Receptacle and plug interconnect module with integral sensor contacts
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An interconnect module connector assembly comprising:
- a housing having a receptacle jack therein, said receptacle jack being configured to receive a plug, said housing having a sensor channel associated with said receptacle jack; and
a discrete sensor contact having retention prongs extending from sides thereof, said prongs retaining said contact in said sensor channel wherein said contact is individually removable from said sensor channel, said sensor contact being located adjacent said receptacle jack, said sensor contact aligning with, and configured to directly engage, a sensor probe associated with a plug insertable into said receptacle jack and also configured to directly engage a sensor wire for monitoring the presence or absence of an electrical connection to said receptacle jack, said sensor contact thereby directly connecting the sensor probe to said sensor wire without utilizing a separate connecting component.
12 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A connector assembly is provided having a plug with a sensor probe extending therefrom and a housing having a receptacle jack therein. The receptacle jack is configured to receive the plug, and the housing has a sensor channel associated with the receptacle jack. A sensor contact is retained in the sensor channel and located adjacent the receptacle jack. The sensor contact is aligned with, and engages, the sensor probe when the plug is inserted into the receptacle jack.
166 Citations
27 Claims
-
1. An interconnect module connector assembly comprising:
-
a housing having a receptacle jack therein, said receptacle jack being configured to receive a plug, said housing having a sensor channel associated with said receptacle jack; and
a discrete sensor contact having retention prongs extending from sides thereof, said prongs retaining said contact in said sensor channel wherein said contact is individually removable from said sensor channel, said sensor contact being located adjacent said receptacle jack, said sensor contact aligning with, and configured to directly engage, a sensor probe associated with a plug insertable into said receptacle jack and also configured to directly engage a sensor wire for monitoring the presence or absence of an electrical connection to said receptacle jack, said sensor contact thereby directly connecting the sensor probe to said sensor wire without utilizing a separate connecting component. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. An interconnect module connector assembly comprising:
-
a housing having at least one receptacle jack extending therefrom, and at least one sensor channel formed therein proximate said receptacle jack, said sensor channel extending along a first axis; and
at least one discrete sensor contact having a body insertable into said sensor channel, said body comprising a sensor pad an insulated displacement contact (IDC) portion and an intermediate portion formed therebetween, said intermediate portion being retained in said sensor channel wherein said at least one discrete contact is individually removable from said housing, said sensor pad being located proximate said receptacle jack along a second axis which is different from said first axis, said sensor pad being configured to engage a sensor probe of a plug that is insertable into said receptacle jack in a direction parallel to said first axis. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. An interconnect module electrical connector assembly comprising:
-
a face plate with a plurality of receptacle jacks formed therein, each of said plurality of receptacle jacks being configured to hold signal contacts that are configured to join with signal contacts in an adjoining plug;
a plurality of sensor blocks extending from a rear side of said face plate, each of said sensor blocks including a sensor channel opening through a slot onto said face plate, said slot extending parallel to a surface of said face plate and said channel extending substantially perpendicular to a surface of said face plate; and
a plurality of discrete sensor contacts, one of said sensor contacts extending through a respective one of said slots and corresponding to each of said receptacle jacks, each of said sensor contacts having a wire engaging end configured to be joined with a sensor wire extending in a direction transverse to said channel, said wire engaging end extending in said channel and said contact individually removable from said face plate while other of said sensor contacts are retained to said housing, said sensor contact having a plug engaging end extending in said slot and configured to engage a plug when inserted into a corresponding one of said receptacle jacks, thereby establishing an electrical connection between the plug and said sensor wire to monitor the presence or absence of an electrical connection between the plug and the corresponding receptacle jack, said electrical connection established without a separate connector element. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
-
Specification