GB2398435A

GB2398435A - Outlet sharing device

Info

Publication number: GB2398435A
Application number: GB0307733A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jason Lee James
Original assignee: HellermannTyton Data Ltd
Current assignee: HellermannTyton Data Ltd
Priority date: 2003-01-09
Filing date: 2003-04-03
Publication date: 2004-08-18
Also published as: GB0300485D0; GB0307733D0

Abstract

A device for enabling a Cat 5, Cat 5e or Cat 6 data cable to carry at least two distinct signals simultaneously comprises a body (3) having first (7), second (8) and third (9) RJ45 jacks, connections being provided between the contacts of the first jack and respective contacts of the second and third jacks. By using pairs of identical devices two signals may be combined, fed through a data cable, and split at the opposite end. The devices maintain integrity of the data system to the required protocol standard. The bodies (3) are preferably colour coded so as to identify the particular combination of connections provided by each device.

Description

OUTLET SHARING DEVICES

This invention relates to an outlet sharing device, that is to say a device which enables a single data outlet socket to be shared by two pieces of equipment.

The use of structured cabling within a building has become the standard way of disseminating data around a building. A structured cabling installation typically comprises one or more patch panels located in a communications cabinet or room, each of the patch panels having a plurality of jacks mounted thereon. Each jack is connected to one end of a data cable. The other end of each data cable is terminated onto a single jack at a convenient location. By means of such structured cabling systems data can readily be transmitted around a building. However, problems exist if additional outlets are required subsequent to the original installation. In general, laying additional data cables to new outlets is time consuming and expensive.

It is generally known to those skilled in the art that structured cabling installations normally utilize data cable having four twisted pairs of conductors. The most usual data protocols (Cat 5,5E and Cat 6) make use of only two ofthese twisted pairs. Accordingly, if an installation has been wired for Cat 5, Cat 5E or Cat 6 it is theoretically possible to make use of the unused twisted pairs to allow more products to make use of the existing cabling arrangements. However, heretofore the arrangements for making use of these "unused" pairs have been considerably less than satisfactory. Typically, at the patch panel end it is necessary to re-terminate the cable from a single jack to a pair of adjacent jacks, possibly on a different patch panel. At the room outlet end it has been necessary to replace an existing single outlet with a double outlet appropriately wired. Even if modifications of this type are made it is difficult if not impossible for re-wired jacks to conform with the demanding standards typically required for data cabling installations. This is particularly true in the case of Cat 5E or Cat 6 standards.

Plug-in splitters have been proposed which obviate the need for re-wiring.

However, existing plug-in splitters have not addressed the problem of maintaining

compliance with system specifications. I

The present invention provides sharing devices which enable the inherent redundancy of typical data cables to be utilized whilst maintaining system standards.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention a sharing device comprises a first and a second RJ45 jack mounted on a common body; means for connecting a first group of pins of the first jack to a corresponding group of pins of the second jack, and means for connecting a second group of pins of the first jack to pins of a third jack which is also mounted on the common body.

In general, the connection between the first group of pins of the first jack and the corresponding group ofthe pins of the second jack will be configured to meet Cat j or Cat 5E standards for data transmission. Accordingly, if the first jack is connected to the structured cabling system by a patch lead, the second jack may be used to connect a product, for example a computer, to the structured cabling in accordance with Cat 5 or Cat 5E standards. The connection between the second group of pins of the first jack and the third jack will be configured in accordance with the intended use of the third jack. If the third jack is required for data transmission then the group of pins of the third jack to which connections are made will be the standard data I transmission pairs in accordance with Cat 5 or Cat 5E standards. If the third jack is required for some other purpose, for example voice, the pins of the third jack used for connection will be selected accordingly.

When a sharing device in accordance with the present invention is used at the outlet end of a data cable some means must be provided at the patch panel end of the structured cabling to provide corresponding splitting of the cable pairs. In one preferred embodiment of the invention a sharing device identical to the first sharing device is used for this purpose. Bearing in mind the various splitting permutations; available it is preferred that each sharing device is appropriately marked, for example; by colour coding, to identify the particular arrangements for connections it provides.

By this means, the necessary adaption at the patch panel end can be achieved by using a sharing device of the same colour as that at the remote end of the cable.

In an alternative arrangement, the standard patch panel may be replaced by a second patch panel in which the data cables are terminated in a manner to provide two jacks connected to each data cable in accordance with whatever convention is required. The second patch panel may be provided with one IDC connection set for each data cable with the necessary splitting of the conductors being effected within the patch panel by appropriate connections between each set of lDC connectors and two or more jack outlets. Alternatively, each jack outlet of the second patch panel may have associated with it an individual set of IDC connectors so that the conductors of the data cable are split and connected to respective sets of IDC connectors, each IDC connector being connected directly to an associated jack.

In a further and particularly preferred arrangement the standard patch panel which would have been provided at the time of the structure cabling installation is left in place and a further patch panel is provided at some convenient point. The further patch panel has, on its rear surface, jacks which may be connected by patch leads to an existing standard patch panel. Each of the jacks on the further patch panel is connected to two or more jacks on the front of the further patch panel to provide the; necessary splitting of the single input into multiple outputs in accordance with the I wiring convention to be employed.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention the sharing devices have a total of four jacks. In general, the connection between the first jack and the second jack will be in accordance with Cat 5 or Cat 5E standards in order to allow the second jack to be used for data transmission. The third and fourth jacks may be used for any desired purpose, for example data, fax or digital or analogue voice signals. In all cases, the arrangement is such that the required integrity of system performance is facilitated by the arrangement of the jacks.

Preferably, all the jacks of any one splitting device are mounted on a common printed circuit board which provides the connection between the required pins.

Preferably, the track layout on the printed circuit board is chosen to provide the required standard compliance.

Preferably an appropriate connector, for example an lDC connector, is I mounted on the printed circuit board to allow a data cable to be connected to the tracks in parallel to the connections provided to the first jack. With such an arrangement, the sharing device may be used to provide multiple outlets from a single data cable.

The invention will be better understood from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, given by way of example only, reference being had to the accompanying drawing wherein: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention viewed from one end; i Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the embodiment of Figure 1, viewed from the other end, and Figure 3 is an exploded view of the components of Figures 1 and 2.

The outlet sharing device I shown in the drawings comprises a body 2 formed by an upper body portion 3 and a lower body portion 4 which, in use, are connected together by suitable means, for example a screw 5. Within the body 2 is mounted a printed circuit board 6 and mounted on the printed circuit board is a first jack 7, a I second jack 8, a third jack 9 and a fourth jack 10. As illustrated, the jacks are all ofthe RJ45 type. In general, the first jack and the second jack will be of the RJ45 type. The third and fourth jacks may be of other types depending on the exact nature of the equipment to be used with the sharing device.

As will be understood by those skilled in the art, each jack includes a plurality of contact strips which are electrically connected to pins which extend from the base of each jack. When the jacks are mounted on the PCB tracks on the PCB provide connections between various of the pins of the jacks. In general, tracks on the PCB; will connect pins 3,4,5 and 6 of the RJ45 jack 7 to the corresponding pins of the RJ45; jack 8. The connections provided by the printed circuit board will be arranged so that the connector formed by the jacks 7 and 8 and the PCB meet the requirements of one s of the recognized data transmission standards, for example Cat 5E. Accordingly, so far as appliances connected to the jacks 7 and 8 and making use only of the standard Cat 5E pairs are concerned, the device 1 will appear as a simple connector. In the circumstances, the jack 7 may be connected to a wall or floor outlet of a structured cable system by means of a suitable patch lead and an appliance, for example a computer, may be connected to the jack 8 by a suitable patch lead. The computer will operate as if it was connected to a wall or floor outlet.

Tracks on the PCB connect pins 1 and 2 and 7 and 8 of the jack 7 to some pins of one or both of the jacks 9 and 10. The exact connection arrangements will depend upon the intended use of the sharing device. If, for example, the sharing device is intended to provide an analogue voice line and an analogue fax line, both of which require only one pair of conductors, pins I and 2 of the jack 7 will be connected to an appropriate pair of pins of the jack 9, and pins 7 and 8 ofthe jack 7 will be connected to an appropriate pair of pins of the jack 10. If, however, the sharing device is intended to allow two Cat 5 or Cat 5E appliances to share a single structured cabling outlet pins 1 and 2 and 7 and 8 of the jack 7 will be connected to pins 3,4,5, and 6 of one of the jacks 9, 10, and the remaining jack will be surplus to requirements. Under these circumstances, the arrangement of the jacks on the printed circuit board will ensure that the connection between the jack 7 and the jack 9 or 10 meet Cat 5 or Cat 5E standards, as required.

An IDC connector 11 is also mounted on the PCB 6. As illustrated, the IDC connector is suitable for terminating four twisted pairs. The connection of the IDC connector to the PCB is such that the connections provided by the IDC connector are parallel to the connections provided to the pins ofthe jack 7. Accordingly, if desired a suitable data cable may be secured directly to the IDC connector 11 to provide an alternative input/output to that provided by the jack 7.

It is envisaged that outlet sharing devices in accordance with the present invention will be manufactured to provide several possible combinations of cable splitting. In order to utilize any one such device, a second device having the same splitting arrangement will be utilized at the end ofthe data cable remote from the first device. In other words, the devices will be utilized in pairs to provide the necessary combining function at one end of the existing cable and splitting function at the other end of the data cable. To facilitate identifying which splitters constitute a pair the splitters are preferably colour coded, for example by making one or both of the body parts 3,4 of a colour distinctive of the connections provided by the particular sharing device. Additionally or alternatively one of the body components may be provided with indicia as to the type of connection provided by the device.

As an alternative to using the devices in pairs, a conventional RJ45 patch panel located at one end of a group of data cables may be replaced by a special purpose dual patch panel. This will require re-termination of the data cables to the new patch panel, but if a suitable format is selected, a suitable termination of each cable onto an IDC connector will provide, via a PCB, suitable connections to two or more jacks on the new patch panel. This arrangement will be particularly suitable if it is intended that two Cat 5 or Cat 5E standard devices will share a common data cable. The use of a purpose built double patch panel will facilitate, in a very neat and compact manner, doubling of the cable capacity of a whole group of data cables.

An alternative form of patch panel for use and implementing the present invention as illustrated in Figure 4. The patch panel 15 is of conventional rack mounted design and includes on the front face thereof a plurality of jacks. A plurality of jacks 16 are provided on the rear surface ofthe patch panel. Each ofthejacks 16 on the rear surface is connected to two jacks on the front surface with the connections being arranged so that the necessary splitting of the pairs is achieved within the body 17 of the patch panel 15. To utilize the patch panel 15 it is secured at a convenient position adjacent an existing standard patch panel. The standard patch panel is then patched into each of the jacks 16. The jacks on the front of the patch panel 15 will then provide two jacks corresponding to each single jack of the standard patch panel.

With this arrangement it is not necessary to disturb the original termination ofthe data cables to the lDC connectors of the originally fitted patch panel.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A sharing device comprising a first and a second RJ45 jack

mounted on a common body; means for connecting a first group of contacts ofthe first RJ45 jack to a corresponding group of contacts ofthe second RJ45 jack and means for connecting a second group of contacts of the first RJ45 jack to contacts of a third jack which is also mounted on the common body.
2. A sharing device according to claim 1 wherein the connection between the first RJ45 jack and the second RJ45 jack is a Cat 5, Cat 5E or Cat 6 connection.
3. A sharing device according to claim I or claim 2 wherein the third jack is an RJ45 jack and the connection between the first RJ45 jack and the third jack is a Cat 5, Cat 5E or Cat 6 connection.
4. A sharing device according to claim 1 wherein a fourth j ack is mounted on the common body and means are provided for connecting a third group of contacts ofthe first RJ45 jack to contacts of the fourth jack.
5. A sharing device according to any preceding claim wherein the jacks are mounted on a common printed circuit board which provides the connections between the jacks.
6. A sharing device according to claim 5 wherein an IDC connector is provided connected to the jacks whereby a data cable may be terminated to the IDC connector to provide connections between the conductors of the data cable and the jacks.
7. A sharing device according to claim 6 wherein the IDC connector is mounted on the printed circuit board.
8. A sharing device according to any preceding claim wherein the body is coded to identify the arrangement of connections provided by the device.
9. A sharing device according to claim 8 wherein the body coding is colour coding whereby a pair of like coloured devices may be used at opposite ends of a data cable to combine signals to be transmitted by the cable and separate the signals at the opposite ends of the cable.
10. A patch panel comprising a plurality of IDC connectors each adapted to terminate the conductors of a data cable; and, for each IDC connector, at least two jacks each connected to respective groups of contacts ofthe IDC connector whereby a data cable, terminated to an IDC connector, will be connected to two jacks of the patch panel.
11. A patch panel comprising a plurality of jacks, a first group of the jacks each being connected to a plurality of a second group of the jacks whereby a data cable plugged into any one ofthe jacks ofthe first group will be connected to at least two of the jacks of the second group.
12. A structured cable installation comprising at least one data cable which is terminated at each end to an RJ45 jack, and a respective sharing device according to any of claims 1-9 connected to each end of the data cable by a patch lead which connects the RJ45 jack of the data cable to the first RJ45 jack of the sharing device.
13. A structured cable installation comprising at least one data cable which is terminated at one end to an RJ45 jack and is terminated at the other end to patch panel according to claim 10, and a sharing device according to any of claims 1-9 connected to the data cable by a patch lead which connects the RJ45 jack ofthe data cable to the first RJ45 jack of the sharing device.

]4. A structured cable installation comprising at least one data cable which is terminated at each end to an RJ45 jack, a sharing device according to any of claims 1- 9 connected to one end ofthe data cable by a patch lead which connects one RJ45 jack of the data cable to the first RJ45 jack of the sharing device, and a patch panel according to claim 11 connected to the RJ45 at the other end of the data cable by a patch lead which connects the other of the RJ45 jacks of the data cable to one of the jacks of the first group of the patch panel.