Abstract: An active jack, which is a powered device, is installed as the network connection at a workstation which provides the capability to determine the physical location of a destination device, such as a VOIP phone, in real time. Uninterruptible power supplies may be used to provide power to network components, for example during an emergency. Power-and-data deployments are shown for powering network components and destination devices.

Abstract: A fiber optic stub fiber connector for reversibly and nondestructively terminating an inserted field fiber having a buffer over at least a portion thereof. The connector includes a housing and a ferrule including a stub fiber disposed within and extending from a bore through the ferrule. The ferrule is generally at least partially disposed within and supported by the housing. The connector further includes a reversible actuator for reversibly and nondestructively terminating the inserted field fiber to the stub fiber. The reversible actuator includes a buffer clamp for engaging with the buffer to simultaneously provide reversible and nondestructive strain relief to the terminated field fiber.

Abstract: A network cable jack includes a printed circuit board (PCB) for balancing both inductive and capacitive coupling. Using a PCB allows compact trace paths to be formed without significantly increasing manufacturing costs. By including on each trace path two distinct inductance zones separated by a neutral zone, significant gains in degrees of freedom are achieved for designing PCB trace patterns in which a pair of inductive coupling zones jointly offset the inductive coupling caused by a specification plug and the jack contacts, both in magnitude and phase angle. Further, using distinct inductance zones offers more freedom regarding the placement of capacitive plates for use in capacitance balancing as well as the placement of terminals and insulation displacement contacts. Although the magnitude of a capacitive coupling is determined by the length of the capacitor plates parallel to current carrying traces, the approach allows capacitive and inductive coupling to be balanced independently.

Abstract: A communication jack having crosstalk compensation features for overall crosstalk interference reduction is disclosed. In one embodiment, the jack is configured to receive a plug to form a communication connection, and comprises jack contacts disposed in the jack, with each contact having at least a first surface and a second surface. Upon the plug being received by the jack, the plug contacts interface with the first surface of the jack contacts. The jack further includes a first capacitive coupling connected between two pairs of jack contacts to compensate for near end crosstalk, with the first capacitive coupling being connected to the pairs of jack contacts along the second surface adjacent to where the plug contacts interface with the jack contacts. A far end crosstalk compensation scheme is also set forth.

Abstract: A network documentation and revision system is presented that includes first and second devices connected by a patch cord. The first device has provisioning and signal ports with corresponding contact assemblies. The second device has a switch port without a contact assembly. The patch cord has signal and control wires, a first connector that connects the signal wires into a signal port and the control wire to a corresponding contact assembly, and a second connector that connects the signal wires to the switch port and terminates the control wire. The second connector contains an indicator controlled by control circuitry, detection circuitry detecting whether the second connector is plugged into the second device, and ID circuitry providing an ID number through the first connector. Installation or removal of the patch cord is guided by indicators on the patch cord and first device without retrofit contacts being added to the second device.

Abstract: The invention is a modular cable termination plug having a conductor divider having an entrant barb and a plurality of divider channels, a load bar having a plurality of through holes and a plurality of slots, and a plurality of contact terminals. Additionally, the invention may include a housing, a strain relief collar and a strain relief boot.

Abstract: An apparatus for mounting electrical equipment comprises a frame for carrying electrical equipment, a hinge connected to the frame, and a cable ring connected to the hinge. The cable ring is positioned between the frame and an axis of rotation of the hinge.

Abstract: A communication network device and corresponding patch field system are disclosed. The device includes a port module, ports, and an appliqué attached to a face of the port module. The appliqué includes a printed circuit board (PCB) with conductive pads. A patch cord connects the device with an intelligent patch panel. The patch cord contains at least one system wire. The patch panel is adapted to measure a resistance associated with each port via the system wire. An open circuit indicates that no patch cord is attached to the port, a resistance within a first range indicates that the patch cord is attached only to the port of the intelligent patch panel, and a resistance within a second range less than the first range indicates that the patch cord connects the intelligent patch panel and the device.

Abstract: A wire containment cap has twisted pair slots for routing twisted wire pairs through the wire containment cap. The twisted pair slots are provided with funnel-shaped entrances to assist in routing the twisted wire pairs from a rear end of the wire containment cap toward wire slots of the wire containment cap. The wire containment cap may be provided in shielded or unshielded versions, and is adapted for use with a communication jack assembly.

Abstract: A communications connector with a flexible printed circuit board is provided. The flexible printed circuit board is electronically and mechanically connected to the plug interface contacts of the jack near the plug/jack interface, in order to provide effective crosstalk compensation. The flexible printed circuit board has fingers at one end allowing it to flex as individual plug interface contacts are depressed when a plug is installed into the jack. The flexible printed circuit board, or a flexible portion of a printed circuit board, is provided with elongated extensions for certain conductors to accommodate the connection of six-contact or eight-contact plugs to the connector.

Abstract: A metal locking tie formed from a locking head and an elongate strap extending through the locking head. The locking head is defined by a top wall a bottom wall and two sides. The locking head includes a slot that extends through the locking head from an entrance end to an exit end. The bottom wall of the locking head has a tab that extends upwardly toward the slot in the locking head. The strap has a first end, a second end, and an aperture therethrough. When the strap is positioned within the locking head the upwardly extending tab of the locking head engages the aperture in the strap. A metal locking tie tool secures the strap to the locking head by displacing a portion of the strap in the locking head.

Abstract: An electrical connector with improved crosstalk compensation is disclosed. By including at least one coupling with a different frequency dependency than other couplings in the connector, crosstalk compensation performance is improved over a greater frequency range. The different frequency dependency may, for example, be used to compensate for phase shifts caused by distances between compensation circuitry and the plug/jack interface. Embodiments for decreasing these distances are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for documenting network path connectivity are described that allow a network management system/revision management system (NMS/RMS) to determine what equipment and ports support a network path by interrupting and restoring Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) service on the network path. Upon detecting a loss of PoE service, communication active jacks that support network path connectivity may activate an internal switch that interrupts downstream connectivity. Each communication active jack along the network path may then begin broadcasting a unique message in the upstream direction that is addressed to the NMS/RMS. Upon receiving a unique active jack message, the NMS/RMS may record the information contained within and instruct the communication active jack to reestablish connectivity to the next downstream device.

Abstract: An outlet box is disclosed. The outlet box has a base including a rear surface of the outlet box, and a cover including a front surface of the outlet box. The cover is configured to engagingly fit over the base. An intermediate portion extends from one or both of the base and cover and extends generally between the rear surface and the front surface. The cover, the base, and the intermediate portion cooperatively define an interior of the outlet box when the cover and the base are engagingly fitted together. The intermediate portion includes a pair of opposed inwardly inclined portions and a pair of set-off portions extending from the inner more ends of the inwardly inclined portions, and at least one of the inclined portions includes an aperture therein. A connector is disposed within the base, and the connector has an opening for receiving a plug.

Abstract: A multi-use tool for assembly of electrical connectors includes a main tool body having an electrical connector assembly holder. The holder includes first and second cavities. The first cavity includes spaced anvils and removably retains an electrical connector end cap between the anvils. A cutting ram is opposed to the first cavity and includes two cutting blades that are translatable between disengaged and engaged positions to trim and sever excess wire lengths from the electrical connector end cap. The second cavity removably retains the electrical connector end cap and a jack housing. A termination ram is opposed to the second cavity and movably mounted between disengaged and engaged positions to terminate the jack housing with the end cap. A trigger mechanism is operably connected to both the cutting ram and the termination ram.

Abstract: An angled patch panel is mountable to a network rack. The angled patch panel includes a patch panel frame, rack mounting members provided on opposite longitudinal ends of the frame, and a plurality of connectors mountable on the frame. The frame has a first panel section and a second panel section angled relative thereto by an obtuse angle between 90° and 180°. The first and second panel sections each define a front surface, and the plurality of connectors are oriented at an acute angle ? relative to the front surface of either the first or second panel sections.

Abstract: Systems and methods of the present invention employ helically corrugated jackets to enhance communication cable alien crosstalk characteristics. A data cable may be newly constructed with an improved helically corrugated jacket.

Abstract: A slack loop manager is mountable to a network rack having a left side and a right side. The slack loop manager includes a first plurality of slack spools angled from the left side to the right side of the rack, and a second plurality of slack spools angled from the left side to the right side of the rack. The first plurality of slack spools are substantially parallel to the second plurality of slack spools. A divider is positioned between the first plurality and the second plurality of slack spools.

Abstract: An industrial ethernet connector has four pairs of conductors. The connector includes a first pair of conductors defining a first axis and a second pair of conductors defining a second axis. The second axis is orthogonal to the first axis.

Abstract: A clamp that guides and secures cables in a cable management system. The clamp includes a body member and latch members integrally formed with the body member. The body member includes at least one cable guide and the latch members include outwardly extending arms. The latch members pivot from an open position to a closed position over the body member. When the latch members are in the closed position, each arm is disposed over a cable guide to secure a cable positioned therein.