Modular jack connector

Details Modular jack connector Modular jack connector

2002-06-19

2003-12-09

Paumen, Gary (Department: 2833)

Electrical connectors

With insulation other than conductor sheath

Plural-contact coupling part

Reexamination Certificate

active

06659806

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a modular jack connector, and particularly to a modular jack connector which is so configured and mounted in a notebook computer that it can facilitate a connection/disconnection of a complementary plug connector therewith/therefrom.
2. Description of the Related Art
Modular jacks, especially known as RJ45 and RJ11 connectors, are frequently used in notebook computers for internet and intranet connection. Referring to
FIGS. 6 and 7
,
FIG. 6
shows a conventional RJ45 receptacle connector
5
comprising an insulating housing
6
, a terminal insert
7
for being retained in the housing
6
and a shield
8
for being assembled onto the housing
6
. The housing
6
has a mounting face
6
c
for mounting onto a circuit board (not shown) of a notebook computer
100
, a mating face
6
a
substantially perpendicular to the mounting face
6
c,
and a top face
6
b
opposite to the mounting face
6
c.
The mating face
6
a
defines a cavity
60
for receiving a complementary RJ45 plug connector
9
therein. The top face
6
b
defines a channel
62
communicating with the cavity
60
for engageably receiving therein a latch arm
90
of the plug connector
9
. The mounting face
6
c
defines an opening
64
communicating with the cavity
60
. The terminal insert
7
includes an insulating portion
70
for being retained in the opening
64
of the housing
6
, and a plurality of terminals
72
secured to the insulating portion
70
. Each terminal
72
includes a mating portion
720
received in the cavity
60
of the housing
6
, and a tail portion
724
projecting downwardly beyond the mounting face
6
c
of the housing
6
for electrically connecting to the circuit board of the notebook computer
100
.
FIG. 7
schematically shows a relationship between the RJ45 receptacle connector
5
mounted in the notebook computer
100
and the complementary RJ45 plug connector
9
. The cavity
60
and the channel
62
of the receptacle connector
5
are exposed outside through a side panel
100
a
of the notebook computer
100
. It can be seen that the channel
62
of the receptacle connector
5
is located adjacent to a top panel
100
b
of the notebook computer
100
.
When the RJ45 plug connector
9
is inserted into the cavity
60
of the RJ45 receptacle connector
5
by a user, the latch arm
90
of the plug connector
9
is partially received in the channel
62
to thereby securely lock the plug connector
9
in the receptacle connector
5
. When the plug connector
9
is required to be disengaged from the receptacle connector
5
, the user thumbs down the latch arm
90
and pulls the plug connector
9
away from the receptacle connector
5
. It can be understood that the thickness of the notebook computer
100
must be sufficiently large whereby there is enough space below the plug connector
9
to accommodate finger(s) of the user so that the finger(s) can grip a bottom face of the plug connector
9
to exert the pulling force.
However, with a miniaturization development of the notebook computers, the thickness of the notebook computer becomes thinner and thinner. Correspondingly, the space available for operating the plug connector
9
becomes limited, which results in an inconvenience for inserting or disengaging the plug connector
9
into or from the receptacle connector
5
. Thus, the arrangement of the prior art regarding the receptacle connector
5
and the notebook computer
100
generates difficulty in fulfilling the miniaturization development of the notebook computers.
Hence, the present invention aims to provide an improved modular jack receptacle connector mounted in a notebook computer to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved modular jack connector mounted in a notebook computer wherein the connector is so configured that it can facilitate a connection/disconnection of a complementary plug connector therewith/therefrom.
To achieve the above-mentioned object, a modular jack connector in accordance with the present invention comprises an insulating housing and a row of terminals retained in the housing. The housing has a mounting face adapted for mounting onto a circuit board, and a mating face and two opposite side faces all substantially perpendicular to the mounting face. The mating face defines a cavity for receiving therein a complementary connector. One of the side faces defines a channel communicating with the cavity for receiving therein a latch arm of the complementary connector. Each terminal includes a mating portion extending into the cavity and a tail portion projecting beyond the mounting face of the housing for electrically connecting to the circuit board. Comparing with the conventional modular jack connectors, the tail portions of the connector of this invention are twisted 90 degrees such that the mating portions of the row of the terminals are arranged in a direction generally perpendicular to the mounting face of the housing.
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: 6196879 (2001-03-01), Hess et al.
patent: 6210237 (2001-04-01), Chang
patent: 6257935 (2001-07-01), Zhang et al.
patent: 6402562 (2002-06-01), Chang et al.

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