Communication connectors having switchable electrical performance characteristics

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016149352-A1
Application number	US-201615013722-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 2, 2016
Priority date	Mar 13, 2013
Publication date	May 26, 2016
Grant date	—

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.

First claim

1 . A communication plug for use with a cable comprising a plurality of wires, the communication plug comprising:
a substrate comprising a plurality of plated through-holes, a plurality of circuit paths, and a plurality of contact pads, each of the plurality of plated through-holes being configured to receive a corresponding one of the plurality of wires, a plurality of plug contacts mounted on the substrate, a different one of the plurality of circuit paths connecting each of the plurality of plug contacts to a different one of the plurality of plated through-holes, the plurality of contact pads comprising a different contact pad corresponding to each of the plurality of contacts, at least a portion of the plurality of contact pads being connected to one or more coupling elements, each of the plurality of plug contacts being positioned to contact the contact pad corresponding to the plug 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 plug contacts when the insulator is in the insulating position, the plurality of plug contacts contacting the plurality of contact pads when the insulator is in the non-insulating position.

2 . The communication plug of claim 1 for use with a first corresponding communication outlet configured to mate with the communication plug 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 communication outlet is mated with the communication plug.

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

4 . The communication plug of claim 1 , wherein the insulator further comprises an actuator portion,
the communication plug 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 communication plug of claim 4 , further comprising:
a housing comprising an exit aperture, the housing being configured to house the substrate, the plurality of plug contacts, and at least a portion of the insulator, the actuator portion extending outwardly from inside the housing through the exit aperture.

6 . The communication plug of claim 5 for use with a corresponding communication outlet confiqured to mate with the communication plug to form a connection therewith, the corresponding communication outlet comprising a sidewall defining a receptacle configured to receive a portion of the communication plug when the communication plug and the corresponding communication outlet are mated, wherein the actuator portion is pressed against the sidewall of the corresponding communication outlet when the portion of the communication plug is received inside the receptacle of the corresponding communication outlet, 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 .- 8 . (canceled)

9 . The communication plug of claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises a slot, and the insulator comprises a guide projection configured to be received within the slot.

10 .- 11 . (canceled)

12 . The communication plug of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of plug 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 communication plug of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of plug contacts comprise a plurality of frame spades.

14 .- 16 . (canceled)

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 plug contacts with the coupling element subassembly when the plug is inserted into the receptacle of the first communication outlet, and automatically disconnects the plurality of plug contacts from the coupling element subassembly when the plug is inserted into the receptacle of the second communication outlet.

20 . The plug of claim 17 , wherein the plug is a registered jack 45 type plug, and the first standard is Category 1,

Assignees

• Leviton Manufacturing Co

Inventors

• Poulsen Jeffrey Alan
• Hammond Gregory
• Riley Jon Clark
• Marti Franklin Conrad

Classifications

• H01R13/71 Primary

  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 title

• H01R24/64 Primary

  for high frequency, e.g. RJ 45 · CPC title

• H01R13/6658

  on printed circuit board (H01R13/6666 - H01R13/6691 take precedence) · CPC title

• H01R13/70

  with built-in switch · CPC title

• H01R29/00

  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} · CPC title