Modular jack for type III PCMCIA cards
First Claim
1. An apparatus that allows a RJ series connector plug to be connected to an electronic device, the apparatus comprising:
- an electronic device including a housing;
a circuit board at least partially disposed within the housing of the electronic device;
an opening formed in the housing of the electronic device;
a modular jack that is sized and configured to be at least partially disposed in the opening in the housing, the modular jack being independent from and selectively removable from the housing so that the modular jack is capable of being quickly connected and disconnected from the housing, the modular jack including a main body portion with a top surface, a bottom surface, a front surface and a rear surface;
a receptacle located in the front surface of the modular jack that is sized and configured to receive the RJ series connector plug along a generally longitudinal axis;
one or more electrically conducting members at least partially disposed within the receptacle, the electrically conducting members being sized and configured to be in electrical communication with the RJ series connector plug when the plug is inserted into the receptacle; and
a rearwardly extending connector attached to the rear surface of the modular jack, the rearwardly extending connector being slidably connectable to the circuit board to allow direct electrical communication between the electrically conducting members in the modular jack and the circuit board.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The modular jack allows a RJ series connector plug to be attached to a communications card that conforms to the PCMCIA requirements for a Type III card. The modular jack includes a main body portion including a top surface, a bottom outer surface and a front surface. The receptacle is disposed entirely within the front surface of the modular jack such that no portion of the plug extends through either the top surface or the bottom surface of the main body portion of the modular jack. Thus, the modular jack allows the communications card to be connected to standard RJ series plugs without deviating from the Type III PCMCIA card height requirement, even when the plug is inserted into the jack. Desirably, the main body portion has a height measured from the top surface to the bottom surface that is generally equal to or less than about 10.5 mm. Additionally, the receptacle preferably 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. The modular jack may also include a latching area that securely holds the connector plug within the receptacle, but allows the connector plug to be removed from the receptacle without the user depressing a biased clip of the connector plug if a predetermined force is applied to a body of the connector plug.
74 Citations
37 Claims
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1. An apparatus that allows a RJ series connector plug to be connected to an electronic device, the apparatus comprising:
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an electronic device including a housing;
a circuit board at least partially disposed within the housing of the electronic device;
an opening formed in the housing of the electronic device;
a modular jack that is sized and configured to be at least partially disposed in the opening in the housing, the modular jack being independent from and selectively removable from the housing so that the modular jack is capable of being quickly connected and disconnected from the housing, the modular jack including a main body portion with a top surface, a bottom surface, a front surface and a rear surface;
a receptacle located in the front surface of the modular jack that is sized and configured to receive the RJ series connector plug along a generally longitudinal axis;
one or more electrically conducting members at least partially disposed within the receptacle, the electrically conducting members being sized and configured to be in electrical communication with the RJ series connector plug when the plug is inserted into the receptacle; and
a rearwardly extending connector attached to the rear surface of the modular jack, the rearwardly extending connector being slidably connectable to the circuit board to allow direct electrical communication between the electrically conducting members in the modular jack and the circuit board. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A communications card comprising:
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a housing;
a circuit board at least partially disposed within the housing, the circuit board including one or more electrical contacts;
an opening formed in the housing;
a modular jack that is sized and configured to be at least partially disposed in the opening in the housing, the modular jack being independent from and selectively removable from the housing so that the modular jack is capable of being quickly connected and disconnected from the housing, the modular jack including a top surface, a bottom surface, a front surface, and a rear surface;
a receptacle disposed in the front surface of the modular jack, the receptacle being sized and configured to receive a connector plug;
a connector attached to the rear surface of the modular jack, the connector being sized and configured to receive a portion of the circuit board disposed within the housing of the communications card to allow direct electrical communication to be established between the circuit board and the modular jack. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An electrical connector comprising:
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a communications card including a housing with a cavity;
a circuit board at least partially disposed within the cavity of the housing;
one or more electrical contacts disposed on the circuit board; and
a modular jack that is selectively removably attached to the housing of the communications card so that the modular jack is capable of being quickly connected and disconnected from the housing, the modular jack comprising;
a receptacle in the modular jack that is sized and configured to receive a RJ series connector plug;
one or more electrically conducting members at least partially disposed within the receptacle, the electrically conducting members being sized and configured to be in electrical communication with the RJ series connector plug when the plug is received into the receptacle; and
a connector attached to the modular jack that is sized and configured to be removably connected to the circuit board to allow direct electrical communication to be established between the modular jack and the circuit board. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A modular jack for connecting a connector plug to an electronic device, the modular jack being independent from and selectively removable from the electronic device so that the modular jack is capable of being quickly connected and disconnected from the electronic device, the modular jack comprising:
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a main body including a top surface, a bottom surface, a front surface and a rear surface;
a receptacle disposed in the front surface of the main body, the receptacle being sized and configured to receive a RJ series connector plug along a generally horizontal axis;
a rearwardly extending connector attached to the rear surface of the modular jack, the rearwardly extending connector including a socket that is sized and configured to removably receive a portion of a circuit board; and
a plurality of contact pins, each of the plurality of contact pins including a plug engaging portion that is at least partially disposed within the receptacle and a circuit board engaging portion that is at least partially disposed within the socket, the plurality of contact pins allowing electrical communication to be established between the receptacle and the circuit board. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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29. A communications card comprising:
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a housing including an upper surface, a lower surface, a front surface and a rear surface;
electronic circuitry disposed within the housing; and
a modular jack that is selectively removably attached to the housing of the communications card so that the modular jack is capable of being quickly connected and disconnected from the housing, the modular jack comprising;
a receptacle in the modular jack that is sized and configured to receive a RJ series connector plug;
one or more electrically conducting members at least partially disposed within the receptacle, the electrically conducting members being sized and configured to be in electrical communication with the RJ series connector plug when the plug is received into the receptacle; and
a connector attached to the modular jack that is sized and configured to be removably connected to the electronic circuitry disposed within the housing to allow direct electrical communication to be established between the electrically conducting members and the electronic circuitry. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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Specification