Modular jack connector with offset circuitry for controlled capacitance compensation
First Claim
1. A network interface connector, comprising:
- a jack housing;
a rigid printed circuit board (PCB);
a jack contact assembly positioned within the jack housing and further comprising a plurality of elongate contacts each having a plug contact engagement portion and a PCB mounting portion,wherein each of the elongate contacts are configured such that a signal path is defined between their respective plug contact engagement portion and PCB mounting portion, and each of the plug contact engagement portions for the plurality of elongate contacts are substantially coplanar with respect to each other; and
one or more flexible circuit boards (FCBs) coupled to each of the plurality of elongate contacts via respective FCB mounting portions and offset from the signal path,wherein the one or more FCBs comprise a flexible substrate with at least first and second copper layers on opposing sides thereof and configured to provide a controlled capacitance compensation between respective contacts engaged thereby and offset from the defined signal paths,wherein a value of the controlled capacitance is based on a controlled dielectric constant and thickness of the flexible substrate further in view of an overlapping area of first and second copper plates respectively associated with the first and second copper layers, andthe controlled capacitance in the one or more FCBs effectively cancels resident capacitance between adjacent plug contacts coupled to the jack contact assembly.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A modular jack connector compensates for plug characteristics via a controlled primary compensation in the immediate vicinity of the connector interface. A jack contact assembly is positioned within a jack housing and includes first and second sets of elongate contacts each having a plug contact portion and a signal output portion. Each elongate contact is configured such that their respective plug contact portions are coplanar and a signal path is defined between their plug contact portions and their signal output portions. A flexible circuit board is coupled proximate to the plug contact portions, and configured to provide capacitance compensation between respective contacts engaged thereby, wherein the capacitance compensation is offset from a signal path defined between the plug contact portions and the corresponding signal output portions.
54 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A network interface connector, comprising:
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a jack housing; a rigid printed circuit board (PCB); a jack contact assembly positioned within the jack housing and further comprising a plurality of elongate contacts each having a plug contact engagement portion and a PCB mounting portion, wherein each of the elongate contacts are configured such that a signal path is defined between their respective plug contact engagement portion and PCB mounting portion, and each of the plug contact engagement portions for the plurality of elongate contacts are substantially coplanar with respect to each other; and one or more flexible circuit boards (FCBs) coupled to each of the plurality of elongate contacts via respective FCB mounting portions and offset from the signal path, wherein the one or more FCBs comprise a flexible substrate with at least first and second copper layers on opposing sides thereof and configured to provide a controlled capacitance compensation between respective contacts engaged thereby and offset from the defined signal paths, wherein a value of the controlled capacitance is based on a controlled dielectric constant and thickness of the flexible substrate further in view of an overlapping area of first and second copper plates respectively associated with the first and second copper layers, and the controlled capacitance in the one or more FCBs effectively cancels resident capacitance between adjacent plug contacts coupled to the jack contact assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A network interface connector, comprising:
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a jack housing; a rigid printed circuit board (PCB); a jack contact assembly positioned within the jack housing and further comprising a plurality of elongate contacts each having a plug contact engagement portion and a PCB mounting portion; wherein each of the elongate contacts are configured such that a signal path is defined between their respective plug contact engagement portion and PCB mounting portion, and each of the plug contact engagement portions for the plurality of elongate contacts are substantially coplanar with respect to each other; at least one contact alignment member receiving each of the elongate contacts there through, wherein each of the elongate contacts are coupled to the at least one contact alignment member between their respective plug contact and signal output portions, and one or more flexible circuit boards (FCBs) coupled to each of the plurality of elongate contacts via respective FCB mounting portions and offset from the signal path, wherein the one or more FCBs comprise a flexible substrate with at least first and second copper layers on opposing sides thereof and configured to provide a controlled capacitance compensation between respective contacts engaged thereby and offset from the defined signal paths. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification