A TELECOMMUNICATIONS MODULE, A DISTRIBUTION POINT HAVING AT LEAST ONE TELECOMMUNICATIONS MODULE

Background of the Invention

The invention relates to a telecommunications module, a distribution point having at least one telecommunications module, a termination tool and a contact.

In the field of telecommunications, numerous customers are connected with the switch of a telecommunications company via telecommunications lines. Such customers are sometimes referred to as subscribers. The switch is often called an exchange or "PBX" (central office exchange operated by the telecommunications company). The telecommunications company, which may also be called a telecommunications provider or carrier, may be an incumbent local exchange carrier (ILEC) or a competitive local exchange carrier (CLEC). In the course of telecommunication deregulation, there have been efforts to allow CLECs to share telecommunications lines with the ILECs. The goal is to provide cost-effective solutions for the subscribers. Many subscribers are accordingly choosing CLECs for providing at least some of the different types of telecommunications services as detailed below. In connection with such a change of the telecommunications carrier a service person may be required to move to a distribution point, that may be an outside cabinet, to change the connection.

Between the subscriber and the switch, sections of telecommunications lines are connected with telecommunications modules. Telecommunications modules establish an electrical connection between a first wire attached to the telecommunications module at a first side and a second wire attached to the telecommunications module at a second side. The wires of one side can also be called incoming wires and the wires of the other can be called outgoing wires. The wires can be connected with contacts of the telecommunications modules. The contacts can have one or more contact slots that can be defined by two substantially parallel legs defining the contact slot between them. The edges of legs adjacent the slot can be sharp. In any case, the edges adjacent the contact slot can be adapted to cut the insulation of a wire so as to contact the metal core of the wire. As the insulation can be displaced by the edges adjacent the contact slot, this type of contact is frequently called insulation displacement contact (IDC). To establish this connection, i.e. to push a wire into a contact slot, appropriate tools may be used. These tools may be guided by one or more guide portions provided on the telecommunications

module and can serve to not only push the wire into the contact slot, but also to cut a section of the wire which extends beyond the contact slot. Such a tool for terminating a wire at a contact, called termination tool hereinafter, is commercially available from 3M Telecommunications, Quante AG., Carl-Schurz-Strasse 1, D-41453 Neuss, Germany under the trade name "SID".

Plural telecommunications modules can be put together at a distribution point, such as a main distribution frame, an intermediate distribution frame, an outside or remote cabinet or a distribution point located, for example, in an office building or on a particular floor of an office building. A telecommunications module, which is primarily used in the central office and has contacts with two contact slots arranged substantially in a common plane, is available under the trade name "ID 3000" from 3M Telecommunications, Quante AG., Carl-Schurz-Strasse 1, D-41453 Neuss, Germany. To allow flexibility in wiring, some telecommunications lines are connected with first telecommunications modules in a manner to constitute a permanent connection. Such a distribution point can be accommodated in a designated room, cabinet, closure or box located either inside or outside a building, as well as in manholes, i.e., underground holes that can be adapted to allow an individual to climb into the hole and provided with a cover.

To allow versatility in wiring, some telecommunications lines are connected with first telecommunications modules in a manner to constitute a permanent connection. Versatility is realized by so-called jumpers or cross connects that connect contacts of the first telecommunications module with contacts of a second telecommunications module in a versatile manner. These jumpers can be changed when, for example, a person moves within an office building to provide a different telephone (i.e., a different telephone line) with a telephone number the relocated person intends to keep. In the telecommunications module, disconnection points can be located in the electrical connection between the two sides. At such disconnection points, disconnection plugs can be inserted to disconnect the line. Protection plugs or magazines may also be connected at a disconnection point to the module to protect equipment connected to the wires from overcurrent and overvoltage. Test plugs can also be inserted at a disconnection point in order to test or monitor a line. Recently, Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (or "ADSL") technology has spread widely in the field of telecommunications. This technology allows at least two different signals to be transmitted on a single line. This is achieved by transmitting the different

signals at different frequencies along the same line. Signals are combined at a particular point in the telecommunications line and split at another point. In particular, at the subscriber side separate voice and data signals are combined and sent to the central office over a single line. In the central office or remote location (or remote terminal) the combined signal is split. For the transmission of voice and data signals to the subscriber, separate voice and data signals are combined at the central office or remote terminal, sent to the subscriber and split at the subscriber side. After splitting, the so-called "plain old telephone service" (or "POTS") or ISDN can be used to transmit voice signals. The remaining part of the split signal can be used to transmit data or other information. Splitters, which are used to split or combine the signal, can generally be arranged at any distribution point. In this context, a POTS wire or POTS jumper indicates a wire that is connected with an exchange of the telecommunications company. A line connection indicates a wire that leads to the subscriber or customer, and, as discussed in more detail below, a DSL-wire indicates a wire that is connected with a DSLAM or other DSL service equipment and can thus, for example, transmit data. A DSLAM (Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer) processes the data signal.

US 7,165,983 Bl is related to an access cover configured to pivotably connect to a connector block having insulation displacement contacts. A body of the cover includes an opening configured to receive a testing device. Thus, some insulation displacement contacts may temporarily be covered by the cover.

EP 0 856 912 A2 describes an electrical connector having IDCs and a cover which is adapted to push wires into the IDCs to terminate same.

Finally, WO 2002/076109 A2 is related to a telecommunications module in which two complete rows of contacts may be covered by a plastic strip.

Summary of the Invention

The invention provides a telecommunications module which has a cost efficient structure and allows operations to terminate wires at the telecommunications module to be performed in a cost efficient manner. Cost efficiency is also realized by the distribution point having at least one telecommunications module, a new termination tool, as well as a new contact which the invention provides.

The telecommunications modules described herein have at least one contact with at least two contact slots arranged substantially in a common plane. In other words, at least

one contact of the novel telecommunications module is an IDC with at least two contact slots adjacent each other. Thus, a wire, which is to be terminated at a particular contact, may be terminated at any contact slot. It is noted that IDCs having two contact slots arranged substantially in a common plane are known from the above-mentioned telecommunications modules called ID 3000. The telecommunications module may have an elongate shape with one or more rows of contacts extending along the length of the telecommunications module. Such an embodiment may be called a telecommunications or termination strip.

The invention makes novel use of these contacts in that at least one first contact slot of at least one contact is covered and/or inaccessible. At least one second contact slot of the same contact and arranged in a common plane with the first contact slot is accessible. In other words, a wire can be terminated at the second contact slot. However, the first contact slot, which is adjacent the second slot, is covered and/or inaccessible. In this context, the cover, portions of a housing of the telecommunications module or any material covering the first contact slot can be made of plastic and can be used to guide a termination tool. In particular, the invention allows these portions of the telecommunications module to be adapted to guide termination tools which are well- known to the service personnel who are entrusted with terminating wires at the telecommunications module. For example, the telecommunications modules described herein may be adapted to allow the use of termination tools, which are well-known for use outside the central office, such as the above-mentioned SID-tool. Consequently, the process of terminating wires can be performed with a high reliability outside the central office, as the mentioned individuals are familiar with the SID-tool. Further termination tools that may be used to terminate wires at the telecommunications modules described herein, are known under the trade names "LSA+" or "BRCP".

However, cost efficiency is also obtained by employing a contact with two or more contact slots arranged substantially in a common plane, as these are also well-known and can be produced in an inexpensive manner and with high reliability. Cost efficiency is furthermore obtained by providing one kind of contact for different application areas. Therefore, telecommunications modules having the above-described structure may be produced cost efficiently. This also applies to the process of terminating wires at the telecommunications modules. As the use of a termination tool, which is not adapted to a

particular telecommunications module, may damage the contact and/or the wire, it is an advantage for the telecommunications companies, i.e. the ILEC or CLEC, to make use of well-known termination tools. Moreover, the telecommunications module described herein may have one or more housing parts, which are substantially identical to the corresponding housing parts of known modules, such as the ID 3000 module. Merely one or more housing parts in the region of the contact slots, for example an upper housing part, need to be modified to cover at least one contact slot of at least one contact. Moreover, such an upper housing part may be adapted to guide a specific termination tool which may be well established for use outside the central office. However, already the covering of one two adjacent contact slots will render a telecommunications module to look "familiar" to the individuals terminating wires thereon, so that the reliability of the termination operations can be increased. By this an incorrect termination of wires can be prevented and the reliability can be increased.

In summary, the invention can be said to bring components which are established, on the one hand for use within the central office, together with components, which are well-known outside the central office, together to provide a cost efficient solution. In this context, a contact having two contact slots may be considered a "basic" contact which can be used both with two contact slots accessible or with only one contact slot accessible, as described in detail herein. In the telecommunications modules described herein, at least one contact slot may be covered and/or made inaccessible by at least one housing part. The housing parts may, for example, be made out of plastic and may be connected or connectable with one or more further housing parts so as to accommodate the contacts and, optional further components of the telecommunications module. In particular, one or more contact slots may be covered and/or made inaccessible, whereas other contact slots are accessible. In this context, it is also possible to provide one or more contacts at a telecommunications module, with one or more accessible contact slots, while other contacts have at least one of two contact slots that are covered or inaccessible. In addition, the invention may also be realized by a cap, partial cover or any similar component that is adapted to be attached to a telecommunications module having contacts, of which the contact slots are accessible, so as to cover some of the contact slots.

In the telecommunications modules described herein, at least two contact slots of two adjacent contacts may be covered and/or inaccessible. In other words, in a row of adjacent contacts, each having two or more contact slots, those contact slots may be covered which are adjacent another contact. Thus, a covering portion may be provided efficiently where two contacts are particularly close to each other so as to cover the contact slots in this area.

Whereas the covering or inaccessibility of one or more contact slots may be removable, it provides advantages if the contact slots, which are intended to be inaccessible, are permanently covered or made inaccessible. In this manner, the above- described advantageous state, with a single contact slot per contact being accessible, may reliably be maintained.

In view of allowing certain termination tools to be used with the telecommunications modules described herein, it may be advantageous if the telecommunications modules have at least one guide portion located between two contact slots and having a width, measured substantially perpendicular to the common plane of two or more contact slots, of greater than 3.3 millimeters. This structure, for example, allows the use of well-known SID-tools and leads to the above-mentioned advantages. In this context, it is noted that the above-described feature related to the width of at least one guide portion is independent from any features described above or in the following but may advantageously be combined therewith. In other words, a telecommunications module, having at least one contact with at least two contact slots and at least one guide portion having the described width, optionally further having one or more of the features described above or in the following is to be seen as subject matter of the present application. As indicated above, it may provide advantages if the telecommunications modules described herein are used outside the central office, i.e. in an intermediate distribution frame, a collocation frame, an indoor or outdoor cabinet, box, an enclosure, a bush or sleeve.

The invention further provides a use of a termination tool for terminating wires at contact slots requiring a width measured substantially perpendicular to a common plane of the contact slots of greater than 3.3 millimeters, for terminating wires at a contact having at least two contact slots arranged substantially in a common plane. Thus, as indicated

above, specific termination tools which are particularly well established outside the central office, may advantageously be used for terminating wires at contacts, which are known from telecommunications modules in the central office and may now advantageously be used for telecommunications modules outside the central office. Finally, the invention is realized by a contact with at least two contact slots arranged substantially in a common plane in a telecommunications module, in which at least one first contact slot of the contact is covered and/or inaccessible, and at least one second contact slot arranged in a common plane with the first contact slot is accessible. Such a use allows, as mentioned above, the employment of well-known contacts in novel surroundings, for example outside the central office.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention will be described hereinafter in part by non-limiting examples thereof and with reference to the drawings, in which

FIG. 1 shows a partial side view of a telecommunications module according to the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a partial top view of the telecommunications module of FIG. 1.

Detailed Description

Turning now to FIG. 1, which is a partial side view of the telecommunications module 10. FIG. 1 shows adjacent contacts 12, 14, each having two contact slots 22, 24 and 16, 18. In the embodiment shown, the left contact slot 22 of the left contact 12 and the right contact slot 18 of the right contact 14 are covered by guide portions 28, 30. A further guide portion 26 is located substantially between the contacts 12, 14.

As can be seen in FIG. 2, guide portions 28, 30 cover contact slots of further contacts. For example, guide portion 28 may cover a right contact slot of a contact that is adjacent contact 12 on the left side thereof. In a similar manner, guide portion 30 may cover a left contact slot of a contact, which is adjacent contact 14 on the right side thereof. In this way, guide portions 28, 30 may be provided efficiently to cover two contact slots. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the guide portions 28, 30 cover contacts slots of further contacts. For example the guide portion 28 can cover a right contact slit of a contact, that is arranged on the left side of the same, adjacent to contact 12. In a similar manner the guide portion 30 can cover a left contact slot of a contact, that is arranged on the right side

adjacent to contact 14. By this guide portions 28, 30 can be provided in an efficient way to cover two contact slots.

As can also be seen in FIG. 2, the telecommunications module 10 has, in the embodiment shown, two rows of contacts which extend substantially from left to right according to FIG. 2. Thus, two planes, which are perpendicular to the plane of the drawing of FIG. 2 and extend from left to right, are present. Plural contacts which each have, in the embodiment shown, two contact slots are arranged in these planes. Thus, the contact slots are also located in these planes. In the embodiment shown, one contact slot of each contact is covered, in the embodiment shown, by a housing part 20, to realize the above-described advantages. In particular, to enable the use of, for example, a SID-tool, one or more of the guide portions 26, 28, 30 may have a width W measured substantially perpendicular to the common plane of the contact slots of greater than 3.3 millimeters.

Additionally should be pointed out, that the termination module exemplary shown in the figures may provide an appropriate gap and or appropriate interspaces between the rows of contacts, in which a disconnection plug and/or an over voltage protection or over current protection plug or -magazine may be inserted. Accordingly, each contact slot may only be covered from the outer side from which a wire would be connected. At the inner side, with other words in the region between the two rows of contacts, the contact slot covered at the outer side could be open. Accordingly, an appropriate contact and/or a so called slider of a disconnection plug or protection plug or -magazine could be brought into contact with the contact, as mentioned above.