US6881096B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Compact serial-to-ethernet conversion port
Assignee: Lantronix Inc
•
Filing: 2002-04-15
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Granted: 2005-04-19
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Expires: 2022-04-15
Abstract
Abstract The present invention relates to a serial-to-ethernet modular converter jack and a method of fabricating of the same. The serial-to-ethernet converter electronic components, including the control software stored in on-board memory, are miniaturized and housed entirely in an RJ-45 jack. The present invention is constructed of a shielded housing that defines an open front portion for a connector port. The housing of the present invention also includes a segregated interior chamber, which encases all of the electrical components necessary to complete a serial-to-ethernet conversion of data. Lead pins electrically connected to the circuitry within the interior chamber, protrude from the based of the connector jack providing for a means to mate the jack to a circuit board. First, second and third circuit boards collectively incorporate the serial-to-ethernet circuitry components. Both the first circuit board incorporating magnetic circuitry and the second circuit board incorporating control circuitry are positioned in generally horizontal parallel relation within the interior chamber. The second circuit board which defines opposed sides includes electronic components disposed upon the upper and lower of both sides of said second circuit board. The third circuit board, incorporating connections to the LEDs, is positioned generally perpendicular in relation to the first and second circuit boards and is structurally connected to said first and second circuit boards, additionally providing an electrical connection between the first and second boards. Alternative embodiments of the invention are disclosed and include various arrangement of the serial-to-ethernet circuitry within the interior chamber of the housing.
Inventors
- 👤 Curtis D. Brown
- 👤 Charles J. Brower
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 16:09
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R31/00; H01R31/06; H01R13/00; H01R13/66; H01R13/665; H01R13/6658; H01R13/6691; H01R2201/00; H01R2201/04; H01R24/00; H01R24/60; H01R24/62; H01R24/64; H05; H05K; H05K1/00; H05K1/02; H05K1/14; H05K1/144
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 53
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
A modular communications jack comprising: a. a housing including an open cavity and an interior chamber, said open cavity and said interior chamber being segregated; b. a connector port having a plurality of electrical contacts positioned within said open cavity; and c. at least two circuit boards in common electrical communication positioned in spaced relation within said interior chamber and in electrical communication with said electrical contacts of said connector port, each of said circuit boards having opposed sides wherein electrical circuitry components are disposed on said circuit boards and on each of said opposed sides of at least one of said circuit boards.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
104 words
A modular communications jack comprising: a. a housing including an open cavity and an interior chamber, said open cavity and said interior chamber being segregated; b. a connector port having a plurality of electrical contacts positioned within said open cavity; and c. at least two circuit boards in common electrical communication positioned in spaced relation within said interior chamber and in electrical communication with said electrical contacts of said connector port, each of said circuit boards having opposed sides wherein electrical circuitry components are disposed on said circuit boards and on each of said opposed sides of at least one of said circuit boards.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
The modular communications jack of claim 1 further comprising at least three said circuit boards disposed in common electrical communication and in spaced relation within said interior chamber, said circuit boards being in electrical communication with said electrical contacts of said connector port.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
54 words
The modular communications jack of claim 2 wherein a first and a second circuit board of said at least three circuit boards are positioned in generally horizontal parallel relation and a third circuit board of said at least three circuit boards is positioned in generally perpendicular relation to said first and second circuit boards.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The modular communications jack of claim 3 wherein said third circuit board electrically connects said first and second circuit boards.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The modular communications jack of claim 3 wherein said third circuit board structurally supports said first and second circuit boards.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The modular communications jack of claim 1 wherein said circuit boards are each formed on a common flexible substrate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
100 words
A serial-to-ethernet converter jack comprising: a. a housing including an open cavity and an interior chamber, said open cavity and said interior chamber being segregated; b. a connector port having a plurality of electrical contacts positioned within said open cavity; and c. at least one circuit board disposed within said interior chamber in electrical communication with said electrical contacts of said connector port, said at least one circuit board including a controller block for performing serial-to-ethernet data conversion; wherein said converter jack is a modular component which is capable of electrical connection to a circuit board or another electronic component.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
100 words
A serial-to-ethernet converter jack comprising: a. a housing including an open cavity and an interior chamber, said open cavity and said interior chamber being segregated; b. a connector port having a plurality of electrical contacts positioned within said open cavity; and c. at least one circuit board disposed within said interior chamber in electrical communication with said electrical contacts of said connector port, said at least one circuit board including a controller block for performing serial-to-ethernet data conversion; wherein said converter jack is a modular component which is capable of electrical connection to a circuit board or another electronic component.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
The serial-to-ethernet converter jack of claim 7 wherein said at least one circuit board has first and second sides and said circuitry is disposed on both said first and second sides of said at least one circuit board.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The serial-to-ethernet converter jack of claim 7 wherein said circuit board further includes magnetics circuitry, controller circuitry, and LED circuitry.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
The serial-to-ethernet converter jack of claim 9 further comprising at least three said circuit boards disposed in common electrical communication and in spaced relation within said interior chamber, said circuit boards being in electrical communication with being electrical contacts of said connector port.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
66 words
The serial-to-ethernet converter jack of claim 10 further comprising at least one LED, wherein a first circuit board of said at least three circuit boards includes said magnetics circuitry, a second circuit board of said at least three circuit boards includes said controller circuitry, and a third circuit board of said at least three circuit boards connects said at least one LED to said controller circuitry.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
The serial-to-ethernet converter jack of claim 11 wherein said second circuit board has first and second sides and said controller circuitry is disposed on both said first and second sides of said second circuit board.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
The serial-to-ethernet jack of claim 7 wherein said housing has a height and a width that are substantially equal to the height and the width of a standard RJ-45 jack.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
118 words
A method of forming an integrated communications jack comprising the steps of: a. providing a housing having an open cavity and an interior chamber that is segregated from said open cavity, said housing having a height and a width that are substantially equal to the height and the width of a standard RJ-45 jack; b. positioning an array of electrical contacts within said open cavity to form a standard RJ-45 connector port; c. positioning at least two circuit boards within said interior chamber, at least one of said circuit boards including a controller that is configured to convert Ethernet data to serial data; and d. electrically interconnecting said circuit boards to said electrical contacts of said connector port.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
118 words
A method of forming an integrated communications jack comprising the steps of: a. providing a housing having an open cavity and an interior chamber that is segregated from said open cavity, said housing having a height and a width that are substantially equal to the height and the width of a standard RJ-45 jack; b. positioning an array of electrical contacts within said open cavity to form a standard RJ-45 connector port; c. positioning at least two circuit boards within said interior chamber, at least one of said circuit boards including a controller that is configured to convert Ethernet data to serial data; and d. electrically interconnecting said circuit boards to said electrical contacts of said connector port.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of forming a communications jack of claim 14 further comprising the step of positioning a first and a second circuit board of said at least two said circuit boards in generally parallel relation.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of forming a communications jack of claim 15 further comprising the step of positioning a third circuit board of said at least two circuit boards in generally perpendicular relation to said first and second circuit boards to electrically connect said first and second circuit boards.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of forming a communications jack of claim 15 further comprising the step of positioning a third circuit board of said at least two circuit boards in generally perpendicular relation to said first and second circuit boards to structurally support said first and second circuit boards.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of forming a communications jack of claim 14 further comprising the step of forming said circuit boards on a common flexible substrate.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
114 words
A method of forming an integrated serial-to-ethernet converter jack comprising the steps of: a. providing a housing having an open cavity and an interior chamber that is segregated from said open cavity, said housing having a height and a width that are substantially equal to the height and the width of a standard RJ-45 jack; b. positioning an array of electrical contacts within said open cavity to form a standard RJ-45 connector port; c. positioning at least one circuit board within said interior chamber, said at least one circuit board including a controller block for performing serial-to-ethernet data conversion; and d. electrically interconnecting said circuit board to said electrical contacts of said connector port.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
114 words
A method of forming an integrated serial-to-ethernet converter jack comprising the steps of: a. providing a housing having an open cavity and an interior chamber that is segregated from said open cavity, said housing having a height and a width that are substantially equal to the height and the width of a standard RJ-45 jack; b. positioning an array of electrical contacts within said open cavity to form a standard RJ-45 connector port; c. positioning at least one circuit board within said interior chamber, said at least one circuit board including a controller block for performing serial-to-ethernet data conversion; and d. electrically interconnecting said circuit board to said electrical contacts of said connector port.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
74 words
A communication module for connecting an electronic component to a cable, the cable having a plug and for carrying Ethernet data, the communication module comprising: a port for receiving the plug of the cable; an interface for connecting to the electronic component and for carrying serial data; and a circuit in communication with the port and the interface, the circuit comprising a controller for converting Ethernet data received at the port to serial data.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
74 words
A communication module for connecting an electronic component to a cable, the cable having a plug and for carrying Ethernet data, the communication module comprising: a port for receiving the plug of the cable; an interface for connecting to the electronic component and for carrying serial data; and a circuit in communication with the port and the interface, the circuit comprising a controller for converting Ethernet data received at the port to serial data.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
14 words
The communication module of claim 20 wherein the communication module is an RJ-45 jack.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
16 words
The communication module of claim 20 wherein the port is configured to receive an RJ-45 plug.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
44 words
The communication module of claim 20 further comprising a housing including an open cavity and an interior chamber; the open cavity and the interior chamber being segregated; the port being disposed in the open cavity; and the circuit being disposed in the interior chamber.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
30 words
The communication module of claim 23 wherein the housing has a height and a width that are substantially equal to the height and the width of a standard RJ-45 jack.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
20 words
The communication module of claim 20 wherein the controller also converts serial data received at the interface to Ethernet data.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
33 words
The communication module of claim 20 wherein the circuit further comprises a flash memory connected to the controller for storing software for use by the controller for converting Ethernet data to serial data.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
30 words
The communication module of claim 26 wherein the circuit further comprises a supervisory circuit connected to the interface and the controller for monitoring a supply voltage from the electronic component.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
28 words
The communication module of claim 27 wherein the circuit further comprises a power filters connected to the interface and the controller for removing noise from the supply voltage.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
23 words
The communication module of claim 28 wherein the circuit further comprises a power supply for supplying a second supply voltage to the controller.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
16 words
The communication module of claim 20 wherein the interface comprises a plurality of input/output (I/O) pins.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
25 words
The communication module of claim 30 wherein the plurality of I/O pins includes pins for transmitting serial data between the electronic component and the controller.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
25 words
The communication module of claim 30 wherein the plurality of I/O pins includes pins for a flow-control line and a handshake line of the controller.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
27 words
The communication module of claim 30 wherein the plurality of I/O pins includes programmable I/O (PIO) pins for enabling the controller to communicate with the electronic component.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
21 words
The communication module of claim 26 wherein the circuit further comprises a magnetic circuit connected between the controller and the port.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
19 words
The communication module of claim 20 further comprising at least one light emitting diode (LED) connected to the circuit.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
29 words
The communication module of claim 20 wherein the electronic component is a printed circuit board (PCB), the interface comprising a plurality of I/O pins for connecting to the PCB.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
23 words
The communication module of claim 36 further comprising: a Faraday shield; and a grounding tab for connecting the Faraday shield to the PCB.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
49 words
The communication module of claim 20 further comprising: a housing including an open cavity in which the port is disposed and an interior chamber that is segregated from the open cavity; and a printed circuit board (PCB) disposed within the interior chamber, the circuit being disposed on the PCB.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
107 words
In combination, a communication module and an electronic component, the communication module for connecting the electronic component to a cable, the cable having a plug and for carrying Ethernet data, the combination comprising: an electronic component that is incapable of converting Ethernet data to serial data; a communication module including: a port for receiving the plug of the cable; an interface connected to the electronic component and for carrying serial data; and a circuit in communication with the port and the interface, the circuit comprising a controller for converting Ethernet data received at the port to serial data and for providing the serial data to the interface.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
107 words
In combination, a communication module and an electronic component, the communication module for connecting the electronic component to a cable, the cable having a plug and for carrying Ethernet data, the combination comprising: an electronic component that is incapable of converting Ethernet data to serial data; a communication module including: a port for receiving the plug of the cable; an interface connected to the electronic component and for carrying serial data; and a circuit in communication with the port and the interface, the circuit comprising a controller for converting Ethernet data received at the port to serial data and for providing the serial data to the interface.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
15 words
The combination of claim 39 wherein the electronic component is a printed circuit board (PCB).
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
23 words
The combination of claim 39 wherein the communication module includes a housing that has dimensions substantially the same as a standard RJ-45 jack.
Claim 48
Independent Claim
93 words
A method for forming a communication module for enabling an electronic component to be connected to an Ethernet cable, the electronic component being incapable of converting Ethernet data to serial data, the cable having a plug, the method comprising: providing a housing including: a port for receiving the plug of the cable; and an interface for connecting to the electronic component and for carrying serial data; and providing a circuit including a controller that is configured to convert Ethernet data to serial data; and connecting the circuit to the port and the interface.
Claim 49
Independent Claim
93 words
A method for forming a communication module for enabling an electronic component to be connected to an Ethernet cable, the electronic component being incapable of converting Ethernet data to serial data, the cable having a plug, the method comprising: providing a housing including: a port for receiving the plug of the cable; and an interface for connecting to the electronic component and for carrying serial data; and providing a circuit including a controller that is configured to convert Ethernet data to serial data; and connecting the circuit to the port and the interface.
Claim 50
Independent Claim
96 words
A method for enabling an electronic component to be connected to an Ethernet cable, the electronic component being incapable of converting Ethernet data to serial data, the cable having a plug, the method comprising: providing a communication module including: a port for receiving the plug of the cable; an interface for carrying serial data; and a circuit in communication with the port and the interface that is configured to convert Ethernet data received at the port to serial data and to provide the serial data to the interface; and connecting the interface to the electronic component.
Claim 51
Independent Claim
96 words
A method for enabling an electronic component to be connected to an Ethernet cable, the electronic component being incapable of converting Ethernet data to serial data, the cable having a plug, the method comprising: providing a communication module including: a port for receiving the plug of the cable; an interface for carrying serial data; and a circuit in communication with the port and the interface that is configured to convert Ethernet data received at the port to serial data and to provide the serial data to the interface; and connecting the interface to the electronic component.
Claim 52
Independent Claim
107 words
A method for connecting an electronic component to an Ethernet cable, the cable having a plug, the method comprising: providing a combination including: an electronic component that is incapable of converting Ethernet data to serial data; a communication module including: a port for receiving the plug of the cable; an interface connected to the electronic component and for carrying serial data; and a circuit in communication with the port and the interface, the circuit including a controller for converting Ethernet data received at the port to serial data and for providing the serial data to the interface; and connecting the plug of the cable to the port.
Claim 53
Independent Claim
107 words
A method for connecting an electronic component to an Ethernet cable, the cable having a plug, the method comprising: providing a combination including: an electronic component that is incapable of converting Ethernet data to serial data; a communication module including: a port for receiving the plug of the cable; an interface connected to the electronic component and for carrying serial data; and a circuit in communication with the port and the interface, the circuit including a controller for converting Ethernet data received at the port to serial data and for providing the serial data to the interface; and connecting the plug of the cable to the port.
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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) | 2008-04-18 | 2008-10-18 | 2009-04-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2012-04-18 | 2012-10-18 | 2013-04-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2016-04-18 | 2016-10-18 | 2017-04-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |