Compact serial-to-ethernet conversion port
DCFirst Claim
1. A modular communications jack comprising:
- a. a housing including an open cavity and an interior chamber, said open cavity and said interior chamber being segregated;
b. a connector port having a plurality of electrical contacts positioned within said open cavity; and
c. at least two circuit boards in common electrical communication positioned in spaced relation within said interior chamber and in electrical communication with said electrical contacts of said connector port, each of said circuit boards having opposed sides wherein electrical circuitry components are disposed on said circuit boards and on each of said opposed sides of at least one of said circuit boards.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a serial-to-ethernet modular converter jack and a method of fabricating of the same. The serial-to-ethernet converter electronic components, including the control software stored in on-board memory, are miniaturized and housed entirely in an RJ-45 jack. The present invention is constructed of a shielded housing that defines an open front portion for a connector port. The housing of the present invention also includes a segregated interior chamber, which encases all of the electrical components necessary to complete a serial-to-ethernet conversion of data. Lead pins electrically connected to the circuitry within the interior chamber, protrude from the based of the connector jack providing for a means to mate the jack to a circuit board. First, second and third circuit boards collectively incorporate the serial-to-ethernet circuitry components. Both the first circuit board incorporating magnetic circuitry and the second circuit board incorporating control circuitry are positioned in generally horizontal parallel relation within the interior chamber. The second circuit board which defines opposed sides includes electronic components disposed upon the upper and lower of both sides of said second circuit board. The third circuit board, incorporating connections to the LEDs, is positioned generally perpendicular in relation to the first and second circuit boards and is structurally connected to said first and second circuit boards, additionally providing an electrical connection between the first and second boards. Alternative embodiments of the invention are disclosed and include various arrangement of the serial-to-ethernet circuitry within the interior chamber of the housing.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. A modular communications jack comprising:
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a. a housing including an open cavity and an interior chamber, said open cavity and said interior chamber being segregated;
b. a connector port having a plurality of electrical contacts positioned within said open cavity; and
c. at least two circuit boards in common electrical communication positioned in spaced relation within said interior chamber and in electrical communication with said electrical contacts of said connector port, each of said circuit boards having opposed sides wherein electrical circuitry components are disposed on said circuit boards and on each of said opposed sides of at least one of said circuit boards. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A serial-to-ethernet converter jack comprising:
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a. a housing including an open cavity and an interior chamber, said open cavity and said interior chamber being segregated;
b. a connector port having a plurality of electrical contacts positioned within said open cavity; and
c. at least one circuit board disposed within said interior chamber in electrical communication with said electrical contacts of said connector port, said at least one circuit board including a controller block for performing serial-to-ethernet data conversion;
wherein said converter jack is a modular component which is capable of electrical connection to a circuit board or another electronic component. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of forming an integrated communications jack comprising the steps of:
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a. providing a housing having an open cavity and an interior chamber that is segregated from said open cavity, said housing having a height and a width that are substantially equal to the height and the width of a standard RJ-45 jack;
b. positioning an array of electrical contacts within said open cavity to form a standard RJ-45 connector port;
c. positioning at least two circuit boards within said interior chamber, at least one of said circuit boards including a controller that is configured to convert Ethernet data to serial data; and
d. electrically interconnecting said circuit boards to said electrical contacts of said connector port. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of forming an integrated serial-to-ethernet converter jack comprising the steps of:
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a. providing a housing having an open cavity and an interior chamber that is segregated from said open cavity, said housing having a height and a width that are substantially equal to the height and the width of a standard RJ-45 jack;
b. positioning an array of electrical contacts within said open cavity to form a standard RJ-45 connector port;
c. positioning at least one circuit board within said interior chamber, said at least one circuit board including a controller block for performing serial-to-ethernet data conversion; and
d. electrically interconnecting said circuit board to said electrical contacts of said connector port.
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20. A communication module for connecting an electronic component to a cable, the cable having a plug and for carrying Ethernet data, the communication module comprising:
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a port for receiving the plug of the cable;
an interface for connecting to the electronic component and for carrying serial data; and
a circuit in communication with the port and the interface, the circuit comprising a controller for converting Ethernet data received at the port to serial data. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. In combination, a communication module and an electronic component, the communication module for connecting the electronic component to a cable, the cable having a plug and for carrying Ethernet data, the combination comprising:
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an electronic component that is incapable of converting Ethernet data to serial data;
a communication module including;
a port for receiving the plug of the cable;
an interface connected to the electronic component and for carrying serial data; and
a circuit in communication with the port and the interface, the circuit comprising a controller for converting Ethernet data received at the port to serial data and for providing the serial data to the interface. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41)
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42. A method for forming a communication module for enabling an electronic component to be connected to an Ethernet cable, the electronic component being incapable of converting Ethernet data to serial data, the cable having a plug, the method comprising:
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providing a housing including;
a port for receiving the plug of the cable; and
an interface for connecting to the electronic component and for carrying serial data; and
providing a circuit including a controller that is configured to convert Ethernet data to serial data; and
connecting the circuit to the port and the interface.
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43. A method for enabling an electronic component to be connected to an Ethernet cable, the electronic component being incapable of converting Ethernet data to serial data, the cable having a plug, the method comprising:
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providing a communication module including;
a port for receiving the plug of the cable;
an interface for carrying serial data; and
a circuit in communication with the port and the interface that is configured to convert Ethernet data received at the port to serial data and to provide the serial data to the interface; and
connecting the interface to the electronic component.
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44. A method for connecting an electronic component to an Ethernet cable, the cable having a plug, the method comprising:
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providing a combination including;
an electronic component that is incapable of converting Ethernet data to serial data;
a communication module including;
a port for receiving the plug of the cable;
an interface connected to the electronic component and for carrying serial data; and
a circuit in communication with the port and the interface, the circuit including a controller for converting Ethernet data received at the port to serial data and for providing the serial data to the interface; and
connecting the plug of the cable to the port.
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Specification