Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6319064
-
Patent Number
6,319,064
-
Date Filed
Tuesday, June 22, 199925 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, November 20, 200122 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Leubke; Renee
- Hammond; Briggitte R.
Agents
- Woodcock Washburn Kurtz Mackiewicz & Norris LLP
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 439 620
- 439 636
- 439 637
- 439 79
- 439 676
- 439 941
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A modular jack has an insulative insert having outer walls defining a first recess therein. The insert is mounted within an insulating housing interior section. A cap having outer walls defining a second recess therein is mounted within the insert first recess so that the first and second recesses together form an internal cavity for receiving an electrical device. First and second elongate portions of a conductive contact together securely grasp the insert outer wall and a bridging portion of the contact resides at the insert outer wall edge. The cap also has a rear wall having a rear face that faces in a rear direction, and the contact also has a rear portion adjacent the cap and facing in the rear direction. The cap rear wall rear face extends farther in the rear direction than the contact rear portion. A grounding shield fits over the jack and has a planar rear panel with a rear face that faces in the rear direction. The rear panel covers the cap rear wall rear face and the contact rear portion.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to electrical connectors and more particularly, to electrical connectors in which noise filter means are incorporated.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In electronic appliances containing modular jacks, various types of filters are used to reduce or eliminate noise. Such filters may include a three terminal capacitor or a common mode choke coil. A disadvantage in the use of such filters is that they may complicate the production of the circuit board. A need, therefore, has been perceived for providing a simple means of filtering noise in modular jacks.
The use of an integral ferrite element for this purpose is proposed in Japanese Patent Publication 64-2273. This reference discloses a modular jack having a modular insert installed in a casing. The body of the insert is formed with ferrite, and on one side of the insert body insert holes are formed for introducing connecting lines to be connected to respective contact springs.
While this reference would appear to simplify the apparatus used for noise filtering in modular jacks, a need for further increasing the compactness of such modular jacks with integral ferrite elements exists. U.S. Pat. No. 5,456,619 discloses a filtered modular jack assembly having an outer insulative housing with open front and rear sides. A ferrite element with vertical conductive wires is positioned adjacent the rear end, and an elongated insulative insert is superimposed over the ferrite element. The insulative insert is fixed to the housing, and the conductive wire extends vertically from the ferrite element over the upper side of the insert to its terminal end and then bends downwardly and rearwardly to rest on the top surface of an interior medial wall in the housing. While this reference discloses an invention which increases compactness, a need still exists for a jack which can achieve such compactness while using alternate types of filtering elements which arc not adapted to be mounted in the same way as the ferrite element.
A need also exists for such a compact jack that can accept multiple types of contacts for contacting respective contact-receiving elements on an underlying substrate. In addition, a need exists for such a compact jack with contacts that are spaced from an outer jack shield, wherein shorting to the jack shield or sparking to the jack shield during periods of high voltage is minimize or eliminated.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a modular jack assembly which includes an outer insulative housing having top and bottom walls and opposed lateral walls while defining an interior section. This housing also has front and rear open ends. This assembly also includes an insulative insert having a top section, an upper side and a rear section having a base side and a recess. The jack is positioned so that the upper side of its top section is adjacent to top side of the insulative housing such that its terminal end extends into the interior section of the insulative housing and the rear section at least partially covers the rear open end of the insulative housing. This assembly also includes an electronic component mounted in the recess in the rear section of the insulative insert. A conductor is mounted on the insulative insert. This modular jack provides a filtering element which is adapted to be easily and compactactly mounted in the jack.
Such modular jack has an insulative insert having outer walls defining a first recess therein. The insert is mounted within an interior section of an insulating housing. A cap having outer walls defining a second recess therein is mounted within the first recess of the insulative insert so that the first recess and the second recess together form an internal cavity for receiving an electrical device such as the filtering clement therein. At least one conductive contact having first and second elongate portions connected by a bridging portion is coupled to the jack. The first and second elongate portions together securely grasp the outer wall of the insert, and the bridge portion resides at an edge of the outer wall of the insert.
The cap also has a rear wall having a rear face that faces in a rear direction, and the contact also has a rear portion adjacent the cap and facing in the rear direction. The rear face of the rear wall of the cap extends farther in the rear direction than the rear portion of the contact. A grounding shield is fitted over the jack and has a generally planar rear panel with a rear face that faces in the rear direction. The rear panel covers the rear face of the rear wall of the cap and also covers the rear portion of the contact.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The filtered modular jack assembly of the present invention is further described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1
is a front elevational view of a modular jack representing a first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2
is a cut away side elevational view of the modular jack shown in
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 3
is a detailed view of the area within circle
3
in
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 4
is a cross sectional view through
4
—
4
in
FIG. 1
in which for the purpose of showing other detail, shielding, the filter, and associated wires and the rear cap have been deleted;
FIG. 5
is a front elevational view of the insulative insert used in the modular jack shown in
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 6
is a rear elevational view of the insulative insert shown in
FIG. 5
;
FIG. 7
is side elevational view of the insulative insert shown in
FIG. 5
;
FIG. 8
is a top plan view of the insulative insert shown in
FIG. 5
;
FIG. 9
is a detailed view of area
9
in
FIG. 8
;
FIG. 10
is a bottom plan view of the insulative insert shown in
FIG. 5
;
FIG. 11
is a rear end view of the cap clement used in the modular jack shown in
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 12
is a top plan view of the cap shown in
FIG. 11
;
FIG. 13
is a bottom plan view of the cap shown in
FIG. 11
;
FIG. 14
is a side elevational view of the cap shown in
FIG. 11
;
FIG. 15
is a interior view of the cap shown in
FIG. 11
;
FIGS. 16
A
and
16
B
are side elevational views of two electrical contacts which are used in the modular jack shown in
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 17
is a cross-sectional side view similar to that of
FIG. 4
, and shows a modular jack in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 17A
is a rear elevational view of the modular jack shown in
FIG. 17
without the conductive shield; and
FIGS. 18A
,
18
B, and
18
C arc side elevational views of three electrical contacts which may be used in the modular jack shown in FIGS.
17
and
17
A.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to
FIGS. 1-10
, the outer insulative housing is shown generally at numeral
10
. This housing includes a top wall
12
, a bottom wall
14
and a pair of opposed lateral walls
16
and
18
. The housing is constructed of a thermoplastic polymer having suitable insulative properties and has conventional metallic exterior shielding. Within these walls is an interior section
20
which- has a rear open end
22
and a forward open end
24
. Projecting upwardly from the bottom wall in this interior section there is a medial wall generally shown at numeral
26
which has a rear side
28
and a front side shown generally at numeral
30
which includes a bottom front side
31
, a top front side
32
and a recessed medial front side
34
and an inclined top side
36
which slopes upwardly and forwardly from its rear side toward its front side. Adjacent to the lateral walls, the medial wall has lateral extensions
38
and
40
which serve as projections to retain other elements as will be hereafter explained. Interposed between these lateral extensions there are a plurality of wire separation extensions as at
42
,
44
and
46
and between these wire separation extensions there are plurality of slots as at
48
.
As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art and is further explained hereafter, the wall and recesses of the outer insulative housing interact to receive an insert so as to make electrical connection between the conductors in the housing and the insert.
Extending downwardly from the bottom wall there are pins
50
and
52
. The lateral wall
16
includes a lower shoulder
54
, another shoulder
56
, a lower main wall
58
, an upper main wall
60
and a recessed wall
62
interposed between the lower and upper main wall. It will be seen that the lateral wall
18
has substantially identical features as lateral wall
16
. The top wall
12
includes an upper bridge section
64
, a lower bridge section
66
, a front recess
68
and a rear recess
70
.
Referring particularly to
FIGS. 5-10
, the insulative insert is shown generally at numeral
72
. This insert has a vertical section shown generally at numeral
74
which includes a base wall
76
. The base wall has a plurality of vertical bores as at
78
and
80
. The vertical section also includes opposed side walls
82
and
84
. Side wall
82
has a pair of latches
86
and
88
. Side wall
84
has a pair of latches
90
and
92
. The vertical section also has a front wall
94
in which there are apertures
96
and
98
. Finally the vertical section
94
of the insert
72
has a recess
10
,
0
. The insert also has a horizontal section shown generally at numeral
102
which has a plurality of grooves as at groove
104
and
106
which extend from the rear to the front of this horizontal section. In these grooves there are conductors as at wire
108
(FIG.
4
).
Referring particularly to FIG.
2
and
11
-
15
, the cap element is shown generally at numeral
110
. This cap element has a rear wall
112
and on the reverse side of this wall there is a recess
114
. The cap also has a top end wall
116
and a bottom end wall
118
which have respectively grooves as at groove
120
and
122
. Conductors as at wire
124
and
126
are positioned in each of these grooves. The cap also has side walls
128
and
130
which have respectively latches
132
and
134
for engaging the side walls
82
and
84
of the insulative insert. A filter means such as common mode chokes
136
and
138
are mounted on the inner or recess side of the wall
112
. Other filtering elements known to those skilled in the art such as inductive serial filters, differential filters, low pass capacitive filters and other magnetic filters may be substituted for the common mode choke. Conductors as at wire
140
extend from the top wall to the common mode choke
136
and then to the bottom wall. Wires as at
142
extend from the top wall to the common mode choke
138
and then to the bottom wall. These wires are wound around the common mode chokes and serve to retain the common mode chokes in their positions. Referring particularly to
FIG. 2
, it will be appreciated that the wires that extend upwardly from the common mode chokes such as wire
124
are connected to the wires mounted in the insert such as wire
108
. That is as wire
124
extends along the outside of wall it abuts wire
108
. It will also be appreciated that the wires that extend downwardly from the common mode chokes such as wire
126
are connected to contacts such as contacts
144
and
146
. That is, for example, as wire
126
extends' along the outside of wire
118
it abuts contact
144
. Another wire (not shown) abuts contact
146
in a similar way. At the ends of wires
124
and
126
there is an ultrasonic weld
148
and
150
, respectively. Referring particularly to
FIG. 4
, it will be seen that contacts
152
and
154
are positioned to extend from the base wall
76
of the insert vertical section
74
. To better show the recess
100
of the insert
72
, the common mode chokes as at
136
and their connecting wires and the cap
110
are not shown. It will be understood, however, that wires from the common mode chokes are connected to the contacts
152
and
154
and to the insert wires as at wire
108
in the same way as is shown in FIG.
2
.
Referring particularly to
FIG. 16
a
, it will be seen that contact
152
is comprised of a major vertical section
156
and a minor horizontal section
158
. Referring particularly to
FIG. 16
d
, it will be seen that contact
154
is comprised of a major vertical section
160
and a minor horizontal section
162
which is oriented in opposed relation to the horizontal section
158
of contact
152
. Referring particularly to
FIG. 2
, it will be appreciated that the recess
100
and the cap element
110
together form an internal cavity
164
in the vertical section
74
of the insulative insert for containment of the common mode chokes.
It will be appreciated that a compact modular jack has been described which facilitates the use of several different types of filtering elements depending on specific needs. That is, a large variety of filters or other components may be housed in the recess of the insert. Consequently, the use of standard package as is required in many prior art modular jacks is not necessary so as to allow greater flexibility in meeting specific application needs.
Referring now to
FIGS. 17 and 17A
, wherein like numerals are used to indicate like elements in
FIGS. 1-16
b
, there is seen a second embodiment of the modular jack of the present invention that is similar to the first embodiment shown in
FIGS. 1-16
b
in that:
the insert
72
has outer walls
82
,
84
,
76
that define a recess
100
;
the insert
72
is mounted within an interior section
202
of an insulating
housing
10
;
the jack has a cap
110
with outer walls including a rear wall
112
, top and
bottom and walls
116
,
118
, and side walls
128
,
130
where such outer walls
define a second recess
114
in such cap
110
; and
the second embodiment, the cap
112
is mounted within the first recess
100
of the insert
72
so that the first and second recesses
100
,
114
together form
an internal cavity for receiving an electrical device
204
therein.
As should be understood, the electrical device
204
is a filter or the like, although it will be recognized that other electrical devices
204
may be received in the internal cavity
100
/
114
without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, the electrical device may be a resistor or capacitor, a simple electronic circuit, an antenna, a complex integrated circuit, etc.
Importantly, in the second embodiment of the present invention, the jack can receive multiple kinds of contacts
200
a
,
200
b
,
200
c
, etc (FIGS.
18
A-
18
C), where each kind of contact has common features that allow the contact to be received by the jack. Accordingly, in the second embodiment of the present invention, the jack can have any of a plurality of contact configurations, including configurations that include one kind of contact and configurations that have multiple kinds of contacts. Of course, any particular configuration may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
In particular, and referring now to
FIGS. 18A-18C
, each contact
200
a
,
200
b
,
200
c
, etc. is a conductive contact with first and second elongate portions
206
a
,
206
b
connected by a bridging portion
206
c
. As best seen in
FIG. 17
, regardless of which kind of contact is employed, the first and second elongate portions
206
a
,
206
b
of such contact together securely grasp the outer wall
76
of the insert
72
, and the bridge portion
206
c
of such contact resides at an edge
208
of such outer wall
76
of such insert
72
. Preferably, and as seen, the outer wall
76
of the insert
72
which is grasped by the first and second clongate portions
206
a
,
206
b
of the contact is a bottom facing wall that faces toward an underlying substrate
210
to which the jack is mounted to or to be mounted to. When the jack is mounted to the substrate
210
, the contacts
200
a
,
200
b
,
200
c
, etc. of the jack make contact with contacting pads or the like (not shown) on the substrate
210
, thereby making electrical contact with circuitry (not shown) mounted to the substrate
210
or coupled to the substrate
210
.
As should be understood, the substrate
210
may be a circuit board, a backplane, or the like, or may be any other type of substrate without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The substrate
210
preferably includes appropriate mounting devices for receiving the jack. For example, the substrate
210
may include apertures for receiving mounting projections or the like located on the jack. Any mounting structure may be employed in the substrate
210
and in the jack without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
As seen in
FIGS. 18A-18C
, each contact
200
a
,
200
b
,
200
c
, etc. has a contacting portion
206
d
that extends from the second elongate portion
206
b
to contact the underlying substrate
210
. As seen in
FIGS. 18A and 18B
, the contacting portion
206
d
may extend generally perpendicularly with respect to the second elongate portion
206
b
, from either a proximal sub-portion of the second elongate portion
206
b
(as seen in
FIG. 18A
) or from a distal sub-portion of the second elongate portion
206
b
(as seen in FIG.
18
B). Referring still to
FIGS. 18A and 18B
, a plurality of such contacts
200
a
and/or
200
b
may be mounted to a jack, wherein the perpendicularly extending contact portion
206
d
of each such contact on such jack is inserted within a respective receiving aperture in an underlying substrate
210
during mounting of the jack to such substrate
210
(i.e., through-hole-mounting) and is then secured by way of a soldering operation or the like. As may be appreciated, each receiving aperture is associated with a contacting pad or the like (not shown) on the substrate
210
. By alternating contacts
200
a
,
200
b
in a jack, two staggered rows of contacting portions
206
d
may be achieved on the underside of such jack. Alternatively, by using only one kind of contact
200
a
or
200
b
, a single row of contacting portions
206
d
may be achieved.
As seen in
FIG. 18C
, the contacting portion
206
d
may also extend generally parallel to the second elongate portion
206
d
, either from the distal sub-portion of such second elongate portion
206
b
(as seen in
FIG. 18C
) or from the proximal sub-portion thereof (not shown). As should be understood, although the contacting portion
206
d
may extend generally parallel to the second elongate portion
206
b
, such contacting portion
206
d
requires a perpendicular offset in order for such contacting portion
206
to be laterally offset from the second elongate portion
206
b
. Referring still to
FIG. 18C
, a plurality of such contacts
200
c
may be mounted to a jack, wherein the parallel-extending contacting portion
206
d
of each such contact on such jack is surface-mounted to a pad (not shown) on an underlying substrate
210
and is then secured by way of a soldering operation or the like. As may be appreciated, in connection with any jack, contacts
200
a
,
200
b
,
200
c
, etc. may be mixed and matched in any combination without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Referring now to
FIG. 17A
in particular, in the second embodiment of the present invention, the insert
72
has a first set of grooves
212
formed on an interior part of an outer wall
76
thereof, and also a second set of grooves
214
formed on an exterior part of the outer wall
76
thereof opposite the first set of grooves
212
. As seen, and as was discussed above, the outer wall
76
is preferably a facing wall that faces toward the underlying substrate
210
. As also seen in
FIG. 17A
, the cap
110
preferably has a third set of grooves
122
formed on an exterior part of an outer wall
118
thereof. As seen and should be understood, such outer wall
118
is preferably the bottom end wall
188
of such cap
110
. As should be appreciated, the first set of grooves
212
preferably align with and respectively correspond to the second set of grooves
214
, and the third set of grooves
122
aligns with and respectively corresponds to the first set of grooves
212
and by extension the second set of grooves
214
.
Accordingly, a contact
200
a
,
200
b
,
200
c
, etc. may be mounted in a groove from the first set of grooves
212
, a corresponding groove from the second set of grooves
214
, and a corresponding groove from the third set of grooves
122
. In particular, when any contact is mounted to the jack, the first elongate portion
206
a
of such contact fits in and contacts a conductor
126
within one groove in the third set of grooves
122
in the cap
110
. Such first elongate portion
206
a
also fits in a corresponding groove in the first set of grooves
212
in the insert
72
. Additionally, the second elongate portion
206
b
of such contact fits in a corresponding groove in the second set of grooves
214
in the insert
72
.
In any contact
200
a
,
200
b
,
200
c
, etc., it is preferable that the first and second elongate portions
206
a
,
206
b
of such contact together extend generally in parallel, as is seen in
FIGS. 18A-18C
. The first elongate portion
206
a
of such contact may include a projection
216
that snap-fits within a recess
218
(
FIG. 17
) within any groove in the first set of grooves
212
. Alternatively, the recess
218
may be in the second or third sets of grooves
214
,
122
and the projection
218
may be appropriately located and oriented without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. As should be understood, such projection and recess
216
,
218
ensure that the contact when graspingly mounted onto the outer wall
76
of the insert
72
is securely retained on such outer wall
76
.
Preferably, the bridging portion
206
c of each contact
200
a
,
200
b
,
200
c
, etc. spaces the first and second elongate portions
206
a
,
206
b
of such contact apart a distance approximately equal to the thickness of the outer wall
76
of the insert
72
. Also preferably, the first elongate portion
206
a
is biased slightly toward to the second elongate portion
206
b
such that the contact grasps the outer wall
76
in the manner discussed above.
Preferably, the first and third sets of grooves
212
,
122
are dimensioned and the insert
72
and cap
110
are also dimensioned to received the first elongate portion
206
a
of each contact
200
a
,
200
b
,
200
c
, etc. and also the conductor
126
there between. With all the contacts appropriately mounted to the insert
72
and the cap
110
mounted to the insert
72
to form the jack, such jack may then be solder dipped in a solder bath or the like to secure the first elongate portion
206
a
of each contact to the corresponding conductor
126
in the region of the third set of grooves
122
within the cap
110
.
In performing such solder dip, the rear side of the jack ( i.e., the side to the right in
FIG. 17
) is normally inserted into solder and the dipped jack is then removed from such solder. It will be recognized that as a result of such removal, a solder spike (not shown) may extend in a rearward direction from each contact
200
a
,
200
b
,
200
c
, etc., and specifically from the juncture of such contact with the respective conductor
126
. Moreover, it will be appreciated that the jack is oftentimes encased within a conductive shield
220
, and that such spike may thus either contact the shield
220
or be close enough to such shield
220
to allow spark-over at higher voltages. In order to prevent such sparkover, and in order to otherwise isolate each contact
200
a
,
200
b
,
200
c
, etc. from the shield
220
, it is preferable that such shield
220
is spaced from the rear portion of each contact a distance D of about 1 mm, as is shown in FIG.
17
.
In particular, it is seen in
FIGS. 17 and 17A
(the shield
220
not being shown in
FIG. 17A
for the sake of clarity) that the rear wall
112
of the cap
110
has a rear face
222
that faces in a rear direction (i.e., toward the right in FIG.
17
), and that each contact
200
a
,
200
b
,
200
c
, etc. has a rear portion
224
adjacent the cap
110
, where the rear portion
224
also faces in the rear direction. Importantly, the aforementioned ground shield
220
is fitted over the jack and has a generally planar rear panel
226
generally perpendicular to the rear direction. Such rear panel
226
covers the rear face
222
of the rear wall
112
of the cap
110
and also covers the rear portion
224
of each contact. Typically, the rear panel
226
does not extend down past the rear portion
224
of each contact in order that such panel
226
does not interfere with the contacting portion
206
d
of each contact contacting the underlying substrate
210
.
As should be understood, the shield
220
is grounded or is to be grounded, and therefore the rear panel
226
of the shield
220
is not to touch each contact
200
a
,
200
b
,
200
c
, etc., even if such rear panel
226
touches the rear face
222
of the rear wall
112
of the cap
110
, as is seen in FIG.
17
. As was discussed previously, the rear panel
226
of the shield
220
is preferably spaced from the rear portion
224
of the contact by a distance D of about 1 mm, although greater spacing may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Preferably, the aforementioned spacing is created by having the rear face
222
of the rear wall
112
of the cap
110
extend farther in the rear direction (i.e., toward the right in
FIG. 17
) than the rear portion
224
of each contact. In such a situation, the rear panel
226
of the grounding shield
220
can in fact come into close contact with the rear face
222
of the cap
110
(as shown in
FIG. 17
) while still achieving the 1 mm separation from the rear portion
224
of each contact.
In a comparison of the second embodiment of the present invention as shown in
FIGS. 17 and 17A
and the first embodiment of the present invention as shown in
FIG. 4
, for example, it is seen that both jacks occupy about the same space, have the same “footprint”, and are in fact essentially interchangeable. As can be seen by such comparison, the design of the insert
72
and cap
110
in the second embodiment has been slightly modified as compared with the first embodiment to create more space within the internal cavity
100
,
114
, and each contact
200
a
,
200
b
,
200
c
, etc. is designed without any unnecessary rearward features. Of course, other particular designs for the jack may be employed while still maintaining the spacing between each contact and the shield
220
without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
While the present invention has been described in connection with the embodiments of the various figures, it is to be understood that other similar embodiments may be used or modifications and additions, may be made to the described embodiment for performing the same function of the present invention without deviating therefrom. Therefore, the present invention should not be limited to any single embodiment, but rather construed in breadth and scope in accordance with the recitation of the appended claims.
Claims
- 1. A modular jack comprising:an insulative insert having outer walls defining a first recess therein, the insert being mounted within an interior section of an insulating housing; a cap having outer walls defining a second recess therein, the cap being mounted within the first recess of the insulative insert so that the first recess and the second recess together form an internal cavity for receiving an electrical device therein; and at least one conductive contact having first and second elongate portions connected by a bridging portion, the first and second elongate portions together securely grasping the outer wall of the insert, the bridge portion residing at an edge of the outer wall of the insert, the insert having a first set of grooves formed on an interior part of an outer wall thereof and a second set of grooves formed on an exterior part of the outer wall thereof opposite the first set of grooves, the first set of grooves aligning with and respectively corresponding to the second set of grooves; the cap having a third set of grooves formed on an exterior part of an outer wall thereof, the third set of grooves aligning with and respectively corresponding to the first set of grooves; the first elongate portion of the contact fitting in and contacting a conductor within one of the third set of grooves in the cap and fitting in a corresponding one of the first set of grooves in the insert; and the second elongate portion of the contact fitting in a corresponding one of the second set of grooves in the insert, the first and second elongate portions together extending generally in parallel.
- 2. The jack of claim 1 wherein the outer wall of the insert grasped by the first and second elongate portions of the contact is a facing wall for facing toward an underlying substrate.
- 3. The jack of claim 1 wherein the electrical device is a filter.
- 4. The jack of claim 1 wherein the contact further has a contacting portion extending from the second elongate portion for contacting an underlying substrate.
- 5. The jack of claim 4 wherein the contacting portion extends from a proximal sub-portion of the second elongate portion.
- 6. The jack of claim 4 wherein the contacting portion extends from a distal sub-portion of the second elongate portion.
- 7. The jack of claim 4 wherein the contacting portion extends generally parallel to the second elongate portion.
- 8. The jack of claim 4 wherein the contacting portion extends generally perpendicular to the second elongate portion.
- 9. A conductive contact for a modular jack, the modular jack comprising:an insulative insert having outer walls defining a first recess therein, the insert being mounted within an interior section of an insulating housing; and a cap having outer walls defining a second recess therein, the cap being mounted within the first recess of the insulative insert so that the first recess and the second recess together form an internal cavity for receiving an electrical device therein; the contact comprising first and second elongate portions connected by a bridging portion, the first and second elongate portions together for securely grasping the outer wall of the insert, the bridge portion for residing at an edge of the outer wall of the insert, the insert having a first set of grooves formed on an interior part of an outer wall thereof and a second set of grooves formed on an exterior part of the outer wall thereof opposite the first set of grooves, the first set of grooves aligning with and respectively corresponding to the second set of grooves; the cap having a third set of grooves formed on an exterior part of an outer wall thereof, the third set of grooves aligning with and respectively corresponding to the first set of grooves; the first elongate portion of the contact is for fitting in and contacting a conductor within one of the third set of grooves in the cap and for fitting in a corresponding one of the first set of grooves in the insert; and the second elongate portion of the contact is for fitting in a corresponding one of the second set of grooves in the insert, the first and second elongate portions together extending generally in parallel.
- 10. The contact of claim 9 further comprising a contacting portion extending from the second clongate portion for contacting an underlying substrate.
- 11. The contact of claim 10 wherein the contacting portion extends from a proximal sub-portion of the second elongate portion.
- 12. The contact of claim 10 wherein the contacting portion extends from a distal sub-portion of the second elongate portion.
- 13. The contact of claim 10 wherein the contacting portion extends generally parallel to the second elongate portion.
- 14. The contact of claim 10 wherein the contacting portion extends generally perpendicular to the second elongate portion.
- 15. A modular jack comprising:an insulating housing having outer walls defining an interior section; an insulative insert having outer walls defining a first recess therein, the insulative insert being mounted within the interior section of the insulating housing; a cap having outer walls and a rear wall defining a second recess therein, the cap being mounted within the first recess of the insulative insert so that the first recess and the second recess together form an internal cavity for receiving an electrical device therein, the rear wall having a rear face facing in a rear direction; at least one conductive contact having a rear portion adjacent the cap and facing in the rear direction, the rear face of the rear wall of the cap extending farther in the rear direction than the rear portion of the contact; and a grounding shield fitted over the jack and having a generally planar rear panel with a rear face facing in the rear direction, the rear panel covering the rear face of the rear wall of the cap and also covering the rear portion of the contact, the contact having first and second elongate portions connected by a bridging portion, the first and second elongate portions together securely grasping the outer wall of the insert, the bridge portion residing at an edge of the outer wall of the insert and being the rear portion of the contact, the insert having a first set of grooves formed on an interior part of an outer wall thereof and a second set of grooves formed on an exterior part of the outer wall thereof opposite the first set of grooves, the first set of grooves aligning with and respectively corresponding to the second set of grooves; the cap having a third set of grooves formed on an exterior part of an outer wall thereof, the third set of grooves aligning with and respectively corresponding to the first set of grooves; the first elongate portion of the contact fitting in and contacting a conductor within one of the third set of grooves in the cap and fitting in a corresponding one of the first set of grooves in the insert; and the second elongate portion of the contact fitting in a corresponding one of the second set of grooves in the insert, the first and second elongate portions together extending generally in parallel.
- 16. The jack of claim 15 wherein the rear panel of the shield touches the rear face of the rear wall of the cap.
- 17. The jack of claim 15 wherein the rear panel of the shield does not touch the contact.
- 18. The jack of claim 15 wherein the rear panel of the shield is spaced from the rear portion of the contact by about 1 mm.
- 19. The jack of claim 15 wherein the contact further has a contacting portion extending from the second elongate portion for contacting an underlying substrate.
- 20. The jack of claim 17 wherein the electrical device is a filter.
US Referenced Citations (21)