Managed electrical connectivity systems

• US 9,595,797 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2015
• Issued: 03/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Taylor, Christopher Charles, White, Gordon John, Hoath, Alastair, Coffey, Joseph C., Mattson, Loren J., Sand, Duane R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Riyami, Abdullah
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, HARSHAD C
• Application Number:
  US14/733,063
• Publication Number:
  US 20150270662A1
• Time in Patent Office: 645 Days
• Field of Search: 439/676, 439/620.21, 439/620, 439/12, 439/620.22, 439/622.24
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/721 cooperating directly with the edge of the rigid printed circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/436 Securing a plurality of contact members by one locking piece or operation
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/514 composed as a modular blocks or assembly, i.e. composed of co-operating parts provided with contact members or holding contact members between them
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/58 Means for relieving strain on wire connection, e.g. cord grip , for avoiding loosening of connections between wires and terminals within a coupling device terminating a cable for flat or ribbon cables H01R12/771
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/629 Additional means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. aligning or guiding means, levers, gas pressure electrical locking indicators, manufacturing tolerances separate tools or apparatus H01R43/26
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/62933 Comprising exclusively pivoting lever
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/665 with built-in electronic circuit H01R13/70, H01R13/719 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7031 Shorting, shunting or bussing of different terminals interrupted or effected on engagement of coupling part, e.g. for ESD protection, line continuity
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7032 making use of a separate bridging element directly cooperating with the terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2107/00 Four or more poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/04 for network, e.g. LAN connectors
• 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 27/02 for simultaneous co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/2416 the contact members having insulation-cutting edges, e.g. of tuning fork type
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/205 with a panel or printed circuit board
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/24 Assembling by moulding on contact members
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/03 Power distribution arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/136 having patch field management or physical layer management arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/144 Plugs used in distribution frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/149 : Wireguides in connector blocks
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13349 : Network management
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49146 : with encapsulating, e.g., potting, etc.
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49208 : by assembling plural parts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4922 : with molding of insulation

Abstract

A connector arrangement includes a plug nose body; a printed circuit board positioned within a cavity of the plug nose body; and a plug cover that mounts to the plug nose body to enclose the printed circuit board within the cavity. The printed circuit board includes a storage device configured to store information pertaining to the electrical segment of communications media. The plug cover defines a plurality of slotted openings through which the second contacts are exposed. A connector assembly includes a jack module and a media reading interface configured to receive the plug. A patch panel includes multiple jack modules and multiple media reading interfaces.

Claims

1. A connector arrangement comprising:

a plug nose body having a first side and an opposite second side, the first side of the plug nose body being configured to hold a plurality of first contacts that are electrically connected to conductors of an electrical segment of communications media, the second side of the plug nose body defining a cavity;

a circuit board positioned within the cavity of the plug nose body, the circuit board including a storage device configured to store information pertaining to the electrical segment of communications media, the storage device being electrically connected to a plurality of second contacts, the second contacts being configured to enable the stored information to be read from the storage device by a media reading interface; and

a plug cover member that encloses the circuit board within the cavity, the plug cover defining a plurality of slotted openings through which the second contacts are exposed.

2. The connector arrangement of claim 1, wherein the first contacts are arranged at a front end of the plug housing.

3. The connector arrangement of claim 2, further comprising a wire manager that couples to a rear of the plug nose body.

4. The connector arrangement of claim 3, further comprising a boot disposed at a rear of the wire manager.

5. The connector arrangement of claim 4, wherein the boot is integral with the wire manager.

6. The connector arrangement of claim 1, wherein the plug nose body includes a finger tab protruding from the second side of the plug nose body, the finger tab including a latch surface for latching to a connector assembly.

7. The connector arrangement of claim 6, wherein the finger tab is disposed rearwardly of the cavity.

8. The connector arrangement of claim 1, wherein the circuit board defines a first side and a second side, the first side including the second contacts and the second side including the storage device, the second contacts being electrically coupled to the storage device.

9. The connector arrangement of claim 8, wherein the second side of the circuit board is located opposite the first side.

10. The connector arrangement of claim 8, wherein the storage device includes an EEPROM.

11. The connector arrangement of claim 8, wherein the plug nose body includes support members disposed in the cavity to define guide grooves along which the printed circuit board slides during insertion into the cavity.

12. The connector arrangement of claim 1, wherein the circuit board is configured to slide relative to the plug nose body when inserted into the cavity.

13. The connector arrangement of claim 1, wherein the plug cover member has a top wall covering a top of the cavity and a front wall covering a front of the cavity.

14. The connector arrangement of claim 13, wherein the slotted openings extend through both the top wall and the front wall.

15. The connector arrangement of claim 1, wherein the plug cover member defines latch arms configured to latch within the cavity defined in the plug nose body.

16. The connector arrangement of claim 1, wherein the plug nose body is mounted to a unitary wire manager and strain-relief boot.

17. The connector arrangement of claim 1, wherein the plug cover member defines a key member that corresponds to a keyway of a connector assembly.

18. The connector arrangement of claim 1, wherein the plug cover member latches to the plug nose body to close the cavity.

19. The connector arrangement of claim 1, wherein the plug nose body is configured to be received in an RJ-45 jack.

20. The connector arrangement of claim 1, wherein an outer surface of the plug cover member is generally flush with an outer surface of the plug nose body.