Patent Publication Number: US-11652319-B2

Title: Two-wire plug and receptacle

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a National Stage of PCT/US2017/020756, filed on Mar. 3, 2017, which claims the benefit of U.S. Patent Application No. 62/303,959, filed on Mar. 4, 2016, and claims the benefit of Great Britain Patent Application No. 1610050.5, filed on Jun. 8, 2016, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. To the extent appropriate, a claim of priority is made to each of the above disclosed applications. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present disclosure generally relates to interfacing plugs and receptacles and, more particularly, to interfacing plugs and receptacles configured to be coupled relative to only two electrical contacts. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Advances are made every day in relation to the way power and data are delivered to consumers. One current advancement provides for the delivery of power and data over a single twisted wire pair, e.g., power over Ethernet (PoE). A plug and receptacle configuration to enable the delivery of power and data over a single twisted pair is needed. 
     SUMMARY 
     A first aspect of the disclosure is directed to a plug that includes a body portion as well as first and second electrical strip contacts. The body portion has a length, an upper surface and a lower surface. The first electrical strip contact is proximate the upper surface of the body portion and has a length substantially equal to or less than the length of the body portion. The second electrical strip contact is proximate the lower surface of the body portion and has a length substantially equal to or less than the length of the body portion. The noted embodiment is exemplary providing reference to upper and lower surfaces, however, any orientation of surfaces or sides, e.g., upper/lower, lower/upper, left/right, right/left, first/second, second/first, opposing, etc., is considered to be included in the disclosure. 
     Another aspect of the disclosure is directed to a system comprising the plug and a receptacle. The receptacle includes a housing as well as a first and second electrical strip contacts. The housing has an interior receiving cavity that is configured to receive the plug. The interior receiving cavity is defined by a length, an upper surface and a lower surface. The first electrical strip contact is proximate the upper surface of the interior receiving cavity and has a length substantially equal to or less than the length of the interior receiving cavity. The second electrical strip contact is proximate the lower surface of the interior receiving cavity and has a length substantially equal to or less than the length of the interior receiving cavity. Upon insertion of the plug into the interior receiving cavity, the first electrical strip contact of the plug is electrically coupled to the first electrical strip contact of the interior receiving cavity and the second electrical strip contact of the plug is electrically coupled to the second electrical strip contact of the interior receiving cavity. The noted embodiment is exemplary providing reference to upper and lower surfaces, however, any orientation of surfaces or sides, e.g., upper/lower, lower/upper, left/right, right/left, first/second, second/first, opposing, etc., is considered to be included in the disclosure. 
     The above summary is not intended to describe each embodiment or every implementation. A more complete understanding will become apparent and appreciated by referring to the following detailed description and claims in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS.  1 A- 1 F  illustrate the top, front and rear views of plug and a receptacle, respectively. 
         FIGS.  2 A- 2 B  provide a perspective view of a latching system of a plug and receptacle. 
         FIGS.  3 A- 3 B  provide a perspective view of a latching system of a plug and receptacle. 
         FIGS.  4 A- 4 D  provide a perspective view of a latching system of a plug and receptacle. 
         FIG.  5    provides a perspective view of a keying feature of a plug and receptacle. 
         FIG.  6    is a perspective view of a circuit board mounting of a receptacle. 
         FIG.  7    illustrates an array of receptacles. 
         FIG.  8    illustrates a plug and receptacle configuration wherein the receptacle is directly coupled to or incorporates therein a powered device. 
         FIG.  9    is perspective view of a plug and receptacle with a sealing feature. 
         FIG.  10    is a perspective view of a pair of receptacles configured as a coupler. 
         FIGS.  11 A- 11 B  provide a perspective view of a latching system of a plug and receptacle. 
         FIGS.  12 A- 12 B  provide a perspective view of a latching system of a plug and receptacle. 
     
    
    
     The figures are not necessarily to scale. Like numbers used in the figures refer to like components. However, it will be understood that the use of a number to refer to a component in a given figure is not intended to limit the component in another figure labeled with the same number. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present disclosure is directed to interfacing plugs and receptacles that are configured to be coupled to external components relative to two electrical contacts. Such external components may include, for example, a two wire cable comprising a single twisted or non-twisted wire pair, a two-contact circuit board, a two-contact LED light bulb, a two-contact room application sensor (e.g., environment as temperature, humidity, motion, photodetector, etc.), two contact machine applications sensors (e.g., flow, pressure temperature, vibration, force), a two contact network camera, a two-contact wireless access point, any power over Ethernet (PoE) device that is to be powered by PoE using a single twisted-pair gigabit Ethernet system, etc. 
       FIGS.  1 A- 1 F  illustrate an example embodiment of the interfacing plug  100  and receptacle  150 . As shown in  FIGS.  1 A- 1 C , the plug  100  includes an elongate body  102  and base portion  104 . The elongate body  102  is defined by an upper face  106  and a lower face  108  connected by a first side wall  110  and a second side wall  112 . The elongate body  102  is further defined by front face  114  that serves to enclose the forward portion of the body  102 . The rearward portion of the body  102 , a rear face  115 , abuts the base portion  104  of the plug  100 . The base portion  104  similarly includes an upper face  116  and a lower face  118  connected by a first side wall  120  and a second side wall  122 . A forward face  124  of the base portion  104  abuts the rearward portion of the body  102  while a rear face  126  of the base portion  104  operates to enclose a portion of the plug  100  while leaving an opening  128  there through and into the body  102 . The upper and lower faces  106 ,  108  of the body  102  of the plug  100  are provided with strip contacts  130  and  132 , respectively. The strip contacts  130  and  132  are configured to be electrically coupled to a two-wire cable or other two-contact device that is inserted through the opening  128  and terminated therein through known termination methods (e.g., insulation displacement connection (IDC), piercing contact, contact crimp, etc.). As such the opening  128  may be configured to accommodate a specific size cable, e.g., cable  133 , or device or, alternatively, may be configured to accommodate various sizes of cables or devices for termination. 
     While the above-described example embodiment of the plug  100  has been described with reference to  FIGS.  1 A- 1 C  as including substantially flat faces  106 ,  108 ,  116 ,  118  and sides  110 ,  112 ,  120 ,  122 , it should be noted that the faces and sides need not be flat but may incorporate a concave or convex surface structure such that faces and side are still present but may alternatively be configured in a substantially rounded configuration where actual sides are no longer distinguishable. Further, the front face  114  of the body also need not have a flat configuration but may be alternatively configured, for example, as a tapered face, pointed face, concave face, convex face or other desirable configuration. In one example, embodiment, the front face  114  is configured to shape-wise mate or interface with an interior contour of the receptacle  150 . Further still, the strip contacts  130 ,  132  are described and illustrated as being positioned opposite one another on upper face  106  and lower face  108 , however, they may be alternatively positioned for example, opposite one another on first and second side walls  110 ,  112 , respectively, or positioned on proximate face/side pairs. Additionally, the strip contacts  130 ,  132  may alternatively be replaced with other types of contacts, for example, button contacts, rivet contacts, tip contacts, etc. Alternatively, the strip contacts may be replaced, for example, by a printed circuit board (PCB) having a copper trace on each side, e.g., the traces acting as the contacts. Moreover, the base portion  104  of the plug  100  may have the same or larger or smaller external perimeter as that of the body  102 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS.  1 D- 1 F , an example embodiment of the receptacle  150  may be appreciated. As shown, the receptacle  150  is generally comprised of a housing body  152 . The housing body  152  includes an upper face  154  and a lower face  156  connected by a first side wall  158  and second side wall  160 . The faces  154 ,  156  and side walls  158 ,  160  define an interior receiving cavity  162 . The interior receiving cavity  162  has a volume and perimeter configured to accommodate at least the body  102  of the plug  100 . As such, the interior receiving cavity  162  is defined by a shape consistent with the shape of the body  102 . In the example embodiment of  FIG.  1   , the interior receiving cavity  162  is of a rectangular, substantially flat faced configuration but may, alternatively, be configured to accommodate for example, a plug body  102  having convex or concave walls, a plug body of a circular configuration, or even of a triangular shape, etc. Further the interior receiving cavity  162  may additionally be configured with a back receiving wall  164  that is configured to shape-wise accommodate the shape configuration of the front face  114  of the body  102  of the plug  100 . 
     In the instance where the plug  100  incorporates a base portion  104  that is of a larger perimeter than the body  102 , the interior receiving cavity  162  is provided with a receiving face  165  that is configured to abut the base portion  104  of the plug  100  upon substantially complete insertion of the body  102  of the plug  100  within the interior receiving cavity  162 . The housing body  152  of the receptacle  150  is additionally configured with an opening  166  opposite the interior receiving cavity  162 ; the back receiving wall  164  separates the opening  166  from the interior receiving cavity  162 . The upper and lower faces  154 ,  156 , within the interior receiving cavity  162 , are provided with strip contacts  168 ,  170 , respectively to directly interface and establish electric and/or magnetic coupling with the strip contacts  130  and  132  of the plug  100  when inserted within the receptacle  150 . The strip contacts  168 ,  170  are configured to be electrically and/or magnetically coupled to a two-wire cable or other two-contact device that is inserted through the opening  166  and terminated therein through known termination methods ((e.g., insulation displacement connection (IDC), piercing contact, contact crimp, etc.). As such, the opening  166  may be configured to accommodate a specific size cable, e.g., cable  171 , or device, or, alternatively, may be configured to accommodate a number of various sized cables or devices for termination. 
     As with plug  100 , the strip contacts  168 ,  170  of the receptacle  150  may be positioned in opposite one another on the first and second side walls  158 ,  160  within the interior receiving cavity  162  rather than opposite one another via the upper and lower faces  154 ,  156  within the interior receiving cavity  162 ; or they may, alternatively, be positioned on proximate face/side pairs within the interior receiving cavity  162 . Regardless, the strip contacts  168 ,  170  of the receptacle  150  are positioned within the interior receiving cavity  162  to directly interface with the strip contacts  130 ,  132  of the plug  100 . Further, as with the plug  100 , the strip contacts of the receptacle  150  may alternatively be replaced with other types of contacts, for example, button contacts, rivet contacts, tip contacts, etc. Alternatively, the strip contacts may be replaced, for example, by a printed circuit board (PCB) having a copper trace on each side, e.g., the traces acting as the contacts. In another example embodiment, one or more of the strip contacts  130 ,  132 ,  168 ,  170  of the plug  100  and receptacle  150 , respectively, may be crowned convexly such that the crowning of the strip contact may be deflected upon the plug  100  being inserted into the receptacle to establish a stronger interface between the pairs of contacts (e.g.,  130 / 168 ,  132 / 170 ). 
     The plug  100  and the receptacle  150  may be made of the same, similar or different materials. The material is generally a non-conductive material that is conducive to molding. Such materials include, for example, plastics and polymers (e.g., ABS, urea-formaldehyde, etc.). 
     The reception and retainment of the plug within the receptacle described above may be enhanced through use of a latching system. One example of a latching system  280  is illustrated in the plug  200  and receptacle  250  embodiments of  FIGS.  2 A- 2 B . As before, the plug  200  includes a body  202  and a base portion  204 . The body  202  defined by an upper and lower face  206 ,  208  (not shown, see for example corresponding items in  FIGS.  1 A- 1 F ) connected by first and second side walls  210 ,  212 . The upper and lower faces  206 ,  208  incorporate strip contacts  230 ,  232 , (not shown, see for example corresponding items in  FIGS.  1 A- 1 F ) respectively. The receptacle  250  generally comprises a housing body  252  having an upper and a lower face  254 ,  256  connected by first and second side walls  258 ,  260 . The faces  254 ,  256  and side walls  258 ,  260  define an interior receiving cavity  262 . The upper and lower faces  254 ,  256 , within the interior receiving cavity  262 , are provided with strip contacts  268 ,  270 , (not shown, see for example corresponding items in  FIGS.  1 A- 1 F ) respectively 
     The latching system  280  generally comprises a fixed beam latch latching system wherein the receptacle  250  incorporates a fixed beam  282  that is centrally positioned within each of the side walls  258 ,  260 , respectively. Each of the fixed beams  282  has a first end  284  and a second end  286  supported by the side walls  258 ,  260 , such that maximum deflection of each of the beams  282  is provided in the center of the beam  282 . Within the interior receiving cavity  262 , each of the fixed beams  282  is provided with a rounded protrusion  288  configured to operate as a latch retaining feature; the protrusion  288  may be unitary to the fixed beam  282  or an independent element secured to the fixed beam  282 . Further, each of the fixed beams  282  may, themselves, be unitary with the side walls  258 ,  260  or may be independent elements secured to the side walls  258 ,  260 . 
     In the latching system  280 , each of the first and second side walls  210 ,  212  of the plug  200  incorporates a receiving cavity  290 . In the embodiment of  FIGS.  2 A- 2 B , each of the receiving cavities  290  spans the full height of the side walls  210 ,  212 . Alternatively, for example, each of the receiving cavities  290  may span only a portion of the height of the side walls  210 ,  212 . Each of the receiving cavities  290  is configured to mechanically interface with the latch retaining features, e.g., the rounded protrusions  288 , of the receptacle  250 . When the plug  200  is inserted into the receptacle  250 , with some insertion force, each of the fixed beams  282  deflects outward, e.g., away from the interior receiving cavity  262 , until the plug  200  is fully in position. Once the plug  200  is in position, mechanical and electrical contact is established between strip contacts  230 ,  232  and strip contacts  268 ,  270 . Further, each of the deflected fixed beams  282  has returned to its original, un-deflected position. Accordingly, the plug  200  and the receptacle  250  require a pull out force to undo the internal latching that has occurred between the protrusions  288  and the receiving cavities  290 . 
     Another example of a latching system  380  is illustrated in the plug  300  and receptacle  350  embodiments of  FIGS.  3 A- 3 B . As before, the plug  300  includes a body  302  and a base portion  304 . The body  302  defined by an upper and lower face  306 ,  308  (not shown, see for example corresponding items in  FIGS.  1 A- 1 F ) connected by first and second side walls  310 ,  312 . The upper and lower faces  306 ,  308  incorporate strip contacts  330 ,  332 , (not shown, see for example corresponding items in  FIGS.  1 A- 1 F ) respectively. The receptacle  350  generally comprises a housing body  352  having an upper and a lower face  354 ,  356  connected by first and second side walls  358 ,  360 . The faces  354 ,  356  and side walls  358 ,  360  define an interior receiving cavity  362 . The upper and lower faces  354 ,  356 , within the interior receiving cavity  362 , are provided with strip contacts  368 ,  370 , (not shown, see for example corresponding items in  FIGS.  1 A- 1 F ) respectively 
     The latching system  380  generally comprises a cantilevered beam latch latching system wherein each of the side walls  358 ,  360  of the receptacle  350  incorporates a cantilevered beam  382 . Each of the cantilevered beams  382  is supported at a first end  384  by the side walls  358 ,  360  while a second end  386  of each of the cantilevered beams  382  is free or unsupported. Accordingly, the maximum deflection of the cantilevered beam is provided at the free, second end  386 . Each of the cantilevered beams  382  incorporates a rounded protrusion  388  that is configured to operate as a latch retaining feature. The protrusion  388  may be unitary to the cantilevered beam  382  or an independent element secured to the cantilevered beam  382 . Further, each of the cantilevered beams  382  may, themselves, be unitary with the side walls  358 ,  360  at the secured first end  384 , or may be independent elements secured to the side walls  358 ,  360  at the secured first end  384 . 
     In the latching system  380 , each of the first and second side walls  310 ,  312  of the plug  300  incorporates a receiving cavity  390 . In the embodiment of  FIGS.  3 A- 3 B , each of the receiving cavities  390  spans the full height of the side walls  310 ,  312 . Alternatively, for example, each of the receiving cavities  390  may span only a portion of the height of the side walls  310 ,  312 . Each of the receiving cavities  390  is configured to mechanically interface with the latch retaining features, e.g., the rounded protrusions  388 , of the receptacle  350 . When the plug  300  is inserted into the receptacle  350 , with some insertion force, each of the cantilevered beams  382  deflects outward, e.g., away from the interior receiving cavity  360 , until the plug  300  is fully in position. Once the plug  300  is in position, mechanical and electrical contact is established between strip contacts  330 ,  332  and strip contacts  368 ,  370 . Further, each of the deflected cantilevered beams  382  has returned to its original, un-deflected position. Accordingly, the plug  300  and the receptacle  350  require a pull out force to undo the internal latching that has occurred between the protrusions  388  and the receiving cavities  390 . 
     Another example of a latching system  480  is illustrated in the plug  400  and receptacle  450  embodiments of  FIGS.  4 A- 4 D . As before, the plug  400  includes a body  402  and a base portion  404 . The body  402  defined by an upper and lower face  406 ,  408  connected by first and second side walls  410 ,  412 . The upper and lower faces  406 ,  408  incorporate strip contacts  430 ,  432  (not shown), respectively. The receptacle  450  generally comprises a housing body  452  having an upper and a lower face  454 ,  456  connected by first and second side walls  458 ,  460 . The faces  454 ,  456  and side walls  458 ,  460  define an interior receiving cavity  462 . The upper and lower faces  454 ,  456 , within the interior receiving cavity  462 , are provided with strip contacts  468 ,  470 , respectively. 
     The latching system  480  generally comprises a spring-loaded plunger latching system wherein each of the side walls  458 ,  460 , within the interior receiving cavity  462  of the receptacle  450 , incorporates a recess  482  having a narrowed neck portion  484 . The recess  482  is configured to house a spring  486  and contain the movement of a rounded protrusion  488 , whose movement towards the interior receiving cavity  462  is encouraged by the tension within the spring  486 . A flange  489  extends outward from the rounded protrusion  488  and operates to limit the travel of the protrusion by abutting the narrowed neck portion  484  of the recess  482  at full extension. The protrusion  488  and the spring  486  together form a plunger latch  487  which operates as a latch retaining feature.  FIG.  4 D  provides a variation on the embodiment of  FIGS.  4 A- 4 C  wherein the protrusion  488  is provided in an elongate configuration and the movement of the protrusion occurs relative to a pair of springs  486   a ,  486   b  housed within each recess  482 . 
     In the latching system  480 , each of the first and second side walls  410 ,  412  of the plug  400  incorporates a receiving cavity  490 . In the embodiments of  FIGS.  4 A,  4 B and  4 D , each of the receiving cavities  490  spans the full height of the side walls  410 ,  412 . Alternatively, for example, each of the receiving cavities  490  may span only a portion of the height of the side walls  410 ,  412 , see  FIG.  4 C . Each of the receiving cavities  490  is configured to mechanically interface with the latch retaining features, e.g., the plunger latches  487 , of the receptacle  450 . When the plug  400  is inserted into the receptacle  450 , with some insertion force, each of the ball plunger latches deflects outward, e.g., away from the interior receiving cavity  462 , until the plug  400  is fully in position. Once the plug  400  is in position, mechanical and electrical contact is established between strip contacts  430 ,  432  and strip contacts  468 ,  470 . Further, each of the plunger latches  487  has returned to its original, un-deflected position. Accordingly, the plug  400  and the receptacle  450  require a pull out force to undo the internal latching that has occurred between the protrusions  488  of the plunger latches  487  and the receiving cavities  490 . 
     Various other features and configurations may be incorporated into and/or realized by the plug and receptacle of the present disclosure. For example, with reference to  FIG.  5   , the plug  500  and receptacle  550  are configured with a complementary keying feature. The keying feature provides for a protrusion  580  within the receptacle  550  that corresponds to a receiving void  582  on the plug  500 . Alternatively, the protrusion may reside on the plug with the receiving void within the receptacle. The keying feature ensures alignment of the plug  500  and receptacle  550 , and enables the plug  500  to be inserted into the receptacle in only one orientation. Other keying configurations between the plug  500  and the receptacle  550  may also be employed without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure. 
     The plugs and receptacles of the present disclosure may be configured for various applications beyond those described above. For example,  FIG.  6    illustrates an example embodiment where receptacle  650  (or plug) is configured for mounting on a printed circuit board  680 . In still another example embodiment, see  FIG.  7   , a plurality of receptacles  750  (and/or plugs) may be combined to form a row, column, or combined column/row structure. Thus, the plugs and receptacle may be free floating or contained within a panel providing a panel array or cluster for bulk connections. 
       FIG.  8    illustrates an example embodiment of a plug  800  and receptacle  850  wherein the receptacle  850  incorporates within or is connected directly to a device  880 , for example, an LED light bulb, a room application sensor (e.g., environment as temperature, humidity, motion, photodetector, etc.), a machine application sensor (e.g., flow, pressure temperature, vibration, force), a network camera, a wireless access point, any power over Ethernet (PoE) device that is to be powered by PoE using a single twisted-pair gigabit Ethernet system, etc. In still other example embodiments, the plug  800  itself may incorporate a printed circuit board (PCB) presenting a copper trace in place of, or in addition to, one or both strip contacts as a mechanical and/or electrical interface. 
       FIG.  9    illustrates an example embodiment where the plug  900  and the receptacle  950  have been configured for a harsh environment, e.g., an environment where the plug and receptacle are exposed to dust, moisture or other contaminants that may damage or destroy the connectivity interface between contacts. More specifically, the plug  900  is provided with a gasket  980 , or other type of sealing device, between the base portion  904  of the plug  900  and the cable  905  (or device) that is received through the base portion  904  of the plug  900 . The receptacle  950  is similarly provided with a gasket  982 , or other type of sealing device, between the opening  966  of the receptacle  950  and the cable  967  (or device) that is received through the opening  966  of the receptacle. The receptacle  950  is additionally provided with a gasket  984 , or other type of sealing device, to provide a seal between the base portion  904  of the plug  900  and the opening to the interior receiving cavity  960  at the receiving face  965  of the receptacle  950 . This embodiment may additionally include an ingress protection (IP) code or rating indicating the level of protection provided by the gaskets. Including the above-described protections against environmental elements make the plug  900  and the receptacle  950  particularly well-suited to automotive applications, communication networks, manufacturing areas, industrial areas, as well as medical areas. 
       FIG.  10    illustrates an example embodiment wherein a first and second receptacle  1050   a ,  1050   b  are combined to form a coupler  1080 . Each of the receptacles  1050   a ,  1050   b  of the coupler  1080  is configured to receive a plug  1000   a ,  1000   b , respectively. Receptacles  1050   a ,  1050   b  are configured to not only be mechanically coupled, but electrically coupled as well enabling a continuous electrical connection between plug  1000   a  and plug  1000   b . The coupler  1080  may incorporate any of the latching schemes described above with reference to a single receptacle. 
       FIGS.  11 A- 11 B  illustrate further example embodiments wherein the receptacle  1150  incorporates a latching system  1180  that is distinct from the receptacle  1150  itself. The latching system  1180  of  FIGS.  11 A and  11 B , includes a pair of fixed beams  1182  (in an alternative embodiment, a single fixed beam  1182  may be used) each of which are independent structures. Utilizing an independent structure provides for the ability to manufacture the receptacle  1150  and latching system  1180  from the same or different materials, e.g., materials with different mechanical properties. Each of the fixed beams  1182  has a first end  1184  and a second end  1186  supporting an elongate wall structure  1187  that is flexibly attached to the ends  1184 ,  1186 ; the elongate wall structure  1187  is configured to have maximum deflection at its center. The wall structure  1187  incorporates a rounded protrusion  1188  at its center. When the fixed beams  1182  are placed within an internal receiving cavity  1162  of the receptacle  1150  proximate side walls  1158  and  1160 , the rounded protrusion  1188  extends further into the receiving cavity  1162  and operates as a latch retaining feature. 
     The latching system  1180  is configured to operate in conjunction with a plug  1100  having first and second side walls  1110 ,  1112  each of which incorporate a receiving cavity  1190 . In the embodiment of  FIGS.  11 A and  11 B , each of the receiving cavities  1190  spans the full height of the side walls  1110 ,  1112 . Alternatively, for example, each of the receiving cavities  1190  may span only a portion of the height of the side walls  1110 ,  1112 . Each of the receiving cavities  1190  is configured to mechanically interface with the latch retaining features, e.g., the rounded protrusions  1188  of the fixed beams  1182  within the receptacle  1150 . When the plug  1100  is inserted into the receptacle  1150 , with some insertion force, each of the fixed beams  1182  deflects outward, e.g., toward the side walls  1158  and  1160 , until the plug  1100  is fully in position. Once the plug  1100  is in position, mechanical and electrical contact is established between strip contacts (not shown, see other example embodiments) of the plug  1100  and the receptacle  1150 . Further, each of the deflected fixed beams  1182  is returned to its original, un-deflected position. Accordingly, a connected plug  1100  and receptacle  1150  requires a pull out force to separate and undo the internal latching that has occurred between the protrusions  1188  and the receiving cavities  1190 . 
       FIGS.  12 A- 12 B  illustrate another example embodiment wherein the receptacle  1250  incorporates a latching system  1280  that is distinct from the receptacle  1250  itself. The latching system  1280  of  FIGS.  12 A and  12 B , includes a pair of cantilevered beams  1282  (in an alternative embodiment, a single cantilevered beam  1282  may be used) each of which are independent structures. Utilizing an independent structure provides for the ability to manufacture the receptacle  1250  and latching system  1280  from the same or different materials, e.g., materials with different mechanical properties. Each of the cantilevered beams  1282  comprises an elongate wall structure  1287  that is supported by a first end  1284  and unsupported by a second end  1286 . Each of the cantilevered beams  1282  incorporates a rounded protrusion  1288  that is configured to operate as a latch retaining feature. Further, each of the cantilevered beams  1282  is configured to be placed within an internal receiving cavity  1262  of the plug  1250  proximate side walls  1258  and  1260 , as shown. 
     In the latching system  1280 , each of first and second side walls  1210 ,  1212  of a plug  1200  incorporates a receiving cavity  1290  that may span a portion or a full height of the side walls  1210 ,  1212 . Each of the receiving cavities  1290  is configured to mechanically interface with the latch retaining feature, e.g., the rounded protrusion  1288 , of the elongate wall structure  1287 . When the plug  1200  is inserted into the receptacle  1250 , with some insertion force, each of the cantilevered beams  1282  deflects outward, e.g., towards the side walls  1258 ,  1260 , until the plug  1200  is fully in position. Once the plug  1200  is in position, mechanical and electrical contact is established between strip contacts (not shown, see other example embodiments) of the plug  1200  and the receptacle  1250 . Further, each of the deflected cantilevered beams  1182  is returned to its original, un-deflected position. Accordingly, a connected plug  1200  and receptacle  1250  requires a pull out force to separate and undo the internal latching that has occurred between the protrusions  1288  and the receiving cavities  1290 . 
     In reference to the various plug and receptacle embodiments above, each may be used in various configurations such as plug-to-cable or plug-with-device (e.g. a PoE device), and receptacle/jack-to-cable or receptacle-to-PCB connectivity network system for applications such as unshielded and shielded communication networks, PoE communication networks, or DC power only networks (e.g., LED lighting systems). Further, a one-pair gigabit Ethernet connectivity network system including the plug and receptacle embodiments described above can have an overlay of intelligent connectivity management for the physical layer of the network (e.g., CPID, RFID, 9 th  wire, and ImVision) to identify and detect the presence of a plug inserted into a mating receptacle/jack and to maintain accurate connectivity records (monitor and document). 
     Further the various plug and receptacle embodiments described herein are particularly suited to interfacing with the electrical and/or communication networks, or infrastructure, of a building, e.g. home, office building, commercial building, industrial building, etc. In this context, the plug and/or receptacles can be wall-, ceiling-, or floor-mounted, e.g., through use of a face plate or outlet box, or can be device mounted provide power, data, or both power and data to the device. 
     It should be noted that the above described embodiments are exemplary providing reference to upper and lower surfaces, first and second sides, forward and rearward ends, etc. however, any orientation of surfaces or sides, e.g., upper/lower, lower/upper, left/right, right/left, first/second, second/first, opposing, etc., is considered to be included in the disclosure. 
     Systems, devices or methods disclosed herein may include one or more of the features structures, methods, or combination thereof described herein. For example, a device or method may be implemented to include one or more of the features and/or processes above. It is intended that such device or method need not include all of the features and/or processes described herein, but may be implemented to include selected features and/or processes that provide useful structures and/or functionality. 
     Various modifications and additions can be made to the disclosed embodiments discussed above. Accordingly, the scope of the present disclosure should not be limited by the particular embodiments described above, but should be defined only by the claims set forth below and equivalents thereof.