Abstract:
A modular jack assembly with an indicator comprises a housing ( 19 ) made of an insulative material and consisting of two tiers, each tier having at least one through-hole ( 15 ) and at least one opening ( 18   a  or  18   b ) for receiving a mating connector. The modular assembly further comprises at least one light transmission means ( 11 D) for transmitting light, which is provided in the through-hole and has a light receiving member ( 13 ) at one end for receiving light from a corresponding light source ( 6   a  OR  6   b ) mounted on a board outside of the modular jack assembly and disposed in a line along a rear wall of the housing and an indicator member at the other end for displaying the light to the outside of the modular jack assembly. The transmission means provided in the through-hole of an upper tier extends upwardly from the light receiving member along the rear wall, bent at right angles into an upper wall of the upper tier and then bent diagonally along the upper wall of the upper tier. The light transmission means provided in the through-hole of a lower tier extends upwardly from the light receiving member along the rear wall and bent at right angles into and through an upper wall of the lower tier.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to connectors with an indicator and, particularly, to a connector with an indicator whose light source is located outside.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0004]    European patent No. 0740370 A1 and Japanese patent application Kokai No. 8-148230 disclose connectors with an indicator wherein a display of light from an LED is used to indicate plugging between a modular jack assembly and a modular plug or reception of a signal by a modular jack assembly from a modular plug. In the above European patent, an LED is incorporated in the rear portion of a connector, and light of the LED is guided to the outside by an optical pipe, which is inserted from the front side to the back side of the connector. In the above Japanese patent, an LED is provided in the front face of the connector such that part of the LED is exposed so that light of the LED is displayed directly, with the result that no optical pipe is required. This LED is also inserted into the connector from the front face to the rear face.  
           [0005]    To incorporate the LED, it is necessary to provide a space for the incorporation, resulting in the bulky connector. The location of LED incorporation limits the display position of light, and its change is also not easy. In addition, the size and shape of an LED incorporated are limited, providing a narrow range of usable LED. Once incorporated, the LED is impossible or very difficult to replace it. In the above European patent, it is very difficult to change the shape of an optical pipe to change the location of light display. In the multiple linked connector, it is very complicated to assemble the LED&#39;s and optical pipes.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a compact connector having a wide range of LED selection and easy to change the display location by changing the shape of an optical pipe.  
           [0007]    It is another object of the invention to provide a connector wherein it is easy to replace the LED.  
           [0008]    It is still another object of the invention to provide a linked type connector which is easy to assemble.  
           [0009]    According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a modular jack assembly with an indicator, comprising a housing; and a light transmission unit for transmitting light and having a light receiving member at one end for receiving light from outside of the modular jack assembly and an indicator member at the other end for displaying the light at the outside of the modular jack assembly.  
           [0010]    According to one embodiment of the invention, the light transmission unit is an optical pipe.  
           [0011]    According to another aspect of the invention, the light transmission unit is an optical fiber.  
           [0012]    According to still another embodiment of the invention, the light receiving member and the indicator member are transparent and part of the light transmission unit between the light receiving member and the indicator member is empty.  
           [0013]    According to yet another embodiment of the invention, the light transmission unit a prefabricated light transmission member incorporated in the housing.  
           [0014]    According to another embodiment of the invention, the housing is provided a plurality of openings in which a plurality of the light transmission unit are incorporated at once.  
           [0015]    According to still another embodiment of the invention, the light transmission unit is a transparent resin put into the colored housing.  
           [0016]    According to yet another embodiment of the invention, the light transmission unit is a transparent member integrally molded with the housing.  
           [0017]    According to another embodiment of the invention, part of the light transmission unit is located within the housing.  
           [0018]    According to still another embodiment of the invention, substantially all of the light transmission unit is located within the modular jack assembly.  
           [0019]    According to yet another embodiment of the invention, the light receiving member is convex.  
           [0020]    According to another embodiment of the invention, the light transmission unit extends straight between the light receiving member and the indicator member.  
           [0021]    According to still another embodiment of the invention, the light transmission unit has an L-shaped form.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0022]    [0022]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a modular jack assembly of the upper indicator, right-angle optical pipe system according to the first embodiment of the invention;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line  2 - 2  of FIG. 1;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a modified device of the first embodiment wherein part of the optical pipes are exposed;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line  4 - 4  of FIG. 3;  
         [0026]    FIGS.  5 ( a ) and ( b ) are side views of ends of optical pipes near LED&#39;s;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 5( c ) is a perspective view of a modified device of the first embodiment;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an optical arm simultaneous incorporation system;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a two-component optical arm simultaneous incorporation system;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an upper indicator, straight optical pipe system modular jack assembly according to the second embodiment of the invention;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line  9 - 9  of FIG. 8;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a modified second embodiment of the invention, wherein no optical pipe is used;  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along line  11 - 11  of FIG. 10;  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 11(B) is a perspective view of another modified second embodiment of the invention;  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an upper indicator, optical fiber system modular jack assembly according to the third embodiment of the invention;  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken along line  13 - 13  of FIG. 12;  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a modified third embodiment, wherein light receiving members are provided at the housing;  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken along line  15 - 15  of FIG. 14;  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 16 is a perspective view of an upper and lower indicator right angle optical pipe system modular jack assembly;  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 17 is a sectional view taken along line  17 - 17  of FIG. 16;  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 18 is an upper indicator system modular jack assembly according to the fourth embodiment of the invention; and  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 19 is a straight type modular jack assembly according to the fifth embodiment of the invention.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0043]    [0043]FIGS. 1 and 2 show the first embodiment of the invention or a multiple-type modular jack assembly wherein four modular jacks of the same configuration are arranged side by side. This multiple-type modular jack assembly is of the upper indicator right angle optical pipe system. As the name indicates, eight indicator members  10  are provided on the upper side of the modular jack assembly  1 . Eight optical pipes  11  are bent at right angles. Eight LED&#39;s  6  are provided at the ends of the vertical sections of the optical pipes  11 . FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line  2 - 2  of FIG. 1.  
         [0044]    The LED&#39;s  6  are placed at the back of the modular jack assembly and exposed to the outside. They are mounted on a board, and each LED gives off light in a direction perpendicular to the board. Since the LED&#39;s are placed outside the modular jack assembly, it is possible to use a variety of LED&#39;s. In addition, no space is necessary within the modular jack assembly. Moreover, it is easy to replace LED&#39;s. When a modular plug is plugged in the modular jack assembly and the contact element  7  (FIG. 2) of the modular jack assembly  1  receives a signal from the corresponding contact element of a modular plug, the LED  6  emits light.  
         [0045]    The light from each LED  6  is transmitted to the outside of the modular jack assembly  1  by the optical pipe  11 . The rear end  13  of the optical pipe  11  is opposed to the LED  6 . This rear end  13  is made flat. The front end of the optical pipe  11  slightly projects from the front end of the modular jack assembly  1 , forming the indicator member  10 . A reflector  14  is provided between the horizontal and vertical sections of the optical pipe  11  such that the light of the LED  6  is reflected to the front end of the optical pipe  11   
         [0046]    The optical pipe  11  is made of a transparent resin. As far as it is transparent, it does not matter to have a color or not. It is made by either pouring a transparent resin into a predetermined place of a housing  19  of the modular jack assembly  1  to form a particular shape or forming an optical pipe  11  of a predetermined shape and then incorporating it into the housing  19  at a predetermined place. Unlike optical fibers, the optical pipe  11  is not flexible. If the former forming method is used, it is preferred that the housing  19  is made opaque to facilitate distinction between the housing  19  and the optical pipe  11 .  
         [0047]    Corresponding to the shape of the optical pipe  11 , the housing  19  has a through-hole  15  extending horizontally from the rear to the front face of the housing and a guiding groove  16  extending vertically in the rear face. When the optical pipe  11  is placed in the housing  19  at a predetermined position, the horizontal and vertical sections of the optical pipe  11  are fixed in the through-hole  15  and the guiding groove  16 , respectively, of the housing  19 . Like the through-hole  15 , the guiding groove  16  works as a locator for guiding the vertical section of the optical pipe  11  toward the housing. When the optical pipe  11  is placed at the predetermined position, the vertical section of the optical pipe  11  is surrounded by the guiding groove  16  except for the back side  17  and the end face which are exposed to the outside. In the method by which the optical pipe is incorporated at a predetermined position, the optical pipe  11  is incorporated in the housing  19  from the rear to the front side.  
         [0048]    After the optical pipe  11  is placed in the housing  19  at the predetermined position, the entire surfaces of the housing  19  except the bottom surface and an opening  18  for receiving a modular plug is covered by a shield case  8 . Consequently, the optical pipe  11  is completely covered except for the end face, thereby providing the modular jack assembly  1  with a high shield effect.  
         [0049]    [0049]FIGS. 3 and 4 show a modification to the first embodiment of the invention. In this modification, the horizontal sections of optical pipes  11  are fixed to the housing  19  but the vertical sections are spaced from the rear face of the housing  19 . Corresponding to such optical pipes  11 , only through-holes  15  are provided in the housing  19  and no guiding grooves are provided. However, a pair of positioning plates  20  are provided so as to extend rearwardly from the rear face of the housing  19 . The vertical section of the optical pipe  11  is flanked and guided by these positioning plates  20  to a predetermined position. The optical pipe is separately formed and then incorporated into the housing  19 . The shield case  8  is attached to the housing  19  prior to the incorporation of the optical pipes  11  in the housing  19 . Holes  21  are provided in the shield case  8  at predetermined positions to incorporate the optical pipes  11 . This modified device is less effective in the shield effect than the first embodiment but easier to assemble than the first embodiment.  
         [0050]    [0050]FIG. 5( a ) shows a second modification to the above embodiments of the invention, wherein the end face  13 A of an optical pipe  11 A is opposed to an LED  6 . FIG. 5( b ) shows the flat end face  13  of the optical pipe  11  in the above embodiment so that rays of light from the LED  6  do not run straight within the optical pipe  11  and there is some leak of light. By contrast, the end face  13 A of the optical pipe  11 A is provided with convex light collecting face so that rays of light run straight within the optical pipe  11 A and there is little leak of light, thus providing efficient guiding of light.  
         [0051]    [0051]FIG. 5( c ) shows the third modification to the first embodiment of the invention. The housing  19  is provided with a plurality of horizontal and vertical through-holes  15 A and  15 B. A plurality of optical pipes  11 A are fixed in the horizontal through-holes  15 A, but the vertical through-holes  15 B are empty. A reflecting face  14 A is provided on an end of each optical pipe  11 A between the horizontal and vertical through-holes to reflect light of an LED  6  to the other end of the optical pipe  6  on the side where a modular plug is plugged. Since only the horizontal optical pipes are used, this modified device is better in assembling efficiency than the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 where the optical pipes are bent at right angles. A plurality of openings  30  are provided in the shield case  8  around the LED&#39;s to vent the heat emitted from the LED&#39;s.  
         [0052]    [0052]FIG. 6 shows the fourth modification to the first embodiment of the invention. In this modification, a multiple type optical pipes  11 A has eight optical pipes linked by linking arms. In the incorporation method, it is possible to incorporate eight optical pipes in the housing  19  at once, thus maximizing the assembling efficiency. Light does not leak to another optical pipe so that the multiple type optical pipe  11 A has no adverse influence on the performance of the modular jack assembly  1 . The number of optical pipes linked may be different.  
         [0053]    [0053]FIG. 7 shows an application of the fourth modification. Optical pipes  11 A′ divided into tow straight components; that is, horizontal sections  11 A′ 1  and vertical sections  11 A′ 2 . The strength of the optical pipes consisting of the two components is higher than that of the optical pipes made up of one component as shown in FIG. 6. Since the respective sections are straight, it is easier to store than the right-angle type as shown in FIG. 6. To install the optical pipe  11 A′ to the housing  19 , the horizontal sections  11 A′ 1  are inserted into through-holes  15  of the housing  19 , and the vertical sections  11 A′ 2  are positioned by a plurality of positioning locators  20 ′. Since the respective sections  11 A′ 1  and  11 A′ 2  are straight and strong, the components are not damaged and are easier to assemble than the right-angle type. Since the horizontal and vertical sections are separated, the height of the positioning locators  20 ′ is greater than that of the positioning locator  20  in FIG. 6 to assure positioning of the vertical sections.  
         [0054]    [0054]FIGS. 8 and 9 show the second embodiment of the invention. This embodiment is of the upper indicator straight type optical pipe system. This system comprises indicator members  10  on the upper side of a modular jack assembly and straight optical pipes  11 B.  
         [0055]    In FIG. 8, LED&#39;s  6 B are spaced from the back of a modular jack assembly  1 B. The LED&#39;s  6 B are mounted on a vertical board  9 B to emit light in the horizontal direction. The vertical board  9 B attached to a PCB connector  22  is removable so that it is easy to replace LED&#39;S.  
         [0056]    The light of each LED  6 B is directed to the outside by the optical pipe  11 B incorporated in the modular jack assembly  1 B. One end face  13  of each optical pipe  11 B is opposed to the LED  6 B. The end face  13  is made flat. The other end face slightly projects from the front end of the modular jack assembly and has an indicator member  10 . Since the optical pipe  11 B is made straight, light is guided from the LED-side end face  13  to the other end face without reflection.  
         [0057]    The optical pipe  11 B is made from a colored or colorless transparent resin. The methods of making such an optical pipe  11 B include 1) pouring a transparent resin into a predetermined position in the housing  19  to form a specific shape and 2) forming an optical pipe  11 B of a specified shape and incorporating it in the housing  19  at a predetermined position. Unlike optical fibers, the optical pipe  11 B is not flexible. The housing  19  is either transparent or opaque but when the first method 1) is used, it is preferred to use an opaque housing for easy distinction between the housing  19  and the optical pipe  11 B.  
         [0058]    Corresponding to the shape of the optical pipes  11 B, the housing  19  is provided with through-holes  15 . When the optical pipe  11 B is placed at a predetermined position in the housing  19 , it is surrounded by the walls of a through-hole except for the end faces. In the second method 2), the optical pipe  11 B is incorporated into the housing  19  either the rear-to-front or front-to-rear direction.  
         [0059]    The entire surface of the housing  19  except for the bottom surface, openings  18  for plugging modular plugs, and holes  21  for incorporating the optical pipes  11 B is covered by a shield case  8 , thus providing excellent shield effects. Since the optical pipes  11 B are straight, the shield case  8  can be attached either before or after the optical pipes  11 B are incorporated.  
         [0060]    [0060]FIGS. 10 and 11 show the first modification to the second embodiment. In this modification, the optical pipes  11 B are replaced by light receiving members  23 B opposed to LED&#39;s and indicator members  10 B provided on the front face of a modular jack assembly. The light receiving members  23 B have a hemispheric convex surface on the LED side and a flat surface on the opposite side. The indicator members  10 B have a flat surface on the side of light collecting members  23 B. Rays of light from the LED  6 B are made parallel by the convex lens of the light receiving member  23 B. The parallel rays of light are then received by the indicator member  10 B for display. Thus, the amount of light leak is reduced, and the efficiency of guiding light is increased. The light receiving members  23 B and the indicator members  10 B are formed as a part of the housing  19 . Since the theses components must be transparent, and the housing  19  is molded from a transparent resin as a unit. Consequently, it is very easy to assemble this modified unit. Since the rays of light are made parallel by the convex lens of the light receiving members, very few rays leak into members other than the indicator members  10 B.  
         [0061]    [0061]FIG. 11(A) shows the second modification to the second embodiment. A plurality of leads  6 C of LED&#39;s  6 B extend toward the horizontal board  9 . The LED&#39;s and their leads are held by an LED holder  6 D so that it is not necessary to mount LED&#39;s on a vertical board, thereby cutting the manufacturing costs. Since it is possible to mount simultaneously both the LED&#39;s and the modular jack assembly  1 B on a horizontal board  9 , it is very easy to assemble.  
         [0062]    [0062]FIG. 11(B) shows the third modification to the second embodiment. A housing  19  is provided with a plurality of horizontal through-holes  15 A and a plurality of vertical through-holes  15 B. Both the through-holes  15 A and  15 B are empty. A plurality of reflection members  14 A are provided at positions between the horizontal and vertical through-holes to reflect the light of LED&#39;s to the other end of optical pipes. This modified device is less expensive and more efficient to assemble than the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 because only the reflection members are required.  
         [0063]    [0063]FIGS. 12 and 13 show the third embodiment of the invention. This embodiment is of the upper indicator, optical fiber type. In this type, the optical pipes are replaced by optical fibers.  
         [0064]    In FIG. 12, LED&#39;s  6  are spaced from the back of a modular jack assembly  1 C. These LED&#39;s  6  are mounted on a horizontal board (not shown) and emit light in the vertical direction.  
         [0065]    The light of each LED  6  is guided to the outside by an optical fiber or cable  12  incorporated in the modular jack assembly  1 C. The optical fiber  12  extends from a position near the LED  6  to the outside of the modular jack assembly  1 C. On end face  13  of the optical fiber  12  is opposed to the LED  6 , and the other end face is exposed at the front face of the modular jack assembly  1 C and has an indicator member  10 C. The end face opposed to the LED  6  has a flat surface.  
         [0066]    A horizontal portion of the optical fiber  12  is fixed in the housing  19 , and the remaining portion is spaced from the rear face of the housing  19 . The optical fibers  12  are incorporated into the housing by inserting them into through-holes  15  of the housing  19 . Positioning locators  19 C extend rearwardly from the rear face of the housing  19  to position the exposed portions of the optical fibers  12 . Through-holes  24  are provided in the positioning locators  19 C at predetermined positions corresponding to the respective optical fibers  12 . The end faces  13  of the optical fibers  12  are fixed at predetermined positions by inserting them into the through-holes  24 .  
         [0067]    The entire surface of the housing  19  except for the bottom surface, openings  18  for plugging a modular plug, and the holes  21  for incorporating the optical fibers  12  is covered by a shield case  8  to provide excellent shield effects. Since the optical fibers  12  are flexible, the shield case  8  can be attached either before or after the optical fibers  12  are installed.  
         [0068]    [0068]FIGS. 14 and 15 show a modification to the third embodiment. In this modification, the entire optical fibers  12  are incorporated in the housing  19  to make safer than the embodiment of FIGS. 12 and 13. The housing  19  is provided with light collecting members  23 C at positions opposite to LED&#39;s  6 . The light collecting members  23 C have a hemispheric convex shape, to the back of which the end faces  13  of the optical fibers  12  are opposed. The light rays of LED  6  are made parallel by the light receiving member  23 C and sent to the optical fiber  12 . Thus, there is little light leakage so that the light is guided efficiently. The light receiving members  23  are formed integrally with the housing  19  as a single body and must be transparent so that the housing  19  is molded integrally from a transparent resin. Thus, this modified device is very easy to assemble. The light rays of LED  6  are made parallel by the convex lens of the light receiving member  23  so that there is little light leakage into portions other than the indicator member  10 C. The housing  19  is covered by a shield case  8  except for the bottom surface, openings  18  for plugging a modular plug, and holes for incorporating the optical fibers  12 .  
         [0069]    [0069]FIGS. 16 and 17 show the fourth embodiment of the invention. A multiple tier, multiple linked modular jack assembly consisting of  12  modular jack units arranged in a side-by-side, two-tier configuration. However, the modular jack assembly is not limited to the above configuration and can take a variety of other configurations.  
         [0070]    The fourth embodiment is of the upper and lower indicator, right-angle optical pipe system. This system has upper and lower indicator members for the upper and lower tier units, respectively, and right-angle optical pipes for the upper tier units. Modular plugs plugged into the upper and lower openings  18   a  and  18   b,  respectively, face to each other.  
         [0071]    In FIG. 16, LED&#39;s  6   a  and  6   b  are mounted on a horizontal board  9 . The LED&#39;s  6   a  emit light in the vertical direction for the upper tier units while the LED&#39;s  6   b  emit light in the horizontal direction for the lower tier units. The LED&#39;s  6   b  are called “side view type” LED&#39;s.  
         [0072]    The light of the LED&#39;s  6   a  and  6   b  is guided to the outside by the optical pipe  11 D incorporated in the modular jack assembly  1 D. An end face  13  of each optical pipe  11 D is opposed to the LED  6   a  or  6   b.  The end face  13  is made flat. The other end face of the optical pipe  11 D projects slightly from the front face of the modular jack assembly  1 D to form an indicator member  10 . A reflection face  14  is provided between the horizontal and vertical sections of the optical pipe  11  to direct the light of LED from the end face  13  to the other end face. The optical pipe  11  is bent at some positions corresponding to the display position. These bendings of the optical pipe  11 D have little influence on the optical performance.  
         [0073]    [0073]FIG. 18 shows a modification to the fourth embodiment. A plurality of indicator members  10  of both upper and lower tier modular jack sections are provided on the upper sides of each modular jack section. LED&#39;s  6  are provided behind the modular jack assembly  1 D and mounted on the horizontal board  9  such that the LED&#39;s  6  emit light in the vertical direction. In this modification, too, it is easy to change the optical pipes  11 D.  
         [0074]    In FIG. 19, a modular jack assembly  1 E of the straight type have the same advantages as those of the embodiment of FIG. 2.  
         [0075]    A variety of modifications can be applied to the invention. For example, the positions where optical pipes or fibers are provided are inverted, the optical pipes are replaced by optical fibers, or right-angle and straight optical pipes are mixed.  
         [0076]    According to the invention there is provided a modular jack assembly with a compact indicator. A wide range of LED&#39;s can be used for the modular jack assembly. It is easy to move the indicator member to different positions and to replace LED&#39;s. In the multiple-link type connector, it is easy to incorporate optical pipes.