WO2005050792A2

WO2005050792A2 - Connector socket

Info

Publication number: WO2005050792A2
Application number: PCT/EP2004/012912
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hans-Juergen Niethammer; Kay-Uwe Mey
Original assignee: Tyco Electronics Amp Gmbh
Priority date: 2003-11-18
Filing date: 2004-11-15
Publication date: 2005-06-02
Also published as: AU2004311206B2; AU2004311206A1; NZ547556A; RU2006121351A; EP1685630A2; WO2005050792A3

Abstract

The invention relates to a connector socket (1) for a data network via which data devices are interconnected by means of data lines. The connector socket (1) is designed to be mountable on a substrate, especially a wall (2) or a patch panel (15). The connector socket (1) has line contacts (6) on the substrate side and connection contacts (9) on the device side that are connected with one another in accordance with a wiring scheme. In order to be able to handle several data transfer standards without exchanging the connector socket (1), in accordance with the invention a switching means (19) in which the wiring scheme is alterably configured is integrated in the connector socket (1). The pin assignment of the connector socket (1) can thus be adapted only by corresponding alteration of the wiring scheme at the connector socket (1), without the connector socket (1) having to be removed.

Description

Connector socket

The invention relates to a connector socket for a network, which connector socket is designed to be mountable on a substrate, such as a wall or a patch panel, and has line contacts on the substrate side and has connection contacts that are connected to the line contacts in accordance with a wiring scheme. Such connector sockets are known from the prior art and are used, for example, in data networks. Modern data networks link different devices, such as computers, telephones, data servers and printers in, for example, an office building. Comparable with a power supply network, the network lines in a data network are laid over long distances, concealed from external view, in walls, false ceilings, false floors or cable ducts of a building. At arbitrary points in the building, connection points are provided, in order to connect the devices to the data network. The network lines are brought together on the other side of the network at node points, for example, servers or routers. Connector sockets of the kind mentioned in the introduction are used in order to connect a node point by means of one or more network lines to a connection point and to enable devices to be connected up. The connector sockets can be mounted at the connection points, for example in offices, in the form of outlet sockets on a substrate such as a wall or a floor. At the node points, the connector sockets can be inserted in so-called patch panels, where a plurality of connector sockets are arranged in the manner of a multi-way connector. The connector sockets are provided on the substrate side with line contacts, to which the network cables are connected at a connection point and the patch panel is connected at a node point. On the device side, connection contacts are provided, which are brought into contact with a generally standardised plug connected to the device to be connected up. Depending on the data transfer standard used by the device to be connected up, the line contacts of the connector socket are connected with the connection contacts in accordance with a fixed wiring scheme, so that specific signals are present only at the connection contacts determined by the data transmission standard. Signal assignment of the connection contacts is known as pin assignment. The wiring scheme is independent of the plug form. For example, ethernet and ISDN connections use the same plugs, yet a different pin assignment. Even within the ethernet standard the pin assignment can still vary. A disadvantage of the connector sockets used previously is their limited versatility. For example, on the one hand, when planning the building network the exact location of the devices to be used later on has often still not been finally decided, and on the other hand devices other than those originally intended often have to be connected up at fixed connection points long after completion of the building network. In that case the entire connector socket has to be exchanged both at the node point and at the connection point. This is time-consuming and expensive. It is therefore an object of the invention to improve the known connector sockets in order to render the building network more versatile in use. That object is achieved in accordance with the invention in that a switching means connected between the connection contacts and the line contacts and in which the wiring scheme is alterably configured is integrated in the connector socket. This solution is simple and has the advantage that an exchange of the connector sockets is unnecessary when the use of the data network changes, thereby saving cost and working time. The pin assignment of the connection contacts can be changed without exchanging the connector socket by virtue of the wiring scheme alterably configured in the switching means. If, for example, an original ISDN connection for a telephone is converted into an ethernet connection, then merely the wiring scheme on the switching means has to be altered, the connector socket can continued to be used otherwise unchanged. By integrating the switching means into the connector socket, the connector socket according to the invention takes up no more space than the conventional connector sockets, so that it can easily be integrated in place of the conventional connector sockets. The connector socket according to the invention can comprise different constructions independent of one another and advantageous in their own right. These constructions and the respective advantages associated with the constructions will be described briefly in the following. Thus, in an advantageous embodiment, the wiring scheme of the switching means of the connector socket can be operable from the outside. This has the advantage that when altering the wiring scheme the connector socket does not need to be disassembled. To operate the switching means, an operating device having a manually operable switch and/or a moving contact, to which a switching signal can be applied, is provided. In particular, the switching means can be configured so that the wiring scheme can be altered with the connector socket mounted. This has the advantage that the connector socket need not be removed to change the wiring scheme and hence no unnecessary installation work and working time is required. In addition, the switching means can be configured to alter the wiring scheme during operation of the connector socket. This is advantageous because the network need not be interrupted to alter the wiring scheme. In order to be able to alter the wiring scheme especially easily, in a further advantageous construction the switching means can comprise a programmable circuit arrangement, by which the wiring scheme is alterable. In particular, the programmable circuit arrangement can be a microprocessor. According to a further construction, the switching means itself is capable of monitoring the connection contacts and/or the line contacts and of using use the signals present there as control signals. Depending on the control signals, the switching means is then automatically operated and alters the wiring scheme.

For example, the clock frequency at a line contact and/or connection contact can be monitored and the wiring scheme altered as a function of the clock frequency. Electromagnetic components, such as relays, can be integrated in the switching means in order to switch the contacts in accordance with the wiring scheme to be set. The use of relays is usually expedient when a relatively high energy flow for power supply to connected-up devices takes place via the contacts to be switched, as is the case, for example, with "Power-over-Ethernet" technology. The respective switch positions of the relays determine the wiring scheme. In a further construction, the wiring scheme of the switching means can also be designed to be mechanically switchable. In this construction, moving contacts are used, the switch position of which determines the wiring scheme. To change the wiring scheme, the contact elements are moved. To keep the number of necessary conductors in the mains power line to a minimum, the number of line contacts can be less than the number of connection contacts. Furthermore, the number of line contacts can be at most half the number of connection contacts. Since in many applications, such as, for example, ethernet applications, only half the number of connection contacts provided according to standard is used, half the number of conductors in the mains power line can be saved. In addition, according to an advantage construction the connector socket can comprise an exchangeable adapter in the form of a standard plug, which forms the actual socket and in which the connection contacts are formed. This feature enables different plug standards to be used at the same connector socket, since only the adapter needs to be exchanged for an appropriate adapter. The pin assignment of the individual plug standards can be adapted by the switching means. If the connector socket is to be used in patch panels, then often a plurality of connector sockets has to be connected up, which is a complex and error-susceptible task, in which contacts can easily be mixed up with one another. This source of error can be avoided in an advantageous construction if the line contacts themselves are constructed in a plug connector that fits, for example, into a terminal block of the patch panel or other substrate. In order in this construction to mount the connector socket on the substrate, the plug connector merely has to be connected up. Preferably the plug connector is provided with retaining means to accommodate forces acting on the connector socket and which occur when inserting and removing a plug of the device. In a further advantageous construction, the switching means can be provided with a power supply contact for an external power supply, in order to supply the switching means with power from outside the connector socket. The power supply contact can be in the form of a separate plug connector on the socket. Likewise, at least one of the connection and/or line contacts can be in the form of a power supply contact, via which the switching means is supplied with power. In a further construction, the power supply contact can also be used to feed power intended to supply passive devices, that is, devices with no power supply of their own, into the network and to make it available via the connection contacts and/or the line contacts. For that purpose, the power supply contact is led via the switching means so that it is connected to the corresponding connection contact and/or line contact in accordance with the pin assignment when the switching means is changed. In a further construction, at least some of the line contacts and/or at least some of the connection contacts can comprise electrically conductive connecting means, at which a mains power line is held substantially resistant to tensile stress. In this construction the connection contacts are in the form of fixed contacts. The advantage of this is that it enables a simple and cost-effective connector socket to be manufactured, which requires no additional connection module for connection of the mains power line. In particular, the mains power line can be retained at the connecting means by a soldered joint or by a screwed connection. This construction is especially expedient when using the connector socket as a wall socket outlet. To enable two terminal devices to be connected to the connector socket at the same time, the connector socket can have eight line contacts and two RJ45 adapters, each having eight connection contacts. This enables frequently occurring applications that each require only four signals to be connected up jointly via one standardised eight-wire mains power line. The invention is described hereinafter by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. The different features of the individual embodiments can be combined independently of one another, as stated above. In the drawings: Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of the connector socket according to the invention in a schematic representation,

Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of a further embodiment of the connector socket according to the invention in a schematic representation,

Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of a further embodiment of the connector socket according to the invention in a schematic representation,

Fig. 4 is a schematic representation of a wiring scheme.

First of all the construction of a connector socket 1 according to the invention /ill be explained with reference to Fig. 1. The connector socket of Fig. 1 is in the form of a flush wall socket outlet, which is designed to be fixed to a wall 2 acting as substrate; on aesthetic grounds a facing 2' surrounding the connector socket mounted in the wall 2 can be provided. The facing 2' can also serve as an adapter- shaped recess that holds the connector socket to the wall. The connector socket 1 is provided with at least one adapter 3 forming the actual socket, in which a plug 4 of a standardised plus system can be inserted. In the embodiment of Fig. 1 , a total of two RJ45 sockets are used as adapter 3, which can be used both in the case of ISDN data lines and in the case of ethernet data lines. Other forms of socket can also be used, of course. A data line 5 leads from the plugs 4 to a data device, such as a computer, a router or a peripheral device, for example, a printer or scanner. In particular, the data line can be in the form of a four-core network cable, as shown in Fig. 1. The data line 5 is connected via the connector socket 1 to a data network, the mains power lines of which are invisibly laid behind the wall 2. Via substrate- side line contacts 6 the connector socket 1 is connected to the mains power lines so as to transmit data. The line contacts 6 can be constructed, for example, on a substrate-side plug connector 7, which can be inserted in a socket 8 provided in the substrate. The line contacts 6 are connected in accordance with, a wiring scheme to connection contacts 9 of the adapter 3. The wiring scheme determines the allocation of the connection contacts 9 to the line contacts 6, the so-called pin assignment, which is predetermined by the connection standard used. The wiring scheme in the connector socket 1 is variable in form, so that the allocation of the connection contacts 9 to the line contacts 9 can be changed in dependence on the pin assignment required at the plug 4. For that purpose, the connector socket 1 is equipped with a switching means 10 connected between the line contacts 6 and the connection contacts 9, the electrical connection of the connection contacts 9 with the line contacts 6 being alterably realised in the switching means. In the embodiment of Fig. 1, the wiring scheme of the connector socket is modified mechanically by a manually operable switch 11 , for example, a DIP switch. When the connector socket 1 is mounted, the DIP switch is arranged on the connector socket 1 so that it is accessible from the outside, for example, on a front panel 12 which screens off the interior of the mounted connector socket 1 and protects it against dirt. The DIP switch 11 can have one or more switch positions, depending on how many different wiring schemes can be achieved by the switching means 10. By flicking a switch, the corresponding contacts are moved and new connections are created, so that new signal paths are provided by the switching means. Each position of the switch 11 is assigned one-to-one to a wiring scheme. For example, only one DIP switch having two positions is required if conversion merely between ethernet and ISDN connections is needed. To take account of other standards, however, such as Power-over-Ethernet devices connected to power supply, the DIP switch 11 can correspondingly also have several positions. The adapter 3 can preferably be of exchangeable construction, so that as required an adapter 3 having a different plug standard can be inserted in the connector socket 1 , for example, a USB, TAE or firewire plug. To retain the adapter 3 in the connector socket 1, fixing means such as catches or screws 13, illustrated only schematically in Fig. 1, can be provided. For connection with the line contacts 6, the adapter has a plug connector 14. After exchange of an adapter 9, the pin assignment can be adapted immediately to the required standard by operating the switch 11. A further embodiment of a connector socket according to the invention is shown in Fig. 2, in which for the sake of clarity only the differences from the embodiment of Fig. 1 will be explained. In Fig. 2, elements whose function and/or construction are/is already known from the embodiment of Fig. 1 are provided with the same reference numerals as in Fig. 1. Fig. 2 illustrates a patch panel 15 as substrate, on which a plurality of connector sockets 1 connected by their plug connectors 7 to a socket, not shown, are mounted. Such a patch panel can be used, for example, as network node at which several data lines from data devices that are connected to connector sockets 1 of the form shown in Fig. 1 come together in a star configuration. Unlike the embodiment of Fig. 1, the connector socket 1 has no switch 11 operated mechanically by hand. On the contrary, the connector socket of Fig. 2 is electronically switchable from the outside during operation in response to a signal, as explained below. The plug 7 is provided with at least one switching contact 16, to which a switching signal is applied when the switching means 10 is to change the pin assignment. For example, the patch panel 15 can comprise switches 17 with which the wiring scheme of the connector sockets is remotely controlled. If the switch 17 associated with a connector socket 1 is operated, then a change-over signal is output to the signal contact 16 and the wiring scheme is changed, for example, from an ethernet pin assignment to an ISDN pin assignment. The signal contact 16 can be connected through to a device-side connector socket 1 , as is illustrated in Fig. 1, in order to change the pin assignment of this connector socket as well on operation of the switch 17. A further embodiment of a connector socket 1 according to the invention is shown in Fig. 3, in which for the sake of clarity only the differences from the preceding embodiments will be explained. In Fig. 3, elements whose function and/or construction are/is already known from the preceding embodiments are provided with the same reference numerals. The connector socket of Fig. 3 is in the form of a surface-mounted socket outlet, which is mounted on the wall 2 and is covered and held to the wall by a facing 2'. The adapters 3 are arranged fixedly on a base member 18, on which also the switching means 10, in the form of a programmable circuit arrangement, especially a microprocessor, is mounted. The connection contacts 5 are connected in a manner resistant to tensile stress to the conductors 19 of the mains power line 20, for example, by means of a lamp-wire terminal 6 or by soldered or crimped joints. In addition, the connector socket 1 is provided with a power supply terminal 21 and a switching terminal 22, which, as shown in Fig. 3, can be in the form of cinch plugs. The power supply terminal 21 serves for connection of a power source, such as a mains transformer or a battery, by which the switching means 10 is supply with energy. At the same time, the power supply can be connected to the connection contacts of terminal 6 and/or the connection contacts 9 by the switching means 10, so that passive devices, that is, devices with no power supply of their own, can be supplied with power via the network. If power is already being supplied via the mains power line 20, as in the case of "Power-over-Ethernet" technology, the power supply terminal 21 can also be arranged at the line contacts 6. For that purpose, the switching means 10 is connected so that the energy flow from the mains power line 20 is routed to the switching means 10 and onwards to the connection contacts 9. A switching device (not illustrated), which emits a signal that is associated one-to-one with a wiring scheme to be configured at the switching means 10, can be connected by way of the switching terminal 22 to the connector socket 1. The switching terminal 22 is provided for that purpose with a switching contact 17. The power supply terminal 21 and/or the switching terminal 22 are arranged so that they are freely accessible from the outside when the connector socket 1 is mounted. Fig. 4 shows schematically the configuring of the wiring scheme in the switching means 10. For the sake of clarity, the function of the switching means 10 is shown only by the example of the connection of two line contacts 6A and 6B with two connection contacts 9A and 9B. As can be seen in Fig. 4, a line contact 6A, 6B is connected to a respective connection contact 9A, 9B by way of a plurality of lines switchable by means of switches 23. Depending on which switches are open and closed, the line contact 6A is connected to the connection contact 9A, the connection contact 9B or both connection contacts 9A and 9B. In the case of the wiring scheme shown in Fig. 4, the line contact 6A is connected to the connection contact 9B and the line contact 6B is connected to the connection contact 9A. The switches 23 are operated by the operating device 24 in the form of the manually operated switch 11 or the signal contact 16. They can be in the form of integrated circuits, electronic components or relays. The above-described embodiments are merely illustrative examples of the invention. Possible modifications of the embodiments comprise, for example, a combination of a mechanical switch 11 with a switching contact 17, so that switching can be carried out both manually and as a function of a switching signal. Furthermore, the connector socket 1 can be provided with signalling means, such as LEDs, to indicate the wiring scheme currently set. In the case of exchangeable adapters, these can be provided with coding means, with which the wiring scheme is coded and is set automatically by the switching means on insertion of the adapters. Furthermore, the connector sockets 1 can be of identical construction regardless of their use as flush socket outlets, surface-mounted socket outlets or as patch panel inserts, in order to reduce manufacturing costs. The connector socket can then be fixed in accordance with the construction of the substrate. Finally, the operating device can alternatively be arranged so that it is inaccessible from the outside of the connector socket mounted on the substrate, in order to prevent inadvertent or unauthorised alteration of the wiring scheme.

Claims

1. A connector socket (1 ) for a network, which connector socket is designed to be mountable on a substrate, such as a wall (2) or a patch panel (15), and has line contacts (6) on the substrate side and has connection contacts (9) that are connected to the line contacts (6) in accordance with a wiring scheme, characterised in that a switching means (10) connected between the connection contacts (9) and the line contacts (6) and in which the wiring scheme is alterably configured is integrated in the connector socket (1).

2. A connector socket (1) according to claim 1 , characterised in that the switching means (10) is provided with at least one externally accessible operating device (24), by which the wiring plan is alterable from the outside.

3. A connector socket (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that, when the connector socket is mounted on the substrate (2, 15), the operating device (24) is arranged so that its is substantially freely externally accessible.

4. A connector socket (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the operating device (24) comprises a manually operable switch (11).

5. A connector socket (1) according to claim 4, characterised in that the switch (11) is in the form of a DIP switch.

6. A connector socket (1 ) according to any one of the claims 2 to 4, characterised in that the operating device (24) comprises at least one switching contact ( 6) via which a switching signal is routable to the switching means (11), the wiring scheme in the switching means being designed to be alterable as a function of the switching signal.

7. A connector socket (1) according to claim 6, characterised in that the switching contact (17) is formed by a line contact (6).

8. A connector socket (1) according to claim 6 or 7, characterised in that, when the connector socket (1) is mounted on the substrate (2, 15), the switching contact (16) arranged so that it is substantially freely externally accessible on the connector socket (1).

9. A connector socket (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims 6 to 8, characterised in that the switching contact (16) is formed by a socket contact (9).

10. A connector socket (1 ) according to any one of claims 6 to 9, characterised in that the switching contact (16) is provide on a separate switching terminal 22.

11. A connector socket (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the switching means (4) comprises a programmable circuit arrangement (15), in which the wiring scheme is alterably configured.

12. A connector socket (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the switching means comprises mechanically moved contacts, the position of which determines the wiring scheme.

13. A connector socket (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the switching means (10) comprises electromechanically switchable contacts, the position of which determines the wiring scheme.

14. A connector socket (1 ) according to claim 13, characterised in that the switching means comprises a relay (18), by which the wiring scheme is alterable.

15. A connector socket (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the number of line contacts (6) is less than the number of connection contacts.

16. A connector socket (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the line contacts (6) are assigned a number of connection contacts (9) at least twice as large.

17. A connector socket (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the connector socket (1) has at least one standardised adapter (6) in which the connection contacts (5) are arranged.

18. A connector socket (1 ) according to claim 17, characterised in that the at least one adapter (6) is in the form of an RJ45 adapter (6).

19. A connector socket (1) according to claim 17 or 18, characterised in that the connector socket (1) comprises an adapter (6) of exchangeable construction, which carries the connection contacts (9).

20. A connector socket (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the connector socket (1) comprises a substrate-side plug connector (7), the line contacts (6) being formed on the plug connector (7).

21. A connector socket (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the connector socket (1) is provided with a power supply contact (17), via which the switching means (10) is suppliable with power.

22. A connector socket (1) according to claims (21), characterised in that the power supply contact (17) is formed on the substrate-side plug connector (11).

23. A connector socket (1 ) according to claim 22, characterised in that, when the connector socket (1) is mounted on the substrate (2, 15) the power supply contact (17) is arranged substantially freely externally accessible on the connector socket (1).

24. A connector socket (1 ) according to claim 22, characterised in that in at least one position of the switching means (4) the power supply contact (21) is connected with at least one connection contact (9) and/or line contact (6).

25. A connector socket (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the switching means (10) is designed to alter the wiring scheme during operation of the connector socket (1).

26. A connector socket (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least some of the line contacts (6) and/or at least some of the connection contacts (4) comprise electrically conductive connecting means at which a network line is retained substantially resistant to tensile stress.

27. A connector socket (1) according to claim 26, characterised in that the network line is retained at the connecting means by a soldered joint.

28. A connector socket (1 ) according to claim 26, characterised in that the network line is screwed directly to the connecting means.