Anti-crosstalk connector

• US 6,520,808 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2001
• Issued: 02/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nexans Cabling Solutions NV
• Original Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc. (ITT, Inc.)
• Inventors: Pinney, David Ralph, Forbes, Harry, Mackenzie, William Douglas
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, TULSIDAS C
• Application Number:
  US09/846,549
• Publication Number:
  US 20020019172A1
• Time in Patent Office: 663 Days
• Field of Search: 439/696, 439/941
• US Class Current: 439/676
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6464 by adding capacitive elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6474 by variation of conductive properties, e.g. by dimension variations
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6625 with capacitive component
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/62 Sliding engagements with one side only, e.g. modular jack coupling devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/2429 mounted in an insulating base
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/941 Crosstalk suppression

Abstract

A connector with at least two pairs of contacts is provided, wherein crosstalk between first and third contacts, which are separated by a second contact, is reduced by a lateral extension of the third contact. The lateral extension includes a suppressing section extending parallel and adjacent to the first contact, and a pair of connecting sections that each connects one end of the suppressing section to the rest of the third contact. This allows at least some current passing along the third contact, to pass through the suppressing section and induce anti-crosstalk currents in the first contact to counter crosstalk. At least one connecting section has a lengthening portion that increases its length to create a phase shift. The suppressing section has a minimal width compared to its height. For a stamped sheet metal contact, the width is less than twice the height to reduce capacitive coupling while maintaining inductive coupling.

Claims

1. A connector which includes a housing and a plurality of contacts mounted on said housing including first, second and third contacts, wherein said contacts have main portions that extend longitudinally and are spaced laterally, where said contacts each have a lateral width in a lateral direction and a thickness in a vertical direction, where said second contact lies laterally between said first and third contacts, and where there is crosstalk between said contacts and the connector is constructed to at least partially cancel said crosstalk, wherein:

said third contact has a main portion that is laterally spaced from said first and second contacts, and said third contact has an initial lateral extension that includes first and second connecting sections and an initial suppressing section extending between said connecting sections, said initial suppressing section extending parallel and adjacent to a section of said first contact, and said connecting sections of said third contact each connect an end of said suppressing section to a different part of said third contact main portion;

said connector includes a dielectric layer of small thickness lying between said suppressing section and said section of said first contact;

said first connecting section has a lengthening portion that lengthens a path of current flowing therealong;

said path of current flowing along said first connecting section has a length that is at least 110% of the direct lateral distance between said first and third contacts at a location where said first connecting section merges with said suppressing section and a location when said first connecting section merges with a part of said main portion of said third contact, to provide a longer current path to cause a phase delay.

2. The connector described in claim 1 wherein:

a first of said third contact main portion parts is a front part that extends in largely front and rear longitudinal directions, said front part having a rear end;

said first connecting section has a first connecting section part that extends largely in a first lateral direction from said front part rear end, a second connecting section part that extends primarily longitudinally frontward from said first connecting section part, and a third connecting section part that extends largely laterally from a front end of said second connecting section part to a front end of said suppressing section.

3. The connector described in claim 1 wherein:

each of said connecting sections forms a current path that is at least 110% of the direct lateral distance between said first and third contacts at corresponding locations where the corresponding connecting section merges with said suppression section and with the main portion of said third contact.

4. The connector described in claim 1 wherein:

said lengthening portion has a length at least 120% of said direct lateral distance.

5. The connector described in claim 1 wherein:

said contacts are each formed of sheet metal, said lateral extension and said section of said first contact lie in parallel horizontal planes that are spaced apart by less than the thickness of said sheet metal, and said current path length is at least 150% of said direct lateral distance.

6. The connector described in claim 1 wherein:

said contacts are formed of sheet metal;

of said section of said first contact and said suppressing section of said third contact, one of them has a predetermined thickness and has a width that is no more than twice said thickness.

7. The connector described in claim 1 wherein:

said suppressing section of said first contact has a predetermined thickness and has a width that is less than said thickness.

8. The connector described in claim 1 wherein said plurality of contacts includes at least a fourth and fifth contact, with said fourth contact lying laterally between said third and fifth contacts, and wherein:

said third contact has a secondary lateral extension with a secondary suppressing section extending parallel and adjacent to said fifth contact, with dielectric layer material between them, said secondary lateral extension having a pair of secondary connecting sections with said secondary connecting sections forming a current path that is at least 120% of the direct lateral distance between said third and fifth contacts.

9. A connector which includes a housing and a plurality of contacts mounted on said housing, wherein said contacts extend primarily longitudinally and are spaced apart laterally along most of their lengths, wherein said contacts each have a contact-section with a lateral width in a lateral direction and a thickness in a vertical direction, and wherein said plurality of contacts includes at least first, second and third contacts, where there is crosstalk between said first and third contacts, where most of said second contact lies laterally between said first and third contacts and wherein said connector is constructed to minimize crosstalk, wherein:

said third contact has a main portion and has a left lateral extension that includes a left suppressing section that extends parallel and adjacent to the contact section of said first contact, said lateral extension having opposite ends and a pair of connecting sections that each connects said third contact main portion to a corresponding end of said suppressing section;

a layer of dielectric material lying between said suppressing section and said first contact;

of said section of said first contact and said suppressing section, at least one of them has a width that is no more than twice its thickness along the entire length of the suppressing section, to thereby increase inductive coupling and reduce capacitive coupling.

10. The connector described in claim 9 wherein:

said contacts are formed of sheet metal with flat faces lying facewise against said dielectric material.

11. The connector described in claim 9 wherein:

said suppressing section has a width that is less than its thickness.

12. The connector described in claim 9 wherein:

a first of said connecting sections has a lengthening portion that is spaced from said first contact and that increases the length of a current path extending along first connecting section to at least 120% of the direct lateral distance between said first and third contacts where ends of said connecting section lie adjacent to said first and third contacts.

13. The connector described in claim 9 wherein:

said contacts are each formed of a piece of sheet metal that has been sheared from a larger piece of sheet metal, with each contact being of rectangular cross-section and having upper and lower surfaces that each has a width, and each contact having opposite sides that each has a height;

the width of each of said suppressing sections is no more than 180% of the height of the suppressing section.

14. The connector described in claim 9 wherein said plurality of contacts includes at least a fourth and fifth contact, with said fourth contact lying laterally between said third and fifth contacts, and wherein:

said third contact has a right lateral extension with a right suppressing section extending parallel and adjacent to a section of said fifth contact, with a second dielectric layer portion lying between said right suppressing section and said section of said fifth contact;

said right lateral extension including a pair of connecting sections that includes a first right connecting section that forms a current path that is at least 120% of the direct lateral distance between said third and fifth contacts at locations where said first right connection section merges with said right suppression section and with said main part of said third contact.

15. A connector which includes a housing and a plurality of contacts mounted on said housing, wherein said contacts are formed of sheet metal with top and bottom faces and extend primarily longitudinally and are primarily laterally spaced apart, as seen in a plan view, wherein said contacts each have a contact section with a lateral width in a lateral direction and a thickness in a vertical direction, and wherein said plurality of contacts includes at least three pairs of contacts, where there is crosstalk between a third contact and each of first and fifth contacts, where a second contact lies laterally between said first and third contacts and a fourth contact lies laterally between said third and fifth contacts, and where said connector is constructed to minimize crosstalk wherein:

said third contact has left and right lateral extensions that have connecting sections that respectively overlie said contact sections of said second and fourth contacts and that have suppressing sections that respectively extend parallel and adjacent to said first and fifth contact;

a first of said connecting sections of said left lateral extension has a fold-back part that extends primarily parallel to sections of said first and seconds contacts but that lies spaced and non adjacent to said first and second contacts and that is positioned to carry current in a direction primarily opposite to the direction of current flow through the suppressing section of said left lateral extension.

16. A connector which includes a housing and a plurality of contacts mounted on said housing, wherein said contacts extend primarily longitudinally and are primarily spaced laterally, as seen in a plan view, wherein said contacts each have a contact section with a lateral width in a lateral direction and a thickness in a vertical direction, and wherein said plurality of contacts includes at least three pairs of contacts, where there is crosstalk between a third contact and each of first and fifth contacts, where a second contact lies laterally between said first and third contacts and a fourth contact lies laterally between said third and fifth contacts, and where said connector is constructed to minimize crosstalk, wherein:

said third contact has left and right lateral extensions that have connecting sections that extend primarily laterally over said second and fourth contacts, respectively, and that have suppressing sections that extend parallel and adjacent to sections of said first and fifth contacts, respectively;

dielectric material lying between said extensions and said first, second, fourth, and fifth contacts;

of said suppressing sections and said contact sections of said first and fifth contacts, one has a width that is no more than twice its thickness along the entire length of the suppressing section, to maximize inductive coupling and minimize capacitive coupling.