Connector assembly with light source sub-assemblies and method of manufacturing

• US 6,773,298 B2
• Filed: 05/06/2002
• Issued: 08/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cantor Fitzgerald Securities (Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P.), Full Rise Electronic Company Limited (Technitrol Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Full Rise Electronic Company Limited (Technitrol Incorporated), Pulse Engineering Incorporated (Yageo Corporation)
• Inventors: Gutierrez, Aurelio J., Rong, Tsou Zheng
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Tulsidas C.
• Application Number:
  US10/140,422
• Publication Number:
  US 20030207622A1
• Time in Patent Office: 827 Days
• Field of Search: 439/490, 439/696, 439/676, 439/620
• 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

An improved connector assembly for use on, inter alia, a printed circuit board or other device is disclosed. The assembly comprises a connector housing having one or more modular plug recesses for receiving a modular plug such as an RJ-type plug; a plurality of conductors disposed within the recess for contact with the terminals of the modular plug; and an electrical pathway between the conductors and a corresponding set of circuit board leads. The connector assembly also includes at least one other recess for receiving a light source sub-assembly. Each light source sub-assembly provides one or more light sources (e.g., light-emitting diodes) adapted to permit viewing of status indications during operation. Each light source sub-assembly is constructed to substantially reduce electromagnetic coupling between the light source and the connector'"'"'s signal paths. The light source sub-assembly further simplifies the manufacturing of the connector assembly.

Claims

1. A connector assembly comprising:

at least one sub-assembly having;

at least one a light source having at least one electrode; and

at least one carrier element, said carrier element being adapted to receive at least a portion of said at least one electrode; and

a connector housing having;

a first recess adapt to receive at least a portion of a modular plug, said modular plug having a plurality of terminals disposed thereon;

at least one second recess adapted to receive at least a portion of said at least one sub-assembly via a front face of said housing;

a plurality of conductors, said plurality of conductors being at least partly disposed within said first recess, said conductors being configured to form electrical pathways between respective ones of said terminals of said modular plug and an external device when said modular plug is received within said first recess and said connector assembly is mated to said external device;

whereby when said at least one sub-assembly is inserted in said at least one second recess, said at least one electrode is positioned to be electrically mated with said external device.

2. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein said at least one light source comprises a light-emitting diode having two electrodes.

3. The connector assembly of claim 2, wherein said at least one carrier element receives at least a portion of each of said two electrodes.

4. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein said at least one second recess is disposed adjacent the sidewall of said connector housing proximate to said first recess.

5. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein said at least one carrier element is substantially planar, and said at least one light source is disposed offset from the plane of said at least one carrier element.

6. The connector assembly of claim 1, further comprising at least one electronic component dispqsed within at least one of said electrical pathways, said electrical component adapted to condition electrical signals flowing through said at least one pathway.

7. The connec tor assembly of claim 1, wherein said external device comprises a printed circuit board (PCB), and said electrical mating comprises placing said at least one electrode in electrical communication with corresponding ones of conductive traces of said PCB.

8. A connector assembly comprising:

at least one sub-assembly halving at least one a light source and at least one carrier element, said carrier element being adapted to receive at least a portion of said at least one light source; and

a connector housing having front face and at least one recess formed substantially within said front face, said at least one recess being adapted to receive at least a portion of said at least one sub-assembly via said front face;

whereby when said at least one sub-assembly is inserted in said recess, said at least one light source is positioned so as to be electrically coupled to an external device, and viewable from said front face of said housing.

9. The connector assembly of claim 8, wherein said at least one light source comprises an LED having a plurality of electrodes, and said electrical coupling comprises placing said electrodes in electrical communication with corresponding ones of conductive traces of said external device.

10. The connector assembly of claim 8, wherein said at least one carrier element comprises a substantially planar element, said planar element being received within said at least one recess in a vertical orientation.

11. The connector assembly of claim 10, wherein said at least one light source is disposed offset from the plane of said planar element.

12. The connector assembly of claim 8, wherein said at least one carrier element comprises top and bottom electrode portions and a central portion disposed therebetween.

13. A connector assembly comprising:

at least one sub-assembly having;

at least two light sources each having at least one electrode; and

at least one carrier element, said carrier element being adapted to receive at least a portion of said at least one electrode of said at least two light sources; and

a connector housing having;

a front face;

first and second port each adapted to receive at least a portion of a respective connector plug, said connector plugs each having a plurality of terminals disposed thereon, said first port being disposed substantially atop said second port; and

at least one recess adapted to receive at least a portion of said at least one sub-assembly;

whereby when said at least one sub-assembly is inserted into said at least one recess via said front face.

14. A connector assembly comprising:

at least one sub-assembly having;

at least two light source means each having at least one means for conducting electrical current; and

at least one carrier means, said carrier means being adapted to receive at least a portion of said at least one means for conducting of said at least two light source means; and

a means for supporting having;

a front face;

first and second ports each adapted to receive at least a portion of a respective connector plug, said connector plugs each having a plurality of conductive means disposed thereon, said first port being disposed substantially atop said second port; and

at least one recess adapted to receive at least a portion of said at least one sub-assembly;

whereby when said at least one sub-assembly is inserted into said at least one recess via said front face.

15. A modular connector assembly, comprising:

means for housing a plurality of components, said means for housing having a modular plug port and a first recess, both formed substantially in a front face thereof;

a signal path between said port and an external device to which said connector assembly is adapted to electrically interface with;

two means for generating light; and

means for aggregating said two means for generating light into a substantially unitary assembly;

wherein at least a portion of said substantially unitary assembly is received within said first recess primarily via said front face.

16. An electrical connector assembly, comprising:

a housing having a front face, said housing further comprising;

a plurality of modular jack ports formed at least partly within said front face, said ports each being adapted to receive a modular jack having a plurality of terminals;

first recesses disposed on both ends of said housing at least partly in said front face and proximate to respective ones of said ports, said first recesses adapted to each receive, at least partly via said front face, a light source therein; and

a plurality of second recesses disposed at least partly in said front face and substantially between adjacent ones of said plurality of ports, said second recesses adapted to receive a plurality of light sources therein;

first light sources with electrodes adapted for receipt within corresponding ones of said first recesses, said electrodes being adapted for mating with an external device;

first carriers adapted to be received within respective ones of said first recesses, said first carriers cooperating with said electrodes of respective ones of said first light sources to maintain said carriers and corresponding ones said first electrodes in a fixed relationship;

a plurality of sets of second light sources with electrodes, said sets each being received with respective ones of said plurality of second recesses, said electrodes being adapted for mating with said external device; and

a plurality of second carriers adapted to be received within respective ones of said plurality of second recesses, said second carriers cooperating with said electrodes of respective ones of said sets of second light sources to maintain said carriers and corresponding ones of said sets of second electrodes in a fixed relationship.

17. The connector assembly of claim 16, wherein said first and second light sources comprise LEDs having a viewing surface, each of said LEDs having two of said electrodes, said viewing surface of each of said LEDs being viewable from said front face when installed in said first and second recesses.

18. The connector assembly of claims 16, wherein said electrodes of said first and second light sources are disposed in substantially parallel vertical orientation within respective ones of said carriers.

19. The connector assembly of claim 18, wherein said first carriers each receive the electrodes of one light source, and said second carriers each receive the electrodes of two light sources.

20. The connector assembly of claim 17, wherein said sets of second light sources comprise two LEDs, the viewing surfaces of said two bEDs being juxtaposed with each other, and the electrodes of both sdid two LEDS being at least partly received within a single one of said second carriers.