Electrical connector assembly for interconnecting remote signal stations

Abstract

An electrical connector assembly which selectively receives a plurality of impedance networks enables selective interconnection of a plurality of remote signal stations having predetermined signal characteristics to a central signal processing system. The assembly includes a housing means comprising plural sidewalls and a bottom wall for defining a receiving cavity. A first multiple contact means within the cavity has a first plurality of contacts which are adapted for connection to the central signal processing system and a second multiple contact means within the cavity has a second plurality of contacts which are adapted for connection to the remote signal stations. A plurality of intermediate multiple contact means, each having a third plurality of contacts adapted for selective and independent connection to the impedance networks are also within the cavity. Circuit means interconnect selected ones of the first, second and third plurality of contacts to enable interconnection of respective remote signal stations to the central signal processing system as the third plurality of contacts are coupled to the respective impedance networks. A support means within a cavity supports the networks within the housing. Also disclosed is an embodiment in which the second multiple contact means comprises a plurality of electrical connectors each being adapted for connection to a respective given one of the remote signal stations.