Abstract: A tunable connector and method for assembling a tunable connector. The connector includes a ferrule that is retainably engaged within a hub. The connector further includes a rear housing and a front housing. The rear housing is sized to receive and rotationally retain the hub. The front housing has a bore that receives and engages the exterior surface of the rear housing. The front and rear housing include engagement members that allow the rear housing to be retained within the front housing and rotated relative to the front housing between discrete positions.

Abstract: A multi-stage signal router includes a clocked storage element connected to each output of each stage of the router. Each clocked storage element is responsive to a trigger event of a clock signal to capture a signal level present at the output to which it is connected and hold the signal level at its own output until a subsequent trigger event of the clock signal.

Abstract: A forward-reverse crosstalk compensation method is provided for compensating capacitance/inductance on a printed circuit board of a connector. The method includes a forward compensation process and a reverse compensation process. The forward compensation process compensates the unbalanced capacitance in the plug of the connector by using the parallel conductive lines or wires. The reverse compensation process can be used to compensate the unbalance capacitance/inductance caused by the forward compensations in the same pair combination of the connector. In both forward compensation and reverse compensation processes, electro-magnetic fields, such as capacitors, can be formed to balance the capacitance/inductance on the printed circuit board of the connector.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a hybrid fiber-coax network having a head end and at least one fiber node in two-way communication therewith. A cable modem is located within the fiber node that provides a communication channel. The communication channel is adapted to transmit at least one informational signal that is indicative of a condition of the fiber node to the head end and is adapted to receive at least one control signal from the head end.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a 1×N optical switch having a switching component, an input, and a plurality of outputs formed in a single substrate. The switching component includes a pair of mirrors which are operated such that by changing the position of at least one of the mirrors, the output of the switch changes.

Abstract: Multiple digital audio transformer circuits are included in a module for mounting in a chassis. These digital audio transformer circuits are comprised of a front mounted twisted pair digital audio cable connector and a rear mounted coaxial cable connector, with circuitry including baluns electrically linking the front and rear connectors to reduce the impedance of the signal and attenuate the amplitude of the signal voltage. In one embodiment, the module may also include removable attenuation pads accessible through the front face of the module to allow variation of the level of voltage attenuation. The preferred embodiment of the module bi-directional transforms 110 Ohm digital audio signals and 75 Ohm coaxial signals. If transformation of other levels of impedance are desired, modules may also allow for removal and replacement of the baluns. A digital audio transformer system including multi-circuit modules and rack mount equipment chassis is also provided.

Abstract: A designation window including a transparent strip member having a front side and a back side. The strip member also includes a length and a width. Finger grips are provided on the front side of the strip member. The fingers grips include outwardly facing gripping surfaces that extend across the width of the strip and have concave curvatures.

Abstract: A testing apparatus that comprises an electrical device. A first circuit is in electrical communication with the electrical device. The first circuit including an amplifier. First and second couplers are electrically connected to the first circuit and arranged in series with the amplifier. The amplifier is positioned between the first and second couplers. A second circuit has a first end in electrical communication with the first coupler and a second end in electrical communication with the second coupler. The total gain of the first coupler, the second coupler, the portion of the first circuit between the first and second couplers, and the second circuit is approximately zero.

Abstract: A telecommunications apparatus for use with a signal lamp. The apparatus includes a jack having a jack body defining an IN port, an OUT port and a MONITOR port. The ports are aligned along a vertical line with the OUT port positioned above the IN port and the MONITOR port positioned above the OUT port. A first set of spring contacts is provided for contacting a plug inserted in the IN port, a second set of spring contacts is provided for contacting a plug inserted in the OUT port, and a third set of spring contacts is provided for contacting a plug inserted in the MONITOR port. The telecommunications apparatus further includes a lamp switch for activating the signal lamp when a plug is inserted in the MONITOR port. The lamp switch is positioned below the third set of spring contacts and above the second set of spring contacts.

Abstract: A fiber optic telecommunications frame is provided including rotatable panels having front and rear termination locations, the panels positioned on left and right sides of the frame. The frame includes vertical access for the rear cables, and rear cable guides disposed within the frame. The frame further includes left and right vertical cable guides for patch cables. The frame further includes cable storage spools for the patch cables positioned adjacent to the left and right panels of the frame. The frame includes a horizontal passage linking the left and right panels and the cable guides. A lower portion of the frame defines splice tray holders and a central passage from the splice tray holders to the rear sides of the left and right panels. From a front of each panel, access to a rear of the panel is provided by the hinged panels.

Abstract: A hinge clip apparatus for selectively engaging/disengaging a cover includes a base, a hinge defining a hinge axis, and a plate. The plate is pivotally moveable relative to the base along the hinge which connects the base to the plate. The plate includes a hole and a spring member extending through the hole. The spring member has an extension tab capable of engaging the cover and disengaging from the cover when the spring member is compressed.

Abstract: A system and method for electronically identifying connections established through a cross-connect system provides for the identification of all hard-wired and temporary patch connections, and any modifications made to existing cross-connect circuit connections. Connection identification and status information is acquired in near real-time and stored in a database which is accessible by a user through a graphical user interface (GUI). The TRACE or lamp wires which connect respective pairs of cross-connect circuits are utilized in an unconventional manner so as to form a scanning bus. The information signal paths established through the cross-connect circuits remain undisturbed. A scanning signal is communicated between each pair of cross-connected circuits over the TRACE conductor. In the event a patch cord is used to temporarily redirect a signal connection, the scanning signal is transmitted over the shield or sleeve conductor of the patch cord.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a fiber optic device including a connector housing including a front housing piece, an intermediate housing piece, and a rear housing piece that is non-unitarily connected to the intermediate housing piece. The rear housing piece and the intermediate housing piece define passages that are in general alignment with one another. The fiber optic device also includes a hub positioned within the connector housing. The hub includes a passage that aligns generally with the passage of the intermediate housing piece. The hub is spring biased toward a front end of the connector housing. The fiber optic device further includes a ferrule connected to the hub, and a fiber optic cable. The ferrule defines a passage that extends in general axial alignment with the passage of the hub. A fiber portion of the fiber optic cable is adhesively bonded within the passage of the ferrule. A buffered portion of the fiber optic cable extends through the passage of the rear housing piece.

Abstract: A head end terminal for a communication system using multicarrier modulation is described. The head end terminal includes a multicarrier modem adapted to receive upstream signals and to demodulate the upstream signals modulated on a plurality of orthogonal carriers in a first frequency bandwidth, the multicarrier modem including a polyphase filter adapted to selectively filter the received upstream signal to provide protection against narrowband ingress for the modulated orthogonal carriers and allow for scalable bandwidth usage in the upstream transmission, and a controller operatively connected to the multicarrier modem for controlling receipt of signals.

Abstract: A fiber termination block including a frame structure adapted to be connected to a fiber distribution rack. The frame structure includes a front end and a rear end. A front fiber optic adapter array is positioned adjacent the front end of the frame structure. A plurality of rear modules are mounted at the rear end of the frame structure. Each of the rear modules defines a front opening. At least one coupler is mounted within each of the rear modules. A plurality of fiber optic cables are provided for transmitting fiber optic signals between the front fiber optic adapter array and the couplers. The fiber optic cables extend through the front openings of the rear modules to access the couplers.

Abstract: A video and telephony signal distribution network is provided. The network includes a head end for transmitting to a plurality of remote units. The network further includes at least one optical/electrical converter unit that transmits to the remote units over at least two coaxial cables coupled to a common optical/electrical converter unit. Each remote unit transmits upstream electrical data signals over its associated coaxial cable to the optical/electrical converter unit using a common bandwidth. The optical/electrical converter unit converts and frequency shifts the upstream electrical data signals from at least one remote unit to form an optical upstream data signal for transmittal to the head end such that the frequency spectrum used for the upstream communications is simultaneously used on each of the coaxial cables of to optical/electrical converter unit.

Abstract: Circuits and methods are described which reduce waiting time jitter at a synchronizer/multiplexer by using a “sub-bit” comparison of a clock associated with an unsynchronized data stream and a clock associated with a synchronized data stream to generate a threshold level for use in determining when to stuff bits into the synchronized data stream. The term “sub-bit” means that the phase difference, as measured by, for example, the location of pointers associated with the two clocks, is precise to a fraction of a bit.

Abstract: A method for initializing a service unit in a communication system. The method includes receiving a synchronization signal from a head end at the remote unit. Further, an identifier is received specifying the remote unit. The method further receives an upstream frequency band and control channel designation at the remote unit, wherein the frequency band includes a number of subbands with at least one control channel in each subband. The method tunes to the designated frequency band and a reference signal is transmitted on a selected channel to the head end. The method receives adjustment signals based on the reference signal transmitted to the head end to allow signals transmitted from the remote unit to be orthogonal at the head end to signals from at least one other remote unit. The method adjusts parameters at the remote unit based on the adjustment signals.

Abstract: A switching coax jack module and jack component provide for a removable DSX jack which can be slid into and out of the front of a jack module housing without disconnecting other internal jacks and without disconnecting the module from a chassis.

Abstract: A method for controlling gain in a network is provided. The method includes receiving signals for transmission over a network and adjusting the level of the received signals. The method further includes inserting an additional signal indicative of the level adjustment and transmitting the signals and the additional signal over the network. The method also includes extracting the additional signal after transmission over the network and compensating for the level adjustment based on the extracted signal.