Patent Publication Number: US-2003224666-A1

Title: Modular Plug

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] The present invention is related to a modular plug, and more particularly, to a modular plug for connecting a socket and transmitting a signal.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] Generally, a modular plug for transmitting internet signals is connected to a keystone Jack or a keystone panel. Please refer to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the common keystone Jack according to the prior art. The keystone Jack  10  is mounted in the frame  11 . Please refer to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the conventional modular plug according to the prior art. The keystone Jack  10  in FIG. 1 is able to be connected with the modular plug  20 . Inside the modular plug  20 , the 8 wires  21  are parallel to each other and tightly aligned, which forms a plane  22 . Although such wire arrangement is easy for manufacturing, it has other disadvantages. When data is transmitted at high transmission rates, each wire pair both transmits and receives electromagnetic radiation so that the signals flowing through the wire pair may couple with the signals flowing through another wire pair. The unintended electromagnetic coupling of signals between different wire pairs is called crosstalk, which is a source of interference that often adversely affects the processing of these signals. As shown in FIG. 2, the distance between the wire  23  and the neighbor wire  24  is too close to avoid a high crosstalk when transmitting internet signals. Please refer to FIG. 3( a ). FIG. 3( a ) is a diagram illustrating another conventional modular plug according to the prior art. The modular plug  30  has a different wire arrangement. The wire  23  is mounted in the first communication medium  31  and the neighbor wire  24  is mounted in the second communication medium  32 . Furthermore, the modular plug  30  has the third communication medium  33  and the protruding portion  301 . Apparently, a longer distance LD is formed between the communication mediums  31  and  32 , which reduces the attenuation value of the signal transmitted by the modular plug  30 . However, since the 8 wires inside the modular plug  30  are still parallel to each other, the attenuation value of signals is still too high when transmitting the internet signals.  
       [0003] Please refer to FIG. 3( b ). FIG. 3( b ) is a side view illustrating the conventional modular plug according to FIG. 3( a ) of the present invention. Inside the modular plug  30 , the first communication medium  31  and second communication medium  32  are parallel to each other between the length PL, which usually has a length of 5 mm. Due to the fact that the first communication medium  31  and the second communication medium  32  maintain their parallel statuses, the attenuation value of signals could not be significantly improved when transmitting the internet signals. Please refer to FIGS.  4 - 6 . FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the conventional distributor inside the modular plug according to the prior art. The distributor  40  is used for mounting the 8 wires therein, which are arranged by another different wire arrangement. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the conventional modular plug for the distributor of FIG. 4 according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the conventional wire pairs inside the cable according to the prior art. The distributor  40  in FIG. 4 is used for being mounted inside the modular plug  50 . The 8 wires  60  inside the cable  61  are divided into 4 wire pairs and separated by the cross-shaped partition  63 . The 8 wires  60  are covered by the covering  62  of the cable  61 . The distributor  40  in FIG. 4 is used for mounting the 8 wires  60  therein. However, the 8 wires  60  are still parallel to each other inside the distributor  40 , which is not able to significantly reduce the attenuation value of signals either. Besides, since the 8 wires  60  inside the distributor  40  are parallel to each other, the uncovered portion (as shown in FIG. 6) of the cable  61  is too long for the modular plug  50  with a short body, which will lower the performance. Another arrangement for the 8 wires  60  is to arrange  4  wires on the upper plane and the other 4 wires on the lower plane. However, this kind of manufacturing is more difficult and costs higher.  
       [0004] From the above description, it is known that the parallel arrangement of the wires causes the attenuation of the transmitted internet signals. Therefore, how to reduce the attenuation value of signals by a simple manufacturing method has become a major problem waited to be solved in the industry. In order to overcome the drawbacks in the prior art, a modular plug is provided. The particular design in the present invention not only solves the problem that the wires are parallel to each other inside the modular plug, but also reduces the attenuation value of signals significantly. Moreover, the manufacturing process is easy and economical to be executed. Thus, the invention has the utility for the industry.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005] The main purpose of the present invention is to provide a modular plug, which is able to reduce the attenuation value of signals when transmitting the internet signals by producing an intersecting angle between the first communication medium and the second communication medium so that the wires inside the distributor are not parallel to each other.  
       [0006] It is one object of the present invention to provide a modular plug with a distributor, which has a cross-shaped extended board mounted therein for easily connecting with the cross-shaped partition inside the cable.  
       [0007] It is another object of the present invention to provide a modular plug, which reduces the length of the uncovered portion of the cable when the 8 wires are mounted in a modular plug with a short body due to the fact that the first communication medium is not parallel to the second communication medium.  
       [0008] According to one aspect of the present invention, a modular plug for connecting a socket and transmitting a signal, comprises: a plug housing for being mounted on the socket, a distributor mounted in the plug housing, a first communication medium mounted in the distributor and having a first wire direction thereof, and a second communication medium mounted in the distributor and having a second wire direction thereof, wherein a first intersecting angle is formed between the first wire direction and the second wire direction for reducing an attenuation value of the signal transmitted by the modular plug.  
       [0009] In accordance with the present invention, the modular plug further comprises a third communication medium having a third wire direction thereof and a fourth communication medium having a fourth wire direction thereof.  
       [0010] Preferably, a second intersecting angle is formed between the first wire direction and the third wire direction.  
       [0011] Preferably, the first intersecting angle is smaller than the second intersecting angle.  
       [0012] Preferably, a third intersecting angle is formed between the first wire direction and the fourth wire direction.  
       [0013] Preferably, the first intersecting angle is smaller than the third intersecting angle.  
       [0014] Preferably, the first communication medium, the second communication medium, the third communication medium and the fourth communication medium are used for respectively mounting a first wire pair, a second wire pair, a third wire pair, and a fourth wire pair.  
       [0015] Preferably, the first wire pair, the second wire pair, the third wire pair, and the fourth wire pair are distributed from a cable for transmitting four different signal pairs of the signal.  
       [0016] Preferably, the cable further comprises a cross-shaped partition for separating the first wire pair, the second wire pair, the third wire pair, and the fourth wire pair.  
       [0017] Preferably, the distributor further comprises a cross-shaped extended board for connecting the cross-shaped partition of the cable.  
       [0018] Preferably, the cross-shaped extended board has an arc end for facilitating to be fitted in the distributor.  
       [0019] According to another aspect of the present invention, a modular plug for connecting a socket and transmitting a signal, comprises: a plug housing for being mounted on the socket, a distributor mounted in the plug housing, wherein the distributor further comprises a first communication medium mounted therein and having a first wire direction thereof; and a second communication medium mounted therein and having a second wire direction thereof, and wherein a first intersecting angle is formed between the first wire direction and the second wire direction for reducing an attenuation value of the signal transmitted by the modular plug.  
       [0020] The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood through the following descriptions with reference to the drawings, wherein:  
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0021]FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the common keystone Jack according to the prior art;  
     [0022]FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the conventional modular plug according to the prior art;  
     [0023]FIG. 3( a ) is a diagram illustrating another conventional modular plug according to the prior art;  
     [0024]FIG. 3( b ) is a side view illustrating the conventional modular plug according to FIG. 3( a ) of the present invention;  
     [0025]FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the conventional distributor inside the modular plug according to the prior art;  
     [0026]FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the conventional modular plug for the distributor of FIG. 4 according to the present invention;  
     [0027]FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the conventional wire pairs inside the cable according to the prior art;  
     [0028]FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the structure of the modular plug according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
     [0029]FIG. 8( a ) is a diagram illustrating the structure of the distributor of the modular plug according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
     [0030]FIG. 8( b ) is a diagram illustrating the wire pairs mounted in the distributor of the modular plug according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
     [0031]FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the modular plug according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and  
     [0032]FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the distributor used for the modular plug with a short body according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
     [0033] The present invention will now described more specifically with reference to the following embodiments. Please refer to FIGS.  7 - 9 . FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the structure of the modular plug according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The modular plug  70  is used for connecting with the keystone Jack (as shown in FIG. 1) when transmitting the internet signals. Please refer to FIG. 8( a ). FIG. 8( a ) is a diagram illustrating the structure of the distributor of the modular plug according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The modular plug  70  includes the plug housing  71  and the distributor  80 . The plug housing  71  is used for being mounted on the socket (keystone Jack). Please refer to FIG. 9. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the modular plug according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The distributor  80  is mounted in the plug housing  71 , which forms the modular plug  90  of the present invention. A first communication medium  81  is mounted in the distributor  80  and has a first wire direction DF as shown in FIG. 8( a ). A second communication medium  82  is mounted in the distributor  80  and has a second wire direction DS as shown in FIG. 8( a ). Therefore, a first intersecting angle AF is formed between the first wire direction DF and the second wire direction DS. Since the wires are not parallel to each other, the attenuation value of signals transmitted by the modular plug  90  will be reduced.  
     [0034] Furthermore, the distributor  80  includes a third communication medium  83  which has a third wire direction DT as shown in FIG. 8( a ), and a fourth communication medium  84  which has a fourth wire direction DO as shown in FIG. 8( a ). Therefore, a second intersecting angle AS is formed between the first wire direction DF and the third wire direction DT. A third intersecting angle AT is formed between the first wire direction DF and the fourth wire direction DO. The first intersecting angle AF is smaller than the second intersecting angle AS, and the first intersecting angle AF is smaller than the third intersecting angle AT. Please refer to FIG. 8( b ). FIG. 8( b ) is a diagram illustrating the wire pairs mounted in the distributor of the modular plug according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The first communication medium  81 , the second communication medium  82 , the third communication medium  83  and the fourth communication medium  84  are used for respectively mounting a first wire pair  811 , a second wire pair  821 , a third wire pair  831 , and a fourth wire pair  841 . The first wire pair  811 , the second wire pair  821 , the third wire pair  831 , and the fourth wire pair  841  are distributed from the cable  61  (shown in FIG. 6) for transmitting four different signal pairs of the internet signals. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cable  61  (shown in FIG. 6) further includes a cross-shaped partition  63  for separating the first wire pair  811 , the second wire pair  821 , the third wire pair  831 , and the fourth wire pair  841 . Moreover, the distributor  80  further includes a cross-shaped extended board  85  (not shown in drawings) inside the distributor  80  for connecting the cross-shaped partition  63  of the cable  61 .  
     [0035] The cross-shaped extended board  85  has an arc end for facilitating to be fitted in the distributor  80 , which also helps the manufacturing process. Please refer to FIG. 10. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the distributor used for the modular plug with a short body according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention. According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the distributor  80  shown in FIG. 8( a ) could be changed into the distributor  100  with a short body, which has no cross-shaped extended board  85  inside so that it would be fitted in the modular plug with a short body. Besides, the uncovered portion of the cable  61  (as shown in FIG. 6) can be shorter by using the modular plug with a short body. The 8 narrow channels  101  are mounted inside the distributor  100  for the 8 conductive pieces (not shown) passing through so that the 8 wires  60  (as shown in FIG. 6) are electrically connected to these 8 conductive pieces to transmit the signals.  
     [0036] According to the above, the drawbacks in the conventional modular plug do not exist in the modular plug provided in the present invention. First, the four communication mediums have different directions, which generate different intersecting angles. Therefore, the wire pairs are mounted and arranged in different directions. Since the wires are not parallel to each other, the attenuation value of signals transmitted by the modular plug is significantly reduced. Furthermore, the distributor of the present invention includes the cross-shaped extended board for facilitating the connection between the wires in the distributor and the wires in the cross-shaped partition of the cable so that the four wire pairs are clearly separated when transmitting the signals. Hence, the present invention not only has a novelty and a progressive nature, but also has an industry utility.  
     [0037] While the invention has been described in terms of what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention needs not be limited to the disclosed embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims which are to be accorded with the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures.