COMMUNICATION CONNECTORS HAVING SWITCHABLE ELECTRICAL PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS

• US 20140315436A1
• Filed: 03/12/2014
• Published: 10/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Poulsen, Jeffrey Alan, Hammond, Gregory, Riley, Jon Clark, Marti, Franklin Conrad
• Granted Patent: US 9,413,121 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/620.23
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/659 with plural ports for distinct connectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6658 on printed circuit board H01R13/6666 - H01R13/6691 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/70 with built-in switch
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/71 Contact members of coupling parts operating as switch , e.g. linear or rotational movement required after mechanical engagement of coupling part to establish electrical connection
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/64 for high frequency, e.g. RJ 45
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 29/00 Coupling parts for selective co-operation with a counterpart in different ways to establish different circuits, e.g. for voltage selection, for series-parallel selection, programmable connectors

Abstract

A connector configured to operate in two different electrical performance modes. The connector may include a plurality of connector contacts, a plurality of contact pads, and an insulator having an insulating portion adjacent the plurality of contact pads. The insulator is movable between an insulating position and a non-insulating position. When the insulator is in the insulating position, the insulating portion insulates the plurality of contact pads from the plurality of connector contacts and the connector operates in a first one of the electrical performance modes. When the insulator is in the non-insulating position, the plurality of connector contacts contact the plurality of contact pads and the connector operates in a different second one of the electrical performance modes. The connector may be implemented as a plug or an outlet.

Claims

1. A connector for use with a cable comprising a plurality of wires, the connector comprising:

a plurality of connector contacts;

a plurality of wire contacts, each of the plurality of wire contacts being couplable to a corresponding one of the plurality of wires;

a plurality of circuit paths, a different one of the plurality of circuit paths connecting each of the plurality of connector contacts to a different one of the plurality of wire contacts;

a plurality of contact pads, the plurality of contact pads comprising a different contact pad corresponding to each of the plurality of connector contacts, at least a portion of the plurality of contact pads being connected to one or more coupling elements, each of the plurality of connector contacts being positioned to contact the contact pad corresponding to the connector contact; and

an insulator comprising an insulating portion adjacent the plurality of contact pads, the insulator being movable between an insulating position and a non-insulating position, the insulating portion of the insulator insulating the plurality of contact pads from the plurality of connector contacts when the insulator is in the insulating position, the plurality of connector contacts contacting the plurality of contact pads when the insulator is in the non-insulating position.

2. The connector of claim 1 for use with a first corresponding connector configured to mate with the connector to form a connection therewith, wherein the insulator further comprises an actuator portion configured to move the insulator from a first one of the insulating position and the non-insulating position to a different second one of the insulating position and the non-insulating position,

the actuator portion being configured to automatically transition the insulator when the first corresponding connector is mated with the connector.

3. The connector of claim 2 for use with a second corresponding connector configured to mate with the connector to form a connection therewith, the second corresponding connector comprising at least one aperture configured to receive the actuator portion of the insulator when the second corresponding connector is mated with the connector, wherein the first corresponding connector presses against the actuator portion when the first corresponding connector is mated with the connector thereby causing the actuator portion to transition the insulator, and

when the actuator portion is received inside the at least one aperture of the second corresponding connector, the second corresponding connector avoids pressing against the actuator portion and thereby avoids causing the actuator portion to transition the insulator.

4. The connector of claim 1, wherein the insulator further comprises an actuator portion,

the connector further comprises at least one biasing member exerting a biasing force on the insulator, the biasing force being sufficient to bias the insulator into a first one of the insulating position and the non-insulating position, and

the actuator portion is configured to receive sufficient force to overcome the biasing force and move the insulator from the first one of the insulating position and the non-insulating position to a second different one of the insulating position and the non-insulating position.

5. The connector of claim 4, further comprising:

a housing comprising an exit aperture, the housing being configured to house the plurality of connector contacts, the plurality of wire contacts, the plurality of circuit paths, the plurality of contact pads, and at least a portion of the insulator, the actuator portion extending outwardly from inside the housing through the exit aperture.

6. The connector of claim 5 for use with a corresponding connector configured to mate with the connector to form a connection therewith, the corresponding connector comprising a sidewall defining a receptacle configured to receive a portion of the connector when the connector and the corresponding connector are mated, wherein the actuator portion is pressed against the sidewall of the corresponding connector when the portion of the connector is received inside the receptacle of the corresponding connector, the pressing exerting sufficient force on the actuator portion to overcome the biasing force and move the insulator to the second different one of the insulating position and the non-insulating position.

7. The connector of claim 4 for use with a corresponding connector configured to mate with the connector to form a connection therewith, the connector further comprising:

a housing comprising a receptacle configured to receive at least a portion of the corresponding connector, the housing being configured to house the plurality of connector contacts, the plurality of wire contacts, the plurality of circuit paths, the plurality of contact pads, and at least a portion of the insulator, the actuator portion of the insulator being positioned inside the receptacle.

8. The connector of claim 1, further comprising:

a substrate, the plurality of contact pads and the one or more coupling elements being positioned on the substrate.

9. The connector of claim 8, wherein the substrate comprises a slot, and the insulator comprises a guide projection configured to be received within the slot.

10. The connector of claim 8, wherein the plurality of connector contacts are connected to the substrate,

the plurality of wire contacts are positioned on the substrate, and

the plurality of circuit paths are positioned on the substrate.

11. The connector of claim 8, wherein the substrate is a first substrate,

the connector further comprises a second substrate,

the plurality of connector contacts are connected to the second substrate,

the plurality of wire contacts are positioned on the second substrate, and

the plurality of circuit paths are positioned on the second substrate

12. The connector of claim 1, wherein the plurality of connector contacts, the plurality of wire contacts, and the plurality of circuit paths are configured to carry a plurality of differential signals at a data rate of up to about 40 Gigabits per second and an operating frequency of up to about 2 Gigahertz.

13. The connector of claim 1, wherein the plurality of connector contacts comprise a plurality of frame spades.

14. A communication outlet for use with a first communication plug comprising a plurality of plug contacts, the first communication plug being configured to operate in accordance with a first standard, and a second communication plug comprising a plurality of plug contacts, the second communication plug being configured to operate in accordance with a second standard, the first standard being different from the second standard, the outlet comprising:

a receptacle configured to receive both the first and second communication plugs one at a time;

a coupling element subassembly configured to provide noise compensation in accordance with the first standard;

a plurality of outlet contacts positioned in the receptacle to form electrical connections with the plurality of plug contacts of the first communication plug when the first communication plug is received inside the receptacle, and to form electrical connections with the plurality of plug contacts of the second communication plug when the second communication plug is received inside the receptacle; and

a switch assembly configured to connect the plurality of outlet contacts with the coupling element subassembly when the first communication plug is inserted into the receptacle, and disconnect the plurality of outlet contacts from the coupling element subassembly when the second communication plug is inserted into the receptacle.

15. The outlet of claim 14, wherein the switch assembly automatically connects the plurality of outlet contacts with the coupling element subassembly when the first communication plug is inserted into the receptacle, and automatically disconnects the plurality of outlet contacts from the coupling element subassembly when the second communication plug is inserted into the receptacle.

16. The outlet of claim 14, wherein the outlet is a registered jack 45 type outlet, and the first standard is Category 1, Category 2, Category 3, Category 4, Category 5, Category 5e, Category 6, or Category 6A.

17. A communication plug for use with a first communication outlet comprising a receptacle with a plurality of outlet contacts, the first communication outlet being configured to operate in accordance with a first standard, and a second communication outlet comprising a receptacle with a plurality of outlet contacts, the second communication outlet being configured to operate in accordance with a second standard, the first standard being different from the second standard, the plug comprising:

a housing having a portion configured to be received inside the receptacle of first communication outlet, the housing being further configured to be received inside the receptacle of the second communication outlet;

a coupling element subassembly configured to provide electrical coupling in accordance with the first standard;

a plurality of plug contacts positioned inside the housing, a portion of each of the plurality of plug contacts being contactable through apertures in the housing (1) with the plurality of outlet contacts of the first communication outlet when the plug is received inside the receptacle of the first communication outlet, and (2) with the plurality of outlet contacts of the second communication outlet when the plug is received inside the receptacle of the second communication outlet; and

a switch assembly configured to connect the plurality of plug contacts with the coupling element subassembly when the plug is inserted into the receptacle of the first communication outlet, and disconnect the plurality of plug contacts from the coupling element subassembly when the plug is inserted into the receptacle of the second communication outlet.

18. The plug of claim 17, wherein the plurality of plug contacts comprise a plurality of frame spades.

19. The plug of claim 17, wherein the switch assembly automatically connects the plurality of outlet contacts with the coupling element subassembly when the first communication plug is inserted into the receptacle, and automatically disconnects the plurality of outlet contacts from the coupling element subassembly when the second communication plug is inserted into the receptacle.

20. The plug of claim 17, wherein the plug is a registered jack 45 type plug, and the first standard is Category 1, Category 2, Category 3, Category 4, Category 5, Category 5e, Category 6, or Category 6A.

21. A communication outlet comprising:

a first electrical circuit portion comprising a plurality of outlet contacts; and

a second electrical circuit portion, the second electrical circuit portion being selectively connectable to the first electrical circuit portion, and selectively disconnectable from the first electrical circuit portion, the outlet operating in a first electrical performance mode when the second electrical circuit portion is disconnected from the first electrical circuit portion, and the outlet operating in a different second electrical performance mode when the second electrical circuit portion is connected to the first electrical circuit portion.

22. The outlet of claim 21, further comprising:

a switch assembly configured to selectively connect the second electrical circuit portion to the first electrical circuit portion, and selectively disconnect the second electrical circuit portion from the first electrical circuit portion.

23. The outlet of claim 22 for use with a first communication plug comprising a plurality of plug contacts, the first communication plug operating in the first electrical performance mode, and a second communication plug comprising a plurality of plug contacts, the second communication plug operating in the second electrical performance mode, the outlet further comprising:

a receptacle configured to receive both the first and second communication plugs one at a time, the plurality of outlet contacts being positioned in the receptacle to form electrical connections with the plurality of plug contacts of the first communication plug when the first communication plug is received inside the receptacle, and to form electrical connections with the plurality of plug contacts of the second communication plug when the second communication plug is received inside the receptacle, wherein;

the switch assembly is further configured to automatically connect the second electrical circuit portion to the first electrical circuit portion when the first communication plug is inserted into the receptacle, together the outlet and the first communication plug exhibiting a first mated electrical performance in accordance with a first standard, and

the switch assembly is further configured to automatically disconnect the second electrical circuit portion from the first electrical circuit portion when the second communication plug is inserted into the receptacle, together the outlet and the second communication plug exhibiting a second mated electrical performance in accordance with a second standard.

24. A communication plug comprising:

a first electrical circuit portion comprising a plurality of plug contacts; and

a second electrical circuit portion, the second electrical circuit portion being selectively connectable to the first electrical circuit portion, and selectively disconnectable from the first electrical circuit portion, the plug operating in a first electrical performance mode when the second electrical circuit portion is disconnected from the first electrical circuit portion, and the plug operating in a different second electrical performance mode when the second electrical circuit portion is connected to the first electrical circuit portion.

25. The plug of claim 24, further comprising:

a switch assembly configured to selectively connect the second electrical circuit portion to the first electrical circuit portion, and selectively disconnect the second electrical circuit portion from the first electrical circuit portion.

26. The plug of claim 25 for use with a first communication outlet comprising a receptacle with a plurality of outlet contacts, the first communication outlet operating in the first electrical performance mode, and a second communication outlet comprising a receptacle with a plurality of outlet contacts, the second communication outlet operating in the second electrical performance mode, the plug further comprising:

a housing having a portion configured to be received inside the receptacle of first communication outlet, the housing being further configured to be received inside the receptacle of the second communication outlet, a portion of each of the plurality of plug contacts being contactable through apertures in the housing (1) with the plurality of outlet contacts of the first communication outlet when the plug is received inside the receptacle of the first communication outlet, and (2) with the plurality of outlet contacts of the second communication outlet when the plug is received inside the receptacle of the second communication outlet;

wherein the switch assembly is further configured to automatically connect the second electrical circuit portion to the first electrical circuit portion when the plug is inserted into the receptacle of the first communication outlet, together the plug and the first communication outlet exhibiting a first mated electrical performance in accordance with a first standard, and

the switch assembly is further configured to automatically disconnect the second electrical circuit portion from the first electrical circuit portion when the plug is inserted into the receptacle of the second communication outlet, together the plug and the second communication outlet exhibiting a second mated electrical performance in accordance with a second standard.