|
(11) | EP 1 006 625 B1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
|
|
| (54) |
Straight/cross connection using double connector Direkte/gekreuzte Verbindung mit Verwendung eines doppelten Steckverbinder Connexion directe/croisée utilisant un connecteur double |
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention). |
Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention relates to the provision of external connectors between equipment and particularly to such connectors where the connection between equipment may be either a straight connection or a cross connection.
Background to the Invention
[0002] In systems where separate modules are interconnected by common interface, typically external connectors are provided on each module to allow a cable to be provided to make a connection between the modules. In such systems the external connectors of each system may be similar, but the signals may need to be cross-connected rather than straight connected because the pinning of the connectors on the two modules to be interconnected is matched rather than reversed. In such situations, it is necessary to know whether the pinning of the connectors on the two modules are the same or reversed so that either a straight connector or a cross connector can be used as appropriate.
[0003] Typically such arrangements occur in network architectures, where a host may communicate with network terminals via a simple communication-interface via a combined upstream and downstream link which is provided between the host equipment and network equipment via one metallic cable. Either a straight or cross-coupled cable will be used depending on the relative pinning of the connectors of the host and network equipment.
[0004] This arrangement has the disadvantage that two standard cables are required to make the necessary connections.
[0005] An alternative arrangement for providing a selection between cross or straight connection involves providing switching means in at least one of the two modules, wherein the outputs of the transmitter and the input to the receiver are swapped via a switch in dependence on whether the pinning of the connectors of the two modules is the same or reversed.
[0006] The disadvantage with this arrangement is that where a number of connections have to be made between two pieces of equipment, an array of switches is required to perform the necessary functionality, and the solution becomes expensive. It may also be possible that, as the number of necessary switches increases, the switching of the switches increases in complexity beyond a simple operation.
[0008] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an arrangement to select between straight connection and cross-connection between two devices which is efficient in terms of simplicity of use, cost, and space.
Summary of the Invention
[0009] According to the present invention there is provided a device comprising a connector arrangement comprising:
a first connector having pins wired to one or more transmitters, and a second connector having one or more pins wired to one or more receivers, the first and second connectors together presenting a first array of pins for connecting the transmitters and receivers to a single cable,
a third connector having pins wired to said one or more receivers, and a fourth connector having pins wired to said one or more transmitters, said third and fourth connectors together presenting a second array of pins for connecting the transmitters and receivers to a single cable,
so that, the transmitters and receivers are straight connected to the single cable by the first and second connectors and cross connected to the single cable by the third and fourth connectors.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0010]
Figure 1 illustrates a conventional cross-connector arrangement;
Figure 2 illustrates a conventional straight-connector arrangement; and
Figures 3(a) and 3(b) illustrate straight and cross-connector arrangements according to the invention.
Description of Preferred Embodiment
[0011] Figure 1 illustrates connection between host equipment and network equipment where connector pinning on both equipment is the same, and a cross-connection is required.
[0012] The host equipment 2 includes a pair of downstream transmitters 4a and 4b having outputs 6a and 6b terminating in a connector 8. The host equipment 2 also includes a pair of upstream receivers 10a and 10b having inputs 12a and 12b received from a connector 14. The network equipment 32 includes a pair of upstream transmitters 16a and 16b having outputs 18a and 18b terminating in a connector 20. The network equipment 32 also includes a pair of downstream receivers 22a and 22b having inputs 24a and 24b from a connector 26.
[0013] In operation, it is required to connect the outputs of the downstream transmitters 4a and 4b to the inputs of the downstream receivers 22a and 22b by making a connection between the connectors 8 and 26. Similarly it is required to make a connection between the upstream transmitters 16a and 16b and the upstream receivers 10a and 10b by making a connection between the connectors 20 and 14. It can therefore be seen that a cross-connector must be provided between the connectors 8 and 14 of the host equipment and the connectors 20 and 26 of the network equipment.
[0014] The cross connector comprises connections 28a and 28b between the connectors 8 and 26 connecting the outputs of the downstream transmitters to the inputs of the downstream receivers. The cross connector also comprises connections 30a and 30b between the connectors 20 and 14 connecting the outputs of the upstream transmitters to the inputs of the upstream receivers.
[0015] Figure 2 illustrates connection between host equipment and network equipment where connector pinning on both equipment is adapted for cross-connection. and a straight-connection can be used. The same reference numerals are used in Figure 2 to illustrate elements corresponding to elements in Figure 1.
[0016] As can be seen in Figure 2, a straight connection is possible between the connectors 8 and 26 and the connectors 14 and 20.
[0017] From a comparison of Figures 1 and 2 it can be understood that depending on the relative pinning of the connectors in the host and network equipment either a straight or a cross connection is required Cabling provides the connections 28 and 30, and thus either a straight wired cable or a cross-wired cable is used depending on the pinning arrangement. It will be appreciated that the cabling providing the connections 28 and 30 will be provided with end connectors to interface with the connectors 8, 14, 26, and 30 of the equipment.
[0018] Referring to Figure 3 there is shown an improved arrangement for providing the necessary functionality to select between cross or straight connection between equipment. As far as possible, like reference numerals are used in Figure 3 to refer to elements shown in previous Figures.
[0019] The arrangement of the downstream transmitters and upstream receivers of the host equipment in Figures 3(a) and 3(b) is identical to that shown in both Figures 1 and 2. In addition the host equipment comprises two further connectors 50 and 52.
[0020] The network equipment 32 of Figure 3(a) corresponds to the arrangement of Figure 2, and the network equipment 32 of Figure 3(b) corresponds to the arrangement of Figure 1.
[0021] Referring to either of Figures 3(a) or 3(b), it can be seen that the connector 52 is provided, in addition to the connector 8, to terminate the outputs 6a and 6b of the downstream transmitters 3a and 3b. Thus the outputs 6a and 6b of the downstream transmitters may be accessed either from the connector 8 or the connector 52.
[0022] It can also be seen from referring to either of Figures 3(a) or 3(b) that the connector 50 is connected, in addition to the connector 14, to the inputs 12a and 12b of the upstream receivers 10a and 10b. Thus the inputs 12a and 12b to the upstream receivers may be provided either from the connector 14 or the connector 50.
[0023] In operation, if the pinning of the connectors of the host and network equipment is the same, then the network equipment is connected to the connectors 8 and 14 by a straight wire connector as shown in Figure 3(a) to achieve straight connection. If the pinning of the host and network equipment is crossed, then the network equipment is connected to the connectors 50 and 52 by the same straight wire connector as shown in Figure 3(b).
[0024] Alternatively, the network equipment of Figure 3(a) could be connected to the connectors 50 and 52 using a cross connection to achieve straight connection, and the network equipment of Figure 3(b) could be connected to the connectors 8 and 14 by the same cross-connector to achieve cross-connection.
[0025] This arrangement can be applied to any system that communicates to a system that has a similar interface of which it is not known if the connector on the other side is straight or cross connected. Typically this means that the arrangement can be used for any communication path that combines the upstream and downstream communication paths in one cable. Examples of these are the RS-232 interface and the ATM-25 interface. The arrangement is low cost, and easy to operate.
a first connector (8) having pins wired to one or more transmitters (4a, 4b), and a second connector (14) having one or more pins wired to one or more receivers (10a, 10b), the first and second connectors (8, 14) together presenting a first array of pins for connecting the transmitters and receivers to a single cable,
a third connector (50) having pins wired to said one or more receivers (10a, 10b), and a fourth connector (52) having pins wired to said one or more transmitters (4a, 4b), said third and fourth connectors (50, 52) together presenting a second array of pins for connecting the transmitters and receivers to a single cable,
so that, the transmitters (4a, 4b) and receivers (10a, 10b) are straight connected to the single cable by the first and second connectors (8, 14) and cross connected to the single cable by the third and fourth connectors (50, 52).
einen ersten Verbinder (8) mit Anschlüssen, die mit einem oder mehreren Sendern (4a, 4b) verdrahtet sind, und einen zweiten Verbinder (14) mit einem oder mehreren Anschlüssen, die mit einem oder mehreren Empfängern (10a, 10b) verdrahtet sind, wobei der erste und der zweite Verbinder (8, 14) zusammen ein erstes Array von Anschlüssen zum Verbinden der Sender und der Empfänger mit einem einzigen Kabel darstellen,
einen dritten Verbinder (50) mit Anschlüssen, die mit dem einen bzw. den mehreren Empfängern (10a, 10b) verdrahtet sind, und einen vierten Verbinder (52) mit Anschlüssen, die mit dem einen bzw. den mehreren Sendern (4a, 4b) verdrahtet sind, wobei der dritte und der vierte Verbinder (50, 52) zusammen ein zweites Array von Anschlüssen zum Verbinden der Sender und der Empfänger mit einem einzigen Kabel darstellen,
dergestalt, daß die Sender (4a, 4b) und die Empfänger (10a, 10b) durch den ersten und den zweiten Verbinder (8, 14) direkt mit dem einzigen Kabel und durch den dritten und den vierten Verbinder (50, 52) über Kreuz mit dem einzigen Kabel verbunden werden.
un premier connecteur (8) doté de broches câblées à un ou plusieurs émetteurs (4a, 4b), et un deuxième connecteur (14) doté d'une ou de plusieurs broches câblées à un ou plusieurs récepteurs (10a, 10b), les premier et deuxième connecteurs (8, 14) présentant ensemble une première matrice de broches en vue de connecter les émetteurs et récepteurs à un câble unique,
un troisième connecteur (50) doté de broches câblées au(x)dit(s) un ou plusieurs récepteurs (10a, 10b), et un quatrième connecteur (52) doté de broches câblées au(x)dit(s) un ou plusieurs émetteurs (4a, 4b), lesdits troisième et quatrième connecteurs (50, 52) présentant ensemble une deuxième matrice de broches en vue de connecter les émetteurs et récepteurs à un câble unique,
de telle sorte que les émetteurs (4a, 4b) et récepteurs (10a, 10b) soient connectés de façon directe au câble unique par les premier et deuxième connecteurs (8, 14) et soient connectés de façon croisée au câble unique par les troisième et quatrième connecteurs (50, 52).