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: A barrier tape used as part of a communication cable is described. The barrier tape is provided with one or more barrier layers of discontinuous conductive segments. Conductive segments of one barrier layer are preferably sized and shaped to overlie gaps between conductive segments of another barrier layer.

Abstract: A communication jack has a housing with a face having a plug receiving aperture. A plurality of conductive path pairs extends from corresponding plug interface contacts located at the plug receiving aperture to corresponding output terminals. A first circuit board is connected to the plug interface contacts and a second circuit board is connected to the plug interface contacts and the output terminals. The first circuit board has a first single stage of crosstalk compensation with opposite polarity of the crosstalk of a plug for a first combination of the conductive path pairs. The second circuit board includes a second single stage of opposite polarity crosstalk compensation for some of the conductive path pairs not compensated on the first circuit board. The stages cancel substantially all of the crosstalk caused by the plug, for the signal operating frequencies, for corresponding combinations of the conductive path pairs.

Abstract: A sealing assembly having a flexible sleeve and a means for sealing a top portion of the sleeve around a plurality of cables, such as by a hook and loop type fastener attached at the top portion of the sleeve. The sleeve is configured to receive at least one cable therethrough and a bottom portion of the sleeve is configured to be secured to a surface. The sleeve can also be electrically conductive such that the sleeve dissipates static electricity from the cable to the surface. The sealing assembly can also have a grommet positioned adjacent the bottom portion of the sleeve. The grommet has a first wall having a plurality of apertures for connecting the grommet to a surface and a second wall that extends substantially perpendicular to the first wall and is configured to extend through an aperture in the surface. The second wall is flexible to protect the cable from sharp edges associated with the aperture in the surface.

Abstract: A pair manager for use in securing a twin-axial cable to a printed circuit board is described. The pair manager comprises a generally block-shaped portion containing a pair of channels. The channels extend from the front face to the rear face of the block-shaped portion. An integral flange and a pair of integral fingers extend perpendicularly from the front face of the block-shaped portion. The flange extends generally from the center of the front face and the fingers extend from opposite edges of the front face. The fingers and flange function as a partial shield cavity around each pair of conductors. This design helps to maintain better impedance matching when connecting twin-axial cables to a printed circuit board.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring the insertion loss of a fiber optic connection is provided. The invention generally comprises a light source providing light to a test connector which contains a juncture of two fiber optic cables. The test connector has one or more opaque portions surrounding the fiber optic juncture. A pyrometer or other heat detection means is then used to measure any temperature increase as a result of light scattered into the opaque portions of the test connector.

Abstract: An access control system dissipates voltage transients while allowing access control equipment to operate normally. The access control system utilizes an isolation patch panel which is provided with circuitry to prevent voltage transients from damaging access control equipment, while also enabling the access control equipment to be wired with standard Ethernet cabling.

Abstract: This application describes a jack for improving crosstalk attenuation. The jack has a housing, a foil at least partially surrounding the housing, a printed circuit board, and at least one pair of insulation displacement contacts and vias. Each pair of insulation contacts and vias are associated with a differential signal. A conductive trace stub is routed on the printed circuit board near the edge of the board proximate to the foil in order to at least partially balance the coupling from one of the insulation displacement contacts and vias of a pair to the foil with the other insulation displacement contact and via of the pair by electrically connecting the trace stub to the via that is further from the foil.

Abstract: A cassette assembly which holds at least two electrical plugs which typically are connected to digital signal carrying cables. In one example, six of these plugs are positioned within a cassette, and are arranged in two rows of three plugs each for ease in connecting the plugs simultaneously to similarly arranged switch port jacks. A lever pivotally connected to the housing, when rotated, causes the release latch of the plugs held within the cassette to move from a locked to an unlocked position to simultaneously remove all of the plugs from the jacks to which they are connected. A housing clip is provided to be positioned within the housing of the cassette assembly such that a projection of the clip is positionable within a path of removal of a plug.

Abstract: A jack is provided that has compensation and crosstalk zones. At least one of the zones employs a lattice network that couples conductors in the zone to reduce the net crosstalk in the plug/jack system. The lattice network has a frequency response slope that is different from the frequency response slope of a first-order coupling or of a series LC circuit coupling. A variety of lattice networks are provided.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a bracket for mounting a vertical cable manager to a rack. The bracket includes a first portion extending in a first direction, a second portion extending from the first portion in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction, and a third portion extending from the second portion in a third direction substantially perpendicular to the second direction and substantially parallel to the first direction. The first portion of the bracket is adapted to snap-fit to the vertical cable manager.

Abstract: The embodiments provide a barb assembly for use with a cable duct component to oppose removal of a cable duct section from the cable duct component. The barb assembly and/or cable duct component can comprise one or more barb arm supports, which can increase the ability of the barb assembly to oppose removal of the cable duct section from the cable duct component. The embodiments also provide methods of installing cable duct components and systems with the above-described features.

Abstract: A modular jack assembly having a housing and a plug interface contact (PIC) sled subassembly insertable into the housing. The PIC sled subassembly provides an electrical and mechanical interface between PICs and a male-type plug receivable in an opening in the housing. The PIC sled subassembly is defined in part by multiple slots formed in the PIC sled subassembly that receive the PICs. The design of the PICs compensates for independent near-end cross-talk vectors and far-end cross-talk vectors to obtain a desired level of electrical characteristics.

Abstract: A communication connector uses compensation circuitry to compensate for crosstalk in a network connection. Portions of the compensation circuitry are placed on a flexible circuit board that makes conductive contact with plug interface contacts of the connector. Additional compensation circuitry is provided on a rigid circuit board within the connector.

Abstract: A modular patch panel module is mountable on an electronics enclosure and includes an angled patch face and mounting structure that enables stacking of modular patch panels without interference of patch panel cords with the top of the enclosure or another patch panel stacked thereon. The patch panel modules may each contain a plurality of RJ-45 ports and punchdown blocks. A cover plate may snap fit to the module to retain the patch panel electrical components therebetween.

Abstract: An intelligent network patch field management system and specialized cross-connect cable are provided to help guide, monitor, and report on the process of connecting and disconnecting patch cords plugs in a cross-connect patching environment. The system is also capable of monitoring patch cord connections to detect insertions or removals of patch cords or plugs. The cross-connect cable is provided with LED's in both of the cable plugs. When only one plug of the cross-connect cable is plugged into a port, the LED associated with that plug is switched out of the circuit, while the LED in the unplugged plug remains in the circuit and can still be illuminated by the system.

Abstract: A material cutter for producing a selected cutting profile. The material cutter includes a cutter frame and a cutter button. The cutter frame has a stationary blade. The cutter button, which is slidably mounted in the cutter frame, has a moving blade with a cutting edge. The cutter button preferably includes a profile selector, so that when a driving force is applied to the cutter button, the moving blade slides past the stationary blade to the extent allowed by the profile selector. The profile selector may be a knob and the cutting profile may be set manually or automatically. It is preferred that at least one of the selectable cutting profiles is a partial cut.

Abstract: A communication connector is described that includes a plug and a jack, into which the plug is inserted. The plug terminates a length of twisted pair cable. The jack includes a sled to support contacts for connecting to wires within the cable, a rigid circuit board that connects to the contacts, and a flex board that contacts the plug interface contacts. The jack also includes circuitry to compensate for crosstalk between wire pairs of the cable by adding capacitance values within the sled, rigid circuit board and/or flex board between traces carrying signals from the wire pairs so that crosstalk caused by the plug between wire pairs that have signals in phase cancels with crosstalk caused by the plug between signals out of phase, and so that the capacitance values added between each trace are about equal. The compensation is performed to reduce differential to common mode signal conversion.

Abstract: A block-out cover is installed in a jack module to prevent entry of undesirable objects. The block-out cover includes at least one window and at least one locking arm. The locking arm secures the cover to the jack module. The window receives a removal tool designed to remove the cover from the jack module. The removal tool includes a body, a lever secured to the body to engage the cover and a prong with a cam surface. The cam surface of the prong deflects the cover from locking engagement with the jack module allowing the removal tool to remove the block-out cover.

Abstract: A block-out cover is installed in a jack module to prevent entry of undesirable objects. The block-out cover includes at least one window and at least one locking arm. The locking arm secures the cover to the jack module. The window receives a removal tool designed to remove the cover from the jack module. The removal tool includes a body, a lever secured to the body to engage the cover and a prong with a cam surface. The cam surface of the prong deflects the cover from locking engagement with the jack module allowing the removal tool to remove the block-out cover.