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US 7,116,779 B1Granted
Network interface device for high speed data lines
AssigneeTII Industries, Inc.
InventorsCarl H. Meyerhoefer, Nisar A. Chaudhry, Robert J. Cannetti, Peter P. Tabone, Thomas J. Smith, Peter Arcati
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A network interface device for Ethernet networks using unshielded twisted pair cables comprising an overvoltage protection module and an interconnection module connected to the overvoltage protection module, both modules being connected in series in the Ethernet network.
Claims38
Network interference apparatus for connecting a source and a destination in an Ethernet network using unshielded twisted pair cables, the apparatus comprising:
- (a) an overvoltage protection module for connecting the apparatus to the source and for providing overvoltage protection for the unshielded twisted pairs of wires, the overvoltage protection module comprising:
- (1) first and second pairs of receive electrical connections and a first overvoltage protection circuit connected in series between the first and second pairs of receive connections, the first pair of receive connections for being connected to a first unshielded twisted pair of wires carrying high speed digital signals from the source and the second pair of receive connections for being connected to an interconnection module,
- (2) first and second pairs of transmit electrical connections and a second overvoltage protection circuit connected in series between the first and second pairs of transmit connections, the first pair of transmit connections for being connected to a second unshielded twisted pair of wires for carrying high speed digital signals to the source and the second pair of transmit connections for being connected to the interconnection module;
- and
- (b) an interconnection module for connecting the apparatus to the destination, the interconnection module comprising
- (1) third and fourth pairs of receive electrical connections, the third pair of receive connections for being connected to the second pair of receive connections on the overvoltage protection module and the fourth pair of receive connections for being connected to a third unshielded twisted pair of wires for carrying high speed digital signals to the destination, and
- (2) third and fourth pairs of transmit electrical connections, the third pair of transmit connections for being connected to the second pair of transmit connections on the overvoltage protection module and the fourth pair of transmit connections for being connected to a fourth unshielded twisted pair of wires carrying high speed digital signals from the destination.
4 more elements
Network interface apparatus for connecting a source and a destination in an Ethernet network using unshielded twisted pair cables, the apparatus comprising:
- (a) an enclosure having a base and at least one cover;
- (b) an overvoltage protection module mounted in the enclosure for connecting the apparatus to the source and for providing overvoltage protection for the unshielded twisted pairs of wires, the overvoltage protection module comprising:
- (1) first and second pairs of receive electrical connections and a first overvoltage protection circuit connected in series between the first and second pairs of receive connections, the first pair of receive connections for being connected to a first unshielded twisted pair of wires carrying high speed digital signals from the source and the second pair of receive connections for being connected to an interconnection module,
- (2) first and second pairs of transmit electrical connections and a second overvoltage protection circuit connected in series between the first and second pairs of transmit connections, the first pair of transmit connections for being connected to a second unshielded twisted pair of wires for carrying high speed digital signals to the source and the second pair of transmit connections for being connected to the interconnection module;
- and
- (c) an interconnection module mounted in the enclosure for connecting the apparatus to the destination, the interconnection module comprising
- (1) third and fourth pairs of receive electrical connections, the third pair of receive connections for being connected to the second pair of receive connections on the overvoltage protection module and the fourth pair of receive connections for being connected to a third unshielded twisted pair of wires for carrying high speed digital signals to the destination, and
- (2) third and fourth pairs of transmit electrical connections, the third pair of transmit connections for being connected to the second pair of transmit connections on the overvoltage protection module and the fourth pair of transmit connections for being connected to a fourth unshielded twisted pair of wires carrying high speed digital signals from the destination.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.