Upgradeable telecommunications patch panel and method of upgrading same
View Patent ↗An upgradeable patch panel assembly and associated method of upgrading a patch panel assembly. The upgradeable patch panel assembly including a panel base having an aperture sized to receive a scanner interface cable. The method including removing a first cover from the panel base, inserting a scanner interface cable through the existing aperture in the panel base, and attached an upgraded cover to the panel base. Upgrading the patch panel assembly is completed while the assembly remains mounted to a frame and without disconnecting rear cable connections. The upgraded patch panel assembly provides jack-occupancy monitoring capabilities.
1. A telecommunication system, comprising:
a) a telecommunications patch panel, including:
i) a panel body having a front and a rear;
ii) a plurality of jacks mounted to the panel body;
iii) a cover attached to the front of the panel body, the cover defining jack openings that provide access to the jacks; and
iv) a printed circuit board positioned at a rearward side of the cover, the cover including contacts that indicate receipt of a plug within an associated one of the jack openings;
b) an interface cable routed through the telecommunications patch panel, the interface cable having a first end and a second end, the first end being coupled to the printed circuit board at the front of the panel body, the second end being located at the rear of the panel body, the interface cable providing jack-occupancy monitoring capabilities; and
c) a cable manager located adjacent to the rear of the panel body.
2. The telecommunication system of claim 1 , wherein the first end of the interface cable is routed through a conversion aperture formed in the panel body of the telecommunications patch panel.
3. The telecommunication system of claim 1 , wherein the first end of the interface cable includes an interface connector that couples to the printed circuit board.
4. The telecommunication system of claim 1 , wherein the cover includes indicators that visually indicate receipt of a plug within an associated one of the jack openings.
5. The telecommunication system of claim 1 , wherein the jack openings include a notch sized to receive a contact element of a jack plug.
6. The telecommunication system of claim 5 , further including jack plugs that are inserted into the jack openings of the cover and that engage the jacks mounted to the panel body, each of the jack plugs having a contact element.
7. The telecommunication system of claim 6 , wherein an electrical connection is established between the contact element of the jack plugs and the printed circuit board when the jack plugs are inserted into the jack openings of the cover.
8. The telecommunication system of claim 7 , wherein the printed circuit board includes contact elements, the contact elements of the printed circuit board being accessible through the notch of the jack openings.
9. The telecommunication system of claim 6 , wherein the printed circuit board defines a plurality of holes, the holes being arranged to permit the jack plugs to pass through the printed circuit board to engage the jacks mounted to the panel body.
10. The telecommunication system of claim 1 , wherein the cover includes a latch that attaches the cover to the front of the panel body.
11. The telecommunication system of claim 1 , further including a scanning device having a scanner lead, the second end of the interface cable being connected to the scanner lead of the scanning device.