Telecommunications device having distribution units arranged in block configuration

Abstract

A telecommunications apparatus includes a housing. A plurality of circuit boards are fastened in a vertical column within the housing. Each circuit board has a cross-connect distribution unit (CDU) disposed thereupon, and each CDU includes a plurality of user output locations, network input locations, service input locations, supplemental input locations, and supplemental output locations. The telecommunications apparatus also includes a back plane circuit board fastened within the housing. The backplane circuit board includes a connector corresponding to each of the plurality of circuit boards. Each of said circuit boards mates with a corresponding connector.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a cross-connect distribution unit (CDU).

FIG. 2 depicts a logical representation of the CDU of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a command-and-control environment of the CDU of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a switching matrix within the CDU of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 depicts an exemplary mechanical embodiment of the CDU of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 6-10 depict other views of the exemplary embodiment depicted in FIG. 5.

FIG. 11 depicts an exemplary embodiment of the switching circuitry on the main board of the CDU of FIG. 5.

FIG. 12 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a back-to-back arrangement of a CDU.

FIG. 13 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a spare services arrangement of two CDUs.

FIG. 14 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a cross-over arrangement of a CDU.

FIG. 15 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a spare user arrangement of two CDUs.

FIG. 16 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a method by which a controller may interact with a telecommunications application.

FIG. 17 depicts an exemplary search scheme to identify a proposed path to provide a particular service to a particular user port.

FIG. 18 depicts an exemplary search method to identify a proposed path to provide a particular service to a particular user port.

FIGS. 19A and 19B depicts the search scheme of FIGS. 16-18 being executed in a nested setting.

FIG. 20 is a schematic view of another CDU having features that are examples of inventive aspects in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure.

FIG. 21 is a schematic view showing the CDU of FIG. 20 incorporated into a CDU network/system.

FIG. 22 is a schematic diagram of an example distribution matrix suitable for use in the CDU of FIG. 20.

FIG. 23 is a front, top perspective view of a telecommunications distribution block having features that are examples of inventive aspects in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure.

FIG. 24 is a top, rear perspective view of the telecommunications distribution block of FIG. 23.

FIG. 25 is a schematic, plan view of a matrix card adapted to be mounted in the telecommunications distribution block of FIGS. 23 and 24.

FIG. 26 is a schematic view of a back-plane circuit board adapted to be used within the telecommunications distribution block of FIGS. 23 and 24.

FIG. 27 is a schematic view of a distribution cabinet housing a plurality of the telecommunications distribution blocks of FIGS. 23 and 24.

FIG. 28 is a schematic diagram showing a first interconnection option for interconnecting the telecommunications distribution blocks within the distribution cabinet of FIG. 27.

FIG. 3510 is another schematic diagram showing the first interconnection option for interconnecting the blocks of the distribution cabinet of FIG. 27.

FIG. 30 is a schematic diagram showing a second interconnection option for the distribution cabinet of FIG. 27.

FIG. 31 shows a block level interconnection scheme for the interconnection option of FIG. 30.

FIG. 32 is a schematic diagram of the distribution cabinet having telecommunications distribution blocks interconnected in a matrix-style network.

FIG. 33 is another schematic depiction of the interconnection scheme of FIG. 32.

FIG. 34A is a schematic circuit diagram showing a plurality of matrix cards linked together by a test bus.

FIG. 34B is an enlarged view of one of the matrix cards of FIG. 34A.

FIG. 34C shows a wiring schematic for a telecommunications distribution block having a test bus that interconnects all the matrix cards of the block.

FIG. 35 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a modified CDU having features that allow the CDU to readily interface with adjacent CDUs so that special service signals may be distributed unevenly within a CDU network to meet demand.

FIG. 36 schematically shows an example telecommunications distribution block having features that are examples of inventive aspects in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure.

FIG. 37 depicts a back plane circuit board that includes tracings or other circuitry that electrically interconnects the matrix cards of the block.

FIG. 38 depicts a more detailed schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of one of the matrix cards.

FIG. 39 depicts three matrix cards that are borrowing and sharing services within a given block and from block to block.

FIG. 40 depicts an alternative embodiment of a matrix card.

Claims

1. A telecommunications apparatus comprising: a housing;a plurality of circuit boards fastened in a vertical column within said housing, each circuit board having a cross-connect distribution unit (CDU) disposed thereupon, each CDU including a plurality of user output locations, network input locations, service input locations, supplemental input locations, and supplemental output locations; anda back plane circuit board fastened within the housing, the backplane circuit board including a connector corresponding to each of said plurality of circuit boards, with each of said circuit boards mating with a corresponding connector.

2. The telecommunications apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing has a front surface and an oppositely disposed rear surface, wherein the front surface defines a plurality of apertures arranged in two vertical columns.

3. The telecommunications device of claim 2, wherein the rear surface defines a plurality of apertures arranged in a vertical column.

4. The telecommunications device of claim 3, wherein, for each of said plurality of circuit boards, the plurality of network ports thereupon are disposed upon a first edge connector on a front edge of each of said circuit boards.

5. The telecommunications device of claim 4, wherein, for each of said plurality of circuit boards, the plurality of service ports thereupon are disposed upon a second edge connector on the front edge of each of said circuit boards.

6. The telecommunications apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first and second edge connectors of each of the plurality of circuit boards protrude through the plurality of apertures defined on the front surface of the housing.

7. The telecommunications apparatus of claim 6, wherein, for each of said plurality of circuit boards the plurality of user ports thereupon are disposed upon a third edge connector on a rear edge of each of said circuit boards.

8. The telecommunications apparatus of claim 7, wherein the third edge connector of each of the plurality of circuit boards protrudes through a corresponding one of the plurality of apertures defined on the rear surface of the housing.

9. The telecommunications apparatus of claim 8, wherein each of the plurality of circuit boards further defines a fourth edge connector, the fourth edge connector of each board mating with a corresponding one of the connectors included on the back plane circuit board.

10. The telecommunications apparatus of claim 9, wherein, for each of said plurality of circuit boards, the plurality of supplemental input locations and supplemental output locations thereupon are disposed upon the fourth edge connector.

11. The telecommunications apparatus of claim 10, wherein the back plane circuit board has a plurality of conductive traces disposed thereupon, so that at least one of the supplemental output locations of a given one of the plurality of circuit boards is electrically coupled to at least one the supplemental input locations of an adjacent circuit board.

12. The telecommunications apparatus of claim 11, wherein the back plane circuit board has a plurality of conductive traces disposed thereupon, so that at least one of the supplemental input locations of each of the plurality of circuit boards is electrically coupled to a first block interconnect connector.

13. The telecommunications apparatus of claim 12, wherein the back plane circuit board has a plurality of conductive traces disposed thereupon, so that at least one of the supplemental input locations of each of the plurality of circuit boards is electrically coupled to a second block interconnect connector.

14. The telecommunications apparatus of claim 13, wherein the rear surface of the housing further defines an aperture through which the first block interconnect connector protrudes.

15. The telecommunications apparatus of claim 14, wherein the rear surface of the housing further defines an aperture through which the second block interconnect connector protrudes.

16. A telecommunications system comprising: a plurality of the telecommunications apparatus of claim 14; anda cabinet enclosing the plurality of the telecommunications apparatus of claim 14.

17. The telecommunications system of claim 16, further comprising a main controller housed within the cabinet.

18. The telecommunications system of claim 17, wherein cables interconnect the first and second interconnect connectors of each of the plurality of telecommunications apparatuses in the cabinet.

19. The telecommunications system of claim 18, wherein cables interconnect the main controller with each of the plurality of telecommunications apparatuses in the cabinet.

20. The telecommunications system of claim 18, wherein there are nine telecommunications apparatuses within the cabinet.

21. A telecommunications apparatus comprising: a housing;a plurality of distribution units positioned within the housing, each distribution unit including a cut-over matrix and at least a first distribution matrix, each distribution unit also including one or more circuit boards for supporting the cut-over matrix and the first distribution matrix;the cut-over matrix of each distribution unit including a plurality of network connection locations, a plurality of user connection locations and a plurality of first distribution matrix connection locations, the cut-over matrix also including a plurality of first switches moveable between first positions where the network connection locations are electrically connected to the user connection locations by the cut-over matrix, and second positions where the first distribution matrix connection locations are electrically connected to the user connection locations by the cut-over matrix;the first distribution matrix of each distribution unit including a plurality of first special services connection locations and a plurality of first cut-over matrix connection locations, the first cut-over matrix connection locations being electrically connected to the first distribution matrix connection locations of the cut-over matrix, the first distribution matrix having a switching arrangement configured such that any of the first special services connection locations can be electrically connected to any of the cut-over matrix connection locations; anda backplane circuit board mounted to the housing, the backplane circuit board including a connector corresponding to each of the distribution units, with each of the distribution units connecting with a corresponding connector of the backplane circuit board.

22. The telecommunications apparatus of claim 21, wherein the housing is a generally rectangular block.

23. The telecommunications apparatus of claim 22, wherein the housing includes a first side positioned opposite from a second side, and wherein the network connection locations are accessible form the first side of the housing and the user connection locations are accessible from the second side of the housing.

24. The telecommunications apparatus of claim 21, wherein the first distribution matrix includes a plurality of first lending special service connection locations that are not electrically connected to the first distribution matrix connection locations of the cut-over matrix, the switching arrangement of the first distribution matrix being configured such that any of the first special services connection locations can be electrically connected to any of the first lending special service connection locations.

25. The telecommunications apparatus of claim 24, wherein each of the circuit boards further includes a second distribution matrix, the second distribution matrix including a plurality of second special services connection locations, a plurality of second cut-over matrix connection locations and a plurality of second lending special service connection locations, the second cut-over matrix connection locations being electrically connected to second distribution matrix connection locations of the cut-over matrix, the second distribution matrix having a switching arrangement configured such that any of the second special services connection locations can be electrically connected to any of the second cut-over matrix connection locations, the second distribution matrix having a switching arrangement configured such that any of the second special services connection locations can be electrically connected to any of the second lending special service connection locations, and the cut-over matrix including a plurality of second switches moveable between first positions where the network connection locations are electrically connected to the user connection locations by the cut-over matrix, and second positions where the second distribution matrix connection locations are electrically connected to the network connection locations by the cut-over matrix.