Abstract:
A network connection system for connecting computer network components, the network connection system including a twisted pair cable having multiple conductors in twisted pairs a cable termination connector affixable at an end of the cable. The cable termination connector includes a slender elongate connector housing; and termination contacts located within the connector housing. The termination contacts include a conductor engaging portion, optionally, an RJ connector engaging portion and a male contact portion releasably engageable to a female gripping contact. The network connection system also includes connecting hardware as well as a dust cover, a pull ring cover and a feeder strip. The present invention can be used on a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN).

Description:
CLAIM TO PRIORITY 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/582,404 filed Jun. 24, 2004 entitled “Twisted Pair Connection System and Method which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention generally relates to connectors for wiring computer and telephone networks. More particularly, the invention relates to connectors for termination twisted pair cables. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Twisted pair cables are commonly used for the wiring of computer and telephone networks. Twisted pair wire orientation is governed by EIA/TIA Standard 568B and industry connection methods 
     Conventional twisted pair cable includes four twisted pair conductors inside an outer insulation jacket. In some cables a plastic cross shaped extrusion resides inside the cable jacket along with the wires to separate the four pairs from each other and maintain each pair within its own quadrant within the cable jacket. 
     The four twisted pairs are color coded as a blue pair, a green pair, an orange pair, and a brown pair. Each pair includes two conductors a first conductor covered by solid color insulation colored to match that pair designation and a second conductor covered by white insulation with colored stripes that are the same color as the solid colored insulation twisted together. For example, the blue pair includes one wire solid blue in color and a second wire white with blue stripes. The same is true for the green, orange, and brown pairs. In the 568B standard, the color coding standardizes the position each conductor occupies when assembled into an RJ45 modular connector or modular jack. 
     There are 8 positions in a modular connector, one for each conductor. A prior art RJ45 plug includes a front where it mates with a jack and a rear where the cable enters as well as a locking tab. Viewing the front of the RJ45 plug, with the locking tab at the top, the eight positions are designated one through eight from left to right. Under the standard, the blue pair typically is designated Pair # 1  and occupies position  4  and  5  with the solid blue conductor in position  4  and the white/blue conductor occupies position  5 . The Orange pair is designated Pair # 2  and occupies positions  1  and  2  with the white/orange conductor in position  1  and the Orange conductor in position  2 . The green pair is designated Pair # 3  and is also known as the split pair in the RJ45 assembly because it occupies positions  3  and  6  with the solid green conductor in position  6  and the white/green color conductor occupying position  3 . The brown pair is designated Pair # 4  and occupies positions  7  and  8 . The white/brown conductor is located at position  7  and the solid brown conductor in position  8 . The importance of these standardized positions will become apparent in the description of the sub components and assembly of the new connector of the present invention. 
     The most dominant interface for connecting 4 pair twisted pair cable in the market at the time of this application is the RJ45 connector interface as described by the FCC in 47 CFR 68 Subpart F. The FCC standard describes dimensional tolerances for the plug, port and features to assure operable compatibility between plugs and jacks made by various manufacturers. 
     Typically an industry standard modular jack has one port for mating with an RJ45 plug, that meets the requirements of FCC under 47 CFR 68 Subpart F and a second port that is adapted to attach twisted pair cable conductors to the jack. Generally, jacks are terminated to twisted pair cable in the field by stripping back the outer jacket, exposing the conductor pairs, and terminating these pairs to terminals on the jack. Patch cords in predetermined lengths, with RJ45 plugs assembled to each end, are available to connect hardware such as computer work stations and printers to the modular jacks and thus to the network. 
     In many cases, the modular connector is installed by craft personnel in the field. Problems are associated with installing jacks and plugs in the field related to inconsistency of method that occur from one installer to the next. These result is failures in data transmission and the expenditure of large amounts of time and effort to troubleshoot and repair inadequate field made connections. 
     One possible solution to this problem would be to pre-terminate the connection in a controlled environment and to test the connections prior to installation in the field. The obstacle to pre-terminating all connections lies in the need to feed and pull cable with plugs installed through conduit and around obstacles common in buildings being wired for networks. The design profile of the prior art RJ45 modular plug is too large to be pulled through smaller conduit channels and the features, such as the locking tab, and shape of the plugs make them prone to catch on obstacles. This leads to damage to the connectors and cable. 
     Thus the network wiring industry would benefit from a network wiring termination system that that would allow for pre-termination of conductors, testing of the network wiring components prior to release to field personnel and ease of pulling network wiring through conduit and past obstacles that are commonly encountered in the installation of network cabling. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The network connection system of the present invention solves many of the above-discussed problems. The network connection system of the invention includes a universal cable termination (UCT) connector and connecting hardware as well as a dust cover, a pull ring cover and a feeder strip. The present invention can be used on a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN). 
     The UCT connector terminates to the end of unshielded or shielded twisted pair cable and provides the point of access to a two-port jack or hardware on a network. For use with shielded cabling a shielding jacket may be added to the connector. The UCT connector has a smaller design profile than a prior art RJ45 connector and is a multifunctional connector. It can serve as a stand-alone connection interface with a mating jack interface. In addition, with the application of an adapter cover assembled to the UCT connector it can be used as a standard RJ plug that will connect to a standard RJ jack port. 
     The profile of the UCT connector is small and tapered so that it can easily be pulled through conduit and around obstacles. While the UCT connector can be installed in the field, it is primarily intended to be preinstalled in a controlled manufacturing environment. Preinstallation of the UCT connector assures greater repeatability of performance than application by field installers with various levels of expertise. In addition, the economics of a factory environment allow for cost savings versus field installation. 
     The stand-alone UCT connector interface also provides for a very repeatable connection with the mating jack port. These levels of repeatability provide for improved signature performance and a more consistent level of performance from one connection to the next in a network. 
     The UCT connector may be configured to have termination contacts installed in a factory-manufacturing environment. In addition the UCT connector may be configured with preloaded termination contacts. Preloaded termination contacts may be preferred for the less typical situation in which the UCT connector is field terminated. 
     The UCT connector may also be configured to accommodate a printed circuit incorporated into the UCT connector adapted for connection to an RJ45 jack. 
     The network connection system of the present invention has several advantages. In the interface between the UCT connector contact blade and the split tine contact gap there is no requirement to displace a conductor insulation jacket to achieve electrical connection between the split tine and the copper core of the cable conductors. This is a common problem in the industry where cable conductors are not fully punched down into the split tine IDC slots which makes the jack inoperable. Repairs require addition time by the craftsperson, usually after the entire link or channel is constructed, to isolate where the problem exists and then re-punch the connections until a good connection is achieved. The UCT connection uses insulation displacement type contact technology to create the physical and electrical connection between the jack and the UCT connector however without the need to pierce through an insulating jacket. When the contact blades in the UCT connector seat into the gap between the two tines of the jack contacts it creates a very high-pressure contact with natural redundancy because of the two-tine design. 
     Occasionally the craftsperson terminating a jack will flip or misplace a conductor pair when terminating the conductors to the jack in the field. In this case the jack is again inoperable and the problem is not found until the link or channel is tested. When the problem is found the craftsperson must isolate the connection that is incorrect and re-terminate the jack and connection. In the UCT connection interface the connector and jack mate only one way, therefore the match up of pair positions will always be constant. 
     The third advantage to the UCT connection has to do with the spatial orientation and configuration of the cable pairs. In typical industry standard IDC terminations, there are recommendations for managing the cable conductor pairs, however there is little or no control over the craft person&#39;s management of the conductor pair twist and spatial orientation of the conductor pairs as they are terminated to the jack IDC&#39;s. Both have impact on the signal carrying performance of the jack. A quality connection then becomes very dependent upon the craft person&#39;s skill and experience. Within the UCT connector the cable pairs and contact patterns are managed consistently from one UCT connector to the next. Therefore the connection interface becomes consistent from one jack to the next. This assures a consistent and repeatable signal carrying performance signature to the jack port interface. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a twisted pair cable and strain relief in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a twisted pair cable and strain relief in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a strain relief twisted pair cable and pair manager tray in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a detailed perspective view of a pair manager tray taken from  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a fully assembled twisted pair of cable and pair manager tray in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a bottom perspective view of a pair manager tray and pair manager cap in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a top perspective view of the pair manager tray and pair manager cap; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a pair manager tray and pair manager cap as assembled; 
         FIG. 9  is a top perspective view of a connector housing in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a bottom perspective view of the connector housing; 
         FIG. 11  is an exploded perspective view of the pair manager tray, pair manager cap, and connector housing; 
         FIG. 12  is an assembled perspective view of the pair manager tray, pair manager cap and connector housing; 
         FIG. 13  is an exploded perspective view of three termination contacts in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 14  is a top plan view of the three termination contacts; 
         FIG. 15  is a perspective view of the three termination contacts as nested together; 
         FIG. 16  is an exploded perspective view of the termination contacts and UCT connector in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 17  is a detailed perspective view of the termination contacts as assembled in the UCT connectors; 
         FIG. 18  is a perspective view of the UCT connector with a dust cover a pull ring cover and an RJ adapter cover; 
         FIG. 19  is a perspective view of three UCT connectors assembled with the dust cover the pull ring cover and the RJ adapter cover respectively; 
         FIG. 20  is a feeder strip in accordance with the present invention attached to two UCT connectors with pull ring covers; 
         FIG. 21  is a detailed perspective view of the feeder strip taken from  FIG. 20 ; 
         FIG. 22  is a partially exploded perspective view of a UCT connector including a printed circuit board in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 23  is a perspective view of the UCT connector including a printed circuit board; 
         FIG. 24  is a partially exploded perspective view of an RJ short connector, a dust cover, a pull ring cover, and an RJ adapter cover in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 25  is a perspective view of a connector housing with preloaded termination contacts in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 26  is a sectional view of the connector housing with preloaded contacts; 
         FIG. 27  is another sectional view of the connector housing with preloaded contacts; 
         FIG. 28  is a detailed sectional view of the connector housing with preloaded contacts in an unterminated position; 
         FIG. 29  is a sectional view of the connector housing with preloaded contacts in a terminated position; 
         FIG. 30  is a perspective view of a termination contact setting tool and a UCT connector in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 31  is another perspective view of the termination contact setting tool and a UCT connector; 
         FIG. 32  is a perspective view of a termination contact setting tool with the UCT connector inserted therein; 
         FIG. 33  is an exploded perspective view of the UCT to the RJ45 adapter in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 34  is an exploded perspective view of an UCT to RJ45 adapter including a printed circuit board; 
         FIG. 35  is an assembled perspective view of UCT to RJ45 adapter including a printed circuit board; 
         FIGS. 36   a – 36   e  are perspective views of a UCT connector being inserted and terminated into an UCT to RJ45 adapter in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 37  is an exploded perspective view of the UCT to UCT adapter including a printed circuit board in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 38  is a partially exploded perspective view of UCT to UCT adapter; 
         FIG. 39  is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment of the UCT to UCT adapter; 
         FIG. 40  is a partially exploded perspective view of the UCT to UCT adapter from  FIG. 39 ; 
         FIG. 41  is an assembled perspective view of the UCT to UCT adapter from  FIG. 39 ; 
         FIG. 42  is a perspective view of a UCT to RJ45 adapter and to UCT connectors with certain parts removed for clarity; 
         FIG. 43  is a cross-sectional view the UCT to RJ45 adapter and UCT connectors of  FIG. 42 ; 
         FIG. 44  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the UCT to RJ45 adapter and two UCT connectors with certain parts removed for clarity; 
         FIG. 45  is a cross-sectional view of the UCT to RJ45 adapter and UCT connectors of  FIG. 44 ; 
         FIG. 46  is a partially exploded perspective view of an embodiment of the UCT connector having termination contact including a conductor engaging portion and a male portion engageable to a split tine contact; and 
         FIG. 47  is an assembled perspective view of the UCT connector depicted in claim  46 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1–47 , the network connection system  100  includes universal cable termination (UCT) connector  102  and connecting hardware  104  as well as a dust cover  106 , a pull ring cover  108  and a feeder strip  110 . 
     The UCT connector  102 , as depicted in  FIGS. 11 and 16 , generally includes strain relief boot  112 , pair manager tray  114 , pair manager cap  116 , connector housing  118  and termination contacts  120 . Two UCT connectors  102  along with an intervening cable connecting them are primarily intended as a station connector to connect from, for example, a switch panel to a jack. The jack is then connected to a peripheral such as a personal computer or a printer by a patch cable. Under applicable standards the station cable can extend up to three hundred twenty-seven feet. 
     Referring  FIGS. 1 and 2 , to strain relief boot  112  is fabricated from a flexible polymer that slides with some resistance over the outer jacket  122  of cable  124  when assembled. The outer jacket  122  typically encases 4 twisted pairs including eight individually insulated conductors  126 . The strain relief boot  112  adds support to cable  124  such that when a side load, out of axis to the cable  124 , is applied, the cable  124  becomes slightly supported by the Strain relief boot  112  and bends through a larger radius than if the strain relief boot  112  was not in place. This increases cable  124  life and limits the performance degradation that occurs if cable  124  is bent sharply. Strain relief boot  112  defines an alternating series of partial slots  128  for controlled flexibility when cable  124  is subjected to a side load. 
     Strain relief boot  112  also defines transition channel  130  that envelops cable  124 . From the rear, or where the cable enters, transition channel  130  is substantially circular and cylindrical and then tapers to an oval cross section. Cable  124  cross section is typically round in a free and uncompressed state. The taper from round to the oval shape creates a squeezing retentive force that secures UCT connector  102  to the cable  124 . 
     It is within channel  130  of strain relief boot  112  that cable  124  is retained by a squeezing pressure that absorbs any pull or strain applied to the cable  124  and restricts transmission to the conductors  126  within the connector assembly. This assures a reliable and secure connection. Strain relief boot  112  presents two window slots  132 . 
     Strain relief boot  112  presents a tapered or conical outer shape. Taper  134  when assembled as part of UCT connector  102 , facilitates pulling a pre-connectorized cable through conduit or around obstacles and reduces the likelihood of the connector catching on obstructions. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3–8 , pair manager tray  114  defines separate channels  136  to route each conductor pair  138 . Pair manager tray  114  includes rear region  140  where cable  124  enters and is held by the pair manager tray  114  and connector housing  118 , mid-region  142  that separates and routes cable conductor pairs  138  to front region  144 . Front region  144  includes a series of troughs that the conductors  126  rest in. Orientation of pair manager tray  114  is such that the cable  124  lies in a cradle  146  in the rear region  140 . Individual conductor pairs  138  rest in adjacent troughs  148  and the split pair straddles the center pair  150  over Y-passage  152 . Pair manager tray  114  controls the transition and position of conductor pairs  138  as they exit beyond the jacket  122  of cable  124  to a predetermined spatial relationship with each other, in an adjacent and substantially planar orientation. 
     Protruding from the inside surface  154  of the cradle  146  is knife-edge blade  156  designed to bite into the outer jacket  122  of the cable  124  when assembled. It also serves to secure the UCT connector  102  to cable  124  and to resist any pulling forces that may occur. The rear region  140  also defines a channel  158  across the width of the pair manager tray  114 . 
     Viewing pair manager tray  114  from above with the front or tray portion down, position  8   160  is the left most trough  148 . Position  1   162  is the trough  148  furthest right. Outer walls  164  on each side support the pair manager cap  116 . Y-passage  152  splits into two separate channels  166  that open roughly in line with troughs  148 , at position  6   168  and position  3   170 . Thus, the conductor pairs  138  are isolated in the same position and orientation from one UCT connector  102  assembly to the next. The fixation of conductor pairs  138  in channels  136 , Y-passage  152  and channels  166  reduces performance variation and creates predictable signal performance. 
     Pair manager tray  114  provides half of the squeezing effect onto the outer jacket  122  when assembled to connector housing  118 . The squeezing action retains the cable  124  and assembled UCT connector  102  and provides strain relief. Assembly to the connector housing  118  is accomplished through the stepped rail surface  172  of pair manager tray  114  and four protruding catch features  174  located in the rear region  140  of pair manager tray  114 . Catch features  174  are positioned in the locality of the cradle  146  to aid in the squeezing effect on the cable  124 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 6–8 , pair Manager Cap  116 , when set in place, captures individual conductors  126  in the semi-cylindrical troughs  148  of the pair manager tray  114 . Pair Manager cap  116  includes semi-cylindrical troughs  176  that mirror those in the pair manager tray  114 . These features, when assembled to pair manager tray  114 , create eight adjacent partially separated cylindrical channels that capture and hold conductors  126  in a repeatable position so that each conductor  126  can be physically and conductively pierced to carry the electrical signals beyond the conductors  126 . Pair manager cap  116  also presents rectangular windows  180  into troughs  176 . Rectangular windows  180  connect to slots  182  in the protruding wall structure  184  on the top of pair manager cap  116 . Pair manager cap  116  is held to pair manager tray  114  temporarily by two latching legs  186 . Latching legs  186  make an interference fit into outer channels  188  of pair manager tray  114  and cannot slide out. The pair manager cap  116  is fully secured to the assembly when the pair manager tray  114  and pair manager cap  116  sub-assembly is installed into the connector housing  118 . Outer rails  190  of the pair manager cap  116  are held between the outer walls  164  of the pair manager tray  114  and interior walls of the Connector Housing  118 . Pair manager cap  116  becomes sandwiched into the assembly and therefore held secure. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 9–12 , connector housing  118  includes cable entrance cradle  192  similar to cradle  146  of pair manager tray  114 , a forward cavity  194  and aft cavity  196 , in a central region  198 . Cable  124  enters the rear of connector housing  118 . The front of connector housing  118  defines a key shaped cross section created by two stepped ledges  200 . Aft cavity  196  presents cavity opening  200 . Aft cavity  196  opens to the bottom and houses the mid-region  142  of the pair manager tray  114  that isolates the conductor pairs  138 . 
     Entrance cradle  192  of connector housing  118  and the Pair Manager tray  114  are mirror images when assembled and oppose one another to create an oval shaped cross section when assembled. Latches  204  engage window slots  132  to secure Strain relief boot  112  to connector housing  118  and pair manager tray  114 . Blade  206  within entrance cradle  192  bites into the outer jacket  122  and provides axial retention between UCT connector  102  and cable  124 . When the connector housing  118  and pair manager tray  114  are assembled together, with the outer jacket  122  in between, the relatively round section of the cable  124  becomes squeezed into a oval shape that is sized to somewhat constrict the cable  124  volume. Connector housing  118  also includes interlocking wall  208  that seats within channel  158  of pair manager tray  114 . Interlocking wall  208  creates adjacent, opposing pressures upon the outer jacket  122  when assembled. The combination of the interlocking wall  208  and semi-oval cradle  146  and entrance cradle  192 , create reliable retention of the UCT connector  102  to cable  124  as well as providing a strain relief between cable  124  and isolated conductors  126 . 
     Connector housing  118  has openings  210  in the rear sidewalls  212  that correspond to the catch features  174  in pair manager tray  114 . Forward cavity  194  of connector housing  118  opens to the top of the connector housing  118 . Open central region  214  corresponds to the front region  144  of pair manager tray  114  and pair manager cap  116  when assembled to connector housing  118 . Step  216  engages to stepped rail surfaces  172  of pair manager tray  114 . Catch features  174  of pair manager tray  114  engage openings  210  in rear sidewalls  212  of connector housing  118 . When the assembly is complete, pair manager cap  116  is captured by pair manager tray  114  and step features  218  of connector housing  118 . 
     Forward cavity  194  in connector housing  118  includes structures to house termination contacts  120  and create a mating interface with a jack port. Towers  220  protrude from the floor to secure and retain Termination Contacts  120 . Forward cavity  194  also presents a series of slots  222  in the front wall  224  of connector housing  118 . Slots  222  correspond in alignment and function with slots  182  in pair manager cap  116 . Slots  222  secure and hold Termination Contacts  120  in alignment and spacing to allow connection with desirably an RJ45 jack port. In addition to creating an interface with jack ports, forward cavity  194  electrically compensates and controls cross talk between conductor pairs  138  or signal paths. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 18–19 , dust cover  106  and pull ring cover  108  can be assembled to UCT Connector  102 . Connector housing  118  includes ledge  228  on both sides. Dust cover  106  or pull ring cover  198  rest on the ledges  228 . 
     Connector housing  118  presents window openings  230  and notch features  232 . Window openings  230  are on both sidewalls of the forward cavity  194 . 
     Connector housing  118  also presents angled channel  236 . A blade type tool may be inserted into angled channel  236  to remove dust cover  106  or pull ring cover  108 . 
     Termination contacts  120 , as depicted in  FIGS. 13–17 , may be fabricated from copper alloy and gold plated. Termination contacts  120  preferably include three unique contact designs. UCT connector  102  includes 8 conductors  126  and 8 termination contacts  120 . 
     Each termination contact  120  includes spear  238 . Spear  238  pierces through the conductor  126  insulation jacket and seats into the soft copper of the conductors  126 . 
     UCT connector  102  is a multipurpose connector. Termination contacts  120  are designed with two contact interface points to accommodate either RJ45 or UCT connector. The RJ45 contact  240  makes contact with an RJ45 port by wiping over spring form contacts in the jack. The presence of the RJ45 contact  240  in the jack port deflects the spring form contacts to create a contact force and allows for electrical signal to pass from the plug to the jack and vice versa. 
     Another type of contact interface includes an array of blade portions  242  in termination contacts  120 . These blade portions  242  slide between a two-pronged contact, known in the industry as an insulation displacement contact, or IDC, that resides in a jack which will be discussed in greater detail below. The material thickness of the termination contacts  120 , or thickness of the blade portions  242 , is greater than width of a pre-sized gap in the two prong IDC contacts. When slid together or mated, the blade is pushed into the gap of the two-pronged IDC contact. Deflection of the prongs creates contact force in the mated region that physically and electrically mates the termination contact  120  to that of the jack contact. This allows the electrical signal to pass through the mated contact. When the blade portion  242  of the termination contacts  120  are removed from the IDC two prong contacts in the jack, the prongs return to their original or un-deflected state. 
     Termination contacts  120  also include mid-bridge structures  244 . Mid-bridge structures  244  may take on any number of configurations and spatial relationships to one another. The purpose for the specific spatial orientation and configuration of the mid-bridge structure  244  from one contact to the others relates to electrical compensation and cross talk control. Mid-bridge structures  244  may stagger up and down from one contact to the next. Mid-bridge structures  244  of Termination Contacts  120  may also intertwine with one another. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 13–15 , termination contacts  120  may include straight contact  246 , right hand contact  248 , and left hand contact  250 . Straight contact  246 , right hand contact  248 , and left hand contact  250  each include forked spear  238 , RJ45 contact portion  240 , blade portions  242 , and mid-bridge structure  244  as discussed above. 
     Straight contact  246  is substantially planar with mid-bridge structure  244  being substantially in the same plane as forked spear  238 , RJ45 contact portion  240 , and blade portion  242 . Right hand contact  248  differs in that mid-bridge structure is displaced horizontally from the remainder of right hand contact  248 . In addition, blade portion  242  is displaced away from RJ45 contact as compared to straight contact  246 . Thus, in straight contact  246  blade portion  242  is adjacent to RJ45 contact portion  240  whereas in right hand contact  248 , blade portion  242  is separated from RJ45 contact  240  by mid-bridge structure  242 . 
     Left hand contact  250  has a leftward displacement of mid-bridge structure  244 . In addition, blade portion  242  is displaced to be substantially above forked spear  238 . 
     As can be seen in  FIGS. 13–15 , straight contact  246 , right hand contact  248  and left hand contact  250  can be nested together very compactly so that mid-bridge structures  244  are arranged in relation to each other for electrical compensation and to control cross talk production. 
     Referring to  FIG. 16 , it can be seen that exemplary UCT connector  102  includes two of straight contact  246 , three of right hand contact  248  and three of left hand contact  250 , nested together and inserted into connector housing  118 , so that each termination contact  120  is mechanically and electrically engaged with a conductor  126  and so that termination connectors  120  are supported by towers  220  and slots  222 . It is notable that blade portions  242  of termination context  120  are neatly and compactly arrayed in a specific orientation with relation to one another. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 18 ,  19  and  24  dust cover  106  can be utilized to protect UCT connector  102  during shipping, storage and handling. Dust cover  106  includes side latching bumps  252  and end latching bumps  254  which allow engagement to UCT connector. UCT connector  102  presents angled channel  236  which can be accessed with a blade type tool to release dust cover  106  from UCT connector  102 . 
     Pull ring cover  108  is substantially similar in construction to dust cover  106  but also includes pull ring  256 . Pull ring  256  may be engaged by a fish tape or other pulling device in order to pull UCT connector  102  and attached cable  124  through conduits or other pathways to install a network connection system  100 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 20 and 21 , pull ring cover  108  can also be engaged to feeder strip  110 . Feeder strip  110  presents pull lug  258  and pull ring hooks  260 . Pull ring hooks  260  are adapted to engage pull rings  256  to allow pulling of multiple UCT connectors  102 . Pull lug  258  may be engaged by a fish tape or other pulling device. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 18 ,  19  and  24 , RJ45 adapter cover  262  generally includes a structure similar to dustcover  106  with the addition of latching arm  264  and window slots  266 . Latching arm  264  is adapted to engage with an industry standard RJ45 jack. Window slots  266  are aligned and positioned so that RJ45 contacts  240  of termination contacts  120  are exposed therethrough. This permits mating contact between the spring form contacts and those in an RJ45 modular jack when the UCT connector  102  with RJ45 adapter cover  262  is inserted into an RJ45 modular jack port. The features and dimensions of an RJ45 connector are well known and fully described by standardized industry specifications. Therefore they will not be further discussed here. 
     When RJ45 adapter cover  262  is utilized with UCT connector  102 , the assembled UCT connector  102  with RJ45 adapter cover  262  can be attached to a computer or other peripheral item on a network without the need for an intervening jack. While this is not a part of the EIA/TIA standard it is a very useful application under some circumstances. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 25 through 29 , in another embodiment, UCT connector  102  may include a connector housing  118  preloaded with termination contacts  120 . In this embodiment, connector housing  118  further includes bridge  268  with contact guide slots  270 , latching beams  272  and retaining bumps  276 . Termination contacts  120  further include notches  278  in two positions. As can be seen referring to the above figures termination contacts  120  can be located in a pre-terminated position or in a terminated position. Termination contacts  120  also include catch features  280  which can engage with bridge  268  to secure termination contacts  120  in the terminated or pre-terminated condition. Thus, termination contacts  120  may be moved from the pre-terminated position to the terminated position by applying pressure with a tool adapted to engage termination contacts  120 . 
     In another embodiment, depicted in  FIGS. 22–23 , UCT connector  102  may include printed circuit board  282  with edge contacts  284 . The use of printed circuit board  282  with edge contacts  284 , in this example, creates an RJ45 connector without IDC blade contact capability. This embodiment may however, be used with dust cover  106 , pull ring cover  108  or RJ45 adapter cover  262  in a similar fashion to UCT connector  102 . 
     In this embodiment, connector housing  118  lacks towers  220 . Printed circuit board  282  is substantially rectangular and sized to fit inside forward cavity  194 . Printed circuit board  282  may be single or multi-layered to achieve desired signal transmission performance requirements. 
     In this example, printed circuit board (PCB)  282  defines a series of eight plated holes  286  at two opposite ends thereof. Plated holes  286  are sized to receive compliant post  288  connected to either RJ45 contacts  290  or termination spears  292 . RJ45 contacts  290  and termination spears  292  are positioned to correlate with positions  1 – 8  in UCT connector  102 . 
     Termination spears  292  pierce conductors  126 . Termination spears  292  attach to PCB  282  via compliant post  288 . Compliant post  288  is slightly larger than plated hole  286  to create conductive connection with a conductive trace (not shown) of PCB  282 . Plated holes  286  may be staggered in two lines. Termination spears  292  are desirably rotated 180 degrees every other termination spear  292  to align compliant posts  288  with plated holes  286 . 
     RJ45 contacts  290  include blade feature  294  to make contact with spring contacts found in an RJ45 jack port. Compliant post  288  of RJ45 contact  290  engages PCB  282  in a manner similar to termination spears  292 . 
     Network connection system  100  may also include RJ45 short connector  296  depicted in  FIG. 24 . RJ45 short connector  296  is intended for use at either end of a patch cable connecting a jack to a computer or other peripheral. It is not intended for use with a station cable. It is understood that the most ideal signal path in a connector can be found in the lay and twist of the cable conductors as they sit inside the cable jacket. A disruption to the twist of the cable pairs or a severe kinking of the cable can have adverse effects on the signal carrying performance of the cable. The network connection system  100  of the present system also includes RJ45 short connector  296 . An advantage of short connector  296  is that it more closely approximates an ideal signal path. Shortening the connector reduces the effective electrical length and more closely approximates the ideal case. 
     RJ45 short connector  296  utilizes the same pair manager tray  114 , Pair manager cap  116  and strain relief boot  112  as described above with regard to UCT connector  102 . RJ45 short connector also utilizes dust cover  106 , pull ring  108  and RJ45 adapter cover  262  in a similar fashion to UCT connector  102 . 
     Short connector housing  298  is substantially similar in design to that described above for connector housing  118 . However, the entire length of short connector housing  298  has been reduced as compared to connector housing  118 . The length reduction occurs because short forward cavity  300  is shorter in length then forward cavity  194 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 24 , short termination contacts  302  include termination spears  292  and RJ45 contacts  290 , but lack blade portion  242 . In addition, intermediate section  304  of short termination contacts  302  is shaped differently from termination contacts  120 . 
     Short termination contacts  302  may include high path contact  306  and low path contact  308 . In addition, short termination contacts  302  may include a diagonal path contact (not shown). The reason for this approach is well known to those skilled in the art and centers around managing the electrical coupling effect that occurs between closely located conductor pairs and efforts to isolate the split pair in positions 3 and 6 from the other adjacent pairs in a twisted pair assembly. RJ45 short connector  296  is utilized with RJ45 adapter. cover  262  for connection to an RJ45 jack to create a patch cable typically less than fifteen feet in length. 
     Connecting hardware  104  generally includes UCT to RJ45 adapter  310  and UCT to UCT adapter  312 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 33 , an exemplary embodiment of UCT to RJ45 adapter  310  utilizes preformed contact springs  314 . UCT to RJ45 adapter  310  also includes jack insert  316 , jack housing  318  and termination cap  320 . 
     Preformed contact springs  314  include split tine contact  322 , cantilever beam contact  324 , and connecting portion  326 . Split tine contacts  322  are Insulation Displacement Contact (IDC) type split tine contacts having a predefined gap  328  created by two tines  330 , and a tapered entry  332 . Split tine contacts  322  receive blade  206  within gap  328  via tapered entry  332 . 
     Connecting portion  326  electrically and mechanically connects cantilever beam contact  324  to split tine contact  322 . Cantilever beam contact  324  extends away from connecting portion  326  and is resiliently deflectable to resist insertion of a mating connector and to create a contact force to assure electrical continuity with the mating connector. 
     Jack insert  316  supports and partially surrounds preformed contact springs  314  leaving cantilever beam contact  324  and split tine contact  322  exposed for connection to connectors inserted into UCT to RJ45 adapter  310 . 
     Jack housing  318  encloses jack insert  316  and preformed contact springs  314  and defines RJ45 portion and UCT connector receiving portion  336  at opposed ends thereof. The features and dimensions of an RJ45 jack are well known and fully described by standardized industry specifications. Therefore they will not be further discussed here. Other RJ style connectors may be treated similarly. 
     Termination cap  320  is adapted to snap into jack housing  318  and to slidable, translate with jack housing  318 . Termination cap  320  includes lid  338  and clips  340  and defines window  342 . Clips  340  engage to jack housing  318 . Window  342  is sized to receive UCT connector  102 . Termination cap  320  is slidably shiftable between an open position and a closed position. 
     When in the closed position termination cap  320  secures UCT connector  102  electrically and mechanically within UCT to RJ45 adapter  310 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 34–35 , in another embodiment, UCT to RJ45 adapter  310  includes printed circuit board bridge  344  (PCB bridge  344 ). In this embodiment PCB bridge  344  routes multiple signal paths from split tine contacts  322  to cantilever beam contacts  324 . The use of a PCB bridge  344  provides the advantage of latitude in printed circuit board design for control and flexibility in managing the signal paths and their interaction with each other. 
     In this embodiment split tine contacts  322  are joined to PCB bridge  344  via compliant post  346  or solder post  348 . Likewise cantilever beam contacts  324  can be joined to PCB bridge  344  by compliant post  346  or solder post  348 . In this embodiment, jack insert  316  is altered to support PCB bridge  344 , split tine contacts  322  and cantilever beam contacts  324 . In addition, RJ45 portion  344  is rotated 180 degrees relative to UCT connector receiving portion  336 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 37–38 , UCT to UCT adapter  312  may include PCB bridge  350 . PCB bridge  350  receives split tine contacts  322 . PCB bridge  350  is supported by jack insert  352  and surrounded by jack housing  354 , which supports two termination caps  320 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 39–41 , in another embodiment UCT to UCT adapter  312  may utilize preformed contact springs  356 . Note that in this embodiment UCT connector receiving portion  336  is rotated 180 degrees from the previous embodiment utilizing PCB bridge  350 . This embodiment also includes jack insert  358  and jack housing  360 . 
     Here preformed contact springs  314  include two sets of split tine contacts  324  joined by connecting portion  362 . Termination caps  320  are structured and function in a similar fashion to that described above. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 36   a – 36   e  the sequence of drawings depicts the insertion and termination of a UCT connector  102  in UCT connector receiving portion  336  of a UCT to RJ45 adapter  310 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 30–32 , network connection system  100  also includes termination contact setting tool  364 . Termination contact setting tool  364  includes nest fixture  366 , crimping head  368 , guide pins  370 , springs  372 , and crimping blade  374 . Crimping head  368  supports crimping blade  374  and is slidably engaged to guide pins  370 . Springs  372  serve to reopen crimping head  368  relative to nest fixture  366  after it has been pressed shut. 
     Nest fixture  366  may support protruding post  376 , which serves to align UCT connector  102  with termination contact setting tool  364 . 
       FIGS. 42–45  depict the interconnection of UCT connectors  102  with two embodiments of UCT to RJ45 adapter  310 . Certain parts of UCT connector  102  and UCT to RJ45 adapter  310  are removed for clarity. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 46 and 47 , connector  376  is depicted that is similar to UCT connector  102  is its general structure except that termination contacts  378  lack RJ45 contact  240  and connector housing  380  lacks slots  222  and other structures that accommodate RJ45 contacts  240 . 
     Termination contacts  378  are of three types short contact  382 , medium contacts  384  and long contacts  386 . Termination contact s  378  include blade portion  388  and forked spear  390 . Medium contacts  384  and long contacts  386  include mid-portion  392  interconnecting blade portion  388  and forked spear  390 . In short contact  382 , blade portion  388  is connected substantially directly to forked spear  390 . 
     Blade portions  388  are dimensioned to be received into split tine contacts  322  in a fashion similar to that described above. Connector  376  is received into UCT connector receiving portion  336  is a similar fashion to that described above. 
     It is to be understood that Blade portions  388  and other described blade structures described herein are exemplary male connector structures and that pin like structures can be substituted or interchanged for them throughout this description. In addition, split tine contacts  322  are also exemplary and can be replaced with other female receiving contact structures such as in the case where pins are substituted for blades structures. 
     The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit of the essential attributes thereof; therefore, the illustrated embodiments should be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being made to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.