Abstract: Communications connectors are provided that include a printed circuit board that has a top side and a bottom side. These connectors each include a housing that receives at least a portion of the printed circuit board. The connectors include first through eighth input contacts that are mounted on the printed circuit board and first through eighth output contacts that are likewise mounted on the printed circuit board. The connectors further include a board edge termination assembly that has an opening that receives an edge of the printed circuit board. The board edge termination assembly has a body that is configured to receive a communications cable having at least eight conductors and to electrically connect the eight conductors to respective ones of the first through eighth output contacts.

Abstract: Communications jacks include a housing having a plug aperture, a wiring board that is mounted at least partially within the housing, a set of contacts mounted on the wiring board and extending into the plug aperture, and a contact support that is mounted at least partially within the plug aperture. The contact support is configured to be moveable between a first position and a second position. The contact support may be configured to engage at least some of the contacts when a first type of communications plug is received within the plug aperture, and may be configured to not provide support to any of the contacts when a second type of communications plug is received within the plug aperture.

Abstract: Communications connectors are provided that include a printed circuit board that has a top side and a bottom side. These connectors each include a housing that receives at least a portion of the printed circuit board. The connectors include first through eighth input contacts that are mounted on the printed circuit board and first through eighth output contacts that are likewise mounted on the printed circuit board. The connectors further include a board edge termination assembly that has an opening that receives an edge of the printed circuit board. The board edge termination assembly has a body that is configured to receive a communications cable having at least eight conductors and to electrically connect the eight conductors to respective ones of the first through eighth output contacts.

Abstract: A communications jack includes a housing having a plug aperture, a printed circuit board that is disposed at least partly within the housing, and eight jackwire contacts that are mounted on the printed circuit board and extend into the plug aperture. A first side of the printed circuit board further includes four output contacts and an opposed second side of the printed circuit board further includes another four output contacts. A board edge termination assembly is mounted on an edge of the printed circuit board. The board edge termination assembly includes a body and eight contact members that are disposed at least partly within the body. Each contact member is configured to mate with a respective one of the output contacts.

Abstract: A communications jack includes a housing having a plug aperture, a printed circuit board that is disposed at least partly within the housing, and eight jackwire contacts that are mounted on the printed circuit board and extend into the plug aperture. A first side of the printed circuit board further includes four output contacts and an opposed second side of the printed circuit board further includes another four output contacts. A board edge termination assembly is mounted on an edge of the printed circuit board. The board edge termination assembly includes a body and eight contact members that are disposed at least partly within the body. Each contact member is configured to mate with a respective one of the output contacts.

Abstract: Communications connectors having a plurality of signal carrying paths are provided that include a printed circuit board and a plurality of contacts. The printed circuit board includes a plurality of contact pads, a plurality of output terminals, and a plurality of conductive paths that connect at least some of the contact pads to respective ones of the output terminals. Each contact includes a plug contact region, a pad contact region, and a signal carrying segment that connects the plug contact region and the pad contact region. A first of the signal carrying paths extends from the plug contact region of a first of the contacts to a first of the output terminals. This signal carrying path includes the signal carrying segment of the first of the contacts, a first of the contact pads and a first of the conductive paths.

Abstract: A communications jack assembly includes: a jack frame having a plug aperture; a dielectric mounting substrate attached to the jack frame; and a plurality of conductors engaged with the mounting substrate, each of the conductors including a fixed end portion mounted with the mounting substrate and a free end portion extending into the plug aperture for electrical contact with a mating plug, each of the free end portions having substantially the same profile and being substantially transversely aligned in side-by-side relationship. A first pair of conductors is sandwiched inside a second pair of conductors. The second pair of conductors includes a crossover, the positioning of crossover being selected to provide differential to common mode crosstalk compensation.

Abstract: A communications jack assembly includes: a jack frame having a plug aperture; a dielectric mounting substrate attached to the jack frame; and a plurality of conductors engaged with the mounting substrate, each of the conductors including a fixed end portion mounted with the mounting substrate and a free end portion extending into the plug aperture for electrical contact with a mating plug, each of the free end portions having substantially the same profile and being substantially transversely aligned in side-by-side relationship. A first pair of conductors is sandwiched inside a second pair of conductors. The second pair of conductors includes a crossover, the positioning of crossover being selected to provide differential to common mode crosstalk compensation.

Abstract: A communication jack that withstands insertion of a communication plug with which the jack is not configured to mate without being damaged. The communication jack comprises a wire board and a number of contact wires that extend above the wire board and that are electrically coupled to respective contact regions on the wire board at first ends of the contact wires. The contact wires having second ends that are freely disposed for making electrical connections with corresponding contact wires of a mating communication plug. Each of the freely disposed ends of the contact wires are cantilevered from respective fist ends of the contact wires such that the contact wires are capable of being deflected when the freely disposed ends wipe against respective contact wires of the mating communication plug.

Abstract: A communication jack that withstands insertion of a communication plug with which the jack is not configured to mate without being damaged. The communication jack comprises a wire board and a number of contact wires that extend above the wire board and that are electrically coupled to respective contact regions on the wire board at first ends of the contact wires. The contact wires having second ends that are freely disposed for making electrical connections with corresponding contact wires of a mating communication plug. Each of the freely disposed ends of the contact wires are cantilevered from respective fist ends of the contact wires such that the contact wires are capable of being deflected when the freely disposed ends wipe against respective contact wires of the mating communication plug.

Abstract: A communication connector capable of sustaining Category 6 performance when subjected to physical stress in an operating environment. The connector includes a connector housing, and a wire board with contact wires extending over a top surface of the board to establish points of electrical contact with terminals of a mating connector when the latter is inserted in the connector housing. A terminal housing is fixed on the top surface of the wire board, for supporting a number of connector terminals which are mounted on the board. The terminal housing and the connector housing are constructed and arranged to engage one another when the wire board is inserted with its contact wires in the connector housing, so that displacement of the points of contact between the contact wires and the terminals of the mating connector, is restrained during use of the communication connector.

Abstract: A connection system for communication connectors. A first connector housing forms a front opening having an axis for receiving a second connector having a latch in the direction of the axis. The first connector housing has a retaining surface in the region of the front opening for cooperating with a part of the latch and defining a connected position for the second connector within the first connector housing. At least two resilient fingers project from a rear portion of the first connector housing toward the front opening, symmetrically with respect to the axis of the opening. Free ends of the fingers urge the second connector toward the connected position and restrain the second connector from deviating from the connected position during use. Optimal electrical performance of the mated connectors can then be maintained.

Abstract: A connection system for communication connectors. A first connector housing forms a front opening having an axis for receiving a second connector having a latch in the direction of the axis. The first connector housing has a retaining surface in the region of the front opening for cooperating with a part of the latch and defining a connected position for the second connector within the first connector housing. At least two resilient fingers project from a rear portion of the first connector housing toward the front opening, symmetrically with respect to the axis of the opening. Free ends of the fingers urge the second connector toward the connected position and restrain the second connector from deviating from the connected position during use. Optimal electrical performance of the mated connectors can then be maintained.

Abstract: A communication connector capable of sustaining Category 6 performance when subjected to physical stress in an operating environment. The connector includes a connector housing, and a wire board with contact wires extending over a top surface of the board to establish points of electrical contact with terminals of a mating connector when the latter is inserted in the connector housing. A terminal housing is fixed on the top surface of the wire board, for supporting a number of connector terminals which are mounted on the board. The terminal housing and the connector housing are constructed and arranged to engage one another when the wire board is inserted with its contact wires in the connector housing, so that displacement of the points of contact between the contact wires and the terminals of the mating connector, is restrained during use of the communication connector.

Abstract: A communication connector assembly that incorporates crosstalk compensation. A number of compensation coupling contacts, e.g., conductive pads, stiff wires or plates, are mounted on a front edge region of a wire board that supports a number of terminal contact wires. Compensation elements associated with the wire board are connected to the contacts and are selected to produce, e.g., capacitive crosstalk compensation coupling. The terminal contact wires have connecting portions for contacting corresponding terminals of a mating connector along a line of contact. Free ends of the contact wires, ahead of the line of contact, are formed to deflect toward the wire board and to connect with the compensation coupling contacts on the board when engaged by the mating connector. The compensation coupling is therefore effective at the line of contact with the mating connector. In the disclosed embodiments, the assembly is incorporated in a modular jack connector.

Abstract: A modular jack 200 includes a jack housing 220 with an opening 225 in its front end that is adapted to receive a modular plug 100. Within the opening there are a number of jack springs 215 for making electrical contact with metallic blades 120 that are installed in the plug. Variations in the actual position 211 where the plug blades make contact with the jack springs are reduced by the inclusion of a positioning member within the housing. This is extremely important in situations where the modular plug includes crosstalk compensation, since positional variations affect the amount of crosstalk compensation needed. In one embodiment, the positioning member comprises a cam 228 that engages a flexible latch 130 on the modular plug to create an axial force “F1” that pushes the plug toward a retaining surface 229 within the housing.

Abstract: A communication connector assembly including a wire board, and a number of elongated terminal contact wires extending above a top surface of the board. The contact wires have free end portions for making electrical contact with a mating connector, and base portions formed opposite the free end portions for supporting the contact wires on the board and for connecting the wires to conductors on or within the board. The base portions project normal from the top surface of the board. Pairs of the contact wires are coupled to one another along a first coupling region between their free end portions and their base portions and horizontal with respect to the top surface of the wire board, so that crosstalk introduced by the mating connector of a given polarity, is reduced over the first coupling region.

Abstract: An enhanced communication connector assembly capable of meeting Category 6 performance levels with respect to near end crosstalk (NEXT), when the assembly is connected to a mating connector. The assembly includes a wire board, and a number of elongated terminal contact wires with base portions that are supported on the board. The contact wires have free end portions opposite the base portions for making electrical contact with a mating connector. A crosstalk compensating device on the wire board is constructed and arranged to cooperate with sections of selected terminal contact wires to provide capacitive compensation coupling between the selected terminal contact wires, when the contact wires are engaged by the mating connector.

Abstract: Capacitive crosstalk compensation coupling is achieved in a communication connector by the use of a capacitor compensation assembly. The assembly includes a housing constructed to be associated with a communication connector having elongated terminal contact wires. One or more crosstalk compensation capacitors are supported in the housing. Each compensation capacitor includes a first electrode having a first terminal, a second electrode having a second terminal, and a dielectric spacer is disposed between the first and the second electrodes. The terminals of the electrodes are exposed at positions outside of the housing so that selected terminal contact wires of the connector make electrical contact with corresponding terminals of the compensation capacitors to provide capacitive coupling between the selected contact wires when the contact wires are engaged by a mating connector.

Abstract: A communications connector assembly capable of meeting proposed Category 6 performance levels with respect to near end crosstalk. The assembly includes a wire board having a front portion, and a number of elongated terminal contact wires with base portions connected at one end to the board, and free end portions for electrically contacting a mating connector. The terminal contact wires extend parallel and co-planar with one another above the front portion of the board, and their free end portions project from the front portion of the board. The free end portions are configured to be deflected resiliently toward the board when the mating connector engages them in a direction parallel to the board. A crosstalk compensating device is associated with at least one of the terminal contact wires at a position where the wires are co-planar with one another.