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
  • H01R13/02—Contact members
  • H01R13/26—Pin or blade contacts for sliding co-operation on one side only
• • 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
  • H01R13/646—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00 specially adapted for high-frequency, e.g. structures providing an impedance match or phase match
  • H01R13/6461—Means for preventing cross-talk
• • 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
  • H01R13/646—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00 specially adapted for high-frequency, e.g. structures providing an impedance match or phase match
  • H01R13/6473—Impedance matching
  • H01R13/6474—Impedance matching by variation of conductive properties, e.g. by dimension variations
• • 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
• • 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
  • H01R24/60—Contacts spaced along planar side wall transverse to longitudinal axis of engagement
  • H01R24/62—Sliding engagements with one side only, e.g. modular jack coupling devices
  • H01R24/64—Sliding engagements with one side only, e.g. modular jack coupling devices for high frequency, e.g. RJ 45
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
  • H01R2107/00—Four or more 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
  • H01R27/00—Coupling parts adapted for co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts

Definitions

• the present invention generally relates to the field of communication connectors, and more specifically to plug interface contact arrangements, and communication jacks which employ such plug interface contact arrangements.
• Communication connectors such as RJ45 jacks, have been and continue to be readily employed in the communication industry.
• These jacks generally comprise a housing having an aperture for receiving a corresponding plug at one end, a means for terminating a communication cable at another end, and a means for transferring electrical signals between the plug and the communication cable.
• the means for transferring the electrical signals typically include eight plug interface contacts (PICs). While the eight PICs are designed to interface eight plug contacts positioned in an eight-position RJ45 plug, respectively, it is also possible to connect a six-position plug (e.g., RJ12, RJ25) or a four-position plug (e.g., RJ9) to an RJ45 jack. However, when compared to an eight-position plug, plug contacts 1 and 8 do not exist in a six -position plug, and plug contacts 1, 2, 7, and 8 do not exist in a four-position plug.
• PICs plug interface contacts
• the jack PICs must deflect approximately an additional 0.027 inches as compared to locations where the plug contacts do exist. This additional deflection can cause the outer PICs to plastically deform and cause damage (or otherwise prevent operation within certain specifications) to the jack if the deformation is significant enough. Additionally, in some instances the positioning/arrangement of the PICs may have some effect on the amount of undesired crosstalk produced within the jack and/or how the undesired crosstalk is compensated for.
• embodiments of the present invention are directed to communication connectors and/or internal components thereof.
• the present invention is a communication jack having back-rotated plug interface contacts where at least one plug interface contact has a non-uniform cross-sectional width.
• the present invention is a communication jack having back-rotated plug interface contacts where at least two of the plug interface contacts have a differing beam length.
• the present invention is a communication jack having back- rotated plug interface contacts where at least two of the plug interface contacts have opposing bends in a deflection zone.
• the present invention is a communication connector comprising a housing with an aperture for receiving a plug, and a plurality of plug interface contacts (PICs) at least partially received in the aperture.
• the plurality of plug interface contacts include respective ends proximal the aperture and ends distal the aperture, the distal ends fixed within the connector, the proximal ends rotating relative to the distal ends, wherein at least some of the plurality of plug interface contacts have a non-uniform cross-sectional width.
• the connector is included in a communication system.
• the present invention is a communication connector comprising a housing with an aperture for receiving a plug and a plurality of plug interface contacts (PICs) at least partially received in the aperture.
• the plurality of plug interface contacts include respective ends proximal the aperture and respective ends distal the aperture, the distal ends fixed within the connector, the proximal ends rotating relative to the distal ends, the proximal ends configured, when the connector being mated to the plug, such that some of the proximal ends are deflected more than other of the proximal ends.
• the present invention is a communication connector comprising a housing with an aperture for receiving a plug and a plurality of plug interface contacts (PICs) at least partially received in the aperture.
• the plurality of plug interface contacts include respective ends proximal the aperture and respective ends distal the aperture, the distal ends fixed within the connector, the proximal ends rotating relative to the distal ends, the distal end being hemmed.
• FIG. 1 illustrates a communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
• Fig. 2 illustrates a plug and jack combination according to an embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded view of a communication jack according to an embodiment of the present invention.
• Fig. 4 illustrates the jack of Fig. 3 with the front housing removed.
• Fig. 5 illustrates a side view of the jack of Fig. 4.
• Fig. 6 illustrates the PICs of the jack from Fig. 3.
• Fig. 7 A illustrates some of the PICs assembled to the printed circuit board of the jack of Fig. 3.
• Fig. 7B illustrates a side view of the jack of Fig. 3 mated with a plug, with the front housing removed.
• Fig. 8 illustrates the assembly of a PIC to the printed circuit board of the jack of Fig. 3.
• Fig. 9 illustrates a rear isometric view of the front housing of the jack of Fig. 3.
• Fig. 10 illustrates a front isometric partial section view of Fig. 2.
• Fig. 11 illustrates a jack having a PIC arrangement/form according to another embodiment of the present invention.
• Fig. 12 illustrates the PICs of the jack of Fig. 11.
• Fig. 13 illustrates an exploded view of a communication jack according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.
• Fig. 14 illustrates the jack of Fig. 13 with the front housing removed and the PICs exploded.
• Fig. 15 illustrates the jack of Fig. 13 with the front housing removed.
• Fig. 16 illustrates a side vide of Fig. 15.
• FIG. 1 An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in Fig. 1 , which shows a communication system 30, which includes a patch panel 32 with jacks 34 and corresponding RJ45 plugs 36. Respective cables 38 are terminated to plugs 36, and respective cables 40 are terminated to jacks 34. Once a plug 36 mates with a jack 34 data can flow in both directions through these connectors.
• the communication system 30 is illustrated in Fig. 1 as having a patch panel, alternative embodiments can include other active or passive equipment. Examples of passive equipment can be, but are not limited to, modular patch panels, punch-down patch panels, coupler patch panels, wall jacks, etc.
• Examples of active equipment can be, but are not limited to, Ethernet switches, routers, servers, physical layer management systems, and power-over-Ethernet equipment as can be found in data centers and or telecommunications rooms; security devices (cameras and other sensors, etc.) and door access equipment; and telephones, computers, fax machines, printers, and other peripherals as can be found in workstation areas.
• Communication system 30 can further include cabinets, racks, cable management and overhead routing systems, and other such equipment.
• the jack and plug combination of Fig. 1 is also shown in Fig. 2 which illustrates the network jack 34 mated with the RJ45 plug 36. Note that in this figure, the orientation of the network jack 34 and the RJ45 plug 36 is rotated 180° about the central axis of cable 40 as compared to the orientation of Fig. 1.
• Fig. 3 illustrates an exploded view of the network jack 34, which includes a front housing 42, plug interface contacts (PICs) 44, a printed circuit board (PCB) 46 (which in some embodiments may have crosstalk compensation components thereon), an insulation displacement contact (IDC) support 48, IDCs 50, a rear housing 52, and a wire cap 54.
• the PICs may be referred to as "back-rotated” which implies that the PICs are fixed at the (PCB) and generally flex about the location where each respective PIC connects to the PCB.
• Fig. 4 illustrates the assembled state of PICs 44 to PCB 46 of the network jack 34 with the front housing 42 removed for clarity.
• the subscript number for each PIC 44 corresponds to the RJ45 pin positions as defined by ANSLTIA-568-C.2.
• a side view of Fig. 4 is depicted in Fig. 5, and PICs 44 are illustrated individually in Fig. 6.
• PIC 44 4 This effectively causes the stiffness of PIC 44 4 to increase as distance is increased from the plug contact zone 58, resulting in a distribution of stresses over an increased portion of the deflection zone.
• PIC 44 4 is shown as an example, this varying cross-section is also applied to the remaining PICs 44i, 44 2 , 44 3 , 44 5 , 44 6 , 44 7 , and 44 8 .
• PICs 44 2 , 44 3 , and 44 7 vary their cross-sectional width by adjusting respective outer faces 62, while PICs 441 , 44 4 , 44s, 44 6 , and 44s vary their cross- sectional width with an internal pocket 60.
• PICs 44 vary their cross-sectional widths differently in order to control the relative amount of crosstalk as well as account for their full range of deflection. For example, PICs 44i, 44 2 , 44 7 , and 44s deflect more than PICs 44 3 , 44 4 , 44s, and 44 6 if a four position plug is inserted. Such a difference in deflection may cause the distance between PICs 44 2 and 44 3 , and 44 6 and 44 7 to become sufficiently small to cause a risk of an electrical short or a hipot failure. To reduce the potential of these risks, the cross sectional width of the PICs can be varied such that sufficient distance remains between adjacent PICs even in the event of varying levels of deflection.
• the PICs 44 employ different bend profiles. This can be seen in the side view of Fig. 5.
• PICs 44i and 44 7 have a first bend profile
• PICs 44 3 and 44 5 have a second bend profile
• PICs 44 2 , 44 4 , 44 6 , and 44s have a third bend profile. Because PICs 441 and 44 7 may deflect more than PICs 44 3 and 44s in the event of mating with a four-position plug, PICs 441 and 44 ⁇ have a longer deflection zone (than PICs 44 3 and 44s) which may allow them to sustain additional deflection without plastic deformation.
• the capacitive and inductive coupling that occurs between signal line 3 and signal line 4 in the RJ45 plug 36 adds crosstalk between differential pair combinations 4:5 and 3:6.
• the capacitive and inductive coupling that occurs between signal line 5 and signal line 6 also adds crosstalk between differential pair combinations 4:5 and 3:6. It is possible to reduce the negative effects of crosstalk via several ways. First, it is advantageous to reduce the initial amount of capacitive and inductive crosstalk coupling occurring between the 3:4 and 5:6 signal lines. This can be achieved by having PICs 44 3 and 44s bend down (relative to orientation shown in Fig. 7A) and having PICs 44 4 and 44 6 bend up between the plug contact zone 58 and the PCB 46.
• FIG. 7B Another example of reducing the initial amount of crosstalk is illustrated in Fig. 7B where the network jack 34 (with front housing removed), is shown with PICs 44 having respective proximal ends 47 and distal ends 43.
• some proximal ends 47 e.g., corresponding to PICs 44 l5 44 3 , 44s, and 44 7
• deflect more than other proximal ends 47 e.g., corresponding to PICs 44 2 , 44 4 , 44 6 , and 44s. Consequently electrical coupling between adjacent PICs 44 can be reduced in the vicinity of proximal ends 47.
• compensative capacitive coupling is required between signal lines 3 and 5, and signal lines 4 and 6, respectively.
• At least some of the desired compensative capacitive coupling can be achieved by placing PICs 44 4 and 44s within a near proximity of PICs 44 6 and 44 3 , respectively.
• a compliant pin 64 is used on PIC 44i to provide a mechanical retention as well as an electrical bond between the PIC 44i and the PCB 46.
• Compliant pin 64 has an "eye of the needle" shape, having an elongated oval slit, and is hemmed back upon itself to effectively double the material thickness as shown in the detail view of Fig. 8.
• PIC 44i is fabricated from a sufficiently thin material to obtain the necessary deflection while not incurring plastic deformation. Hemming the compliant pin 64 may increase the strength of the hemmed region and provides a more robust interface to PCB 46.
• Fig. 8 illustrates only PIC 441 , the same compliant pin 64 may be used on any of the remaining PICs.
• FIG. 9 illustrates a rear isometric view of the front housing 42.
• Front combs 66 are integrated into the front housing 42 to control the relative spacing among PICs 44 and prevent PICs 44 from crossing, electrically shorting, and/or getting sufficiently close to one another where a hipot failure can occur.
• Front combs 66 are large enough to ensure that PICs 44 are combed during the entire state of deflection, including solid plug insertion if a four or six position plug is inserted.
• FIG. 10 illustrates the deflection of the PICs 44 during normal operation via a front isometric partial section view of Fig. 2.
• an exemplary RJ45 plug housing 68 is shown in dashed lines for clarity.
• plug contacts 56 interface with PICs 44 as shown.
• PICs 44 deflect downward within front combs 66 and create pressure at the interface between respective plug contacts 56 and PICs 44, resulting in an electrical bond sufficient for data to flow.
• FIG. 11 illustrates the alternate PICs 70 assembled to PCB 46
• Fig. 12 illustrates the alternate PICs 70 individually.
• PICs 70 do not contain pockets 60. Instead, at least in some cases, the cross-sectional width is varied by adjusting the overall width of the respective PICs as measured from one side to the other. The omission of pockets may simplify the manufacture of PICs 70 while still providing a similar effect of distributing bending stresses over the deflection zone and reducing plastic deformation.
• FIG. 13 Another embodiment of a jack having PICs in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is shown in Fig. 13.
• This figure shows an exploded view of a jack 134, which includes a front housing 142, back-rotated PICs 144, a PCB 146 (which in some embodiments may have crosstalk compensation components thereon), an IDC support 148, IDCs 150, a rear housing 152, and a wire cap 154.
• the PICs 144 are comprised of four different types of PICs 160, 162, 162, and 164. These PICs 144 are attached to a PCB 146 via a top and bottom row. The top row includes PICs 162 and 166, and the bottom row includes PICs 160 and 164.
• PICs 160 and 162 include downward-facing concave loops 170 and 172, respectively, positioned near the point of attachment to the PCB (which is also the pivot point for the PICs when said PICs are deflected during mating). These loops 170 and 172 may increase the mechanical performance of the jack 134.
• PICs 160 interface plug contacts 2 and 8
• PICs 162 interface plug contacts 1 and 7
• PICs 164 interface with plug contacts 4 and 6
• PICs 166 interface plug contacts 3 and 5.
• PICs 160 and 162 make contact with the plug body and are subject to a higher degree of deformation than PICs 164 and 166 which mate with plug contacts 1, 2, 3 and 4.
• Loops 170 and 172 provide PICs 160 and 162 with an increased beam length, which helps accommodate the additional displacement and also helps provide the necessary normal force to potentially prevent at least some plastic deformation. Similar benefits can be realized during the insertion of a six-position plug which causes the outer-most PICs to undergo the greatest degree of deflection.
• PICs 164 and 166 are not expected to withstand the same degree deflection as PICs 160 and 162, their beams length can be shorter than the beam length of PICs 160 and 162.
• the shorter beam length may simplify the manufacturing process and may also improve the electrical performance of the jack 134 as it may help bring any crosstalk compensation components which may be present on the PCB 146 closer to the origin of any offending crosstalk.

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• Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)
• Coupling Device And Connection With Printed Circuit (AREA)

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Citations (6)

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• 2014
  • 2014-02-21 US US14/186,697 patent/US9118134B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2014-02-24 WO PCT/US2014/018052 patent/WO2014133970A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2014-02-24 EP EP14712069.5A patent/EP2962367B1/en not_active Not-in-force
  • 2014-02-24 JP JP2015560239A patent/JP6273300B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2015
  • 2015-07-17 US US14/802,123 patent/US9455517B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2017
  • 2017-06-28 JP JP2017125963A patent/JP6403840B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2018
  • 2018-07-17 JP JP2018133965A patent/JP6633144B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related

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