Network interface device having cavities for housing test circuitry

Abstract

A network interface device (NID) including a plurality of cavities beneath the base surface of the NID. Each cavity extends downwardly between the base surface of the NID and the bottom of the NID defined by bosses and extensions extending downwardly from the base surface. Each cavity provides sufficient space for additional electronics, such as a test circuit, to be housed in the NID. The test circuit is housed within the cavity and is electrically connected between the incoming telephone company line and the jack of a line module. The line module is mounted above the test circuit by mating connecting means on the bottom of the line module to cooperative connection means on the base surface. When mounted in this manner, the bottom of the line module is approximately flush with the flat base surface of the NID base, such that mounting the test circuit in the cavity does not cause the line module to extend upwardly any farther from the base surface than would occur if the line module was housed in a conventional NID without a cavity. Therefore, the height of the NID is preferably not affected by the cavities. Also, each cavity preferably does not extend outwardly beyond the footprint of the line module and therefore the cavities do not increase the overall length or width of the NID.