Abstract: An electrical connector and method of forming the same are provided, where the electrical connector includes a printed circuit board configured to exhibit a first length L, a first width W, a thickness T, and a slot of a slot-width approximately equal to T, the slot also exhibiting a slot-length at least approximately equal to one-half of L. The printed circuit board includes at least a first signal trace, a second signal trace, and a ground plane, where the printed circuit board is configured to electrically isolate the first signal trace and the second signal trace from the ground plane. The first signal trace is configured to make electrical contact with at least a first electrically conductive cable. The electrical connector also includes at least a first contact pin affixed to the printed circuit board and coupled to the second signal trace.

Abstract: A vehicle used power charge assembly for electronic devices includes an USB slot for receiving a USB plug; a substrate installed with a charging circuit which is coupled to the USB slot; a power input device installed on the substrate and coupled to the charging circuit for supplying power to an external electronic device from the charging circuit; a conductive wire having one end connected to the USB slot and another end connected to the power input device; and a conductive stub wire having one end connected to the power input device and another two ends connected to a positive electrode and a negative electrode of a battery. The present assembly can be adhered to a vehicle. In the movement of the vehicle, an external electronic device can be connected to an USB slot of the present invention through a transmission line.

Abstract: A connector assembly includes a contact module with a lead frame having signal conductors defining separate conductive paths. The contact module also includes a compensation circuit component coupled to the leadframe. The compensation circuit component has a substrate and multiple compensation circuit elements mounted to the substrate, where the substrate is coupled to the leadframe such that the compensation circuit elements are electrically connected to corresponding signal conductors. The contact module also includes a body encasing the signal conductors and the compensation circuit component.

Abstract: A connector comprising a physical layer transceiver device may perform physical layer functions for a communicatively coupled communication device. The physical layer functions may comply with OSI layer one methods. The physical layer transceiver device may be integrated on a single chip and/or on a plurality of chips within the connector. Wire-line and/or wireless technologies and/or protocols may be utilized for communication via the connector. Data may be communicated by the physical layer transceiver device via a mated corresponding connector coupled to a twisted pair cable. Data may be communicated by the physical layer transceiver device via a mated corresponding connector and/or dongle comprising an antenna and/or a wireless access point. The connectors may utilize Power over Ethernet (PoE). The physical layer transceiver device may support Ethernet extended reach mode. A plurality of the connectors may be ganged together.

Abstract: A communication connector uses compensation circuitry to compensate for crosstalk in a network connection. Capacitors are connected between specific conducive paths in said communication connector. Inductive stubs are utilized in the compensation circuitry to improve the overall compensation performance.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electrical plug-in connector (1) for telecommunications and data systems technology, comprising electrically interconnected elastic high-frequency contacts (4) and core connection contacts (10). At least the high-frequency contacts (4) are arranged in a housing (2) comprising a receiving opening (3) for a counter plug-in connector, and the core connection contacts (10) are arranged in two parallel rows (8, 9). The distance between adjacent core connection contacts of a row is smaller than that between core connection contacts of different rows. The housing (2) has an upper edge (5), a lower edge (6) and two lateral edges (7), the two rows (8, 9) of core connection contacts (10) being parallel to the upper edge (5) of the housing (2).

Abstract: An improved eSATA connector structure includes a base, a circuit board, a chassis and a casing. The base includes a containing space, a retaining wall formed at a front end of the containing space, and an opening formed on the retaining wall. The circuit board is installed in the containing space and passed through the opening and out of the retaining wall, and at least one surface of the circuit board has a plurality of conductive pins, and a transmission line segment is extended from an end of each conductive pin and electrically coupled to a conductive terminal. The chassis is installed in the containing space and includes through holes for passing out conductive terminals, and the casing is installed at the exterior of the base and includes a hollow main body, and a port is formed at a front end of the hollow main body for exposing the circuit board.

Abstract: An HDMI connector structure includes a base, a circuit board, a chassis and a metal casing. The base includes a containing space, a retaining wall formed at a front end of the containing space, and an opening formed on the retaining wall. The circuit board is installed in the containing space, and an end of the circuit board is passed through the opening and out of the retaining wall, and at least one surface of the circuit board has a plurality of conductive pins, and a transmission line segment is extended from an end of each conductive pin and electrically coupled to a conductive terminal The metal casing includes a hollow main body, and the base is installed in the empty main body, and a front end of the hollow main body is provided for exposing a port from an end of the circuit board.

Abstract: A cable connector assembly includes a first cable connector (1), a pair of cables (4, 5), a second cable connector (2) and a third cable connector (3). The first cable connector has a printed circuit board (10) received therein, a shielding member (13) enclosing the printed circuit board and an insulative cover (14, 15) assembled out of the shielding member. The cables are connected with the printed circuit board and extending out of the shielding member, the second cable connector is in accordance with Displayport standard and connected with one of the two cables; and the third cable connector is in accordance with USB standard and connected with another one of the two cables.

Abstract: A compact power adapter is disclosed. In one embodiment, a compact power adapter is facilitated by improved approaches to construct and assemble the power adapter. According to one aspect, connectors can serve to electrically couple blades (or prongs) of a power adapter plug to a printed circuit board assembly internal to a housing for the power adapter. The connectors serve to couple AC power to the printed circuit board assembly where the AC power can be converted to DC power. The connectors also facilitate assembly of the power adapter in that reliable interconnections can be provided without wires, soldering or other custom assembly operations. In one embodiment, a base for a power adapter plug of a power adapter can include a metal base connected to a blade (or prong) of the power adapter plug. The metal base can provide mechanical support to the blade as well as electrical connectivity to an internal terminal for the power adapter plug.

Abstract: A connector arrangement includes a plug nose body; a printed circuit board positioned within a cavity of the plug nose body; and a plug cover that mounts to the plug nose body to enclose the printed circuit board within the cavity. The printed circuit board includes a storage device configured to store information pertaining to the electrical segment of communications media. The plug cover defines a plurality of slotted openings through which the second contacts are exposed. A connector assembly includes a jack module and a media reading interface configured to receive the plug. A patch panel includes multiple jack modules and multiple media reading interfaces.

Abstract: A connector is provided, including a housing, a base, a circuit board, a receptacle, a plurality of first terminals, and a filtering element. The base is disposed in the housing and forms a recess. The circuit board is disposed at a rear side of the base. The circuit board is coupled to the recess of the base to form an accommodating space. The receptacle is formed on the housing to receive an external plug. A plurality of first terminals are disposed on the base to electrically connect to the external plug. The filtering element is disposed in the accommodating space and is electrically connected to the circuit board.

Abstract: An expandable computer system and a fastening device are disclosed in this invention. The expandable computer system includes a computer, an expansion device and a rigid component. The expansion device includes a first holding portion disposed at a first side of the expansion device, and a first interface socket disposed at a second side of the expansion device. The computer includes a second holding portion and a second interface socket. The rigid component has two transmission plugs and a transmission circuit. The two transmission plugs are coupled with two terminals of the transmission circuit. When the first holding portion is connected with the second holding portion, the two transmission plugs are detachably connected with the first interface socket and the second interface socket to fasten the expansion device to the computer.

Abstract: A communication jack has a housing with a face having a plug receiving aperture. A plurality of conductive path pairs extends from corresponding plug interface contacts located at the plug receiving aperture to corresponding output terminals. A first circuit board is connected to the plug interface contacts and a second circuit board is connected to the plug interface contacts and the output terminals. The first circuit board has a first single stage of crosstalk compensation with opposite polarity of the crosstalk of a plug for a first combination of the conductive path pairs. The second circuit board includes a second single stage of opposite polarity crosstalk compensation for some of the conductive path pairs not compensated on the first circuit board. The stages cancel substantially all of the crosstalk caused by the plug, for the signal operating frequencies, for corresponding combinations of the conductive path pairs.

Abstract: An electrical receptacle is disclosed. The electrical receptacle includes a housing and at least one socket at least partially disposed within the housing and having at least a pair of entry ports. The at least one socket is controllable by a radio frequency signal. The electrical receptacle also includes an antenna at least partially disposed within the housing configured to at least receive the radio frequency signal used to control the at least one socket. The electrical receptacle further includes at least one tamper resistant device at least partially disposed within the housing. The at least one tamper resistant device is configured to block the entry ports unless a mating electrical plug is inserted into the at least one socket.

Abstract: A multiple-position modular connector (jack, plug or both) includes a rigid insulating body and a set of spaced-apart coaxial conductors carried by the body. Each coaxial conductor has a mating end at a mating portion of the body providing electrical connection between the inner signal conductor and a corresponding conductor of a mating modular connector. A conductive structure extends between the outer shield conductors of the coaxial conductors and a reference contact at an outer surface of the body to provide a high-frequency ground for the outer shield conductors. In another aspect, a modular connector includes a printed circuit board carried by an insulative body and employing some combination of well-matched conductive paths and filtering circuitry such as common-mode coils or “chokes”. Electrical traces of the printed circuit board may include ground/reference traces interspersed among signal traces to provide shielding and uniform electrical characteristics to the signal traces.

Abstract: An adapter includes a mechanical frame, which is configured to be inserted into a four-channel Small Form-Factor Pluggable (SFP) receptacle and to receive inside the frame a single-channel SFP cable connector. First electrical terminals, held by the mechanical frame, are configured to mate with respective first pins of the receptacle. Second electrical terminals, held within the mechanical frame, are configured to mate with respective second pins of the connector. Circuitry couples the first and second electrical terminals so as to enable communication between the connector and one channel of the receptacle while terminating the remaining channels of the receptacle.

Abstract: The present invention is direct to a modular jack (10) having improved cross talk compensation performances. A printed circuit board (30) is inserted into the housing (20) of the modular jack (10). Robust receptacle terminals (11 to 18) and a multi-stage time delay and cross talk compensation circuitry are disposed on the circuit board (30) to reduce cross talk induced between receptacle terminals. Each robust receptacle terminal (11-18) comprises first and second legs (11a, lib; lid) located over one another with one end of each leg joined to the other leg by a bent portion (lie). The first leg (11a, lib) ends in a free end and the second leg (lid) extends from the base end (llf) to the bent portion (lie) to form an acute angle with the circuit board (30). The bent portion (lie) of each receptacle terminal is cantilevered to engage the circuit board at least when one or more of the receptacle terminals (11-18) is contacted by the terminal of a modular plug.

Abstract: Power cables that include plug housings having an improved appearance as well as employ a halogen-free cable while providing adequate fire resistance. One example provides a power cable having cable plug with a substantially unitary body. Another example provides a power cable that is formed using halogen-free materials. To provide adequate fire protection, a strain relief formed using multiple materials is used.

Abstract: An electrical connector arrangement includes a storage device coupled to a connector housing. The storage device is configured to store physical layer information pertaining to the electrical connector arrangement. The storage device also has contacts that enable the physical layer information to be read from the storage device by a media reading interface. A connector assembly includes at least one receptacle assembly; a printed circuit board; and a media reading interface.

Abstract: This device includes two connection units and a compensation circuit provided with tracks (4D, 6D) for connecting these units and with capacitive coupling between at least two of the tracks, including a conductor element (36) exhibiting a surface (49) including a portion opposite a surface of a section of a first of the tracks (4D) and another opposite a section of the second of the tracks (6D) with the conductor element (36) which is electrically insulated from the two tracks (4D, 6D).

Abstract: Ganged-outlet devices are disclosed that can be incorporated and utilized in a power-distribution unit. In one exemplary embodiment, a ganged-outlet device includes a plurality of electrical power outlets that each comprise at least first and second power-connection elements. The device also includes at least one common power line electrically interconnecting the first power-connection elements among the plurality of electrical power outlets. At least one separate, dedicated control power line can be electrically connected to the second power-connection element of each of at least one power outlet among the plurality of electrical power outlets. Power transmitted to the respective second power-connection element of the at least one power outlet via the at least one separate, dedicated control power line is selectively controllable.

Abstract: An advanced modular plug connector assembly incorporating an insert assembly disposed in the rear portion of the connector housing. In one embodiment, the connector has a plurality of ports in multi-row configuration, and the insert assembly includes a substrate adapted to receive one or more electronic components such as choke coils, transformers, or other signal conditioning elements or magnetics. The substrate also interfaces with the conductors of two modular ports of the connector, and is removable from the housing such that an insert assembly of a different electronics or terminal configuration can be substituted therefor. In this fashion, the connector can be configured to a plurality of different standards (e.g., Gigabit Ethernet and 10/100). In yet another embodiment, the connector assembly comprises a plurality of light sources (e.g., LEDs) received within the housing. Methods for manufacturing the aforementioned embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: A compact power adapter is disclosed. In one embodiment, a compact power adapter is facilitated by improved approaches to construct and assemble the power adapter. According to one aspect, connectors can serve to electrically couple blades (or prongs) of a power adapter plug to a printed circuit board assembly internal to a housing for the power adapter. The connectors serve to couple AC power to the printed circuit board assembly where the AC power can be converted to DC power. The connectors also facilitate assembly of the power adapter in that reliable interconnections can be provided without wires, soldering or other custom assembly operations. In one embodiment, a base for a power adapter plug of a power adapter can include a metal base connected to a blade (or prong) of the power adapter plug. The metal base can provide mechanical support to the blade as well as electrical connectivity to an internal terminal for the power adapter plug.

Abstract: An electrical connector that electrically connects a first printed circuit board and a second printed circuit board is disclosed, where the electrical connector in the preferred embodiment includes: (a) an insulative housing; (b) a plurality of signal conductors, with at least a portion of each of the plurality of signal conductors disposed within the insulative housing; (c) each of the plurality of signal conductors having a first contact end, a second contact end and an intermediate portion therebetween; and (d) a passive circuit element electrically connected to the intermediate portion of each of the plurality of signal conductors, where the passive circuit element is housed in an insulative package and includes at least a capacitor or an inductor.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a housing having a cavity configured to receive a plug therein. Contacts are arranged within the cavity for mating with a plug. The contacts include shield interfaces. A metal strip is arranged within the cavity and is electrically connected to a ground. The shield interfaces of the contacts engaging the metal strip when no plug is loaded in the cavity, and the shield interfaces disengaging from the metal strip when the plug is loaded in the cavity.

Abstract: A waterproof structure for a transform plug of a socket includes a housing having a front receiving portion and a rear receiving portion spaced in a hollow exterior thereof by using a first and the second partition to receive a conducting pieces and a transforming unit respectively, and a waterproof layer is formed between outer rims of a back cover, a rear cover, and the housing to prevent water from permeation. In addition, a photo resistor and a transparent portion of the back cover are used to conduct the power source to a light string automatically based on lights, thus flashing light freely.

Abstract: Communications plugs are provided that include a plug housing. A plurality of plug contacts are mounted in a row at least partly within the plug housing. The plug contacts are arranged as differential pairs of plug contacts. Each of the differential pairs of plug contacts has a tip plug contact and a ring plug contact. A first capacitor is provided that is configured to inject crosstalk from a first of the tip plug contacts to a first of the ring plug contacts at a point in time that is after the point in time when a signal transmitted through the first of the tip plug contacts to a contact of a mating jack reaches the contact of the mating jack.

Abstract: A multi-purpose modular RJ connector includes a female receptacle having an opening in which a printed circuit board having contact pads on opposite surfaces thereof is positioned. A male plug has a cavity operative for receiving the printed circuit board therein when the male plug is inserted in the opening of the female receptacle. The male plug includes contact pins on opposite sides of the cavity for contacting the contact pads disposed on opposite surfaces of the printed circuit board when the male plug is inserted into the opening of the female receptacle.

Abstract: A connector includes an insulating housing and at least one inserting pin. The insulating housing includes at least one groove and at least one plug receiving hole. The inserting pin penetrates through the groove, and is secured by a sidewall of the groove. The inserting pin includes a resilient leg for being electrically connected to a plug received in the insulating housing.

Abstract: A connecting strip (1) for telecommunications and mid-range communications technology includes a housing (2) and at least two contact elements (11). The contact element (11) includes a first contact (12) for the connection of wires or cables and a second contact (13) for contacting a printed circuit board. The second contact (13) takes the form of a press-fit pin contact or a tuning-fork contact. The first contact (12) is aligned towards the upper side (3) of the housing (2) and the second contact (13) is aligned towards the underside (4) of the housing (2). The first contacts (12) are arranged laterally offset from the longitudinal axis (L) of the housing (2).

Abstract: An electrical assembly comprises a housing having a frame portion. A substrate has a first side and a second side opposite the first side. A subscriber identification module is mounted to a first side of the substrate and has device terminals. A first connector portion is secured to the second side of the substrate and has connector terminals. A retainer is associated with an interior of the frame portion. The retainer retains at least one of the substrate and the first connector portion. Conductive (e.g., conductive vias or through-holes) in the substrate connect the connector terminals to the device terminals.

Abstract: The invention relates to a surge protection plug (1) for connector or distributor modules in telecommunications and data fields, comprising a housing and a printed circuit board, wherein at least one surge protection element is disposed on the printed circuit board and the printed circuit board comprises a plug-in region on which electric contact pads are disposed that are electrically connected to the surge protection element, wherein the surge protection element is at least connected to a ground line, wherein the housing (3) is designed in an at least partially electrically conductive manner, wherein the housing (3) is electrically connected at an electrically conductive point to the ground line on the printed circuit board (4) or to a ground connection (23) of the surge protection element (19). The invention further related to a ground bus (2) suitable for this purpose.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrical connector for a first IC, comprising a second IC (12) carrying ESD protection, the second IC (12) being integrated into the connector (8), which enhances the ESD protection and preserves the RF performance of such connector (8). The present invention further relates to a method for making an electrical connector (8) for a first IC, comprising this step of providing ESD protection to the first IC by integrating a second IC (12) carrying ESD-protection into the connector (8).

Abstract: Methods and systems for compensating for alien crosstalk generated by one or more of a plurality of wire pairs in a telecommunications jack are disclosed. One method includes positioning a crosstalk compensation arrangement relating to crosstalk across at least a first wire pair and a second wire pair on a circuit board within a telecommunications jack. The method also includes altering the crosstalk compensation arrangement to accommodate at least one zone of crosstalk compensation having an asymmetric capacitive coupling between a first wire pair and a second wire pair to reduce alien crosstalk generated from one of the first and second wire pairs. Specific jacks and compensation arrangements are disclosed as well.

Abstract: An edge connector suitable for attachment with a printed circuit board. The edge connector comprises a body composed of a plastic resin, the body defining a first end that is configured to operably attach to a portion of a printed circuit board and a second end configured to operably connect to a slot in a host device and a plurality of conductive traces and contact pads defined on a portion of a surface of the body, the traces being configured to electrically connect with corresponding traces defined on the printed circuit board.

Abstract: A power connector (100) has a mating plug (10) having a number of contacts (110), an internal printed circuit board (30) mounted to the mating plug and located in one transverse direction perpendicular to the pluggable direction, a cable (20) connected to the internal circuit board, and outer barrel (50) enclosing the mating plug and the cable. The internal printed circuit board defines a conductive area (31). The cable provides a connecting section (24) connecting with the conductive area of the internal printed circuit board and extending through the internal printed circuit board to connect with the contact of the mating plug.

Abstract: The cable assembly may include a plug connector, a cable, and a connector. The plug connector may include a housing and a board assembly. The board assembly may include a printed circuit board. The edge of the printed circuit board may be enclosed with a material. The material may be an overmolded plastic or a coating of a material. In order to reduce the crosstalk in the areas where the cable shield is removed, a shielding assembly may be used. The shielding assembly may provide 360 degrees of shielding for the wire pair at the location where the cable shield is removed. The printed circuit board may have a trace layer, a core layer, and a ground plane layer. The ground plane layer may have a portion which is a solid layer and another portion which is a non-solid layer.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed, including a rugged electrical connector supporting an external bus protocol including a power signal; a backshell canister mated to the electrical connector; an active electronic component housed in the canister; and an electrical connection between the active electronic component and the rugged electrical connector.

Abstract: The invention relates to a plug-in connector (1), comprising a housing, a printed circuit board (2) and RF contacts (K1-K8), the RF contacts (K1-K8) being electrically connected to the printed circuit board (2), the RF contacts (K1-K8) being formed by an integral, flexible printed circuit board (4), from which the individual contacts (K1-K8) are cut free, the flexible printed circuit board (4) being prestressed by a spring-elastic element (6).

Abstract: A cable assembly (100) comprises a mating member (4), a print circuit board (2), an LED (3) attached to the print circuit board (2) and a cable (6) having a positive wire (61) and a negative wire (62) connected with the mating member (4). Said positive wire and negative wire are placed on one surface of the print circuit board (2), with the LED (3) set on another surface, the positive wire and negative wire each respectively has a inner conductor (611, 621) soldered to a corresponding soldering pad on the one surface of the print circuit board, conductive traces (220, 221) are defined on the other surface of the print circuit board and connected with the LED, the soldering pads electrically connects with corresponding conductive traces by vias (210, 211) through the print circuit board.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a housing, a seat body, a terminal group, a printed circuit board, and a cover. The housing has a hollow body. The seat body is disposed in the housing. The terminal group is disposed on the seat body. An end of the terminal group electrically connects with the printed circuit board. The printed circuit board electrically connects with a microprocessor. The cover covers a bottom portion of the seat body. Pins of the printed circuit board passes through the cover and electrically connects with a main board of an electronic device, making the microprocessor able to calculate or control the electronic device to execute different functions and operations.

Abstract: This device includes two connection units and a compensation circuit provided with tracks (4D, 6D) for connecting these units and with capacitive coupling between at least two of the tracks, including a conductor element (36) exhibiting a surface (49) including a portion opposite a surface of a section of a first of the tracks (4D) and another opposite a section of the second of the tracks (6D) with the conductor element (36) which is electrically insulated from the two tracks (4D, 6D).

Abstract: Methods and systems for compensating for crosstalk in a telecommunications jack are disclosed. One method includes manufacturing a circuit board having a zone of crosstalk compensation between a first wire pair and a second wire pair, the zone of crosstalk compensation including a capacitive coupling connected between the first wire pair and the second wire pair and a second capacitive coupling selectively connectable in parallel with the capacitive coupling. The method further includes determining a crosstalk value generated by the jack including the manufactured circuit board. The method also includes, upon determining that the crosstalk value is outside of a crosstalk pass band, adjusting the zone of crosstalk compensation by altering an electrical connection between the second capacitive coupling and the capacitive coupling after the circuit board has been manufactured.

Abstract: A method including providing a connector having a plurality of signal contacts and non-signal contacts. A circuit trace element is provided to be disposed within the connector. The circuit trace element has a ground structure. The circuit trace element has at least two non-signal traces, a first one of the non-signal traces being electrically connected to the ground structure by a connection within the circuit trace element and a second one of the non-signal traces being connectable to the ground structure through a separate electrical component. The second non-signal trace may serve to power an active signal conditioning element within the second connector or, in the absence of the active signal conditioning element, may be connected to the ground structure through the separate electrical component.

Abstract: An electrical connector for terminating a cable formed of twisted pairs, including a termination assembly having a divider for dividing and guiding the pairs to a respective termination location and a pair of contacts positioned adjacent each location where wires of each pair are separated for termination. The electrical connector is preferably an RJ plug and the divider is preferably mounted on a printed circuit board which is provided with a laser trimmed tuneable circuit to compensate for crosstalk.

Abstract: A connecting device having a built-in digital television tuner includes a base, a digital television tuner, a cover plate and a connector. The base has two ports. One of the two ports is assembled with the digital television tuner. The inner walls of both sides of the port have two symmetrical grooves. Rails provided on both sides of the cover plate are assembled in the grooves, so that the cover plate can slide in the port. The other port of the base is assembled with the connector. When being electrically connected to an electronic device, the connecting device of the present invention allows transmission lines of different functions to be inserted therein and receives digital television signals, whereby a user can watch digital television programs.

Abstract: A connector is provided for simultaneously improving both the NEXT high frequency performance when low crosstalk plugs are used and the NEXT low frequency performance when high crosstalk plugs are used. The connector includes a first compensation structure provided on an inner metalized layer of the PCB at a first stage area of the PCB, and a second compensation structure, provided at a second stage area of the PCB, for increasing compensation capacitance with increasing frequency.

Abstract: A multiport connector which includes a housing having at least two aligned compartments, each compartment being structured and arranged to receive respective plugs. A multilayer printed wiring board separates the two compartments, the printed wiring board having circuit patterns on opposite sides of opposed non-conductive layers and a metal shielding layer intermediate the non-conductive layers. A first plurality of conductive contact fingers is disposed in one of the compartments, the first plurality of fingers having first portions for making electrical contact with one of the plugs and second portions for making contact with the circuit pattern on one of the non-conductive layers of the multilayer printed wiring board.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for sensing information (e.g., voltage, current, data, etc.) that is being transmitted through a connector. Preferred embodiments of the present invention operate in accordance with a connector and at least one sensor. In one embodiment of the present invention, the connector comprises a plug, a receptacle, and a sensor assembly for housing at least one circuit board, at least one sensor, and at least one sensor housing, wherein the sensor is configured to sense (or sample) information that is being communicated over a conductor. The sensor may be a torroidal coil that includes a core (e.g., ferrite, etc.) and at least one wire (e.g., copper, etc.) wound around the core. Alternatively, the sensor may be a MEMS sensor, a Hall Effect sensor, a capacitive sensor, a resistive sensor and/or a direct (or physical) connection between the at least one wire and either the at least one circuit board or an external circuit.