Electrical connectors – Electromagnetic or electrostatic shield – Shielding individually surrounding or interposed between...
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-09
2001-06-26
Donovan, Lincoln (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
Electromagnetic or electrostatic shield
Shielding individually surrounding or interposed between...
C439S567000, C439S439000, C439S676000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06250964
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of modular connectors and more particularly, to the field of metallic shields for modular jacks.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Data communication networks are being developed which enable the flow of information to ever greater numbers of users at ever higher transmission rates. However, data transmitted at high rates in multi-pair data communication cables have an increased susceptibility to crosstalk, which often adversely affects the processing of the transmitted data. The problem of crosstalk in information networks increases as the frequency of the transmitted signals increases.
In the case of local area network (LAN) systems employing electrically distinct twisted wire pairs, crosstalk occurs when signal energy inadvertently “crosses” from one signal pair to another. The point at which the signal crosses or couples from one set of wires to another may be 1) within the connector or internal circuitry of the transmitting station, referred to as “near-end”crosstalk, 2) within the connector or internal circuitry of the receiving station, referred to as “far-end crosstalk”, or 3) within the interconnecting cable.
Near-end crosstalk (“NEXT”) is especially troublesome in the case of telecommunication connectors of the type specified in sub-part F of FCC part 68.500, commonly referred to as modular connectors. The EIA/TIA of ANSI has promulgated electrical specifications for nearend crosstalk isolation in network connectors to ensure that the connectors themselves do not compromise the overall performance of the unshielded twisted pair interconnect hardware typically used in LAN systems. The EIA/TIA Category 5 electrical specifications specify the minimum near-end crosstalk isolation for connectors used in 100 ohm unshielded twisted pair Ethernet type interconnects at speeds of up to 100 MHz.
While it is desirable to use modular connectors for data transmission for reasons of economy, convenience and standardization, such connectors generally comprise a plurality of electrical contacts and conductors that extend parallel and closely spaced to each other thereby creating the possibility of excessive near-end crosstalk at high frequencies.
In addition, as the size of electronic components has become reduced with advances in semiconductor technology, it has become increasingly necessary to increase the number of modular connector ports which can be mounted within a given area.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide new and improved shields for modular jacks which are easily securable to a faceplate.
It is another object of the invention to provide new and improved shields for multi-level modular jacks.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide new and improved shields for jacks which enable the jacks to be securely attached to printed circuit boards via the shields.
It is another object of the invention to provide new and improved shields for jacks which are securely attached to the jacks.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In order to achieve at least some of these objects, and others, in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, a metallic shield for a jack comprises a plurality of planar panels, each for overlying an outer surface of a respective outer wall of the jack, a front one of the panels including at least one aperture for allowing passage of a plug therethrough. At least one of the panels has at least one cantilevered spring beam and at least one bifurcated grounding tab connected to each of the at least one spring beam. The spring beam is substantially planar and rotatable relative to a plane of the at least one panel. Each grounding tab may include a pair of fingers extending out of the plane of the spring beam and outward from the jack. The shield may also include at least one attachment tab adapted to be secured within a respective notch in one of the outer walls of the jack, at least one staking aperture adapted to engage with a respective staking post on one of the outer walls of the jack and/or a PCB grounding post. The PCB grounding post includes a leg portion and a foot portion including at least one mount side terminating in a tine. The foot portion is adapted to be inserted into a mounting hole in a printed circuit board to which the jack is mounted such that upon insertion of the foot portion, the at least one mount side is compressed inwardly and presses against sides of the mounting hole.
In another embodiment of the shield, the shield comprises a plurality of planar panels, each overlying an outer surface of a respective outer wall of the jack, a front one of the panels including at least one aperture for allowing passage of a plug therethrough, and at least one grounding post arranged on a respective one of the panels for mounting the jack to a printed circuit board. Each grounding post includes a leg portion and a foot portion having a generally concave shape to thereby project outward from a plane in which the respective one of the panels is situated. The foot portion includes at least one mount side defining a retention edge and a tine. The tine is adapted to guide insertion of the foot portion into a mounting hole on the printed circuit board such that the retention edge abuts against edges of the mounting hole. The grounding post may be arranged on one of the panels overlying a lateral wall of the jack.
In a method for retaining a shield about a jack in accordance with the invention, forming an outwardly extending staking post is formed on an outer wall of the jack, a shield with an aperture arranged to receive the staking post is provided, the shield is placed over the jack such that the staking post extends through the aperture, and pressure is applied to the staking post to cause the staking post to deform and retain the shield.
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Fair Mervin
Fleming Jeffrey
Donovan Lincoln
Prasad Chandrika
Steinberg & Raskin, P.C.
Stewart Connector Systems, Inc.
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