US3644687A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Conductor identification in multiconductor means
Assignee: COMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH CO
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Filing: 1969-05-12
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Granted: 1972-02-22
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Expires: 1989-05-12
Abstract
Abstract This specification discloses an improvement in method and apparatus for identifying at a remote position conductors in a multiconductor means having the conductors identified at one end. The improvement is characterized by sequentially stepping by control signals from the remote position a sequential stepping switch onto contacts to which the identified conductors at the one end are connected, until a specifically identified conductor is connected with the sequential stepping switch. Thereafter, an identifiable signal is put on the specifically identified conductor and the conductor carrying the signal at the remote position is identified. The invention is particularly described with respect to repairing a telephone cable, or reconnecting groups of wire pairs from one cable to another in a telephone line system. In such telephonic work, ordinarily, it is advantageous to employ a second sequential switching device in conjunction with the sequential stepping switch to be able to monitor a pair of conductors, or wires, and to thereafter check out each individual wire of the pair. Also, disclosed is a field monitor unit to assist the repairman in maintaining a record of the particular conductor onto which the sequential stepping switch has been actuated. Other aspects are also described; such as, a flip-flop mode of operation in which correlated pairs of wires in a multiwire cable are identified for immediate changing of wires in a group with consequent lessening of chance of error.
Inventors
- 👤 Samuel E Richards Jr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 05:35
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/22; H04M3/229; G; G01; G01R; G01R31/00; G01R31/50; G01R31/58; G01R31/60
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
292 words
In a method of identifying at a remote position wire pairs in a multiwire cable having the wire pairs identified at one end thereof, the improvement comprising: a. connecting said wires at said one end in sequence according to their identification to contacts of a sequential stepping switch operable to electrically connect, sequentially and respectively, said contacts with at least one terminal; b. connecting a second sequential switching device with said terminal, said second sequential switching device being operable for effecting connection, respectively, of a monitor means with a given wire pair via a monitor position for monitoring communication such as conversation on said given wire pair and of a source of an identifiable signal with a first wire and a second wire of said given wire pair for identifying and checking electrical continuity of the first wire and second wire in said given wire pair; c. establishing communication from said remote position with said stepping switch and said second sequential switching device; d. actuating said stepping switch from said remote position to sequentially step said stepping switch to a specifically identified wire pair; monitoring with said monitor means said wire pair through said second sequential switching device; actuating said second sequential switching device onto said first wire of said wire pair and imposing an identifiable signal from said source on said first wire and identifying said first wire at said remote position; and actuating said second sequential switching device onto said second wire of said wire pair; and imposing an identifiable signal on and identifying said second wire at said remote position; e. performing a desired operation on said specifically identified wire pair; and f. repeating steps (d) and (e) as desired with respect to otheR, respective, specifically identified wire pairs.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
292 words
In a method of identifying at a remote position wire pairs in a multiwire cable having the wire pairs identified at one end thereof, the improvement comprising: a. connecting said wires at said one end in sequence according to their identification to contacts of a sequential stepping switch operable to electrically connect, sequentially and respectively, said contacts with at least one terminal; b. connecting a second sequential switching device with said terminal, said second sequential switching device being operable for effecting connection, respectively, of a monitor means with a given wire pair via a monitor position for monitoring communication such as conversation on said given wire pair and of a source of an identifiable signal with a first wire and a second wire of said given wire pair for identifying and checking electrical continuity of the first wire and second wire in said given wire pair; c. establishing communication from said remote position with said stepping switch and said second sequential switching device; d. actuating said stepping switch from said remote position to sequentially step said stepping switch to a specifically identified wire pair; monitoring with said monitor means said wire pair through said second sequential switching device; actuating said second sequential switching device onto said first wire of said wire pair and imposing an identifiable signal from said source on said first wire and identifying said first wire at said remote position; and actuating said second sequential switching device onto said second wire of said wire pair; and imposing an identifiable signal on and identifying said second wire at said remote position; e. performing a desired operation on said specifically identified wire pair; and f. repeating steps (d) and (e) as desired with respect to otheR, respective, specifically identified wire pairs.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said second sequential switching device is moved to its monitor position at least by the time said stepping switch is stepped to the next identified wire pair.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said communication of step (c) is established by way of extra conductor means in said cable.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said communication of step (c) is established by way of a carrier signal imposed upon said cable and information and command signals are modulated into and demodulated from said carrier signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said identifiable signal is imposed onto, respectively, said first wire and said second wire through said second sequential switching device at said one end and the wire carrying said identifiable signal is identified at said remote position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
206 words
The method of claim 1 wherein there is included, for identifying correlated wire pairs in a first group and in a second group, the additional steps of: a. connecting said correlated wire pairs in sequence according to their identification to second contacts associated with said sequential stepping switch, said stepping switch operable to electrically connect, sequentially and respectively, said second contacts with at least one other terminal; b. connecting said second sequential switching device with said other terminal; c. simultaneously and sequentially stepping said stepping switch to specifically identified wire pairs; monitoring with said monitor means, respectively, said wire pairs through said second sequential switching device; actuating said second sequential switching device, respectively, onto said first wire of each of said specifically identified wire pairs and imposing an identifiable signal on, and identifying at said remote position said respective first wire; and actuating said second sequential switching device, respectively, onto said second wire of each of said specifically identified wire pairs and imposing an identifiable signal on and identifying said respective second wire at said remote position; d. performing a desired operation upon said specifically identified wire pairs; and e. repeating steps (c) and (d) as desired with respect to other, respective, specifically identified wire pairs.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 6 wherein respective electrical interconnections are provided between correlated wires of said wire pairs in said first group and said second group and the respective electrical interconnections are also checked to prevent error before performing the desired operation upon said wires in accordance with step (d).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said desired operation of step (d) comprises disconnecting one of said specifically identified wire pairs from a field pair and connecting said field pair to the other of said specifically identified wire pairs.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
295 words
In a system for identifying at a remote position wires in a multiwire cable having the wires identified at one end, the improvement comprising: a. a sequential stepping switch having a plurality of contacts electrically connected with respective wires at said one end and operable to electrically connect respective contacts with a terminal in said switch; b. a second sequential switching device electrically connected with said terminal of said sequential stepping switch and operable into a first position for monitoring via a monitor means at said remote position both wires of a given wire pair for communication, into a second position for connecting an identifying transmitting means with the first wire of said given wire pair, and into a third position for connecting an identifying transmitting means with the second wire of said given wire pair; c. identifying transmitting means electrically connected with said second and third positions of said second sequential switching device for imposing an identifiable signal onto, respectively, said first wire and said secOnd wire in said given wire pair; d. portable identifying receiving means for detecting said identifiable signal and isolating the wire carrying said identifiable signal at said remote position; e. monitor means located at said remote position and connected by a communications link with said first position of said second sequential switching device for monitoring said given wire pair for communication before imposing said identifiable signal onto the respective wires of said given wire pair; and f. portable stepping control means located at said remote position and connected by a communications link with said sequential stepping switch and with said second sequential switching device for actuating said sequential stepping switch to its respective contacts and for actuating said second sequential switching device to its first, second and third positions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
295 words
In a system for identifying at a remote position wires in a multiwire cable having the wires identified at one end, the improvement comprising: a. a sequential stepping switch having a plurality of contacts electrically connected with respective wires at said one end and operable to electrically connect respective contacts with a terminal in said switch; b. a second sequential switching device electrically connected with said terminal of said sequential stepping switch and operable into a first position for monitoring via a monitor means at said remote position both wires of a given wire pair for communication, into a second position for connecting an identifying transmitting means with the first wire of said given wire pair, and into a third position for connecting an identifying transmitting means with the second wire of said given wire pair; c. identifying transmitting means electrically connected with said second and third positions of said second sequential switching device for imposing an identifiable signal onto, respectively, said first wire and said secOnd wire in said given wire pair; d. portable identifying receiving means for detecting said identifiable signal and isolating the wire carrying said identifiable signal at said remote position; e. monitor means located at said remote position and connected by a communications link with said first position of said second sequential switching device for monitoring said given wire pair for communication before imposing said identifiable signal onto the respective wires of said given wire pair; and f. portable stepping control means located at said remote position and connected by a communications link with said sequential stepping switch and with said second sequential switching device for actuating said sequential stepping switch to its respective contacts and for actuating said second sequential switching device to its first, second and third positions.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
55 words
The system of claim 9 wherein said sequential stepping switch includes parallel decks of contacts, each deck having respective wires of said wire pairs, and associated, respectively, therewith parallel wiper arm means, and an actuating mechanism for moving said wiper arm means sequentially into electrical connection with said contacts on each of said parallel decks.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system of claim 9 wherein a field monitor is also connected with said portable stepping control means for maintaining a record at said remote position of the specifically identified wire pair onto which said sequential stepping switch has been actuated.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 9 wherein said sequential stepping switch is separately resettable from said remote position to a starting position.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system of claim 9 wherein said second sequential switching device is connected in parallel with said sequential stepping switch to said portable stepping control means and advances to the next sequential contact when said sequential stepping switch advances to the next sequential contact.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
369 words
A system for connecting at a remote position wire pairs of a first group with correlated wire pairs of a second group comprising: a. a first group of wire pairs having its wire pairs identified at one end; b. a second group of wire pairs having its wire pairs identified at said one end; c. a sequential stepping switch having a first group of contacts connected sequentially with wire pairs of said first group of wire pairs, having a second group of contacts connected sequentially with wire pairs of said second group of wire pairs and operable to electrically connect respective contacts of the correlated wire pairs to at least two respective terminals; d. a second sequential switching device selectively connectable with said respective terminals and operable into a first position for monitoring via a monitor means at said remote position both wires of a specifically identified wire pair for communication, into a second position for connecting an identifying transmitting means with the first wire of said specifically identified wire pair, and into a third position for connecting an identifying transmitting means with the second wire of said specifically identified wire pair; e. identifying transmitting means connected respectively with said second position and said third position of said second sequential switching device for imposing an identifiable signal onto, respectively, said first wire and said second wire of said specifically identified wire pair; f. portable identifying receiving means for detecting said identifiable signal and isolating the wire carrying said identifiable signal at said remote position; g. monitor means located at said remote position and connected by a communications link with said first position of said second sequential switching device for monitoring said specifically identified wire pair for communication before imposing said identifiable signal onto the respective wires of said specifically identified wire pair; and h. portable stepping control means located at saId remote position and connected by a communications link with said sequential stepping switch and with said second sequential switching device for actuating said sequential stepping switch to its respective contacts connected with correlated wire pairs and for remotely actuating said second sequential switching device to its first, second and third positions for each of said correlated wire pairs.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
369 words
A system for connecting at a remote position wire pairs of a first group with correlated wire pairs of a second group comprising: a. a first group of wire pairs having its wire pairs identified at one end; b. a second group of wire pairs having its wire pairs identified at said one end; c. a sequential stepping switch having a first group of contacts connected sequentially with wire pairs of said first group of wire pairs, having a second group of contacts connected sequentially with wire pairs of said second group of wire pairs and operable to electrically connect respective contacts of the correlated wire pairs to at least two respective terminals; d. a second sequential switching device selectively connectable with said respective terminals and operable into a first position for monitoring via a monitor means at said remote position both wires of a specifically identified wire pair for communication, into a second position for connecting an identifying transmitting means with the first wire of said specifically identified wire pair, and into a third position for connecting an identifying transmitting means with the second wire of said specifically identified wire pair; e. identifying transmitting means connected respectively with said second position and said third position of said second sequential switching device for imposing an identifiable signal onto, respectively, said first wire and said second wire of said specifically identified wire pair; f. portable identifying receiving means for detecting said identifiable signal and isolating the wire carrying said identifiable signal at said remote position; g. monitor means located at said remote position and connected by a communications link with said first position of said second sequential switching device for monitoring said specifically identified wire pair for communication before imposing said identifiable signal onto the respective wires of said specifically identified wire pair; and h. portable stepping control means located at saId remote position and connected by a communications link with said sequential stepping switch and with said second sequential switching device for actuating said sequential stepping switch to its respective contacts connected with correlated wire pairs and for remotely actuating said second sequential switching device to its first, second and third positions for each of said correlated wire pairs.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system of claim 14 wherein a field monitor is connected with said portable stepping control means for maintaining a record at said remote position of the specifically identified wire pair onto which said sequential stepping switch has been actuated.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system of claim 14 wherein said correlated wire pairs have their respective wires connected onto four decks of contacts, said decks having means connecting their respective contacts with respective terminals, the resulting four terminals facilitating interconnection with said second sequential switching device.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
263 words
In a system for identifying at a remote position conductors comprising wire pairs in a multiconductor means having the conductors identified at one end thereof, the improvement comprising: a. a sequential stepping switch having parallel decks of contacts, each having a plurality of contacts electrically connected in sequence with respective wires of said wire pair at said one end of said multiconductor means, and respective terminals, said sequential stepping switch being operable to electrically connect, sequentially and respectively throughout said sequence said contacts of correlated wire pairs with said terminals; b. a second sequential switching device that is connected with said terminals and operable into a first position for connecting an identifying transmitting means with the first wire of said given wire pair, and into a second position for connecting an identifying transmitting means with the second wire of said given wire pair; c. identifying transmitting means connected with second contacts at said first and second positions of said second sequential switching device for imposing an identifiable signal onto specifically identified wires connected with said terminals; d. portable identifying receiver means that is connectable with respective said wires so as to detect said identifiable signal for detecting said identifiable signal and isolating the wire carrying said identifiable signal at said remote position; e. portable stepping control means for actuating said sequential stepping switch from said remote position; said portable stepping control means being operable to advance said sequential stepping switch individually and sequentially throughout said sequence of contacts; and f. communications link connecting said sequential stepping switch and said portable stepping control means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
263 words
In a system for identifying at a remote position conductors comprising wire pairs in a multiconductor means having the conductors identified at one end thereof, the improvement comprising: a. a sequential stepping switch having parallel decks of contacts, each having a plurality of contacts electrically connected in sequence with respective wires of said wire pair at said one end of said multiconductor means, and respective terminals, said sequential stepping switch being operable to electrically connect, sequentially and respectively throughout said sequence said contacts of correlated wire pairs with said terminals; b. a second sequential switching device that is connected with said terminals and operable into a first position for connecting an identifying transmitting means with the first wire of said given wire pair, and into a second position for connecting an identifying transmitting means with the second wire of said given wire pair; c. identifying transmitting means connected with second contacts at said first and second positions of said second sequential switching device for imposing an identifiable signal onto specifically identified wires connected with said terminals; d. portable identifying receiver means that is connectable with respective said wires so as to detect said identifiable signal for detecting said identifiable signal and isolating the wire carrying said identifiable signal at said remote position; e. portable stepping control means for actuating said sequential stepping switch from said remote position; said portable stepping control means being operable to advance said sequential stepping switch individually and sequentially throughout said sequence of contacts; and f. communications link connecting said sequential stepping switch and said portable stepping control means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-02-21 | 1975-08-23 | 1976-02-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-02-21 | 1979-08-23 | 1980-02-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-02-21 | 1983-08-23 | 1984-02-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |