Electrical connector with improved integral ground strap for shielded cable

Claim 2

A modular jack, which comprises: an insulating housing having a front end, a rear end, a side wall, and conductor-receiving means; a plug-receiving opening extending into said front end of said insulating housing; a plurality of electrical conductors in side-by-side spaced-apart relationship, each of said conductors comprising an intermediate portion extending through said conductor-receiving means, a spring contact portion extending from one end of said intermediate portion into said plug-receiving opening, and an end portion extending from the other end of said intermediate portion; and at least one ground conductor positioned in said housing adjacent said plurality of conductors and including a ground spring contact portion extending into said opening and formed similarly to said spring contact portion of each of said conductors, said ground conductor including grounding means extending outside said insulating housing and having a surface area substantially greater than that of said ground spring contact portion for coupling said ground conductor to a source of ground potential, said grounding means comprising a single elongated ground strap lying in use immediately adjacent said side wall and terminating in a solder post.

Claim 3

The jack as set forth in claim 1, wherein said ground spring contact portion is substantially identical to said spring contact portion and is positioned in said housing in lateral alignment with each of said spring contact portions of said conductors.

Claim 4

The jack as set forth in claim 1, wherein said conductors comprise stamped and formed flat contacts having a first width, and wherein said ground conductor comprises a substantially flat, stamped and formed ground contact.

Claim 5

The jack as set forth in claim 3, wherein said ground spring contact portion of said ground conductor has a second width substantially identical to said first width, and wherein said grounding means has a third width substantially greater than said second width.

Claim 6

The jack as set forth in claim 4, wherein said third width is at least about twice as great as said second width.

Claim 7

The jack as set forth in claim 4, wherein said third width is about four to five times as great as said second width.

Claim 8

The jack as set forth in claim 1, wherein said ground strap includes means located in said housing for securing said grounding means in position.

Claim 9

The jack as set forth in claim 7, wherein said securing means comprises a substantially rectangular portion having an opening formed therein adapted to be secured by said housing.

Claim 10

A modular jack for interfacing a modular plug with a printed circuit board, which comprises: a housing having a front portion, a rear portion, a side wall, and an outer wall, said outer wall including means extending integrally therefrom for mounting said housing to the printed circuit board; an opening formed in said front portion of said housing for receiving the electrical plug, the plug having a multi-conductor cable terminated by contact terminals positioned in the plug, the cable including at least one shielded conductor therein, said housing including a plurality of side-by-side conductor-receiving guide means formed herein; a plurality of electrical conductors arranged in a side-by-side, spaced-apart fashion in said housing, each of said conductors including an end portion extending normally from said outer wall for insertion through a corresponding hole formed in the printed circuit board, an intermediate portion extending from said end portion through said conductor-receiving guide means, and a spring contact portion extending from said intermediate portion into said opening; at least one ground conductor positioned in said housing adjacent said plurality of conductors and including a ground spring contact portion extending into said opening and formed similarly to said spring contact portion of each of said conductors, said ground conductor including grounding means extending outside said housing and having a surface area substantially greater than that of said ground spring contact portion for coupling said ground conductor to a source of ground potential, said grounding means comprising a single, elongated ground strap lying in use immediately adjacent said side wall and terminating in a solder post for insertion through an aperture in the printed circuit board; said contact terminals of the plug engaging said spring contact portions of said conductors and said ground spring contact portion of said ground conductor after insertion of the plug into said opening of said jack.

Claim 11

A modular jack for interfacing a modular plug with a printed circuit board, which comprises: a housing having a front portion, a rear portion, a side wall, and an outer wall, said outer wall including means extending integrally therefrom for mounting said housing to the printed circuit board; an opening formed in said front portion of said housing for receiving the electrical plug, the plug having a multi-conductor cable terminated by contact terminals positioned in the plug, the cable including at least one shielded conductor therein, said housing including a plurality of side-by-side conductor-receiving guide means formed herein; a plurality of electrical conductors arranged in a side-by-side, spaced-apart fashion in said housing, each of said conductors including an end portion extending normally from said outer wall for insertion through a corresponding hole formed in the printed circuit board, an intermediate portion extending from said end portion through said conductor-receiving guide means, and a spring contact portion extending from said intermediate portion into said opening; at least one ground conductor positioned in said housing adjacent said plurality of conductors and including a ground spring contact portion extending into said opening and formed similarly to said spring contact portion of each of said conductors, said ground conductor including grounding means extending outside said housing and having a surface area substantially greater than that of said ground spring contact portion for coupling said ground conductor to a source of ground potential, said grounding means comprising a single, elongated ground strap lying in use immediately adjacent said side wall and terminating in a solder post for insertion through an aperture in the printed circuit board; said contact terminals of the plug engaging said spring contact portions of said conductors and said ground spring contact portion of said ground conductor after insertion of the plug into said opening of said jack.

Claim 12

The jack as set forth in claim 9, wherein said ground spring contact portion is substantially identical to said spring contact portion and is positioned in said housing in lateral alignment with each of said spring contact portions of said conductors.

Claim 13

The jack as set forth in claim 9, wherein said conductors comprise stamped and formed flat contacts having a first width, and wherein said ground conductor comprises a substantially flat, stamped and formed ground contact.

Claim 14

The jack as set forth in claim 11, wherein said ground spring contact portion of said ground conductor has a second width substantially identical to said first width, and wherein said grounding means has a third width substantially greater than said second width.

Claim 15

The jack as set forth in claim 12, wherein said third width is at least about twice as great as said second width.

Claim 16

The jack as set forth in claim 12, wherein said third width is about four to five times as great as said second width.

Claim 17

The jack as set forth in claim 9, wherein said ground strap includes means located in said housing for securing said grounding means in position.

Claim 18

The jack as set forth in claim 15, wherein said securing means comprises a substantially rectangular portion having an opening formed therein adapted to be secured by said housing.

Claim 19

A modular jack for directly coupling to a printed circuit board a modular plug of the type which includes a dielectric housing having a free end for insertion into the modular jack, a cable input end having a cavity for receiving a multi-conductor cable including at least one shielded conductor, a resilient locking tab integrally connected by a flexible hinge to the free end of the dielectric housing and extending obliquely rearwardly therefrom, a terminal-receiving side having partitions which define side-by-side slots in communication with the cavity, electrically conductive contact terminals positioned within the slots and extending into the cavity for making electrical engagement with associated conductors of the cable and for making electrical contact external to the plug, the contact terminals including insulation-piercing tangs at the lower portion thereof and an upper edge surface, the modular jack comprising: (a) an insulating housing having a front end, a rear end, a side wall, and a plurality of external walls; (b) plug-receiving cavity means for receiving the modular plug extending into said front end of said insulating housing and having a plurality of internal walls; (c) solder post means extending from said rear of said insulating housing for insertion through alternating, staggered holes formed in the printed circuit board; (d) a partition wall extending adjacent the rear portion of said plug-receiving cavity means and having conductor-receiving means formed herein; (e) a plurality of electrical conductors in side-by-side spaced-apart relationship, each of said conductors comprising: (i) an intermediate portion extending through said conductor-receiving means of said partition wall; (ii) a spring contact portion extending from said intermediate portion into said plug-receiving cavity means from said rear portion of said plug-receiving cavity means towards said front end of said insulating housing; and (iii) an end portion extending perpendicularly beyond one of said external walls to form said solder post means; and (f) at least one ground conductor positioned in said housing adjacent said plurality of conductors and including a ground spring contact portion extending into said opening and formed similarly to said spring contact portion of each of said conductors, said ground conductor including grounding means extending outside said housing and having a surface area substantially greater than that of said ground spring contact portion for coupling said ground conductor to a source of ground potential, said grounding means comprising a single, elongated ground strap lying in use immediately adjacent said side wall and terminating in a solder post for insertion through an aperture in the printed circuit board; (g) said spring contact portions of said conductors and said ground spring contact portion of said ground conductor each including a lower surface for engaging the upper edge surfaces of the contact terminals of the modular plug after insertion of the plug into said plug-receiving cavity means; and (h) said plug receiving cavity means further having recess means formed therein for receiving and releasably retaining the locking tab of the modular plug.

Claim 20

A modular jack for directly coupling to a printed circuit board a modular plug of the type which includes a dielectric housing having a free end for insertion into the modular jack, a cable input end having a cavity for receiving a multi-conductor cable including at least one shielded conductor, a resilient locking tab integrally connected by a flexible hinge to the free end of the dielectric housing and extending obliquely rearwardly therefrom, a terminal-receiving side having partitions which define side-by-side slots in communication with the cavity, electrically conductive contact terminals positioned within the slots and extending into the cavity for making electrical engagement with associated conductors of the cable and for making electrical contact external to the plug, the contact terminals including insulation-piercing tangs at the lower portion thereof and an upper edge surface, the modular jack comprising: (a) an insulating housing having a front end, a rear end, a side wall, and a plurality of external walls; (b) plug-receiving cavity means for receiving the modular plug extending into said front end of said insulating housing and having a plurality of internal walls; (c) solder post means extending from said rear of said insulating housing for insertion through alternating, staggered holes formed in the printed circuit board; (d) a partition wall extending adjacent the rear portion of said plug-receiving cavity means and having conductor-receiving means formed herein; (e) a plurality of electrical conductors in side-by-side spaced-apart relationship, each of said conductors comprising: (i) an intermediate portion extending through said conductor-receiving means of said partition wall; (ii) a spring contact portion extending from said intermediate portion into said plug-receiving cavity means from said rear portion of said plug-receiving cavity means towards said front end of said insulating housing; and (iii) an end portion extending perpendicularly beyond one of said external walls to form said solder post means; and (f) at least one ground conductor positioned in said housing adjacent said plurality of conductors and including a ground spring contact portion extending into said opening and formed similarly to said spring contact portion of each of said conductors, said ground conductor including grounding means extending outside said housing and having a surface area substantially greater than that of said ground spring contact portion for coupling said ground conductor to a source of ground potential, said grounding means comprising a single, elongated ground strap lying in use immediately adjacent said side wall and terminating in a solder post for insertion through an aperture in the printed circuit board; (g) said spring contact portions of said conductors and said ground spring contact portion of said ground conductor each including a lower surface for engaging the upper edge surfaces of the contact terminals of the modular plug after insertion of the plug into said plug-receiving cavity means; and (h) said plug receiving cavity means further having recess means formed therein for receiving and releasably retaining the locking tab of the modular plug.