BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a device for carrying out measurements on communication lines, such as telephone lines. In particular, the invention relates to a device for measuring on communication lines, comprising a housing having a first and a second series of contacts for connecting measuring lines, as well as a connecting le=-d having a connector for connecting the device to a communication line, which connecting lead is connected to the first series of contacts. Such a device is generally known. With the known device, it is possible to connect measuring equipment in such a manner that, from the point where the device is connected to a communication line, measurements may be made on the lines in question. In particular, such a device is applied to the testing of telephone lines from a so-called service point, i.e., a terminal at the customer's (user of the communication line and of the communication apparatuses connected to the communication line) . At such a service point, in practice various communication apparatuses are connected by the customer, such as telephone sets, fax machines etc. The known device, however, has the drawback that, although the "open" communication line may be tested, it is not possible to simply carry out measurements on the communication line during the use of said line. As a result it is not possible, e.g., to trace errors (partly) caused by the communic ttion apparatuses. The prior art does not offer a simple and effective solution to this problem.

American patent US 5,155,440 discloses a device for testing cables, cable sheaths in particular, during the fabrication thereof. Said known device comprises many electronic components and is therefore relatively complicated and costly. The said American patent does not disclose the application of measuring on, and testing of, communication lines.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to eliminate the above-

mentioned and other drawbacks of the prior art, and to provide a device which makes it possible to carry out, in a simple manner, measurements on the customer's side of a so-called service point. It is an additional object of the invention to provide a device which is capable of being produced simply and inexpensively.

For this purpose, a device of the type referred to in the preamble is characterised in that the device is further provided with at least one connecting point for connecting at least a user apparatus, which connecting point is connected to the second series of contacts , as well as with switching means for separately connecting a contact of the first series to a contact of the second series .

By providing the device, in accordance with the invention, with a further connecting point, the option is offered of connecting further equipment, such as equipment used by a customer, to the device. As a result, it becomes possible to test communication lines from a service point while there is connected customer equipment to such a line. By additionally providing switching means for optionally interconnecting individual contacts, the option is offered of testing individual cores of a communication line. The switching means are preferably formed by so-called DIP (Dual In-line Package) switches. Such switches have a small size, as a result of wich the total device is also capable of having a small size.

The connecting lead is advantageously fastened detachably to the device. As a result it is possible, e.g., to couple a communication line directly to the device.

The invention further provides a method in hich the device is applied.

REFERENCES

[1] US 5 155 440. [2] EP 0 654 674

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be explained in greater detail below by reference to the Figures.

FIG. 1 shows, in perspective, a device according to the prior art.

FIG. 2 shows, in perspective, an embodiment of the device according to the invention.

FIG. 3 shows the electrical diagram of the embodiment of FIG. 2.

EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The device 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 according to the prior art comprises a housing 10 having, on either side, a first row of contacts A1-A6 and a second row of contacts B1-B6. Of said contacts, some may be interconnected so that, e.g., the contacts Al an ^' i Bl are mutually connected. On the housing 10 there is mounted a connecting lead 11 having a connector 12. In the illustrated case, the connector 11 is a male so-called modular connector ("modular plug") fqr connecting the device to, e.g., a modular wall socket (not shown) having a female modular connector ("modular jack"). Individual cores of the connecting lead 11 connect contacts of the connector 12 to one of the contacts A1-A6 and/or B1-B6. Said contacts Al ^~ A6 and B1-B6 are preferably constructed for inserting so-called banana plugs.

The device 2 according to the invention illustrated in FIG. 2 comprises a housing 20 having, on either side, a first series of contacts A1-A8 and a second row of contacts Bl-B8. In the housing 20, there is mounted a series of switches S1-S8, each of which is connected to one of the contacts A1-A8 and B1"B8. The switches S1-S8 are preferably formed by so-called DIP switches. However, other types of switches may also be applied. With the help of the switches S1-S8, the individual contacts A1-A8 may optionally be interconnected with the contacts B1-B8, as will be explained in greater detail later, by reference to FIG. 3. The contacts Al"A8 and B1-B8 are preferably constructed for inserting so-called banana plugs.

To the housing 20, there is fastened a connecting lead 21 having a connector 22. In the illustrated case, the connector 22 is a so- called modular connector for connecting the device 2 to, e.g., a modular wall socket (not shown) . The connecting lead 21 may advantageously be fastened detachably to the housing 20, e.g., with the help of a (modular) connector and counter connector 24 (not shown in FIG. 2).

The device 2 according to the invention is further provided with a (female or counter) connector 23 for connecting (by way of a further communication line) user equipment, such as telephone and fax

apparatuses. The counter connector 23, which is preferably constructed as a female modular contact ("modular jack"), and the connecting lead 21 are preferably included on opposite sides in the housing 20. It will be understood that the series of (counter) contacts A1Α8 and B1 ^_ B8, respectively, may also be mounted on the same side of the housing 20. Furthermore, each series may also have another number than eight contacts, e.g., six or ten. Also, it is possible to include, apart from the contacts 23 and 24, several (counter) connectors in the housing, e.g., for connecting several communication lines for the purpose of several user apparatuses.

The internal electrical connections of the device 2 according to the invention are diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 3. The (counter) connector 23 is shown in FIG. 2; the (counter) connector 24 connects the housing 20 to the connecting lead 21. Of course, the connecting lead 21 may be connected, without intervention of the connector 24, to the remaining parts of the device. The connector 23 serves to connect telecommunication apparatuses (equipment of the end user) , while the connector 24 to connect the device to telecommunication lines, e.g. of the fixed telephone network (PSTN). As stated above, the device is preferably connected to telecommunication lines via the intermediary connecting lead 21, which may be inserted in the connector 24 (in case the connector 24 is a female connector and the connecting lead 21 is provided with a matching male connector) . By means of the switches S1"S8, the contacts A1"A8 may be separately connected to the contacts B1-B8, respectively. Because the connector 23 is connected to the contacts Bl ^~ B8, and the connector 24 to the contacts A1~A8, there may be established, by way of the switches, a connection - per core - between the connectors 23 and 24. As a result, the option is offered of per core testing connections between communication apparatuses (such as telephones) and communication lines.

This is of particular advantage when it must be verified whether pairs of cores have been interchanged. Thus, in practice it may occur that the cores 4 and 5 (corresponding to the contacts A4, B4 and A5 , B5) have been interchanged with the cores 1 and 2 since, e.g. , a connected communication apparatus has been provided with a different connecting diagram. With the help of the switches SI, S2 , S4 and S5,

the cores in question may be disconnected while, with the help of so- called bypass leads (i.e. external leads allowing connections parallel to the switches S1-S8) , the cores in question may be interconnected in the correct order by way of the respective contacts. Thus, even communication apparatuses having an anomalous (i.e. non-standard) connecting diagram may be checked on their correct operation, and a possibly deviating connecting diagram may be detected.

With the help of the device according to the invention, it is therefore achieved that not only measuring and/or testing equipment, but also apparatuses of users (subscribers) may be simply connected to a communication line. In addition, the connections between user apparatuses and communication lines may be tested per core. Also, a connection per core may be connected ("looped through") or dis¬ connected, or measuring and testing tones may be offered per core to a line and/or a communication apparatus. Particularly for locating (cable) errors, the device according to the invention may be of advantage.

A method in which the device is applied comprises: connecting the device to a service point, placing the switching means in the correct position, connecting measuring equipment to the device, connecting customer equipment to the device, and carrying out line measurements with the help of the connected equipment. During the measurement, parts of the switching means, namely, individual switches, may be set in another position as needed. It will be understood that the connecting steps, as well as the step of placing the switching means in the desired position, may basically take place in any given order.

It will further be understood by those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the embodiments shown, and that many modifications and amendments are possible without departing from the scope of the invention.