Electrical connector assembly

Details Electrical connector assembly Electrical connector assembly

2001-11-27

2002-11-12

Paumen, Gary F. (Department: 2833)

Electrical connectors

With indicating or identifying provision

Connection indicating provision

C439S541500, C439S676000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06478610

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrical connector assembly, and particularly to a stacked Local Area Network (LAN) connector assembly mountable on a printed circuit board (PCB).
2. Description of Prior Art
Modular jack receptacle connectors and universal serial bus (USB) connectors are well known in the computer industry and are generally provided at input/output ports for transmitting data or signals between an electronic apparatus and printed circuit boards (PCBs). Today such connectors are always stacked to be mounted on the PCBs, named as a LAN connector assembly, for saving space in computers and their costs in manufacture, as is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,162,089 and 5,797,770.
Regarding the modular jack receptacle connector of the LAN connector assembly, it is especially used in communications and data networking equipments. In order to ensure that a proper connection has been made and therefore a link is created between the electrical communication devices, indicators are often incorporated into circuits on the PCBs. These indicators are typically light emitting diodes (LEDs) which are turned on when a circuit is established between the mating connectors and the communication devices. Additionally, LEDs can be mounted on the PCB to indicate a number of other conditions including the passage of communication signals between the two communication devices, indicative of power, or indicative an error in transmitting the signals.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,973,317 and Taiwan Patent. Nos. 404,586 and 389,391 disclosed such modular jack connectors. Particularly referring to
FIG. 8
, a modular jack receptacle connector
90
disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 404,586 comprises an insulative housing
91
defining a pair of channels
911
, a terminal module
95
to be inserted in the insulative housing
91
, a pair of LEDs
93
fitted in the channels
911
, a pair of separate covers
94
covered onto respective LEDs
93
, and a shell
92
covering onto the insulative housing
91
. However, since one cover
94
is only covered to a single LED
93
, the assembly therebetween is complicated. Additionally, the cover
94
cannot effectively retain the LED
93
in place due to its limited size or weight.
Hence, a modular jack connector with an improved retaining mechanism for LEDs thereof is required to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A first object of the present invention is to provide a modular jack receptacle connector having a retaining mechanism to effectively retain LEDs thereof in place;
A second object of the present invention is to provide a retaining mechanism for a modular jack receptacle connector, which is easy in manufacture and assembly.
An electrical connector assembly in accordance with the present invention comprises a main dielectric housing defining a first cavity and a second cavity separated from the first cavity, a first shielded connector inserted into the first cavity, and a modular jack connector inserted into the second cavity. The modular jack connector has a dielectric body, a terminal module retained in the dielectric body, a pair of LEDs fitted with the dielectric body, and a single retainer covered onto the LEDs to secure the LEDs in position.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4978317 (1990-12-01), Pocrass
patent: 5797770 (1998-08-01), Davis et al.
patent: 5876240 (1999-03-01), Derstine et al.
patent: 6120321 (2000-09-01), Wu
patent: 6159039 (2000-12-01), Wu
patent: 6162089 (2000-12-01), Costello et al.
patent: 6183292 (2001-02-01), Chen et al.
patent: 6227911 (2001-05-01), Boutros et al.
patent: 6283786 (2001-09-01), Margulis et al.
patent: 6319051 (2001-11-01), Chang et al.

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