Compliant communications connectors
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a communications card;
a cavity of the communications card;
a removable unit insertable into the cavity;
a receptacle module coupled with the removable unit;
a receptacle of the receptacle module to receive a plug having a biased clip; and
a cavity of the removable unit;
wherein the receptacle module comprises an extendable and retractable receptacle module to extend out of and retract into the cavity of the removable unit.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for conveying signals between a communications card and a signal utilization device or network. In one form (FIGS. 1,2), structures are provided for receiving one or more RJ series plugs and for making electrical connection with at the contacts on the plug and conveying any signals on the contacts to a communications device such as a telephone, facsimile machine, modem, or a local area network adapter. A body (102) includes one or more recesses (106) which receive the plug. An expandable and stretchable membrane (114) isolates the contacts in the plug from electrical contact with an object in a surrounding environment such that passage of current from one or more of the electrical contacts to an object present in the surrounding environment is prevented. Also provided (FIGS. 7, 14) is a replaceable direct access arrangement (151, 258) which is replaceably held within the communications device (150, 250). Both the structures providing the receptacles and the direct access arrangement are easily removable in case of damage or if other functions are desired. The replaceable direct access arrangement allows operation in countries having different telecommunications standards and allows operation with many different communications devices. Alternative structures for allowing connection to RJ series plugs are described. Wireless communication structures are also described.
-
Citations
47 Claims
-
1. An apparatus comprising:
-
a communications card;
a cavity of the communications card;
a removable unit insertable into the cavity;
a receptacle module coupled with the removable unit;
a receptacle of the receptacle module to receive a plug having a biased clip; and
a cavity of the removable unit;
wherein the receptacle module comprises an extendable and retractable receptacle module to extend out of and retract into the cavity of the removable unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. An apparatus comprising:
-
a communications card;
a cavity of the communications card;
a removable unit insertable into the cavity;
a receptacle module coupled with the removable unit;
a receptacle of the receptacle module to receive a plug having a biased clip, wherein the receptacle comprises an RJ-xx series receptacle; and
a member covering an end of the receptacle, wherein the member comprises an expandable member. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. An apparatus comprising:
-
a communications card having a length, width, and thickness that each substantially comply with a corresponding PCMCIA standard length, width, and thickness;
a cavity of the communications card;
a plurality of connector pins at a rear end of the cavity of the communications card;
a removable unit insertable into the cavity of the communications card, the removable unit including a DAA;
a plurality of connector sockets at a rear end of the removable unit connected with the plurality of connector pins to electrically connect the removable unit and the card;
a cavity of the removable unit;
an extendable and retractable receptacle module coupled with the removable unit to extend out of and retract into the cavity of the removable unit;
an electrical connector at a rear of the receptacle module to electrically connect the receptacle module with the removable unit; and
a receptacle of the receptacle module to receive a plug having a biased clip. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
-
-
16. An apparatus comprising:
-
a lap top computer containing a Flash memory and a PCMCIA slot;
a communications card insertable into the slot to be electrically coupled with the lap top computer;
a cavity of the communications card;
a removable unit insertable into the cavity of the communications card;
a receptacle module coupled with the removable unit;
a receptacle of the receptacle module to receive a plug having a biased clip; and
a cavity of the removable unit;
wherein the receptacle module comprises an extendable and retractable receptacle module to extend our of and retract into the cavity of the removable unit. - View Dependent Claims (17)
-
-
18. An apparatus comprising:
-
a removable unit to be inserted into a cavity of a communications card that complies with a PCMCIA standard length, width, and height;
a receptacle module coupled with the removable unit;
a receptacle of the receptacle module to receive a plug having a biased clip;
a cavity of the removable unit; and
wherein the receptacle module comprises an extendable and retractable receptacle module to extend out of and retract into the cavity of the removable unit. - View Dependent Claims (19)
-
-
20. An apparatus comprising:
-
a removable unit to be inserted into a cavity of a communications card that complies with a PCMCIA standard length, width, and height;
a receptacle module coupled with the removable unit;
a receptacle of the receptacle module to receive a plug having a biased clip; and
an expandable member including an elastic material covering an end of the receptacle.
-
-
21. An apparatus comprising:
-
a receptacle module to couple with a communication device, the communication device having a dimension that complies with a PCMCIA standard dimension;
a receptacle of the receptacle module to receive a plug having a biased clip; and
an expandable member including an elastic material attached to the receptacle module and enclosing an end of the receptacle. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
-
-
41. An apparatus comprising:
-
a lap top computer containing a Flash memory and a PCMCIA slot;
a communications device inserted into the slot and electrically coupled with the lap top computer;
a receptacle module coupled with the communication device;
a receptacle of the receptacle module to receive a plug having a biased clip; and
an expandable member including an elastic material attached to the receptacle module and enclosing an end of the receptacle. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
a PCMCIA compliant communications card having a cavity; and
a removable unit including a DAA circuit inserted in the cavity.
-
-
46. The apparatus of claim 41, further comprising an antenna attached to the receptacle module.
-
47. The apparatus of claim 41, further comprising a memory card slot of the communication device to removeably receive a memory card.
Specification