Patent Publication Number: US-6659809-B2

Title: Receptacle connector assembly with keying devices

Description:
This is a continuation application of the application Ser. No. 09/953,651 filed Sep. 12, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,431,919. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a receptacle connector assembly, and particularly to a receptacle connector assembly with keying devices for preventing an unmating plug connector from being inserted thereinto. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Generally, a receptacle connector assembly comprises an RJ45 receptacle connector and an RJ11 receptacle connector arranged in a side-by-side manner. The RJ45 receptacle connector has a larger size than the RJ11 receptacle connector. Therefore, an RJ11 plug connector adapted for mating with the RJ11 receptacle connector is easy to be misplugged into the RJ45 receptacle connector. When the RJ11 plug connector is inserted into the RJ45 receptacle connector, contacts received in the RJ45 receptacle connector may be damaged. Furthermore, the electrical capability of the contacts may be adversely affected. U.S. Pat. No. 6,022,246 discloses a connector assembly including a male connector and a female connector. The male connector includes at least one row of sleeve members for receiving receptacle contacts therein. The female connector defines a plurality of cavities for receiving plug contacts therein. A pair of keys are respectively disposed on two sleeve members at two opposite ends, and a pair of keyways are respectively defined, communicating with two cavities at two opposite ends, thereby preventing mismating of the connector assembly. However, this design cannot prevent a small-dimensioned RJ11 plug connector from being inserted into a large-dimensioned RJ45 receptacle connector. The copending TW patent application Ser. No. 89215868, filed on Sep. 14, 2000 and assigned to the same assignee, discloses an RJ45 receptacle connector with a pair of keying devices for preventing an RJ11 plug connector from being inserted thereinto. In such design, the keying devices are assembled to the RJ45 receptacle connector from two opposite sides thereof, respectively. The copending application Ser. No. 09/721,827 filed on Nov. 22, 2000 having the same inventor and the same assignee with the instant application substantially discloses the similar “single” port modular jack with anti-mismating means thereof. However, for the side-by-side “dual” ports arrangement, the receptacle connector assembly includes a unitarily molded housing, wherein the RJ45 receptacle connector has an exposed sidewall and an opposite unexposed sidewall. Obviously, it is difficult to assemble one of the keying devices onto the unexposed sidewall of the RJ45 receptacle connector. 
     Hence, an improved receptacle connector assembly with keying devices is desired to overcome the disadvantages of the related art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a receptacle connector assembly having a pair of keying devices for preventing an unmating plug connector from being inserted thereinto. 
     To achieve the above-mentioned object, a receptacle connector assembly in accordance with the present invention comprises an insulative housing with a plurality of contacts retained therein and a pair of keying devices. The housing defines in a mating face thereof a first large-dimensioned receiving cavity adapted for receiving a first large-dimensioned plug connector and a second small-dimensioned receiving cavity adapted for receiving a second small-dimensioned plug connector. The first receiving cavity has a channel adapted for receiving a projection of the first plug connector. The housing has a partition separating the first receiving cavity from the second receiving cavity and a sidewall opposite to the partition and adjacent to the first receiving cavity. The housing defines a first cutout and a slit in the sidewall. The housing defines a second cutout extending from a rear face thereof proximate to the partition and an inwardly extending recess communicating with the second cutout. The pair of keying devices are assembled to the housing respectively from the first cutout and the second cutout. The keying devices comprise a pair of respective tail portions respectively retained in the slit and the recess, a pair of respective resilient portions forwardly extending from corresponding tail portions, a pair of respective engaging portions extending from corresponding resilient portions and received in a front position of the first receiving cavity for being pushed away from each other by the first plug connector, and a pair of respective tongues extending from the resilient portions and projecting into the channel. The tongues lie in a common horizontal plane functioning as a stop for preventing the second plug connector from being inserted into the first receiving cavity. The pair of engaging portions are spaced a distance smaller than the width of the first receiving cavity but larger than the width of the second receiving cavity. 
     When the first plug connector is inserted into the first receiving cavity, the engaging portions are pushed away from each other to actuate the tongues to move away from each other, whereby the first plug connector is successfully inserted into the first receiving cavity. Contrarily, when the second plug connector is inserted into the first receiving cavity, the engaging portions cannot be pushed away from each other. As a result, the tongues also cannot be pushed away from each other, thereby stopping the second plug connector from being inserted into the first receiving cavity. 
     Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded, perspective view of a receptacle connector assembly consisting of an RJ45 receptacle connector and an RJ11 receptacle connector arranged in a side-by-side manner in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an assembled, perspective view of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an insulative housing of the receptacle connector assembly with a pair of keying devices assembled thereto; 
     FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but taken from a different perspective; 
     FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the insulative housing taken along section line  5 — 5  in FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 6 is a partially cross-sectional view showing the keying devices in an original position with respective to the housing before insertion of an RJ45 plug connector; 
     FIG. 7 is a partially cross-sectional view showing the keying devices being pushed away from each other when the RJ45 plug connector is inserted into a first receiving cavity of the housing; and 
     FIG. 8 is a partially cross-sectional view showing the keying devices in a final position when the RJ45 plug connector is completely inserted into the first receiving cavity. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4, a receptacle connector assembly  1  in accordance with the present invention consists of an RJ45 receptacle connector and an RJ11 receptacle connector arranged in a side-by-side manner. The receptacle connector assembly  1  comprises a unitarily molded insulative housing  18 , a first contact module  30  and a second contact module  40  both retained in the housing  18 , a pair of Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs)  60  secured to the housing  18 , a pair of keying devices  50 , and a shell  70  enclosing the insulative housing  18 . 
     The insulative housing  18  has a mating face  180  and a mounting face  182  (FIG.  3 ). The housing  18  comprises a first housing  10  and a second housing  20  arranged in a side-by-side manner. The first housing  10  defines a first large-dimensioned receiving cavity  11  in the mating face  180  for receiving an RJ45 plug connector  2  (schematically shown in FIG.  6 ). The first receiving cavity  11  has an upper channel  17  (FIG. 3) adapted for receiving a projection  220  (FIG. 6) of the inserted RJ45 plug connector  2 . The second housing  20  defines a second small-dimensioned receiving cavity  21  in the mating face  180  for receiving an RJ11 plug connector (not shown). The first receiving cavity  11  is separated from the second receiving cavity  21  by a partition  13 . The first housing  10  defines a first opening  12  in the mounting face  182  joining the first receiving cavity  11 . The second housing  20  defines a second opening  22  in the mounting face  182  joining the second receiving cavity  21 . 
     Also referring to FIGS. 3 and 5, the first housing  10  defines a keying notch  15  in a sidewall  14  thereof. The keying notch  15  has a first cutout  151  and a first slot  153  both adjacent to the mating face  180  and joining the first receiving cavity  11 , an inwardly extending slit  152  in a direction perpendicular to the sidewall  14  and a depression  154  communicating with the first cutout  151 . The first housing  10  defines a second cutout  161  adjacent to the partition  13  extending from a rear face  16  thereof. The second cutout  161  extends into the first receiving cavity  11  and forms a second slot  131  proximate to the partition  13 . A concavity  160  is defined in the rear face  16  at a corner of the first housing  10  and the second housing  20  communicating with the second cutout  161 . The first housing  10  defines an inwardly extending recess  162  communicating with the concavity  160 . The recess  162  has a pair of stop faces  1620  and a contact face  1622  opposite to the stop faces  1620 . 
     The first contact module  30  includes a plurality of first contacts  31  retained therein. Each first contact  31  has a first mating portion  311  for electrically engaging with corresponding contacts of the RJ45 plug connector and a first tail portion  312  for connection with a printed circuit board (not shown). The second contact module  40  includes a plurality of second contacts  41  retained therein. Each second contact  41  has a second mating portion  411  for electrically engaging with corresponding contacts of the RJ11 plug connector and a second tail portion  412  for connection with the printed circuit board. 
     The keying devices  50  made of electrical material comprise a first keying device  51  positioned adjacent to the sidewall  14  of the first housing  10  and a second keying device  52  positioned adjacent to the partition  13 . The first keying device  51  has a first tail portion  510 , a first resilient portion  513  forwardly extending from the first tail portion  510 , a first engaging portion  511  forwardly and outwardly extending from the first resilient portion  513 , and a first tongue  512  inwardly extending from an upper edge of the first resilient portion  513 . The first tongue  512  functions as a stop. The second keying device  52 , which has a configuration substantially the same as that of the first keying device  51 , has a second tail portion  520 , a second resilient portion  523  forwardly extending from the second tail portion  520 , a second engaging portion  521  forwardly and outwardly extending from the second resilient portion  523 , and a second tongue  522  inwardly extending from an upper edge of the second resilient portion  523 . The second tongue  512  functions as a stop. The first tail portion  510  of the first keying device  51  includes a first rectangular base portion  5100  and an L-shaped first fixed portion  5102  extending outwardly from a lower position of the first base portion  5100 . The second tail portion  520  of the second keying device  52  includes a second rectangular base portion  5200  and a pair of second fixed portions  5202  respectively extending from opposite edges of the second base portion  5200 . 
     Further referring to FIGS. 1,  2  and  5 , in assembly, the first contact module  30  is assembled to the first housing  10  via the first opening  12 . The first mating portions  311  of the first contacts  31  are received in the first receiving cavity  11  for engaging with the inserted RJ45 plug connector. The first tail portions  312  of the first contacts  31  extend through the mounting face  182  of the housing  18  for connection with the printed circuit board. The second contact module  40  is assembled to the second housing  20  via the second opening  22 . The second mating portions  411  of the second contacts  41  are received in the second receiving cavity  21  for engaging with the inserted RJ11 plug connector. The second tail portions  412  of the second contacts  41  extend through the mounting face  182  of the housing  18  for connection with the printed circuit board. 
     The first keying device  51  is assembled to the first housing  10  via the keying notch  15  in the sidewall  14 . The first engaging portion  511  and the first tongue  512  extend into the first receiving cavity  11 . The first base portion  5100  of the first tail portion  510  is received in the slit  152 . The first fixed portion  5102  of the first tail portion  510  is received in the depression  154 . The second keying device  52  is inserted into the first housing  10  via the second cutout  161 . The second engaging portion  521  and the second tongue  522  extend into the first receiving cavity  11 . The second tail portion  520  firstly extends through the concavity  160  under a compressed condition, and then springs upwardly to make the fixed portions  5202  abutting against the stop faces  1620  and to make the base portion  5200  abutting against the contact face  1622 . Thus, the tail portion  520  is firmly fixed in the recess  162 . 
     When the shell  70  encloses the insulative housing  18 , the first fixed portion  5102  of the first keying device  51  is sandwiched between the first housing  10  and the shell  70 , whereby the first keying device  51  is stably fixed in the first housing  10 . Further, the first fixed portion  5102  abuts against the shell  70  to provide a grounding path between the inserted RJ45 plug connector and the printed circuit board on which the receptacle connector assembly  1  is mounted. At the same time, the second tail portion  520  of the second keying device  52  abuts against the shell  70  to protect the second keying device  52  from extraction. A grounding path is also provided between the inserted RJ11 plug connector and the printed circuit board on which the receptacle connector assembly  1  is mounted. 
     Referring to FIG. 6, the first keying device  51  and the second keying device  52  are symmetrically positioned on opposite sides of the first receiving cavity  11 . The first tongue  512  of the first keying device  51  and the second tongue  522  of the second keying device  52  extend into the channel  17  and lie in a common horizontal plane. Therefore, a distance between the first tongue  512  and the second tongue  522  is smaller than the width of the channel  17 . The first engaging portion  511  and the second engaging portion  521  are received in a front portion of the first receiving cavity  11 . A distance between the first engaging portion  511  and the second engaging portion  521  is smaller than the width of the first receiving cavity  11  but larger than the width of the second receiving cavity  21 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 6,  7  and  8 , because the width of the RJ45 plug connector  2  is larger than the distance between the first engaging portion  511  and the second engaging portion  521 , when the RJ45 plug connector  2  is inserted into the first receiving cavity  11  of the first housing  10 , two opposite sides  200  of the RJ45 plug connector  2  respectively bias against the first engaging portion  511  and the second engaging portion  521  to actuate the first resilient portion  513  and the second resilient portion  523  to move away from each other. As a result, the first tongue  512  moves into the first slot  153  and the second tongue  522  moves into the second slot  131 , whereby the projection  220  of the RJ45 plug connector  2  is successfully inserted into the channel  17 . Thus, the RJ45 plug connector  2  can be completely inserted into the first receiving cavity  11  of the receptacle connector assembly  1 . 
     Contrarily, because the width of the RJ11 plug connector, which is adapted for engaging with the second receiving cavity  21 , is smaller than the distance between the first engaging portion  511  and the second engaging portion  521 , when the RJ11 plug connector is inserted into the first receiving cavity  11  of the first housing  10 , the first engaging portion  511  and the second engaging portion  512  cannot be pushed away from each other. Accordingly, the first tongue  512  and the second tongue  522  cannot be pushed away from the channel  17 , thereby stopping the RJ11 plug connector from entering into the first receiving cavity  11  of the first housing  10 . Thus, the receptacle connector assembly  1  with the keying devices  50  can prevent the RJ11 plug connector from being inserted into the first receiving cavity  11 , whereby the contacts  31  received in the first receiving cavity  11  are protected from damage and the electrical capability of the contacts  31  is ensured. 
     It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.