ZA200208644B

ZA200208644B - Electrical connector with contact parts which are set apart from each other.

Info

Publication number: ZA200208644B
Application number: ZA200208644A
Authority: ZA
Inventors: Glen Johnston; Nicholls Bryce Lindsay
Original assignee: Krone Gmbh
Priority date: 2000-04-28
Filing date: 2002-10-25
Publication date: 2003-05-19
Also published as: YU80502A; PL360352A1; HRP20020850A2; IL152178A0; AUPQ717900A0; EP1277255A2; WO2001084676A3; JP2003532990A; AR028380A1; HUP0300184A2; NZ522144A; WO2001084676A2

Description

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR WITH SPACED CONTACT PORTIONS

This invention relates to an electrical connector.

This invention relates to an electrical connector having at least four elongate conductive elements which each extend between a first contact at one end and a second contact at the other end, the first contacts being arranged in adjacent positions to form a first set of these, and the second contacts being arranged in adjacent positions to form a second set of these, first portions of the conductive elements, extending from the first contacts, being relatively narrow in width and, over substantial parts of the lengths thereof, being side by side and . extending substantially in the same direction, with opposed edges on adjacent ones of the first portions being closely spaced at a substantially constant distance therebetween, and second portions of the conductive elements of at least two of said conductive elements, adjacent the respective second contacts, extending substantially in a single plane and sidewardly with respect to said direction.

It is often necessary to vary the electrical properties of a connector, such as to modify the characteristic impedance or cross-talk characteristics. Sometimes this can be done with additional components, but this may be expensive, or otherwise inefficient. The invention is characterised in that opposed edges on respective ones of the second portions of said at least two conductive elements are relatively more widely spaced than the said substantially constant distance between adjacent edges of said first portions. By this the electrical properties of the connector may be varied.

In connectors of this invention, ones of the conductive elements may cross over each other, so as to provide crosstalk compensation, as described in US patents 5,186,647 and © 5,310,363. The conductive elements may define a first, inner, pair thereof and a second, outer, pair thereof, the conductive elements of the first pair being adjacent each other and being crossed, at locations between the second portions thereof and the first contacts thereof, and the elements of the second pair being adjacent respective ones of the elements of the first pair and one to either side of the first pair and not being crossed, said at ]east i py two elements comprising the two conductive elements forming ones of the first and second pair and which are, at locations adjacent where the first and second portions thereof join, positioned to one side with respect to said direction, a further two elements comprising the two conductive elements forming ones of the first and second pair which are, at locations adjacent where the first and second portions thereof join, positioned to the other side with respect to said direction, the second portions of said at least two elements extending angularly to said one side, and the second portions of said further two elements extending angularly to said other side, such as at 45E to said direction.

There may be eight said conductive elements, with two additional pairs thereof positioned outside the first and second pairs. The conductive elements of each said additional pair : may be crossed.

Thus, at least over an intended frequency of operation, the impedance characteristics of the connector may better meet applicable transmission performance specifications, for example as required for "Category 5" connectors under EIA568A, ISO 11801, AS/NZS 3080 and other equivalent standards.

In a particular form, the invention provides an RJ 45 type connector.

The second contacts may, for example, be insulation displacement contacts, for making connection to conductors in the form of insulated wires, and the first contacts spring contacts for making contact to conductors in the form of electrical contact elements. In a particular form, the connector defines a socket, in which the first contacts are disposed, for receiving a plug which has contact elements for making contact to the first contacts, when the plug is so received.

The invention is further described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an electrical connector constructed in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is an underside view of part of the connector of Figure 1, with parts of an insulative body thereof removed, illustrating the arrangement of conductive elements therewithin,

Figure 3 is a underside view of one of the conductive elements shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a conductive element similar to that of Figure 3; . Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating standard contact assignments in an RJ45 connector; and

Figure 6 is an underside view of another one of the conductive elements shown in Figure 2.

The illustrated connector 8 is an RJ 45 type connector and has an insulative body 10 which houses eight electrically conductive elements (Figure 2). At first ends, the elements are formed as respective spring contacts 30, these extending into a socket 48 of the body 10 so that parts thereof are disposed for making electrical connection to contact elements of a m nhin (nnt chauam) whan the nino ic incertad intn the canl-at plug not shown) when the plug ic inserted into the socket,

At respective, opposite, second ends, the elements 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26 each have respective bifurcated insulation displacement contacts 28, these being designed so that the insulated wire conductors may be pressed into slots presented by the contacts so that the } 25 insulation of the conductors is cut by edges of the contacts defining the respective slots, while making electrical contact between the conductors and those edges.

The contact elements 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, each define intermediate parts extending between the respective contacts 28, 30 and including first portions 40 which are connected to contacts 28 via second portions 44.

i a.

The elements 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26 are arranged so that, viewed transversely to the directions of extent thereof, major parts thereof are disposed in a linear array. In Figure 2, these major parts comprise substantially all of each element, excepting only upstanding parts which define the contacts 28. Also, in Figure 2, the major parts extend more or less substantially in a common plane. It is possible to arrange the socket of a connector like that illustrated so that the portions of those major parts that define the contacts 30 extend directly into a socket like that illustrated in Figure 1, and for clarity of understanding the nature of the elements 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26 the elements are illustrated as being configured for this purpose. However, the socket 48 shown in Figure 1 is at right angles to the plane containing portions 40 of the elements 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26 adjacent to the contacts 28, and in this case, the elements 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26 are bent, : approximately about the line A-A in Figure 2 through an angle of about 90 degrees so as to correctly position them in the socket. In that case, then, contacts 30 are contained in a plane correspondingly arranged at about 90 degrees to the plane containing the portions 40 and 44.

The elements 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26 are, in usual use of the connector 8, connected to carry signals in four circuit paths 32, 34, 36, 38 as illustrated diagrammatically in Figure 5. By this, the signal path 32 includes the two innermost elements 18, 20, the circuit path 24 the two outermost cloments 12, 14 at onc side of ibiese, ile cireuli pain 36 the two outermost elements 24, 26 at the other side thereof, and the circuit path 38 the elements 16 and 22 between, respectively, elements 14 and 18 and elements 20, 24. This arrangement is adopted according to convention in the communications industry, but is known to be troublesome in that the resultant splitting of the circuit path 38 so that it has signal carrying components (constituted by the portions 40 at least of the elements 16 and 22) which are relatively widely spaced from each other but respectively relatively close to signal carrying components of the other three signal paths (particularly as constituted by at least portions 40 of elements 14, 18, 20 and 24) causes, at least at relatively high signal frequencies, significant crosstalk between the circuit paths.

AMENDED SHEET

® -5.

It is known that crosstalk arising in signals carried by circuit paths such as the signal paths 32, 34, 36, 38 which include significant adjacent spaced and parallel conductors such as is constituted by the elements 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26 may be reduced by crossing pairs of the conductors at a suitable point, such as midway therealong, or otherwise arranging these so as to present first and second pairs of sections of the circuit paths, before and after the crossover, in which cancelling signals are in use introduced by capacitive or inductive coupling. In the connector of Figure 8 this is effected by crossing the portions 40 of the inner elements 18, 20, at a crossing 60 about midway along the lengths of these elements, and by crossing the portions 40 of the elements 12, 14 and of the elements 24,26, towards ends of the portions 40 of elements 14, 24 at crossings 62, 64 positioned at locations along the lengths of the portions 40 of respective element pairs 12, 14; 24, 26 at crossings : 62, 64 are transversely aligned with the crossing 60 of the elements 18, 20.

There are thus defined to sides of the crossings 60, 62, 64, respectively closer to contacts 28 and closer to contacts 30, several sets of first and second pairs of sections of the signal paths 32, 34, 36, 38. Between circuit path 34 and circuit path 38, a first pair of sections 34a, 38a is defined by respective adjacent sections of the element 14 of circuit path 34 and . element 16 of gircuit path 38. A second pair of sections 34b, 38b of circuit paths 34, 38 is defined by respective adjacent sections of elements 12 and 16. Similarly, between circuit paths 38, 32, there is defined a first pair of sections 38a, 32a, being parts of elements 16, 18, and a second pair of sections 38b, 32b being parts of elements 16, 20. Between circuit paths 32, 38 there is also defined another first pair of sections 32c, 38c, being parts of elements 20, 22, and a second pair of sections 32d, 38d, being parts of elements 18, 22.

Between circuit paths 38, 36 there is defined a first pair of sections 38c, 36a, being parts of elements 22, 24 and a second pair of sections 38d, 36b, being parts of elements 22, 26,

Thus, the sections of the paths comprising each pair are sections of the respective circuit paths which are in adjacent spaced generally parallel disposition, but being arranged whereby the relative phase of signals arising in use between the sections of the first pair is opposite to that arising in use in the sections of the second pair. This expedient will generally give rise to generation of anti-phase crosstalk signal components in the circuit paths which tend to cancel one another out, so reducing the level of crosstalk. This effect may be due to capacitive coupling between the circuit paths, although there may be relevant inductive coupling as well.

It has been found that further crosstalk compensation may be achieved by providing cut- outs 42 on the elements 16, 20 and the elements 18, 22, particularly at the portions 44 thereof between the respective contacts 28 and portions 40. In particular, although the elements 14, 24 extend transversely only a short distance outwardly from the directions of extent of portions 40 thereof, under portions 40 of elements 12, 26 as viewed in Figure 2, before reaching the respective contacts 28, the remaining elements have substantial portions 44 which extend between the portions 40 thereof to the respective contacts 28. It will be noted that the portions 44 are of flat planar form arranged substantially in a -- ~common plane. Three of these, on elements 12, 16, 20, are adjacent and extend at 45E to the direction of extent "B" of the portions 40 and contacts 30 and to the left as viewed in

Figure 2, and with respect to direction "B". The three portions 44 on elements 18, 22, 26 extend to the right-hand side of the connector 8 as viewed in Figures 2 and 5, and at 45E with respect to direction "B".

The contacts 30 and portions 40 of the conductive elements 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26 are as shown, side-by-side and relatively closely spaced. The portions 44 on contact clowenis 12, 16, 20, at onc side of the connector are adiacent and narallel and thoge of elements 18, 22, 26 at the other side are adjacent and parallel.

The portions 44 on elements 12, 16, are adjacent and relatively closely spaced. The spacing between parallel opposed edges 12a, 16b on these is indicated at "C" in Figure 2.

The spacing between edges 26a, 22b of portions 44 on elements 26 and 22 is also the distance "C". Distance C is similar to the distance "D" between opposed edges of adjacent pairs of contacts 30. However, the cut-out parts 42 on portions 44 of elements result in opposed edges 16a, 20a on the elements 16, 20 and edges 22a, 26a on elements 22, 26 being spaced apart by a substantially greater distance, "E", than the distance "D" over those of the lengths of the portions 44 of these. It has been found that, by doing this, the electrical characteristics of the connector 8 can be improved.

In an exemplary construction, where the elements 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, were formed from electrically conductive material approximately 0.5 mm thick the contacts 30 were about 0.4 mm in width as viewed in Figure 2, with the spacing "D" between those being approximately 0.56 mm. The portions 44 of the elements 12, 16, 20 and 18, 22, 26 were of width 1.9 mm except where the cut-outs were present. The spacing "C" between the pairs of edges 16a, 20a and of edges 26a, 22a was 0.67 mm, the cut-out 42 on portions 44 of elements 16, 22 being about 0.5 mm in width and 4.8 mm long, and that on portions 44 of elements 20, 26 being about 0.5 mm in width and about 6 mm long. It has been found that providing the cut-outs 42, and the resultant increase in the spacing between portions 44 of the elements 16 and 22 and between portions 44 of the elements 20 and 26, significantly improves the electrical characteristics of the connector, particularly as concerns cross-talk performance and as concerns the characteristic impedance of the connector such as to enable this to be adjusted to standard impedance such as 100 ohms or 120 ohms. Figure 3 shows the element 16, in the condition illustrated in Figure 2. Figure 6 shows element 20. Figure 4 shows the element 22, bent so that the contact 30 is at 90E to the portion 40, as explained previously.

Generally, the spacing "E" should occur over a significant part, such as 60% or more of the Icigihs of tic adjacent porions 44.

The spacing "E" should preferably be significantly larger than the spacing "D" such as at least 75% greater, such as in the substantial range two to three times the spacing "D". It will be observed that in the described arrangement, the spacing "D" prevails between adjacent elements 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26 over a substantial part of the lengths of these, such as at least 30% of those lengths.

The described elements 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26 may be formed from strip material, such as by stamping, and then by bending. Particularly, blanks may be stamped out, portions of these to form the contacts 28 being bent out of the plane of the blanks, and other bending being effected as required to configure the elements. For example, the

AMENDED SHEET

® _s- contacts 30 typically have arched portions for contacting the contact parts of a mating plug, - and these may be formed by appropriate bending operations. Similarly, where the contacts 30 are to be positioned in a plane at an angle to the plane containing the portions 40 of the elements 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, this may likewise be effected by bending. 5 .

The blanks from which the elements 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26 are formed may be formed as a ‘leadframe in which the blanks are substantially wholly defined but still . interconnected, so that they can be handled collectively , but easily separated by subsequent cutting or stamping.

The described connector is an RJ45 connector, but it will be appreciated that the invention can be applied to other types of connector, particularly to other connectors intended for use

E on balanced circuits.

Although the purpose of improving the crosstalk characteristics of the connector, such as } for example to meet the requirements of the aforementioned "Category 5" standards, it may be employed generally where mutual inductance is to be introduced in a connector, for example to adjust the impedance characteristics of the connector to comply with a standard characteristic impedance, such as 100 ohms or 120 ohms.

The described arrangement has been advanced merely by way of explanation any many modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention which includes every novel feature and combination of novel features herein disclosed. "Comprises/comprising” when used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps or components or groups thereof.

The claims which follow are to be considered an integral part of the present disclosure.

Reference numbers (directed to the drawings) shown in the claims serve to facilitate the correlation of integers of the claims with illustrated features of the preferred embodiment(s), but are not intended to restrict in any way the language of the claims to what is shown in the drawings, unless the contrary is clearly apparent from the context.

Claims

Co WO 01/84676 PCT/EP01/04487 CLAIMS:-

1. An electrical connector having at least four elongate conductive elements (12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26) which each extend between a first contact (30) at one end and a second contact (28) at the other end, the first contacts being arranged in adjacent positions to form a first set of these, and the second contacts being arranged in adjacent positions to form a second set of these, first portions (40) of the conductive elements, extending from the first contacts, being relatively narrow in width and, over substantial parts of the lengths thereof, being side by side and extending substantially in the same direction (B), with opposed edges on adjacent ones of the first portions being closely spaced at a substantially constant distance (D) therebetween, and second portions (44) of the conductive elements of at least two of said conductive elements (16, 20; 18,22), adjacent the respective second contacts (28), extending substantially in a single plane and sidewardly with respect to said direction (B), characterized in that opposed edges (16a, 20a; 18a, 22a) on respective ones of the second portions (44) of said at least two conductive elements (16, 20; 18, 22) are relatively more widely spaced (E) than the said substantially constant distance (D) between adjacent edges of said first portions(40).

2. An electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein ones (18,20) of the conductive elements cross over each other, so as to provide crosstalk compensation.

3. An electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the conductive elements define a first, inner, pair (18, 20) thereof and a second, outer, pair (16, 22) thereof, the conductive elements of the first pair (18, 20) being adjacent each other and being crossed, at locations between the second portions (44) thereof and the first contacts (30) thereof, and the elements of the second pair (16, 22) being adjacent respective ones of the elements of the first pair and one to either side of the first pair and not being crossed, said at least two elements comprising the two conductive elements (16, 20) forming ones of the the first and second pair and which are, at locations adjacent where the first and second portions (40, 44) thereof join, positioned to one side with respect to said direction (B), a further two elements (18, 22) comprising the two conductive elements forming ones of the first and second pair which are, at locations adjacent where the first and second portions thereof join, positioned to the other side with respect to said direction (B), the second portions (44) of said at least two elements (16, 20) extending angularly to said one side, and the second portions of said further two elements (18, 22) extending angularly to said other side.

4, An electrical connector as claimed in claim 3, wherein said at least two (16, 20) and said further two elements (18, 22) extend at substantially 45E to said direction (B).

5. An electrical connector as claimed in any preceding claim having eight said conductive elements, with two additional pairs (12, 14; 24, 26) thereof positioned outside _ the first and second pairs.

6. An electrical connector as claimed in claim 5, wherein the conductive elements of each said additional pair (12, 14; 24, 26) are crossed.