Electricity: electrical systems and devices – Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical... – For electronic systems and devices
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-31
2003-07-01
Paladini, Albert W. (Department: 2827)
Electricity: electrical systems and devices
Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical...
For electronic systems and devices
C361S796000, C361S798000, C439S668000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06587354
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
In general, the present invention relates to assemblies, and, in particular, the present invention relates to a telecommunication assembly, associated DSX module, and backplane circuit boards therefor.
BACKGROUND
A digital signal cross connect (DSX) module is a passive telecommunication module that is disposed between, and couples together two active sections of telecommunication network equipment. DSX modules function as test access points allowing users to monitor or reroute telecommunication signals running through the network equipment. Only occasionally does the need arise to test or reroute these signals.
Current telecommunication assemblies include a PCB backplane with permanently mounted connectors on the back, which serves as a back wall for each assembly, and removable jack modules that connect to the backplane. A major disadvantage with these assemblies is that if one circuit on the PCB backplane becomes inoperable, the entire PCB backplane must be removed and replaced. This replacement makes the entire assembly inoperable for a given amount of time. Moreover, it is very costly to replace the entire backplane when only one of its hundreds of circuits goes “bad”. In addition, many assemblies cannot function without every jack module installed in the assembly because the single backplane is not closed circuited. Further, the singular PCB backplane prevents jacks mounted thereon from easily coupling to the network equipment because they do not protrude outward in stair-step fashion without costly modifications to the connectors themselves.
In addition, the assemblies do not have DSX module guides, which also act as structural supports, thereby resulting in fragile assemblies. Self-closing doors are also not provided in current DSX assemblies to protect the interior of the assemblies when a particular DSX module is absent from a slot. Current designs have a removable plate that screws or snaps into position when the DSX module is removed. This is very cumbersome and time consuming to operate.
SUMMARY
A telecommunication assembly is provided that has a plurality of slots for receiving a plurality of modules therein. The telecommunication assembly couples to a telecommunication network and includes a plurality of distinct backplane circuit boards secured therein for each coupling to one of the plurality of modules.
Each of the plurality of distinct backplane circuit boards include a bounding edge and a back side partially encompassed by the bounding edge. A plurality of first connectors are coupled to the back side for receiving a telecommunication signal from the telecommunication network, a front side is coupled to the back side, and a second connector is mounted on the front side and spaced apart from the at least one jack for coupling to one of the plurality of modules.
The telecommunication assembly is operable with one or more of the plurality of distinct backplane circuit boards removed from the assembly. What's more, the back side of each of the plurality of distinct backplane circuit boards is stepped, staggering at least one of the plurality of first connectors for easy access. The plurality of first connectors are coupled to the back side and are mounted to the bounding edge of the each of the plurality of distinct backplane circuit boards.
A pair of guide ridges are attached to the telecommunication assembly for guiding the plurality of distinct backplane circuit boards when installed in, and removed from, the telecommunication assembly. At least one notch is formed in the bounding edge of each of the plurality of distinct backplane circuit boards. A plurality of tines are coupled to the telecommunication assembly with at least one of the plurality of tines partially extending into one of the notches on the backplane circuit boards.
A plurality of stops are disposed on the telecommunication assembly against which the bounding edge of each of the plurality of distinct backplane circuit boards abuts. A plurality of guide walls are disposed in the assembly for defining the plurality of slots, serving to guide each of the plurality of modules into the telecommunication assembly, and providing structural support to the telecommunication assembly.
At least one projection or strip is disposed on each of the guide walls for aiding in guiding each of the plurality of modules into the telecommunication assembly. Each of the modules includes a flange mounted thereon for gripping by an operator. An aperture is disposed in the assembly for receiving a tab mounted on one of the modules upon insertion of each of the plurality of modules into one of the plurality of slots. Moreover, each of the plurality of distinct backplane circuit boards are secured in parallel with one of the plurality of modules when inserted into one of the slots.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4002399 (1977-01-01), Deitch et al.
patent: 4017770 (1977-04-01), Valfre
patent: 4213013 (1980-07-01), Perna et al.
patent: 4221445 (1980-09-01), Fleischhacker et al.
patent: 4273966 (1981-06-01), Briggs, Jr. et al.
patent: 4286121 (1981-08-01), Olszewski et al.
patent: 4312552 (1982-01-01), Hughes et al.
patent: 4423466 (1983-12-01), Beaun
patent: 4426558 (1984-01-01), Takana et al.
patent: 4514030 (1985-04-01), Triner et al.
patent: 4595799 (1986-06-01), Krob et al.
patent: 4609242 (1986-09-01), Kemppainen
patent: 4618194 (1986-10-01), Kwilos
patent: 4628159 (1986-12-01), Deitch et al.
patent: 4705921 (1987-11-01), Rabey et al.
patent: 4737985 (1988-04-01), DeLuca et al.
patent: 4749968 (1988-06-01), Burroughs
patent: 4768961 (1988-09-01), Lau
patent: 4770639 (1988-09-01), Lau
patent: 4773867 (1988-09-01), Keller et al.
patent: 4796289 (1989-01-01), Masor
patent: 4797114 (1989-01-01), Lau
patent: 4800462 (1989-01-01), Zacher et al.
patent: 4811169 (1989-03-01), DeLuca et al.
patent: 4815104 (1989-03-01), Williams et al.
patent: 4820200 (1989-04-01), Lau
patent: 4821146 (1989-04-01), Behrens et al.
patent: 4861281 (1989-08-01), Warner
patent: 4874317 (1989-10-01), Lau
patent: 4941165 (1990-07-01), Rademacher et al.
patent: 4975087 (1990-12-01), Williams et al.
patent: 5078624 (1992-01-01), Burroughs et al.
patent: 5178554 (1993-01-01), Siemon et al.
patent: 5178558 (1993-01-01), Knox et al.
patent: 5209678 (1993-05-01), Allen et al.
patent: 5214673 (1993-05-01), Morgenstern et al.
patent: 5233501 (1993-08-01), Allen et al.
patent: 5265156 (1993-11-01), Eason et al.
patent: 5272277 (1993-12-01), Humbles et al.
patent: 5281163 (1994-01-01), Knox et al.
patent: 5315488 (1994-05-01), Le Gallo et al.
patent: 5393249 (1995-02-01), Morgenstern et al.
patent: 5432847 (1995-07-01), Hill et al.
patent: 5439395 (1995-08-01), Laukzemis
patent: 5456608 (1995-10-01), Rogers et al.
patent: 5467062 (1995-11-01), Burroughs
patent: 5482469 (1996-01-01), Seiceanu et al.
patent: 5536981 (1996-07-01), Sato et al.
patent: 5546282 (1996-08-01), Hill et al.
patent: 5552962 (1996-09-01), Feustel et al.
patent: 5588869 (1996-12-01), Jensen et al.
patent: 5639261 (1997-06-01), Rutkowski et al.
patent: 5669779 (1997-09-01), Galloway et al.
patent: 5685741 (1997-11-01), Dewey et al.
patent: 5701380 (1997-12-01), Larson et al.
patent: 5734306 (1998-03-01), Jantunen et al.
patent: 5879197 (1999-03-01), Dewey
patent: 5903829 (1999-05-01), Anderson et al.
patent: 5909155 (1999-06-01), Anderson et al.
patent: 5913701 (1999-06-01), Olson et al.
patent: 0 364 658 (1988-04-01), None
patent: 0 243 296 (1990-12-01), None
patent: 2 111 770 (1983-07-01), None
patent: 1582238 (1990-07-01), None
Borg Loren M.
Gordon Merril R.
Kutsch Duane B.
Peterson Gary M.
White Charles William “Bill”
Dinh Tuan
Paladini Albert W.
Wells St. John P.S.
LandOfFree
Telecommunication assembly does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Telecommunication assembly, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Telecommunication assembly will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3015794