Patch panel frame for circuit board module

• US 10,418,764 B2
• Filed: 08/05/2015
• Issued: 09/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Molex LLC (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Molex LLC (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Baines, Elliot A., Schneider, Gene, Frederiksen, Bjarne, Rivers, Philip, Panella, Augusto
• Primary Examiner(s): Leon, Edwin A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jeancharles, Milagros
• Application Number:
  US15/501,359
• Publication Number:
  US 20170229825A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,504 Days
• Field of Search: 439344
• 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 13/518 for holding or embracing several coupling parts, e.g. frames
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6275 Latching arms not integral with the housing H01R13/6276, H01R13/6277, H01R13/6278 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/665 with built-in electronic circuit H01R13/70, H01R13/719 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7175 Light emitting diodes (LEDs)
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/74 Means for mounting coupling parts in openings of a panel
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2107/00 Four or more poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/64 for high frequency, e.g. RJ 45
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/006 the coupling part being secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. duplex wall receptacle

Abstract

An improved patch panel assembly includes a frame and faceplate that mate with a housing, and the housing defines a plurality of individual communication ports. The housing is mounted to the patch panel frame and includes jack openings that accommodate data jacks and circuit board openings that accommodate mating blades of circuit boards. The two sets of openings are separated on the housing by an intervening spacing and interposer terminal sets are provided to electrically interconnect the jacks with circuits on the circuit boards. The patch panel housings may be formed in discrete groupings so that, if desired, the patch panels may have ports that are grouped together by bandwidth, storage capability and the like. Inasmuch as the housings are mounted to the patch panel frames, the jacks and the circuit boards can be easily and individually replaced, repaired or upgraded with similar components without requiring disassembly of the patch panel.

Claims

1. A modular patch panel assembly for a computer network, the assembly comprising:

a panel frame, the panel frame including an associated face plate, the face plate including a plurality of lengthwise slots;

a plurality of housing members, the plurality being no greater in number than a number of face plate slots, each housing member including an array of jack openings, each jack opening receiving a plurality of data jacks therein, each jack opening defining a plurality of individual ports for the computer network, each housing member further including a circuit board opening and an array of conductive terminals, the circuit board opening receiving a mating edge of a circuit board therein, each of the array of conductive terminals being disposed on the housing member and extending between one jack opening and one circuit board opening;

at least two circuit boards, each circuit board including at least one mating blade and contact pads, each mating blade received within one circuit board opening, the contact pads being contacted by tails of the conductive terminals; and

a plurality of data jacks, each jack being received within one jack opening, each jack including an outer shell, a plurality of first terminals and a plurality of exterior terminals, the outer shell enclosing a plurality of interior terminals for mating with an opposing plug, each first terminal mating with wires of a network cable, each exterior terminal operatively connecting the interior and first terminals to the conductive terminals, wherein the outer shells are conductive and the exterior terminals are isolated from contact therewith.

2. The patch panel assembly of claim 1, wherein each jack opening includes a latch member, the latch member retaining a single jack therein, each jack further includes at least one catch, each catch disposed on the outer shell of the jack, each catch being engaged by the latch member when said jack is fully inserted into said jack opening.

3. The patch panel assembly of claim 2, wherein the face plate further includes a plurality of longitudinal slots, the latch members extending into the slots, whereby a tool may be inserted into the slots to release the latch members from engagement therewith.

4. The patch panel assembly of claim 1, wherein the first terminals are IDT terminals.

5. The patch panel assembly of claim 1, wherein the conductive terminals include spring ends, the spring ends accommodating dimensional and/or alignment variations in the jacks and the circuit boards.

6. The patch panel assembly of claim 1, wherein the circuit boards may be removed and replaced from the housing members without terminating new cables to the jacks.

7. A modular patch panel assembly for a computer network, the assembly comprising:

a panel frame, the panel frame including an associated face plate, the face plate including a plurality of lengthwise slots;

a plurality of housing members, the plurality being no greater in number than a number of face plate slots, each housing member including an array of jack openings, each jack opening receiving a plurality of data jacks therein, each jack opening defining a plurality of individual ports for the computer network, each housing member further including a circuit board opening and an array of conductive terminals, the circuit board opening receiving a mating edge of a circuit board therein, each of the array of conductive terminals being disposed on the housing member and extending between one jack opening and one circuit board opening;

at least two circuit boards, each circuit board including at least one mating blade and contact pads, each mating blade received within one circuit board opening, the contact pads being contacted by tails of the conductive terminals; and

a plurality of data jacks, each jack being received within one jack opening, each jack including an outer shell, a plurality of first terminals and a plurality of exterior terminals, the outer shell enclosing a plurality of interior terminals for mating with an opposing plug, each first terminal mating with wires of a network cable, each exterior terminal operatively connecting the interior and first terminals to the conductive terminals, further including indicator switch assemblies disposed within each jack, the switch assemblies transmitting operational status signals under pressure of the plug, the plug being fully inserted into the jack.

8. The patch panel assembly of claim 7, wherein the first terminals are IDT terminals and portions of the switch assemblies urge the fully-inserted plugs into jack cavities, the jack cavities being disposed against the interior terminals.