Abstract: Methods of detecting a plug insertion into a plug aperture of a communications connector are provided in which a control signal is transmitted to a control signal input circuit of the connector that includes a reactive coupling element. The control signal is electromagnetically coupled through the control signal input circuit. The electromagnetically coupled control signal is thereafter detected on a first differential pair of conductive paths that are included in the connector. A determination is made that a plug is present in the plug aperture based at least in part on detecting the electromagnetically coupled control signal on the first differential pair of conductive paths.

Abstract: Patch cords are provided that include a communications cable that has at least first through fourth conductors and a plug that is attached to the cable. The plug includes a housing that receives the cable, a printed circuit board, first through fourth plug contacts, and first through fourth conductive paths that connect the first through fourth conductors to the respective first through fourth plug contacts. The first and second conductors, conductive paths, and plug contacts form a first differential transmission line, and the third and fourth conductors, conductive paths, and plug contacts form a second differential transmission line. Each of the first through fourth plug contacts has a first segment that extends longitudinally along a first surface of the printed circuit board, and the signal current injection point into the first segment of at least some of the first through fourth plug contacts is into middle portions of their respective first segments.

Abstract: Patch cords include a communications cable that has first through eighth conductors that are arranged as four twisted pairs and a plug attached thereto. The plug includes a housing that receives the cable, first through eighth plug contacts, and a printed circuit board that includes first through eighth conductive paths that connect the first through eighth conductors to the respective first through eighth plug contacts. The plug further includes a first crosstalk injection circuit between the second conductive path and the sixth conductive path and a second crosstalk injection circuit between the first conductive path and the sixth conductive path.

Abstract: Patch cords include a communications cable that has first through eighth conductors that are arranged as four twisted pairs. A TIA 568B type plug may be attached to the cable. This plug includes a housing that receives the cable and first through eighth plug contacts that include plug contact regions that are substantially aligned in a row in numerical order. The plug further includes a printed circuit board that has first through eighth conductive paths that connect the first through eighth conductors to the respective first through eighth plug contacts.

Abstract: Patch cords include a communications cable that has a first conductor and a second conductor that form a first differential pair, and a third conductor and a fourth conductor that form a second differential pair and a plug that is attached to the communications cable. The plug includes a housing that receives the communications cable, first through fourth plug contacts that are within the housing, and a printed circuit board. The printed circuit board includes first through fourth conductive paths that connect the respective first through fourth conductors to respective ones of the first through fourth plug contacts. The plug further includes a first conductive shield that extends above a top surface of the printed circuit board that is disposed between the first differential pair and the second differential pair.

Abstract: Communications jacks include a housing and a flexible printed circuit board that is at least partly within the housing. Eight input contacts that are mounted on the flexible printed circuit board, with the fourth and fifth input contacts forming a first differential pair, the first and second input contacts forming a second differential pair, the third and sixth input contacts forming a third differential pair, and the seventh and eighth input contacts forming a fourth differential pair. The plug contact regions of the input contacts are arranged in numerical order across a plug aperture of the jack. Eight output contacts are also provided, and the flexible printed circuit board includes conductive paths that electrically connect each input contact to a respective output contact.

Abstract: An inline communications connector is provided that includes a housing and tip and ring contacts that are mounted in the housing. The tip contact includes an input tip socket, an output tip socket and a tip socket connection section that physically and electrically connects the input and output tip sockets. The ring contact includes an input ring socket, an output ring socket and a ring socket connection section that physically and electrically connects the input and output ring sockets. The input tip socket is not collinear with the output tip socket and the input ring socket is not collinear with the output ring socket.

Abstract: Communications jacks include a housing having a plug aperture, a plurality of input contacts, a plurality of output contacts, and a flexible printed circuit board that includes a plurality of conductive pads and a plurality of conductive paths that each electrically connect a respective one of the input contacts to a respective one of the conductive pads. The conductive paths are arranged as a plurality of differential pairs of conductive paths, and each output contact includes a spring-biased base and an insulation displacement portion.

Abstract: Patch cords include a communications cable that has first through eighth conductors that are arranged as four twisted pairs. A TIA 568B type plug may be attached to the cable. This plug includes a housing that receives the cable and first through eighth plug contacts that include plug contact regions that are substantially aligned in a row in numerical order. The plug further includes a printed circuit board that has first through eighth conductive paths that connect the first through eighth conductors to the respective first through eighth plug contacts. A first portion of the first conductive path and a first portion of the second conductive path are routed as a transmission line, and a first portion of the sixth conductive path is routed therebetween.

Abstract: Patch cords include a communications cable that has first through eighth conductors that are arranged as four twisted pairs and a plug attached thereto. The plug includes a housing that receives the cable, first through eighth plug contacts, and a printed circuit board that includes first through eighth conductive paths that connect the first through eighth conductors to the respective first through eighth plug contacts. The plug further includes a first crosstalk injection circuit between the second conductive path and the sixth conductive path and a second crosstalk injection circuit between the first conductive path and the sixth conductive path.

Abstract: Patch cords include a communications cable that has first through eighth conductors that are arranged as four twisted pairs. A TIA 568B type plug may be attached to the cable. This plug includes a housing that receives the cable and first through eighth plug contacts that include plug contact regions that are substantially aligned in a row in numerical order. The plug further includes a printed circuit board that has first through eighth conductive paths that connect the first through eighth conductors to the respective first through eighth plug contacts.

Abstract: Patch cords include a communications cable that has first through eighth conductors that are arranged as four twisted pairs and a plug attached thereto. The plug includes a housing that receives the cable, first through eighth plug contacts, and a printed circuit board that includes first through eighth conductive paths that connect the first through eighth conductors to the respective first through eighth plug contacts. The plug further includes a first crosstalk injection circuit between the second conductive path and the sixth conductive path and a second crosstalk injection circuit between the first conductive path and the sixth conductive path.

Abstract: Patch cords include a communications cable that has a first conductor and a second conductor that form a first differential pair, and a third conductor and a fourth conductor that form a second differential pair and a plug that is attached to the communications cable. The plug includes a housing that receives the communications cable, first through fourth plug contacts that are within the housing, and a printed circuit board. The printed circuit board includes first through fourth conductive paths that connect the respective first through fourth conductors to respective ones of the first through fourth plug contacts. The plug further includes a first conductive shield that extends above a top surface of the printed circuit board that is disposed between the first differential pair and the second differential pair.

Abstract: Communications jacks include a housing having a plug aperture, a plurality of input contacts, a plurality of output contacts, and a flexible printed circuit board that includes a plurality of conductive pads and a plurality of conductive paths that each electrically connect a respective one of the input contacts to a respective one of the conductive pads. The conductive paths are arranged as a plurality of differential pairs of conductive paths, and each output contact includes a spring-biased base and an insulation displacement portion.

Abstract: A communications cable includes a plurality of longitudinally extending pairs of conducting elements, a low profile male connector secured to a first end of the cable, and a low profile female connector secured to an opposite second end of the cable. The plurality of pairs of conducting elements terminate at the male connector in a first orientation and terminate at the female connector in a second orientation. The first and second orientations are such that each respective conducting element can be connected to itself when the male and female connectors are matingly engaged with each other.

Abstract: Communications connectors are provided that include a plurality of input ports, a plurality of output ports and a plurality of conductive paths. Each of the conductive paths connects a respective one of the input ports to a respective one of the output ports. The conductive paths are arranged as a plurality of differential pairs of conductive paths that are each configured to carry a differential signal. These connectors further include a control signal input circuit that is configured to capacitively couple a phantom mode control signal onto at least a first and a second of the differential pairs of conductive paths.

Abstract: Communications connectors include a housing and a plurality of substantially rigid conductive pins that are mounted in the housing. The conductive pins are arranged as a plurality of differential pairs of conductive pins that each include a tip conductive pin and a ring conductive pin. Each conductive pin has a first end that is configured to be received within a respective socket of a mating connector and a second end.

Abstract: A communications cable includes a plurality of longitudinally extending pairs of conducting elements, a low profile male connector secured to a first end of the cable, and a low profile female connector secured to an opposite second end of the cable. The plurality of pairs of conducting elements terminate at the male connector in a first orientation and terminate at the female connector in a second orientation. The first and second orientations are such that each respective conducting element can be connected to itself when the male and female connectors are matingly engaged with each other.

Abstract: Methods of detecting a plug insertion into a plug aperture of a communications connector are provided in which a control signal is transmitted to a control signal input circuit of the connector that includes a reactive coupling element. The control signal is electromagnetically coupled through the control signal input circuit. The electromagnetically coupled control signal is thereafter detected on a first differential pair of conductive paths that are included in the connector. A determination is made that a plug is present in the plug aperture based at least in part on detecting the electromagnetically coupled control signal on the first differential pair of conductive paths.

Abstract: Communications connectors are provided that include a plurality of input ports, a plurality of output ports and a plurality of conductive paths. Each of the conductive paths connects a respective one of the input ports to a respective one of the output ports. The conductive paths are arranged as a plurality of differential pairs of conductive paths that are each configured to carry a differential signal. These connectors further include a control signal input circuit that is configured to capacitively couple a phantom mode control signal onto at least a first and a second of the differential pairs of conductive paths.