Abstract:
A jack has first and second jack ports, first and second contacts, and a switch having a full, half, and no normal positions. In the full normal position, the switch couples the first and second contacts together when no plug is inserted into either the first or second jack port, and the switch conditions the jack so that, when a plug is inserted into either the first or second jack port, the coupling between the first and second contacts is broken, the first contact is coupled to the plug if the plug is in the first jack port, and the second contact is coupled to the plug if the plug is in the second jack port. In the half normal position, the jack operates in the same way except that, when a plug is inserted into the second jack port, the coupling between the first and second contacts is maintained. In the no normal position, there is no coupling between the first and second contacts whether or not a plug is inserted into either the first jack port or the second jack port.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to a dual, switch actuated, normalling jack.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Audio jacks are used to interconnect various pieces of audio equipment. One such audio jack has first and second jack ports on the front of a jack housing, at least a first contact associated with the first jack at the rear of the jack housing, and at least a second contact associated with the second jack at the rear of the jack housing. The first contact can be referred to alternatively as the bottom contact, the second contact can be referred to alternatively as the top contact, the first jack port can be referred to alternatively as the bottom jack port, and the second jack port can be referred to alternatively as the top jack port.  
           [0003]    Let it be assumed that the operation of this jack as described below in this paragraph is the normal operation of the jack. When no plug is inserted into either jack port, the first and second contacts are coupled together. However, when a plug is inserted into the first jack port, there is no coupling between the first and second contacts, and the first contact is instead coupled to the plug in the first jack port. Similarly, when a plug is inserted into the second jack port, there is no coupling between the first and second contacts, and the second contact is instead coupled to the plug in the second jack port.  
           [0004]    Normalling of the jack refers to changing the operation of the jack. It is desirable for a jack to have full normal operation, half normal operation, and no normal operation. Full normal operation of the jack is described in the preceding paragraph.  
           [0005]    During half normal operation of the jack, the first and second contacts are coupled together when no plug is inserted into either jack port. When a plug is inserted into the first jack port, the jack operates according to its full normal operation. That is, when a plug is inserted into the first jack port, there is no coupling between the first and second contacts, and the first contact is coupled to the plug in the first jack port. However, when a plug is inserted into the second jack port, the first and second contacts remain coupled together and the second contact is coupled to the plug in the second jack port. When plugs are inserted into both the first and second jack ports, the first contact and the first jack port are not coupled to the second contact and the second jack port so that there is no cross coupling. Accordingly, the first contact is coupled to the first jack port, and the second contact is coupled to the second jack port.  
           [0006]    During no normal operation, no signals are routed between the first and second jack ports. Each jack port is isolated from the other. Signals may flow between the first contact and the plug in the first jack port and between the second contact and the plug in the second jack port. Signals may not flow between the first contact and the plug in the second jack port, between the second contact and the plug in the first jack port, between the first and second contacts, or between the first and second jack ports.  
           [0007]    Various designs have allowed a jack to be normalled. For example, wiring between jack ports and external jumper pins have permitted removable jumpers to be used to change the normalling of jacks. Such wiring and jumpers have been used either behind the jacks on a patchbay panel, or in front of the jacks with some sort of covering. Removable jacks have also been used so that jumper wires or clips could be removed or repositioned to affect the normalling of the jack.  
           [0008]    The present invention is directed to a jack that allows for the changing of its normalling without removing the jack from the panel, and without the use of external parts such as jumper wires or clips that can be lost or applied incorrectly. Instead, switching is provided to control normalling of a jack according to the present invention. The switching is internal to the jack.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a jack comprises a housing supporting first and second jack ports, a first contact within the housing, a second contact within the housing, and a switch within the housing. The switch has a full normal position and a half normal position. In the full normal position, the switch couples the first and second contacts together when no plug is inserted into either the first jack port or the second jack port, and the switch conditions the jack so that, when a plug is inserted into the first jack port, the coupling between the first and second contacts is broken and the first contact is coupled to the first jack port, and so that, when a plug is inserted into the second jack port, the coupling between the first and second contacts is broken and the second contact is coupled to the second jack port. In the half normal position, the switch couples the first and second contacts together when no plug is inserted into either the first jack port or the second jack port, and the switch conditions the jack so that, when a plug is inserted into the first jack port, the coupling between the first and second contacts is broken and the first contact is coupled to the first jack port, and so that, when a plug is inserted into the second jack port, the coupling between the first and second contacts is maintained and the second contact is coupled to the second jack port.  
           [0010]    In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a jack comprises a housing supporting first and second jack ports, a first contact within the housing, a second contact within the housing, and a switch within the housing. The switch has a full normal position and a no normal position. In the full normal position, the switch couples the first and second contacts together when no plug is inserted into either the first jack port or the second jack port, and the switch conditions the jack so that, when a plug is inserted into the first jack port, the coupling between the first and second contacts is broken and the first contact is coupled to the first jack port, and so that, when a plug is inserted into the second jack port, the coupling between the first and second contacts is broken and the second contact is coupled to the second jack port. In the no normal position, the switch provides no coupling between the first and second contacts whether or not a plug is inserted into either the first jack port or the second jack port, and the switch conditions the jack so that, when a plug is inserted into the first jack port, the first contact is coupled to the first jack port, and so that, when a plug is inserted into the second jack port, the second contact is coupled to the second jack port.  
           [0011]    In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention, a jack comprises a housing supporting first and second jack ports, a first contact within the housing, a second contact within the housing, and a switch within the housing. The switch has a half normal position and a no normal position. In the half normal position, the switch couples the first and second contacts together when no plug is inserted into either the first jack port or the second jack port, and the switch conditions the jack so that, when a plug is inserted into the first jack port, the coupling between the first and second contacts is broken and the first contact is coupled to the first jack port, and so that, when a plug is inserted into the second jack port, the coupling between the first and second contacts is maintained and the second contact is coupled to the second jack port. In the no normal position, the switch provides no coupling between the first and second contacts whether or not a plug is inserted into either the first jack port or the second jack port, and the switch conditions the jack so that, when a plug is inserted into the first jack port, the first contact is coupled to the first jack port, and so that, when a plug is inserted into the second jack port, the second contact is coupled to the second jack port.  
           [0012]    In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, a jack comprises a housing supporting first and second jack ports, a first contact within the housing, a second contact within the housing, and a switch within the housing. The switch has a full normal position, a half normal position, and a no normal position. In the full normal position, the switch couples the first and second contacts together when no plug is inserted into either the first jack port or the second jack port, and the switch conditions the jack so that, when a plug is inserted into the first jack port, the coupling between the first and second contacts is broken and the first contact is coupled to the first jack port, and so that, when a plug is inserted into the second jack port, the coupling between the first and second contacts is broken and the second contact is coupled to the second jack port. In the half normal position, the switch couples the first and second contacts together when no plug is inserted into either the first jack port or the second jack port, and the switch conditions the jack so that, when a plug is inserted into the first jack port, the coupling between the first and second contacts is broken and the first contact is coupled to the first jack port, and so that, when a plug is inserted into the second jack port, the coupling between the first and second contacts is maintained and the second contact is coupled to the second jack port. In the no normal position, the switch provides no coupling between the first and second contacts whether or not a plug is inserted into either the first jack port or the second jack port, and the switch conditions the jack so that, when a plug is inserted into the first jack port, the first contact is coupled to the first jack port, and so that, when a plug is inserted into the second jack port, the second contact is coupled to the second jack port. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]    These and other features and advantages will become more apparent from a detailed consideration of the invention when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1 is a first isometric view of the housing for the jack according to one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 2 is a second isometric view of the housing for the jack of FIG. 1;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 3 shows the jack of FIGS. 1 and 2 with the cover of the jack housing removed;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 4 shows the jack of FIG. 3 with a plug inserted into the first jack port;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 5 shows the jack of FIG. 3 with a plug inserted into the second jack port;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 6 shows a cam for use as a switch in the jack of FIGS. 1 and 2;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 7 is a frontal view of the side of the jack as shown in FIG. 1 and shows the cam of FIG. 6 in a half normal position;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 8 is a frontal view of the side of the jack as shown in FIG. 1 and shows the cam of FIG. 6 in a full normal position;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 9 is a frontal view of the side of the jack as shown in FIG. 1 and shows the cam of FIG. 6 in a no normal position;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 10 is an end of the jack shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 11 is a cut-away of the jack as shown in FIGS. 7-9 to show the relationship between the switch spring contacts and the cam surfaces of the cam shown in FIG. 6;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 12 illustrates the interaction between the cam and one of the spring contacts shown in FIG. 11; and,  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 13 is an exploded view of the jack according to the one embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0027]    As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a jack  10  according to the present invention includes a jack housing  12  and a cover  14 . The jack housing  12  and the cover  14 , for example, may be plastic such as 30% glass reinforced polyester. One such material is Valox 420SEO. The jack housing  12  and the cover  14  provide an electrically insulative enclosure for the internal parts of the jack  10  that are described below.  
         [0028]    Switch spring contacts  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22 ,  24 , and  26 , better shown in FIGS. 7-9 and  11 , are internally fixed, such as by molding, to the jack housing  12 . Front openings of the jack housing  12  support jack ports  28  and  30  that are configured to receive plugs. The jack ports  28  and  30  as shown in FIGS. 3-5 and  13  of the drawings are collars in the jack housing  12 . As shown in FIGS. 3-5 and  13 , the jack housing  12  also supports a cam  32  for rotation in channels  34 ,  36 , and  38 . As is explained below, the cam  32  has three positions (full normal, half normal, and no normal).  
         [0029]    As shown in FIGS. 3-5 and  13 , the jack housing  12  further supports and separates tip spring contacts  40  and  42 , ring spring contacts  44  and  46 , normalling spring contacts  48 ,  50 ,  52 , and  54 , and sleeve spring contacts  56  and  58  in corresponding slots. Corresponding holes in walls  60 ,  62 ,  64 , and  66  of the jack housing  12  are provided to receive the tip spring contacts  40  and  42 , the ring spring contacts  44  and  46 , the normalling spring contacts  48 ,  50 ,  52 , and  54 , and the sleeve spring contacts  56  and  58 .  
         [0030]    Also, holes in raised floors  68  and  70  of the jack housing  12  (FIG. 13) allow fixed connections between the switch spring contact  16  and the ring spring contact  44 , between the switch spring contact  18  and the normalling spring contact  48 , between the switch spring contact  20  and the tip spring contact  40 , between the switch spring contact  22  and the normalling spring contact  50 , between the switch spring contact  24  and the normalling spring contact  54 , and between the switch spring contact  26  and the normalling spring contact  52 . These connections may be seen in FIG. 11. Moreover, operation of the cam  32  makes and breaks coupling between the switch spring contacts  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22 ,  24 , and  26 .  
         [0031]    As shown in FIGS. 3-5, the jack housing  12  holds the sleeve spring contact  56  in contact with the jack port  28 , and holds the sleeve spring contact  58  in contact with the jack port  30 . As shown in FIG. 13, bumps  72  and  74  are provided in the jack housing  12  in order to increase the pressure of the sleeve spring contacts  56  and  58  against the corresponding jack ports  28  and  30 . Locking ledges on the jack housing  12  and locking tabs on the cover  14  may be provided to lock the cover  14  and the jack housing  12  together.  
         [0032]    As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, indicators such as “F”, “H”, and “N” are provided on the jack housing  12  and function as configuration setting locators to show the full normal, half normal, and no normal positions of the cam  32 .  
         [0033]    As shown in FIG. 13, the cover  14  may be provided with slots  76  to receive corresponding tabs  78  of the tip spring contacts  40  and  42 , the ring spring contacts  44  and  46 , and the normalling spring contacts  48 ,  50 ,  52 , and  54  in order to assist in holding the tip spring contacts  40  and  42 , the ring spring contacts  44  and  46 , and the normalling spring contacts  48 ,  50 ,  52 , and  54  in place. The cover  14  has supportive profiles in order to wedge the collars of the jack ports  28  and  30  in place and to hold these collars from being pushed out. For example, the cover  14  and the collars of the jack ports  28  and  30  may be provided with corresponding flats to prevent rotation of these collars in the hack housing  12 . The cover  14  has channels such as channels  80  and  82  that cooperate with the channels  34 ,  36 , and  38  in the jack housing  12  in order to support the cam  32  and to allow rotation of the cam  32 .  
         [0034]    The cam  32  may be a polycarbonate plastic such as Lexan 940. The cam  32  is an electrical insulator and supports and aligns electrically conductive cam surfaces  84 ,  86 ,  88 , and  90  (FIGS. 6, 7,  8 ,  9 ,  12 , and  13 ). The cam  32  rotates the electrically conductive cam surfaces  84 ,  86 ,  88 , and  90  into and out of engagement with the switch spring contacts  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22 ,  24 , and  26  in the jack housing  12 . The cam  32  has an arrow  92  (FIGS. 1, 2,  6 , and  13 ) that cooperates with the indicators (such as “F”, “H”, and “N”) on the jack housing  12  in order to show the three positions of the cam  32 . The cam  32  also has a slot  94  (FIGS. 1, 2,  6 , and  13 ) to allow a slotted tool (such as a flat head screw driver) to be used to rotate the cam  32  and to thereby set the configuration [full normal, half normal, or no-normal] of the jack  10  by rotating the electrically conductive cam surfaces  84 ,  86 ,  88 , and  90  into the three positions shown in FIGS. 7, 8, and  9 . However, mechanisms other than the slot  94  may be provided for rotating the cam  32 .  
         [0035]    The electrically conductive cam surfaces  84 ,  86 ,  88 , and  90  may, for example, be silver plated brass in order to provide electrically conductive paths between corresponding combinations of the switch spring contacts,  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22 ,  24 , and  26  in the full normal and half normal positions. The electrically conductive cam surfaces  84 ,  86 ,  88 , and  90  have tangs  96  that cooperate with slots  98  on the cam  32  in order to provide a retention force to hold the electrically conductive cam surfaces  84 ,  86 ,  88 , and  90  on the cam  32  (FIG. 13). The cam  32  has at least one ridge  100  (FIGS. 6 and 12) for the detent action mentioned below. Also, the ridge  100  fits in mating depressions in the switch spring contacts  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22 ,  24 , and  26  in order to effectively prevent the cam  32  from rotating out of position until extra force is applied by way of the slot  94 .  
         [0036]    The tip spring contacts  40  and  42 , for example, may be nickel silver, possibly plated with gold for better contact and conduction, and provide a conductive path to an inserted plug (FIGS. 4 and 5). Each of the tip spring contacts  40  and  42  has a contact area to contact a respective one of the normalling spring contacts  50  and  52  until a plug is inserted (FIG. 3). These contact areas can be flat or have a bump. A bump reduces the area of contact, but increases the contact pressure to thus lower the contact resistance. Alternatively, contact resistance can be lowered by using a precious metal (such as Gold or Palladium) for at least the contact areas between the tip spring contacts  40  and  42  and the corresponding normalling spring contacts  50  and  52 .  
         [0037]    The ring spring contacts  44  and  46 , for example, may be nickel silver, possibly plated with gold for better contact and conduction, and provide a conductive path to an inserted plug (FIGS. 4 and 5). Each of the ring spring contacts  44  and  46  has a contact area to contact a respective one of the normalling spring contacts  48  and  54  until a plug is inserted (FIG. 3).  
         [0038]    The normalling spring contacts  48 ,  50 ,  52 , and  54 , for example, may be nickel silver, possibly plated with gold for better contact and conduction, and do not engage a plug.  
         [0039]    The sleeve spring contacts  56  and  58 , for example, may be nickel silver and provide electrically conductive paths to the corresponding jack ports  28  and  30 .  
         [0040]    The collars of the jack ports  28  and  30 , for example, may be brass, plated with nickel, gold, or other conductive protective metal. The sleeve spring contacts  56  and  58  are in electrical communication with inserted plugs through the jack ports  28  and  30 . The jack ports  28  and  30  also provide stability to the plugs when the plugs are inserted into the jack  10  by acting as tight fitting cylinders around the shafts of the plugs.  
         [0041]    The switch spring contacts  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22 ,  24 , and  26 , for example, may be nickel silver, plated with a highly conductive metal such as silver or gold. The switch spring contacts  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22 ,  24 , and  26  in combination with the electrically conductive cam surfaces  84 ,  86 ,  88 , and  90  on the cam  32  provide electrically conductive paths between certain combinations of the tip spring contacts  40  and  42 , the ring spring contacts  44  and  46 , and the normalling spring contacts  48 ,  50 ,  52 , and  54 . The switch spring contacts  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22 ,  24 , and  26  may have punched out slots to fixedly receive tabs in the tip spring contacts  40  and  42 , the ring spring contacts  44  and  46 , and the normalling spring contacts  48 ,  50 ,  52 , and  54 .  
         [0042]    As shown in FIG. 12, the switch spring contacts  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22 ,  24 , and  26  are provided with profiles  102  that are formed to fit against the electrically conductive cam surfaces  84 ,  86 ,  88 , and  90  and the bump  100  when the cam  32  is rotated into its full normal, half normal, and no normal positions of the cam  32  with respect to the switch spring contacts  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22 ,  24 , and  26 . The spring action of the switch spring contacts  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22 ,  24 , and  26  holds the profiles  102  against the electrically conductive cam surfaces  84 ,  86 ,  88 , and  90  and the bump  100 , thus creating a “detent” action that resists rotation of the cam  32  until the cam  32  is forcibly rotated by the user. Alternatively, suitable detents may be provided between the cam  32  and the jack housing  12  in order to hold the cam  32  in each of its three positions.  
         [0043]    Full Normal Operation—When the cam  32  is rotated so that the arrow  92  points to the “F” indicator, the jack  10  is in the full normal configuration. When the cam  32  is in this position, FIG. 8 shows that the electrically conductive cam surface  88  engages the switch spring contacts  22  and  26 , and the electrically conductive cam surface  90  engages the switch spring contacts  18  and  24 .  
         [0044]    As shown in FIGS. 3, 8, and  11 , when no plug is inserted into the jack  10 , a signal applied to the tip spring contact  40  is transferred to the tip spring contact  42  through the normalling spring contact  50 , the switch spring contact  22 , the electrically conductive cam surface  88 , the switch spring contact  26 , and the normalling spring contact  52  which is in contact with the tip spring contact  42 .  
         [0045]    The signal on the tip spring contact  40  is also transferred to the switch spring contact  20 , but the switch spring contact  20  is not engaged by any of the electrically conductive cam surfaces  84 ,  86 ,  88 , and  90 . Thus, the switch spring contact  20  is effectively an open circuit. The signal on the tip spring contact  40  could be tapped at the normalling spring contacts  50  and  52 , but only according to a non-standard use of the jack  10 .  
         [0046]    In a similar fashion, a signal applied to the ring spring contact  44  is transferred to the ring spring contact  46  through the normalling spring contact  48 , the switch spring contact  18 , the electrically conductive cam surface  90 , the switch spring contact  24 , and the normalling spring contact  54  which is in contact with the ring spring contact  46  as shown in FIG. 3. The signal on the ring spring contact  44  is also transferred to the switch spring contact  16 , but the switch spring contact  16  is in an open circuit condition because it does not engage any of the electrically conductive cam surfaces  84 ,  86 ,  88 , and  90 .  
         [0047]    Signals applied to the sleeve spring contacts  56  and  58  are transferred directly to the jack ports  28  and  30 , respectively. However, because there is no plug inserted into the jack  10 , the signals go nowhere and are essentially left open as non-terminated.  
         [0048]    As shown in FIGS. 4, 8, and  11 , when a plug  104  is inserted into the jack port  28 , the tip spring contact  40  and the ring spring contact  44  are forced away from their respective normalling spring contacts  50  and  48 , effectively eliminating any electrical contact between the tip spring contact  40  and the normalling spring contact  50  and between the ring spring contact  44  and the normalling spring contact  48 . Because the only way for a signal to get from the tip spring contact  40  and the ring spring contact  44  to the electrically conductive cam surfaces  84 ,  86 ,  88 , and  90  and then to the lower half of the jack  10  (e.g., the tip spring contact  42 , the ring spring contact  46 , and the normalling spring contacts  52  and  54 ) is through the normalling spring contacts  48  and  50  and the switch spring contacts  16 ,  18 ,  20 , and  22 , the lower half of the jack  10  is effectively isolated from the upper half of the jack  10 .  
         [0049]    Accordingly, the signal on the tip spring contact  40  is transferred only to the plug  104 , the signal on the ring spring contact  44  is transferred only to the plug  104 , and the signal on the sleeve spring contact  56  is transferred through the jack port  28  to the plug  104 . Because insertion of the plug  104  into the jack port  28  interrupts the normal signal flow from top half of the jack  10  to the bottom half of the jack  10 , the signal on the tip spring contact  40  is not transferred to the tip spring contact  42 , and the signal on the ring spring contact  44  is not transferred to the ring spring contact  46 .  
         [0050]    When the plug  104  is inserted into the jack port  30  as shown in FIG. 5, the tip spring contact  42  and the ring spring contact  46  are forced away from their respective normalling spring contacts  52  and  54 , effectively eliminating any electrical contact between the tip spring contact  42  and the normalling spring contact  52  and between the ring spring contact  46  and the normalling spring contact  54 .  
         [0051]    A signal applied to the tip spring contact  40  is transferred to the normalling spring contact  52  through the normalling spring contact  50 , the switch spring contact  22 , the electrically conductive cam surface  88 , and the switch spring contact  26 . However, because the normalling spring contact  52  is not in contact with the tip spring contact  42 , the circuit between the tip spring contacts  40  and  42  is open and no signal flows.  
         [0052]    Similarly, a signal on the ring spring contact  44  is transferred to the normalling spring contact  54  through the normalling spring contact  48 , the switch spring contact  18 , the electrically conductive cam surface  90 , and the switch spring contact  24 . However, because the normalling spring contact  54  is not in contact with the ring spring contact  46 , the circuit between the ring spring contacts  44  and  46  is open and no signal flows.  
         [0053]    Accordingly, inserting the plug  104  in the jack port  30  while the jack  10  is in the full normal configuration isolates the top and bottom halves of the jack  10  just as inserting the plug  104  in the jack port  28  does. The signals coming from the tip, ring, and sleeve of the plug  104  are the only signals seen on the tip spring contact  42 , the ring spring contact  46 , and the sleeve spring contact  58  of the jack  10 .  
         [0054]    When plugs are inserted into both the jack port  28  and the jack port  30 , the jack  10  behaves just like it would with a single plug inserted in either of the jack ports  28  and  30 , except that the signals on the upper contacts (i.e., the tip spring contact  40 , the ring spring contact  44 , and the sleeve spring contact  56 ) are coupled to the plug in the jack port  28 , and except that the signals on the lower contacts (i.e., the tip spring contact  42 , the ring spring contact  46 , and the sleeve spring contact  58 ) are coupled to the plug in the jack port  30 . Each half of the jack  10  behaves as a separate single jack with no dependence on the other half of the jack  10 .  
         [0055]    Half Normal Operation—When the cam  32  is rotated so that the arrow  92  points to the “H” indicator, the jack  10  is in the half normal configuration. As the cam  32  rotates to the half normal position, FIG. 7 shows that the electrically conductive cam surfaces  84 ,  86 ,  88 , and  90  also rotate to a position where the electrically conductive cam surface  84  engages the switch spring contact  20  and the switch spring contact  26 , and the electrically conductive cam surface  86  engages the switch spring contact  16  and the switch spring contact  24 .  
         [0056]    As shown in FIGS. 3, 7, and  11 , when no plug is inserted into the jack  10 , a signal applied to the tip spring contact  40  is transferred to the tip spring contact  42  through the switch spring contact  20 , the electrically conductive cam surface  84 , the switch spring contact  26 , and the normalling spring contact  52  which is in engagement with the tip spring contact  42 .  
         [0057]    Also, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 11, the signal applied to the tip spring contact  40  is transferred directly to the normalling spring contact  50  and to the switch spring contact  22 . However, the switch spring contact  22  does not engage any of the electrically conductive cam surfaces  84 ,  86 ,  88 , and  90  and, therefore, does not transfer the signal. The signal could be tapped at the normalling spring contacts  50  and  52 , but for standard usage of the jack  10 , all of the normalling spring contacts  48 ,  50 ,  52 , and  54  are assumed to be unused. The normalling spring contacts  48 ,  50 ,  52 , and  54  provide contacts only for non-standard use of the jack  10 .  
         [0058]    In a similar fashion, a signal on the ring spring contact  44  is transferred to the ring spring contact  46  through the switch spring contact  16 , the electrically conductive cam surface  86 , the switch spring contact  24 , and the normalling spring contact  54  which, as shown in FIG. 3, is in contact with the ring spring contact  46 .  
         [0059]    The signal on the ring spring contact  44  is also transferred to the normalling spring contact  48  and then to the switch spring contact  18 . However, the switch spring contact  18  does not engage any of the electrically conductive cam surfaces  84 ,  86 ,  88 , and  90  and, therefore, does not transfer the signal.  
         [0060]    The signal applied to the sleeve spring contact  56  is transferred to the jack port  28 . However, because there is no plug inserted in to the jack  10 , this signal goes nowhere and is essentially left open as a non-terminated or open circuit.  
         [0061]    As shown in FIGS. 4, 7, and  11 , when a plug  104  inserted into the jack port  28 , the tip spring contact  40  and the ring spring contact  44  are forced away from their respective normalling spring contacts  48  and  50 , effectively eliminating any electrical communication between the ring spring contact  44  and the normalling spring contact  48  and between the tip spring contact  40  and the normalling spring contact  50 . Therefore, a signal applied to the tip spring contact  40  is transferred to the tip spring contact  42  through the switch spring contact  20 , the electrically conductive cam surface  84 , the switch spring contact  26 , the normalling spring contact  52 , and the tip spring contact  42  which, as shown in FIG. 4, is in contact with the normalling spring contact  52 . Also, the signal on the tip spring contact  40  is transferred to the tip area of the inserted plug  104  due to the contact between the tip spring contact  40  and the plug  104  as shown in FIG. 4.  
         [0062]    This operation effectively creates a “Y” junction, or split, where the signal gets sent in two directions: out the rear of the jack  10  through the tip spring contact  42  and out the front of the jack  10  through the plug  104  in the jack port  28 .  
         [0063]    Similarly, a signal applied to the ring spring contact  44  is transferred to the ring spring contact  46  through the switch spring contact  16 , the electrically conductive cam surface  86 , the switch spring contact  24 , and the normalling spring contact  54  which, as shown in FIG. 4, is in contact with the ring spring contact  46 . Also, the ring spring contact  44  also engages the plug  104 , thus creating a “Y” junction.  
         [0064]    The signal applied to the sleeve spring contact  56  is transferred through the jack port  28  to the plug  104 . There is no communication of signals between the sleeve spring contacts  56  and  58 .  
         [0065]    As shown in FIGS. 5, 7, and  11 , when the plug  104  is instead inserted into the jack port  30 , the tip spring contact  42  and the ring spring contact  46  are forced away from their respective the normalling spring contacts  52  and  54 , effectively eliminating any electrical engagement between the tip spring contact  42  and the normalling spring contact  52  and between the ring spring contact  46  and the normalling spring contact  54 . A signal applied to the tip spring contact  40  is transferred to the normalling spring contact  52  through the switch spring contact  20 , the electrically conductive cam surface  84 , and the switch spring contact  26 . However, because the normalling spring contact  52  is not in engagement with the tip spring contact  42  due to the plug  104 , the signal between the tip spring contacts  40  and  42  is effectively interrupted. Any signal between the ring spring contacts  44  and  46  is also effectively interrupted.  
         [0066]    Indeed, the only signals applied to the tip spring contact  42  and the ring spring contact  46  are those signals being sent into the jack  10  through the plug  104 . The plug  104  also supplies a signal through the jack port  30  to the sleeve spring contact  58 . In this mode, any signals from the upper half of the jack  10  as viewed in FIG. 5 are interrupted and are isolated from the lower half of the jack  10  so that the signals on the lower contacts (the tip spring contact  42  and the ring spring contact  46 ) of the jack  10  are independent of any signals on the upper half of the jack  10 .  
         [0067]    When a plug is inserted into both the jack ports  28  and  30 , the jack  10  operates just like it did when the plug  104  is inserted only in the jack port  30 , except that the signals applied to the tip spring contact  40 , the ring spring contact  44 , and the sleeve spring contact  56  are transferred directly to the plug inserted in the jack port  28 . Because the tip spring contacts  40  and  42  and the ring spring contacts  44  and  46  are separated from their corresponding normalling spring contacts  48 ,  50 ,  52 , and  54 , no signal can be transferred from the tip spring contact  40 , the ring spring contact  44 , and the normalling spring contacts  48  and  50  in the upper half of the jack  10  to the tip spring contact  42 , the ring spring contact  46 , and the normalling spring contacts  52  and  54  in the lower half of the jack  10 . Each half of the jack  10  is isolated and operates independently of the other half of the jack  10 .  
         [0068]    No Normal Operation—When the cam  32  is rotated so that the arrow  92  points to the “N” indicator, the jack  10  is in the no normal configuration. This rotation of the cam  32 , as shown in FIG. 9, means that none of the electrically conductive cam surfaces  84 ,  86 ,  88 , and  90  engage any of the switch spring contacts  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22 ,  24 , and  26 . The ridge  100  on the cam  32  rests in the concave bump sections of the switch spring contacts  16 ,  18 ,  20 , and  22  effectively holding the cam  32  in place as if it were in the Half or Full Normal position. However, due to the insulation effect of the cam  32 , no signal can pass between any of the switch spring contacts  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22 ,  24 , and  26 . Accordingly, no signal can be transferred from one half of the jack  10  to the other half so that, in effect, two separate single jacks in the jack housing  12  are created.  
         [0069]    The jack  10  can be used in manners other than the intended configurations. For example, the jack  10  can be installed upside down so that the upper and lower halves of the jacks are reversed. Accordingly, if the jack  10  were set to its Half Normal configuration, the jack  10  is in a Reverse Half Normal configuration where the “Y” split effect is realized with respect to the “bottom” half of the jack  10 . Accordingly, the upside down use allows for the split to “Y” out from the “lower” jack port  28  instead of the “upper” jack port  28 .  
         [0070]    As another example, when the jack  10  is in the No Normal configuration, the normalling spring contacts  48 ,  50 ,  52 , and  54  could be wired, using other external components, to change the normalling of the dual jack. Cabling could be used to attach the normalling spring contacts  48 ,  50 ,  52 , and  54  to another terminal area where users could easily wire their own normalling configurations.  
         [0071]    Non-standard configurations allow the user to connect cabling and wires to the rear of the jack  10  in a manner other than standard Tip, Ring, and Sleeve connections.  
         [0072]    Certain modifications of the present invention have been described above. Other modifications will occur to those practicing in the art of the present invention. For example, the present invention can be applied to jacks having any number of contacts and/or jack ports, although the three conductor format of tip, ring, and sleeve described above is the most common. For example, a two conductor format of tip and sleeve can be used. For jacks having other numbers of contacts and/or jack ports, the number of contacts on the cam  32  may be different than shown herein.  
         [0073]    Also, the tip spring contacts  40  and  42 , the ring spring contacts  44  and  46 , the normalling spring contacts  48 ,  50 ,  52 , and  54 , and the sleeve spring contacts  56  and  58  may be used with a wire wrap pin termination style, a solder lug termination style, a quick connect termination style, etc.  
         [0074]    Moreover, as shown and described above, the cam  32  is used to operate the jack  10  to its full normal, half normal, and no normal configurations. However, a switch mechanism other than a cam can be used for this purpose.  
         [0075]    Furthermore, the switch that operates the jack to its full normal position, half normal position, and no normal position is described above as a cam operated switch. Instead, other switch forms could be used.  
         [0076]    In addition, the cam switch that operates the jack  10  to its full normal position, half normal position, and no normal position is described above as a rotary operated cam switch. Instead, the cam switch could be a linear, non-linear, push/pull, sliding, circumferential, or other type of cam switch.  
         [0077]    Accordingly, the description of the present invention is to be construed as illustrative only and is for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the best mode of carrying out the invention. The details may be varied substantially without departing from the spirit of the invention, and the exclusive use of all modifications which are within the scope of the appended claims is reserved.