Integrated Connector Unit
According to one embodiment of the invention, an integrated jack unit is provided. The integrated jack unit includes a housing. The integrated jack unit also includes a jack positioned at least in part in the housing. The integrated jack unit also includes a power controller positioned in the housing and coupled to the jack by a line. The line is designated for coupling with a transformer. The integrated jack unit also includes a pin protruding outwardly from the housing. The pin is electrically coupled to the jack through the power controller and the line. The pin is positioned to receive power for the jack from a printed circuit board.
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This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/326,236 filed Dec. 20, 2002 and entitled “Integrated Connector Unit”, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,026,730.
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates generally to the field of communications and more particularly to an integrated connector unit.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONA communications switch, such as an ethernet switch, allows a plurality of communications devices to communicate with one another. To establish a conduit for data between the communications switch and the communications device, a connector may be coupled to the printed circuit board (“PCB”) of the communications switch so that the communications device may plug into the connector. A connector is also referred to as a “jack.” Where possible, the communication device may also receive power from the jack. Providing power through the jack eliminates the need for the communications device to have a separate power source, such as an AC/DC power source. Power provided through the jack is referred to as “inline power.”
Jacks are sometimes manufactured as a jack unit that includes in its housing one or more jacks and some of the components for carrying data. For example, isolation transformers for the data lines may be included in the housing of a jack unit. The pins of a jack unit may be soldered onto the PCB to electrically couple the data components in the housing of jack unit to the appropriate components of the PCB. Including some of the components for carrying data in the housing saves board space on the PCB. However, positioning the isolation transformers in the housing of the jack unit may not allow inline power to be provided to the communications devices that plug into the jack unit. This is because the jack side of the isolation transformer, which must be accessible to provide inline power, is blocked by the housing of the jack unit. Thus, inline power may not be available where the isolation transformers are included in a jack unit.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccording to one embodiment of the invention, an integrated jack unit is provided. The integrated jack unit includes a housing. The integrated jack unit also includes a jack positioned at least in part in the housing. The integrated jack unit also includes a power controller positioned in the housing and coupled to the jack by a line. The line is designated for coupling with a transformer. The integrated jack unit also includes a pin protruding outwardly from the housing. The pin is electrically coupled to the jack through the power controller and the line. The pin is positioned to receive power for the jack from a printed circuit board.
Some embodiments of the invention provide numerous technical advantages. Some embodiments may benefit from some, none, or all of these advantages. For example, according to one embodiment, inline power may be provided through integrated jack units. According to another embodiment, the design of a main printed circuit board is simplified without substantially complicating the design of the jack unit. According to another embodiment, the overall manufacturing process of networking equipment is simplified because jack units having integrated isolation transformers may be used for both Ethernet, non-Ethernet, standard Ethernet, and inline Ethernet applications. According to another embodiment, a same printed circuit board design may be used for both standard and inline powered systems because the inline power circuitry is in the jack unit.
Other technical advantages may be readily ascertained by one of skill in the art.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSReference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numbers represent like parts, in which:
Embodiments of the invention are best understood by referring to
Network segments 18A through 18C each comprises one or more communications devices 20. A jack unit 30 is coupled to communications switch 14 to provide one or more ports (not explicitly shown) that may be used to physically connect communications devices 20. For example, a cable having plugs may be used to plug in communications devices 20 to jack unit 30. In some embodiments, switch 14 and network segments 18 may be devices that are capable of operating according to the ethernet network standard.
Communications switch 14 may be operable to send and receive packets to and from communications devices 20 according to the addresses of the packets. Upon receiving one or more packets from device 20, switch 14 sends the received packets to a particular communications device 20 that is identified by the included address. Switch 14 may send and receive the packets over network 24, jack unit 30, or any other suitable conduit or a combination of conduits that couples switch 14 to communications devices 20. In some examples, a hub, a router, or any other suitable device may be used instead of switch 14. Communications device 20 may be any communications device that is operable to communicate with other communications devices over a network architecture. Examples of communications device 20 include a Voice over Internet Protocol (“VoIP”) phone and a computer.
Jack unit 30 may comprise one or more RJ-45 jacks; however, jack unit 30 may comprise other types of jacks. Where jack unit 30 comprises RJ-45 jacks, communications devices 20 may plug into jack unit 30 using cables having plugs that are adaptable to a RJ-45 jack. Jack unit 30 may also comprise one or more isolation transformers within its housing. A jack unit having isolation transformers within its housing is referred to as a “mag jack.” Thus, jack unit 30 may also be referred to as mag jack 30. An isolation transformer is a transformer that is operable to protect the components of switch 14, such as integrated circuit chips, against excessive common mode voltages from communications devices 20 and/or cables attaching devices 20 to switch 14. Mag jack 30 generally includes outwardly disposed pins that may be soldered onto the appropriate apertures of a printed circuit board of communications switch 14, thereby electrically coupling the components of mag jack 30 to the components of communications switch 14. The use of mag jack 30 saves space on the main printed circuit board (“PCB”) of switch 14 because the isolation transformers are in mag jack 30 rather than on the PCB.
To send and receive packets from switch 14, communications device 20 may establish a physical connection with switch 14. To that end, communications device 20 may plug into mag jack 30. Along with a physical connection to switch 14, communications device 20 may also require access to power in order to send and receive packets to and from switch 14. Power may be provided to communications device 20 in a variety of ways. For example, alternating current (“AC”) power may be provided to communications device 20 by plugging communications device 20 into a wall socket. In another example, communications device 20 may receive direct current (“DC”) power from a battery pack. Power may also be provided inline, which refers to transmitting power from switch 14 to communications device 20 over a jack unit and the physical cable that plugs into the jack unit. One advantage of providing inline power to communications device 20 is that it eliminates the need to provide a separate power source for device 20 at the physical location of device 20. Providing inline power also simplifies the design and configuration of communications device 20.
However, inline power is conventionally not provided for communications devices 20 plugged into a mag jack because the housing of the mag jack that integrates the isolation transformers to the jack unit also prevents a designer from injecting power into the side of the transformer that is electrically coupled to a jack of the mag jack. If inline power is not provided to the jack-side of the isolation transformer, then DC power is required to travel across the isolation transformer to reach the jack and thus is blocked by the isolation transformer. Also, AC line power may not pass readily across the isolation transformer. In some situations, it may be difficult for a designer to simply add a pin to a mag jack to access the jack side of the isolation transformer 30 for power injection because the proximity of the pins may cause an arcing of the power current. Thus, conventionally, the benefits of inline power are not available for a mag jack.
According to some embodiments of the present invention, an apparatus and method are provided that allow inline power to be provided for a mag jack by positioning a power controller within the mag jack. Additional details of example embodiments of the invention are described in greater detail below in conjunction with portions of
Referring back to
In one embodiment, lines 82 couple transformer 78A to a data transmission portion 88 of jack 74. Data transmission portion 88 is used for outgoing packets. Lines 84 couple transformer 78B to a data receive portion 90 of jack 74. Data receive portion 90 is used for incoming packets. In one embodiment, lines 86A and 86B are coupled to respective center taps 80A and 80B of transformers 78A and 78B. Lines 86A and 86B are operable to carry inline power for jack 74 without going through transformer set 78 so that inline power may be available for communications devices 20, which may be plugged into jack 74. In one embodiment, lines 86A and 86B are terminated by a termination 94 prior to reaching jack 74. A termination 94 is a load that is positioned within housing 70 and used to minimize common node noise. In one embodiment, termination 94 may comprise one or more DC blocking capacitors 98. In one embodiment, three or fewer DC blocking capacitors 98 may be used. In some embodiments, a BOB SMITH termination may be used as termination 94; however, any other suitable termination may be used as termination 94.
According to the teachings of the invention, a power controller 100 is positioned in housing 70 of power mag jack 30 to provide inline power. In one embodiment, power controller 100 is coupled to center tap 80A through a power switch 102 and line 86A; however, in some embodiments, power controller 100 may be coupled to center tap 80B through power switch 102 and line 86B. Positioning power controller 100 in housing 70 of power mag jack 30 rather than on motherboard 110 of switch 14 (shown in
Power mag jack 30 may be coupled to PCB 110 by soldering connectors 104 to their corresponding apertures 114 (shown in
In one embodiment, a power converter 108 may also be positioned in power mag jack 30. This is advantageous in some embodiments because of the resulting savings in board space on motherboard 110. Although
Although some embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions, and alterations can be made hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
Claims
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31. An integrated jack unit, comprising:
- a housing;
- a jack positioned at least in part in the housing;
- a power controller positioned in the housing and coupled to the jack by a line; and
- a pin protruding outwardly from the housing, the pin electrically coupled to the jack through the power controller and the line.
32. The integrated jack unit of claim 31, and further comprising a termination having one or more direct current blocking capacitors, the termination positioned in the housing and coupled to the line.
33. The integrated jack unit of claim 31, and further comprising a power converter positioned in the housing, the power converter coupled to the pin and the power controller.
34. The integrated jack unit of claim 31, and further comprising a power converter positioned in the housing, the power converter coupled to the pin and the power controller, wherein the power converter is operable to receive power through the pin and in response provide electricity having a level of 48 volts to the power controller.
35. The integrated jack unit of claim 31, and further comprising a power converter positioned in the housing, the power converter coupled to the pin and the power controller, wherein the power converter is operable to receive alternating current through the pin and in response provide direct current.
36. The integrated jack unit of claim 31, and further comprising a power converter positioned in the housing, the power converter coupled to the pin and the power controller, wherein the power converter is operable to receive alternating current through the pin and in response provide direct current having a level of 48 volts.
37. The integrated jack unit of claim 31, wherein the jack is a RJ-45 jack.
38. An integrated RJ jack unit, comprising:
- a housing means;
- an isolation means;
- means for receiving an RJ plug positioned at least in part in the housing means and coupled to the isolation means;
- means for controlling power coupled to the line and located in the housing means; and
- a conductive means for receiving power, the conductive means protruding outwardly from the housing means and electrically coupled to the means for receiving the RJ plug by the means for controlling power and the line.
39. The integrated RJ jack unit of claim 38, and further comprising means for supplying power coupled to the conductive means and the means for controlling power, the means for supplying power positioned in the housing means.
40. The integrated RJ jack unit of claim 38, wherein the predetermined level is 1.5 kilovolts.
41. A method for providing inline power using an integrated jack unit, comprising:
- coupling a jack to at least one transformer;
- coupling a power controller to the line;
- coupling a pin to the power controller; and
- packaging the jack, the transformer, the line, and the power controller in a housing.
42. The method of claim 41, and further comprising positioning a termination in the housing and coupling the termination to the line.
43. The method of claim 41, and further comprising:
- providing a termination having one or more direct current blocking capacitors;
- positioning the termination in the housing; and
- coupling the termination to the line.
44. The method of claim 41, and further comprising positioning a power converter in the housing and coupling the power converter to the pin and the power controller.
45. The method of claim 41, and further comprising:
- positioning a power converter in the housing;
- coupling the power converter to the pin and the power controller;
- using the power converter, receiving alternating current; and
- using the power converter, converting the alternating current to direct current.
46. The method of claim 41, wherein the jack is a RJ-45 jack.
47. The method of claim 42, wherein the termination is a BOB SMITH termination.
48. The method of claim 44, and further comprising coupling a isolation barrier to the power converter.
49. The method of claim 41, and further comprising receiving, at the pin, a direct current from a printed circuit board.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 11, 2006
Publication Date: Aug 10, 2006
Applicant:
Inventors: Robert Marshall (Georgetown, TX), Anthony Randall (Austin, TX), Frederick Schindler (Sunnyvale, CA)
Application Number: 11/279,315
International Classification: H01B 11/02 (20060101); H02G 5/06 (20060101);