Abstract:
An apparatus for use with a first RJ-type female receptacle having an open, plug receiving end and an internal cavity, the first RJ-type female receptacle designed to receive a corresponding first modular mating RJ-type male plug, the apparatus having: a housing having a front face, a top wall, a bottom wall and side walls defining an opening formed within the front face; and the apparatus received in the first RJ-type female receptacle, and the opening dimensioned to receive a second modular mating RJ-type male plug, wherein the second modular mating RJ-type male plug is dimensioned smaller than the first modular mating RJ-type male plug.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/747,724 filed on Dec. 31, 2012. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to communication interface adapters. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
     A modular receptacle jack, or registered jack (RJ) connector, is commonly used in telecommunications and data networking equipment. An RJ connector typically forms a link between two pieces of equipment to provide a means of communication between them. There exists a plurality of RJ connectors, each specific to a particular network interface, such as, RJ2MB, RJ11(C/W), RJ12(C/W), RJ13(C/W), RJ14(C/W), RJ15C, RJ18(C/W), RJ21X, RJ25(C/W), RJ26X, RJ27X, RJ31X, RJ32X, RJ33X, RJ34X, RJ35X, RJ38X, RJ41S, RJ45S, RJ48C, RJ48S, RJ48X, RJ49C, RJ61X, and RJ71C. As an example, a RJ45 connector is specified by standard IEC 603-7, and comprises 8 terminals or pin-outs, while a RJ11 connector comprises 2 terminals, and a RJ14 connector comprises 4 or 6 terminals. 
     Generally, jacks on products today are designed to interface or mate only with a corresponding header connected to a cable or wire. For example, an RJ45 female connector on a network product interfaces with an RJ45 header on a network cable. However, it is often desirable to connect a different or smaller header into a larger or different connector. The problem with this situation is that the smaller/different header does not always fit securely inside the larger female connector or the pins between the connector and header do not align properly and do not make proper electrical contact. For example, if an RJ45 female connector is present on a network product and it is desired to connect a smaller RJ9 header into the RJ45 connector, then RJ9 header may be loose, misaligned, and will not make proper electrical contact with the desired pins. One solution has been to create a separate part that is not installed in the product or use multiple connectors on their products to provide the same functionality; however this increases equipment costs and results in increased maintenance costs. 
     It is an object of the present invention to mitigate or obviate at least one of the above-mentioned disadvantages. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one of its aspects, there is provided a communication interface adapter having: 
     a top wall, bottom wall, opposing walls defining an opening; 
     a lip extending from said top wall; 
     a tab extending from each of said opposing side walls; and 
     a pair of arms extending from said opposing side walls and adjacent to said top wall. 
     In another of its aspects, there is provided an apparatus for use with a first RJ-type female receptacle having a plug receiving end with an internal cavity, said first RJ-type female receptacle designed to receive a corresponding first modular mating RJ-type male plug, the apparatus having: 
     a housing having a front face, a top wall, a bottom wall and side walls defining an opening formed within said front face; and 
     said apparatus received in said first RJ-type female receptacle, and said opening dimensioned to receive a second modular mating RJ-type male plug, wherein said second modular mating RJ-type male plug is dimensioned smaller than said first modular mating RJ-type male plug. 
     In another of its aspects, there is provided a method of coupling a first RJ-type female receptacle of a first size and a second RJ-type connector of a second size, wherein said first RJ-type female receptacle and second RJ-type connector correspond to different communication interface, the method comprising the steps of: 
     providing a communication interface adapter received within said first RJ-type female receptacle; 
     anchoring said communication interface adapter within a keyway of said first RJ-type female receptacle; said communication interface adapter providing a desired mechanical alignment and electrical pin alignment of said second RJ-type connector within said first RJ-type female receptacle. 
     Advantageously, the interface adapter allows different headers to interface with a common connector, thus allowing manufacturers to reduce the number of independent connectors required on their products and lower product component costs. Also, the adapter allows manufacturers to consolidate the number of connectors required on their products by combining two or more connectors into one. The adapter secures different types of interface headers physically and ensures electrical contact. In addition, the adapter may be sold as a stand-alone part or installed on an existing product available on the market. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Several preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the appended drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a schematic diagram of an RJ45 female receptacle, in a preferred embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  shows a schematic diagram of an RJ45 male plug; 
         FIG. 3 a    shows a front view of an adapter for insertion in the RJ45 female receptacle; 
         FIG. 3 b    shows another view of the adapter of  FIG. 3   a;    
         FIG. 3 c    shows exemplary RJ14 and RJ11 male plugs; 
         FIGS. 4 a , 4 b , and 4 c    show other views of the adapter of  FIG. 3 a   ; and 
         FIG. 5  shows the adapter of  FIG. 3 a    resident within the RJ45 female receptacle of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     The detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the invention herein makes reference to the accompanying block diagrams and schematic diagrams, which show the exemplary embodiment by way of illustration and its best mode. While these exemplary embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, it should be understood that other embodiments may be realized and that logical and mechanical changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the detailed description herein is presented for purposes of illustration only and not of limitation. For example, the steps recited in any of the method or process descriptions may be executed in any order and are not limited to the order presented. 
     Moreover, it should be appreciated that the particular implementations shown and described herein are illustrative of the invention and its best mode and are not intended to otherwise limit the scope of the present invention in any way. Indeed, for the sake of brevity, certain sub-components of the individual operating components, conventional data networking, application development and other functional aspects of the systems may not be described in detail herein. Furthermore, the connecting lines shown in the various figures contained herein are intended to represent exemplary functional relationships and/or physical couplings between the various elements. It should be noted that many alternative or additional functional relationships or physical connections may be present in a practical system. 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  shows a connector or female receptacle  10  for receiving a header or male plug  12  secured at a distal end of a cable  13 . The female receptacle  10  provides a communication interface to a computing device or network apparatus, such as a computer, modem or router. Typically, the female receptacle  10  may be electrically coupled to a circuit board associated with the computing device or network apparatus. The female receptacle  10  and the male plug  12  are of the RJ-type. 
     As can be seen in  FIG. 1 , the female receptacle  10  includes a one-piece moulded plastic housing  14  having a front face  15 , a rear wall  16 , a top wall  18 , a bottom wall  20  and side walls  22  and  24  to form a cavity  25 . The rear wall  16  extends transversely across the rear portion of the housing  14 . It should be understood that the designation of wall as a “top” wall is made with respect to the view of the housing illustrated in  FIG. 1 , but that, in use, top wall may, in fact, be oriented as a bottom wall. The designations “top” and “bottom” are therefore made for ease of explanation of the invention, and should not be interpreted as limiting in any way. 
     An opening  26  formed in the front face  15  is adapted to receive the modular mating male plug  12 . Spaced apart shoulders  30  and  32  define substantially rectangular, elongated recess  36  or keyway extending from the front face  15  rearwardly along the bottom wall  20  towards the rear wall  16 . 
     A plurality of apertures or holes is formed in alternating positions in the top wall  18 , and extends from the rear wall  16  to the front face  15 . The apertures are adapted to receive portions of conductor wires  38 , or female receptacle contacts. The female receptacle contacts  38  extend through housing  14  in a side-by-side, spaced apart fashion, and may be round, rectangular, or stamped metallic parts. The female receptacle contacts  38  include spring contact portions which move under spring contact pressure applied by the contacts of mating plug  12 . 
     The male plug  12  of a conventional design generally includes a dielectric housing  40  having a free end or front face  42  for insertion into the opening  26  of the housing  14 , a resilient locking tab  44  integrally connected by a flexible hinge to the free end  42  of the dielectric housing  40  and extending obliquely rearwardly therefrom. The modular mating plug  12  also includes a terminal receiving side  46  having partitions which define side-by-side slots in which substantially flat, electrically conductive contact terminals  48 , or male plug contacts, are positioned. 
     As described above, the male plug  12  is received by the aperture  26  of the female receptacle  10 , and secured with the female receptacle  10  by the resilient locking tab  44  with a releasable locking mechanism that engages the keyway  36 . As the male plug  12  is inserted, the male plug contacts  48  push against the spring contact portions of female receptacle contacts  38 , thus establishing an electrically conductive connection. 
     In the description above, the female receptacle  10  and the male plug  12  are of the RJ45 type, and therefore complement each other. Any attempt to introduce a smaller-sized RJ-type header, such as an RJ11 male plug, would result in a loose fit of the RJ11 male plug  12  within the much larger cavity  25  of the RJ45 female receptacle  10 . As a result of the ill-fit, the releasable locking mechanism of the smaller-sized RJ-type fails to engage the keyway  36 , therefore the male plug contacts  74  are thus not able to push against the spring contact portions of female receptacle contacts  38 , resulting in a lack of electrical conductivity between the female receptacle contacts  38  and the contacts of the RJ11 male plug  12 . 
       FIGS. 3 a  and 3 b    show an interface adapter  50  that allows a smaller-dimensioned RJ-type male plug, such as an RJ14 plug  52  or an RJ11 plug  53 , as shown in  FIG. 3 c   , to be inserted and secured with a larger cavity  25  of an RJ45 female receptacle  10 . The interface adapter  50  is an integral moulded part comprising a top wall  54 , a bottom wall  56  and side walls  58  and  60 . An opening  62  is formed in the front wall  14  and is dimensioned to receive a smaller-dimensioned RJ-type male plug, such as an RJ14 male plug  52  or an RJ11 male plug  53 . The top wall  54  includes a lip  64  integrally formed therewith, and the about midway of the side walls  58  and  60  are tabs  66 ,  68  extending therefrom, respectively. At the corners where the side walls  58 ,  60  and the top wall  54  meet are a pair of arms  70 ,  72  extending therefrom.  FIGS. 4 a , 4 b  and 4 c    show other views of the adapter  50 . On inserting the adapter  50  into the cavity  25 , while the tabs  66 ,  68  engage the side walls  22 ,  24 , and the arms  70 ,  72  travel adjacent the top wall  18  of the RJ45 female receptacle  10  and towards the rear wall  16 . Accordingly, the arms  70 ,  72  push against the spring contact portions of female receptacle contacts  38 , to further secure the adapter within the cavity  25 . The lip  64  abuts the front face  15  of the RJ45 female receptacle  10  thus preventing any further motion of the adapter  50  into the cavity  25 .  FIG. 5  shows the adapter  50  resident within the RJ45 female receptacle  10 . 
     With the adapter  50  inside the cavity  25 , a portion of the female receptacle contacts  38  adjacent to the side walls  22 ,  24  abut the side walls  58 ,  60  of the adapter  50 , such that the remaining female receptacle contacts  38  align with the RJ11 male plug contacts  74  to make contact and achieve electrical conductivity therebetween. As an example, a typical RJ45 female receptacle  12  comprises 8 contacts  38  designated p 1 , p 2 , p 3 , p 4 , p 5 , p 6 , p 7 , p 8 , where each contact pin is assigned a signal, such as a data RX signal, data TX signal, signal ground, or unused, while a typical 2-contact pin RJ11 male plug  53  has contacts  74  designated q 1 , q 2 , which are assigned a data RX signal and a data TX signal, respectively. Accordingly, contact q 1 , q 2  are aligned with the corresponding contacts of the female receptacle  10  carrying the data RX signal and a data TX signal, such as contacts p 4  and p 5 . In another example, the male plug is an RJ14 header  52  having  2  twisted-wire pairs  74  where a first pair q 2 , q 3  carries a data RX signal and a data TX signal respectively, and a second pair q 1 , q 4  carries another data RX signal and another data TX signal, respectively. Accordingly, the use of the adapter  50  provides proper mechanical alignment of the RJ14 male plug  52  or RJ11 male plug  53  inside a RJ45 female receptacle  10 , including the desired electrical pin alignment. Similar to the RJ45 male plug  12 , the smaller-dimensioned RJ-type male plug, such as an RJ14 plug  52  or an RJ11 plug  53 , generally includes a dielectric housing  76  having a free end or front face  78  for insertion into the opening  62  of the adapter  50 , a resilient locking tab  80  integrally connected by a flexible hinge to the free end  78  of the dielectric housing  76  and extending obliquely rearwardly therefrom. The resilient locking tab  80  engages with the bottom wall  56  of the adapter  50  and maintains the smaller-dimensioned RJ-type male plug  52  or  53  within the adapter  50  and the cavity  25 . 
     Advantageously, the adapter  50  decreases product component costs by obviating the need for multiple connectors having mutually exclusive pin requirements. The adapter  50  also permits physically different interface headers to connect to a common connector (e.g. RJ11 header connects into an RJ45 connector). The adapter  50  allows a specific connector to support a different/smaller interface header by providing proper mechanical alignment of the smaller/different header inside a connector, and proper electrical pin alignment of the smaller/different header inside the connector. 
     In another embodiment, the adapter  50  is integrated into a receptacle. 
     In yet another embodiment, the adapter  50  is integrated into the final product, or pre-installed in the product such that no separate piece is required. 
     Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described above with regard to specific embodiments. However, the benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as critical, required, or essential features or elements of any or all the claims. As used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. Further, no element described herein is required for the practice of the invention unless expressly described as “essential” or “critical.” 
     The preceding detailed description is presented for purposes of illustration only and not of limitation, and the scope of the invention is defined by the preceding description, and with respect to the attached claims.