Electrical connectors – Preformed panel circuit arrangement – e.g. – pcb – icm – dip,... – Within distinct housing spaced from panel circuit arrangement
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-23
2001-03-20
Sircus, Brian (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
Preformed panel circuit arrangement, e.g., pcb, icm, dip,...
Within distinct housing spaced from panel circuit arrangement
C439S676000, C379S399010
Reexamination Certificate
active
06203334
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to modular jack receptacles and, more particularly, to a modular jack receptacle including a removable interface that obviates the need to hard-wire test and diagnostic equipment in-line with the modular jack, and that provides greater flexibility in the placement and upgrade of electronic equipment placed in-line with the modular jack.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
When providing voice and/or data service from a Central Office (CO) to Customer Premise Equipment (CPE), a building entrance protector (BEP) having a plurality of modular jacks may be provided at the CPE and serves as the point of demarcation between the service provider and customer premise location. Equipment (including wiring) located on the customer side of the BEP is the customer's responsibility, and equipment (including wiring) located on the CO side of the BEP is the service provider's responsibility.
A modular jack is typically provided for each communication line from the service provider, and each line may also include an electronic device such as, for example, a maintenance test unit (MTU) or a half-ringer, hard-wired at the BEP in the line and in series with the modular jack. To diagnose a problem on a particular line from the CO to the customer premise location, the service provider can execute diagnostic tests remotely (i.e., from the CO) to activate the in-line electronics device. With this hard-wired configuration, only a single type of electronic device may be provided in each line from the CO. Moreover, replacement and/or upgrade of an existing in-line electronic device requires that the existing device be severed from the line and a new device be hard-wired in its place. This process can be both time-consuming and expensive.
It is thus desirable to provide a means for inserting and removing an electronic device from a communication line that overcomes the above-described shortcomings of the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a modular jack receptacle that includes a plurality of removable interfaces that provide for interconnection between and among the plurality of interfaces and a modular jack held by the receptacle.
In a preferred embodiment, the present invention is directed to a modular jack receptacle adapted to accept and hold a modular jack that includes a terminal. The modular jack receptacle comprises a housing having an aperture for accepting the modular jack. A first interface provided in the housing includes a first connector for making an electronic connection to the modular jack terminal when the modular jack is held within the receptacle. A second interface is provided in the housing and includes a second connector for making an electronic connection to the first connector when the second interface is placed within the housing, thus establishing an electronic connection between the modular jack and the second interface.
The present invention is also directed to a system for evaluating a communication line provided between a central office (CO) and a customer premise location. The CO may include communications equipment for communicating a signal from the CO to the customer premise location over the communications line, and the system comprises a modular jack receptacle adapted to accept and hold a modular jack that includes a terminal. The modular jack receptacle is located at the customer premise location and connected to the communication line. The receptacle comprises a housing having an aperture for accepting the modular jack and a first interface provided in the housing and including a first connector for making an electronic connection to the modular jack terminal when the modular jack is held within the modular jack receptacle. A second interface is provided that is removably placeable in the housing and includes a second connector for making an electronic connection to the first connector when the second interface is placed within the housing. The second interface further comprises electronic circuits, devices, connectors, etc. adapted for receiving the signal communicated from the CO and for communicating a return signal to the CO in response to the received signal.
Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings, which are not to scale, are designed solely for the purpose of illustration and not as a definition of the limits of the invention, for which reference should be made to the appended claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4220391 (1980-09-01), Krolak et al.
patent: 4756695 (1988-07-01), Lane et al.
patent: 5074801 (1991-12-01), Siemon
Daoud Bassel H.
Helmstetter Christopher M.
Kerr David S.
Pelosi Walter
Sumetskiy Mikhail
Avaya Technology Corp.
Patel T. C.
Sircus Brian
Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP
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