A connector jack usable with a plug having a plurality of plug contacts. The jack includes a body having a receptacle sized and configured to receive the plug therein, a circuit board, and a plurality of contact tines extending within the receptacle. Each tine has a first end fixedly attached to the circuit board and a second free end, and is positioned in the receptacle for contact by a corresponding one of the plug contacts and moved in response thereto in a first direction as the plug is inserted into the receptacle. The jack also includes a plurality of resilient spring members extending within the receptacle, each positioned adjacent to a corresponding one of the tines to be engaged thereby when moved in the first direction by the corresponding plug contact as the plug is inserted into the receptacle, and apply a supplemental force thereto to increase contact force and tine resiliency.
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0. 20. A connector jack, usable with a plug having a plurality of plug contacts, the jack comprising:
a body having a receptacle sized and configured to receive the plug therein;
a plurality of electrical conductors to be engaged by correspondingly positioned ones of the plug contacts when the plug is inserted into the receptacle; and
a plurality of resilient spring members, each configured to apply a reaction force to one of the electrical conductors when engaged by the correspondingly positioned plug contact in a direction to generate a contact force between the electrical conductor and the correspondingly positioned plug contact.
0. 28. A method of connecting a plug having a plurality of plug contacts to a connector jack, comprising:
inserting the plug into a body having a receptacle sized and configured to receive the plug therein;
bringing the plurality of plug contacts into electrical engagement with a corresponding plurality of electrical contacts positioned within the receptacle when the plug is inserted into the receptacle; and
deflecting a plurality of resilient spring members positioned in proximity with the plurality of electrical contacts to thereby generate a reaction force on the electrical contacts when engaged by the corresponding plug contacts.
0. 17. A connector jack, usable with a plug having at least one plug contact, the jack comprising:
a body having a receptacle sized and configured to receive the plug therein;
at least one electrical conductor having a contact portion within the receptacle positioned to be engaged by the at least one plug contact when the plug is inserted into the receptacle; and
a resilient spring member configured to apply a reaction force to the at least one electrical conductor when engaged by the at least one plug contact in a
direction to generate a contact force between the at least one electrical conductor and the at least one plug contact.
0. 29. A method of connecting a plug having at least one plug contact to a connector jack, comprising:
inserting the plug into a body having a receptacle sized and configured to receive the plug therein;
bringing the at least one plug contact into electrical engagement with at least one electrical contact positioned within the receptacle when the plug is inserted into the receptacle; and
deflecting at least one resilient spring member in proximity with the at least one electrical contact to thereby generate a reaction force on the at least one electrical contact in a direction toward the at least one plug contact when engaged by the at least one plug contact.
0. 14. A connector jack, usable with a plug having a plurality of plug contacts, the jack comprising:
a body having a receptacle sized and configured to receive the plug therein;
a plurality of contacts, each having a contact portion within the receptacle positioned to be engaged by a correspondingly positioned one of the plug contacts when the plug is inserted into the receptacle; and
a plurality of resilient spring members, each configured to apply a reaction force to one of the contacts when engaged by the correspondingly positioned plug contact in a direction to generate a contact force between the contact member and the correspondingly positioned plug contact.
12. A connector jack, usable with a plug having a plurality of plug contacts, the jack comprising:
a body having a receptacle sized and configured to receive the plug therein;
a plurality of contact tines, each having a contact portion within the receptacle positioned to be engaged by a correspondingly positioned ones one of the plug contacts when the plug is inserted into the receptacle; and
a plurality of resilient spring members, each configured to apply a reaction force to one of the contact tines when engaged by the correspondingly positioned plug contact in a direction to generate a supplemental contact force between the contact tine and the correspondingly positioned plug contact.
0. 26. A method of connecting a plug having a plurality of plug contacts to a connector jack, comprising:
inserting the plug into a body having a receptacle sized and configured to receive the plug therein;
bringing the plurality of plug contacts into electrical engagement with a corresponding plurality of electrical contacts positioned within the receptacle when the plug is inserted into the receptacle; and
applying, through a plurality of resilient spring members positioned within the receptacle in proximity with the plurality of electrical contacts, a force to one of the electrical contacts when engaged by the correspondingly positioned plug contact to thereby generate a contact force between the electrical contact and the correspondingly positioned plug contact.
0. 24. A connector jack, usable with a plug having a plurality of plug contacts, the jack comprising:
a body having a receptacle sized and configured to receive the plug therein;
a plurality of contact members extending within the receptacle with each in position for contact by a corresponding one of the plug contacts when the plug is in the receptacle; and
a plurality of resilient spring members extending within the receptacle and positioned adjacent to a corresponding one of the contact members to be engaged by the corresponding contact member when contacted by the corresponding plug contact when the plug is in the receptacle, each spring member being configured to apply a force against the corresponding contact member to produce a contact force between the corresponding contact member and plug contact when the plug is in the receptacle.
9. A connector jack, usable with a plug having a plurality of plug contacts, the jack comprising:
a body having a receptacle sized and configured to receive the plug therein;
a plurality of contact tines, each having a first side and an opposite second side, the first side of each contact tine having a contact portion within the receptacle positioned to be engaged by a correspondingly positioned one of the plug contacts when the plug is inserted into the receptacle; and
a plurality of resilient spring members, each positioned adjacent to the second side of a correspondingly positioned one of the contact tines, whereby the spring members corresponding to the contact tines engaged by the correspondingly positioned plug contacts each apply a reaction force to the corresponding engaged contact tine to generate a contact force between the corresponding engaged contact tine and the correspondingly positioned plug contact.
0. 25. A connector jack, usable with a plug having a plurality of plug contacts, the jack comprising:
a body having a receptacle sized and configured to receive the plug therein;
a plurality of contact members, each having a first side and an opposite second side, the first side of each contact tine having a contact portion within the receptacle positioned to be engaged by a correspondingly positioned one of the plug contacts when the plug is inserted into the receptacle; and
a plurality of resilient spring members, each positioned adjacent to the second side of a correspondingly positioned one of the contact members, whereby the spring members corresponding to the contact members engaged by the correspondingly positioned plug contacts each apply a reaction force to the correspondingly engaged contact member to generate a contact force between the
correspondingly engaged contact member and the correspondingly positioned plug contact.
6. A connector jack, usable with a plug having a plurality of plug contacts, the jack comprising:
a body having a receptacle sized and configured to receive the plug therein;
a plurality of contact tines extending within the receptacle with each in position for contact by a corresponding one of the plug contacts and movement in response thereto from a first position to a second position when the plug is in the receptacle; and
a plurality of resilient spring members extending within the receptacle and positioned adjacent to a corresponding one of the contact tines to be engaged by the corresponding contact tine when moved from the first position to the second position by the corresponding plug contact when the plug is in the receptacle, each spring member being configured to apply a force against the corresponding contact tine in a direction from the second position toward the first-position to produce a contact force between the corresponding contact tine and plug contact when the plug is in the receptacle.
4. A connector jack, usable with a plug having a plurality of plug contacts, the jack comprising:
a body having a receptacle sized and configured to receive the plug therein;
a plurality of contact tines, each with at least a portion thereof positioned within the receptacle to be contacted by a corresponding one of the plug contacts and moved in response thereto in a first direction as the plug is inserted into the receptacle, each contact tine being sufficiently resilient to produce a first contact force between the corresponding contact tine and plug contact in response to having been contacted and moved by the corresponding plug contact; and
a plurality of resilient spring members, each with at least a portion thereof positioned within the receptacle adjacent to a corresponding one of the contact tines to be engaged by the corresponding contact tine when moved in the first direction by the corresponding plug contact as the plug is inserted into the receptacle, each spring member being configured to apply a force on the corresponding contact tine to produce a second contact force between the corresponding contact tine and plug contact in addition to the first contact force in response to the corresponding contact tine having been contacted and moved in the first direction by the corresponding plug contact.
2. A connector jack, usable with a plug having a plurality of plug contacts, the jack comprising:
a body having a receptacle sized and configured to receive the plug therein;
a circuit board;
a plurality of contact tines extending within the receptacle, each having a first end fixedly attached to the circuit board and a second free end, the contact tines being positioned within the receptacle to be contacted by a corresponding one of the plug contacts and moved in response thereto in a first direction as the plug is inserted into the receptacle, each contact tine being sufficiently resilient to produce a first contact force between the corresponding contact tine and plug contact in response to having been contacted and moved in the first direction by the corresponding plug contact; and
a plurality of resilient, elongated spring members extending within the receptacle, each positioned adjacent to a corresponding one of the contact tines to be engaged by the corresponding contact tine when moved in the first direction by the corresponding plug contact as the plug is inserted into the receptacle, each spring member being configured to apply a force on the corresponding contact tine to produce a second contact force between the corresponding contact tine and plug contact in addition to the first contact force in response to the corresponding contact tine having been contacted and moved in the first direction by the corresponding plug contact.
1. A connector jack, usable with a plug having a plurality of plug contacts, the jack comprising:
a body having a receptacle sized and configured to receive the plug therein;
a circuit board positioned adjacent to the receptacle;
a plurality of contact tines, each having a first end fixedly attached to the circuit board, a second free end and a contact portion between the first and second ends, the tine contact portions being positioned within the receptacle to be contacted by a corresponding one of the plug contacts and moved in response thereto in a first direction as the plug is inserted into the receptacle, each tine being sufficiently resilient to produce a first force on the tine contact portion against the corresponding plug contact in response to having been moved in the first direction; and
a plurality of resilient, non-conductive elongated spring arms, each having an independently movable spring member portion within the receptacle positioned adjacent to a corresponding one of the tine contact portions to be engaged by the corresponding tine contact portion when moved, in the first direction by the corresponding plug contact as the plug is inserted into the receptacle, each spring arm being configured for the spring member portion thereof to apply a second force on the corresponding tine contact portion against the corresponding plug contact in response to having been moved in the first direction to produce a contact force between the corresponding tine contact portion and plug contact substantially equal to the sum of the first and second forces and to assist return movement of the corresponding tine contact portion in a second direction opposite the first direction when the plug is removed from the receptacle.
3. A connector jack, usable with a plug having a plurality of plug contacts, the jack comprising:
a body having a receptacle sized and configured to receive the plug therein;
a circuit board;
a plurality of contact tines, each having a first end fixedly attached to the circuit board, a second free end and a contact portion between the first and second ends, the contact portions each having a first side and an opposite second side, the contact tines extending within the receptacle and positioned for the first sides of the contact portions to be engaged by correspondingly positioned ones of the plug contacts to move the engaged contact tines in a first generally transverse direction when the plug is inserted into the receptacle, each contact tine being sufficiently resilient to produce a first force in a second direction opposite the first direction against the correspondingly positioned plug contact in response to being moved by the plug contact; and
a plurality of resilient spring members extending within the receptacle, each being adjacent to the second side of the contact portion of a correspondingly positioned one of the contact tines in position to be engaged thereby when the correspondingly positioned contact tine is moved in the first direction by the correspondingly positioned plug contact when the plug is inserted into the receptacle, the spring members each being configured to apply a second force against the correspondingly positioned contact tine in the second direction to produce a contact force between the engaged correspondingly positioned contact tine and the plug contact substantially equal to the sum of the first and second forces and to assist return movement of the engaged correspondingly positioned contact tine in the second direction when the plug is removed from the receptacle.
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0. 30. The method of
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The Category 6 jack is a receptacle that accepts a Category 6 plug, and is frequently used to electrically interconnect telecommunication equipment. There are several standards that dictate how the Category 6 jack is constructed and performs. Two of which are TIA/EIA (Telecommunications Industry Association/Electronic Industries Alliance) 568 B and FCC (Federal Communication Commission) part 68. The TIA standard is largely a cabling standard to allow for proper installation and performance criteria. The FCC standard is a legal standard that dictates physical characteristics of the plug and jack, such as form factor.
To meet jack performance requirements as dictated by the TIA standard, the tines of the jack must be as short as possible. To provide satisfactory electrical characteristics for the Category 6 jack, it is best that the tines be as short as possible. However, the shorter the tines the less resiliency will be demonstrated by the tines. This can create a problem when mating the Category 6 jack with a non-Category 6 plugs as required by the TIA standard discussed below.
In particular, the TIA standard requires the Category 6 jack be usable with legacy plugs (e.g., 6 position wide-2 contact plates or 6P-2C, 6 position wide-6 contact plates or 6P-6C, and so on). Such use can occur during testing after installation of Category 6 jacks when a test meter having an RJ-11 style plug (6P-4C) is plugged into one of the Category 6 jacks. Also, such use can occur when using a Category 6 jack to receive other style plugs, such as a typical phone plug (6P-2C) used for voice transmissions. When using these legacy plugs with the Category 6 jack, some of the tines of the jack encounter large amounts of deflection. While the tines of a Category 6 jack receiving a Category 6 plug usually experience a relatively small deflection, use of a legacy plug with the Category 6 jack may result in a much larger deflection. This is because the older style plugs do not have cut outs where there would be a recessed conductive plate or opening on an RJ45 style plug (Category 5, 5e or 6). However, to provide sufficient resiliency of the tines to allow such a large amount of deflection without permanent deformation, the tines must have a length so long that electrical performance is degraded.
The FCC standard specifies that the contact force between the Category 6 jack and plug when mated be a minimum of 100 grams (0.22 pounds). This is largely to ensure good electrical contact between the plug and the jack. If the Category 6 jack has tines long enough to provide the resiliency needed to accommodate legacy plugs without deformation, as discussed above, providing the necessary contact force becomes a problem since increasing the resiliency of the tine tends to cause the tine to generate lower contact force with the plug contact. The increased length also degrades electrical performance.
As such, it is desirable to provide a Category 6 jack with tines as short as possible to improve electrical performance of the jack, while still providing the resiliency to accommodate legacy plugs and the contact force needed to meet the TIA and FCC standards.
This invention relates to an electrical connector, and in particular, to a jack used for telecommunication equipment.
The present invention is embodied in a connector jack usable with a plug having a plurality of plug contacts. The jack includes a body having a receptacle sized and configured to receive the plug therein, a plurality of contact tines, each having a contact portion within the receptacle positioned to be engaged by a corresponding positioned one of the plug contacts when the plug is inserted into the receptacle, and a plurality of resilient spring members. Each of the spring members is configured to apply a reaction force to one of the contact tines when engaged by the correspondingly positioned plug contact in a direction to generate a supplemental contact force between the contact tine and the correspondingly positioned plug contact.
In the illustrated embodiment, the contact tines each having a first side and an opposite second side, with the first side of each contact tine having a contact portion within the receptacle positioned to be engaged by the correspondingly positioned one of the plug contacts when the plug is inserted into the receptacle. Each spring member is positioned adjacent to the second side of a correspondingly positioned one of the contact tines. The spring members each have at least a portion positioned within the receptacle and adjacent to the second side of the correspondingly positioned one of the contact tines.
In the illustrated embodiment, each spring member is configured to apply a force against the corresponding contact tine when in a deflected position sufficient to at least assist in moving the corresponding contact tine to a return position when the plug is removed from the receptacle.
Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
An embodiment of a Category 6 RJ series electrical connector jack 10 of the present invention is illustrated in
As shown in
When the printed circuit board 24 has the tines 14 and the IDCs 30 attached, a spring assembly 32 is mounted to the printed circuit board 24 in position below the tines as shown in FIG. 3. As best seen in
The receptacle 16 of the body 12 has a forward facing opening 35 in a forward end 36 of the body 12 which is sized to pass the plug 18 therethrough as it is inserted into the receptacle. As shown in
The tines 14 are laterally spaced apart so that one tine is contacted by a correspondingly positioned one of the plug contacts 20 when the plug 18 is inserted into the receptacle 16. The contact of the plug contacts 20 with the tines 14 moves the contacted tines in a generally downward direction, with a small rearward component, as the tines flex downward in response thereto. Each of the tines 14 is sufficiently resilient to produce a first generally upward force on the tine against the corresponding plug contact 20 in response thereto. This serves as a contact force between the tine and the plug contact to help provide good electrical contact. However, as discussed above, it is desirable to keep the tines 14 as short as possible to improve electrical performance of the jack, while still providing sufficient resiliency to accommodate legacy plugs and the contact force needed to meet the FCC standards. To do so, the spring assembly 32 is positioned below the tines 14, as best seen in
The spring assembly 32 includes eight resilient, non-conductive spring arms 44, each positioned immediately under a correspondingly positioned one of the tines 14. A head portion 45 of each spring arm 44 is in contact with an underside of the tine opposite the side of the tine contacted by the plug contact 20. The spring arms 44 extend forward from a spring assembly base 46, with a slight upward slant, and have a knee bend whereat the spring arms project generally upward and rearward and terminate in a free end portion including the head portion 45. Each of the spring arms 44 is positioned to have the head portion 45 thereof engaged by and move downward with the correspondingly positioned tine 14 as the tine moves downward when the plug 18 is inserted into the receptacle 16. The spring arm head portion 45 moves downward with a small rearward component since the tine deflects with an arcuate movement.
The spring arms are 44 laterally separated from each other by a small distance. As such, each of the spring arms 44 is independently movable relative to the other ones of the spring arms, and each spring arm provides a second generally upward force on the correspondingly positioned tine which is transmitted to the plug contact 20 contacting the tine. This creates a supplemental upward force that causes an increased contact force between the tine and the plug contact (generally the sum of the first and second upward forces). The supplemental upward force also causes the tine to respond as if having greater resiliency than experienced by the unassisted tine, and assists the return movement of the tine when the plug 18 is removed from the receptacle 16 and allowed to return from its deflected position to its original position before the plug was inserted into the receptacle. This improvement in mechanical performance is accomplished without the need to lengthen and thicken the tines 14 to achieve it and thereby degrade electrical performance of the jack. Also, since each spring arm 44 operates on the tine 14 it engages independent of the other spring arms, the same characteristics of increased contact force and tine resiliency are experienced by a tine whether one tine or all eight tines are being engaged by plug contacts 20. This provides consistent performance characteristics for the jack 10.
The increased tine resiliency improves the ability of the jack 10 to handle legacy plugs having substantially different sizes and styles than a Category 6 plug, when inserted into the receptacle 16 by allowing an increased range of elastic deflection without undesirable permanent deformation of the tines 14. The independent operation of the spring arms 44 allows the use of legacy plugs of many configurations, size and number of plug contacts that cause some tines 14 to deflect by large amounts such as when engaged by sidewalls or other non-contact portions of the plug, while other tines do not and still producing good electrical contact with the contacts of the legacy plug and without damage to the tines. Again, the increased resiliency is accomplished without the need to lengthen and thicken the tines to achieve it.
Rails inside the body 12 align and hold the spring arms 44 in position for contact with the plug contacts 20. The body also includes features to capture the tines 14.
The spring assembly 32 is manufactured of a non-conductive plastic, thus the spring arms 44 can directly contact the metal tines without requiring insulation or causing an electrical problem. The plastic is selected to provide a good life cycle with low creep or cold flow characteristics.
As best seen in
An alternative method of achieving such closely spaced spring arms would be to injection mold the spring assembly 32 as one piece, but put thin blades of steel between each spring arm position in the mold cavity. This would cause the resulting eight spring arms to be closely spaced but yet independently movable.
While the present invention is illustrated and discussed with respect to a Category 6 jack, it should be understood that the invention is useful for many style jacks, including but not limited to Category 3, Category 5, Category 5e and other telecommunication and non-telecommunication jacks, and that the jacks need not utilize a printed circuit board mounting for the tines 14, spring assembly 32 or other components or utilize a printed circuit board at all.
From the foregoing it will be appreciated that, although specific embodiments of the invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not limited except as by the appended claims.
Itano, Michael M., Regester, William D., Redfield, John M.
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