Modular jack with LED

• US 6,457,993 B1
• Filed: 08/31/2001
• Issued: 10/01/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Espenshade, Leonard K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Khiem
• Assistant Examiner(s): Prasad, Chandrika
• Application Number:
  US09/944,651
• Time in Patent Office: 396 Days
• Field of Search: 439/489, 439/490, 439/676, 439/488, 439/607
• US Class Current: 439/490
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/717 with built-in light source
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7175 Light emitting diodes (LEDs)
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/64 for high frequency, e.g. RJ 45

Abstract

A modular jack (1) comprises an insulative housing (2), a terminal module (3) received in the housing, and a pair of LEDs (4). The insulative housing comprises a top wall (21), a bottom wall (22) and a pair of side walls (23). The top wall, the bottom wall and the side walls together define a receiving cavity (20) for receiving a complementary plug connector. The bottom wall defines a pair of recesses (221) at a front end thereof adjacent to corresponding side walls and two pairs of slits (223) respectively communicating with corresponding recesses. Each LED is received in one of the recesses of the housing, and comprises an indicator (40) and a pair of leads (41) extending from the indicator. The leads are received in the slits for electrically connecting the indicator with a mating printed circuit board.

Claims

1. A modular jack for receiving a plug connector, comprising:

an insulative housing comprising a top wall, a bottom wall, and a pair of side walls, the top wall, the bottom wall and the side walls together defining a receiving cavity for receiving the plug connector, the bottom wall defining a pair of slots at a front end thereof and a pair of tabs extending forwardly under the slots;

a terminal module received in the receiving cavity; and

a pair of LEDs (Light-Emitting Diodes) each comprising an indicator received in the slot and supported by the tab.

2. The modular jack as described in claim 1, wherein the bottom wall defines two pairs of slits communicating with corresponding slots, and each LED comprises a pair of leads extending from the indicator and received in corresponding pair of slits.

3. The modular jack as described in claim 1, wherein the terminal module comprises a front base, a plurality of front terminals mounted in the front base, a rear base, a plurality of rear terminals mounted in the rear base, and a linking PCB electrically connecting the front and rear terminals.

4. The modular jack as described in claim 1, further comprising a shield enclosing the housing, the shield defining a pair of openings at a bottom end thereof to expose the indicators.

5. The modular jack as described in claim 1, wherein each side wall comprises a cut-out on a bottom thereof, and the shield comprises a pair of bent portions engaged with the cut-outs.

6. A modular jack comprising:

an insulative housing including opposite top and bottom walls, and a pair of opposite side walls, all together defining a receiving cavity in communication with an exterior in a front-to-back direction;

a plurality of terminals disposed in said cavity;

a pair of receiving slots extending into the housing around two opposite corners of the housing below said cavity and substantially communicating with the exterior in said front-to-back direction;

a pair of parallel slits formed in the bottom wall under said cavity and forming a supporting tab therebetween;

a pair of LEDs respectively received within the corresponding slots, each of said LEDs including an indicator and a pair of conductive leads on a rear portion thereof;

wherein

in each of said LEDs, said indicator defines a bottom face supportably seated upon the corresponding tab and a rear face from which the pair of leads extend and further downwardly through the corresponding slits.

7. The modular jack as described in claim 6, wherein each of said slots has a cubic configured and the indicator has the same to mate with.

8. The modular jack as described in claim 6, wherein a shield encloses the housing with portions engaging the indicators for preventing withdrawal of the LEDs from the corresponding slots, while also forming openings therein for exposing the corresponding indicators thereabouts.

9. The modular jack as described in claim 6, wherein said tab is of a cantilever type.

10. A modular jack comprising:

an insulative housing including opposite top and bottom walls, and a pair of opposite side walls, all together defining a receiving cavity in communication with an exterior in a front-to-back direction;

a plurality of terminals disposed in said cavity;

a pair of receiving slots extending into the housing around two opposite corners of the housing below said cavity and substantially communicating with the exterior in said front-to-back direction;

a pair of parallel slits formed in the bottom wall under said cavity with a rectangular frame on a front face of the housing;

a pair of LEDs respectively received within the corresponding slots, each of said LEDs including an indicator and a pair of conductive leads on a rear portion thereof;

wherein

in each of said LEDs, said indicator defines a bottom face supportably retained in the rectangular frame, and a rear face from which the pair of leads extend and further downwardly through the corresponding slits.