Modular connector with printed circuit board

• US 6,120,307 A
• Filed: 04/05/1999
• Issued: 09/19/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Original Assignee: 3Com Corporation (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Nagel, Paul E., Randall, Joshua, Kunz, Ryan A., Oliphant, David, Madsen, Brent
• Primary Examiner(s): Abrams, Neil
• Assistant Examiner(s): HYEON, HAE M
• Application Number:
  US09/286,284
• Time in Patent Office: 533 Days
• Field of Search: 439/131, 439/946, 439/946.2, 439/945
• US Class Current: 439/131
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/62 Sliding engagements with one side only, e.g. modular jack coupling devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/065 with built-in electric apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/946 Memory card cartridge

Abstract

A connector includes a modular housing having a jack slidably disposed thereto. The housing includes a substantially U-shaped frame having a cover mounted thereon. A printed circuit board (PCB) is secured to the frame and has an elongated center finger extending between the opposing side walls of the frame. A plurality of partially exposed contact lines are formed on the center finger of the PCB. The jack includes a slide plate having an aperture extending therethrough and a channel communicating with the aperture. The aperture is configured to receive a media plug. Mounted on the slide plate so as to be positioned over the channel is a pin block. The pin block has a plurality of elongated slots formed therein. The slots face the channel and are separated by insulating walls. Disposed within each of the elongated slots is a substantially S-shaped pin. Each pin has a tail end that is mounted to the pin block, a downwardly curved portion that extends within the channel, and an opposing lead end which is freely disposed within the aperture of the slide plate. The center finger of the PCB is slidably received within the channel of the slide plate such that the jack can be selectively moved between an extended position and a retracted position.

Claims

1. A modular connector operable with a media plug comprising:

(a) a discrete modular housing having a compartment formed therein;

(b) a printed circuit board disposed within the compartment of the housing and having a contact formed thereon; and

(c) a jack slidably disposed within the compartment and operable between an extended position and a retracted position, the jack including;

(i) an aperture configured to receive a media plug; and

(ii) a pin having a lead end disposed within the aperture and a portion slidably biased against the contact on the PCB when the jack is in the extended position.

2. A modular connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a frame and a cover, the jack being slidably mounted on frame.

3. A modular connector as recited in claim 1, further comprising an electrical connector mounted on the PCB and being in electrical communication with the contact.

4. A modular connector as recited in claim 1, further comprising means for releasably securing the jack to the housing.

5. A modular connector as recited in claim 1, further comprising means for biasing the jack into the extended position.

6. A modular connector as recited in claim 1, further comprising means selectively retaining the jack in the retracted position.

7. A modular connector for facilitating electrical communication between a media plug and an electrical apparatus comprising:

(a) a housing having a compartment formed therein;

(b) means mounted on the housing for securing the housing to the electrical apparatus;

(c) a fixed member disposed within the compartment of the housing and having a contact formed thereon;

(d) a slide plate disposed within the compartment and operable between an extended position and a retracted position, the slide plate having an aperture configured to receive the media plug; and

(e) means for effecting electrical communication between the media plug and the contact on the fixed member when the slide plate is in the extended position and the media plug is received within the aperture thereof.

8. A modular connector as recited in claim 7, wherein the means for securing comprises a post projecting from the housing.

9. A modular connector as recited in claim 7, wherein the fixed member is a PCB.

10. A modular connector as recited in claim 7, wherein the housing comprises:

(a) a frame on which the slide plate is mounted;

(b) a retention member which secures the fixed member to the frame; and

(c) a cover that at least partially covers the frame, retention member, and fixed member.

11. A modular connector as recited in claim 7, further comprising an electrical connector mounted on the fixed member and being in electrical communication with the contact.

12. A modular connector as recited in claim 7, wherein the housing includes a substantially U-shaped frame, the frame includes a side wall having an inside face with an elongated T-shaped member inwardly projecting therefrom, the slide plate having a slide arm having substantially C-shaped transverse cross section that is configured to slidably engage the T-shaped member on the frame.

13. A modular connector as recited in claim 12, wherein the T-shaped member includes a stem having a rail orthogonally projecting from the end thereof, the stem having an enlarged head that tapers at a shoulder to a narrow body.

14. A modular connector as recited in claim 7, wherein the means for effecting electrical communication comprises pin having a lead end disposed within the aperture of the slide plate and a portion slidably biased against the contact when the slide plate is in the extended position.

15. A modular connector for facilitating electrical communication between a media plug and an electrical apparatus comprising:

(a) a frame;

(b) a printed circuit board mounted on the frame and having a contact formed thereon;

(c) a cover disposed over at least a portion of the PCB and biased against the frame;

(d) a slide plate having an aperture configured to receive the media plug and a channel aligned with the aperture, the slide plate being slidably mounted on the frame such that at least a portion of the PCB is disposed within channel thereof, the slide plate being operable between an extended position and a retracted position; and

(e) means for effecting electrical communication between the media plug and the contact on PCB when the slide plate is in the extended position and the media plug is received within the aperture thereof.

16. A modular connector as recited in claim 15, wherein the cover is comprised of metal.

17. A modular connector as recited in claim 15, wherein the frame is substantially U-shaped and includes a pair of opposing side walls and a cross member extending therebetween.

18. A modular connector as recited in claim 17, wherein the PCB comprises a base portion disposed over the cross member of the frame and a center finger projecting between the opposing side walls of the frame.

19. A modular connector as recited in claim 18, wherein the PCB further comprises a side finger projecting from the base portion, the side finger being spaced apart from and disposed in substantially parallel alignment with the center finger.

20. A modular connector as recited in claim 15, further comprising means mounted to the frame for securing the frame to the electrical apparatus.

21. A modular connector for facilitating electrical communication between a media plug and an electrical apparatus comprising:

(a) a frame;

(b) a printed circuit board mounted on the frame and having a contact formed thereon;

(c) an electrical connector mounted on the PCB and being in electrical communication with the contact;

(d) a cover disposed over at least a portion of the PCB and the frame;

(e) a slide plate having an aperture configured to receive the media plug and a channel aligned with the aperture, the slide plate being slidably mounted on the frame such that at least a portion of the PCB is disposed within channel thereof, the slide plate being operable between an extended position and a retracted position; and

(f) a pin having a lead end disposed within the aperture of the side plate and a portion slidably biased against the contact on the PCB when the slide plate is in the extended position.

22. A modular connector as recited in claim 21, further comprising:

(a) an elongated yoke block having opposing ends, the pin having a tail end secured to the yoke block;

(b) a pin block disposed on the slide plate over the channel, the pin block having opposing side walls with an aperture extending through each, the opposing ends of the yoke block being disposed within corresponding apertures of the pin block.

23. A modular connector as recited in claim 21, further comprising means for releasably securing the jack to the housing.

24. A modular connector as recited in claim 21, further comprising means for biasing the jack into the extended position.

25. A modular connector as recited in claim 21, further comprising means selectively retaining the jack in the retracted position.