Abstract:
A connector device (for example, a jack) is provided with a sensing mechanism that detects mating of another connector to the connector device, and differentiates between matching and non-matching connectors. The sensing mechanism generates a signal to indicate that a non-matching connector has been mated with the connector device.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The disclosed invention relates, for example, to systems and methods for determining when an inappropriate connector is mated to another connector such as a connecting jack. 
   2. Background Art 
   Certain modular connectors, such as conventional RJ-11 and RJ-45 connectors, are constructed with similar physical characteristics but provide differing connection mechanisms. For example, conventional RJ-11 and RJ-45 connectors are similar in shape but have a different maximum number of conductors and are typically used for different purposes. The RJ-45 connector supports up to eight conductors and is typically used in computer, router, switch, printer, and game console connections. The RJ-11 connector is typically used in telephonic, digital video recorder, and video set-top box applications, and supports up to six conductors. Frequently, only two or four conductors are implemented in an RJ-11-based connection. 
   While a male RJ-45 connector is wider than an RJ-11 jack and cannot be plugged in to such a jack, the male RJ-11 connector (and other similar, smaller connectors) can be plugged into an RJ-45 jack. In many cases, end users assume that if the end of a cable fits into a jack, it is the right cable for the job. That assumption is inaccurate, for example, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , if the user plugs a telephone cable with an RJ-11 connector  104  into an RJ-45 jack  102  with contacts  103  that is intended to connect with a CAT-5 Ethernet cable. In addition to inoperability and attendant frustration for the user, results of an incorrect connection may include unnecessary calls for technical support or on-site service, products needlessly returned to the store or the manufacturer, as well as possible damage to the connected devices. These problems occur in a variety of contexts, and are particularly prevalent in the case of consumer products where users may be less technically adept. 
   Therefore, what is needed is an improved system and method for detecting incorrect connections and providing an indication when the wrong connector has been mated with a device. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In a preferred embodiment, a connector device (for example, a jack) is provided with a sensing mechanism that detects mating of another connector to the connector device, and differentiates between matching and non-matching connectors. The sensing mechanism generates a signal to indicate that a non-matching connector has been mated with the connector device. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS/FIGURES 
     The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings, like reference numbers may indicate identical or functionally similar elements. Additionally, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number may identify the drawing in which the reference number first appears. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates the insertion of an RJ-11 connector into a conventional RJ-45 jack. 
       FIGS. 2A ,  2 B, and  2 C are front, side, and bottom views respectively of an exemplary RJ-45 connector with insertion sensor devices installed. 
       FIG. 3  is a flow chart showing an exemplary embodiment of a process for detecting and indicating an incorrect connection. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   While the present invention is described herein with reference to illustrative embodiments for particular applications, it should be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. Those skilled in the art with access to the teachings provided herein will recognize additional modifications, applications, and embodiments within the scope thereof and additional fields in which the invention would be of significant utility. 
   In  FIGS. 2A ,  2 B, and  2 C, a modular jack  200  is shown generally in three plan views including a front view ( FIG. 2A ), a side view ( FIG. 2B ) and a bottom view ( FIG. 2C ). As shown in these drawing figures, modular jack  200  has a receptacle  202  that receives a compatible plug connector (not shown). Modular jack  200  also has contacts  204  that engage corresponding contacts on the plug connector, and contacts  214  connected to contacts  204 . Contacts  214  provide signal connections between the contacts  204  of jack  200 , and a circuit external to jack  200 . 
   In an embodiment, the modular jack  200  is an RJ-45 jack and may typically have six or eight contacts  204  depending on the requirements of the circuit in which jack  200  is used. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 2A ,  2 B, and  2 C, jack  200  is configured for mounting on a circuit board and contacts  214  are connecting pins adapted to be inserted in holes formed in the circuit board, and connection by soldered connections to traces on a surface of the circuit board. 
   In the embodiment shown, modular jack  200  is provided with two spring contacts  206  and  208  located in receptacle  202 . When pressure is applied to spring contacts  206  and  208  they are forced into contact with contacts  210  and  212  respectively. Spring contacts  206  and  208  and contacts  210  and  212  are preferably each connected to a contact external to modular jack  200 , such as one of the contacts  214 . In this manner, a sensing circuit  216  (shown in  FIG. 2C ) and optionally an associated indicating circuit  218  can be connected to spring contacts  206  and  208  and contacts  210  and  212 . This external circuit can be used to detect closure of spring contacts  206  and  208  against contacts  210  and  212  respectively. 
     FIG. 2C  shows sensing circuit  216  connected to selected pins of contacts  214 . Those pins are connected respectively to spring contacts  206  and  208  and contacts  210  and  212 . The pins in contacts  214  used for connections to spring contacts  206  and  208  and contacts  210  and  212  may be additional pins provided for this purpose, pins that are unused in the application for which jack  200  has been installed, such as pins  4  and  5  in an 10/100 Base-TX Ethernet application, or a combination of both unused and additional pins. 
   Referring again to  FIG. 2A , spring contact  208  is located such that spring contact  208  will be forced against contact  212  if any mating connector (such as an RJ-11 or RJ-45 connector) is inserted into receptacle  202  of jack  200 . In the exemplary embodiment shown, spring contact  208  is located near the center of receptacle  202  close to the location where a plastic clip on an inserted RJ-11 or RJ-45 connector locks into jack  200 . Thus placed, spring contact  208  will be forced into electrical connection with contact  212  if any compatible connector is inserted into receptacle  202 . As shown in  FIG. 2C , sensing circuit  216  is used to detect continuity between spring contact  208  and contact  212 . Detecting such continuity indicates that a connector of some type has been inserted into receptacle  202  of jack  200 . 
   In contrast, spring contact  206  is located such that spring contact  206  will be forced against contact  210  only if an RJ-45 connector is inserted into receptacle  202  of jack  200 . In the exemplary embodiment shown, spring contact  206  is located at the edge of receptacle  202  in a location where an RJ-45 connector would force spring contact  206  into electrical connection with contact  210 , but a smaller RJ-11 connector inserted into jack  200  would not actuate spring contact  206 . Thus placed, spring contact  206  will be forced into electrical connection with contact  210  only if an RJ-45 connector is inserted into receptacle  202 . Sensing circuit  216  (shown in  FIG. 2C ) may be used to detect continuity between spring contact  206  and contact  210 . Detecting such continuity indicates that an RJ-45 connector has been inserted into receptacle  202  of jack  200 . 
   The placement of spring contact  206  and contact  210  depends on the configuration of the connector and the “correct” connection that is to be detected. Spring contact  206  and contact  210 , or a functionally equivalent device, may be placed either in a position where they would be closed or opened when a correct connection is made. The logic of the sensing circuit connected to the contacts is then adjusted to produce the desired operation based on the position of spring contact  206 . 
   In operation, in a typical embodiment, if sensing circuit  216  detects continuity between spring contact  206  and contact  210 , an RJ-45 connector has been inserted. If, however, sensing circuit  216  detects continuity between spring contact  208  and contact  212 , indicating the insertion of a connector, but does not detect continuity between spring contact  206  and contact  210 , then an incorrect connector insertion may have occurred. If this condition continues for a predetermined time period, sensing circuit  216  actuates indicator  218  to indicate an incorrect connection. 
   It will be understood that in general terms, the combination of spring contact  206  and contact  210  form a first sensing device that senses the position of a connector mated with the connector on which they are installed. Similarly, the combination of spring contact  208  and contact  212  form a second sensing device that senses the position of a connector mated with the connector on which they are installed. While these sensing devices have been disclosed as simple spring contacts, the sensing devices are not limited to this example and may include any switch or switch-like device, proximity sensor, or other presence sensing device, using any desired technology whether presently known or unknown. 
   Indicator  218  may be any audible, visual, tactile, or other indicator that can be interpreted by a human or machine, as appropriate to the application. As one example, in many Ethernet interfaces one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) are provided to indicate link and activity status. Indicator circuit  218  may be configured to generate an error signal by controlling these existing LEDs in a predetermined manner, such as by flashing both the link and activity lights either simultaneously or with an alternating flash pattern. In another embodiment, the indicator may include generating a signal to another circuit or system, for example a computer or game console. Software or firmware in any connected device may receive the generated error signal and produce a display of an error indication, instructions, and/or other information on a screen or display associated with the device. For example, a computer or game console may display a specific error message indicating that the wrong cable has been connected in response to a generated error indicator signal. 
   The invention is not limited to the configuration shown and described in these embodiments, which are merely exemplary of a variety of possible configurations. For example, the invention is not limited to detecting incorrect insertions of RJ-11 connectors into RJ-45 jacks, but is applicable to any situation wherein more than one standard connector will fit into a given jack. In addition, the invention is not limited to jacks or to the particular design or configuration of jack shown in the drawings, or to devices designed for installation on circuit boards. The invention may be applied to any connecting device, regardless of whether it has a jack configuration or whether it is male or female. That is, the principles disclosed may be applied to any type of connector, regardless of its configuration or how it is installed, if it is installed at all. Further, the invention is not limited to the positions and design of the sensing circuits and sensing devices, which may be any sensing devices that will operate effectively to detect an incorrect connection according to one or more of the principles and concepts disclosed herein. It should also be noted that while the mating of a smaller connector (such as an RJ-11) to a compatible but different connector has been described in the exemplary embodiments in terms of being an error, in some applications it is intended that such mismatched connections be made. In those applications, an error indication may be generated in response to switch positions that indicate, for example, that an RJ-45 connector has been mated to an RJ-45 jack. 
     FIG. 3  is a flow chart showing a novel method of detecting an incorrect connection. As shown in  FIG. 3 , process  300  starts generally at step  302  where an appropriate sensing system determines whether an insertion or mating of a connector has occurred. For example, this step may be implemented by detecting continuity between spring contact  208  and contact  212  as shown and described with reference to  FIG. 2C . If no insertion or other connection has occurred, the process continues to wait for such an insertion or mating action. When a mating or insertion action does occur, control passes to step  304 . In step  304 , the process determines whether the inserted or otherwise mated connector is the correct connector. For example, this step may be implemented by detecting continuity between spring contact  206  and contact  210  as shown and described with reference to  FIG. 2C . In embodiments where the correct connector does not actuate spring contact  206 , the lack of continuity between spring contact  206  and contact  210  would indicate a correct connection. 
   If the correct connection has been made, control passes to step  306 . In step  306 , which is optional, a signal or indicator of any desired type may be provided to indicate a correct connection. If a correct connection has not been made, control passes to step  308 . In step  308 , which is optional but preferred, an indication of an incorrect connection is provided. The indication may be any audible, visual, tactile, or other indicator that can be interpreted by a human or machine, as appropriate to the application. As one example, in many Ethernet interfaces one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) are provided to indicate link and activity status. An error signal may be generated by controlling these existing LEDs in a predetermined manner, such as by flashing both the link and activity lights either simultaneously or with an alternating flash pattern. 
   While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example, and not limitation. It will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art that various changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
   The present invention has been described above with the aid of functional building blocks and method steps illustrating the performance of specified functions and relationships thereof. The boundaries of these functional building blocks and method steps have been arbitrarily defined herein for the convenience of the description. Alternate boundaries can be defined so long as the specified functions and relationships thereof are appropriately performed. Any such alternate boundaries are thus within the scope and spirit of the claimed invention. One skilled in the art will recognize that these functional building blocks can be implemented by discrete components, application specific integrated circuits, processors executing appropriate software and the like or any combination thereof. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.