Modular insert and jack including moveable reactance section

• US 7,976,348 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2009
• Issued: 07/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Legrand DPC LLC (Legrand SA)
• Original Assignee: Ortronics Incorporated (Legrand SA)
• Inventors: Aekins, Robert A., Martich, Mark E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel; T C
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, PHUONGCHI T
• Application Number:
  US12/576,376
• Publication Number:
  US 20100062644A1
• Time in Patent Office: 641 Days
• Field of Search: 439/676, 439/941, 439/620.11, 439/620.17, 439/620.23
• US Class Current: 439/676
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6464 by adding capacitive elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6466 on substrates, e.g. printed circuit boards [PCB]
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6473 Impedance matching
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6625 with capacitive component
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/64 for high frequency, e.g. RJ 45
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/941 Crosstalk suppression

Abstract

Compensation schemes for a modular jack are provided according to the present disclosure. The compensation schemes advantageously include a first coupling of compensating crosstalk between a first pair of conductors and a second pair of conductors and a second coupling of compensating crosstalk between only a first conductor of the first pair of conductors and only a first conductor of the second pair of conductors, wherein the first and second couplings of compensating crosstalk are of opposite polarities. In exemplary embodiments, the first coupling of compensating crosstalk may be provided by a circuit board, such as a flexible circuit board including a plurality of interconnection elements, e.g., capacitors, for providing the first coupling of compensating crosstalk. Alternatively, the first coupling of compensating crosstalk may be provided by a plurality of plug interface contacts associated with the first and second pairs of conductors. Similarly, the second coupling of compensating crosstalk may be provided either by a circuit board associated with the first and second pairs of conductors or by a plurality of rear wire connection terminals associated with the first and second pairs of conductors.

Claims

1. A jack assembly, comprising:

a jack housing defining a plug-receiving space; and

an insert device positioned within the jack housing, the insert device including;

an insert support member;

a plurality of plug interface contacts mounted with respect to the insert support member, wherein at least one plug interface contact of the plurality thereof includes a first length extent extending along a first axial path and defining a first reaction surface that includes a first electrically conductive surface; and

a reactance unit including a reactance circuit at least partially disposed within the plug-receiving space of the jack housing and operable to at least one of reduce and compensate for noise associated with signals conducted by the plug interface contacts of the plurality thereof, the reactance circuit further including a printed circuit board having an interconnection section including a plurality of interconnection elements and an end section including a plurality of capacitive elements in electrical communication with the interconnection elements of the plurality thereof, wherein at least one interconnection element of the plurality thereof defines a second reaction surface that includes a second electrically conductive surface;

wherein in response to a mating plug being received in the plug receiving space of the jack housing, the insert device is operable to move the reactance circuit, including the interconnection section of the printed circuit board and the end section of the printed circuit board, relative to the at least one plug interface contact, and relative to the insert support member, by sliding the second reaction surface across the first reaction surface along an axial direction corresponding to the first axial path, and to press the second electrically conductive surface against the first electrically conductive surface with a force sufficient to preserve direct electrical communication between the reactance circuit and the at least one plug interface contact;

the jack assembly further including;

first and second pairs of conductors associated with the plurality of plug interface contacts;

a first coupling of compensating crosstalk between the first pair of conductors and the second pair of conductors, wherein the first coupling of compensating crosstalk is provided by the reactance circuit; and

a second coupling of compensating crosstalk between only a first conductor of the first pair of conductors and only a first conductor of the second pair of conductors.

2. The jack assembly of claim 1, further comprising a circuit board associated with the first and second pairs of conductors and electrically connected to each of the insert device and a plurality of rear wire connection terminals, wherein the jack housing further includes a rear terminal housing that defines a plurality of terminal slots for accessing the rear wire connection terminals, the terminal slots including partitions extending to the circuit board, thereby independently encasing each rear wire connection terminal.

3. The jack assembly of claim 1, wherein the partitions are beveled and dimensioned so as to maintain a spaced relation between the partitions and top parts of shoulders of the rear wire connection terminals.

4. The jack assembly of claim 1, wherein the insert device is operable to move the reactance circuit relative to the at least one plug interface contact at least in part by causing the reactance circuit to rotate one of clockwise and counterclockwise in response to the at least one plug interface contact is rotating the other of clockwise and counterclockwise.

5. The jack assembly of claim 1, wherein the insert device is operable to move the reactance circuit relative to the at least one plug interface contact at least in part by causing the reactance circuit to translate vertically upward in response to the at least one plug interface contact translating vertically downward.

6. The jack assembly of claim 1, wherein the insert device is operable to move the reactance circuit relative to the at least one plug interface contact at least in part by causing the reactance circuit to rotate vertically upward and rearward in response to the at least one plug interface contact rotating vertically downward.

7. The jack assembly of claim 1, wherein the reactance unit includes a frame for supporting the reactance circuit relative to the at least one plug interface contacts, the frame including a base securely mounted with respect to the housing and a plurality of flexible support elements receiving cantilever-type support from the base and extending outward therefrom, each flexible support element being operable to support an individual one of the at least one interconnection element.

8. The jack assembly of claim 7, wherein each flexible support element terminates in a rounded distal tip, and wherein each individual one of the at least one interconnection element is form bent to conform to a shape of the rounded distal tip of the corresponding flexible support element.

9. A method for reducing near end crosstalk (NEXT) between adjacent first and second pairs of conductors in a jack assembly, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a first coupling of compensating crosstalk between the first pair of conductors and the second pair of conductors; and

providing a second coupling compensating crosstalk between only a first conductor of the first pair of conductors and only a first conductor of the second pair of conductors,

wherein the first and second couplings of compensating crosstalk are of opposite polarities.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the providing the first coupling of compensating crosstalk includes moving a plurality of plug interface contacts associated with the first and second pairs of conductors and a reactance circuit relative to one another, whereby an electrically conductive surface associated with the plurality of plug interface contacts is pressed against an electrically conductive surface associated with the reactance circuit with a force sufficient to preserve direct electrical communication between the plug interface contacts and the reactance circuit, wherein the reactance circuit includes a plurality of interconnection elements for providing the first coupling of compensating crosstalk.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the second coupling of compensating crosstalk is provided by one of:

(i) a circuit board associated with the first and second pairs of conductors and including an interconnection element for providing the second coupling of compensating crosstalk, (ii) a plurality of rear wire connection terminals associated with the first and second pairs of conductors, and (iii) a combination of the foregoing.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising providing a third coupling of compensating crosstalk between only a second conductor of the first pair of conductors and only a second conductor of the second pair of conductors at a distinct physical location,

wherein the second and third couplings of compensating crosstalk are of the same polarities.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the first coupling of compensating crosstalk is provided by one of:

(i) a circuit board associated with the first and second pairs of conductors and including a plurality of interconnection elements for providing the first coupling of compensating crosstalk, and (ii) a plurality of plug interface contacts associated with the first and second pairs of conductors.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the second coupling of compensating crosstalk is provided by a circuit board associated with the first and second pairs of conductors and including an interconnection element for providing the second coupling of compensating crosstalk, and wherein the third coupling of compensating crosstalk is provided by a plurality of rear wire contact terminals associated with the first and second pairs of conductors.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising providing a third coupling of compensating crosstalk between only the first conductor of the first pair of conductors and only the first conductor of the second pair of conductors at a distinct physical location,

wherein the second and third couplings of compensating crosstalk are of the same polarities.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the second coupling of compensating crosstalk is provided by a circuit board associated with the first and second pairs of conductors and including an interconnection element for providing the second coupling of compensating crosstalk, and wherein the third coupling of compensating crosstalk is provided by a plurality of rear wire contact terminals associated with the first and second pairs of conductors.

17. A jack assembly including means for reducing near end crosstalk (NEXT) between adjacent first and second pairs of conductors, the jack assembly comprising:

first and second pairs of conductors;

a first coupling of compensating crosstalk between the first pair of conductors and the second pair of conductors; and

a second coupling of compensating crosstalk between only a first conductor of the first pair of conductors and only a first conductor of the second pair of conductors,

wherein the first and second couplings of compensating crosstalk are of opposite polarities.

18. The jack assembly of claim 17, further comprising a plurality of plug interface contacts associated with the first and second pairs of conductors and a reactance circuit including a plurality of interconnection elements for providing the first coupling of compensating crosstalk, wherein the plurality of plug interface contacts and the reactance circuit are movable relative to one another, whereby an electrically conductive surface associated with the plurality of plug interface contacts may be pressed against an electrically conductive surface associated with the reactance circuit with a force sufficient to preserve direct electrical communication between the plug interface contacts and the reactance circuit.

19. The jack assembly of claim 17, wherein the first coupling of compensating crosstalk is provided by one of:

(i) a circuit board associated with the first and second pairs of conductors and including a plurality of interconnection elements for providing the first coupling of compensating crosstalk, and (ii) a plurality of plug interface contacts associated with the first and second pairs of conductors.

20. The jack assembly of claim 17, wherein the second coupling of compensating crosstalk is provided by one of:

(i) a circuit board associated with the first and second pairs of conductors and including an interconnection element for providing the second coupling of compensating crosstalk, (ii) a plurality of rear wire connection terminals associated with the first and second pairs of conductors, and (iii) a combination of the foregoing.

21. The jack assembly of claim 17, further comprising a third coupling of compensating crosstalk between only a second conductor of the first pair of conductors and only a second conductor of the second pair of conductors at a distinct physical location,

wherein the second and third couplings of compensating crosstalk are of the same polarities.

22. The jack assembly of claim 21, wherein the second coupling of compensating crosstalk is provided by a circuit board associated with the first and second pairs of conductors and including an interconnection element for providing the second coupling of compensating crosstalk and wherein the third coupling of compensating crosstalk is provided by a plurality of rear wire contact terminals associated with the first and second pairs of conductors.

23. The jack assembly of claim 17, further comprising a third coupling of compensating crosstalk between only the first conductor of the first pair of conductors and only the first conductor of the second pair of conductors at a distinct physical location,

wherein the second and third couplings of compensating crosstalk are of same polarities.

24. The jack assembly of claim 23, wherein the second coupling of compensating crosstalk is provided by a circuit board associated with the first and second pairs of conductors and including an interconnection element for providing the second coupling of compensating crosstalk and wherein the third coupling of compensating crosstalk is provided by a plurality of rear wire contact terminals associated with the first and second pairs of conductors.