Abstract: A coaxial surge protector includes a housing in which is situated a transmission line in the form of a two-sided printed circuit board. The surge protector includes input and output signal connectors mounted on a housing and connected to the transmission line, and a gas discharge tube electrically coupled between the transmission line and circuit ground. A thermally activated shunt assembly is thermally coupled to the gas discharge tube and senses when the gas discharge tube is in an overheating condition. Upon such condition, the shunt assembly provides an electrically conductive shunt in parallel with the gas discharge tube to divert current flowing through the gas discharge tube to flow through the shunt assembly to ground in order to minimize further overheating of the gas discharge tube.

Abstract: A surge protector circuit and method of protecting electronic equipment which do not load down a circuit at high frequencies and do not degrade a signal in high speed data transmission. A gas tube is connected in parallel with low capacitance diodes and an avalanche semiconductor device, such as a TVS. The diodes and the avalanche semiconductor clamp the voltage transient and allow the slower gas tube more time to fire, discharging the surge. The addition of the low capacitance diodes in series with the avalanche semiconductor, reduces the line-to-line and line-to-ground capacitances of the surge protector and keeps the surge protector circuit from loading down the rest of the circuit and degrading the signal.

Abstract: An electrical connection strip used for high density wiring in telecommunication systems includes an elongated block, a first and second row of connector elements and a conductor guide pivotally mounted to a bottom surface of the block. The connector elements are mounted within the block so that end portions of the first row of connector elements protrude through a top surface of the block and end portions of the second row of connector elements protrude through a bottom surface of the block. The conductor guide pivots to bend conductor wires connected to the second row of connector elements at the bottom surface of the block from a first position, in which the conductor wires are substantially parallel to the bottom surface, to a second position, in which the conductor wires are substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface.

Abstract: An insulation displacement contact for a two wire termination connection strip includes first and second generally planar leaf elements, each having longitudinal centerlines lying in a common longitudinal plane. The longitudinal plane is perpendicular to both of the leaf elements. The first leaf element is formed with a first leaf longitudinal slot defined by a first leaf relieved edge located on a first side of the longitudinal plane, and a first leaf opposed cutting edge which is spaced from the first leaf relieved edge in a direction towards the first leaf longitudinal centerline. The second leaf element is formed with a second leaf longitudinal slot defined by a second leaf relieved edge and a second leaf opposed cutting edge, with the second leaf relieved edge located on the second side of the longitudinal plane and the second leaf opposed cutting edge being spaced from the second leaf relieved edge in a direction towards the first leaf longitudinal centerline.

Abstract: An electrical connection strip with a releasable mounting for attaching to mounting brackets of different configurations. The electrical connection strip includes an elongated block of electrically non-conductive material and a first mounting assembly. The mounting assembly comprises two longitudinal members that extend from an end of the block with a cross member running between them. Attached to the cross member is a vertical locking member which extends above and below the longitudinal members. The vertical locking member includes a locking formation located above the longitudinal members and a boss located below the longitudinal members. The locking formation and boss are configured to cooperatively engage a locking recess in a tabbed mounting bracket and tabless mounting bracket respectively.

Abstract: A telephone line surge protector module with fast-acting, high resistance heat coil assembly includes a plurality of turns of resistive heating wire having a conductive core, a heat-resisting insulative coating, and a relatively high tensile-strength serving for resisting manufacturing stresses. The serving permits a number of turns of the wire to be tightly wound about a bobbin, without being damaged due to stresses encountered in the manufacturing process. The heat resisting insulative coating prevents shorting between the turns at high temperatures, yet is thin enough so that inter-turn thermal conductance is not degraded. The serving is preferably formed of a material that softens or liquifies at high temperatures to enhance inter-turn thermal conductance. The module with fast-acting coil is suitable for protecting sensitive electronic digital switches.

Abstract: A varied ratio coupler, and a method of forming the same, constructed and arranged, in a unitary structure, to cause optical power in an input optical fiber to couple asymmetrically to at least two output optical fibers in a manner establishing different insertion losses between the input fiber and at least two output optical fibers. The coupler includes a central fiber surrounded by a close-packed ring of fibers. In certain preferred embodiments, the coupler has a bend that lies in a preselected plane and has a radius of curvature that is selected to provide the above difference in the insertion losses.

Abstract: An arrangement for supporting an optical fiber and related optical components in a raised position above a surface of a printed circuit board on which electrical components are mounted includes a support which defines an endless, oval raceway for receiving one or more optical fibers, legs mounted on the support and secured to the printed circuit board for supporting the raceway defining support above the surface of the printed circuit board a predetermined distance so that the support does not interfere with the electrical components mounted on the printed circuit board, and one or more ramps joined to the raceway and extending from the raceway substantially to the surface of the printed circuit board. The ramps provide support for the optical fibers over portions of the fibers where they are coupled to an opto-electronic transmitter or receiver mounted on the printed circuit board.

Abstract: A connector block (20) which contains a plurality of electrical contacts (38) is mounted on mounting tabs (32) of a mounting bracket (22) and is releasably locked in place by means of projections (56) on release tabs (52) at the ends of the block. The release tabs are resiliently bendable away from the end wall to pull the projection (56) out from locking holes (34) in the mounting tabs (32).

Abstract: A grounding arrangement for connector strips which are mounted across the edges of parallel rails. A ground element is connected to the ground system inside the connector strip and extends though the back of the strip to a connector clip. The connector clip is engaged with a flange which extends out from one of the rails.

Abstract: An electrical connector for connecting together cables containing at least two twisted wire pairs which transmit and receive different electrical signals, The connector has an electrically conductive shield between pairs of connector elements which are respectively connected to the different twisted wire pairs. The connector also has an insulative block with printed circuit segments and switch contacts which together form shunts to connect the twisted pairs together when the connector is disconnected.

Abstract: A specialized package for shipping and using fiber optic cable which simplifies handling prior to installation, and serves as a storage device after the cable has been installed. The disclosed device comprises a fiber board box of planar configuration with an integral lid secured in closed position by tuck tabs. Positioned within the box are a pair of planar foam layers each defining a congruent circular opening. Positioned within the opening is a flat spool having a core and at least one detachable end cap upon which the fiber optic cable is coiled, and from which project a pair of connectorized ends. When the package is closed, the connectorized ends are gently clamped between the foam layers, thus protecting the same against damage during shipment.

Abstract: An elongated electrically insulative connector block (12) contains internal spring finger electrical conductors 78 arranged in sets in adjacent cells (C.sub.1, C.sub.2, ... C.sub.n) which are arranged in a line, with adjacent cells being mutually offset in a direction transverse to the line; and a connector with a plurality of insert elements lying in parallel planes which are mutually offset so that each element can be inserted into adjacent cells.

Abstract: A means and method for routing and managing buffered tube type fiber optical cable, particularly outside plant cable to an optical fiber cabinet or similar structure. The disclosure describes novel clamping elements engaging the outside plant cable which serve to separate the contained optical fibers for guidance in individual paths to a point of connection, and provide a mounting point at the clamping elements prior to separation. The clamping elements are transparent, enabling inspection and identification of individual fiber circuits.

Abstract: An improved fiber optic connector including a selectively positioned attenuation barrel which forms part of a connector plug. As contrasted with the prior art construction which it replaces, structure is provided for preventing rotational movement of the attenuation barrel relative to an adapter body element of the connector in the form of a rotary locking ring, so that upon interconnection, any relative rotation between the abutted finished ends of a pair of fiber optic cores is prevented, thereby eliminating any possible abrasive action therebetween.

Abstract: An improved means and method for routing and managing ribbon type fiber optic cables used in the telecommunications industry. The means includes a split housing defining an entry channel formed by a shank adapted to be clamped beneath an outer sheath enclosing a plurality of ribbon cables whereby an included plurality of such ribbon cables enter the hollow shank and are conducted to a recess from which they are individually introduced into one of a plurality of parallel planar channels from which they are guided to separate locations for separation of the individual fibers comprising the ribbon cables to be further separated and terminated at final locations. The housings may be manufactured in a variety of sizes depending upon the number of ribbon cables to be routed, and may be used singly, or in serially associated fashion.

Abstract: A patch cable assembly for making patch connections between connector blocks while protecting against cross talk and signal interference. The assembly includes a patch cable with transmit and receive conductors and a surrounding ground sheath and a printed circuit board insert at the end for insertion into a patch connector block.

Abstract: A fiber optic connector having an adjustable element providing for optical signal attenuation. The connector includes a pair of plug connector elements maintained in axially aligned relation upon engagement with a medially positioned adapter element. One of the plug connector elements incorporates the adjustable element, movement of which varies the gap existing between the aligned ends of the optical fibers without relative rotation between the end surfaces of the fibers.

Abstract: A fiber optic plug connector for single fiber jacketed conductors and a corresponding jack type adapter supported in a bulkhead and adapted to receive a corresponding plug on an opposite side of the bulkhead in aligned relation. The plug connector incorporates means for maintaining both axial and rotational alignment of an engaged conductor with respect to a corresponding fiber container with which it is placed in abutted relation to assure maximum transmission therethrough. A novel adapter construction is also disclosed.

Abstract: A connector block assembly for connecting closely spaced wired on which high frequency signals are present, contains pairs of spring finger connectors with electrically conductive shields between different pairs. Ground contacts are arranged to be engaged by an insert module in advance of its engagement with the spring fingers and a detents and projection arrangement serves to hold the insert module at different operating positions.