EP0462084A2 - Dispositif à jack - Google Patents

Dispositif à jack Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0462084A2
EP0462084A2 EP91850109A EP91850109A EP0462084A2 EP 0462084 A2 EP0462084 A2 EP 0462084A2 EP 91850109 A EP91850109 A EP 91850109A EP 91850109 A EP91850109 A EP 91850109A EP 0462084 A2 EP0462084 A2 EP 0462084A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
jack
plug
housing
support surface
switch assembly
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
EP91850109A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0462084A3 (en
Inventor
Byron Eriksen
Bruce Charles Ogren
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Commscope Connectivity LLC
Original Assignee
ADC Telecommunications Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by ADC Telecommunications Inc filed Critical ADC Telecommunications Inc
Publication of EP0462084A2 publication Critical patent/EP0462084A2/fr
Publication of EP0462084A3 publication Critical patent/EP0462084A3/en
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/66—Structural association with built-in electrical component
    • H01R13/70—Structural association with built-in electrical component with built-in switch
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/66—Structural association with built-in electrical component
    • H01R13/70—Structural association with built-in electrical component with built-in switch
    • H01R13/703—Structural association with built-in electrical component with built-in switch operated by engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. dual-continuity coupling part
    • H01R13/7031—Shorting, shunting or bussing of different terminals interrupted or effected on engagement of coupling part, e.g. for ESD protection, line continuity
    • H01R13/7032—Shorting, shunting or bussing of different terminals interrupted or effected on engagement of coupling part, e.g. for ESD protection, line continuity making use of a separate bridging element directly cooperating with the terminals
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R2103/00—Two poles
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R2201/00—Connectors or connections adapted for particular applications
    • H01R2201/16—Connectors or connections adapted for particular applications for telephony
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R24/00—Two-part coupling devices, or either of their cooperating parts, characterised by their overall structure
    • H01R24/58—Contacts spaced along longitudinal axis of engagement

Definitions

  • This invention pertains to a jack assembly for use in the telecommunications or signal transmission industries. More particularly, this invention pertains to an improved switch assembly for such a jack.
  • Switching coax jack assemblies for use in the telecommunications or signal transmission industries are well known.
  • An example of such is shown in commonly assigned U.S. Patent No. 4,749,968 to Burroughs dated June 7, 1988.
  • the Burroughs patent teaches a switching coax jack having a housing which contains two parallel spaced apart internal conductors. Ports on the forward end of the jack permit a plug to be inserted within the jack housing to make electrical contact with the conductors.
  • the Burroughs patent teaches two configurations where the forward end of the jack has either one or two forward ports.
  • a switch assembly is provided for normally connecting the internal conductors but breaking the electrical connection upon insertion of a jack plug into either of the forward ports.
  • the jack includes a switch assembly 156 having a normal spring 164 in a generally V-shaped configuration extending between the conductors 150,158.
  • a jack plug 52 engages a termination spring 168 which deflects to urge a first portion of a normal spring 164 away from conductor 150.
  • the consequences of failure of the normal spring can best be appreciated by consideration of the environment in which a jack assembly is used.
  • the jack assembly is one of several assemblies and other elements combined in a module (referred to as a "DSX module"). Examples of such modules are shown in U.S. Patent No. 4,815,104 (Figs. 1-6).
  • a normal spring in a jack assembly the entire module must be replaced. This has severe economic consequences.
  • the spring which fails is typically inexpensive (for example, less than $1.00 U.S.).
  • the module which must be replaced upon failure of this spring can be quite expensive (typically greater than $200.00 U.S.).
  • Modules incorporating switching coax jacks are commonly used in the telecommunications industry for cross-connecting voice or data transmission lines. At high signal speed transmission rates (known in the industry as DS-3 rates or greater), a single DSX module may handle 672 voice conversations simultaneously. If a single normal spring fails within the DSX module, the module fails and the many customers being serviced by the module have their service interrupted.
  • Cycle life means the number of times that a spring may be alternately deformed and released before failure.
  • a switching coax jack having a jack housing containing first and second spaced apart conductors. At least one port is formed in the jack housing and sized to receive a jack plug which is inserted through the port. The plug engages the first conductor in electrical communication.
  • the jack housing contains a switch assembly for electrically connecting the first and second conductors when a plug is absent from the port and for breaking the electrical connection upon insertion of a plug.
  • the switch assembly includes a normal spring having a first portion biased into releasable electrical contact with the first conductor and a second portion in electrical contact with the second conductor.
  • the switch assembly also includes a retaining mechanism for retaining a central portion of the normal spring at a fixed location.
  • the normal spring is resiliently deformable in response to a force placed on the normal spring urging it away from the first conductor. As the normal spring deforms, it assumes a predetermined shape.
  • the switch assembly further includes a support surface opposing the normal spring as it is deformed. The support surface is shaped to be complementary to the predetermined deformed shape of the normal spring.
  • the jack 10 includes a housing 12. Disposed within the interior of housing 12 are a first electrical conductor 14 and a second electrical conductor 16. The forward end 13 of the housing 12 contains a first port 18 and a second port 20. Ports 18 and 20 are sized to receive a jack plug (not shown) of predetermined dimensions. The ports 18 and 20 are disposed for a plug to electrically engage conductors 14,16 respectively, upon insertion into ports 18,20.
  • Fig. 1 has dual ports on the forward end 13. Alternatively, only a single port (such as port 18) could be provided. As shown in the aforementioned U.S. Patent No. 4,749,968, switching coax jacks having dual or single forward port configurations are well known.
  • a coax jack having an internal switch assembly is no part of this invention per se.
  • Such a jack is the subject of U.S. Patent No. 4,749,968.
  • the present invention is directed to an improvement in the jack assembly 80.
  • Switch assembly 30 includes a switch assembly housing 32, a normal spring 34 and a termination spring 36.
  • Normal spring 34 is generally V-shaped in configuration and includes a first portion 38 biased toward a first conductor (not shown) and a second portion 40 biased toward a second conductor (not shown).
  • An arcuate central portion 42 is disposed within an arcuate slot 44 in switch housing 32 to retain the normal spring 34 in the switch housing 32.
  • the termination spring 36 is generally U-shaped and includes a first arm 46 opposing first portion 38 and a second arm 48 opposing second portion 40.
  • first and second arms 46,48 are provided with dielectric contact pads 50,52 which are engaged by a plug inserted within the jack to urge the arms 46,48 against first and second portions 38,40 to thereby urge the first portions 38,40 against their natural bias away from the internal conductors of the jack.
  • the switch housing 32 includes a support post 54 which has a semi-circular surface 56 which opposes central portion 42 of normal spring 34. At the ends of the semi-circular portion 56, the support post 54 extends in flat surfaces 58 and 60 which are tangent to the semi-circular portion 56.
  • the structure thus described produces localized stress points in the spring 34 as it is deformed by either of first or second arms 46,48.
  • the localized stress occurs in portions 38,40.
  • the localized stress is positioned at locations A and B which are located near or closely adjacent to the intersection of the flat surfaces 58,60 with the semi-circular surface 56.
  • the localized stress locations A,B are attributable to the location of a fixed fulcrum point at these locations as the switch spring 34 is deflected.
  • the spring can fail due to breakage or plastic deformation of the spring at the localized stress points A and B.
  • Switch assembly 80 includes a housing 82 having an upper half 84 and a lower half 86 formed of dielectric material. For ease of illustration, only lower half 86 is shown in Fig. 4 and only a normal spring and support post are shown in Figs. 5-8.
  • the housing 82 contains a generally V-shaped normal spring 88 and a generally U-shaped termination spring 90.
  • normal spring 88 includes a first portion 92 and a second portion 94 joined by an arcuate central portion 96.
  • Arcuate central portion 96 is retained in a fixed location in housing 82 by arcuate portion 96 being retained in a generally semi-circular slot 98 formed in lower switch housing half 86 adjacent a support post 114.
  • First and second portions 92,94 terminate at contact ends 93,95.
  • First and second arms 102,104 are provided with contact pads 108,109 of dielectric material. Contact pads 108,109 are engaged by a plug inserted within either of ports 18,20.
  • normal spring 88 is shown in a relaxed position with no force being applied at the contacts 103,105.
  • the spring 88 is partially deflected with arms 92,94 urged toward one another as shown in Fig. 1. This deflection is necessary for the resilient bias of the spring 88 to be utilized to insure a good electrical contact between contact ends 93,95 and conductors 14,16.
  • Fig. 5 shows a portion of the view of Fig. 1 with the spring 88 partially deflected against a support post 114 by an amount equal to the deflection of the spring between conductors 14,16 (i.e., the amount of deflection shown in Fig. 1).
  • Fig. 6 shows the shape of spring 88 with portions 92,94 deflected toward post 114 in response to a plug (not shown) partially inserted into ports 18,20.
  • Fig. 7 shows the shape of the spring 88 deflected further toward post 114 in response to further insertion of a plug.
  • Fig. 8 shows the shape of spring 88 with portions 92,94 fully deflected toward post 114 in response to a plug being fully inserted into ports 18,20.
  • support post 114 has a generally semi-circular surface 116 opposing central portion 96.
  • Support surfaces 110,112 are generally parabolic and are shaped to be complementary to and conform with the predetermined arcuate surface of arms 92,94 which have been fully deflected in response to urging forces by contacts 103,105. The surfaces 110,112 are positioned to abut arms 92,94 when they are so deformed.
  • surfaces 110, 112 are generally parabolic. However, this shape may vary depending on the normal spring.
  • the surfaces 110, 112 are selected to complement the shape of any deflected normal spring. This shape is preferably selected from empirical observations of a fully deflected normal spring so that a fulcrum or stress point on the normal spring is constantly moving along the length of the spring as the spring is being deformed.
  • the switch assembly 80 of the present invention includes means for incorporating electrical elements in a more desirable manner.
  • the central portion 91 of the termination spring is generally flat and, in the view of Fig. 3, is vertically oriented.
  • a grounding clip 120 is shown connected to the dielectric housing 82.
  • the grounding clip 120 includes a cantilevered grounding contact 122 (shown in Figs. 1 and 3).
  • the grounding contact 122 has a contact surface 124 which is generally perpendicular to the plane of portion 91.
  • a ramp 126 formed on a surface of top housing half 84.
  • ramp 126 is positioned at about 50° to the parting line 129 between the upper and lower housing halves 84,86.
  • a chip resistor 128 of known surface mount technology having contact pads 130,132 disposed on edges of the chip resistor 128. Edge pad 130 opposes surface 124 and edge pad 132 opposes surface 91.
  • the resilient cantilevered contact 122 urges chip resistor 128 against portion 91 such that sound electrical contact is made between surfaces 124,91 and pads 130, 132 respectively upon attachment of the grounding clip 120 to the housing 82.

Landscapes

  • Coupling Device And Connection With Printed Circuit (AREA)
  • Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)
EP19910850109 1990-06-12 1991-04-29 Jack assembly Ceased EP0462084A3 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US53696690A 1990-06-12 1990-06-12
US536966 1990-06-12

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0462084A2 true EP0462084A2 (fr) 1991-12-18
EP0462084A3 EP0462084A3 (en) 1992-02-26

Family

ID=24140653

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19910850109 Ceased EP0462084A3 (en) 1990-06-12 1991-04-29 Jack assembly

Country Status (7)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0462084A3 (fr)
JP (1) JPH04248282A (fr)
KR (1) KR920001783A (fr)
AU (1) AU646856B2 (fr)
CA (1) CA2040398A1 (fr)
IL (1) IL97886A (fr)
NZ (1) NZ238471A (fr)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2725841A1 (fr) * 1994-10-17 1996-04-19 Cablage Cie Francaise Connecteur electrique male
EP0788194A2 (fr) * 1995-09-27 1997-08-06 HARTING Elektronik GmbH Connecteur à interrupteur

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0035776A2 (fr) * 1980-03-06 1981-09-16 Magnetic Controls Company Monture pour prise téléphonique
US4685887A (en) * 1985-11-13 1987-08-11 C.A. Weidmuller Gmbh & Co. Electrical connector arrangement with a short-circuit bridge
US4749968A (en) * 1985-12-13 1988-06-07 Adc Telecommunications, Inc. Jack device
US4894019A (en) * 1988-06-16 1990-01-16 Delta Systems, Inc. Torsion spring shorting connector

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0035776A2 (fr) * 1980-03-06 1981-09-16 Magnetic Controls Company Monture pour prise téléphonique
US4685887A (en) * 1985-11-13 1987-08-11 C.A. Weidmuller Gmbh & Co. Electrical connector arrangement with a short-circuit bridge
US4749968A (en) * 1985-12-13 1988-06-07 Adc Telecommunications, Inc. Jack device
US4894019A (en) * 1988-06-16 1990-01-16 Delta Systems, Inc. Torsion spring shorting connector

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2725841A1 (fr) * 1994-10-17 1996-04-19 Cablage Cie Francaise Connecteur electrique male
EP0708500A1 (fr) * 1994-10-17 1996-04-24 Compagnie Francaise De Cablage Connecteur électrique mâle
EP0788194A2 (fr) * 1995-09-27 1997-08-06 HARTING Elektronik GmbH Connecteur à interrupteur
EP0788194A3 (fr) * 1995-09-27 1997-09-03 Harting Elektronik Gmbh

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU646856B2 (en) 1994-03-10
IL97886A (en) 1994-06-24
KR920001783A (ko) 1992-01-30
JPH04248282A (ja) 1992-09-03
EP0462084A3 (en) 1992-02-26
NZ238471A (en) 1993-04-28
AU7500991A (en) 1991-12-19
CA2040398A1 (fr) 1991-12-13

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