Electrical connectors – With insulation other than conductor sheath – Plural-contact coupling part
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-20
2001-12-04
Sircus, Brian (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
With insulation other than conductor sheath
Plural-contact coupling part
C439S329000, C439S923000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06325674
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to connectors used with electronic devices such as computers. More specifically, the present invention relates to connectors used with communications cards that allow computers to be connected to electronic devices and communications systems.
2. Description of Related Art
Portable computers and other electronic equipment frequently use communications cards to allow electrical communication to be established between electronic devices or to allow electronic devices to be connected to communication systems. These communications cards are typically located internally within the computer or electronic equipment and the cards are relatively small in size. The communications cards, for example, are commonly used with modems, fax/modems, Local Area Network (LAN) adaptors and cellular telephone equipment.
Conventional communications cards are often constructed according to the Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) guidelines, which set forth the physical specifications and electronic architecture of the cards (also known as PC cards). The PCMCIA guidelines define three types of cards and sockets for support of electronic equipment. For instance, PCMCIA standards require all PC cards to have the same length and width (roughly the size of a credit card), and each card includes a connector to allow it to be connected to the computer or other host device. In particular, according to the known PCMCIA standards, PC cards have a length of 85.6 mm (3.4 inches), a width of 54.0 mm (2.1 inches), and a height of 3.3 mm (0.1 inches), 5.0 mm (0.2 inches) or 10.5 mm (0.4 inches) depending upon if the card is a Type I card, Type II card or Type III card, respectively. Type I PC cards are typically used for memory devices such as read only memory (RAM), flash memory or static random access memory (SRAM). Type II PC cards are generally used with input/output (I/O) devices such as data/fax modems, LANs and mass storage devices. Type III PC cards are used for devices whose components are thicker and require additional space. The PCMCIA guidelines also define corresponding types of sockets. Type I sockets support only Type I cards, Type II sockets support Type I and II cards, and Type III sockets support all three types of cards.
A conventional PC card
10
is shown in FIG.
1
. The PC card
10
has a generally rectangular shaped body with a top surface
12
, a bottom surface
14
, a right side
16
, a left side
18
, a front end
20
and a rear end
22
. The terms “front” and “rear” are used in reference to the direction in which the PC card
10
is inserted into the receiving socket. The front end
20
of the PC card
10
includes a 68-pin connector
24
that is used to connect the card to an electronic device such as a notebook or lap top computer. Disposed within the PC card
10
is a printed circuit board or substrate
26
with various electronic components
28
that provides the necessary circuitry to perform the intended functions of the PC card.
Additionally, a variety of connectors have been developed in order to facilitate electrical communication between electronic devices and to allow electronic devices to be connected to communication systems. These conventional connectors typically include a plug and a corresponding jack that is sized and shaped to receive the plug. Thus, when the plug is inserted into the jack, the connector allows electrical communication to be established between the plug and the electronic device.
These conventional connectors are frequently constructed according to standards that are well known in the art to promote compatibility and interchangeability. These standard connectors allow various electronic devices and communication systems to be interconnected or linked as desired by the user. For instance, a conventional electrical connector that is well known in the art is the RJ-xx series of connectors, such as the RJ-11, RJ-12 and RJ-45 connectors. The RJ series of connectors include a plug and a corresponding jack that is sized and configured to receive the plug. The RJ-11 connector, for example, includes four or six contact pins and is commonly used to attach communication devices, such as telephones, facsimile machines and modems to electronic devices. The RJ-45 connector includes eight contact pins and it is frequently used to connect LANs or Ethernets to electronic devices. The RJ series of connectors have the same overall configuration except for slightly different widths. Thus, the RJ-11 and RJ-45 connectors have the same general configuration, but the RJ-45 connector is slightly wider than the RJ-11 connector.
As shown in
FIGS. 2 and 3
, a conventional RJ series connector
30
, such as a RJ-11 connector, includes a jack
32
and a plug
34
. The plug
34
includes a rectangular contact pin block
36
with a front end
38
, a rear end
40
, top surface
42
, bottom surface
44
, and a plurality of contacts
46
located proximate the front end of the block. The contacts
46
are recessed within tracks formed in the contact pin block
36
, and the contacts are accessible from the front end
38
and bottom surface
44
of the block. A cable
48
is used to electrically connect the plug
34
to a communications system or other electronic device. The front end
38
of the contact pin block
36
also includes a pair of notches that define front abutment surfaces
50
that are perpendicular to the top surface
42
of the block.
A biased retention clip
52
extends from the top surface
42
of the contact pin block
36
. The biased clip
52
includes a broad base
54
in which the front end is integrally attached to the top surface
42
of the block
36
and the other end includes a narrow tab
56
extending away from the base
54
. An abrupt transition between the base
54
and the tab
56
creates a retention edge
58
on each side of the tab
56
. The biased clip
52
extends at an angle relative to the top surface
42
of the contact pin block
36
and the biased clip may be elastically deformed towards the top surface of the contact pin block.
As best seen in
FIG. 2
, the jack
32
includes an aperture
60
that is sized and configured to receive the plug
34
. The jack
32
includes a first pair of notches
62
with a first opening
63
disposed between this first pair of notches, and a second pair of notches
64
with a second opening
65
disposed between this second pair of notches. When it is desired to insert the plug
34
into the jack
32
, the user depresses the biased clip
52
towards the top surface
42
of the contact pin block
36
and this permits the plug to be inserted into the jack. The user then releases the biased clip
52
after it is inserted into the jack
32
and, as shown in
FIG. 3
, the biased clip
52
returns to its original position. The plug
34
is securely held within the jack
32
because the retention edges
58
of the biased clip
52
engage the inner surfaces of the second pair of notches
64
and the narrow tab
56
extends through the opening
65
formed between the second pair of notches.
The jack
32
includes a plurality of contact pins
66
that elastically deform or deflect as the plug
34
is inserted into the aperture
60
. In greater detail, each contact pin
66
includes a wire with a straight section
68
and a contact section
70
that are joined by a bend
72
. As shown in phantom in
FIG. 3
, the wire is bent at an angle a of at least 120° with respect to the straight section
68
when the plug
34
is not inserted into the receptacle
32
. When the plug
34
is inserted into the jack
32
, the contact
46
on the plug
34
pushes the contact section
70
of the contact pin
66
downwardly towards the straight section
68
of the contact pin until the contact pin is bent or folded back upon itself at an angle of about 180° . The other end of the contact pin
66
typically extends through a rear wall of the receptacle and it is soldered to an electrical contact on an electronic device such as
Johnson Thomas A.
Oliphant David
3Com Corporation
Nasri Javaid
Sircus Brian
Workman & Nydegger & Seeley
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