk lines, and FIGUKE
3~ 9 is intended to show this spatial relationshlp ~1ith
module 80 located ad~acent the switching device 20.
Typically, these components will be found within a
slngle room or common area in the building being ser-
viced by the telephone installation.
Since the module 80 and switching device 20 are
spaced by a relatively small distance in a glven in-
stallation, an integral cable assembly 82 may be fabr~-
cated at the factory having a predetermined length
su~ficlent to extend b~tween them, The cable assembly
10 82 houses a plurality of conductor means which extend
as individual conductors 26 ~rom one end of the assembly,
the conductors 26 being terminated by relocatable
connectors 28. The other end o~ the conductor means
are coupleable to the terminus of the tr~mk llnes 12 as
15 shown, ~or example, in FIGUR~ 9 where a multi-circuit
¢onnector 84 is employed to mate with compatlble con-
nectors 21 on the switching devlce 20.
The module 80 and one or rnore cable assemblies
82 may be packaged ~n kit ~orm and shipped to the
20 installat~on site where the module is mounted and the
cable assembly 82 dressed Prom the switchlng device to
the modu~.e. rrhe cable assembly may extend, as shown,
to the mid-area o~ the module ~rom which point the
indivldual conductors 26 are routed to permit coupling
25 o~ the appropriate relocatable connectors 28 and con-
nector members 24. Those skilled in the art will
recognize, of course, that other trunk line terminus
structure might be utilized, such as a conventional
telephony connector blockJ in which case the cable
30 assembly would be a~fixed and electrically coupled
directly to the connector block.
The module 80 is designed to accommodate routing
channels 50 and ~4, or functionally equ~valent struc-
ture, on ad~acent sides o~ the sub-modules 32, and also
35 includes ra~tening means 86 for phy~ically securlng cable
..
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~i1785
-12-
assembly 82 and transmission cables 14. It is also
contemplated that the module 80 may be enclosed in a
housing 88 or mounted to a supporting sur~ace, alone~,
without a housing.
Of course, it should be understood that various
changes and modifications to the preferred embodiments
described herein w~ll be apparent to those skilled in
the art. Such changes and modifications can be made
without departing rrom the spirit and scope of the
present invention and without diminishing its attendant
advantages, It is, there~ore, intended that such changes
and modifications be covered by the ~ollowing claims,
