Semiconductor device manufacturing: process – Coating with electrically or thermally conductive material – To form ohmic contact to semiconductive material
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-13
2001-06-19
Sircus, Brian (Department: 2839)
Semiconductor device manufacturing: process
Coating with electrically or thermally conductive material
To form ohmic contact to semiconductive material
Reexamination Certificate
active
06248663
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electrical distribution systems, and, more particularly, to electrical data distribution systems.
2. Description of the Related Art
An electrical data distribution system typically transports data in a bidirectional manner to and from a workstation in an office environment. The data may be in the form of voice data conducted over telephone lines, or maybe computer-related data conducted over a modem, local area network (LAN), or wide area network (WAN).
Typically, each workstation in an office environment includes one or more receptacles, with each receptacle having one or more electrical connectors which are each associated with multiple-conductors for transporting the data to and from the workstation. The electrical connectors may be in the form of modular-style connectors such as RJ-45 connectors which allow peripheral equipment such as phones, computers, modems, etc. to be easily connected into the data distribution system.
A problem with a data distribution system as described above is that the connectors at each workstation must be individually hardwired back to a common data distribution location, such as a punch down connector block in a wiring closet. Whenever a workstation is moved or reconfigured, a qualified service technician must disconnect the wiring to the electrical connectors at the affected workstations before the changes can be made. The workstations can then be reconfigured as desired. After the workstations are reconfigured, the service technician must again rewire the electrical connectors in the workstation to the wiring closet. This process is expensive and time consuming.
It is also known to provide a distribution box located in the ceiling space of an office which is wired to the punch down block in the wiring closet. A plurality of breakout connectors in the distribution box allow each workstation to be quickly and easily reconfigured by simply unplugging the electrical cable between the distribution box and the workstation. Such an electrical data distribution system is a step forward over other presently used systems on the market, and is marketed under the name “Versa Cable” (TM).
When used above a ceiling in an office, the electrical distribution system described immediately above is quick, easy and relatively inexpensive to install and reconfigure. Under certain geometric constraints, however, the distribution box for distributing the data to the plurality of workstations may be too large. For example, in certain office environments having a raised floor, it may be desirable to place a distribution box in the floor rather than the ceiling. The space under the raised floor may have a height of only about 1⅛ inch. Moreover, it may also be desirable to place a distribution box within a modular wall panel in an office furniture system. Such wall panels may only have a thickness of 2-3 inches. In such applications with tight geometric space requirements, the size of known distribution boxes may be too large.
What is needed in the art is an electrical data distribution system with a distribution box which fits within small geometric constraints and still allows for high breakout capacity to a number of workstations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a data distribution system with a low profile distribution box having a plurality of feed connectors and break-out connectors.
The invention comprises, in one form thereof, an electrical data distribution system including a housing with two end surfaces and at least six low profile side surfaces. The two end surfaces have an absence of connector cut-outs, and each of the side surfaces has at least one connector cut-out. At least one multi-pin electrical feed connector is disposed within a corresponding one of the cut-outs in a corresponding one of the side surfaces. Each feed connector is configured for connection with a multi-conductor data feed cable. A plurality of multi-pin electrical break-out connectors are associated with a plurality of the side surfaces. Each pin in each break-out connector is electrically connected with one of the pins in a corresponding feed connector. Each break-out connector is disposed within a corresponding one of the cut-outs. The break-out connectors are disposed on different side surfaces than each feed connector. Each break-out connectors is configured for connection with a workstation.
An advantage of the present invention is that the distribution box can fit into spaces with small geometric constraints, while still providing a high number of break-out connectors to workstations.
Another advantage is that the feed connectors and break-out connectors may be arranged in an alternating manner to avoid error during installation.
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Bixler Randall L.
DeWitt Donald E.
Einhaus Robert
Kochanski Walter T.
Nowels Rick
Pent Products, Inc.
Sircus Brian
Taylor & Aust P.C.
Webb Brian S.
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