Communication connectors having switchable electrical performance characteristics

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9793663-B2
Application number	US-201615013722-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 2, 2016
Priority date	Mar 13, 2013
Publication date	Oct 17, 2017
Grant date	Oct 17, 2017

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

The invention claimed is:

1. A communication plug for use with a cable, a first corresponding communication outlet, and a second corresponding communication outlet, the cable comprising a plurality of wires, the first corresponding communication outlet being configured to mate with the communication plug to form a first connection therewith, the second corresponding communication outlet being configured to mate with the communication plug to form a second connection therewith, the second corresponding communication outlet comprising at least one aperture, 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 plug 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 and at least one projection, the insulating portion being adjacent the plurality of contact pads, the at least one projection being configured to transition the insulator from a first one of an insulating position and a non-insulating position to a different second one of the insulating position and the 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,
the first corresponding communication outlet pressing against the at least one projection when the first corresponding communication outlet is mated with the communication plug thereby causing the at least one projection to automatically transition the insulator, and
the at least one projection being received inside the at least one aperture of the second corresponding communication outlet when the second corresponding communication outlet is mated with the communication plug such that the second corresponding communication outlet avoids pressing against the at least one projection and avoids causing the at least one projection to transition the insulator.

2. The communication plug of claim 1 , wherein 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 the first one of the insulating position and the non-insulating position, and
the at least one projection is configured to receive sufficient force to overcome the biasing force and transition the insulator from the first one of the insulating position and the non-insulating position to the different second one of the insulating position and the non-insulating position.

3. The communication plug of claim 2 , 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 at least one projection extending outwardly from inside the housing through the exit aperture.

4. The communication plug of claim 3 for use with the first corresponding communication outlet comprising a sidewall defining a receptacle configured to receive a portion of the communication plug when the communication plug and the first corresponding communication outlet are mated, wherein the at least one projection is pressed against the sidewall of the first corresponding communication outlet when the portion of the communication plug is received inside the receptacle of the first corresponding communication outlet, the pressing exerting sufficient force on the at least one projection to overcome the biasing force and transition the insulator to the second different one of the insulating position and the non-insulating position.

5. 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.

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

7. A communication plug for use with first and second communication outlets, the first communication outlet comprising a first receptacle with a plurality of first outlet contacts, the first communication outlet being configured to operate in accordance with a first standard, the second communication outlet comprising at least one aperture and a second receptacle with a plurality of second 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 first receptacle of the first communication outlet and form a first connection therewith, the housing being further configured to be received inside the second receptacle of the second communication outlet and form a second connection therewith;
a coupling element subassembly configured to provide electrical coupling in accordance with the first standard;
a plurality of plug contacts positioned inside the housing, the plurality of plug contacts being contactable through apertures in the housing by the plurality of first outlet contacts when the plug is received inside the first receptacle of the first communication outlet, and by the plurality of sec outlet contacts when the plug is received inside the second receptacle of the second communication outlet; and
a switch assembly having at least one projecting portion, the first communication outlet pressing on the at least one projecting portion and causing the switch assembly to move allowing the plurality of plug contacts to contact the coupling element subassembly when the plug is inserted into the first receptacle of the first communication outlet, the at least one aperture of the second communication outlet receiving the at least one projecting portion and avoiding pressing on the switch assembly thereby allowing the plurality of plug contacts to remain disconnected from the coupling element subassembly when the plug is inserted into the second receptacle of the second communication outlet.

8. The plug of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of plug contacts comprise a plurality of frame spades.

9. The plug of claim 7 , wherein the switch assembly slides in a first direction when the first communication outlet presses on the at least one projecting portion,
the switch assembly comprises a biasing member that biases the switch assembly in a second direction, and
the first direction is opposite the second direction.

10. The plug of claim 7 , wherein the plug is a registered jack 45 type plug, and the first standard is Category 1, Category 2, Category 3, Category 4, Category 5, Category 5e, Category 6, or Category 6A.

11. A communication plug for use with first and second communication outlets, the first communication outlet comprising a first receptacle, the second communication outlet comprising at least one a

Assignees

• Leviton Manufacturing Co

Inventors

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

Classifications

• H01R13/659

  with plural ports for distinct connectors · CPC title

• H01R13/71

  Contact members of coupling parts operating as switch {, e.g. linear or rotational movement required after mechanical engagement of coupling part to establish electrical connection} · CPC 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

• H01R13/70

  with built-in switch · CPC title

• H01R13/6658

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