Abstract: A test system includes a test and measurement instrument having one or more inputs for receiving one or more signals to be measured or tested, a display for outputting measurement results or test results, one or more processors for operating the instrument, a chassis housing the instrument, a power connection to receive power for powering the one or more processors from a wall connection. The test system further includes an external battery pack separate from the test and measurement instrument and structured to mechanically and electrically couple to and decouple from the test and measurement instrument, the external battery pack including a DC power source for powering the one or more processors. The test and measurement instrument includes no batteries or other power storage device for powering the one or more processors within the chassis of the instrument.

Abstract: An assembly suitable for housing electronic components can include a top shield and a bottom shield, the bottom shield having a conductive outer cover, a wall section, and a laminating portion between the conductive outer cover and the wall section. The laminating portion may include laminating material. A printed circuit board (PCB) may be positioned between the top shield and the bottom shield.

Abstract: An assembly suitable for housing electronic components can include a top shield and a bottom shield, the bottom shield having a conductive outer cover, a wall section, and a laminating portion between the conductive outer cover and the wall section. The laminating portion may include laminating material. A printed circuit board (PCB) may be positioned between the top shield and the bottom shield.

Abstract: A stackable, recessed, locking, insulated thumbscrew for connecting modules together in a stack such that removal of one module from the stack does not loosen other modules in the stack has an insulated knurled cap that fits over the end of a main screw body. The main screw body has an interior threaded end and an exterior threaded end, with the knurled cap slidable over the interior threaded end by means of a bayonet pin on the main screw body and corresponding bayonet slot in the knurled cap. A cap spring is captured between a retainer flange integral with or retainer ring mounted on the interior threaded end adjacent the exterior threaded end and the knurled cap to apply pressure to the knurled cap. In a raised position the knurled cap may be readily grasped for manual screwing and unscrewing of the thumbscrew to add or remove a module from the stack.

Abstract: A retractable connector mechanism for a signal connector has a recessed tub housing with a signal connector carrier rotatably fixed within the housing. The retractable connector mechanism rotates from the stored position in the housing to an angled positioned extending out of the housing. A biased carrier latch is attached to the signal connector carrier and is biased by a spring to rotate to a locked position. The biased carrier latch has a cam surface that travels on first and second guide surfaces within the housing such that rotating the signal connector carrier from the stored position to the angled position causes the cam surface to travel on the first guide surface and the biased carrier latch to rotate to a locked position on the second guide surface to latch the signal connector carrier in the angled position.

Abstract: An remote fiber test system includes a non-blocking N.times.N optical switch having N input ports and N output ports with one of the input ports coupled to a measurement test instrument for examining any of the optical fibers coupled to the output ports. The non-blocking switch includes a plurality of N input mechanical optical switches and an plurality of N output mechanical optical switches with each of the input mechanical optical switches having an input optical transmission path representing one of the input ports and each of the output mechanical optical switches having an output optical transmission path representing one of the output ports. Each input mechanical optical switch has N output optical transmission paths which each optical transmission path being coupled to one of the input optical transmission paths of each of the output mechanical optical switches.

Abstract: An remote fiber test system includes at least one mechanical optical switch has opposing input and output optical fiber bundles disposed within offset ferrules with at least one input fiber coupled to a measurement test instrument and each of the output fiber coupled to an optical fiber link via wavelength division multiplexers. Each ferrule of the optical switch is mounted in three-point kinematically correct V-groove holder allowing the optical fibers in each optical fiber bundle to traverse on a closed curve path during the rotation of the respective ferrules. The closed curve paths of each optical fiber in one of the optical fiber bundles intersect at least one of the closed curve paths of the optical fiber in the opposing optical fiber bundles. The intersection points of two opposing closed curve paths establish the optimum positioning locations for two opposing fibers.

Abstract: A mechanical optical switch having opposing first and second optical transmission paths, such as optical fibers, forming an optical interface and rotating about respective independent and offset first and second rotational axes for positioning the fibers on respective first and second offset and intersecting closed curves operates to rotate the input or first optical fiber on its closed curve to one of the two intersecting points on its closed curve in response to the angular coordinate representative of the position of fiber at the intersecting point matching the intersecting point of the second optical fiber. The output or second optical fiber is rotated on its closed curve to the intersecting point corresponding to the intersecting point of the first fiber in response to the angular coordinate representative of the position of the second fiber at the intersecting point. These rotational movements may be performed sequentially, but in the preferred embodiment they are performed simultaneously.

Abstract: An improved M.times.N mechanical optical switch has opposing input and output optical fiber bundles disposed within offset ferrules forming an optical interface with the ferrules having sleeve members secured to one of the end faces thereof. The sleeve members have a hardness greater than the ferules and the optical fibers for forming respective recessed polished end face regions on the ferrules at the optical interface. Each ferrule is mounted in three-point kinematically correct V-groove holder allowing the optical fibers in each optical fiber bundle to traverse on a closed curve path during the rotation of the respective ferrules. Each V-groove holder has a spring clamp with first and second clamp members and wear resistant inserts secured to the clamp members and the sidewalls of the V-groove holder. The closed curve paths of each optical fiber in one of the optical fiber bundles intersect at least one of the closed curve paths of the optical fiber in the opposing optical fiber bundles.