A telecommunication network digital cross-connect module for providing front panel access for monitoring, testing, or temporarily reconnecting various digital telecommunication apparatus, comprising:
- a module housing having a front panel with jack apertures and a rear panel spaced a desired distance from the front panel;
- an input jack having a forward open end positioned in one of the jack apertures for selectively receiving a coaxial electrical plug at the front panel to electrically connect with an input jack central conductor;
- an output jack having a forward open end positioned in another of the jack apertures for selectively receiving a coaxial electrical plug at the front panel to electrically connect with an output jack central conductor;
- a rear input coaxial cable connector mounted to the rear panel having a rear input digital signal conductor for normally connecting through a coaxial cable to a digital signal input portion of one telecommunication apparatus;
- a rear output coaxial cable connector mounted to the rear panel having a rear output digital signal conductor for normally connecting through a coaxial cable to a digital signal output portion of the one telecommunication apparatus;
- a rear input cross-connect coaxial cable connector mounted to the rear panel having a rear input cross-connect digital signal conductor for normally connecting through a coaxial cable to a digital signal input portion of another telecommunication apparatus;
- a rear output cross-connect coaxial cable connector mounted to the rear panel having a rear output cross-connect conductor for normally connecting through a coaxial cable to a digital signal output portion of the other telecommunication apparatus;
- said input jack having an input jack switch responsive to the insertion of a plug into the input jack for (1) normally operatively electrically cross-connecting the input portion of the one telecommunication apparatus with the input portion of the other telecommunication apparatus to transmit a digital input signal between the telecommunication apparatuses when a plug is not inserted into the input jack, and (2) for discontinuing the cross-connecting of the one telecommunication apparatus with the input portion of the other telecommunication apparatus to interrupt transmission of the digital input signal between the telecommunication apparatuses and permit operative electrical connection of the plug with the digital signal input portion of the one telecommunication apparatus when the plug is inserted into the input jack;
- said output jack having an output jack switch responsive to the insertion of a plug into the output jack for (1) normally operatively electrically cross-connecting the output portion of the one telecommunication apparatus with the output portion of the other telecommunication apparatus to transmit a digital output signal between the telecommunication apparatuses when a plug is not inserted into the output jack, and (2) for operatively discontinuing the cross-connecting of the output portion of the one telecommunication apparatus with the output portion of the other telecommunication apparatus to interrupt transmission of the digital output signal between the telecommunication apparatus and permit operative electrical connection of the plug with the digital signal output portion of the one telecommunication apparatus when the plug is inserted into the output jack;
- wherein each of the jacks has a jack housing with a separate switch compartment and wherein each of the jack switches has two electrical contacts spaced from the central conductor that are biased to engage each other when a plug is not inserted in the jack to transmit a digital signal between the telecommunication apparatuses, and an actuation means responsive to the insertion of a plug into any one of the jacks for separating the two electrical contacts from engagement with each other to interrupt transmission of the digital signal between the telecommunication apparatuses;
- wherein each of the jack switches has signal termination means responsive to the insertion of a plug into the jack for terminating the transmitted digital signal to a preset voltage level prior to the interruption of the transmitted digital signal.
- wherein each of the jack switches has (1) a first printed circuit board switch terminal operatively electrically connected to one of the two switch contacts, and (2) a second printed circuit board switch terminal operatively electrically connected to the other of the two switch contacts;
- a printed circuit board mounted in the housing having (1) a first printed circuit conductor electrically interconnecting the rear input digital signal connector with the first printed circuit board switch terminal of the input jack switch, (2) a second printed circuit conductor operatively electrically interconnecting the rear input cross-connect digital signal connector with the first printed circuit board switch terminal of the input jack switch, (3) a third printed circuit conductor electrically interconnecting the rear output coaxial cable connector with the first printed circuit board switch terminal of the output jack switch, and (4) a fourth printed circuit conductor operatively electrically interconnecting the rear output cross-connect coaxial cable connector with the second printed circuit board switch terminal of the output jack switch.