U.S. patent number RE38,519 [Application Number 10/215,087] was granted by the patent office on 2004-05-18 for low crosstalk modular communication connector.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Panduit Corp.. Invention is credited to Michael Doorhy, Andrew J. Stroede, Russell A. Vanderhoof.
United States Patent |
RE38,519 |
Doorhy , et al. |
May 18, 2004 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
Low crosstalk modular communication connector
Abstract
A modular communications connector includes a housing defining a
plug receiving opening, a conductor carrying sled including a
printed circuit board designed in conjunction with the conductors
to improve crosstalk performance. The connector includes a wire
containment fixture arrangement allows for simplified field
termination of the modular connector. The connector is assembled by
loading the contacts and printed circuit board onto the sled, which
is snap fit into the housing. Then, wires are positioned through
the wire containment fixture and the fixture is slidably engaged
with the sled at a first position and slid along the sled to a
second position where the wires are terminated with IDCs mounted on
the sled. The connector preferably includes first and second
pluralities of conductors, with the second plurality each having
IDC portions arranged in first and second rows of four IDCs. The
top and bottom IDC portion at each end of the rows terminates an
associated wire pair and the two internal IDC portions of each row
terminates an associated wire pair. The connector also preferably
includes a printed circuit board that is engageable with both the
first and second plurality of conductors. The printed circuit board
has at least three layers, with a pair of outer layers containing
traces that complete an electrical path between the IDCs of the
second plurality of conductors and a corresponding first end
portion of the first plurality of conductors. One or more
capacitors are provided on inner layer of the printed circuit
board.
Inventors: |
Doorhy; Michael (Mokena,
IL), Stroede; Andrew J. (Mokena, IL), Vanderhoof; Russell
A. (Minooka, IL) |
Assignee: |
Panduit Corp. (Tinley Park,
IL)
|
Family
ID: |
32232955 |
Appl.
No.: |
10/215,087 |
Filed: |
August 9, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
Reissue of: |
138969 |
Aug 24, 1998 |
06371793 |
Apr 16, 2002 |
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
439/404; 439/405;
439/676; 439/941 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R
4/2433 (20130101); H01R 13/6658 (20130101); H01R
13/6473 (20130101); H01R 13/6466 (20130101); H01R
4/242 (20130101); H01R 12/585 (20130101); H01R
13/506 (20130101); H01R 13/6625 (20130101); Y10S
439/941 (20130101); H01R 24/64 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H01R
13/66 (20060101); H01R 4/24 (20060101); H01R
13/502 (20060101); H01R 13/506 (20060101); H01R
004/24 (); H01R 004/26 (); H01R 011/20 () |
Field of
Search: |
;439/404,941,676,405 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Nasri; Javaid H.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Oliff & Berridge, PLC
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A modular communications connector, comprising: a housing
defining a plug receiving opening; a conductor carrying sled
supporting a plurality of conductors each including an insulation
displacement contact (IDC) portion having at least a pair of tines
disposed extending rearwardly in a direction generally parallel to
an axis of entry of the plug receiving opening; and a wire
containment fixture having means for positioning wires with respect
to the IDC portions, and being engageable to the sled, wherein
after engagement with the sled at a first position on the sled, the
fixture is slidably movable along a portion of the sled from the
first position to a second position along the portion of the sled
where wires contained in said wire containment fixture terminate
with corresponding IDC portions.
2. The modular communications connector according to claim 1,
wherein the fixture includes a pair of engagement walls each
including a pair of inwardly disposed flanges forming guide slots
for cooperating with a pair of guide rails respectively formed on
the sled.
3. The modular communications connector according to claim 1,
wherein the sled further supports a printed circuit board (PCB)
having means for reducing crosstalk interference between associated
pairs of the conductors.
4. The modular communications connector according to claim 3,
wherein the printed circuit board includes at least three layers
with the outer layers containing a plurality of traces that
interconnect a first and second plurality of conductors, and
capacitors formed on an inner layer of the PCB that affect
crosstalk performance of the connector.
5. The modular communications connector according to claim 1,
wherein the sled upon engagement with the housing positions a
plurality of resilient contact portions within the plug receiving
opening.
6. The modular communications connector according to claim 1,
wherein the fixture includes a cable receiving aperture extending
through said fixture in a direction generally parallel to the times
of the IDC.
7. A modular communications connector, comprising: a housing
defining a plug receiving opening at a first end; a sled supporting
a printed circuit board engageable with the housing; a first
plurality of conductors each having a resilient contact portion at
a first end situated within the plug receiving opening and a second
end adapted to be connected to the printed circuit board (PCB); a
second plurality of conductors each having a first end adapted to
be connected with the PCB and an insulation displacement contact
(IDC) portion at a second end; and a wire containment fixture
having means for positioning wires with respect to the IDC portions
and being engageable to the sled, wherein after engagement with the
sled at a first position on the sled, the fixture is slidably
moveable along a portion of the sled from the first position to a
second position along the portion of the seld where wires contained
in said wire containment fixture terminate with corresponding IDC
portions.
8. The modular communications connector according to claim 6,
wherein the means for positioning wires includes a plurality of
vertically aligned wire slots disposed at a front end of the
fixture.
9. The modular communications connector according to claim 6,
wherein the IDC portions include at least a pair of tines disposed
extending rearwardly in a direction generally parallel to an axis
of entry of the plug receiving opening.
10. The modular communications connector according to claim 6,
wherein the PCB includes means for reducing the crosstalk effect on
the conductors.
11. The modular communications connector according to claim 6,
wherein the PCB further comprises four layers with a top and a
bottom layer including traces interconnecting the first and second
plurality of conductors.
12. The modular communications connector according to claim 11,
wherein a pair of inner layers include capacitors for reducing the
crosstalk effect on the conductors.
13. The modular communications connector according to claim 7,
wherein the fixture includes a cable receiving aperture extending
through said fixture in a direction generally parallel to the tines
of the IDC.
14. A modular communications connector including a housing defining
a plug receiving opening having therein a first plurality of
conductors each having a portion arranged in accordance with a
standard telephone wiring configuration, the connector further
comprising: a second plurality of conductors each having insulation
displacement contact (IDC) portions at a first end that terminate
pairs of wires of a communication cable and a second end
interconnected to a corresponding one of the first plurality of
conductors, wherein the IDC portions are arranged in an upper and a
lower row of four IDC portions each such that the top and bottom
IDC portion at each end of the rows terminates an associated wire
pair and the two internal IDC portions of each row terminating an
associated wire pair wherein the IDC portions include at least a
pair of tines disposed extending rearwardly in a direction
generally parallel to an axis of entry of the plug receiving
opening said connector further including a conductor carrying sled
and a wire containment fixture, wherein the wire containment
fixture includes means for positioning wires with respect to the
IDC portions, said fixture being engageable to and slidably movable
along a portion of the conductor carrying sled.
15. A modular communications connector including a housing defining
a plug receiving opening having a first plurality of conductors
each having a first end portion arranged in accordance with a
standard telephone wiring configuration and a second portion
adapted to be connected to a printed circuit board, and a second
plurality of conductors having insulation displacement contact
(IDC) portions that terminate wires of a communication cable and a
second portion adapted to be connected to a printed circuit board,
comprising: a printed circuit board (PCB) engageable with both the
first and second plurality of conductors having at least three
layers with a pair of outer layers containing a plurality of traces
that interconnect individual ones of the first plurality of
conductors with a corresponding one of the second plurality of
conductors to complete an electrical signal path between the IDC of
the corresponding one second plurality of conductors and the first
end portion of the corresponding one of the first plurality of
conductors; and capacitors formed on an inner layer of the PCB for
affecting crosstalk performance of the connector.
16. The modular communications connector according to claim 15,
wherein the PCB includes two inner layers both having capacitors
formed thereon.
17. The modular communications connector according to claim 16,
wherein the two inner layers are identical..Iadd.
18. An electrical connector for use with one of a plug and a jack
as well as a cable that includes a cable jacket that covers a first
portion of multiple pairs of wires, a second portion of the
multiple pairs of wires extending beyond the cable jacket, the
first portion and the second portion meeting at a junction, the
electrical connector comprising: a housing assembly that is
engageable with the one of the plug and the jack, the housing
assembly including a plurality of connectors that each include an
IDC portion; and a wire containment fixture defining an opening
that includes an entry end that receives the cable and an exit end,
the wire containment fixture further defining a plurality of wire
slots adjacent to the exit end of the opening, each of the wire
slots being configured to enable one wire of the second portion of
one of the multiple pairs of wires to terminate therein, the
opening being configured to prevent the cable jack and the junction
from extending farther into the opening than a predetermined
distance from the entry end, the opening also being configured to
enable the second portion of each of the multiple pairs of wires to
extend from the junction toward the exit end and to bend in a
direction substantially normal to an axis of the opening to
terminate in the respective wire slots, the wire containment
fixture being engageable with the housing assembly such that the
IDC portion of each of the plurality of connections electrically
engages one of the wires terminated in one of the plurality of wire
slots..Iaddend..Iadd.
19. The electrical connector according to claim 18, the exit end of
the opening having a greater dimension in a first plane than in a
second plane which is perpendicular to the first
plane..Iaddend..Iadd.
20. The electrical connector according to claim 19, the entry end
of the opening of the wire containment fixture having a greater
dimension in a third plane than in a fourth plane which is
perpendicular to the third plane..Iaddend..Iadd.
21. The electrical connector according to claim 19, the wire slots
being elongated and extending in a direction that is perpendicular
to the first plane..Iaddend..Iadd.
22. The electrical connector according to claim 18, the entry end
of the opening of the wire containment fixture being substantially
rectangular..Iaddend..Iadd.
23. The electrical connector according to claim 18, the opening of
the wire containment fixture being defined in part by a pair of
substantially planar interior walls..Iaddend..Iadd.
24. The electrical connector according to claim 23, each wire slot
being elongated and extending in a direction that is perpendicular
to one of the substantially planar interior
walls..Iaddend..Iadd.
25. The electrical connector according to claim 18, the wire
containment fixture defining a pair of substantially planar
exterior walls..Iaddend..Iadd.
26. The electrical connector according to claim 25, each wire slot
being elongated and extending in a direction that is perpendicular
to one of the substantially planar exterior
walls..Iaddend..Iadd.
27. The electrical connector according to claim 25, one of the
planar exterior walls defining exit ends of four wire slots of the
plurality of wire slots with no protrusions in the exterior wall
between the wire slots..Iaddend..Iadd.
28. The electrical connector according to claim 25, the IDC
portions extending in a plane that is parallel to a plane of an
exterior surface of the substantially planar exterior
wall..Iaddend..Iadd.
29. The electrical connector according to claim 18, at least a
portion of the entry end of the opening of the wire containment
fixture being arcuate to facilitate insertion of the first portion
of the cable..Iaddend..Iadd.
30. The electrical connector according to claim 18, the exit end of
the opening of the wire containment fixture being substantially
rectangular..Iaddend..Iadd.
31. The electrical connector according to claim 18, the wire slots
being contiguous with the opening of the wire containment
fixture..Iaddend..Iadd.
32. The electrical connector according to claim 18, an axis of each
of the wire slots being normal to an axis of the opening of the
wire containment force..Iaddend..Iadd.
33. The electrical connector according to claim 18, the wire
containment fixture being configured to enable the second portion
of each of the multiple pairs of wires of the cable to be
terminated so as to enhance cable strain relief..Iaddend..Iadd.
34. The electrical connector according to claim 18, the wire
containment fixture and the housing assembly being engageable with
each other by moving one of the wire containment fixture and the
housing assembly in a direction toward the other of the wire
containment fixture and the housing assembly that is substantially
parallel to the axis of the opening..Iaddend..Iadd.
35. The electrical connector according to claim 18, the one of the
plug and the jack being engageable with the housing assembly by
moving the one of the plug and the jack in a direction toward the
housing assembly that is substantially parallel to the axis of the
opening..Iaddend..Iadd.
36. The electrical connector according to claim 18, two wire slots
of the plurality of wire slots being configured such that one pair
of wires of the multiple pairs of wires that terminate therein are
of a substantially equal length..Iaddend..Iadd.
37. The electrical connector according to claim 18, two wire slots
of the plurality of wire slots being configured such that distances
between the respective bends of one pair of wires of the multiple
pairs of wires that terminate therein and a portion of the one pair
of wires terminated in the two wire slots that engages the IDC
portions are equal..Iaddend..Iadd.
38. The electrical connector according to claim 18, an upper
surface of one pair of IDC portions that electrically engages one
pair of wire extending in substantially the same
plane..Iaddend..Iadd.
39. The electrical connector according to claim 18, the exit end of
the wire containment fixture having an exterior wall including an
upper wall portion and a lower wall portion, the plurality of wire
slots being defined in the upper and lower wall portions, wherein a
first pair of wires of the multiple pairs of wires is disposed in
adjacent wire slots in the upper wall portion, and a second pair of
wires of the multiple pairs of wires is disposed in adjacent wire
slots in the lower wall portion, and a third and fourth pair of
wires of the multiple pairs of wires, each of the third and fourth
pair of wires having a wire disposed in a wire slot in the upper
wall portion and a wire disposed in a wire slot in the lower wall
portion..Iaddend..Iadd.
40. The electrical connector according to claim 18, one pair of
wires of the multiple pairs of wires terminating in one pair of
wire slots, the one pair of wire slots being adjacent to each
other..Iaddend..Iadd.
41. The electrical connector according to claim 18, the exit end of
the opening of the wire containment fixture being defined by an
exterior wall having an upper wall portion and a lower wall
portion, the plurality of wire slots being defined in the upper and
lower wall portions, a first pair of wires of the multiple pairs of
wires terminating in a first pair of wire slots that are disposed
adjacent to each other in the upper wall portion a second pair of
wires of the multiple pairs of wires terminating in a second pair
of wire slots that are disposed adjacent to each other in the lower
wall portion..Iaddend..Iadd.
42. The electrical connector according to claim 18, the exit end of
the opening of the wire containment fixture being defined by an
exterior wall having an upper wall portion and a lower wall
portion, the plurality of wire slots being defined in the upper and
lower wall portions, one wire of a first pair of wires of the
multiple pairs of wires terminating in a wire slot that is disposed
in the upper wall portion, the second wire of the first pair of
wires terminating in a wire slot that is disposed in the lower wall
portion..Iaddend..Iadd.
43. The electrical connector according to claim 42, the wire slots
in which the first pair of wires terminate having a common
axis..Iaddend..Iadd.
44. The electrical connector according to claim 18, the housing
assembly including a printed circuit board, the plurality of IDC
portions being connected to the printed circuit
board..Iaddend..Iadd.
45. The electrical connector according to claim 43, the printed
circuit board including multiple layers..Iaddend..Iadd.
46. The electrical connector according to claim 18, the housing
assembly including a housing that is engageable with the one of the
plug and the jack, the housing assembly also including a guide
member affixed to the housing, the guide member defining IDC
apertures through which the IDC portions extend, and including
projections adjacent to each IDC aperture which clamps each
terminated wire against a bottom of the wire slot in which each
wire is terminated..Iaddend..Iadd.
47. The electrical connector according to claim 18, the multiple
pairs of wires of the cable including four twisted pairs of wires,
the plurality of IDC portions including eight IDC portions, and the
plurality of wire slots including eight wire
slots..Iaddend..Iadd.
48. The electrical connector according to claim 18, the one of the
plug and the jack including IDC portions, each IDC portion
corresponding to one wire slot of the plurality of wire
slots..Iaddend..Iadd.
49. The electrical connector according to claim 18, the exit end of
the wire containment fixture having an exterior wall including a
left wall portion and a right wall portion, the plurality of wire
slots being defined in the left and right wall portions, wherein a
first pair of wires of the multiple pairs of wires is disposed in
adjacent wire slots in the left wall portion, and a second pair of
wires of the multiple pairs of wires is disposed in adjacent wires
slots in the right wall portion, and a third and fourth pair of
wires of the multiple pairs of wires, each of the third and fourth
pair of wires having a wire disposed in a wire slot in the left
wall portion and a wire disposed in a wire slot in the right wall
portion..Iaddend..Iadd.
50. The electrical connector according to claim 18, the wire
containment fixture defining planar exterior walls defining the
exit end of the plurality of wire slots, said planar exterior walls
being configured with no protrusions to facilitate removal of
excess wire extending from the exit end of the wire
slots..Iaddend..Iadd.
51. A method of providing electrical connection between one of a
plug and a jack and a cable that includes a cable jacket that
covers a first portion of multiple pairs of wires, a second portion
of the multiple pairs of wires extending beyond the cable jacket,
the first portion and the second portion meeting at a junction, the
method comprising: engaging a housing assembly with the one of the
plug and the jack, the housing assembly including a plurality of
connectors that each include an IDC portion; receiving the cable in
an entry end of an opening defined in a wire containment fixture;
preventing the cable jacket and the junction from extending farther
into the opening than a predetermined distance from the entry end
such that the second portion of the multiple pairs of wires of the
cable extend through a majority of a depth of the cable opening;
terminating the second portion of the multiple pairs of wires in a
plurality of wire slots desired in the wire containment fixture
adjacent an exit end of the opening; and engaging the housing
assembly with the wire containment fixture such that the IDC
portions of each of the plurality of connectors electrically
engages one of the wires terminated in one of the plurality of wire
slots..Iaddend..Iadd.
52. The method according to claim 49, further including extending
the second portion of each of the multiple pairs of wires from the
junction toward the exit end of the opening, and subsequently
bending the second portion of the multiple pairs of wires in a
direction substantially normal to an axis of the opening to
terminate in the respective wire slots..Iaddend..Iadd.
53. The method according to claim 52, further including extending
the second portion of one pair of the multiple pairs of wires from
the junction toward the exit end of the opening to a location
adjacent to the pair of wire slots in which the one pair of wires
terminates..Iaddend..Iadd.
54. The method according to claim 53, further including extending
the second portion of the multiple pairs of wires from the junction
toward the exit end of the opening to locations substantially
adjacent to the wire slots in which the multiple pairs of wires
terminates..Iaddend..Iadd.
55. The method according to claim 51, further including extending
the second portion of each of the multiple pairs of wires of the
cable through the opening so as to reduce crosstalk between the
multiple pairs of wires..Iaddend..Iadd.
56. The method according to claim 51, further including extending
the second portion of each of the multiple pairs of wires of the
cable through the opening so as to enhance cable strain
relief..Iaddend..Iadd.
57. An electrical connector for use with one of a plug and a jack
as well as a cable that includes a cable jacket that covers a first
portion of multiple pairs of wires, a second portion of the
multiple pairs of wires extending beyond the cable jacket, the
first portion and the second portion meeting at a junction, the
electrical connector comprising: a housing assembly that is
engageable with the one of the plug and the jack, the housing
assembly including a plurality of IDC portions; and a wire
containment fixture defining an opening that includes an entry end
that receives the cable and an exit end, the wire containment
fixture further defining a plurality of wire slots adjacent to the
exit end of the opening, the plurality of wire slots defining axes
that are all parallel to each other, each of the wire slots being
configured to enable one wire of the second portion of one of the
multiple pairs of wires to terminate therein, the opening being
configured to enable the second portion of each of the multiple
pairs of wires to extend from the junction toward the exit end and
to bend in a direction substantially normal to an axis of the
opening to terminate in the respective wire slots, the wire
containment fixture being engageable with the housing assembly such
that each IDC portion electrically engages one of the wires
terminated in one of the plurality of wire
slots..Iaddend..Iadd.
58. The electrical connector according to claim 57, the exit end of
the opening having a greater dimension in a first plane than in a
second plane which is perpendicular to the first
plane..Iaddend..Iadd.
59. The electrical connector according to claim 58, the entry end
of the opening of the wire containment fixture having a greater
dimension in a third plane than a fourth plane which is
perpendicular to the third plane..Iaddend..Iadd.
60. The electrical connector according to claim 56, the wire slots
being elongated and extending in a direction that is perpendicular
to the first plane..Iaddend..Iadd.
61. The electrical connector according to claim 57, the exit end of
the opening of the wire containment fixture being substantially
rectangular..Iaddend..Iadd.
62. The electrical connector according to claim 57, the wire
containment fixture defining a pair of substantially planar
exterior walls..Iaddend..Iadd.
63. The electrical connector according to claim 62, each wire slot
being elongated and extending in a direction that is perpendicular
to one of the substantially planar exterior
walls..Iaddend..Iadd.
64. The electrical connector according to claim 57, the wire
containment fixture defining planar exterior walls defining the
exit end of the plurality of wire slots, said planar exterior walls
being configured with no protrusions to facilitate removal of
excess wire extending from the exit end of the wire
slots..Iaddend..Iadd.
65. The electrical connector according to claim 62, one of the
planar exterior walls defining exit ends of four wire slots of the
plurality of wire slots with no protrusion in the exterior wall
between the wire slots..Iaddend..Iadd.
66. The electrical connector according to claim 62, the IDC
portions extending in a plane that is parallel to a plane of an
exterior surface of the substantially planar exterior
wall..Iaddend..Iadd.
67. The electrical connector according to claim 57, at least a
portion of the entry end of the opening of the wire containment
fixture being arcuate to facilitate insertion of the first portion
of the cable..Iaddend..Iadd.
68. The electrical connector according to claim 57, the wire slots
being contiguous with the opening of the opening of the wire
containment fixture..Iaddend..Iadd.
69. The electrical connector according to claim 57, an axis of each
of the wire slots being normal to an axis of the opening of the
wires containment fixture..Iaddend..Iadd.
70. The electrical connector according to claim 57, the wire
containment fixture being configured to enable the second portion
of each of the multiple pairs of wires of the cable to be
terminated so as to enhance cable strain relief..Iaddend..Iadd.
71. The electrical connector according to claim 57, the wire
containment fixture and the housing assembly being engageable with
each other by moving one of the wire containment fixture and the
housing assembly in a direction toward the other of the wire
containment fixture and the housing assembly that is substantially
parallel to the axis of the opening..Iaddend..Iadd.
72. The electrical connector according to claim 57, the one of the
plug and the jack being engageable with the housing assembly by
moving the one of the plug and the jack in a direction toward the
housing assembly that is substantially parallel to the axis of the
opening..Iaddend..Iadd.
73. The electrical connector according to claim 57, two wire slots
of the plurality of wire slots being configured such that one pair
of wires of the multiple pairs of wires that terminate therein are
of a substantially equal length..Iaddend..Iadd.
74. The electrical connector according to claim 57, two wire slots
of the plurality of wire slots being configured such that distances
between the respective bends of one pair of wires of the multiple
pairs of wires that terminate therein and a portion of the one pair
of wires terminated in the two wire slots that engages the IDC
portions are equal..Iaddend..Iadd.
75. The electrical connector according to claim 57, an upper
surface of one pair of IDC portions that electrically engages one
pair of wires extending in substantially the same
plane..Iaddend..Iadd.
76. The electrical connector according to claim 57, the entry end
of the opening of the wire containment fixture being substantially
rectangular..Iaddend..Iadd.
77. The electrical connector according to claim 57, one pair of
wires of the multiple pairs of wires terminating in one pair of
wire slots, the one pair of wire slots being adjacent to each
other..Iaddend..Iadd.
78. The electrical connector according to claim 57, the exit end of
the opening of the wire containment fixture being defined by an
exterior wall having an upper wall portion and a lower wall
portion, the plurality of wire slots being defined in the upper and
lower wall portions, a first pair of wires of the multiple pairs of
wires terminating in a first pair of wire slots that are disposed
adjacent to each other in the upper wall portion, a second pair of
wires of the multiple pairs of wires terminating in a second pair
of wire slots that are disposed adjacent to each other in the lower
wall portion..Iaddend..Iadd.
79. The electrical connector according to claim 57, the exit end of
the opening of the wire containment fixture being defined by an
exterior wall having an upper wall portion and and a lower wall
portion, the plurality of wire slots being defined in the upper and
lower wall portions, one wire of a first pair in the upper and
lower wall portions, one wire of a first pair of wires of the
multiple pairs of wires terminating in a wire slot that is disposed
in the upper wall portion, the second wire of the first pair of
wires terminating in a wire slot that is disposed in the lower wall
portion..Iaddend..Iadd.
80. The electrical connector according to claim 79, the wire slots
in which the first pair of wires terminate having a common
axis..Iaddend..Iadd.
81. The electrical connector according to claim 57, the housing
assembly including a printed circuit board, the plurality of IDC
portions being connected to the printed circuit
board..Iaddend..Iadd.
82. The electrical connector according to claim 81, the printed
circuit board including multiple layers..Iaddend..Iadd.
83. The electrical connector according to claim 55, the housing
assembly including a housing that is engageable with the one of the
plug and the jack, the housing assembly also including a guide
member affixed to the housing, the guide member defining IDC
apertures through which the IDC portions extend, and including
projections adjacent to each IDC aperture which clamps each
terminated wire against a bottom of the wire slots in which each
wire is terminated..Iaddend..Iadd.
84. The electrical connector according to claim 57, the multiple
pairs of wires of the cable including four twisted pairs of wires,
the plurality of IDC portions including eight IDC portions, and the
plurality of wire slots including eight wire
slots..Iaddend..Iadd.
85. The electrical connector according to claim 57, the one of the
plug and the jack including IDC portions, each IDC portion
corresponding to one wire slot of the plurality of wire
slots..Iaddend..Iadd.
86. The electrical connector according to claim 57, the opening of
the wire containment fixture being defined in part by a pair of
substantially planar interior walls..Iaddend..Iadd.
87. The electrical connector according to claim 86, each wire slot
being elongated and extending in a direction that is perpendicular
to one of the substantially planar interior
walls..Iaddend..Iadd.
88. The electrical connector according to claim 60, the exit end of
the wire containment fixture having an exterior wall including an
upper wall portion and a lower wall portion, the plurality of wire
slots being defined in the upper and lower wall portions, wherein a
first pair of wires of the multiple pairs of wires is disposed in
adjacent wire slots in the upper wall portion, and a second pair of
wires of the multiple pairs of wires is disposed in adjacent wire
slots in the lower wall portion, and a third and fourth pair of
wires of the multiple pairs of wires, each of the third and fourth
pair of wires having a wire disposed in a wire slot in the upper
wall portion and a wire disposed in a wire slot in the lower wall
portion..Iaddend..Iadd.
89. The electrical connector according to claim 57, the exit end of
the wire containment fixture having an exterior wall including a
left wall portion and a right wall portion, the plurality of wire
slots being defined in the left and right wall portions, wherein a
first pair of wires of the multiple pairs of wires is disposed in
adjacent wire slots in the left wall portion, and a second pair of
wires of the multiple pairs of wires is disposed in adjacent wire
slots in the right wall portion, and a third and fourth pair of
wires of the multiple pairs of wires, each of the third and fourth
pair of wires having a wire disposed in a wire slot in the left
wall portion and a wire disposed in a wire slot in the right wall
portion..Iaddend..Iadd.
90. An electrical connector for use with one of a plug and a jack
as well as a cable that includes a cable jacket that covers a first
portion of multiple pairs of wires, a second portion of the
multiple pairs of wires extending beyond the cable jacket, the
first portion and the second portion meeting at a junction, the
electrical connector comprising: a housing assembly that is
engageable with the one of the plug and the jack, the housing
assembly including a plurality of IDC portions; and a wire
containment fixture defining an opening that includes an entry end
that receives the cable and an exit end, the wire containment
fixture further defining a plurality of wire slots adjacent to the
exit end of the opening, each of the wire slots being configured to
enable one wire of the second portion of one of the multiple pairs
of wires to terminate therein, the opening being configured to
enable the second portion of each of the multiple pairs of wires to
extend from the junction to a location adjacent to the pair of wire
slots in which the pair of wires will be terminated regardless of
the relative orientation of the twisted pairs in the first portion
of the cable and the pairs of wire slots, the opening being
configured to enable each wire of each of the multiple pairs of
wires to bend in a direction substantially normal to an axis of the
opening and to be routed on a straight path from the bend into and
through its respective wire slot, the wire containment fixture
being engageable with the housing assembly such that each IDC,
portion electrically engages one of the wires terminated in one of
the plurality of wire slots..Iaddend..Iadd.
91. The electrical connector to claim 90, the exit end of the
opening having a greater dimension in a first plane than in a
second plane which is perpendicular to the first
plane..Iaddend..Iadd.
92. The electrical connector according to claim 91, the wire slots
being elongated and extending in a direction that is perpendicular
to the first plane..Iaddend..Iadd.
93. The electrical connector according to claim 90, the wire
containment fixture defining a pair of substantially planar
exterior walls..Iaddend..Iadd.
94. The electrical connector according to claim 93, each wire slot
being elongated and extending in a direction that is perpendicular
to one of the substantially planar exterior
walls..Iaddend..Iadd.
95. The electrical connector according to claim 93, one of the
planar exterior walls defining exit ends of four wire slots of the
plurality of wire slots with no protrusions in the exterior wall
between the wire slots..Iaddend..Iadd.
96. The electrical connector according to claim 93, the IDC
portions extending in the a plane that is parallel to a plane of an
exterior surface of the substantially planar exterior
wall..Iaddend..Iadd.
97. The electrical connector according to claim 90, at least a
portion of the entry end of the opening of the wire containment
fixture being arcuate to facilitate insertion of the first portion
of the cable..Iaddend..Iadd.
98. The electrical connector according to claim 90, the entry end
of the opening of the wire containment fixture having a greater
dimension in a third plane than in a fourth plane which is
perpendicular to the third plane..Iaddend..Iadd.
99. The electrical connector according to claim 90, the wire slots
being continuous with the opening of the wire containment
fixture..Iaddend..Iadd.
100. The electrical connector according to claim 92, an axis of
each of the wire slots being normal to an axis of the opening of
the wire containment fixture..Iaddend..Iadd.
101. The electrical connector according to claim 90, the wire
containment fixture being configured to enable the second portion
of each of the multiple pairs of wires of the cable to be
terminated so as to enhance cable strain relief..Iaddend..Iadd.
102. The electrical connector according to claim 90, the wire
containment fixture and the housing assembly being engageable with
each other by moving one of the wire containment fixture and the
housing assembly in a direction toward the other of the wire
containment fixture and the housing assembly that is substantially
parallel to the axis of the opening..Iaddend..Iadd.
103. The electrical connector according to claim 90, the one of the
plug and the jack being engageable with the housing assembly by
moving the one of the plug and the jack in a direction toward the
housing assembly that is substantially parallel to the axis of the
opening..Iaddend..Iadd.
104. The electrical connector according to claim 90, two wire slots
of the plurality of wire slots being configured such that one pair
of wires of the multiple pairs of wires that terminate therein are
of a substantially equal length..Iaddend..Iadd.
105. The electrical connector according to claim 90, two wire slots
of the plurality of wire slots being configured such that distances
between the respective bends of one pair of wires of the multiple
pairs of wires that terminate therein and a portion of the one pair
of wires terminated in the two wire slots that engages the IDC
portions are equal..Iaddend..Iadd.
106. The electrical connector according to claim 90, an upper
surface of one pair of IDC portions that electrically engages one
pair of wires extending in substantially the same
plane..Iaddend..Iadd.
107. The electrical connector according to claim 90, the exit end
of the opening of the wire containment fixture being substantially
rectangular..Iaddend..Iadd.
108. The electrical connector according to claim 90, one pair of
wires of the multiple pairs of wires terminating in one pair of
wire slots, the one pair of wire slots being adjacent to each
other..Iaddend..Iadd.
109. The electrical connector according to claim 90, the exit end
of the opening of the wire containment fixture being defined by an
exterior wall having an upper wall portion and a lower wall
portion, the plurality of wire slots being defined in the upper and
lower wall portions, a first pair of wires of the multiple pairs of
wires terminating in a first pair of wire slots that are disposed
adjacent to each other in the upper wall portion, a second pair of
wires of the multiple pairs of wires terminating in a second pair
of wire slots that are disposed adjacent to each other in the lower
wall portion..Iaddend..Iadd.
110. The electrical connector according to claim 90, the exit end
of the opening of the wire containment fixture being defined by an
exterior wall having an upper wall portion and a lower wall
portion, the plurality of wire slots being defined in the upper and
lower wall portions, one wire of a first pair of wires of the
multiple pairs of wires terminating in a wire slot that is disposed
in the upper wall portion, the second wire of the first pair of
wires terminating in a wire slot that is disposed in the lower wall
portion..Iaddend..Iadd.
111. The electrical connector according to claim 110, the wire
slots in which the first pair of wire terminate having a common
axis..Iaddend..Iadd.
112. The electrical connector according to claim 90, the housing
assembly including a printed circuit board, the plurality of IDC
portions being connected to the printed circuit
board..Iaddend..Iadd.
113. The electrical connector according to claim 111, the printed
circuit board including multiple layers..Iaddend..Iadd.
114. The electrical connector according to claim 90, the housing
assembly including a housing that is engageable with the one of the
plug and the jack, the housing assembly also including a guide
member affixed to the housing, the guide member defining IDC
apertures through which the IDC portions extend, and including
projections adjacent to each IDC aperture which clamps each
terminated wire against a bottom of the wire slot in which each
wire is terminated..Iaddend..Iadd.
115. The electrical connector according to claim 90, the multiple
pair of wires of the cable including four twisted pairs of wires,
the plurality of IDC portions including eight IDC portions, and the
plurality of wire slots including eight wire
slots..Iaddend..Iadd.
116. The electrical conduit according to claim 90, the one of the
plug and the jack including IDC portions, each IDC portion
corresponding to one wire slot of the plurality of wire
slots..Iaddend..Iadd.
117. The electrical connector according to claim 90, the exit end
of the wire containment fixture having an exterior wall including
an upper wall portion and a lower wall portion, the plurality of
wire slots being defined in the upper and lower wall portions,
wherein a first pair of wires of the multiple pairs of wires is
disposed in adjacent wire slots in the upper wall portion, and a
second pair of wires of the multiple pairs of wires is disposed in
adjacent wire slots in the lower wall portion, and a third and
fourth pair of wires of the multiple pairs of wires, each of the
third and fourth pair of wires having a wire disposed in a wire
slot in the upper wall portion and a wire disposed in a wire slot
in the lower wall portion..Iaddend..Iadd.
118. The electrical connector according to claim 86, the exit end
of the wire containment fixture having an exterior wall including a
left wall portion and a right wall portion, the plurality of wire
slots being defined in the left and right wall portions, wherein a
first pair of wires of the multiple pairs of wires is disposed in
adjacent wire slots in the left wall portion, and a second pair of
wires of the multiple pairs of wires is disposed in adjacent wire
slots in the right wall portion, and a third and fourth pair of
wires of the multiple pairs of wires, each of the third and fourth
pair of wires having a wire disposed in a wire slot in the left
wall portion and a wire disposed in a wire slot in the right wall
portion..Iaddend..Iadd.
119. The electrical connector according to claim 90, the entry end
of the opening of the wire containment fixture being substantially
rectangular..Iaddend..Iadd.
120. The electrical connector according to claim 90, the opening of
the wire containment fixture being defined in part by a pair of
substantially planar interior walls..Iaddend..Iadd.
121. The electrical connector according to claim 120, each wire
slot being elongated and extending in a direction that is
perpendicular to one of the substantially planar interior
walls..Iaddend..Iadd.
122. The electrical connector according to claim 90, the wire
containment fixture defining planar exterior walls defining the
exit end of the plurality of wire slots, said planar exterior walls
being configured with no protrusions to facilitate removal of
excess wire extending from the exit end of the wire slots..Iaddend.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to modular communication connectors
and more particularly to a modular communication connector that
utilizes a printed circuit board design and conductor arrangement
to provide for improved crosstalk performance and also provides for
simplified wire termination.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Standard telephone jack connectors and other modular connectors of
generally similar design are well known in the communications
industry. However, along with the constantly increasing signal
transmission rates exists the need for modular communication
connectors to have improved crosstalk performance. It is also
important for these connectors to continue to have simple field
termination capability. Thus, increasing performance requirements
for communication connectors establish a need in the art of modular
communication connectors to be economically manufactured which can
be easily field terminated and that will achieve higher levels of
suppressing crosstalk interference.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a modular
communication connector with improved crosstalk performance.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a modular
communication connector with simplified field terminability.
In general, a modular communications connector, includes a housing
defining a plug receiving opening, a conductor carrying sled
supporting a plurality of conductors each including an insulation
displacement contact (IDC) portion disposed extending rearwardly in
a direction generally parallel to an axis of entry of the plug
received opening; and a wire containment fixture having means for
positioning wires with respect to the IDC portions, said fixture
being engageable to and slidably movable along a portion of the
conductor carrying sled. The connector also utilizes a printed
circuit board design incorporating capacitors which in conjunction
with the conductor design improves the overall crosstalk
performance. The IDC portions of the conductors are arranged in
upper and lower rows of four IDC portions each such that the top
and bottom IDC portion at each end of the rows terminates a wire
pair and the two internal IDC portions of each row terminates a
wire pair and the printed circuit board includes at least three
layers with the outer layers containing a plurality of traces for
interconnecting the first and second plurality of conductors, and
formed on an inner layer of the PCB for affecting the crosstalk
performance of the conductor.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a free standing modular
communication connector embodying the concept of the present
invention;
FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the connector of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the connector of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective exploded view of the connector of
FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a subassembly view of the connector of FIG. 1 showing the
sled prior to engagement with the housing;
FIG. 6 is a subassembly view of the connector of FIG. 1 shown prior
to termination by the wire containment fixture;
FIG. 7 is a top view of the connector of FIG. 1 shown prior to
termination by the wire containment fixture;
FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line 8--8 of FIG. 7;
FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line 9--9 of FIG. 7;
FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along lines 10--10 of FIG. 7;
FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along lines 11--11 of FIG. 9;
FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the twisted wire pairs shown
without the wire containment fixture and the contact arrangement of
the PCB shown without the housing, sled and IDC block;
FIG. 13 is a plan view of the top layer of the circuit board;
FIG. 14 is a plan view of the second layer which is identical to
the third layer of the printed circuit board;
FIG. 15 is a plan view of the bottom layer of the printed circuit
board;
FIG. 16 is a plan view of the PCB with portions broken away to see
the lower layers; and
FIG. 17 is a sectional view of the printed circuit board taken
along lines 17--17 of FIG. 16.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
A modular communication connector embodying the concept of the
present invention is designated generally by the reference numeral
10 in the accompanying drawings. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2,
connector 10 includes a housing 12 defining a plug receiving
opening 14, a conductor carrying sled 30 and a wire containment
fixture 20 for terminating a communication cable 70 having a
plurality of individual communication wires 28.
As can be seen in FIGS. 3-6, connector 10 includes a conductor
carrying sled 30 that supports a printed circuit board (PCB) 50 and
a first and second plurality of conductors. The first plurality of
conductors 32 each have a resilient contact portion 34 at a first
end which is to be disposed within the plug receiving opening in
accordance with a standard telephone plug mating configuration. The
standards for the connector interface provides for eight laterally
spaced conductors numbered 1-8, wherein the conductor pairs are
defined by the associated wire pairs in accordance with the
standard. Specifically, the standard pair arrangement provides for
wires 4 and 5 comprising pair 1, wires 3 and 6 comprising pair 2,
wires 1 and 2 comprising pair 3, and wires 7 and 8 comprising pair
4. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 12, each of the conductors 32 also
includes a compliant pin at the second end so that the conductors
32 can be secured to the PCB 50 without requiring soldering.
The second plurality of conductors 36 each includes a compliant pin
at one end for engagement with the PCB 50 and an IDC portion 38 at
the second end. The second plurality of conductors 36 are
configured such that the IDC portions 38 are disposed extending
rearwardly in a direction generally parallel to an axis of entry of
the plug receiving opening 14. The axis of entry is the generally
horizontal direction in which a standard telephone plug type
connector would be inserted in order to mate with the resilient
contacts of the connector. The second plurality of conductors are
initially loaded into an IDC block 42 which is used to aid in the
manufacturing and assembly process. The IDC block 42 has locating
pockets and a peg for accurate positioning on the sled 30. After
assembling the PCB 50 and conductors 32, 36 in position on sled 30,
the sled is inserted into the rear end of the housing such that
resilient contact portions 34 of the first plurality of conductors
32 are disposed within the plug receiving opening 14 of housing 12
and the IDC portions 38 extend horizontally away from the back end
in position for termination of the individual wires 28 as shown in
FIG. 6. Latches on the housing secure the sled in position.
As can be seen in FIGS. 3, 4, 6 and 8, the wire containment fixture
20 has a cable opening 26 that allows both flat and found cable to
be loaded into the wire containment fixture. The front end of wire
containment fixture 20 includes eight individual vertically aligned
wire slots 22. Thus as the twisted pair conductors of the cable are
brought through the opening, the individual wires can be routed
into their respective wire slots 22. A label indicating the wiring
scheme can be placed on the wire containment fixture 20 for
providing the user instructions. Engagement walls 24 including
guide slots 25 are provided on fixture 20 beneath the wire slots 22
and are formed to engage with a pair of guide rails 40 disposed on
each lateral edge of the rearward end of sled 30 to allow for
sliding movement of fixture 20 along sled 30 and to provide for
proper wire location during termination.
In general, in communications connectors, some crosstalk effect is
occurring at every portion along adjacent conductors of the
connector. That is, crosstalk occurs between adjacent conductors at
the resilient contact portions of the plug mating end, between
adjacent contacts on the PCB, as well as between adjacent IDC
portions. It is in the preferred embodiment shown that the overall
crosstalk performance of the connector is enhanced through a
combination of minimizing crosstalk interaction between adjacent
conductors where possible and utilizing capacitors on a unique PCB
design to balance the overall crosstalk effect.
As can be seen in FIGS. 13-16, the printed circuit board 50 is a
four layer board with a plurality of through holes formed through
all four layers, each of which corresponds respectively with one of
the compliant pin ends of one of the first or second plurality of
conductors 32, 36. The top 52 and bottom 56 outer layers contain
the traces 58 for interconnecting the first and second plurality of
conductors 32, 36 via their respective conductive through holes.
The two inner layers 54 are identical to each other and is shown
only once in FIG. 14. Seven of the ten capacitors 60 which are
utilized in the proposed design for crosstalk reduction are housed
in the middle two layers 54. The outer layers 52, 56 also include
three capacitors 60 which in the preferred design were not placed
in the middle layers 54 due to space and capacitor layout
constraints.
As can be seen, the conductor traces 58 within a pair are of
relatively the same length and run nearby each other to obtain a
proper impedance for return/loss performance and to reduce possible
far end crosstalk (FEXT) effect. It is to be noted that the
thickness of the traces can also be adjusted to achieve the
required impedance. Additionally, certain contact pairs have the
traces 58 run on opposite side of the board to minimize is near end
crosstalk (NEXT) in that area. For example, traces 4 and 5, and 7
and 8 for pairs 1 and 4 respectively are disposed on the bottom
board, whereas traces 3 and 6, and 1 and 2 for pairs 2 and 3
respectively are disposed on the top board.
Capacitance is added to the PCB in order to compensate for the
crosstalk which occurs between adjacent conductors of different
pairs throughout the connector arrangement. The capacitance can be
added in several ways. The capacitance can be added as chips to the
board or can be integrated into the board using pads or finger
capacitors.
In the preferred embodiment shown, capacitors are added in the form
of finger or interdigitated capacitors connected to conductor
pairs. The capacitors are identified by the conductor to which they
are connected and to which capacitance is added to balance the
crosstalk effect seen by the other conductor of a pair. For
example, C46 identifies the finger capacitor connected to
conductors 4 and 6 to balance the crosstalk seen between conductors
4 and 6 with the crosstalk seen between conductors 5 and 6
throughout the connector.
As can be seen in FIG. 12, the IDC portions 38 for terminating
pairs of wires of the communication cable are arranged in two rows
of four IDC portions. The contacts are configured such that the top
and bottom IDC portion at each end of the rows terminates a wire
pair and the two internal IDC portions of each row terminate a wire
pair. Specifically, as previously discussed the standard pair
arrangement is wires 4 and 5 are pair 1, wires 3 and 6 are pair 2,
wires 1 and 2 are pair 3 and wires 7 and 8 are pair 4. The standard
in the industry sets forth that the odd wires are the tip and the
even wires are the ring of the pair. As best seen in FIG. 12, pair
3 comprising contacts 1 and 2 and pair 4 comprising contacts 7 and
8 are disposed respectively at the left and right ends of the two
rows of IDC portions. Pair 2 comprising contacts 3 and 6 is
disposed on the upper row at the two internal IDC portions and pair
1 comprising contacts 4 and 5 is disposed in the bottom row within
the two inner IDC portions. This specific IDC arrangement improves
crosstalk performance by minimizing any additional undesired
crosstalk while helping to balance existing crosstalk effects found
in the standard plug and jack contact arrangement. Furthermore,
this IDC layout allows for pairs to remain twisted as close to the
IDC's as possible which helps decrease the crosstalk needed to be
balanced in the connector. Thus, the IDC arrangement allows for a
simplified PCB capacitor design.
In the field, the preassembled housing 12 and sled 30 containing
the printed circuit board 50, first plurality of contacts 32,
second plurality of contacts 36 and IDC block 42 is provided such
that plug mating resilient contact portions 34 are disposed within
the plug receiving opening 14 and the IDC portions 38 are
horizontally disposed for accepting the individual wires 28. The
communication cable 70 is inserted into the opening 26 of the wire
containment fixture 20, the individual wires 28 are inserted into
the respective wire slots 22 and the excess wire cut off. Finally,
the wire containment 20 having the engagement walls 24 with guide
slots 25 is assembled onto sled 30 via the guide rails 40 and slid
forward until proper termination is achieved and locked in position
by a cantilevered snap latch.
While the particular preferred embodiments of the present invention
have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled
in the art that changes and modifications may be made without
departing from the teachings of our invention. The matter set forth
in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings, is offered
by way of illustration only and not a limitation. The actual scope
of the invention is intended to be defined in the following claims
when viewed in their proper perspective based on the prior art.
* * * * *