Communication connector having contact pads contacted by movable contact members

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9843121-B1
Application number	US-201615245060-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Aug 23, 2016
Priority date	Aug 23, 2016
Publication date	Dec 12, 2017
Grant date	Dec 12, 2017

Abstract

A communication outlet for use with a communication plug comprising a plurality of plug contacts. The outlet includes contact pads, contact members, and a biasing member. The contact members each have an electrically conductive portion attached to an electrically non-conductive portion. Each of the conductive portions forms an electrical connection with a different corresponding one of the contact pads. Each of the contact members is movable with respect to its corresponding contact pad. The contact members are movable with respect the plug contacts. The biasing member is attached to the non-conductive portion of each of the contact members and is configured to bias the conductive portion of each of the contact members toward a different corresponding one of the plug contacts when the plug is inserted into the outlet.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A communication outlet for use with a communication plug comprising a plurality of plug contacts, the outlet comprising:
a plurality of contact pads;
a plurality of contact members each having an electrically conductive portion attached to an electrically non-conductive portion, the electrically non-conductive portion of each of the plurality of contact members comprising an engagement surface, the electrically conductive portion of each of the plurality of contact members forming an electrical connection with a different corresponding one of the plurality of contact pads, each of the plurality of contact members being movable with respect to the different corresponding contact pad, the plurality of contact members being movable with respect to the plurality of plug contacts; and
a biasing member attached to the electrically non-conductive portion of each of the plurality of contact members, the biasing member being configured to bias the electrically conductive portion of each of the plurality of contact members toward a different corresponding one of the plurality of plug contacts when the plug is inserted into the outlet, the engagement surface of each of the plurality of contact members contacting the different corresponding plug contact when the plug is first inserted into the outlet and sliding along the different corresponding plug contact to position the electrically conductive portion of the contact member in contact with the different corresponding plug contact as the plug is inserted into the outlet.

2. The communication outlet of claim 1 , wherein the biasing member deflects when the plug is inserted into the outlet allowing each of the plurality of contact members to slide along the different corresponding plug contact when the plug is inserted into the outlet.

3. The communication outlet of claim 1 , wherein the biasing member biases the electrically conductive portion of each of the plurality of contact members toward the different corresponding plug contact such that the contact member applies a normal contact force of at least 100 grams to the different corresponding plug contact.

4. The communication outlet of claim 3 , wherein the electrically conductive portion of each of the plurality of contact members applies a normal contact force of at least 100 grams to the different corresponding contact pad.

5. The communication outlet of claim 1 , wherein the biasing member biases the electrically conductive portion of each of the plurality of contact members against the different corresponding contact pad to form the electrical connection therebetween.

6. The communication outlet of claim 5 , wherein the electrically conductive portion of each of the plurality of contact members applies a normal contact force of at least 100 grams to the different corresponding contact pad.

7. An apparatus for use with a movable structure comprising a first electrical contact, the apparatus comprising:
a substrate with a second electrical contact; and
a movable member comprising a third electrical contact, pressing the movable structure against the movable member moving the third electrical contact closer to the first electrical contact, the third electrical contact being in physical contact with the second electrical contact before the movable structure is pressed against the movable member, movement of the third electrical contact toward the first electrical contact halting after the third electrical contact is positioned in physical contact with both the first and second electrical contacts.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , further comprising a stop member configured to halt the movement of the third electrical contact toward the first electrical contact.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein pressing the movable structure against the movable member moves the movable member toward the substrate thereby moving the third electrical contact closer to the first electrical contact, and the apparatus further comprises a stop member configured to halt the movement of the movable member caused by pressing the movable structure against the movable member.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the movable member comprises a biasing member that biases the third electrical contact into the physical contact with both the first and second electrical contacts when the movement of the movable member is halted by the stop member.

11. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the movable member comprises a biasing member that biases the third electrical contact into the physical contact with both the first and second electrical contacts when the movement of the third electrical contact toward the first electrical contact is halted.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the third electrical contact is a layer of electrically conductive material plated on the biasing member.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the biasing member is an undulating spring.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the biasing member is a coil spring.

15. The apparatus of claim 7 for use with the movable structure being a communication plug, and the first electrical contact being a plug contact, the apparatus further comprising:
a housing defining an interior receptacle configured to house the substrate and the movable member, the plug being insertable inside the interior receptacle to press against the movable member to move the movable member toward the substrate thereby moving the third electrical contact closer to the first electrical contact.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , further comprising:
an insulation displacement connector coupled to the substrate; and
an electrical connection connecting the insulation displacement connector to the second electrical contact.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 , further comprising:
a pin coupled to an edge portion of the substrate; and
an electrical connection connecting the pin to the second electrical contact.

18. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the third electrical contact is a granule of electrically conductive material having a maximum dimension that is less than 19 millimeters.

19. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the third electrical contact is a granule of electrically conductive material having a maximum dimension of approximately one millimeter.

20. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the third electrical contact is a granule of electrically conductive material having a maximum dimension that is less than one quarter of a wavelength of a signal being conducted across the first, second, and third electrical contacts.

21. An apparatus for use with a movable structure comprising a first electrical contact, the apparatus comprising:
a substrate with a second electrical contact; and
a movable member comprising a third electrical contact, pressing the movable structure against the movable member moving the third electrical contact closer to the first electrical contact, the third electrical contact being spaced apart from the second electrical contact before the movable structure is pressed against the movable member, pressing the movable structure against the movable member moving the third electrical contact into physical contact with the second electrical contact before the third electrical contact physically contacts the first electrical contact, movement of the third electrical contact toward the first electrical contact halting after the third electrical contact is positioned in physical contact with both the first and second electrical contacts.

Assignees

• Leviton Manufacturing Co

Inventors

• Sparrowhawk Bryan L
• Wang Hua

Classifications

• H01R2107/00

  Four or more poles · CPC title

• H01R24/64

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

• H01R13/6466 Primary

  on substrates, e.g. printed circuit boards [PCB] · CPC title

• H01R13/187 Primary

  with spring member in the socket · CPC title

• H01R13/2428

  using meander springs · CPC title