Electrical connectors – Preformed panel circuit arrangement – e.g. – pcb – icm – dip,... – Within distinct housing spaced from panel circuit arrangement
Reexamination Certificate
1997-09-29
2001-11-27
Abrams, Neil (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
Preformed panel circuit arrangement, e.g., pcb, icm, dip,...
Within distinct housing spaced from panel circuit arrangement
C439S409000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06322375
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to telecommunications equipment and more particularly to devices which are used to provide an interface between network lines of a service provider and customer premises equipment.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A network interface device (NID) installed at a home or business serves as an interface between a service provider network and the telephones, facsimile machines and other customer premises equipment within the home or business. The NID generally includes a customer-accessible bridge which connects the customer premises equipment to the network via the service provider communication lines. The NID also typically provides termination points for the communication lines from the customer and the service provider, as well as electrical protection in accordance with applicable code requirements.
In conventional NIDs, the discrete bridges, terminations, electrical protection units and other internal components are usually wired together manually by either the manufacturer or installer. This unduly increases the complexity and cost associated with manufacturing, installing, servicing and replacing the NID, while also significantly reducing its reliability. In addition, the conventional manually-wired NED is difficult to adapt to variations in customer line requirements. For example, it is a labor-intensive process to add or remove individual line interfaces from an existing conventional NID. As a result, it may be necessary to replace an otherwise workable NID simply because the customer requirements change. Furthermore, the conventional NID architecture is not readily adaptable for use in increasingly important applications such as fixed wireless installations, fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) and other types of broadband, high speed data access applications.
A need therefore exists for an improved NID which avoids the problems associated with conventional manually-wired NIDs and has a flexible architecture which can accommodate the line requirements of fixed wireless installations, high speed data and other important applications.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An improved NID in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention includes a base, a cover attached to the base, and a circuit board secured within the base. The circuit board includes terminations for input and output communication lines. The terminations may be implemented as insulation displacement connecting devices, binding posts, screw terminals or other suitable connectors mounted on the circuit board. Each pair of input and output communication lines corresponds to a single standard telephone line, high speed data line or other type of line. A given input line supplied from a service provider network is connected to an input line termination on the circuit board, while the corresponding output line termination is connected to customer premises wiring. The circuit board also provides a subscriber bridge between a given set of input and output line terminations. The bridge may include a jack and a corresponding plug connected between the given input and output line terminations, such that inserting the plug in the jack establishes a connection between the input and output line terminations via traces in the circuit board. The bridge is accessible when the cover is in a closed position through an access door in the cover, such that the plug can be disconnected from the jack for testing the communication line. Other types of bridges may also be used, including self-disconnecting jacks. The incorporation of input and output line terminations and the bridge onto a single circuit board considerably simplifies manufacturing, installation and servicing of the NID, while increasing both reliability and flexibility.
In a NID configured for use in a fixed wireless installation, the circuit board may also include terminations for input and output power lines. Like the communication line terminations, the power line terminations may also be implemented using insulation displacement connecting devices, binding posts or other suitable connectors. An input power line from a power supply is connected to an input power line termination on the circuit board, and a connection is established through traces of the circuit board to the corresponding output power line termination. An output power line connected to this termination may be delivered to a remote unit of a wireless system. In accordance with the invention, the base and cover of the NID may be extended to define an additional compartment, adjacent the circuit board, for holding the power supply. The circuit board may further include power protection circuitry for protecting the input and output power lines. This a power protection circuitry can be connected between the input and output power line terminations via traces in the circuit board. Similar embodiments may be used in fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) applications as well as any other application which requires connections between a power line termination within the NID and a power line input of an external electronic unit. Other alternative embodiments may incorporate a power supply into the NID itself, such that connections between the power supply and power line terminations on the circuit board may be established through traces in the circuit board.
Another aspect of the invention relates to ensuring proper contacts at the internal terminations of the NID. In accordance with this aspect of the invention, an inner surface of the NID cover may include projections corresponding to the terminations, such that closing the cover automatically applies pressure to the terminations and ensures a reliable contact at each termination. Embodiments of the invention which utilize insulation displacement connecting devices or any other termination in which a contact with a wire is made by applying pressure to the termination may make use of this aspect of the invention.
A NID in accordance with the invention may also be configured such that the base accommodates a number of distinct modules, each including input and output terminations for a given communication line. Each of the modules may be implemented as a circuit board or in the form of a lead frame module, and each may support a different type of communication line. For example, a modular NID of this type may include a first module including input and output terminations, a subscriber bridge and power protection for a standard telephone line, and one or more additional modules containing similar components for high speed data lines as well as other types of lines. This modular arrangement makes it very easy to upgrade or otherwise alter the characteristics of the NID in accordance with changing customer requirements, without replacing or substantially rewiring the existing NID. One or more of the modules may include input and output power line terminations, as well as corresponding power protection circuitry, for use in fixed wireless, FTTH and other applications. Like the other embodiments of the invention, the modules of the modular NID may make use of insulation displacement connecting devices, binding posts or other suitable connectors.
The power protection circuitry of a NID configured for use in a fixed wireless or FTTH application may include a series circuit connected between a first power line and a second power line. The series circuit may be arranged as a series connection of a first fuse, a first varistor, a second varistor and a second fuse, with the interconnection of the first and second varistor in the series connection also connected to ground. This arrangement ensures that either or both of the varistors can be effectively disconnected in the event of overheating or other type of failure, without entirely disconnecting power to the remote unit of the fixed wireless system. As a result, emergency calls can be made even in the event of a varistor failure. The power line terminations may be mounted on a circuit board secured to the base of the NID, such that the power protection circuitry is connected between the
Cole Thelma E.
Cowan Douglas Lewis
Daoud Bassel Hage
Kerr David Stevens
Kluska Theodore Edward
Abrams Neil
Avaya Technology Corp.
Ryan & Mason & Lewis, LLP
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