Managed electrical connectivity systems

• US 9,437,990 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2015
• Issued: 09/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Taylor, Christopher Charles, Mattson, Loren J.
• Primary Examiner(s): DINH, PHUONG K
• Application Number:
  US14/809,789
• Publication Number:
  US 20160056598A1
• Time in Patent Office: 407 Days
• Field of Search: 439/676, 439/955
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/703 operated by engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. dual-continuity coupling partH01R13/71 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7032 making use of a separate bridging element directly cooperating with the terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7033 making use of elastic extensions of the terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/64 for high frequency, e.g. RJ 45
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/00 Coupling parts adapted for simultaneous co-operation with two or more identical counterparts, e.g. for distributing energy to two or more circuits supported only by co-operation with a counterpart H01R31/00; with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/88

Abstract

A receptacle block defines at least one socket at which a plug connector may be received. First contact members extend into each socket to receive a primary signal from a plug connector. Second contact members extend into one or more of the sockets to read physical layer information from any plug connector inserted into the socket. A sensing contact is positioned to electrically connect to one of the second contact members when a plug connector is inserted into the respective socket. At least a portion of the sensing contact is flexible to follow the movement of the one second contact member. In certain implementations, the second contact members have resilient sections that are identical to each other.

Claims

1. A receptacle block comprising:

a block housing defining at least one socket configured to receive a plug;

a plurality of first contact members partially disposed within each socket, each of the first contact members being electrically conductive; and

at least a first media reading interface positioned at the block housing, the first media reading interface including a plurality of electrically conductive second contact members and an electrically conductive, elongated contact;

the second contact members being partially disposed within the socket, each of the second contact members being electrically isolated from the first contact members, and each of the second contact members having a contact surface that is movable between a raised position and a depressed position; and

the elongated contact being physically separate and electrically isolated from the second contact members when the contact surfaces of the second contact members are in the raised positions, the elongated contact having a deflecting section that extends between a mounting section and a swiping section, the elongated contact extending laterally across the second contact members so that the swiping section is aligned with a first of the second contact members and the deflecting section extends across a remainder of the second contact members so that movement of the contact surfaces of the second contact members to the depressed positions causes the first of the second contact members to engage the swiping section of the sensing contact and the remainder of the second contact members to maintain physical separation and electrical isolation from the elongated contact.

2. The receptacle block of claim 1, further comprising a printed circuit board coupled to at least some of the second contact members.

3. The receptacle block of claim 1, wherein the first contact members include RJ-45 pin members.

4. The receptacle block of claim 1, wherein the first media reading interface is not coupled to the block housing.

5. The receptacle block of claim 1, wherein the plurality of second contact members includes at least four contact members.

6. The receptacle block of claim 5, wherein the plurality of second contact members includes five contact members.

7. The receptacle block of claim 1, wherein the block housing defines a plurality of sockets, each socket receiving a respective plurality of first contact members and a respective media reading interface.

8. The receptacle block of claim 1, wherein the first media reading interface includes a support body to which the second contact members and the elongated contact couple.

9. The receptacle block of claim 1, wherein the swiping section of the elongated contact is configured to move between an unflexed position and a flexed position when the first of the second contact members moves between the raised position and the depressed position.

10. The receptacle block of claim 1, wherein the contact surfaces of the second contact members are laterally aligned with each other.

11. A media reading interface comprising:

a support body defining a deflection cavity elongated along a cavity axis;

an elongated contact extending between a first end and a second, the first end being secured to the support body within the deflection cavity, the second end being movable within the deflection cavity between an undeflected position and a deflected position; and

a plurality of contact elements mounted to the support body, each of the contact elements being electrically conductive, each of the contact elements being elongated along an axis transverse to the cavity axis, each of the contact elements including a mounting section secured to the support body and a contacting section movable relative to the mounting section between a raised position and a lowered position, each of the contact elements being physically separated and electrically isolated from the elongated contact when in the raised position, the contact elements being positioned and arranged on the support body so that only a first of the contact elements touches the elongated contact when the contact elements are in the lowered positions.

12. The media reading interface of claim 11, wherein the support body defines contact slots in which the contact elements are positioned.

13. The media reading interface of claim 11, wherein the elongated contact includes a pin configured to couple the elongated contact to a printed circuit board.

14. The media reading interface of claim 13, wherein the pin extends downwardly in line with the mounting section of the elongated contact.

15. The media reading interface of claim 14, wherein the elongated contact has a circumferential edge that extends between opposite planar surfaces, the planar surfaces defining a “

4”

shape.

16. The media reading interface of claim 13, wherein the swiping section of the sensing contact is shorter than the mounting section.

17. The media reading interface of claim 11, wherein a portion of the elongated contact extends outwardly from the deflection cavity and outside the support body.

18. The media reading interface of claim 11, wherein a portion of each of the contact elements of the plurality extends outwardly from the support body.

19. The media reading interface of claim 11, wherein each of the contact elements of the plurality is secured to the support body at a central region of the support body.

20. The media reading interface of claim 11, wherein the elongated contact has a circumferential edge that extends between opposite planar surfaces, the planar surfaces defining a “

4”

shape.