Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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APPA?ATUS FOR I~TE~CO~ECTIO~ OF A
l~ULTI-CHA~NEL C~ U~ICATION ~ETWORK
. . .
BACKGROUND OF THE PRIOR ART
The present invention is directed generally
to an interconnection apparatus for a manually
programmable multi-channel communication network
capable of linking a plurality of different
information terminal locations wikhin an offlce
building or the like. ~iore particularly, the
invention relates to a mechanically programmable
interconnection or "cross-connect" system for a
telephone installation providing service to a
multiple telephone service area. The invention is
most advantageously employed in an environment
where a large number of individual telephone instru-
ments or handsets are located throughout a given
service area.
In recent years, the telephone industry has
made great strides in reducing the costs of telephone
equipment and the expenses attendant to its instal-
lation and maintenance. An area of particular concern
has been the need to reducé the labor costs in
initially arranging or "programming" and thereafter
rearranging or "reprogramming" the numerous telephone
numbers to different locations within a given service
area. Accordinyly, modularized systems have been
developed which reduce field wiring and simplify the
procedures employed in installing or reprogramming
the telephone system. One example of a prior art
system intended to address these problems is that
disclosed in United States Patent ~o. 3,869,582
owned by Allstate Insurance Company. The telephone
system described in the Allstate patent generally
includes a central distribution panel and one or
more remote or "satellite" distribution panels
which are permanently wired to the central distri-
bution panel. Patchcords are used with both the
central and satellite panels to enable physical
rearrangement or relocation of the telephone numbers
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to different parts of the service area. While the Allstate
system is an improvement over earlier installations and has
met with some success, it is still relatively expensive,
requiring multiple distribution panels, and often requires re-
arrangement of patchcords at more than one location, which
complicates the reprogramming procedure and increases the atten-
dant 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 assignee of this application. The Verhagen application dis-
closes an interconnection or cross-connect approach wherein the
incoming telephone lines are hard-wired or otherwise affixed
to individual receptacle members and the station cables are
field terminated to individual plug connectors. The Verhagen
system represents a significant advance over the Allstate ap-
proach, since it is extremely low cost, it saves space and only
a single junction is required which can be serviced by relatively
unskilled personnel. Nevertheless, it suffers from the dis-
advantage that each of the station cables must be terminated inthe 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 developed 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.
The present invention is directed to a novel inter-
connection apparatus for use with a multi-channel telephone,
data processing or other
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communication installation~ Because of its unique
assemblage of components, the apparatus is extremely
low cost, and is mechanically programmable and
reprogrammable by a simple manual technique easily
completed on-site by relatively unskilled personnel.
In addition, the modular design of the present
invention also facilitates the installation of the
apparatus in the field and reduces space require-
ments by as much as 30% over the prior art systems.
Generally, ~he interconnection or cro~s-
connect apparatus of the present invention includes
a termination module having a plurality of connector
members each of which is matable with any one of a
plurality of relocatable connectors which, in turn,
are coupled to and identified with individual
communication channels. The connector members
include a mating portion adapted to receive the
relocatable connectors and a terminal portion
adapted to terminate the information transmission
cables or "station cables" which are routed to the
various discrete physical location of "stations"
within the network service area. In accordance
with an important feature of the invention, the
mating and terminal portlons of the connector members
are accessible from one side of the module thereby
facilitating the termination of the various station
cables and mating of the relocatable connectors.
As will be apparent from the following disclosure,
the communication network is programmed or repro-
grammed simply by mating the "channel identified"relocatable connector members with the "station
identified" connector members.
An important aspect of the invention is the
provision of a modularizecl interconnection apparatus
which facilitates installation of the cross-connect
system, reduces space requirements and minimizes
manufacturing and installation costs.
A still further aspect of the invention is
the provision of an interconnection apparatus whi~h
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facilitates and simplifies the reprogramming of the communi-
cation network.
A further aspect of the invention is the provision
of a manually programmable telephone or other communication
system having a cross-connect module located at a single locus
within the service area, the individual components of the module
being ruggedly constructed to withstand the repeated mating
cycles incident to the periodic reprogramming of the system.
Another aspect of the invention is the provision of
a termination module and a connector member having a configur-
ation to permit installation, use and servicing of the cross-
connect apparatus from a one side of the termination module,
even after it is mounted to a wall or other supporting surface.
The invention is particularly directed toward apparatus
for interconnecting the individual telephone lines of a telephone
system to the individual telephone stations at different locations
within the area serviced by the system. The apparatus comprises
a termination module adapted for mounting to a support surface
and including a plurality of connector members each being identi-
fiable with a given station and having generally U-shaped con-
tact elements with spaced legs. One of the legs defines a
mating portion and the other of the legs defines a terminal por-
tion. The mating portions each are formed as a discrete com-
ponent of a plug and receptacle connector means for use with
and including means to readily releasably receive any one of a
plurality of individual compatible relocatable connectors coupled
to and identifiable with a given telephone line. The terminal
portions have an insulation-piercing member to field terminate
information transmission cables associated with the various
stations. Both the mating and terminal portions of the con-
nector members are accessible from one side of the termination
module to facilitate field termination of the information trans-
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mission cables and mating of the relocatable connectors withtheir respective connector members.
The novel features which are believed to be character-
istic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims.
The invention itself, however, together with further aspects
and attendant advantages thereof, will be best understood by
reference to the following description taken in connection with
the accompanying drawings in which:
FIGURE 1 is a schematic representation illustrating
the use of the interconnection system of the present invention
with a conventional multiphone telephone installation;
FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a preferred embodi-
ment of the present invention showing its modular construction;
FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the modular cross-connect
shown in FIGURE 2;
FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line
4-4 of FIGURE 3;
FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line
5-5 of FIGURE 4; (shown in the sheet of drawings containing
Fig. 2);
FIGURE 6 is a plan view of the modular cross-connect
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shown in FIGURE 2, but with some modi~ication to provide ad-
ditional functions; (shown in the sheet of drawings containing
Fig. 2)
FIGURE 7 is an enlarged plan view showing in greater
detail the interconnextion of the second and third connector
members; (shown in the sheet of drawings containing Fig. 1)
FlGURE 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line
8-8 of FIGURE 7 illustrating details of the construction of a
second connector member suitable for use in the present inven~
tion; (shown in the sheet of drawings containing Fig. 1)
FIGURE 9 is a plan view of another preferred embodi-
ment of the present invention, showing a modified modular con-
struction; and
FIGURE 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line
10-10 of FIGURE 9.
In FIGURE 1 the interconnection apparatus of the
present invention, designated generally as 10, is shown as it
might be used in a multi-telephone installation. The invention
will be described in the context of such a telephone installatie..
but those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention
may be used in data processing or other multi-channel communi-
cation networks. The telephone installation shown in FIGURE 1
includes incoming telephone trunk lines 12, transmission or
station cables 14 and a plurality of telephone handsets 16
each positioned within a specific location or station 18. The
telephone installation also includes a switching means 20, such.
as a private automatic branch exchange (PABX), which provides
an interface between the incoming trunk lines and the intercon-
nection apparatus. The switching means, however, is not essen-
tial, and the incoming trunk lines 12 may be coupled directlyto the inter-connection apparatus 10 as described below.
Referring now to FIGURES 2-4, the inter-connection
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or cross-connect apparatus 10 is shown to include a termination
module 11 having multi-circuit connectors 22, connector members
24 and
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relocatable connectors 28r
The multi-circuit connectors 22 are
preferably ribbon type contact connectors, although
other suitable connector designs will be apparent
to those s~illed in the art. The ribbon type
contact connectors are adapted to receive and couple
with incoming trunk lines or, as in the illustrated
installation, with connectorized cable 30 carrying
the output circuits of the switching means 20~
Connectors 22 are preferably mounted to a panel or
submodule 31 which may be assembled in the factory
prior to installation in the fieldO As mentioned
below, however, in the use of an alternative embod-
iment, the need for suh-module 31 may be eliminated.
The connector members 2~ are also preferably
assembled in sub~modules 32, which may take the
form shown in FIGURES 7 and 8, and each is identi-
fied on the sub-module by some indicia (i.e., the
illustrated numerals 01, 02, etc.) representing
the various stations within the telephone service
area. The station indicia may conveniently be
applied by use of an adhesive strip 35 which is
affixed to sub-module 31 after the station cables
1~ have been terminated. The preferred structure
of the second connector members comprises a gen-
erally U-shaped contact element 33 having a mating
portion 3~ and a terminal portion 37. The mating
portion 34 preferably includes a receptacle means
formed of a dielectric shell 39 having one or more
apertures 36 housing an active contact member 38
and configured to mate directly with any of the
relocatable connectors 28. The terminal portion
37 is adapted to terminate the station cable 1~
and includes a field terminable contact member such
as the slotted insulation-piercing head ~0 which
extends into recess ~2 of the sub-module 32. The
sub-modules 32 are assem~led and mounted onto the
front side 15 of module 11 with the mating an~
terminal portions 3~ and 36 accessible from the
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front side 15~ In the preferred form as illustrated
in the drawings, the mating portions 34 are disposed
inside of the terminal portions 37 on the outwardly
facing surface of module 32D The number of sub-
modules employecl will be clependent upon the numberof stations within the telephone installation and
the anticipated expansion of the install~tion, i
anyO
In accorclance with the embodiment of the
invention illustrated in FIGU~ES 1-4, interconnecting
means are utilized to provide a connectorized junc-
tion between the multi-circuit connectors 22 and
the second connector members 24. Conductors 26
are hard-wired or otherwise permanently affixed to
the ribbon connectors 22 and, at thei~ distal or
free ends, to the relocatable connectors 28. Of
course, each of the conductors 26 has a length
sufficient to reach the connector member posi-
tioned farthest from sub-module 31. Since the
interconnecting means may be assembled and pre-
wired to the ribbon connectors at the factory,
more reliable manufacturing techniclues can be
employed to provide a more rugged and durable
assembly. In addition, space savings can be effected
since factory assembly procedures can be more readily
adapted to miniaturized circuitry and terminations.
As shown in FIGURE~ 7 and 8, the relocatable con-
nectors 28 mate directly with mating portion 34 of
the connector member and bear indicia representing
the multi-circuit connector with which it is coupled
and the individual line therein. In this manner,
the third connector membexs are identifiable with
individual communication channels.
The relocatable connectors 28 may be con-
structed from any of a variety o different
conventional "patch-plug" designs well kno~n to
those skilled in the art. Although a factory
assemblecl construction is preferred, other less
rugge~, field assembled constructions may also be
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utilized. For $xample, the connector disclosed in Canadian
Patent 1,101,091 issued May 12, 1981 to Bunker Ramo Corporation.
Means are also provided to route the various cables
and conductors used in the cross-connect 10. For example, the
station cable 14 are routed through a central channel 44 and
are dressed through apertures 46 in the sidewalls of the channel.
Similarly, the interconnecting conductors 26 are dressed through
a comb-like element 48 at the edge of sub-module 30 and into an
upper channel 50 mounted above channel 44. Again, the conduc-
tors 26 are dressed through apertures 52 in the sidewalls of
channel 50. By selecting the appropriate apertures 46 and 52,
the wiring of the entire cross-connect is ordered and more
easily serviced. FIGURE 5 illustrates the use of comb element
48 which is used in the convential and well-known manner to
take up any unwanted slack in the conductors 26. Upper channel
50 is removably mounted to channel 44 and may be retained in
assembled position by clips 45, screws or other conventional
fastening means.
As is evident from the drawings, the sub-modules 31
and 32 and the routing channels 44 and 50 are all pre-assembled
to main module 11 and can be mounted as an integral assembly in
the field. Since all of the operational components of the
apparatus are accessible from one side of the module, once
mounted the installation is completed simply by first coupling
the incoming trunk lines to ribbon connectors 22, terminating
the individual station cables to the terminal portions 40 of the
connector members 24, and then mating the relocatable connecto s
and second connector members as required.
A modified form of the cross-connect module of the
present invention is illustrated in FIGURE 6 and designated
generally as 10'. Module 10' includes connectors 22 and con-
nector members 24,
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g
anc' interconnecting means ?5 desc.-,ibed above.
In addition, means are provicded to couple the
circuitry of module 10' with that of another
cross-connect module 13, thereby enabling the
interconnection of incoming lines 12 to any of the
connector members 2~ on mo~ule 13. As z result,
the number of stctions serviced by the cross-
connect system of the present invention i.s unlim-
ited. Specifically, module 10' includes at least
one sub-module 60 havincJ transfer connectors 61
identical in confiyuration with the mating- portion
of the connector member 2~. These transfer con-
nectors are wirecl by conductors 63 to an inte.r-module
connector 62 which is preferably a ribbon connector
like those employed as multi-circuit conductors
22. Using a suitably connectorized c?ble assembly
6~, the inter-module connector 62 and, in turn,
the transfer connectors 61 are coupled to the con-
nectors 22 of module 13. Thus, by mating the re-
locatable connectors 28 with one of the transfer
connectors, incoming line 12 to module 10' may be
eoupled with any of the stations associated with
module 13. This unique assemblaye of components
permits simple and expeditious modifieation of the
cro~s-connect system to accommodate an expanded
service area for the communication network.
i.ioclule 10' also includes 2 multiplier
module 70 which inclucles a plurality of multi-
plying connectors 72. The multiplying connectors
aceept one or more reloeatable connectors and are
coupled to the eonnecto~ members of one or more
stations ~Dy means of patchcords or the like. Ac-
cordingly, one or more channel identifiers may be
associated with a plurality of station.q.
Another preferred embodiment of the invention
is illustratec1 in FIGURES 9 and 10. In accordance
with this embodiment, the mnlti-circuit connectors
22 and relocatable connectors 2~ are afisembled to
opposite ends of a multi-conductor cab]e. The
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connectors 22 may then mate with a telephone
switching device or directly with incominy trunk
lines, and the need for a sub-module 31 is completely
eliminated.
FIGU~E~ 9 and 10 show the termination module
80 with front side ~1 and back side ~3, the front
side haviny a plurality of sub-modules 32, each
in turn supporting a plurality of connector members
24. The cable assembly 82 is routed via channels
~4 to the mid-area of the module 80 at which point
the individual line conductors 26 are dressed
through channels 50 to the appropriate connector
member 2A. Similarly, the station cables 1~ are
routed throuyh the lower channels ~ lodule 80
also employs the preferred arrangement of ~u~-
modules 32 and routing channels 4~ and 50, with
the routing channels disposecl on both sides of
the sub-modules.
Due to the unique structure of the present
invention, when the module 10 or 80 is mounted to
a supporting surface, the connector members 24,
and their mating and terminal portions 34 and 37
respectively, are all accessible from the front
side of the module.
Those skilled in the art will recoynize
that the entire termination module, 10 or 80 as
the case may be, can be fabricated by various
plastic molding techniques, and the lower chan-
nels 50 and other components, such as modules 32,
might also be fabricated with it in a single
molding operation.
Of course, it should be understood that
various changes and modifications to the preferred
embodiments described herein will be apparent to
those skilled in the art. Such changes and
modifications can be made without departing from -
the spirit and scope of the present invention and
without ~eminishing its attendant advantages. It
is, therefore, intended that such ch~nges and
modifications be covered by the followincj claims.
