Telecommunications connector with improved crosstalk reduction

• US 6,007,368 A
• Filed: 11/18/1997
• Issued: 12/28/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Curry, Clifford R., Marti, Franklin C., Lorenz, Alan S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Paumen, Gary F.
• Application Number:
  US08/972,794
• Time in Patent Office: 770 Days
• Field of Search: 439/418, 439/676, 439/941, 439/344
• US Class Current: 439/418
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6463 using twisted pairs of wires
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6464 by adding capacitive elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6477 by variation of dielectric properties
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/04 for network, e.g. LAN connectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/64 for high frequency, e.g. RJ 45
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/2404 the contact members having teeth, prongs, pins or needles penetrating the insulation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/941 Crosstalk suppression

Abstract

A telecommunications connector includes a body having a first end to mate with a mating connector and a second end having an aperture. A plurality of connector elements have a connection portion to make electrical contact with individual wires from wire cables. In an exemplary embodiment, the individual wires are in the form of twisted pair cables. The connector elements also include a terminating portion to make electrical contact with the mating connector, and an elongated intermediate portion coupling the corresponding connection and terminating portions. The elongated intermediate portion minimizes the overall surface area of the electrical contacts thereby reducing the capacitance between individual ones of the connector elements. In addition, the connector elements are mounted in a low dielectric constant material to further reduce capacitance between individual ones of the connector elements. The connection portions of the connector elements are arranged in a first sequence to permit the twisted pair cables to remain twisted throughout the body of the connector to an area proximate the connection portion of the connector elements. The terminating portions of the connector elements are in a sequential arrangement different from the sequential arrangement of the connection portions of the connector elements to maintain an industry standard arrangement. The elongated intermediate portions of at least some of the connector elements extend laterally and cross over other connector elements to permit the terminating portions of the connector elements to conform to industry standards while permitting the twisted pair cables to remain in a twisted configuration for the length of the cable.

Claims

1. A telecommunications connector assembly coupleable to a mating connector, the connector assembly comprising:

a body having first and second end portions along a longitudinal axis of said body, said first end portion being configured to mate with the mating connector;

an electrical cable extending within said body from said second end portion to said first end portion, said cable comprising a plurality of twisted pair electrical conductors which remain twisted while within said body until in proximity with said first end portion; and

a plurality of connector elements at said body first end portion, each of said plurality of connector elements having a connection portion piercing one conductor of said plurality of twisted pair electrical conductors, a contact portion to make electrical contact with the mating connector when said first end portion is mated to the mating connector, said connection portions being located in a row directly above the contact portions, and an elongated aim extending between and electrically connecting together said connection portion and said contact portion.

2. The connector assembly of claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of twisted pair electrical conductors is covered by an insulating material and said connection portions include a piercing element to pierce said insulating material and thereby establish electrical contact between corresponding ones of said plurality of twisted pair electrical conductors and said connector elements.

3. The connector assembly of claim 1 wherein said plurality of connector elements are at least partially embedded in a material having a dielectric constant less than 2.8, and said connector elements are at least partially surrounded by said material.

4. The connector assembly of claim 1 wherein said plurality of connector elements are at least partially embedded in a polymethyl pentene material, and said connector elements are at least partially surrounded by said material.

5. The connector assembly of claim 1 wherein said connection portions are arranged substantially parallel to each other, said contact portions are arranged substantially parallel to each other, and at least one of said elongated arms extend between one of said connection portions and one of said contact portions which are positioned out of coplanar relation with each other.

6. The connector assembly of claim 5 wherein at least two of said elongated arms cross by each other within said body.

7. The connector assembly of claim 5 wherein said connection portions and said contact portions are arranged in coplanar pairs comprised of one of said connection portions and one of said contact portions.

8. The connector assembly of claim 5 wherein said at least two of said elongated arms cross by each other at a substantially right angle.

9. The connector assembly of claim 1 wherein said body includes a chamber extending longitudinally therewithin said cable extends therethrough, and further including a ferrite member positioned within said chamber and containing a plurality of spaced apart passageways disposed in general alignment with said longitudinal axis and with passageway openings facing towards said first and second end portions, said ferrite member having a ferrite wall portion positioned between individual ones of said passageways, said passageways each being sized to receive and receiving at least one conductor of a different one of said twisted pair conductors.

10. The connector assembly of claim 1 wherein said body conforms to industry standards for an RJ45 plug.

11. The connector assembly of claim 1 wherein said body conforms to industry standards for an RJ45 jack.

12. A telecommunications connector assembly configured to receive a plurality of electrical conductors in an electrical cable and mate with a mating connector, the connector assembly comprising:

a body; and

a plurality of connector elements retained by said body, each of said plurality of connector elements having a connection portion for piercing one of the plurality of electrical conductors and a contact portion to make electrical contact with the mating connector when mated to the mating connector, said connection portion and said contact portion defining an intermediate area therebetween,said connection portions being located in a row directly above the contact portions, each of said connector elements further includes an intermediate portion extending between and electrically connecting together said connection portion and said contact portion, said intermediate portion occupying an area between said connection portion and contact portion less than said intermediate area.

13. The connector assembly of claim 12 wherein each of the plurality of electrical conductors is covered by an insulating material and said connection portions include a piercing element to pierce the insulating material and thereby establish electrical contact between corresponding ones of the plurality of electrical conductors and said connector elements.

14. The connector assembly of claim 12 wherein at least a portion of said body is made with a material having a dielectric constant less than 2.8, and said connector elements are at least partially surrounded by said material.

15. The connector assembly of claim 12 wherein at least a portion of said body is made with a polymethyl pentene material, and said connector elements are at least partially surrounded by said material.

16. The connector assembly of claim 12 wherein said connection portions are arranged substantially parallel to each other, said contact portions are arranged substantially parallel to each other, and at least one of said intermediate portions extend between one of said connection portions and one of said contact portions which are positioned out of coplanar relation with each other.

17. The connector assembly of claim 16 wherein at least two of said intermediate portions cross by each other within said body.

18. The connector assembly of claim 16 wherein said connection portions and said contact portions are arranged in coplanar pairs comprised of one of said connector portions and one of said contact portions.

19. The connector assembly of claim 18 wherein said at least two of said intermediate portions cross by each other at a substantially right angle.

20. A telecommunications connector assembly configured to receive a plurality of electrical conductors in an electrical cable and mate with a mating connector, the connector assembly comprising:

a body manufactured at least in part from a material have a dielectric constant less than 2.8; and

a plurality of connector elements retained by said body at least partially embedded in said dielectric material, each of said plurality of connector elements having a connection portion for contacting one of the plurality of electrical conductors and a contact portion to make electrical contact with the mating connector when mated to the mating connector;

wherein said connection portions are arranged substantially parallel to each other, said contact portions are arranged substantially parallel to each other, and at least one of said elongated arms extend between one of said connection portions and one of said contact portions out of coplanar relation with each other; and

wherein at least two of said elongated arms cross by each other at a substantially right angle.

21. The connector assembly of claim 20 wherein said body is made with a polymethyl pentene material, and said connector elements are at least partially surrounded by said material.

22. The connector assembly of claim 20 wherein each of said plurality of connector elements includes an elongated arm each of said elongated arms being electrically coupled to said connection portion and to said contact portion therebetween.

23. The connector assembly of claim 20 wherein said connection portions and said contact portions are arranged in coplanar pairs comprised of one of said connector portions and one of said contact portions cross by each other within said body.

24. A telecommunications connector assembly configured to receive a plurality of twisted pair electrical conductors in an electrical cable and mate with a mating connector, the connector assembly comprising:

a body having first and second ends along a longitudinal axis of said body, said first end being configured to mate with the mating connector and said second end adapted to receive the electrical cable; and

a plurality of connector elements retained by said body at least partially embedded in said dielectric material, each of said plurality of connector elements being integrally formed from an electrically conductive material and having a connection portion for piercing one of the plurality of twisted pair electrical conductors, a contact portion to make electrical contact with the mating connector when said first end is mated to the mating connector, said connection portions being located in a row directly above the contact portions, and a rigid intermediate portion with at least two of said rigid intermediate portions crossing by each other within said body wherein said connection portions have sequential positions in a first ordered sequence to receive predetermined ones of the plurality of electrical conductors and said contact portions have sequential positions in a second ordered sequence different from said first ordered sequence, ones of said connector and contact portions in differing sequential positions being electrically connected together by said rigid intermediate portions, which cross by each other within said body.

25. The connector assembly of claim 24 wherein said body is made with a material having a dielectric constant less than 2.8, and said connector elements are at least partially surrounded by said material.

26. The connector assembly of claim 24 wherein said body is made with a polymethyl pentene material, and said connector elements are at least partially surrounded by said material.

27. The connector assembly of claim 24 wherein said at least two rigid intermediate portions cross by each other at a substantially right angle.

28. A telecommunications connector assembly configured to receive at least two pairs of twisted pair electrical conductors in an electrical cable and mate with a mating connector, the connector assembly comprising:

a body having first and second end portions along a longitudinal axis of said body, said first end portion being configured to mate with the mating connector and said second end portion being adapted to receive the electrical cable; and

first, second, third and fourth rigid integrally formed electrical connector elements including first, second, third, and fourth sequentially arranged connection portions, respectively, said first and second connection portions being mounted within said body to contact first and second electrical conductors, respectively, of a first one of the twisted pair electrical conductors, and said third and fourth connection portions being mounted within said body to contact first and second electrical conductors, respectively, of a second one of the twisted pair electrical conductors, said first, second, third and fourth rigid integrally formed electrical connector elements also including first, second, third, and fourth sequential arranged contact portions, respectively, to make electrical contact with the mating connector when said first end portion is mated to the mating connector and first, second, third, and fourth intermediate portions extending and providing an electrical connection between certain ones of said connection portions and said contact portions, said first intermediate portion providing an electrical connection between said first connection portion and said second contact portion, said second contact portion providing an electrical connection between said second connection portion and said third contact portion, said third intermediate portion providing an electrical connection between said third connection portion and said first contact portion, and said fourth intermediate portion providing an electrical connection between said fourth connection portion and said fourth contact portion.

29. The connector assembly of claim 28 wherein said body is made with a material having a dielectric constant less than 2.8, and said connector elements are at least partially surrounded by said material.

30. The connector assembly of claim 28 wherein said body is made with a polymethyl pentene material, and said connector elements are at least partially surrounded by said material.

31. The connector assembly of claim 28 wherein said connection portions are arranged substantially parallel to each other, and said contact portions are arranged substantially parallel to each other, and said first, second, and third intermediate portions pass by each other within said body.

32. The connector assembly of claim 31 wherein said first, second, and third intermediate portions pass by each other at a substantially right angle.