Modular jack connector

Details Modular jack connector Modular jack connector

2000-03-02

2001-10-02

Paumen, Gary F. (Department: 2833)

Electrical connectors

With insulation other than conductor sheath

Plural-contact coupling part

Reexamination Certificate

active

06296527

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a connector, and particularly to a modular jack connector having an improved configuration regarding the contact fixing block so that solder tails of the contacts of the modular jack connector can be positioned within a relatively large area to meet the requirements of different printed circuit board (PCB) layouts.
2. Description of Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 5,697,817 discloses a prior art modular jack connector that comprises a contact module
1
′ as shown in
FIGS. 4-5
. The contact module
1
′ includes a plurality of contacts
11
′ which are insert molded into a rectangular contact fixing block
12
′. Each contact
11
′ includes a spring beam contact portion
111
′, a curved portion
112
′a body portion (not shown) received in the contact fixing block
12
′ and a solder tail
113
′. Each spring beam contact portion
111
′ extends from the curved portion
112
′ at a fixed angle and extends outward in cantilever fashion. The spring beam contact portions
111
′ are arranged in a row. The solder tails
113
′ downwardly extend from a bottom face
114
′ of the contact fixing block
12
′ for being inserted through holes in a PCB and soldered thereto.
In the disclosed prior art, the solder tails
113
′, as shown, extend beyond the relatively small bottom face
114
′ of the rectangular contact fixing block
12
′. This means that the position of the solder tails
113
′ is confined within a quite small range, which is unfavorable for meeting different PCB layouts developed by different manufactures. Hence, an improved electrical connector having an improved contact fixing block configuration is required to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector having a contact fixing block with an improved configuration so that solder tails of the contacts of the modular jack connector can be positioned within a relatively large range to meet the requirements of different PCB layouts.
A connector in accordance with the present invention comprises a contact module, an insulative housing and a shell (not shown) enclosing the assembly of the housing and the contact module. The contact module includes a plurality of contacts and a contact fixing block in the shape of the letter L, the contacts being insert molded into the contact fixing block. Each contact includes a spring beam contact portion, a curved portion, a horizontal portion, a body portion and a solder tail. The contact fixing block includes a vertical portion and a horizontal portion extending from a lower end of the vertical portion. The vertical portion forms a pair of protrusions on its lateral sides and two opposite stepped sections below the protrusions. The horizontal portion forms a pair of posts at a front end thereof. The solder tails downwardly extend from the bottom face of the contact fixing block in two parallel rows. The area of the bottom face of the contact fixing block is the sum of the areas of bottom faces of the vertical portion and the horizontal portion, which sum is relatively large compared to that of the rectangular contact fixing block disclosed in the prior art. Therefore, the solder tails of the contacts can be positioned in a relatively large area while still being effectively retained in the contact fixing block. This is very advantageous since, when a PCB layout is changed, only the solder tails need to be modified; the configuration of the contact fixing block does not need to be modified.
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: 5697817 (1997-12-01), Bouchan et al.
patent: 5759070 (1998-06-01), Belopolsky
patent: 5879199 (1999-03-01), Belopolsky
patent: 5957730 (1999-09-01), Wang
patent: 6019641 (2000-02-01), Kan
patent: 6080011 (2000-06-01), Tsao et al.
patent: 6086429 (2000-07-01), Wu

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