EP0740370A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrical connector with indicator lights
Assignee: Amphenol Corp
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Filing: 1996-04-19
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2016-04-19
Abstract
Abstract An electrical connector which includes a built-in indicator light arrangement is arranged such that the light source is positioned away from the front face of the connector through which the light is to be viewed, the light being directed from the light source to the front face by a light guide, which can either be formed by making the connector itself of a transparent material and including light reflecting or refracting surfaces as needed to direct the light to the front face of the connector, or by including a discrete waveguide placed in a passage which extends from the indicator light-containing cavity to the front face of the connector, and which includes appropriate light reflecting or refracting surfaces.
Inventors
- 👤 Kamal Shawiky Boutros
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 13:08
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/66; H01R13/717; H01R13/7172; H01R13/7175; H01R13/7177; H01R24/00; H01R24/60; H01R24/62; H01R24/64; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S439/00; Y10S439/91
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
72 words
In a connector, comprising: a housing; at least one electrical connector contact positioned in the housing; and at least one indicator light, the improvement wherein: the indicator light is positioned at a location in the connector which is remote from a face of the connector through which the light is to be viewed, and wherein the connector further comprises light guide means for guiding light from the indicator light to said face.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
32 words
A connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said connector is an RJ connector and said face is a front face of the connector through which extends a mating connector receiving opening.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
A connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connector is made of a transparent material and the indicator light is positioned such that light from the indicator light travels through said transparent material to reach said face.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
73 words
A connector as claimed in claim 3, wherein the indicator light is positioned in a cavity extending parallel to said face of the connector through which the light is to be viewed, and said light guide means comprises a top surface of said cavity, said top surface being at an angle relative to the indicator light to cause light emitted by the indicator light to be diffracted towards said face of the connector.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
A connector as claimed in claim 4, wherein said cavity is exposed at sides of the connector to facilitate insertion of the indicator light into the connector.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A connector as claimed in claim 4, wherein said cavity has extending therefrom passages for accommodating leads of the indicator light without bending of the leads.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
A connector as claimed in claim 3, further comprising planar surfaces molded at different angles into said face of the connector through which the light is to be viewed so as to cause light exiting said face of the connector to disperse and facilitate visibility.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
60 words
A connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said light guide means is a discrete waveguide positioned in a passage extending between said face of the connector through which the light is to be viewed and the indicator light is positioned in a cavity which communicates with said passage to allow light from the indicator light to enter the waveguide.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
A connector as claimed in claim 8, wherein said waveguide includes a reflective surface for causing light emitted by the indicator light to be reflected towards said face of the connector through which the light is to be viewed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
50 words
A connector as claimed in claim 8, further comprising planar surfaces molded at different angles into a portion of the waveguide which extends from the face of the connector through which the light is to be viewed so as to cause light exiting the waveguide to disperse and facilitate visibility.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
A connector as claimed in claim 4, wherein said cavity is exposed at a top surface of the connector to facilitate insertion of the indicator light into the connector.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
A connector as claimed in claim 4, wherein said cavity has extending therefrom passages for accommodating leads of the indicator light without bending of the leads.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
57 words
A connector as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a second said indicator light positioned at a location in the connector which is remote from a face of the connector through which the light is to be viewed, and further comprising a second said light guide means for guiding light from the indicator light to said face.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
A connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said indicator light is a light emitting diode (LED).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
49 words
A connector as claimed in claim 14, wherein said LED includes a pair of leads and wherein said housing includes a cavity for accommodating the LED and passages extending from the cavity to allow passage of the leads to a circuit board mounting surface without bending of the leads.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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