Abstract:
A high speed IDC modular jack with conductors grouped into a first group and a second group. The conductors in the first group are longer than the conductors in the second group and are located in a separate plane to reduce cross-talk. First and second conductors extend in a first plane ( 30 ) perpendicularly into this base section ( 12 ) adjacent its first end ( 14 ). The conductor then extends longitudinally through the base section ( 12 ) and extends perpendicularly into the angular section ( 22 ) in a second ( 32 ) and third plane ( 34 ) respectively. Third and fourth conductors extend in a fourth plane ( 36 ) perpendicularly into the base section ( 12 ) adjacent its second end ( 16 ) and then extend into the angular section ( 22 ) of an insulative member in the second ( 32 ) and third ( 34 ) plane respectively.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is the national stage of International Application PCT/US98/11071, filed on Jun. 10, 1998, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/050,482, filed on Jun. 23, 1997, both of which are herein incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to electrical connectors and more particularly to insulation displacement contact (IDC) modular jacks. 
     2. Brief Description of Prior Developments 
     Modular jacks are used in two broad categories of signal transmission: analog (voice) and digital (data) transmission. These categories can overlap somewhat since digital systems are used for voice transmission as well. Nevertheless, there is a significant difference in the amount of data transmitted by a system per second. A low speed system would ordinarily transmit from about 10 to 16 megabytes per second (Mbps), while a high speed system should be able to handle 144 Mbps or even higher data transfer speeds. Often, high speed installations are based on asynchronous transfer mode transmission and utilize shielded and unshielded twisted pair cables. 
     With recent increases in the speed of data transmission, requirements have become important for electrical connectors, in particular, with regard to the reduction or elimination of crosstalk. Crosstalk is a phenomena in which a part of the electromagnetic energy transmitted through one of multiple conductors in a connector causes electrical currents in the other conductors. 
     Another factor which must be considered is that the telecommunications industry has reached a high degree of standardization in modular jack design. Outlines and contact areas are essentially fixed and have to be interchangeable with other designs. It is, therefore, important that any novel modular jack allow with only minor modification, the use of conventional parts and tooling in its production and use. 
     There is, therefore, a need for a modular jack insert which will reduce or eliminate crosstalk in telecommunications equipment. 
     There is also a need for such a modular jack insert which can reduce or eliminate crosstalk and common mode interference which is interchangeable with prior art modular jacks and which may be manufactured using conventional parts and tooling. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A high speed IDC modular jack wherein wires are grouped into a first group and a second group and wherein the wires in the first group are longer then the wires in the second group and are in a separate plane from said wires in the second group such that cross talk is reduced. Also encompassed by the present invention is an insert for a modular jack which includes an insulative member having a base section having a first and second end and an angular section extending approximately perpendicularly from the base section. A first conductor extends in a first plane perpendicularly into this base section adjacent its first end. It then extends longitudinally through the base section and then extends perpendicularly into the angular section in a second plane. A second conductor extends in the first plane perpendicularly into the base section and then extends longitudinally through the base section and then extends perpendicularly into the angular section in a third plane. A third conductor extends in a fourth plane perpendicularly into the base section adjacent its second end and then extends into the angular section of the insulative member in the second plane. Preferably a fourth conductor also extends in the fourth plane perpendicularly into the angular section of the insulative member in the third plane. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The high speed IDC modular jack of the present invention is further described with reference to the accompanying drawings: 
     FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the modular jack insert of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the modular jack insert shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective rear of the modular jack insert shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the modular jack insert shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view of the modular jack insert shown in FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the modular insert shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the modular jack insert shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view of the modular jack insert shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 9 is a front elevational view of the top cover section of the modular connector of the present invention; 
     FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the cover section shown in FIG. 9; 
     FIG. 11 is a bottom plan view of the cover section shown in FIG. 9; 
     FIG. 12 is a side elevational view of the cover section shown in FIG. 9; 
     FIG. 13 is a rear elevational view of the cover section shown in FIG. 9; 
     FIG. 14 is a cross sectional view through  14 — 14  in FIG. 9; 
     FIG. 15 is a cross sectional view through  15 — 15  in FIG. 9; 
     FIG. 16 is a bottom plan view of the rear housing section of the modular connector of the present invention; 
     FIG. 17 is top plan view of the insert housing section shown in FIG. 16; 
     FIG. 18 is a bottom plan view of the insert housing section shown in FIG. 16; 
     FIG. 19 is a side elevational view of the insert housing section shown in FIG. 16; 
     FIG. 20 is a cross sectional view through  20 — 20  in FIG. 16; 
     FIG. 21 is a cross sectional view through  21 — 21  in FIG. 16; 
     FIG. 22 is a cross sectional side elevational view of the IDC modular jack of the present invention; 
     FIG. 23 is a bottom plan view of the IDC modular jack shown in FIG. 22; 
     FIG. 24 is a top front perspective view of the IDC modular jack shown in FIG. 22; 
     FIG. 25 is a front elevational view of the IDC modular jack shown in FIG. 24; 
     FIG. 26 is a bottom plan view of the IDC modular jack shown in FIG. 24; and 
     FIG. 27 is a perspective schematic view of the insert used in the of comparative tests hereafter described. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to FIGS. 1-8, the insert is shown generally at numeral  10 . The insert includes an insulative member which includes a base section  12  which has a first front end  14  and a second rear end  16 . The base section also has a top interior side  18  and a bottom interior side  20 . The insulative member also includes a vertical section  22  which has a front interior side  24 , a rear exterior side  26  and an upper terminal end  28 . Adjacent the front end  14  of the base section there are conductors  1 ,  2 ,  5 , and  4  which have downwardly extending insulation displacement contacts. Adjacent the rear end  16  of the base section  12  there are conductors  3 ,  6 ,  7  and  8  which also have downwardly extending insulation displacements terminals. The first set of conductors extend upwardly in a first plane  30  (FIGS. 1,  3 ,  6  and  8 ) to enter the base section  12 . These conductors extend rearwardly as is explained hereafter to adjacent the rear end  16  section of the base section. Some of these conductors extend in an upward vertical second plane  32  (FIGS. 1,  3 ,  6  and  8 ). Others extend in an upward vertical third plane  34  (FIGS. 1,  3 ,  6  and  8 ). There is also a downward vertical fourth plane  36  (FIGS. 1,  3 ,  6  and  8 ) in which the insulation displacement contacts of conductors  3 ,  6 ,  7  and  8  extend upwardly into the base section  12 . In the base section  12  the conductor  1  includes a rearward extension shown generally at  38 . Conductor  2  includes a rearward extension shown generally at conductor  40 . Conductor  5  includes a rearward extension shown generally at  42 . Conductor  4  includes a rearward extension shown generally at numeral  44 . The rearward extension  38  of conductor  1  includes an initial longitudinal section  46  after which there is a transverse section  48  and then another section  50 . The rearward extension  40  of the conductor  2  includes a longitudinal section  52 , a transverse section  54  and another longitudinal section  56 , another transverse section  58  and a longitudinal section  60 . The rearward extension  42  of conductor  5  included a longitudinal section  62 , a transverse section  64 , another longitudinal section  66 , another transverse section  68  and a longitudinal section  70 . The rearward extension  44  conductor  4  includes a longitudinal section  72 , a transverse section  74 , a longitudinal section  76 , and another transverse section  78 . 
     Referring particularly to FIG. 2, conductor  1  extends upwardly in the second plane in the vertical section of the insulative insert in upward section  80 . Conductor  3  extends upwardly in the second plane in the upward extension  82 . Conductor  5  extends upwardly in the second plane in upward extension  84 . The upward extensions  80 ,  82  and  84  are contained respectively in vertical grooves  86 ,  88  and  90 . It will be noted that groove  88  conveys conductor  3  extension  82  and a vertical section  92  an oblique section  94  and another section  92 . 
     Referring particularly to FIG. 1, adjacent the upper terminal end  28 , conductor  1  terminates in an oblique section  98 , conductor  3  terminates in oblique section  100  and conductor  5  terminates in oblique section  102 . These oblique sections are superimposed respectively over grooves  104 ,  106  and  108  in the vertical section  22 . The other conductors extend vertically in the third plane in arcuate vertical sections  110 ,  112 ,  114 ,  116  and  118 . These arcuate vertical sections are housed respectively in slots  120 ,  122 ,  124 ,  126  and  128 . 
     It will be appreciated from the above disclosure that the first plane preferably includes contacts  1 ,  2 ,  5  and  4 . The second plane preferably includes terminals  2 ,  4  and  6 . The third preferably includes terminals  1 ,  3 ,  5 ,  7  and  8 . The fourth plane preferably includes contacts  3 ,  6 ,  7  and  8 . 
     It will also be appreciated that the above described insert has the following additional characteristics: 
     The wires are divided into two groups in the upper part of the vertical section of the insert. Wires  2 ,  4  and  6  are longer than wires  1 ,  3 ,  5 ,  6 ,  7  and  8 . Wire  4  in the second plane overlays wire  5  in the third plane without crossing it and stays in the same plane. The positions of the wires  4  and  5  in the first plane are reversed. Differential spaces are kept together as specified as in EIA/TIA658SD. The long and short terminals are located in the same planes. 
     Referring to FIGS. 9-15, a cover section for the modular jack is shown generally at numeral  98 . This cover section includes a front wall  100  which has a conventional plug receiving opening  102 . The cover also has a top wall  104  having a top latch  106  and 1 bottom wall  108  having a stock  110 . There are also cover sidewalls  112  and  114  which have respectively side latches  116  and  118 . In opposed relation to the front wall  100  and the plug receiving opening  102 , there is a rear opening  120 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 16-21, the insert housing which forms another part of the IDC modular jack is shown generally at numeral  122 . The insert housing has an upper side wall  124  which has opposed outer legs  126  and  128 , a center leg  130  and intermediate legs  132  and  134  which are interposed respectively between the outer legs  126  and  128  and the center leg  130 . On the intermediate leg  132  which has an inner and outer identity protrusion  136  and  138  which may be colored to identify the location of a particular wire. The intermediate leg  134  also has an inner and outer identity protrusion  140  and  142  which may also have a different color to identify a different wire. Between the above described legs there are formed wire receiving grooves  144 ,  146 ,  148  and  150 . These receiving grooves are positioned so as to be centered over insulation displacement contacts on the insert which are shown in phantom lines. The insert housing also includes a bottom side wall  152  which is similar to the above described top side wall  124 . That is, it has outer legs  154 ,  156 , a center leg  158  and intermediate legs  160  and  162 . There are inner and outer identity protrusions  164  and  166  on intermediate leg  160  and identity protrusions  168  and  170  on intermediate leg  162 . There are also wire receiving grooves  172 ,  174 ,  176  and  178  which are superimposed over insulation displacement contacts shown in phantom. The insert housing also has a lateral wall  180  which has a latch  182  and an opposed lateral wall  184  which has a latch  186 . The insert also has a rearward base wall  188 . This base wall has a plurality of IDC contact receiving apertures  190 ,  192 ,  194 ,  196 ,  198 ,  200 ,  202  and  204 . The base wall also has a plurality of protrusion exposing apertures  206 ,  208 ,  210  and  212 . The base wall also has a plurality of protrusion exposing recesses  214 ,  216 ,  218  and  220 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 22-26, an IDC modular jack is shown which is comprised of the integrated cover  98 , insert  10  and insert housing  122 . The vertical section  22  of the insert  10  passes through the rear opening  120  of the cover  98 . The base section  12  of the insert  10  is superimposed on the base wall  188  of the insert housing  122 . The insulation displacement contacts of the insert pass through the contact receiving apertures in the base wall of the insert housing. 
     The invention is further described with reference to the following example in which further embodiments of the invention are described. 
     EXAMPLE 
     Referring to FIG. 27, 19 inserts (numbered  1 - 19 ) were made with various combinations of contacts as is described in Table I. In explanation of FIG. 27, contacts E, F, G and H are in the first plane as was described above. Terminals  2 ,  4 ,  6  and  8  are in the second plane as was described above. Terminals,  1 ,  3 ,  5  and  7  are in the third plane as is described above. Contacts A, B, C and D were in the fourth plane as described above. The number “0” in Table I means that the particular jack described did not make use of a contact in that position. Contacts were fitted with insulative covers and insert housings to make modular jacks in the way described above. Cross talk between contacts in the jacks was measured and is recorded in Table I. 
     
       
         
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                 TABLE I 
               
             
             
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 POSITIONS 
                 CROSSTALK (-db) 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 ½- 
                 ½- 
                 ½- 
                 3/6- 
                 3/6- 
                 4/5- 
               
               
                 # 
                 A 
                 B 
                 C 
                 D 
                 E 
                 F 
                 G 
                 H 
                 3/6 
                 4/5 
                 ⅞ 
                 4/5 
                 ⅞ 
                 ⅞ 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 1) 
                 4 
                 5 
                 7 
                 8 
                 1 
                 2 
                 3 
                 6 
                 40.6 
                 45.6 
                 64 
                 46.2 
                 39.8 
                 50 
               
               
                 2) 
                 4 
                 5 
                 7 
                 8 
                 1 
                 2 
                 3 
                 6 
                 56.3 
                 41.7 
                 59.1 
                 42.8 
                 39.0 
                 52 
               
               
                 3) 
                 4 
                 5 
                 7 
                 8 
                 1 
                 2 
                 3 
                 6 
                 52.1 
                 40.6 
                 54.1 
                 45.3 
                 54.3 
                 45 
               
               
                 4) 
                 3 
                 6 
                 0 
                 0 
                 1 
                 2 
                 4 
                 5 
                 46.2 
                 34.4 
                 — 
                 47.5 
                 — 
                 — 
               
               
                 5) 
                 3 
                 6 
                 7 
                 8 
                 1 
                 2 
                 5 
                 4 
                 42.3 
                 49.8 
                 53.8 
                 38.1 
                 39.5 
                 59 
               
               
                 6) 
                 5 
                 4 
                 7 
                 8 
                 1 
                 2 
                 3 
                 6 
                 46.8 
                 39.4 
                 50.5 
                 42.5 
                 34.8 
                 41 
               
               
                 7) 
                 5 
                 4 
                 7 
                 8 
                 1 
                 2 
                 3 
                 6 
                 46.5 
                 39.6 
                 59.4 
                 42.1 
                 38.3 
                 46 
               
               
                 8) 
                 2 
                 5 
                 4 
                 7 
                 1 
                 3 
                 6 
                 8 
                 12.6 
                 35.3 
                 69.7 
                 20.2 
                 44.4 
                 59 
               
               
                 9) 
                 3 
                 6 
                 7 
                 8 
                 1 
                 2 
                 5 
                 4 
                 49 
                 44 
                 63 
                 47 
                 55 
                 40 
               
               
                 10) 
                 5 
                 4 
                 7 
                 8 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 45 
               
               
                 11) 
                 4 
                 5 
                 7 
                 8 
                 0 
                 0 
                 3 
                 6 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 45.2 
                 50 
                 39 
               
               
                 12) 
                 4 
                 5 
                 7 
                 8 
                 1 
                 2 
                 3 
                 6 
                 56 
                 41 
                 59 
                 42 
                 39 
                 58 
               
               
                 13) 
                 3 
                 6 
                 0 
                 0 
                 1 
                 2 
                 4 
                 5 
                 46 
                 39 
                 — 
                 46 
                 — 
                 — 
               
               
                 14) 
                 1 
                 2 
                 7 
                 8 
                 4 
                 5 
                 3 
                 6 
                   
                 — 
                 — 
                 47.4 
                 51.2 
                 40.2 
               
               
                 15) 
                 3 
                 6 
                 7 
                 8 
                 1 
                 2 
                 5 
                 4 
                 51.4 
                 41.7 
                 56.8 
                 45.9 
                 44.9 
                 46.7 
               
               
                 16) 
                 3 
                 6 
                 7 
                 8 
                 1 
                 2 
                 5 
                 4 
                 — 
                 44.1 
                 — 
                 47.6 
                 52.7 
                 38.9 
               
               
                 17) 
                 3 
                 6 
                 7 
                 8 
                 1 
                 2 
                 5 
                 4 
                 51.0 
                 42.44 
                 60.3 
                 45.5 
                 53.8 
                 38.9 
               
               
                 18) 
                 3 
                 6 
                 7 
                 8 
                 1 
                 2 
                 5 
                 4 
                 52.2 
                 42.2 
                 — 
                 47.5 
                 36.4 
                 57.0 
               
               
                 19) 
                 1 
                 2 
                 3 
                 6 
                 4 
                 5 
                 7 
                 8 
                 49 
                 40.8 
                 59.1 
                 46 
                 50.0 
                 45.1 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     It will be appreciated that an IDC modular jack has been described which not only affords low crosstalk but is also easily interchangeable with other jacks to facilitate use of conventional parts or tooling in its production and use. 
     While the present invention has been described in connection with the preferred embodiments of the various figures, it is to be understood that other similar embodiments may be used or modifications and additions may be made to the described embodiment for performing the same function of the present invention without deviating therefrom. Therefore, the present invention should not be limited to any single embodiment, but rather construed in breadth and scope in accordance with the recitation of the appended claims.