COMMUNICATION CONNECTOR
The present invention generally relates to the field of telecommunication, and more particularly, to the field of connectors such as plugs and/or jacks used to interconnect electronic equipment. In an embodiment, the present invention is a shielded RJ45 network jack with an inter-jack connection method that has an electrical disengagement point outside of any electrical mating points, while still allowing for a relatively short distance to compensation from the plug/jack mating interface.
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The present invention generally relates to the field of telecommunication, and more particularly, to the field of connectors such as plugs and/or jacks used to interconnect electronic equipment.
BACKGROUNDIt is common practice to use modular (e.g., RJ45) plugs and jacks in combination with twisted pair cabling to interconnect electronic equipment. While the primary purpose of this type of connectivity is to enable the flow of data, it is also possible to use the same medium to transmit limited amounts of power. This is generally referred to as Power over Ethernet (PoE).
PoE allows a single cable to provide both electrical power and data connections, which may eliminate the need for additional power cables and devices such as transformers and AC outlets. Some non-limiting examples of PoE devices include Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phones, wireless access points, network routers, switches, industrial devices (controllers, meters, sensors, etc.), nurse call stations, IP security cameras, televisions, LED lighting fixtures, remote point of sale kiosks, and physical security devices. PoE was launched into the market in 2003, standardized under IEEE 802.3af, and allowed for a power draw of 12.95 W and 350 mA per pair (Type 1). POE+ was launched into the market in 2009, standardized under IEEE 802.3at, and allowed for a power draw of 25.5 W and 600 mA per pair (Type 2). As the need for more and more power becomes apparent, non-standard applications, such as Cisco's Universal Power over Ethernet (UPoE) at 60 W and Power over HDBaseT (100 W), with 1000 mA per pair of current capacity, have arisen. As of 2015 there is a proposal for an IEEE 802.3bt (PoE++) standard with 49 W (Type 3) to 100 W (Type 4) of power draw and 600 mA (Type 3) to 1000 mA (Type 4) per pair of power, and other potential future applications may require a current capacity of 1500 mA per pair or more.
While the earlier-designed connectors could withstand the rigors of the relatively low power required for earlier PoE applications, these connectors lack the design for durability needed to sustain the ever-increasing power demands. One particular issue is the need to reduce damage that occurs to the plug and/or jack during the mating and disconnection.
In a PoE application, upon disconnection (and/or insertion) of the plug and jack connector combination there is an electrical discharge that can damage the plug and jack mating interfaces. This electrical discharge can be an electrical arc (spark) or a corona discharge. A spark is a fast single event that is time independent and may cause a large distinct crater on the plug contacts of the plug, the plug interface contacts (PICs) of the jack, or both. A corona discharge is a relatively slower event that is time dependent, has multiple events, and causes many shallow craters or pits that erode the plug contacts, PICs, or both. These effects are worsened after multiple insertions as erosion caused by mechanical abrasion also damages the plug/jack mating interfaces of both the plug contacts and the PICs. IEC 60603-7 requires a minimum of 750 plug insertions into a jack module. Many vendors test to a higher amount of insertion cycles as for some applications 750 plug insertions is relatively low. The effects of this damage can be seen in the form of physical damage, electrical interface degradation, and, over time, corrosion of the contacts.
Additional constraints on the design are imposed by the need of the connectors to handle a certain amount of bandwidth while at the same time meeting particular parameters such as, for example, near end crosstalk (NEXT), far end crosstalk (FEXT), return loss, and insertion loss requirements. As such, these and other design concerns give rise to the need for robust connectors designed to withstand current and future demands of PoE.
SUMMARYAccordingly, at least some embodiments of the present invention are directed towards devices, systems, and methods which are related to connectors designed to withstand current and future PoE demands.
In an embodiment, the present invention is a shielded RJ45 network jack with an inter-jack connection method that has an electrical disengagement point outside of the plug/jack mating point, while still allowing for a relatively short distance to compensation from the plug/jack mating interface.
In another embodiment, the present invention is an RJ45 plug assembly with an inter-plug connection method that has an electrical disengagement point outside of preferred mating points.
In yet another embodiment, the present invention is a communication connector that includes a connector housing, a plurality of first contacts positioned at least partially within the connector housing, each of the first contacts configured to interface with one of a plurality of interface contacts of a corresponding connector, a printed circuit board (PCB), the plurality of first contacts being positioned on the PCB, the PCB further including a plurality of second contacts, each of the second contacts being connected to one of the first contacts and having a mating portion and a disconnect portion; and a plurality of third contacts, each of the third contacts having a mating section configured to interface with one of the mating portions and a disconnect section configured to interface with one of the disconnect portions.
In still yet another embodiment, the present invention is a communication connector that includes a connector housing, a plurality of first contacts positioned at least partially within the connector housing, each of the first contacts configured to interface with one of a plurality of interface contacts of a corresponding connector, a PCB, the plurality of first contacts being positioned on the PCB, the PCB further including a plurality of second contacts, each of the second contacts being connected to one of the first contacts and having a mating portion and a disconnect portion, and a plurality of third contacts, each of the third contacts having a preferred mating leg configured to interface with one of the mating portions and a sacrificial leg configured to interface with one of the disconnect portions.
In still yet another embodiment, the present invention is a communication connector connectable to at least one of a communication cable and communication equipment, the communication connector capable of transmitting power over Ethernet. The communication connector includes means for interfacing the communication connector with a corresponding connector, means for establishing an electrical path between the corresponding connector and the at least one of the communication cable and the communication equipment, the means for establishing the electrical path being located within the communication connector and occurring over a first physical path, and means for breaking the electrical path between the corresponding connector and the at least one of the communication cable and the communication equipment, the means for breaking the electrical path being located within the communication connector and occurring over a second physical path.
In still yet another embodiment, the present invention is a communication system that includes a communication plug including a plurality of plug contacts and a plurality of plug cable contacts, and a communication jack including a plurality of PICs and a plurality of jack cable contacts. The communication plug is configured to mate with the communication jack such that each of the plug contacts comes into contact with one of the PICs, a current path being established between each of the plug cable contacts and one of the jack cable contacts when the communication plug is mated with the communication jack, the communication plug is further configured to disconnect from the communication jack such that each the current path is broken while each of the plug contacts maintains contact with one of the PICs.
In still yet another embodiment, the present invention is a communication system that includes a communication plug including a plurality of plug contacts and a plurality of plug cable contacts, and a communication jack including a plurality of PICs and a plurality of jack cable contacts. The communication plug is configured to mate with the communication jack such that each of the plug contacts comes into contact with one of the PICs, a current path being established between each of the plug cable contacts and one of the jack cable contacts when the communication plug is mated with the communication jack, the communication plug is further configured to disconnect from the communication jack such that each the current path is broken at a point other than between each of the plug contacts and respective one of the PICs.
In still yet another embodiment, the present invention is a communication system that includes, a communication plug including a plurality of plug contacts and a plurality of plug cable contacts, and a communication jack including a plurality of PICs and a plurality of jack cable contacts. The communication plug is configured to mate with the communication jack such that each of the plug contacts comes into contact with one of the PICs, a current path being established between each of the plug cable contacts and one of the jack cable contacts when the communication plug is mated with the communication jack, each the current path traversing one of the plug contacts and respective one of the PICs. The communication plug is further configured to disconnect from the communication jack such that at least one the current path is broken while respective one of the plug contacts maintains contact with respective one of the PICs.
In still yet another embodiment, the present invention is a communication system including a communication plug and a communication jack. The communication system includes means for connecting the communication plug to a plug-cable having at least one conductor. The communication system also includes means for connecting the communication jack to a jack-cable having at least one conductor. The communication system also includes means for electrically and physically interfacing the communication plug with the communication jack. The communication system also includes means for transmitting a current between the at least one conductor of the plug-cable and the at least one conductor of the jack-cable. The communication system also includes means for breaking the current at a point that does not include the means for electrically and physically interfacing the communication plug with the communication jack.
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better-understood with reference to the following drawings, description, and any claims that may follow.
An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in
With the patch panel 112 removed,
As shown in
The sled assembly 128 is illustrated in greater detail in
Referring to the exploded views of the sled assembly 128 shown in
After assembly of the sled assembly 128, IDCs 154 are placed in IDC slots 216 of rear sled 156 and are then secures to second rigid PCB 152 making the back end assembly 228 as shown in
Referring now to
To achieve the improved levels of reliability, jack 114 utilizes first and second wiping contacts 144, 146 in conjunction with specifically designed contacts on the rigid PCB 140.
In order to ensure contact on a specific side of either first contact pads 288 or second contact pads 290, it is preferred that first contact pads 288 or second contact pads 290 be raised with respect to the rest of the PCB in the area of contact. Some non-limiting means of ensuring reliable contact can include increasing the plating thickness on contact pads 288 and 290, or removing/lowering the adjacent solder mask.
An alternative embodiment of the first rigid PCB 302 is shown in
Yet another alternative embodiment of the first rigid PCB 308 is shown in
The primary difference between sled assembly 318 and the previously described sled assembly 128 is in the design of the wiping contacts and the design of the contact pads on the first rigid PCB 322.
The interaction of the dual wiping contacts and the dual contact pads is shown in
First wiping contacts 144, second wiping contacts 146, first dual wiping contacts 324, and second dual wiping contacts 326 are shown with compliant pins but may be attached to respective second rigid PCBs through any non-limiting means. First PICs 132 and second PICs 134 are shown with solder connections but may be attached to respective first rigid PCBs through any non-limiting means. Cable 118 and 120 are shown as shielded cable but may be any other non-limiting form of cable including but not limited to F/UTP or UTP cabling.
An exemplary schematic for the plug 116/jack 114, 354 combination is shown in
While the above-described embodiments illustrate examples of jacks with improved robustness for PoE, it is also possible to provide improved designs in the plug.
To ensure contact on a specific side of contact pads 148, it is preferred that contact pads 148 be raised with respect to the rest of the PCB in the area of contact. Some non-limiting means of ensuring reliable contact can include increasing the plating thickness on contact pads 148 or removing/lowering the adjacent solder mask.
Note that while this invention has been described in terms of several embodiments, these embodiments are non-limiting (regardless of whether they have been labeled as exemplary or not), and there are alterations, permutations, and equivalents, which fall within the scope of this invention. For example, while references have been made to rigid PCBs, one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that the use of flexible PCBs or combinations of flex/rigid PCBs would also be within the scope of the disclosure. Additionally, the described embodiments should not be interpreted as mutually exclusive, and should instead be understood as potentially combinable if such combinations are permissive. Furthermore, in some cases same numbers are used to refer to similar elements in different embodiment. It should also be noted that there are many alternative ways of implementing the methods and apparatuses of the present invention. It is therefore intended that claims that may follow be interpreted as including all such alterations, permutations, and equivalents as fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.
Claims
1. A communication connector comprising:
- a connector housing;
- a plurality of first contacts positioned at least partially within said connector housing, each of said first contacts configured to interface with one of a plurality of interface contacts of a corresponding connector;
- a printed circuit board (PCB), said plurality of first contacts being positioned on said PCB, said PCB further including a plurality of second contacts, each of said second contacts being connected to one of said first contacts and having a mating portion and a disconnect portion; and
- a plurality of third contacts, each of said third contacts having a mating section configured to interface with one of said mating portions and a disconnect section configured to interface with one of said disconnect portions.
2. The communication connector of claim 1, wherein each of said second contacts is a contact pad and wherein each of said third contacts is a wiping contact.
3. The communication connector of claim 1, further comprising a second PCB, said plurality of third contacts being fixed within said second PCB.
4. The communication connector of claim 3, further comprising a plurality of cable contacts, said cable contacts being secured within said second PCB.
5. The communication connector of claim 1, wherein for each of said second contacts, each mating portion is offset laterally from said respective disconnect portion.
6. The communication connector of claim 5, wherein for each of said second contacts, each mating portion is offset longitudinally from said respective disconnect portion.
7. The communication connector of claim 1, wherein said PCB is configured to be moveable between a plurality of positions, said plurality of positions including a first position corresponding to said plurality of first contacts being in contact with said interface contacts of said corresponding connector and a second position corresponding to said plurality of first contacts being disconnected from said interface contacts of said corresponding connector, wherein in said first position each of said third contacts is interfaced with one of said second contacts via respective said mating section and respective said mating portion, and wherein in said second position each of said third contacts is disconnected from each of said second contacts.
8. The communication connector of claim 7, wherein said plurality of positions further include a third position corresponding to said plurality of first contacts being in contact with said interface contacts of said corresponding connector and each of said third contacts being interfaced with one of said second contacts via respective said disconnect section and respective said disconnect portion.
9. The communication connector of claim 8, wherein said plurality of positions further include a fourth position corresponding to said plurality of first contacts being in contact with said interface contacts of said corresponding connector and each of said third contacts being disconnected from each of said second contacts.
10. The communication connector of claim 1, wherein said communication connector is an RJ45 jack.
11. The communication connector of claim 1, wherein said communication connector is an RJ45 plug.
12. A communication connector comprising:
- a connector housing;
- a plurality of first contacts positioned at least partially within said connector housing, each of said first contacts configured to interface with one of a plurality of interface contacts of a corresponding connector;
- a printed circuit board (PCB), said plurality of first contacts being positioned on said PCB, said PCB further including a plurality of second contacts, each of said second contacts being connected to one of said first contacts and having a mating portion and a disconnect portion; and
- a plurality of third contacts, each of said third contacts having a preferred mating leg configured to interface with one of said mating portions and a sacrificial leg configured to interface with one of said disconnect portions.
13. The communication connector of claim 12, wherein each of said second contacts is a contact pad, wherein each of said preferred mating legs is a wiping contact, and wherein each of said sacrificial legs is a wiping contact.
14. The communication connector of claim 12, further comprising a second PCB, said plurality of third contacts being fixed within said second PCB.
15. The communication connector of claim 14, further comprising a plurality of cable contacts, said cable contacts being secured within said second PCB.
16. The communication connector of claim 12, wherein for each of said second contacts, each mating portion is offset laterally from said respective disconnect portion.
17. The communication connector of claim 16, wherein for each of said second contacts, each mating portion is offset longitudinally from said respective disconnect portion.
18. The communication connector of claim 12, wherein said PCB is configured to be moveable between a plurality of positions, said plurality of positions including a first position corresponding to said plurality of first contacts being in contact with said interface contacts of said corresponding connector and a second position corresponding to said plurality of first contacts being disconnected from said interface contacts of said corresponding connector,
- wherein in said first position each of said third contacts is interfaced with one of said second contacts via respective said preferred mating leg and respective said mating portion, and
- wherein in said second position each of said third contacts is disconnected from each of said second contacts.
19. The communication connector of claim 18, wherein said plurality of positions further include a third position corresponding to said plurality of first contacts being in contact with said interface contacts of said corresponding connector and each of said third contacts being interfaced with one of said second contacts via respective said sacrificial leg and respective said disconnect portion.
20. The communication connector of claim 19, wherein said plurality of positions further include a fourth position corresponding to said plurality of first contacts being in contact with said interface contacts of said corresponding connector and each of said third contacts being disconnected from each of said second contacts.
21. A communication connector connectable to at least one of a communication cable and communication equipment, said communication connector capable of transmitting power over Ethernet, said communication connector comprising:
- means for interfacing said communication connector with a corresponding connector;
- means for establishing an electrical path between said corresponding connector and said at least one of said communication cable and said communication equipment, said means for establishing said electrical path being located within said communication connector and occurring over a first physical path; and
- means for breaking said electrical path between said corresponding connector and said at least one of said communication cable and said communication equipment, said means for breaking said electrical path being located within said communication connector and occurring over a second physical path.
22. A communication system comprising:
- a communication plug including a plurality of plug contacts and a plurality of plug cable contacts; and
- a communication jack including a plurality of plug interface contacts (PICs) and a plurality of jack cable contacts,
- said communication plug configured to mate with said communication jack such that each of said plug contacts comes into contact with one of said PICs, a current path being established between each of said plug cable contacts and one of said jack cable contacts when said communication plug is mated with said communication jack,
- said communication plug being further configured to disconnect from said communication jack such that each said current path is broken while each of said plug contacts maintains contact with one of said PICs.
23. A communication system comprising:
- a communication plug including a plurality of plug contacts and a plurality of plug cable contacts; and
- a communication jack including a plurality of plug interface contacts (PICs) and a plurality of jack cable contacts,
- said communication plug configured to mate with said communication jack such that each of said plug contacts comes into contact with one of said PICs, a current path being established between each of said plug cable contacts and one of said jack cable contacts when said communication plug is mated with said communication jack,
- said communication plug being further configured to disconnect from said communication jack such that each said current path is broken at a point other than between each of said plug contacts and respective one of said PICs.
24. A communication system comprising:
- a communication plug including a plurality of plug contacts and a plurality of plug cable contacts; and
- a communication jack including a plurality of plug interface contacts (PICs) and a plurality of jack cable contacts,
- said communication plug configured to mate with said communication jack such that each of said plug contacts comes into contact with one of said PICs, a current path being established between each of said plug cable contacts and one of said jack cable contacts when said communication plug is mated with said communication jack, each said current path traversing one of said plug contacts and respective one of said PICs,
- said communication plug being further configured to disconnect from said communication jack such that at least one said current path is broken while respective one of said plug contacts maintains contact with respective one of said PICs.
25. A communication system including a communication plug and a communication jack, said communication system comprising:
- means for connecting said communication plug to a plug-cable having at least one conductor;
- means for connecting said communication jack to a jack-cable having at least one conductor;
- means for electrically and physically interfacing said communication plug with said communication jack;
- means for transmitting a current between said at least one conductor of said plug-cable and said at least one conductor of said jack-cable; and
- means for breaking said current at a point that does not include said means for electrically and physically interfacing said communication plug with said communication jack.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 2, 2016
Publication Date: Sep 7, 2017
Applicant: Panduit Corp. (Tinley Park, IL)
Inventors: Joshua A. Valenti (Wheeling, IL), Satish I. Patel (Roselle, IL), Robert E. Fransen (Tinley Park, IL), Michael B. Verbeek (Crown Point, IN)
Application Number: 15/058,349