Abstract: A modular telephone-style plug features a substantially three sided intermediate section which integrally connects the cable receiving end with the contact mating end of the plug. The intermediate section has an opening which spans virtually all of the fourth side of this section. The resultant three sided intermediate section provides for a reduced dielectric constant in the interior space in which the critical conductor transition from jacketed cable to contact termination occurs. This produces lower crosstalk and higher data propagation to allow this modular plug to be capable of a higher frequency for data transmission. The intermediate section features an expanded interior to lower crosstalk between twisted pairs of conductors over a wide range of data transmission rates. The intermediate section's expanded interior space permits greater freedom in the placement and relative positioning of any conductor pair to any other conductor pair.

Abstract: A modular jack having means for filtering the signals on the conductors of the jack as a way of reducing noise. The filtering means preferably comprises one or more capacitor modules adapted to be in electrical contact with the conductors of the jack. More particularly, the capacitor modules may each comprise substrates having conductive traces arranged thereon, the size and location of the traces being selected to provide the desired capacitances. Portions of the traces are placed in electrical contact with the intermediate portions of the conductors in the jack.

Abstract: A primary conductor having a solid wire or wire strands that are enclosed by an insulating coating which has ribs that extend radially outwardly. The insulating coating provides electrical insulation between neighboring conductors. The ribs define air spaces which are between the ribs and space the insulated primary conductors from each other, thereby reducing the overall dielectric constant of the cable assembly. This in turn reduces the line-to-line capacitance between adjacent conductors, thereby minimizing Near End Cross Talk.

Abstract: A one-piece flexible strap clamp which may be wrapped in either of two directions about barriers, or about objects of varying shape such as insulators or lugs, or around fences, or about linear objects such as cable, wire, or bundles of cable or wire. The clamp may be installed onto a variety of support surfaces, such as underground support arms, wildlife/animal barriers, dielectric covers, or tubular guards, without the need for any additional fasteners or other mounting equipment or pieces, and is more tamper proof than previous versions.

Abstract: A modular plug assembly for convenient interconnection, analysis, impedance matching or testing of computer, communication, local area network or other electronic equipment. The assembly comprises a plug of physical configuration generally similar to the modular plugs used for terminating cables. The plug contains all circuit elements required to apply one or more specified signals to contacts of a modular jack formed in the electronic equipment upon insertion thereinto of the modular plug of the invention. The circuit elements are formed on a flexible substrate which is entirely contained within the plug assembly. Contact between the circuit and the contacts of the jack on the equipment is provided by a number of terminals which are inserted into recesses formed in the body of the plug and retained therein. The terminals comprise tangs which pierce conductors formed on the circuit board and which comprise contact surfaces for contacting the contacts of the jack.

Abstract: An improved modular jack for directly coupling a modular plug to a printed circuit board. The jack features a separable cap member for retaining the conductors in the housing, a spring contact portion that extends from the rear to the front of the jack housing and includes in one embodiment a substantially linear, lower surface that greatly increases the contact area with the modular plug's contact terminal. The design of the jack's conductors, and their placement in the housing, virtually eliminates failure due to overstress, increases and optimizes the signal transfer surface area, and achieves uniform contact resistance regardless of the depth of insertion of the plug into the jack. In an alternate, bifurcated embodiment, the likelihood of vibration-triggered open circuits is substantially reduced.

Abstract: A cable protector for insertion into the open end of a duct or conduit for preventing a cable pulled therethrough from being damaged by the edges of the duct or conduit. The cable protector has a substantially C-shaped cross-section and includes a turned-over lip which encapsulates the end of the duct and prevents the cable protector from being pulled into the duct or conduit. A groove at the juncture of the lip and a curved transitional portion facilitates folding of the cable protector to allow insertion thereof into a variety of sizes of ducts or conduits. Ribs located on the external surface of the body of the cable protector ensures a substantially tubular configuration of the protector after its diameter has been reduced to fit into the intended duct or conduit. The inside surface of the cable protector may be textured to minimize friction.

Abstract: A modular plug terminates a multi-conductor cable therein. The modular plug includes a locking bar hingedly attached to the housing and movable from a position outside the cable-receiving opening to a position inside the opening for compressibly holding the cable therein. A plurality of spaced surfaces are formed on the locking bar to define a plurality of different positions of the locking bar in the opening, whereby the cable may be selectively and controllaby deformed according to the position of the locking bar.

Abstract: An improved modular connector coupler for joining two modular plugs features an improved spring contact portion and a selective, continuous commoning system. The spring contact portion of the conductors substantially increases the area of contact with the mating plug's terminals, and prevents overstressing of the conductors. The permanently installed commoning bar assembly provides continuous electrical connection between two or more of the main conductors in such a manner that micromovements of the conductors are easily followed and do not cause open circuits. The housing structure features two substantially identical housing halves which are connected back-to-back in a 180.degree. rotated configuration.

Abstract: An improved modular plug which permits a normal 6-position plug to accommodate 8 conductors, and a normal 8-position plug to accommodate 10 conductors, without increasing the overall outer width thereby remaining in compliance with FCC regulations. A pair of grooves are formed into the side walls of the cable-receiving cavity to accommodate the extra conductors.

Abstract: An electrical connector incorporates a ground strap conductor that more efficiently grounds the shield of a multi-conductor shielded cable. The ground strap conductor at one end includes a spring contact portion which is indistinguishable structurally and functionally from the spring contact portions of the normal conductors of the connector. The other end of the ground strap conductor is of greatly increased surface area in order to provide a wide, short path to ground for the high frequency EMI and high voltage spikes. A solder post tip is provided for terminating the ground strap after insertion through an aperture in a PCB, and the invention is particularly designed for use with telephone-type modular jacks and modular shielded cables terminated in telephone-type modular plugs.

Abstract: An electrical connector or modular jack for directly coupling a printed circuit board and a standard, miniature, telephone-style modular plug. The jack housing includes an opening in the front portion thereof for receiving the modular plug that features a plurality of planar, insulation-piercing contact terminals. The jack includes conductors having spring contact portions that extend angularly forwardly from the rear part of the opening to be engaged with the similarly spaced contact terminals of the modular plug. The other ends of the jack's conductors extend normally from an outer wall of the housing in an alternating, staggered fashion to fit within correspondingly spaced apertures in the printed circuit board. An alternate embodiment provides a low profile modular jack particularly adapted for use with closely-spaced printed circuit boards. The low profile embodiment features a side-mounted latching assembly.

Abstract: An electrical connector adapted to receive a modular plug comprising a housing having a front portion, a rear portion and an outer wall, a plug-receiving opening in the front portion and extending toward the rear portion, the plug-receiving opening comprising a rear portion, a plurality of conductors associated with the housing, each conductor comprising a first end portion extending from the outer wall, a first intermediate portion substantially perpendicular to the first end portion, a second intermediate portion substantially perpendicular to the first intermediate portion, and a second end portion extending generally from the rear portion of the plug-receiving opening toward the front portion of the housing. A method for assembling the connector comprises substantially, in proper sequence, forming specified bends in conductors associated with the connector and inserting the conductors in the housing.

Abstract: An electrical connector adapted to receive a modular plug comprises a housing having a front portion, a rear portion and an outer wall, a plug receiving opening in the front portion and extending toward the rear portion, the plug receiving opening comprising a rear portion, a plurality of conductors associated with the housing, each conductor comprising a first end portion extending from the outer wall, a first intermediate portion substantially perpendicular to the first end portion, a second intermediate portion substantially perpendicular to the first intermediate portion, and a second end portion extending generally from the rear portion of the plug receiving opening toward the front portion of the housing. A method for assembling the connector comprises substantially, in proper sequence, forming specified bends in conductors associated with the connector and inserting the conductors in the housing.

Abstract: The cable comprises one or more layers of insulated conductors disposed in circumferentially spaced relation. At least one layer is surrounded by a flexible shield formed from a inner layer of metallic foil bonded to a layer of flexible plastic. A ground conductor in the form of an uninsulated metal wire or a semi-conductive wire is disposed in the conductor layer directly adjacent to the shield. The ground conductor and the insulated conductors all have approximately the same outside diameter. This promotes intimate contact between the ground conductor and the shield.The cable is used in modular conjunction with a connector which holds the cable in pressurized engagement within a cable receiving opening. The pressure produced by the connector insures that intimate contact between the ground conductor and the shield will be maintained. The connector is designed such that the pressure applied to the cable can be varied.

Abstract: An electrical connector or modular jack for directly coupling a printed circuit board and a standard, miniature, telephone-style modular plug. The jack housing includes an opening in the front portion thereof for receiving the modular plug that features a plurality of planar, insulation-piercing contact terminals. The jack includes conductors having spring contact portions that extend angularly forwardly from the rear part of the opening to be engaged with the similarly spaced contact terminals of the modular plug. The other ends of the jack's conductors extend normally from an outer wall of the housing in an alternating, staggered fashion to fit within correspondingly spaced apertures in the printed circuit board. An alternate embodiment provides a low profile modular jack particularly adapted for use with closely-spaced printed circuit boards. The low profile embodiment features a side-mounted latching assembly.

Abstract: A shielded conductor is formed by bonding a thin layer of conductive material to the outer surface of an insulated wire. The bonding may be achieved by coating the outside surface of the insulated wire with a metallic particle and solvent solution, and then heating the coated wire to flash off the solvent. A grounding conductor is disposed adjacent to the outer conductive layer and is in electrical contact therewith. The grounding conductor may take the form of a center ground wire surrounded by a semiconductive material whose outer diameter is substantially the same as that of the shielded conductor. One or more unshielded insulated conductors may also be provided within the cable assembly which is particularly designed to be terminated in a miniature, modular plug.The cable assembly may also include a plurality of shielded conductors disposed in laterally adjacent relationship. Conductive coatings on adjacent shielded conductors are in electrical communication.

Abstract: A standard miniature modular connector or plug includes insulaton-piercing contact terminals for terminating a plurality of insulated conductors contained within the housing of the plug. A thin, flexible substrate is positioned within the plug and includes at least one conductive path positioned thereon adjacent to one or more of the insulated conductors. The conductive path is positioned so that at least one of the contact terminals pierces a segment of the path on the substrate to provide an electrical connection thereto. The conductive path or segments may be arranged in any desired fashion, for example, to provide an auxiliary, internal circuit path between two of the contact terminals and/or two of the insulated conductors. Two or more individual multi-conductor cables may be terminated in the same plug whereby the conductive path on the substrate may serve as an electrical interconnection between the respective conductors in the two cables.

Abstract: A cable assembly having a shielded conductor. The shielded conductor is formed by bonding a thin layer of conductive material to the outer surface of an insulated wire. The bonding may be achieved by coating the outside surface of the insulated wire with a metallic particle and solvent solution, and then heating the coated wire to flash off the solvent and achieve the desired bond. The outer conductive layer may be grounded by positioning a grounding conductor adjacent thereto prior to encapsulation in an outer insulating jacket. The grounding conductor may take the form of an insulated multi-strand metal wire which has an outer diameter approximately equal to the outer diameter of the shielded conductor. The equal diameters of the shielded and grounding conductors enable the cable assembly to be easily terminated in a miniature modular plug.

Abstract: A cable assembly having a shielded conductor and a method of making same. The shielded conductor is formed by bonding a thin layer of conductive material to the outer surface of an insulated wire. The bonding may be achieved by coating the outside surface of the insulated wire with a metallic particle and solvent solution, and then heating the coated wire to flash off the solvent and achieve the desired bond. The outer conductive layer may be grounded by positioning grounding means adjacent thereto prior to encapsulation in an outer insulating jacket. The grounding means preferably takes the form of a center ground wire surrounded by a semi-conductive material whose outer diameter is substantially the same as that of the shielded conductor. The semi-conductor material contacts the outer conductive layer along its length, and physical and electrical contact is maintained by the outer jacket.