# US 10,770,890 B2 · Modular access connection system

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- Number: US 10,770,890 B2
- Document ID: US10770890B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/706,270
- Filed: 2017-09-15
- Published: 2018-10-18
- Granted: 2020-09-08
- Earliest claimed: 2017-04-17
- Assignees: Comtest Networks Inc.
- Applicants: Comtest Networks Inc.
- Inventors: Shawn M. DeLay; Roderick A. Farrell; Savo Todoric; Russell D. Adams; David Bain; Anna Malenica; William Fry
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10770890B2

## CPC

- H02H 9/04: responsive to excess voltage (lightning arrestors H01C7/12, H01C8/04, H01G9/18, H01T)
- H01R 12/724: {containing contact members forming a right angle}
- H04M 7/0066: {Details of access arrangements to the networks (where the access arrangement is a PSTN/ISDN access H04M7/122)}
- H04Q 1/13: {Patch panels for monitoring, interconnecting or testing circuits, e.g. patch bay, patch field or jack field; Patching modules}
- H04Q 1/14: Distribution frames
- H01R 9/24: Terminal blocks
- H01R 12/722: {coupling devices mounted on the edge of the printed circuits}
- H01R 13/6485: {Electrostatic discharge protection (in general H05F1/00, for electric apparatus H05K9/0067)}
- H01R 25/006: {the coupling part being secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. duplex wall receptacle}
- H01R 31/06: Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter (with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/94)
- H02H: EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS (indicating or signalling undesired working conditions G01R, e.g. G01R31/00, G08B; locating faults along lines G01R31/08; emergency protective devices H01H)
- H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08)
- H04Q: SELECTING (switches, relays, selectors H01H; wireless communication networks H04W)

## Abstract

An interface panel comprising a respective socket for each local loop connection between a main distribution frame and a demarcation point, the socket comprising: a pair of first ports configured for connection to a respective wire pair extending from the interface panel to the main distribution frame; a pair of second ports configured for connection to a respective wire pair extending from the interface panel to the demarcation point; and a pair of third ports configured for connection to a respective wire pair extending from the interface panel to a Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM).

## Claims

### Claim 1

A plug-in module for use in conjunction with an interface panel including at least one socket, the plug-in module comprising:
three pairs of pins configured to electrically engage corresponding pairs of ports of a selected socket; and
a pair of first contacts, each first contact including:
a first leg defining an electrical connection between a selected one of a first pair of pins and a mounting point associated with a surge arrester, the first leg being configured to absorb surge currents between the selected one of the first pair of pins and the surge arrester;
a second leg defining an electrical connection between the first leg and at least one of a contact point of a printed circuit board;
each first contact being configured to structurally support at least the first leg and the surge arrester such that surge currents through the first leg are isolated from the at least one of the contact point of the printed circuit board and a selected one of a second pair of pins;
a ground pin configured to electrically engage a corresponding ground port of the selected socket; and
a ground contact defining an electrical connection between the surge arrester and the ground pin;
wherein the second leg defines an electrical connection between the first leg and the contact point of the printed circuit board, and wherein the ground contact is configured such that surge currents through the ground contact are isolated from the printed circuit board;
a pair of second contacts, each second contact including:
a third leg defining an electrical connection between a selected one of the second pair of pins and a mounting point associated with a second surge arrester, the third leg being configured to absorb surge currents between the selected one of the second pair of pins and the second surge arrester; and
a fourth leg defining an electrical connection between the third leg and a second contact point of the printed circuit and
each second contact being configured to structurally support at least the third leg and the second surge arrester such that surge currents through the third leg are isolated from the second contact point of the printed circuit board.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The plug-in module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ground contact further defines an electrical connection between the second surge arrester and the ground pin.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The plug-in module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the printed circuit board comprises circuit traces electrically connected to the third pair of pins.