GB2494375A

GB2494375A - Breakout connection box

Info

Publication number: GB2494375A
Application number: GB1111567.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Glynn Hughes
Original assignee: Hughes Electronics Ltd
Current assignee: Hughes Electronics Ltd
Priority date: 2011-07-06
Filing date: 2011-07-06
Publication date: 2013-03-13
Anticipated expiration: 2031-07-06
Also published as: GB201111567D0; GB2494375B

Abstract

A wall mounted connection box is provided that comprises a base and cover held together by guide lugs and screws. The internal cavity of the box comprises at least one multipair telecom connection block and an array of RJ45 or similar individual connection points, typically (but not always) conjoined by a PCB 8 bearing transmission tracks. Thus the connection box will adapt or convert multiple signals carried on pairs of conductors by multipair cable, terminated onto the said multipair connection block 9, into individual signals represented by an individual connector interface such as the said RJ45 interfaces.

Description

I

Breakout Connection Box

Field of the invention ----

The present invention concerns improvements in and relating to the distribution of Telephone line signals at the entry point of office and business environs where multiple telephone lines are deployed and communication to and from internal equipment and cabling of an such environments, e.g. PABX systems, Line Jack units, fax machines, routers etc. is required.

Background of the Invention

Prior art Connection boxes that connect incoming telephone signals from service providers such as British Telecom to indoor cabling have been in existence for 60 years or more. Such boxes nominally contain at least one lOpair IDC (Insulation Displacement Connector) connection (or disconnection) block. The connection block typically has 20 one pair terminals, 10 one pair terminals on each side of the block. The terminals are conjoined in the middle -p!pd!nQ a connection arrangement through the block. One such bJock was the subjoct of USA Patent No. 5,044,979. One side of the connection block is used by the Service Provider to terminate the service, the other side of the block is used by engineers to pick up the Service Providers line transmissions and serve them to the consumers local area cabling and equipment. In this way the consumer engineer does not need to touch the supplier terminations and visa-versa, the block forms a clear demarcation line where the responsibility of the Service Provider ends and the consumers' responsibility begins.

Onward connection to analogue consumer PABX systems (where the multiple signals are split up and distributed to different areas would generally be effected in the same way, a multipair cable link from the consumer side of the connection box terminated in the PABX on an IDC connection block. In order to connect to the Service Providers line on the connection block to the PABX or any other consumer side equipment however the prior art box containing the connection block must be opened which offers opportunity to damage the connections on the service provider side. a

Moreover telecommunication technology has moved on in recent years, the most notable advance being made in the field of IP telephony. IP based PABX's and other digital equipment such as routers and fax machines mostly deploy single plug and play' incoming line interfaces such as RJ45 making interconnectivity between the multipair IDC style connection boxes and IP based PABX's and other equipment more difficult. There is a need for a connection device that converts the IDC connection block interface to single line interfaces of the same type as the IP based equipment in office environments. Moreover there is a need to connect to a more diverse range of equipment and breakout out of the multipair connection style to single line interfaces before the PABX, and for the consumer to be able to reconfigure the cabling and equipment him/herself without the need to employ a telecom engineer. In large structured voice and data environments this can be done through a patch panel system, but in smaller non structured environments there is a need to manage these diverse connections in a simple and orderly manner.

Summary of the invention

The applicants of the present application have developed a new system that alleviates the deficiencies of the prior art, it equally operates as a clear entry and demarcation point between Service Providers and Consumers but also converts the consumer side signal to an easy to use plug and play' connector presentation such as, but not limited to, RJ45, RJ1 1 or Er 631a that the consumer can deal with.

The present application seeks to create a simpler more unified internal telecoms cabling environment, principally by consolidating all the incoming line signals and presenting them to the consumer in a much more user centric manner.

One of the problems that the application solves is that the existing connection boxes, which are still in prevalent use today, require the knowledge of a telecom engineer to deploy both at the provider side and the consumer side. It is difficult for a non-professional to understand and use, any reconfigurations of the consumers' internal equipment must be performed by a professional. The new breakout connection box (subject of this application) allows the consumer to configure his own cabling in different ways simply by changing pre-terminated cables around.

A further problem solved is that most equipment such as local PABX's (telephone switchboards) are now digital, incoming! outgoing transmissions are served through RJ45, RJ1 1 or similar style connectors. Such connector presentations are not conducive to easy connection to the prior art IDC style connection block boxes, the present application solves that problem by presenting the same style of connectors on the consumer side of the box as are used generally on equipment. The consumer can thereby deploy a simple plug and play' pre terminated patch cable from the connection box to the equipment.

Moreover the conversion of voice and data has resulted in many different types of digital telecom equipment such as Routers, Faxes, and other digital equipment needing line connections. All types of equipment can be connected directly to the box with a simple patch cable' allowing the consumer to make instant moves, changes and reconfigurations. Simply by changing a patch cable' to a different connector the consumer can change the source line or number sewing the equipment for example. No longer does the device need to be connected to the box through an intermediary connector unit or PABX.

A further benefit is provided for the Service Provider, since the consumer side connections are presented and can be accessed easily on the side of the box without opening it, it can be sealed by the Service Provider (who's equipment it usually is) after installation. Because consumer side interfaces are presented at the side of the box, connections and changes can be made without opening the bOx Or touching the Service Providers termination block. There exists therefore no possibility of damaging the Service Providers terminations, possibly the most prolific cause of connectivity problems on the supply side.

The breakout box can also be configured to present multiple extensions of the same line at the side of the box, making the creation of line extensions very simple and access convenient.

Breakout boxes with different styles of connectors are presented, for different applications and equipment, all of which can be conjoined to create a whole, complex telecoms environment simply and conveniently in different plug and play configurations.

An objective of the system is to present an easier to use, more flexible entry point and demarcation line for multiple telephone lines that, can be understood and used by a layman without having to call upon the services of a telecoms professional to deal with.

A further objective is to make source to destination signals more easily interchangeable e.g. changing the line from a fax to a router and visa versa by simply swapping a connecting cable from one socket on the box to another without recourse to a telecoms professional or an intermediary structured wiring patch panel system.

A further objective is to provide consumers with an easy to use consolidation point and simple method of creating multiple extensions from a single line presented readily at the sFcie of the box Further Objectives include: To create a simple to use and efficient entry point and demarcation line between the Service Providers and consumer' wiring that can be conjoined to other boxes to create a whole telecoms environment.

To provide the Service provider with a safer environment in which to house his incoming termination.

To simplify the creation of a complex telephone environment.

The inventions set forth hereinafter are intended to cover all classifications of IDC blocks, and Service Provider style termination blocks such as screw terminals or other termination types in all countries. The system is intended to work with all telecoms type cable worldwide. For the purpose of this document UK standards and terminology will be used as an example and, for the purpose of this document: Company side means supplier side (generally outside the building and up to the multipair terminal block); and Customer side means consumer side (generally inside the building from the individual connection interfaces) 6 -The box elements referred to hereinafter are intended to cover all examples of line telecom connection boxes.

The breakout connection box can be any style of box, made out of any material, lockable or not containing a company side multi pair termination point, typically but not always an DC multipair connection block and consumer side terminations where the consumer side of the box is presented as plug in' style connections such as, but not limited to, RJ45, FIJi 1 or BT 631 a. Alternatively the consumer side termination may be presented as one single plug in style connector such as, but not limited to, an RJ21 connector designed to handle transmissions from multiple pairs of telecom cable, in this event the RJ21 style connector would probably but not always be terminated with or attached to a multi pair cable harness where the pairs are broken out of the cable into single or double pairs termRrnted with RJ45 or mHar intertaces. Alternatively such a cable may be terminated on the far side side with another PJ21 or similar connector, in this event the RJ21 can be connected to another embodiment of the connection box where the Company side is presented as an RJ21 plug in style connector and the Consumer side is represented by multiple separate plug in' style connections designed to handle transmissions from single lines such as, but not limited to RJ45, RJ11 or BT631a Embodiments of breakout connection boxes may be of any type or description containing a Company side multi-pair connection block of any description and consumer side plug in style terminations of any description The box will typically, but not always contain a PCB (Printed Circuit Board) typically conjoined, or with the ability to be conjoined, to the Company side connection block and the Consumer side connection points, in so doing join the Company side multi-pair connection block to the Consumer side connection points so as to enable transmissions emanating from the Company side connection block to reach equipment via the connector devices on the consumer side ot the box.

The consumer side connectors are accessible on the side of the box allowing access when the box is closed and secured.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is a schematic of the prior art connection box Figure 2A is a schematic of the new breakout connection box style 1 Figure 28 is a schematic of the new breakout connection box style 2 Figure 2C is a schematic of the new breakout connection box style 3 Figure 2D is a schematic of the new breakout connection box style 4 Figure 3 is a schematic of a breakout box based telecoms environment

Detailed description of the drawings

1) Existing Connection Box Drawing one shows a typical internal schematic of a prior art connection box, wherein there are two 10 pair connection blocks2 laid out side by side connected with incoming (Service Provider side) and outgoing (Consumer side) cables. The demarcation line between consumers and providers side is shown in red. The top of the box must be screwed on after termination by the Service Provider engineer and removed by the consumer side engineer to access and terminate consumer side cables.

2) Embodiments of the present invention Preferred embodiments of the present invention which can be of any style made out of any material, lockable or not, will now be more particularly described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 2a) Connection Block to Multiple Connectors (embodiment 1) Is a box containing a typical company side multi pair termination block4 and consumer side RJ45 terminations typical of those found in digital equipment.

The box contains a PCB3 (Printed Circuit Board) conjoined to the Company side multiple connection block and the Consumer side RJ45 connections2. The board contains copper tracks that aflow transmissions from the Company side multi-pair connection block to the Consumer side connection points on the consumer side of the box. The box has a cutout on the side making the consumer side connectors accessible from the side of the box even when the box is closed and secured.

2b) Connection Block to Multiple Connectors (embodiment 2) In a refinement of the first embodiment of the connection box described in 1 The PCB is connected to the Consumer side connectors but is not connected to the Company side termination block9.

The PCB8 is instead terminated with individual one pair DC connectors, (in further embodiments these may be screw or any other style of terminal) that may be conjoined to the consumer deof the termination bck with small jumper wires without touching the company side terminations. In this way the connection box may be configured and reconfigured in different patterns to suit many dIfferent wiring configurations needs and applications. A combination of typical wiring configurations is shown here where three line extensions are created from one line and two other lines are bussed directly to separate RJ 45 connectors7.

2c) Connection Block to Multipair Connector style 3 In a third embodiment the connection boxes described at 1 and 2 above may be installed with a Multipair plug in connector12 interface on the consumer side such as, but not limited to an FIJ21 connector. In this embodiment the said FIJ21 style connector would typically, but not always be mated with a similar connector attached to a multi pair cable harness11 where the pairs are broken out of the cable and terminated with plug in' style connectors such as, but not limited to RJ45 connectors Alternatively the accompanying cable may be terminated on the far side with another RJ2lin order that a daisy chain' of boxes may be effected.

S

2d) Multipair Connector to Multiple connectors style 4 In a fourth embodiment of the connection box described at 1, 2 and 3 above the Company side is presented as an RJ21 plug in style connector19 and the Consumer side is represented by RJ45 connections17.

3) Breakout box based telecom environment Drawing 3 shows a typical telecoms environment that may be constructed using a number of connection breakout boxes of different embodiments ci

Claims

<claim-text>Claims 1. A telephone line connection box comprising of a box or housing incorporating at least one block wiring connector and one pluggable connector interface such as but not limited to an RJ45 socket.</claim-text> <claim-text>2. A connection box as described in claim 1 with a means for connecting the block wiring and the connector interface.</claim-text> <claim-text>3. A connection box as described in claim 1 that is able to act as a clear entry point and demarcation line between Company and Consumer sides, with a means to present the telephone lines to the Consumer side through single line plug and play interfaces such as but not limited to RJ4S interfaces.</claim-text> <claim-text>4. A connection box as described in claim 1 with a means of latching or fastening, in so doing locking off' the company side and internal components whilst allowing access to source line transmissions through the connector interfaces without opening or dealing with any part of the box or housing.</claim-text> <claim-text>5. A connection box as described in claim 1 with a means of presenting incoming telephone lines to the Consumer side in such a manner as to be able to reconfigure any source line to any destination equipment without opening or dealing with the box or housing or any component completely housed therein.</claim-text> <claim-text>S. Aconnection box as described in claim 1 with a means of being configured to passively multiplex a single line and a multiple thereof so as to make accessible to the consumer multiple extensions of that line.</claim-text> <claim-text>7. A connection box that can manage multiple incoming telephone lines and present them as individual lines for plug and play patching to any electronic device, e.g. PABX, faxcimile, telephone or computer without the necessity of transiting through an intermediary splitter, patch panel system, connector or other device.</claim-text> <claim-text>8. A connection box as described in claim 1 that can facilitate flexible diverse interchangeable connections direct from the incoming telephone line source to any telecoms or data based product 9. A connection box as described in claim 1 with a means of being conjoined to other connection boxes to create an entire flexible telecoms environment.</claim-text>