Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6186834
-
Patent Number
6,186,834
-
Date Filed
Tuesday, June 8, 199925 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, February 13, 200123 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Sircus; Brian
- Nguyen; Son
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 439 676
- 439 941
- 439 344
- 439 660
- 439 761
- 439 404
- 439 405
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
An enhanced communication connector assembly capable of meeting Category 6 performance levels with respect to near end crosstalk (NEXT), when the assembly is connected to a mating connector. The assembly includes a wire board, and a number of elongated terminal contact wires with base portions that are supported on the board. The contact wires have free end portions opposite the base portions for making electrical contact with a mating connector. A crosstalk compensating device on the wire board is constructed and arranged to cooperate with sections of selected terminal contact wires to provide capacitive compensation coupling between the selected terminal contact wires, when the contact wires are engaged by the mating connector.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to communication connectors, and particularly to a connector assembly that compensates for crosstalk among different signal paths conducted through the assembly.
2. Discussion of the Known Art
There is a need for a durable, high frequency communication connector assembly that compensates for (i.e., cancels or reduces) crosstalk among and between different signal paths within the assembly. As broadly defined herein, crosstalk occurs when signals conducted over a first signal path, e.g., a pair of terminal contact wires associated with a communication connector, are partly transferred by inductive or capacitive coupling into a second signal path, e.g., another pair of terminal contact wires in the same connector. The transferred signals define “crosstalk” in the second signal path, and such crosstalk degrades any signals that are routed over the second path.
For example, an industry type RJ-45 communication connector has four pairs of terminal wires defining four different signal paths. In typical RJ-45 plug and jack connectors, all four pairs of terminal wires extend closely parallel to one another over the lengths of the connector bodies. Thus, signal crosstalk may be induced between and among different pairs of terminal wires within the typical RJ-45 plug and jack connectors, particularly when the connectors are in a mated configuration. The amplitude of the crosstalk becomes stronger as the coupled signal frequencies or data rates increase.
Applicable industry standards for rating the degree to which communication connectors exhibit crosstalk, do so in terms of so-called near end crosstalk or “NEXT”. Moreover, NEXT ratings are typically specified for mated connector configurations, e.g., a type RJ-45 plug and jack combination, wherein the input terminals of the plug connector are used as a reference plane. Communication links using unshielded twisted pairs (UTP) of copper wire are now expected to support data rates up to not only 100 MHz, or industry standard “Category 5” performance; but to meet “Category 6” performance levels which call for at least 46 dB crosstalk isolation at 250 MHz.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,186,647 to Denkmann et al. (Feb. 16, 1993), which is assigned to the assignee of the present invention and application, discloses an electrical connector for conducting high frequency signals. The connector has a pair of metallic lead frames mounted flush with a dielectric spring block, with connector terminals formed at opposite ends of the lead frames. The lead frames themselves include flat elongated conductors each of which includes a spring terminal contact wire at one end for contacting a corresponding terminal wire of a mating connector, and an insulation displacing connector terminal at the other end for connection with an outside insulated wire lead. The lead frames are placed over one another on the spring block, and three conductors of one lead frame have cross-over sections configured to overlap corresponding cross-over sections formed in three conductors of the other lead frame. All relevant portions of the mentioned '647 patent are incorporated by reference herein. U.S. Pat. No. 5,580,270 (Dec. 3, 1996) also discloses an electrical plug connector having crossed pairs of contact strips.
Crosstalk compensation circuitry may also be provided on or within layers of a printed wire board, to which spring terminal contact wires of a communication jack are connected within the jack housing. See U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/923,741 filed Sep. 29, 1997, and assigned to the assignee of the present application and invention. All relevant portions of the '741 application are incorporated by reference herein. See also U.S. Pat. No. 5,299,956 (Apr. 5, 1994).
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/264,506 filed Mar. 8, 1999, and assigned to the assignee of the present application and invention, discloses a communications connector assembly having co-planar terminal contact wires, wherein certain pairs of the contact wires have opposed cross-over sections to provide inductive crosstalk compensation. All relevant portions of the '506 application are also incorporated by reference herein.
Further, U.S. Pat. No. 5,547,405 (Aug. 20, 1996) discloses an electrical connector having signal carrying contacts that are stamped as lead frames from a metal sheet. Certain contacts have integral lateral extensions that overlie enlarged adjacent portions of other contacts to provide capacitive coupling crosstalk compensation. A dielectric spacer is disposed between an extension of one contact and an enlarged adjacent portion of the other contact. Thus, the stamped lead frames for the connector of the '405 patent are complex, and are relatively difficult to manufacture and assemble precisely.
There remains a need for a communication jack connector assembly which, when mated with a typical RJ-45 plug, provides both inductive and capacitive crosstalk compensation such that the mated connectors will meet or surpass Category
6
performance.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention, a communications connector assembly includes a wire board, and a number of elongated terminal contact wires each having a base portion supported on the wire board, and a free end portion opposite the base portion to make electrical contact with a mating connector. A crosstalk compensating device on the wire board cooperates with sections of selected terminal contact wires to produce a determined amount of capacitive compensation coupling between the selected terminal contact wires, when the contact wires are engaged by the mating connector.
In one embodiment, the wire board of the communication connector assembly is inserted within a jack housing, and an opening in a front surface of the jack housing is dimensioned for receiving the mating plug connector.
For a better understanding of the invention, reference is made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing and the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
In the drawing:
FIG. 1
is a perspective view of a communication connector assembly, and a jack housing into which the assembly can be inserted and mounted;
FIG. 2
is an enlarged, perspective view of a front portion of the connector assembly in
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 3
is a side view, partly in section, of the front portion of the connector assembly in
FIG. 2
;
FIG. 4
is a sectional view of the connector assembly, as taken along line
4
—
4
in
FIG. 3
;
FIG. 5
is a plan view, of a plate capacitor circuit;
FIG. 6
is a perspective view showing the capacitor circuit of
FIG. 5
mounted on the connector assembly; and
FIG. 7
is an electrical schematic representation of the connector assembly with capacitive crosstalk compensation coupling between sections of terminal contact wires.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1
is a perspective view of an enhanced communication connector assembly
10
, and a communication jack frame or housing
12
into which the assembly
10
can be inserted and mounted. The jack housing
12
has a front face in which a plug opening
13
is formed. The plug opening
13
has an axis P, along the direction of which axis a mating plug connector may be inserted into the housing opening
13
to connect electrically with the assembly
10
.
FIG. 2
is an enlarged, perspective view of a front portion of the connector assembly
10
in FIG.
1
.
In the illustrated embodiment, the communication connector assembly
10
has an associated, generally rectangular printed wire board
14
. The board
14
may comprise, for example, a single or a multi-layer dielectric substrate. A number, e.g., eight elongated terminal contact wires
18
a
-
18
h
emerge from a central portion of the printed wire board
14
, as seen in FIG.
1
. The contact wires
18
a
-
18
h
extend substantially parallel to one another, and are generally uniformly spaced from a top surface
15
of a two-part contact wire guide structure
16
. A first support part
17
of the guide structure
16
is fixed on a front portion of the wire board
14
.
A second support part
19
is fixed to a front end of the first support part
17
, and projects in a forward direction from the wire board
14
, as shown in
FIGS. 1 and 3
. The second support part
19
of the guide structure has a number of parallel channels opening in the top surface
15
, for pre-loading and for guiding the free end portions of corresponding contact wires, as shown in
FIGS. 1-3
.
The contact wires are formed and arranged to deflect resiliently toward the top surface
15
of the guide structure
16
, when free end portions
70
a
to
70
h
of the wires are engaged by a mating connector along a direction parallel to the top surface. The material forming the terminal contact wires
18
a
-
18
h
may be a copper alloy, e.g., spring-tempered phosphor bronze, beryllium copper, or the like. A typical cross-section of the terminal contact wires
18
a
-
18
h
is 0.015 inches square.
The wire board
14
may incorporate conductive traces, electrical circuit components or other devices arranged to compensate for connector-induced crosstalk. Such devices can include wire traces printed within layers of the board, such as are disclosed in the mentioned '741 application. Any crosstalk compensation provided by the board
14
may be in addition to, and cooperate with, an initial stage of crosstalk compensation provided by the terminal contact wires
18
a
-
18
h
and the contact wire guide stricture
16
on the board
14
, as explained below.
The terminal contact wires
18
a
-
18
h
have upstanding base portions
20
a
-
20
h
that are electrically connected at one end to conductors associated with the wire board
14
. For example, contact leg or “tail” ends of the base portions
20
a
-
20
h
may be soldered or press-fit into corresponding plated terminal openings in the board
14
, to connect with conductive traces or other electrical components on or within one or more layers of the board
14
.
The base portions
20
a
-
20
h
connect with the board
14
with an alternating offset in the long direction of the contact wires
18
a
-
18
h
. This offset configuration is necessary to allow a relatively close center-to-center spacing of, e.g., 0.040 inches between adjacent free end portions of the contact wires, without requiring the same close spacing between adjacent plated terminal openings in the board
14
. Otherwise, adjacent terminals on the board may “short” with one another. While the offset configuration of the contact wire base portions
20
a
-
20
h
shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2
provides satisfactory results, other configurations may also be acceptable. For example, an alternating “saw-tooth” pattern where three or more consecutive terminal openings in the board
14
are aligned to define an edge of each tooth, may also offer acceptable performance in certain applications. Accordingly, the illustrated offset pattern is not to be construed as a limitation in the manufacture of the connector assembly
10
, as long as adjacent plated terminal openings in board
14
are spaced far enough apart to prevent electrical shorting.
The wire board
14
has a wire connection terminal region
52
(
FIG. 1
) at which outside, insulated wire leads are connected to an array of contact terminals (not shown) located in the region
52
. Such terminals may be so-called insulation displacing connector (IDC) terminals each of which has a leg part connected to a conductive trace on the board
14
, which trace is associated with one of the terminal contact wires
18
a
-
18
h
. The wire connection terminal region
52
may be enclosed by a terminal housing on the top side of the board
14
, and a cover on the bottom side of the board. See co-pending patent application Ser. No. 08/904,391 filed Aug. 1, 1997, and assigned to the assignee of the present invention and application. All relevant portions of the '391 application are incorporated by reference herein.
As seen in
FIGS. 2 & 3
, the free end portions
70
a
-
70
h
of the terminal contact wires have a downwardly arching configuration, and project beyond a front edge
71
of the wire board
14
. The free end portions
70
a
-
70
h
are supported in cantilever fashion by the base portions
20
a
-
20
h
of the contact wires, wherein the base portions are supported by the board
14
. The free end portions of the contact wires define a line of contact
72
(
FIG. 2
) transversely of the contact wires, and the wires make electrical contact with a mating connector at points along line of contact
72
. When the contact wires
18
a
-
18
h
engage corresponding terminals of a mating connector, the free end portions
70
a
-
70
h
cantilever in the direction of the top surface of the contact wire guide structure
16
, i.e., toward the wire board
14
.
In the following disclosure, pairs of the eight terminal contact wires
18
a
-
18
h
are sometimes referred to by pair numbers, from wire pair no.
1
to pair no.
4
, as follows.
|
Pair No.
Terminal Contact Wires
|
|
1
18d, 18e
|
2
18a, 18b
|
3
18c, 18f
|
4
18g, 18h
|
|
As seen in
FIGS. 1-3
, pair nos.
1
,
2
and
4
of the terminal contact wires have cross-over sections
74
, at which each contact wire of a given pair steps toward and crosses above or below the ther contact wire of the pair, with a generally “S”-shaped side-wise step
76
. The terminal contact wires are also curved arcuately above and below their common plane at each cross-over section
74
, as shown in FIG.
3
. Opposing faces of the steps
76
in the contact wires are spaced apart typically by about 0.035 inches (i.e., enough to prevent shorting when the terminal wires are engaged by a mating connector). A typical length of each cross-over section in the long direction of the terminal contact wires, is approximately 0.144 inches.
The cross-over sections
74
in the terminal contact wires
18
a
-
18
h
serve to initiate inductive crosstalk compensation coupling among the contact wires, in a region where the wires are co-planar. See the earlier-mentioned '506 application. This region extends from a center line of the cross-over sections
74
to points where alternate ones of the terminal contact wires bend toward the wire board
14
. The remaining terminal contact wires continue to extend above the board
14
to form the mentioned offset, until they too bend toward the board
14
. The length of the co-planar region of inductive crosstalk compensation is, e.g., approximately 0.180 inches.
In the illustrated embodiment, the cross-over sections
74
are provided on pair nos.
1
,
2
and
4
of the eight terminal contact wires
18
a
-
18
h
. The “pair
3
” contact wires, i.e., wires
18
c
,
18
f
, straddle contact wire pair
1
(contact wires
18
d
,
18
e
) and no cross-over section is formed in the contact wires
18
c
,
18
f
. That is, each of the contact wires
18
c
,
18
f
, extends above the wire board
14
without a side-wise step. Pairs of terminal contact wires having the cross-over sections
74
are disposed at either side of each of the “straight” contact wires
18
c
,
18
f.
The cross-over sections
74
are relatively close to the line of contact
72
. A typical distance between the line of contact
72
and a center line of the cross-over sections
74
, is approximately 0.149 inches. Accordingly, inductive crosstalk compensation by the connector assembly
10
starts near the line of contact
72
, beginning with the cross-over sections
74
.
Further details of the contact wire guide structure
16
in
FIGS. 1-3
, now follow. The first support part
17
of the structure
16
has a generally “L”-shaped profile, and is mounted on a front portion of the wire board
14
next to the terminal region
52
. The support part
17
is secured on the top surface of the board by one or more ribbed mounting posts
80
that are press fit into corresponding openings
82
formed in the board
14
. See FIG.
3
.
An elongated, generally rectangular block
84
projects upward from a rear end portion of the support part
17
. The block
84
forms, e.g., eight substantially evenly spaced-apart openings or slots
86
that open in a top surface of the block. Each slot
86
is located in the block
84
to receive a section of a corresponding one of the terminal contact wires
18
a
-
18
h
. Components associated with the block
84
function to produce or inject an initial stage of capacitive crosstalk compensation coupling between sections of selected ones of the terminal contact wires, as explained further below.
The second support part
19
acts to apply a certain pre-load bias force F on the free end portions of the terminal contact wires, in the direction of the arrow in FIG.
3
. The part
19
also has associated ribbed mounting posts
85
that are press fit into corresponding holes
87
formed in the board
14
, near the board front edge
71
as shown in FIG.
3
.
Eight parallel channels
89
are cut in the top surface of the second support part
19
. The channels
89
are located to align with and receive corresponding free end portions
70
a
-
70
h
of the terminal contact wires, and to guide the free end portions when they are deflected by the action of a mating plug connector. A front end portion
90
of the second support part
19
is configured to apply the pre-load bias force F to the free end portions of the contact wires in each of the channels
89
, as shown in FIG.
3
.
As mentioned, the block
84
of the first support part
17
has associated components that produce capacitive coupling between sections of certain terminal contact wires, for the purpose of capacitive crosstalk compensation. A cross-section view through one of the contact wire slots
86
in the block
84
, is shown in FIG.
3
. To suppress crosstalk between terminal contact wire pair nos.
1
and
3
, larger values of capacitive coupling are needed between adjacent sections of the terminal contact wires
18
c
&
18
e
, and between sections of the wires
18
d
&
18
f
; with respect to any capacitance coupling introduced between sections of the remaining wires in the slots
86
. An additional stage or stages of crosstalk compensation on the wire board
14
may then be provided in a manner disclosed, for example, in the mentioned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/923,741. Such additional stage or stages may then effectively cancel or substantially reduce crosstalk that would otherwise be present at output terminals of the assembly
10
corresponding to the terminal contact wire pair nos.
1
and
3
.
Increased capacitive coupling between adjacent sections of contact wire pair nos.
1
and
3
in the slots
86
, is produced by a pair of compensation plate capacitors
100
that are supported by the block
84
. Dielectric portions of the capacitors
100
form walls between those slots
86
in which adjacent sections of wires
18
c
&
18
e
, and
18
d
&
18
f
, are contained. The plate capacitors
100
are aligned with and connect electrically to the mentioned contact wire sections when the connector assembly
10
is engaged by a mating connector, as explained below. Thus, capacitive crosstalk compensation coupling is injected relatively close to the line of contact
72
, and to the crossover section
74
of contact wire pair no.
1
.
Each of the plate capacitors
100
comprises a generally rectangular base dielectric
102
of, for example, a polyamide film material having a dielectric constant (ε) of about 3.5. An upper portion of the dielectric
102
also forms a partition wall between adjacent slots
86
in the block
84
, as seen in
FIG. 4. A
pair of electrically conductive capacitor plates
104
,
106
, are deposited or otherwise adhered on opposite sides of the base dielectric
102
. In the illustrated embodiment, capacitor plate
104
has less area then capacitor plate
106
. Thus, precise alignment between the plates
104
,
106
, is not necessary to obtain a desired value of capacitance. That is, the capacitive coupling produced by each capacitor
100
is a function of the area of the smaller plate
104
, and a slight misalignment of the plates
104
,
106
, relative to one another will not vary the capacitance value which is expressed by the following equation:
wherein:
ε=dielectric constant of base dielectric
102
A=area of conductive plate
104
in square centimeters
t
1
=thickness of base dielectric
102
in centimeters
Each of the capacitor plates
104
,
106
, has one or more points of contact or “bumps”
108
along a top edge of the plate. See FIG.
3
. The thicknesses (in
FIG. 4
) of the plates
104
,
106
, are such that the corresponding contact wire sections will make satisfactory electrical contact with the bumps
108
on the plates when a mating connector causes the wire sections to be urged downward within the slots
86
, as viewed in
FIGS. 3 and 4
. The bumps
108
assure a good contact between the plates
104
,
106
, and the cooperating sections of terminal contact wires. The bumps
108
may, for example, be curved sharply at the top so as to cause any foreign material to be dislodged when a contact wire section is urged against a point of contact on the bump.
Capacitive coupling between adjacent sections of contact wires
18
c
&
18
e
, and between adjacent sections of wires
18
d
&
18
f
, by an amount more than
14
times that produced between adjacent sections of contact wires
18
d
&
18
e
was obtained under the following conditions, wherein t
2
is the distance between plates
106
,
104
of the two plate capacitors
100
, which plates directly oppose one another in the dielectric block
84
(see FIG.
4
):
FIGS. 5 and 6
show an alternative arrangement to inject capacitive coupling for crosstalk compensation between sections of certain terminal contact wires, at the block
84
on the board
14
. A double-sided, flexible plate capacitor circuit
120
in
FIG. 5
is formed from a generally rectangular, elongated flexible film base dielectric
122
such as, e.g., polyamide. A pair of electrically conductive capacitor plates
124
are formed on a front side of the base dielectric
122
, at areas near opposite ends of the base dielectric. A pair of flexible connection strips
126
are formed with conductive material also on the front side of the dielectric
122
, and the strips
126
connect electrically with the capacitor plates
124
. The connection strips
126
extend substantially perpendicular to the long axis o the base dielectric
122
.
Another pair of conductive capacitor plates
128
are formed on the rear side of the base dielectric
122
, behind the plates
124
on the front side. The area of a rear plate
128
may be less than that of the opposed front plate
124
, as long as a known area of the rear plate is fully opposed by the front plate. Thus, the plates of each set need not be precisely aligned with one another to produce a desired value of capacitance. That is, the known area of each smaller plate
128
may be used to define the capacitance value in accordance with Eq. (1), above.
A second pair of connection strips
130
are formed with conductive material on the front side of the base dielectric
122
. The strips
130
extend substantially perpendicular to the axis of the base dielectric
122
, and between the two connection strips
126
associated with the larger capacitor plates
124
. A pair of terminal posts or vias
132
extend through the base dielectric
122
and electrically connect the ends of the strips
130
at the front side of the dielectric, to the smaller conductive plates
128
on the rear side.
FIG. 6
shows the flexible plate capacitor circuit
120
secured along a front wall of the dielectric block
84
on the first support part
17
of the terminal support structure
16
. The connection strips
126
,
130
, are folded to extend horizontally along bottom surfaces of corresponding slots
86
in the block
84
, beneath the sections of selected terminal contact wires. The contact wire sections thus make electrical contact with the connection strips
126
,
130
, when the contact wires are urged against the strips in the slots
86
by the action of a mating connector. Free ends of the strips
126
,
130
, may be held in place by a dielectric ledge at a back wall of the block
84
. Alternatively, the strip ends may be secured against the bottom surfaces of the slots
86
with an acrylic pressure sensitive adhesive.
FIG. 7
is a schematic representation of the connector assembly
10
. Free end portions of the terminal contact wires
18
a
-
18
h
appear beneath the line of contact
72
in
FIG. 7
, and cross-over sections
74
in terminal pair nos.
1
,
2
and
4
appear above the line of contact
72
. Plate capacitors
100
within the contact wire guide structure
16
, are connected between contact wires
18
c
&
18
e
, and between contact wires
18
d
&
18
f
, just above the cross-over section
74
formed by terminal wire pair no.
1
(
18
d
&
18
e
).
It is believed that Category
6
crosstalk isolation may be achieved when the connector assembly
10
is mated with an existing plug connector, if the value of each compensation plate capacitor
100
is about 2.0 picofarads (pf) and two additional stages of crosstalk compensation are provided within the wire board
14
. Enhanced performance may also be obtained with the connector assembly
10
if the value of the plate capacitors
100
is about 1.2 pf and one additional stage of crosstalk compensation is provided on the board
14
. If no additional crosstalk compensation is provided by the board
14
, the capacitors
100
may have a value of about 0.72 pf and satisfactory performance may still be obtained.
In summary, the connector assembly
10
described and illustrated herein, provides:
(1) Enhanced capacitive crosstalk compensation coupling among selected terminal contact wires.
(2) A relatively short distance between the line of contact
72
with a mating connector, and the position of the cross-over sections
74
where co-planar inductive crosstalk compensation begins, thus minimizing signal transmission delays and improving crosstalk cancellation performance;
(3) A relatively short distance between the position of the cross-over sections
74
where co-planar, inductive crosstalk compensation begins, and the position at which capacitive compensation is injected. This also minimizes signal transmission delays and improves cross-talk cancellation; and
(4) A substantial reduction in the size and complexity of additional crosstalk compensation stages that may be needed within the limited space of the printed wire board
14
.
While the foregoing description represents preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention pointed out by the following claims.
Claims
- 1. An enhanced communication connector assembly, comprising:a wire board; a number of elongated terminal contact wires each having a base portion supported on the wire board, a free end portion opposite said base portion for making electrical contact with a mating connector, and a section connecting the free end portion and the base portion with one another; the free end portion is arranged so that the section of the terminal contact wire deflects by the action of the mating connector; and a first crosstalk compensating device fixed on the wire board, wherein the device is constructed and arranged to engage with the sections of selected terminal contact wires to provide capacitive compensation coupling between the selected terminal contact wires when the sections of the contact wires are deflected by said mating connector.
- 2. The communication connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein said crosstalk compensating device includes one or more compensation capacitors each having a dielectric base, and a pair of conductive plates on opposite sides of the base which plates are configured to contact the sections of the selected terminal contact wires.
- 3. The communication connector assembly according to claim 2, including a contact wire guide structure on the wire board, said structure comprising a block having openings located to receive the corresponding sections of the terminal contact wires, and the conductive plates of said compensation capacitors are aligned with the openings in said block.
- 4. The communication connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein said crosstalk compensating device includes compensation capacitors formed on a common dielectric base, and including flexible capacitor connection strips extending from the dielectric base wherein the connection strips are configured to contact the sections of the selected terminal contact wires.
- 5. The communication connector assembly according to claim 4, including a contact wire guide structure on the wire board, said structure comprising a block have openings located to receive the corresponding sections of the terminal contact wires, and the connection strips of the compensation capacitors are seated in the openings in said block.
- 6. The communication connector assembly according to claim 1, including a second crosstalk compensating device for producing inductive compensation coupling among selected ones of the terminal contact wires.
- 7. The communication connector assembly according to claim 6, wherein said second crosstalk compensating device includes at least one pair of terminal contact wires that are formed with opposed cross-over sections.
- 8. The communication connector assembly of claim 1, including a contact wire guide structure on the wire board, said structure comprising a block having openings located to receive the corresponding sections of the terminal contact wires, and connection terminals of said first crosstalk compensating device are supported within the openings in said block.
- 9. An enhanced communications jack connector, comprising:a jack housing having a front surface and a plug opening in said front surface, wherein the plug opening has an axis and is formed to receive a mating plug connector; and a communication connector assembly inserted in said jack housing for making electrical contact with said mating plug connector when the plug connector is inserted along the axis of the plug opening in the jack housing, said connector assembly comprising; a wire board supported in the jack housing; a number of elongated terminal contact wires each having a base portion supported on the wire board, a free end portion opposite said base portion for electrically contacting a corresponding terminal of the mating plug connector, and a section connecting the free end portion and the base portion with one another; the free end portion is configured so that the section of the terminal contact wire deflects by the action of the mating plug connector; and a first crosstalk compensating device fixed on the wire board, wherein the device is constructed and arranged to engage with the sections of selected terminal contact wires to provide capacitive compensation coupling between the selected terminal contact wires when the sections of the contact wires are deflected by said mating plug connector.
- 10. The communications jack connector according to claim 9, wherein said crosstalk compensating device includes one or more compensation capacitors each having a dielectric base, and a pair of conductive plates on opposed sides of the base which plates are configured to contact the sections of the selected terminal contact wires.
- 11. The communications jack connector according to claim 10, including a contact wire guide structure on the wire board, said structure comprising a block having openings located to receive the corresponding sections of the terminal contact wires, and the conductive plates of said compensation capacitors are aligned with the openings in said block.
- 12. The communications jack connector according to claim 9, wherein said crosstalk compensating device includes compensation capacitors formed on a common dielectric base, and including flexible capacitor connection strips extending from the dielectric base wherein the connection strips are configured to contact the sections of the selected terminal contact wires.
- 13. The communications jack connector according to claim 12, including a contact wire guide structure on the wire board, said structure comprising a block having openings located to receive the corresponding sections of the terminal contact wires, and the connection strips of the compensation capacitors are seated in the openings in said block.
- 14. The communications jack connector according to claim 9, including a second crosstalk compensating device for producing inductive compensation coupling among selected ones of the terminal contact wires.
- 15. The communications jack connector according to claim 14, wherein said second crosstalk compensating device includes at least one pair of terminal contact wires that are formed with opposed cross-over sections.
- 16. The jack connector of claim 9, including a contact wire guide structure on the wire board, said structure comprising a block having openings located to receive the corresponding sections of the terminal contact wires, and connection terminals of said first crosstalk compensating device are supported within the openings in said block.
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