Illuminating electrical jack system

• US 6,483,712 B1
• Filed: 03/20/2000
• Issued: 11/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: 3Com Corporation (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Madsen, Brent D., Oliphant, David, Giles, Rick
• Primary Examiner(s): Talbott, David L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DINH, TUAN T
• Application Number:
  US09/528,330
• Time in Patent Office: 974 Days
• Field of Search: 361/736, 361/737, 361/762, 361/763, 439/490, 439/676, 439/76.1, 439/910, 362/27-32
• US Class Current: 361/737
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6691 with built-in signalling means H01R13/717 takes 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 2201/06 for computer periphery
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/64 for high frequency, e.g. RJ 45
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0273 having extensions for peripherals, e.g. LAN, antennas details of antennas H01Q1/2275

Abstract

An electrical jack system is operable with an electrical plug, such as an RJ-type plug. In one embodiment, the electrical plug is at least partially translucent. The jack system includes a housing bounding a socket. The socket is configured to receive the electrical plug. A light source is coupled with the housing so as to selectively illuminate the socket and/or the translucent electrical plug when the translucent electrical plug is received within the socket of the housing. In one embodiment, the light source is a light emitter, such as an LED, mounted on the housing so as to be at least partially exposed to the socket of the housing. In an alternative embodiment, an opening is formed on the housing in communication with the socket. A light emitter is disposed a distance from the opening on the housing. A conduit extends between the light emitter and the opening. The conduit, such as a light pipe, is configured to channel light from the light emitter to the opening on the housing.

Claims

1. An apparatus that allows a RJ series connector plug to be connected to a communications card that conforms to the Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) requirements for a Type III PC card, the apparatus comprising:

a housing including a first outer surface, an opposing second outer surface, and a front surface, the first outer surface and the second outer surface being separated by a distance of 10.5 mm or less; and

a receptacle located in the front surface of the housing that is sized and configured to receive the RJ series connector plug along a generally longitudinal axis such that no portion of the plug extends through either the first outer surface or the second outer surface of the housing when the plug is inserted into the receptacle;

a contact at least partially disposed within the receptacle, the contact being sized and configured to allow electrical communication between the RJ series connector plug and the communications card when the plug is inserted into the receptacle; and

means for illuminating the receptacle;

wherein there is no cutout in the first outer surface or the second outer surface of the housing that is configured to allow a biased clip of the plug to protrude through.

2. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the first outer surface and the second outer surface of the housing comprise generally solid, planar surfaces that prevent any portion of the RJ series connector plug from extending through the first or second outer surfaces.

3. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the housing comprises at least a portion of a modular jack.

4. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the housing comprises at least a portion of a housing of a PC card that meets the Type III PCMCIA size and configuration requirements.

5. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the housing comprises the housing of a modular jack and the modular jack is mounted to a PC card that meets the Type III PCMCIA size and configuration requirements.

6. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the means for illuminating the receptacle comprises a light source mounted on the housing so as to communicate with the socket.

7. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the means for illuminating the receptacle comprises a light source positioned a distance from the socket and a conduit extending between the light source and the socket.

8. A communications card conforming to the Personal Computer Memory Card International Association guidelines for a Type III PC card, the communications card comprising:

a housing including a top surface, a bottom surface and a front surface;

a circuit board disposed within the housing, the circuit board including one or more electrical contacts;

a modular jack electrically connected to the circuit board, the modular jack including a first outer surface, a second outer surface and a front surface, the first outer surface and the second outer surface being separated by a distance that is generally equal to or less than about 10.5 mm;

a receptacle disposed in the front surface of the modular jack, the receptacle being sized and configured to receive a RJ series connector plug along a generally longitudinal axis such that no portion of the plug extends through either the first outer surface or the second outer surface of the modular jack when the plug is inserted into the receptacle; and

a light source coupled with the receptacle so as to selectively illuminate at least a portion of the RJ series connector plug when it is received within the receptacle;

wherein there is no cutout in the first outer surface or the second outer surface of the modular jack that is configured to allow a biased clip of the plug to protrude through the outer surfaces.

9. The communications card as in claim 8, wherein the light source comprises a light emitting diode (LED) mounted on the receptacle and in communication with the receptacle.

10. The communications card as in claim 8, wherein the light source comprises:

an opening formed in the receptacle;

a light emitter disposed a distance from the opening on the receptacle; and

a conduit extending between the light emitter and the opening in the receptacle, the conduit being configured to channel light from the light emitter to the opening on the receptacle.

11. The communications card as in claim 8, wherein the light source comprises:

a light emitting diode (LED) disposed a distance from the receptacle; and

a conduit having a first end and an opposing second end, the first end of the conduit forming a portion of the modular jack bounding the receptacle, the second end of the conduit being disposed adjacent to the LED.

12. The communications card as in claim 8, wherein the first outer surface and the second outer surface of the modular jack comprise generally solid planar surfaces that prevent any portion of the RJ series connector plug front extending through the first outer surface or the second outer surface.

13. The communications card as in claim 8, wherein the first outer surface of the modular jack is a generally solid, planar surface that is generally aligned with the top surface of the housing and the second outer surface of the modular jack is a generally solid, planar surface that is generally aligned with the bottom surface of the housing.

14. The communications card as in claim 8, wherein the receptacle includes an upper inner surface and a lower inner surface that are separated by a distance that is generally equal to or less than about 10.1 mm.

15. The communications card as in claim 10, wherein the receptacle is sized and configured to receive a RJ-11 connector plug.

16. The communications card as in claim 10, wherein the conduit comprises a light pipe.

17. The communications card as in claim 11, wherein the conduit comprises a light pipe.

18. An electrical connector comprising:

a communications card including a housing with an upper surface and two side walls, the upper surface and the side walls forming a cavity;

a circuit board disposed within the cavity of the housing;

one or more electrical contacts disposed on the circuit board;

a modular jack coupled to the housing of the communications card, the modular jack including a first outer surface, a second outer surface and a front surface, the first outer surface and the second outer surface being separated by a distance of about 10.5 mm or less, the modular jack being electrically connected to the one or more electrical contacts disposed on the circuit board;

a receptacle in the modular jack that is sized aid configured to receive a RJ series connector plug along a generally longitudinal axis such that no portion of the plug extends through either the first outer surface or the second outer surface of the modular jack when the plug is inserted into the receptacle;

a light emitter disposed in electrical communication with the circuit board; and

a conduit having a first end in communication with the light emitter and a second end in communication the receptacle such that at least a portion of the receptacle is capable of being illuminated with light;

wherein the first outer surface and the second outer surface do not include a cutout that is configured to allow a biased clip of the plug to protrude through the outer surfaces.

19. The electrical connector as in claim 18, wherein the light emitter comprises a light emitting diode (LED).

20. The electrical connector as in claim 18, wherein the conduit comprises a light pipe.

21. The electrical connector as in claim 18, wherein the PC card is a Type III PCMCIA card and the modular jack is configured to receive a RJ-type plug.

22. The electrical connector as in claim 18, wherein at least one of the ends of the conduit has a substantially concave face.

23. The electrical connector as in claim 18, wherein the first end of the conduit is aligned with an opening formed in the modular jacks the opening communicating with the receptacle in the modular jack.

24. The electrical connector as in claim 18, wherein the first end of the conduit forms at least a portion of the modular jack bounding the receptacle.

25. The electrical connector as in claim 18, wherein the receptacle of the modular jack is configured to receive a RJ-type plug.