Surface mountable connector assembly including a printed circuit board

• US 6,428,361 B1
• Filed: 05/24/1999
• Issued: 08/06/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bel Fuse Macau Commercial Offshore Limited (Bel Fuse)
• Original Assignee: Stewart Connector Systems, Inc. (Bel Connector Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hess, John, Locati, Ronald, Imschweiler, Derek
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Khiem
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zarroli, Michael C.
• Application Number:
  US09/317,249
• Time in Patent Office: 1,170 Days
• Field of Search: 439/344, 439/660, 439/667, 439/668, 439/676, 439/620
• US Class Current: 439/676
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6658 on printed circuit board H01R13/6666 - H01R13/6691 take precedence
• 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 13/7197 with filters integral with or fitted onto contacts, e.g. tubular filters
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/64 for high frequency, e.g. RJ 45
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/18 Printed circuits structurally associated with non-printed electric components H05K1/0201, H05K1/023, H05K1/0243, and H05K1/16 take precedence

Abstract

Connector assembly including a jack defining a plug-receiving receptacle and a shield arranged around the jack. The jack includes a printed circuit board component including a printed circuit board, a first set of contacts each including a contact portion arranged in the receptacle and a board portion connected to the printed circuit board, and a second set of contacts each including a terminal portion adapted for mounting to a planar surface of a substrate and a board portion connected to the printed circuit board. The printed circuit board includes a wiring pattern for electrically coupling the first and second sets of contacts. The terminal portions extend rearwardly and downward from the jack and have a co-planar portion. The jack may include an LED arranged proximate the printed circuit board, in which case the jack also includes a light pipe element that can transmit light from the LED to be visible from a front face of the jack, or adjacent the front face of the jack, in which case electrical leads connect the LED to the printed circuit board. The jack can also include electrical signal processing components, such as toroids for filtering applications, which may be mounted on the printed circuit board.

Claims

1. A surface mountable connector assembly, comprising:

a jack defining a plug-receiving receptacle;

said jack comprising

a printed circuit board component including a printed circuit board,

a first set of contacts each including a contact portion arranged in said receptacle and a board portion connected to said printed circuit board, and

a second set of contacts each including a terminal portion structured and arranged to be in surface connection with a planar surface of a substrate and a board portion connected to said printed circuit board, said printed circuit board including a wiring pattern for electrically coupling said first and second sets of contacts;

an outer housing part and an inner housing part arranged in said outer housing part, wherein said inner housing part is generally L-shaped including a front, horizontal portion, a vertical wall extending upward from a rear edge of and perpendicular to said front portion, and a pair of opposed projections extending rearward from the lower lateral sides of said vertical wall and defining an open space therebetween and

wherein said printed circuit board is situated at least partially in said space between said projections such that said projections extend laterally along either lateral side of said vertical wall and wherein said printed circuit board has a plurality of throughholes arranged so that when said printed circuit board is situated between said projections said board portion of each of said first set of contacts extends through a corresponding one of said throughholes in said printed circuit board.

2. A connector assembly, comprising:

a jack defining a plug-receiving receptacle,

said jack comprising

a printed circuit board component including a printed circuit board,

a first set of contacts each including a contact portion arranged in said receptacle and a board portion connected to said printed circuit board, and

a second set of contacts each including a terminal portion connected to a substrate and a board portion connected to said printed circuit board, said printed circuit board including a wiring pattern for electrically coupling said first and second sets of contacts;

an outer housing part and an inner housing part arranged in said outer housing part;

wherein said inner housing part is generally L-shaped including a front, horizontal portion, a vertical wall extending from a rear edge of and perpendicular to said front portion, and a pair of opposed projections extending rearward at lateral sides of said vertical wall and defining an open space therebetween, and

wherein said front portion includes first guide channels formed at a front edge, slots formed at a rear adjacent said vertical wall from a lower surface of said front portion to an upper surface of said front portion and second guide channels formed on said lower surface, each of said second guide channels extending between a respective one of said first channels and a respective one of said slots, each of said contacts of said first set of contacts being arranged in a respective set of one of said first guide channels, one of said second guide channels and one of said slots.

3. A connector assembly, comprising:

a jack defining a plug-receiving receptacle,

said jack comprising

a printed circuit board component including a printed circuit board,

a first set of contacts each including a contact portion arranged in said receptacle and a board portion connected to said printed circuit board, and

a second set of contacts each including a terminal portion adapted for mounting to a substrate and a board portion connected to said printed circuit board, said printed circuit board including a wiring pattern for electrically coupling said first and second sets of contacts,

an outer housing part an inner housing part arranged in said outer housing part,

wherein said inner housing part is generally L-shaped including a front, horizontal portion, a vertical wall extending from a rear edge of and perpendicular to said front portion, and a pair of opposed projections extending rearward at lateral sides of said vertical wall and defining an open space therebetween,

wherein said vertical wall includes guide channels formed at an upper edge, each of said contacts of said first set of contacts being arranged in a respective one of said guide channels, and

wherein said printed circuit board is situated at least partially in said space between said projections such that said projections extend laterally along either lateral side of said vertical wall and wherein said printed circuit board has a plurality of throughholes arranged so that when said printed circuit board is situated between said projections said board portion of each of said first set of contacts extends through a corresponding one of said throughholes in said printed circuit board.

4. A surface-mountable connector assembly, comprising:

a jack defining a plug-receiving receptacle,

said jack comprising

a printed circuit board component including a printed circuit board,

a first set of contacts each including a contact portion arranged in said receptacle and a board portion connected to said printed circuit board, and

a second set of contacts each including a terminal portion adapted for mounting to a planar surface of a substrate and a board portion connected to said printed circuit board, said printed circuit board including a wiring pattern for electrically coupling said first and second sets of contacts;

wherein said printed circuit board component further comprises an insert assembly connected to said printed circuit board, said insert assembly including a housing and said second set of contacts arranged in connection with said housing whereby said terminal portions are co-planar with one another prior to the connection of said insert assembly to said printed circuit board; and

wherein said contacts of said second set of contacts each include said terminal portion extending from one side of said housing, a U-shaped portion extending from an opposed side of said housing, said board portion being arranged adjacent said U-shaped portion, and a straight portion passing through said housing.

5. A surface mountable connector assembly, comprising:

a jack defining a plug-receiving receptacle;

said jack comprising

a printed circuit board component including a printed circuit board,

a first set of contacts each including a contact portion arranged in said receptacle and a board portion connected to said printed circuit board, and

a second set of contacts each including a terminal portion structured and arranged to be in surface connection with a planar surface of a substrate and a board portion connected to said printed circuit board, said printed circuit board including a wiring pattern for electrically coupling said first and second sets of contacts; and

light generating means mounted to a front face of said printed circuit board for providing light visible from a front of said jack.

6. The connector assembly of claim 5, wherein said light generating means are arranged in connection with said printed circuit board.

7. The connector assembly of claim 6, wherein said light generating means comprises at least one LED, said wiring pattern in said printed circuit board also being arranged to provide at least a portion of an electrical path between said at least one LED and at least one of said contacts in said second set of contacts.

8. The connector assembly of claim 7, wherein said at least one LED is arranged adjacent a front face of said jack, said light generating means further comprising electrical leads extending from said at least one LED to said printed circuit board.

9. The connector assembly of claim 6, wherein said light generating means are arranged proximate said printed circuit board.

10. A connector assembly, comprising:

a jack defining a plug-receiving receptacle;

said jack comprising

a printed circuit board component including a printed circuit board,

a first set of contacts each including a contact portion arranged in said receptacle and a board portion connected to said printed circuit board, and

a second set of contacts each including a terminal portion connected to a substrate and a board portion connected to said printed circuit board, said printed circuit board including a wiring pattern for electrically coupling said first and second sets of contacts;

light generating means for providing light visible from a front of said jack, wherein said light generating means are arranged in connection with said printed circuit board, wherein said light generating means are arranged proximate said printed circuit board; and

a light pipe element having at least one light transmitting section arranged to be visible from the front of said jack and in a path of said light generating means such that light generated by said light generating means is transmitted through said at least one light transmitting section to the front of said jack.

11. The connector assembly of claim 10, wherein said light generating means comprises at least one LED arranged in alignment with a respective one of said a t least one light transmitting section of said light pipe element, said wiring pattern in said printed circuit board also being arranged to electrically couple said at least one LED to at least one of said contacts in said second set of contacts.

12. The connector assembly of claim 10, wherein said jack comprises an outer housing part and said outer housing part and said light pipe element comprise cooperating fastening means for fastening said light pipe element to said outer housing part.

13. The connector assembly of claim 12, wherein said outer housing part further includes at least one channel extending to a front face of said jack and in which a respective one of said at least one light transmitting section of said light pipe element is situated.

14. A connector assembly, comprising:

a jack defining a plug-receiving receptacle,

said jack comprising

a printed circuit board component including a printed circuit board,

a first set of contacts each including a contact portion arranged in said receptacle and a board portion connected to said printed circuit board,

a second set of contacts each including a terminal portion adapted for connection to a substrate on which said connector assembly is mounted and a board portion connected to said printed circuit board,

light generating means arranged in connection with said printed circuit board for providing light visible from a front of said jack, said printed circuit board including a wiring pattern for electrically coupling said first set of contacts, said second set of contacts and said light generating means, and

a light pipe element having at least one light transmitting section arranged to be visible from the front of said jack and in a path of said light generating means such that light generated by said light generating means is transmitted through said at least one light transmitting section to the front of said jack, and

wherein said light generating means are arranged proximate said printed circuit board.

15. The connector assembly of claim 14, wherein said light generating means comprise at least one LED arranged in alignment with a respective one of said at least one light transmitting section of said light pipe element.

16. The connector assembly of claim 14, wherein said jack comprises an outer housing part and said outer housing part and said light pipe element comprise cooperating fastening means for fastening said light pipe element to said outer housing part.

17. The connector assembly of claim 14, wherein said outer housing part further includes at least one channel extending to a front face of said jack and in which a respective one of said at least one light transmitting section of said light pipe element is situated.

18. A connector assembly, comprising

a jack defining a plug-receiving receptacle,

said jack comprising

a printed circuit board component including a printed circuit board.

a first set of contacts each including a contact portion arranged in said receptacle and a board portion connected to said printed circuit board,

a second set of contacts each including a terminal portion adapted for connection to a substrate on which said connector assembly is mounted and a board portion connected to said printed circuit board, and

light generating means arranged in connection with said printed circuit board for providing light visible from a front of said jack, said printed circuit board including a wiring pattern for electrically coupling said first set of contacts, said second set of contacts and said light generating means

wherein said terminal portions extend rearwardly and downward from said jack and have a co-planar portion adapted for mounting to a planar surface of the substrate.

19. A connector assembly comprising

a jack defining a plug-receiving receptacle,

said jack comprise

a printed circuit board component including a printed circuit board,

a first set of contacts each including a contact portion arranged in said receptacle and a board portion connected to said printed circuit board,

a second set of contacts each including a terminal portion adapted for connection to a substrate on which said connector assembly is mounted and a board portion connected to said printed circuit board, and

light generating means arranged in connection with said printed circuit board for providing light visible from a front of said jack, said printed circuit board including a wiring pattern for electrically coupling said first set of contacts, said second set of contacts and said light generating means,

wherein said printed circuit board component further comprises an insert assembly connected to said printed circuit board, said insert assembly including a housing and said second set of contacts arranged in connection with said housing whereby said terminal portions are co-planar with one another prior to the connection of said insert assembly to said printed circuit board.