RJ-45-compatible communication connector with contacts having wider distal ends

• US 9,118,134 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2014
• Issued: 08/25/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panduit Corporation
• Original Assignee: Panduit Corporation
• Inventors: Babu, Surendra Chitti, Patel, Satish I., Fransen, Robert E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Prasad, Chandrika
• Application Number:
  US14/186,697
• Publication Number:
  US 20140248807A1
• Time in Patent Office: 550 Days
• Field of Search: 439/676
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/26 Pin or blade contacts for sliding co-operation on one side only for modular jack type connectors H01R24/62
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6461 Means for preventing cross-talk
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6474 by variation of conductive properties, e.g. by dimension variations
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2107/00 Four or more poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/00 Two-part coupling devices, or either of their cooperating parts, characterised by their overall structure contact members H01R13/02; securing contact members in or to a base or case or insulating of contact members H01R13/40; bases or cases H01R13/46; means for supporting coupling part when not engaged H01R13/60; means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts or for holding them in engagement H01R13/62; means for preventing, inhibiting or avoiding incorrect coupling H01R13/64
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/64 for high frequency, e.g. RJ 45
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 27/00 Coupling parts adapted for co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts for dissimilar contact members H01R13/35; supported only by co-operation with a counterpart H01R31/00; with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/90

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to communication connectors and internal components thereof. In one embodiment, the present invention is a communication jack comprising back-rotated plug interface contacts having variable cross-sectional widths. In another embodiment, the present invention is a communication jack having back-rotated plug interface contacts where at least two of the plug interface contacts have a differing beam length. In yet another embodiment, the present invention is a communication jack having back-rotated plug interface contacts where at least two of the plug interface contacts have opposing bends in a deflection zone.

Claims

1. An RJ45-compatible communication connector comprising:

a housing with an aperture for receiving a plug; and

a plurality of plug interface contacts (PICs) at least partially received in said aperture, said plurality of plug interface contacts including respective ends proximal said aperture, said plurality of plug interface contacts having respective ends distal said aperture, said distal ends fixed within said connector, said proximal ends rotating relative to said distal ends, wherein at least some of said plurality of plug interface contacts have a wider distal end than said proximal end, and wherein at least some of the plurality of plug interface contacts with said wider distal end include a cutout in said wider distal end.

2. The RJ45-compatible communication connector of claim 1, wherein at least some of said plurality of plug interface contacts have variation in cross-section while maintaining uniform coupling between predetermined PICs.

3. The RJ45-compatible communication connector of claim 1, wherein at least some of the plurality of plug interface contacts include an upside down U shape in said wider distal end.

4. The RJ45-compatible communication connector of claim 3, wherein said wider distal end distributes mechanical stresses over said upside down U shape.

5. The RJ45-compatible communication connector of claim 1, wherein at least some of the plurality of plug interface contacts include an upside down U shape with beneficial coupling between predetermined PICs.

6. A communication system comprising:

communication equipment; and

an RJ45-compatible communication connector connected to said communication equipment, said communication connector including a housing with an aperture for receiving a plug, a plurality of plug interface contacts (PICs) at least partially received in said aperture, said plurality of plug interface contacts including respective ends proximal said aperture, said plurality of plug interface contacts having respective ends distal said aperture, said distal ends fixed within said connector, said proximal ends rotating relative to said distal ends, wherein at least some of said plurality of plug interface contacts have a wider distal end than said proximal end, and wherein at least some of the plurality of plug interface contacts with said wider distal end include a cutout in said wider distal end.

7. The communication system of claim 6, wherein at least some of said plurality of plug interface contacts have variation in cross-section while maintaining uniform coupling between predetermined PICs.

8. The communication system of claim 6, wherein at least some of the plurality of plug interface contacts include an upside down U shape in said wider distal end.

9. The communication system of claim 8, wherein said wider distal end distributes mechanical stresses over said upside down U shape.

10. The communication system of claim 6, wherein at least some of the plurality of plug interface contacts include an upside down U shape with beneficial coupling between predetermined PICs.

11. An RJ45-compatible communication connector comprising:

a housing with an aperture for receiving a plug; and

a plurality of plug interface contacts (PICs) at least partially received in said aperture, said plurality of plug interface contacts including respective ends proximal said aperture, said plurality of plug interface contacts having respective ends distal said aperture, said distal ends fixed within said connector, said proximal ends rotating relative to said distal ends, said distal end being hemmed.

12. An RJ45-compatible communication connector comprising:

a housing with an aperture for receiving a plug;

a vertically positioned printed circuit board (PCB); and

a plurality of plug interface contacts (PICs) at least partially received in said aperture, each of said PICs having a portion proximal said aperture, a portion distal said aperture, and a plug contact zone between said proximal portion and said distal portion, said distal portion being fixed within said PCB at one of a first height or a second height, said first height being higher than said second height relative to a height of said PCB, wherein at least one PIC has an upper section of respective said distal portion that extends above said first height, and wherein at least one other PIC has a lower section of respective said distal portion that extends below said second height.

13. The RJ45-compatible communication connector of claim 12, wherein said at least one PIC that has said upper section of respective said distal portion extending above said first height further has a middle section that extends below a height of respective said plug contact zone.

14. The RJ45-compatible communication connector of claim 13, wherein a cross-sectional width of said middle section is wider than a cross-sectional width of respective said plug contact zone, and wherein said middle section includes a cutout.

15. The RJ45-compatible communication connector of claim 13, wherein said middle section comprises an arc shape.

16. The RJ45-compatible communication connector of claim 12, wherein said upper section comprises an upside down U shape when viewed from a side.

17. The RJ45-compatible communication connector of claim 12, wherein a cross-sectional width of said upper section is wider than a cross-sectional width of respective said plug contact zone.

18. The RJ45-compatible communication connector of claim 12, wherein said lower section comprises an arc shape.