Add-on electrical assembly with light transmission means

• US 6,174,194 B1
• Filed: 05/12/1999
• Issued: 01/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Molex Incorporated (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Molex Incorporated (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Buss, Martin, Muller, Reinhold, Bordron, Frank, Fuchslocher, Heinrich, Klaiber, Gerd, Foerner, Thomas Hans, Follmann, Michael, Bleicher, Matthias, Fasold, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, HIEN D
• Application Number:
  US09/310,805
• Time in Patent Office: 615 Days
• Field of Search: 439/488-490, 439/676, 439/344
• US Class Current: 439/490
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/717 with built-in light source
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7172 Conduits for light transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7175 Light emitting diodes (LEDs)
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/64 for high frequency, e.g. RJ 45

Abstract

An add-on electrical assembly is provided for association with an electrical connector for receiving a complementary mating plug to a circuit board. The electrical connector may be a standard modular jack including a connector housing having a front face with a receptacle receiving the plug, a top wall, a rear wall and a bottom face adapted for mounting on the circuit board. A plurality of terminals each include one end extending into the receptacle for making electrical contact with a corresponding terminal on the plug and the other end adapted to contact the circuit board. A separate LED assembly is provided with housing for mounting over the top and rear walls of the connector housing. A light emitting device is mounted on the LED housing and is viewable through a front face thereof adjacent the receptacle. Conductors extend from the light emitting device through the LED housing for connection to the circuit board. At least one snap latch is provided between the LED housing and the connector housing.

Claims

1. A LED module for mounting on a printed circuit board and a connector assembly for electrically connecting a complementary mating plug to the printed circuit board, the connector assembly having a connector housing for mounting on the printed circuit board, the housing including a front face with cavity therein defining a plug-receiving opening, a top wall and a rear wall, and a plurality of terminals each including one end extending into the cavity to make electrical contact with a corresponding terminal on the plug within the cavity and the other end adapted to contact the printed circuit board, wherein the LED module comprises:

a separate one piece generally L-shaped LED housing including a top portion mounted over the top wall of the connector housing and a rear portion mounted over the rear wall of the connector housing the top portion having top and bottom surfaces,

a light emitting device mounted in said LED housing and viewable through a front face thereof adjacent the plug-receiving opening,

conductors connecting and extending from said light emitting device through the interior of the LED housing and downwardly for connection to the printed circuit board; and

wherein said light emitting device is snap fit into a recess formed in the bottom surface of the top portion of the LED housing, and said conductors are snap fit into channels formed in the bottom surface of the top portion of LED housing.

2. The LED module of claim 1 wherein said other ends of the terminals and distal ends of said conductors include feet for surface mounting on the printed circuit board.

3. The LED module of claim 2 wherein said feet of the terminals and the conductors are generally in a line.

4. The LED module of claim 1, including complementary interengaging retaining means on the LED housing and the connector housing for retaining the LED module mounted on the board mounted connector.

5. The LED module of claim 4 wherein said retaining means include a first snap latch near the front of the top wall of the connector housing and a second snap latch near the bottom of the rear wall of the connector housing.

6. A modular jack assembly mounted on a printed circuit board for electrically connecting a complementary mating plug to a circuit board, said modular jack comprising:

a jack housing having a front face with a receptacle for receiving the plug, a top wall, a rear wall and a bottom wall having a bottom face for mounting on the circuit board;

a plurality of terminals each including one end extending into the receptacle for making electrical contact with a corresponding terminal on the plug and the other end adapted to contact the circuit board;

a separate one piece generally L-shaped LED housing including a top portion mounted over the top wall of the connector housing and a rear portion mounted over the rear wall of the connector housing the top portion having top and bottom surfaces;

a light emitting device mounted in the LED housing and viewable through a front face thereof adjacent the receptacle;

conductors connecting and extending from the light emitting device through the LED housing for connection to the circuit board; and

wherein said light emitting device is snap fit into a recess formed in the bottom surface of the LED housing, and said conductors are snap fit into channels formed in the bottom surface of the LED housing.

7. The modular jack assembly of claim 6 wherein said other ends of the terminals and distal ends of said conductors include feet for surface mounting on the printed circuit board.

8. The modular jack assembly of claim 7 wherein said feet of the terminals and the conductors are generally in a line.

9. The modular jack assembly of claim 6, including complementary interengaging retaining means between the jack housing and the separate LED housing.

10. The modular jack assembly of claim 9 wherein said retaining means include a first snap latch near the front of the top wall of the connector housing and a second snap latch near the bottom of the rear wall of the connector housing.