US6164989A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Adaptable communications connectors
Assignee: Intel Corp
•
Filing: 1998-06-26
•
Granted: 2000-12-26
•
Expires: 2018-06-26
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for conveying signals between a communications card and a signal utilization device or network. In one form, structures are provided for receiving an RJ series plug and for making electrical connection with at the contacts on the plug and conveying any signals on the contacts to a communications device such as a telephone, facsimile machine, modem, or a local area network adapter. A body includes one or more recesses which receive the plug. An expandable and stretchable membrane isolates the contacts in the plug from electrical contact with an object in a surrounding environment such that passage of current from one or more of the electrical contacts to an object present in the surrounding environment is prevented. Also provided is a replaceable direct access arrangement which is replaceably held within the communications device. Both the structures providing the receptacles and the direct access arrangement are easily removable in case of damage or if other functions are desired. The replaceable direct access arrangement allows operation in countries having different telecommunications standards and allows operation with many different communications devices. Wireless communication is also provided.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul H. Glad
- 👤 Steve R. McDaniels
- 👤 David Nagle
- 👤 Jon R. Hinton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 03:09
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R31/00; H01R31/06; H01R13/00; H01R13/44; H01R13/447; H01R31/005; H05; H05K; H05K5/00; H05K5/02; H05K5/0256; H05K5/026; H05K5/0265; H05K5/0273; H01R2201/00; H01R2201/06; H01R24/00; H01R24/60; H01R24/62; H04; H04L; H04L49/00; H04L49/35; H04L49/351; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S439/00; Y10S439/945; Y10S439/946
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
217 words
An apparatus for receiving a plug having a biased clip and for making electrical connection with at least first and second electrical contacts provided on the plug, the apparatus comprising: a communications device, the communications device having a first side with a dimension which complies with PCMCIA Type III card standards; body means, the body means including at least one recess means provided in the body means, the recess means having dimensions such that the plug is closely received therein; housing means for releasably holding the body; means for removably holding the housing means substantially within the communications device such that the housing means and the body means can be removed from and inserted into the communications device as a unitary module; a first electrical conductor provided in the recess means, the first electrical conductor being positioned such that it makes electrical continuity with the first electrical contact in the plug when the plug is received by the recess means; a second electrical conductor provided in the recess means, the second electrical conductor being positioned such that it makes electrical continuity with the second electrical contact in the plug when the plug is received by the recess means; and means for conveying any electrical signal present on the first and second electrical contacts to the communications device.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
217 words
An apparatus for receiving a plug having a biased clip and for making electrical connection with at least first and second electrical contacts provided on the plug, the apparatus comprising: a communications device, the communications device having a first side with a dimension which complies with PCMCIA Type III card standards; body means, the body means including at least one recess means provided in the body means, the recess means having dimensions such that the plug is closely received therein; housing means for releasably holding the body; means for removably holding the housing means substantially within the communications device such that the housing means and the body means can be removed from and inserted into the communications device as a unitary module; a first electrical conductor provided in the recess means, the first electrical conductor being positioned such that it makes electrical continuity with the first electrical contact in the plug when the plug is received by the recess means; a second electrical conductor provided in the recess means, the second electrical conductor being positioned such that it makes electrical continuity with the second electrical contact in the plug when the plug is received by the recess means; and means for conveying any electrical signal present on the first and second electrical contacts to the communications device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the housing means comprises a direct access arrangement.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein the direct access arrangement comprises a billing tone filter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the recess means comprises at least one RJ-xx series receptacle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising means for extending and retracting the body means into and out of the housing means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein the means for extending and retracting the body means further comprises means for holding the body means in an extended position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 5 further comprising means for removing the body means from the housing means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the recess means is configured to closely receive an RJ-11 plug having a biased clip.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the recess means is configured to closely revceive an RJ-12 plug having a biased clip.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the recess means is configured to closely receive an RJ-45 type plug having a biased clip.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the body means comprises a first side and a second side and wherein the recess comprises a rectangular recess having three walls, the walls being oriented substantially perpendicularly to the first side.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
52 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein the three walls comprise a first pair of parallel opposing walls each having a length in the range from about 0.265 inches to about 0.285 inches and the third wall has a length in the range from about 0.45 inches to about 0.475 inches.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
52 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein the three walls comprise a first pair of parallel opposing walls each having a length in the range from about 0.265 inches to about 0.285 inches and the third wall has a length in the range from about 0.375 inches to about 0.4 inches.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising means for releasably engaging the biased clip on the plug.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the housing means comprises a shell having a plurality of grooves and wherein the body means further comprises guides slidably mounted within the grooves.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
89 words
A communications device, the communications device having a first side with a dimension which complies with PCMCIA Type III card standards, the communications device comprising: data access means for interfacing communications signals received and generated by the communications device; means for removably holding the data access means substantially within the communications device such that the data access means can be removed from and inserted into the communications device as a unitary module; and means for conveying a communications signal between the data access means and a signal utilizing device.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
89 words
A communications device, the communications device having a first side with a dimension which complies with PCMCIA Type III card standards, the communications device comprising: data access means for interfacing communications signals received and generated by the communications device; means for removably holding the data access means substantially within the communications device such that the data access means can be removed from and inserted into the communications device as a unitary module; and means for conveying a communications signal between the data access means and a signal utilizing device.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
147 words
A communications device as defined in claim 16 wherein the means for conveying a communications signal comprises: body means, the body means including at least one recess means provided in the body means, the recess means having dimensions such that a plug having first and second electrical contacts is closely received therein; a first electrical conductor provided in the recess means, the first electrical conductor being positioned such that it makes electrical continuity with the first electrical contact in the plug when the plug is received by the recess means; a second electrical conductor provided in the recess means, the second electrical conductor being positioned such that it makes electrical continuity with the second electrical contact in the plug when the plug is received by the recess means; and means for conveying any electrical signal present on the first and second electrical contacts to the communications device.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
A communications device as defined in claim 16 wherein the means for conveying a communications signal comprises an antenna.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
A communications device as defined in claim 16 wherein the means for conveying a communications signal comprises: a cord; and means for connecting the cord to a portable telephone.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
236 words
A communications card for use in a data utilization device and for receiving an RJ-xx series plug having a biased clip and for making electrical connection with at least first and second electrical contacts provided on the plug, the communications card complying with PCMCIA Type III card standards and comprising: a first surface; a second surface, the second surface being substantially parallel to the first surface and forming upper and lower surfaces of the communications card; a first end; recess means provided in the first end, the recess means being oriented substantially perpendicular to said first end and substantially parallel to the upper surface and the lower surface, the recess means having dimensions such that the plug is closely received therein; a first electrical conductor provided in the recess means, the first electrical conductor being positioned such that it makes electrical continuity with a first electrical contact in the plug when the plug is received by the recess means; a second electrical conductor provided in the recess means, the second electrical conductor being positioned such that it makes electrical continuity with a second electrical contact in the plug when the plug is received by the recess means; means for conveying any electrical signal present on the first and second electrical contacts to the communications device; and a cutout formed on the first surface adjacent to the recess means, the cutout shaped to receive the biased clip.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
236 words
A communications card for use in a data utilization device and for receiving an RJ-xx series plug having a biased clip and for making electrical connection with at least first and second electrical contacts provided on the plug, the communications card complying with PCMCIA Type III card standards and comprising: a first surface; a second surface, the second surface being substantially parallel to the first surface and forming upper and lower surfaces of the communications card; a first end; recess means provided in the first end, the recess means being oriented substantially perpendicular to said first end and substantially parallel to the upper surface and the lower surface, the recess means having dimensions such that the plug is closely received therein; a first electrical conductor provided in the recess means, the first electrical conductor being positioned such that it makes electrical continuity with a first electrical contact in the plug when the plug is received by the recess means; a second electrical conductor provided in the recess means, the second electrical conductor being positioned such that it makes electrical continuity with a second electrical contact in the plug when the plug is received by the recess means; means for conveying any electrical signal present on the first and second electrical contacts to the communications device; and a cutout formed on the first surface adjacent to the recess means, the cutout shaped to receive the biased clip.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1989823A
Cited
DE1195385B
Cited
US3433886A
Cited
US3553635A
Cited
US3613043A
Cited
US3685002A
Cited
US3622684A
Cited
US3777303A
Cited
US3794956A
Cited
US4047781A
Cited
US4059321A
Cited
US4103985A
Cited
US4109295A
Cited
US4242721A
Cited
US4303296A
Cited
US4241974A
Cited
US4482938A
Cited
US4497526A
Cited
US4511198A
Cited
US4603229A
Cited
US4648682A
Cited
US4758168A
Cited
JPS6229344A
Cited
JPS6278656A
Cited
JPS6410585A
Cited
US4954928A
Cited
US4809360A
Cited
JPH0196055A
Cited
JPH0197652A
Cited
US5035641A
Cited
JPH01243384A
Cited
US4878848A
Cited
EP0355413A2
Cited
JPH0290481A
Cited
US5296692A
Cited
JPH02162667A
Cited
US5035649A
Cited
US4969830A
Cited
JPH0336477A
Cited
US5122069A
Cited
US4984982A
Cited
US4986762A
Cited
US4993962A
Cited
US5038250A
Cited
US5196994A
Cited
US4968260A
Cited
US5182698A
Cited
US5043721A
Cited
JPH03262069A
Cited
US4997381A
Cited
US5114356A
Cited
US5132877A
Cited
US5319083A
Cited
US5082450A
Cited
US5085591A
Cited
US5159533A
Cited
US5319516A
Cited
US5260994A
Cited
US5285014A
Cited
US5547401A
Cited
CA2070571A1
Cited
US5183404A
Cited
US5336099A
Cited
US5338210A
Cited
US5242310A
Cited
US5395268A
Cited
CA2101354A1
Cited
US5385479A
Cited
CA2103514A1
Cited
US5244397A
Cited
US5391094A
Cited
US5628055A
Cited
US5505628A
Cited
US5386340A
Cited
US5538442A
Cited
US5773332A
Cited
US5411405A
Cited
US5336090A
Cited
US5457601A
Cited
US5509811A
Cited
US5561727A
Cited
US5532898A
Cited
US5505633A
Cited
US5608606A
Cited
US5470237A
Cited
US5477418A
Cited
US5562463A
Cited
US5634802A
Cited
US5611055A
Cited
US5775951A
Cited
US5637018A
Cited
US5499923A
Cited
US5679013A
Cited
US5562504A
Cited
US5548483A
Cited
US5692914A
Cited
US5619396A
Cited
US5608607A
Cited
DE29607724U1
Cited
US5702271A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-12-26 | 2004-06-26 | 2004-12-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-12-26 | 2008-06-26 | 2008-12-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-12-26 | 2012-06-26 | 2012-12-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |