US6790097B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for preventing cable discharge events
Assignee: Cisco Technology Inc
•
Filing: 2003-01-08
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Granted: 2004-09-14
•
Expires: 2023-01-08
Abstract
Abstract According to one embodiment of the invention, an apparatus includes a housing having a cavity configured to receive a plug. The apparatus includes a plurality of conductive pins each configured to contact a respective one of a plurality of conductive pins on the plug when the plug is inserted into the cavity. The apparatus also includes a discharge conductor system configured to contact at least one of the plurality of the conductive pins on the plug before complete insertion of the plug into the cavity and a discharge circuit coupling the discharge conductor system to ground.
Inventors
- 👤 James W. Edwards
- 👤 Craig A. Zimmerman
- 👤 Robert A. Marshall
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 22:15
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/648; H01R13/6485; H01R24/00; H01R24/60; H01R24/62; H01R24/64
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 40
Claim 1
Independent Claim
114 words
An apparatus comprising: a housing having: an active RJ connector operable to mate with an RJ plug and establish an operative electrical connection between the RJ plug and the apparatus; and a discharge RJ connector physically separate from the active RJ connector and operable to receive the RJ plug and discharge any charge stored on the RJ plug, the discharge connector comprising a plurality of discharge pins each configured to contact a respective one of a plurality of conductive pins on the RJ plug when the RJ plug is inserted into the discharge RJ connector, the discharge RJ connector being inoperable to establish an operative electrical connection between the RJ plug and the apparatus.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
114 words
An apparatus comprising: a housing having: an active RJ connector operable to mate with an RJ plug and establish an operative electrical connection between the RJ plug and the apparatus; and a discharge RJ connector physically separate from the active RJ connector and operable to receive the RJ plug and discharge any charge stored on the RJ plug, the discharge connector comprising a plurality of discharge pins each configured to contact a respective one of a plurality of conductive pins on the RJ plug when the RJ plug is inserted into the discharge RJ connector, the discharge RJ connector being inoperable to establish an operative electrical connection between the RJ plug and the apparatus.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The RJ connector of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of conductive pins consists of four pins.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The RJ connector of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of conductive pins consists of eight pins.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The RJ connector of claim 1 , wherein the RJ plug is an RJ 45 plug and the RJ connector is an RJ 45 connector.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The RJ connector of claim 1 , wherein the RJ plug is an RJ 11 plug and the RJ connector is an RJ 11 connector.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The RJ connector of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of discharge pins has a resistance less than one megaohm.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The RJ connector of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of discharge pins has a resistance less than one kilohm.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The RJ connector of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of discharge pins is formed from metal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The RJ connector of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of discharge pins is formed from a conductive polymer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The RJ connector of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of discharge pins is formed from a resistive polymer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The RJ connector of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of discharge pins is formed from a material other than a non-conductive plastic.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The RJ connector of claim 1 , and further comprising a discharge circuit electrically coupled to the plurality of discharge pins.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The RJ connector of claim 12 , wherein the discharge circuit is operable to discharge the charge to ground.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The RJ connector of claim 13 , wherein the discharge circuit comprises a short to ground.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The RJ connector of claim 13 , wherein the discharge circuit comprises a resistor coupled to ground.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The RJ connector of claim 13 , wherein the discharge circuit comprises a diode coupled to ground.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
The RJ connector of claim 12 , wherein the discharge circuit is formed within the connector.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
The RJ connector of claim 12 , wherein the discharge circuit is formed external to the connector.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of conductive pins comprising a number of conductive pins selected from the group consisting of four, six and eight.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the RJ connector is a type selected from the group consisting of RJ 45 and RJ 11.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
181 words
A method for discharging charge stored on an RJ plug comprising: providing an apparatus having a housing having: an active RJ connector operable to mate with an RJ plug and establish an operative electrical connection between the RJ plug and the apparatus; and a discharge RJ connector physically separate from the active RJ connector and operable to receive the RJ plug and discharge any charge stored on the RJ plug, the discharge connector comprising a plurality of discharge pins each configured to contact a respective one of a plurality of conductive pins on the RJ plug when the RJ plug is inserted into the discharge RJ connector, the discharge RJ connector being inoperable to establish an operative electrical connection between the RJ plug and the apparatus; inserting the RJ plug into the discharge RJ connector; discharging the charge stored on the RJ plug onto the plurality of discharge pins; removing the RJ plug from the discharge RJ connector; and inserting the RJ plug into the active RJ connector and establishing an operative electrical connection between the RJ plug and the apparatus.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
181 words
A method for discharging charge stored on an RJ plug comprising: providing an apparatus having a housing having: an active RJ connector operable to mate with an RJ plug and establish an operative electrical connection between the RJ plug and the apparatus; and a discharge RJ connector physically separate from the active RJ connector and operable to receive the RJ plug and discharge any charge stored on the RJ plug, the discharge connector comprising a plurality of discharge pins each configured to contact a respective one of a plurality of conductive pins on the RJ plug when the RJ plug is inserted into the discharge RJ connector, the discharge RJ connector being inoperable to establish an operative electrical connection between the RJ plug and the apparatus; inserting the RJ plug into the discharge RJ connector; discharging the charge stored on the RJ plug onto the plurality of discharge pins; removing the RJ plug from the discharge RJ connector; and inserting the RJ plug into the active RJ connector and establishing an operative electrical connection between the RJ plug and the apparatus.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 21 , wherein the plurality of conductive pins consists of four pins.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 21 , wherein the plurality of conductive pins consists of eight pins.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 21 , wherein the RJ plug is an RJ 45 plug and the RJ connector is an RJ 45 connector.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 21 , wherein the RJ plug is an RJ 11 plug and the RJ connector is an RJ 11 connector.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 21 , wherein each of the plurality of discharge pins has a resistance less than one megaohm.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 21 , wherein each of the plurality of discharge pins has a resistance less than one kilohm.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 21 , wherein each of the plurality of discharge pins is formed from metal.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 21 , wherein each of the plurality of discharge pins is formed from a conductive polymer.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 21 , wherein each of the plurality of discharge pins is formed from a resistive polymer.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 21 , wherein each of the plurality of discharge pins is formed from a material other than a non-conductive plastic.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 21 , and further comprising a discharge circuit electrically coupled to the plurality of discharge pins.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 32 , wherein the discharge circuit is operable to discharge the charge to ground.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 33 , wherein the discharge circuit comprises a short to ground.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 33 , wherein the discharge circuit comprises a resistor coupled to ground.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 33 , wherein the discharge circuit comprises a diode coupled to ground.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 32 , wherein the discharge circuit is formed within the connector.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 32 , wherein the discharge circuit is formed external to the connector.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2007-09-14 | 2008-03-15 | 2008-09-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-09-14 | 2012-03-15 | 2012-09-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-09-14 | 2016-03-15 | 2016-09-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |