Electrical connectors – With indicating or identifying provision – Connection indicating provision
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-12
2001-01-16
Vu, Hien (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
With indicating or identifying provision
Connection indicating provision
C439S676000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06174194
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention generally relates to the art of electrical connectors and, particularly, to an add-on electrical connector assembly which has light transmission means for visual indication of the status of an associated electrical connector.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Electrical connectors having built-in indicator lights have been known for some time. In these connectors, the indicator lights typically are located at the front of the connector. A typical connector may include an integral LED device to emit a light which indicates an operational function such as the reception or transmission of data or voice signals, verification of a good connection between separate pieces of equipment, indication when power is on or off, indication of a defect in a network transmission or any other state or condition in the equipment with which the connector is operatively associated.
Visual light indicating connectors are popular in modular jacks or similar types of connectors commonly used in telecommunications and data networking equipment. These jacks often are mounted on a circuit board to which they are to be connected. Problems have been encountered in incorporating such light indicating devices, such as LED devices, directly onto the connector due to the ever-increasing miniaturization of telecommunications and data networking equipment. There may simply not be enough space to mount the desired LED devices directly on the connector housing. In addition, regardless of the size of the connector or jack, connectors which include light transmitting devices are expensive to manufacture and assemble for an otherwise relatively inexpensive component. For instance, for an integral LED device the connector or jack housing must be provided with internal molded passages to accommodate the light indicating devices as well as the conductors which lead from the devices. Such provisions might not be practical or cost effective.
The present invention is directed to solving these problems by providing an add-on assembly for an electrical connector or modular jack assembly which provides light indicating capabilities without making the source of the light integral with the connector or modular jack itself.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object, therefore, of the invention is to provide a new and improved add-on electrical connector assembly capable of transmitting and indicating light for various visual indication purposes.
In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, a printed circuit board mounted connector assembly is adapted for electrically connecting a complementary mating plug to a printed circuit board. The connector assembly is disclosed as a modular jack assembly.
More particularly, the assembly includes a board mounted connector having a connector housing mounted on the printed circuit board. The housing includes a front face with a cavity therein defining a plug-receiving opening or receptacle, a top wall and a rear wall. A plurality of terminals are mounted on the housing and each terminal includes one end extending into the cavity for making electrical contact with a corresponding terminal on the plug and an opposite end adapted to contact the printed circuit board.
An LED module is provided separate from the board mounted connector for association with the connector housing. The module includes a separate LED housing adapted to be mounted over the top and rear walls of the connector housing. A light emitting device is mounted on the LED housing and is viewable through a front face thereof adjacent the plug-receiving opening. Conductor wires extend from the light emitting device through the interior of the LED housing and downward for connection to the printed circuit board.
As disclosed herein, the LED housing is generally L-shaped to include a top portion adapted to overlie the top wall of the connector housing and a rear portion adapted to overlie the rear wall of the connector housing. The terminals of the connector and the distal ends of the LED conductor wires include feet for surface mounting on the printed circuit board. The feet of the terminals and the conductor wires are generally in a line. In the embodiment shown the light emitting device is snap fit into a recess formed in the bottom of the LED housing, and the conductor wires are snap fit into channels formed in the bottom of the LED housing.
Another feature of the invention includes complementary interengaging retaining means on the LED housing and the connector housing for retaining the LED module mounted on the board mounted connector. The retaining means may provide a snap type releasable latch system. With the L-shaped module housing, the retaining means include a first snap latch near the front of the top wall of the connector housing and a second snap latch near the bottom of the rear wall of the connector housing.
Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
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Bleicher Matthias
Bordron Frank
Buss Martin
Fasold Michael
Foerner Thomas Hans
Molex Incorporated
Tirva A. A.
Vu Hien
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