Splitter architecture for a telecommunications system

Abstract

An interface card adapted to be mounted at the back plane of a splitter chassis. The interface card includes card edge connectors for providing connections with a splitter card. The interface card also includes cable connectors for inputting mixed voice and data, and for outputting data and voice signals. Tracings are provided on the interface card for interconnecting the cable connectors and the card edge connectors. The tracings are configured such that first tracings carrying data signals from the splitter card to the cable connectors do not cross second tracings carrying voice signals from the splitter card to the cable connectors.

1 . (canceled) 
   
   
       2 . A telecommunications component, comprising:
 a chassis defining a reference back plane, the chassis further defining an interior;   a plurality of interface cards mounted at the reference back plane of the chassis, each interface card including:
 a circuit board positioned at an orientation generally perpendicular to the back plane; 
 a first cable connector defining a first rearward facing connection at the back plane for inputting twisted pair, mixed data/voice signals to the circuit board; 
 a second cable connector defining a second rearward facing connection at the back plane for outputting twisted pair, voice signals from the circuit board; 
 a third cable connector defining a third rearward facing connection at the back plane for outputting twisted pair, data signals or mixed data/voice signals from the circuit board; and 
 one or more card edge connectors connected to the circuit board, the one or more card edge connectors including normally closed contacts electrically connected to the first and second cable connectors by the circuit board, the one or more card edge connectors defining one or more corresponding forward facing connections located within the interior of the chassis. 
   
   
   
       3 . The telecommunications component of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of interface cards includes twenty-four generally parallel interface cards mounted at the reference back plane of the chassis. 
   
   
       4 . The telecommunications component of  claim 2 , wherein each of the one or more card edge connectors includes a first card edge connector having exclusively normally closed contacts, and a second card edge connector having exclusively normally open contacts. 
   
   
       5 . The telecommunications component of  claim 4 , wherein each circuit board of the interface cards includes first conductive pathways for connecting the first cable connector to the normally closed contacts, second conductive pathways for connecting the normally closed contacts to the second cable connector, and third conductive pathways for connecting the normally open contacts to the third cable connector. 
   
   
       6 . The telecommunications component of  claim 5 , wherein the conductive pathways are positioned such that none of the third conductive pathways on the circuit board cross over any of the first or second conductive pathways. 
   
   
       7 . The telecommunications component of  claim 4 , wherein the first card edge connectors are arranged in a first row, and the second card edge connectors are arranged in a second row. 
   
   
       8 . The telecommunications component of  claim 2 , further including a plurality of POTS splitter cards mounted in the chassis and electrically connected to the one or more card edge connectors of the interface cards. 
   
   
       9 . The telecommunications component of  claim 8 , wherein each POTS splitter card is generally co-planar with the corresponding, connected interface card. 
   
   
       10 . The telecommunications component of  claim 2 , wherein the circuit board has a front edge, a rear edge, and major side surfaces that extend between the front and rear edges, the circuit board being oriented such that the major side surfaces extend between a front opening of the chassis and a rear of the chassis. 
   
   
       11 . The telecommunications component of  claim 10 , wherein the first, second, and third cable connectors are mounted on the rear edge of the circuit board and the one or more card edge connectors are mounted at the front edge of the circuit board.