Patent Abstract:
A plug includes a plug housing; a plug boot surrounding the plug housing; a cable passing through the plug boot; a contact pad being placed in electrical connection with an outlet contact in a connectivity detection system; a sensing conductor electrically connected to the contact pad, the sensing conductor running along the cable.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/771,575 filed Feb. 8, 2006, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     Patch panels are often used to provide an interconnection between telecommunication outlets and active equipment. One difficulty experienced with patch panels is knowing which port of the patch panel is connected to which port on the active equipment. One solution to this problem is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,574,586, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. U.S. Pat. No. 6,574,586 discloses a system in which an adapter jacket having an external contact is placed on the plug. Outlets include an adapter board having a socket contact also referred to as an outlet contact. The socket contacts are wired to an analyzer that then can determine which sockets are connected by patch cords by applying a signal to each socket contact. Pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/037,859, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, describes a patch panel system in which a screen is provided on a plug to make electrical contact with a conductive tab at an outlet. This electrical connection allows port-to-port connectivity to be monitored.  
         [0003]     In the system of U.S. Pat. No. 6,574,586, the spring-loaded pin provided on the plug boot has drawbacks. One problem with the spring-loaded pin is that it is difficult to captivate in relation to the RJ45 or fiber connector. Current methods used to captivate the spring-loaded pin include an overmolded boot, a clip on boot or a boot designed specifically to work with the spring-loaded. These methods are more difficult to assemble than standard patch cords.  
         [0004]     Another problem is that the spring-loaded pin is susceptible to damage during manufacture, use, storage and shipping. If the plunger of the spring-loaded pin is bent even slightly it will not function properly. In such a situation the customer would have to replace the cord. The conductor used with patch cords (copper or fiber) must be terminated to the spring-loaded pin. Current methods include soldering or using and IDC which can render manufacturing more difficult.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     An embodiment of the invention includes a plug comprising a plug housing; a plug boot surrounding the plug housing; a cable passing through the plug boot; a contact pad being placed in electrical connection with an outlet contact pad in a connectivity detection system; a sensing conductor electrically connected to the contact pad, the sensing conductor running along the cable. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]      FIG. 1  illustrates a contact pad in an embodiment of the invention.  
         [0007]      FIG. 2  illustrates a contact pad in an alternate embodiment of the invention.  
         [0008]      FIG. 3  illustrates a contact pad in an alternate embodiment of the invention.  
         [0009]      FIG. 4  illustrates a contact pad in an alternate embodiment of the invention.  
         [0010]      FIG. 5  illustrates a contact pad in an alternate embodiment of the invention.  
         [0011]      FIG. 6  illustrates a contact pad in an alternate embodiment of the invention.  
         [0012]      FIG. 7  illustrates an outlet contact in a connectivity detection system. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0013]      FIG. 1  illustrates a connector  10  in an embodiment of the invention. Connector  10  is an RJ45 plug, having contacts  11  for engaging contacts in an outlet (not shown). It is understood that embodiments of the invention are not limited to copper RJ45 connectors, and may be used with different types of electrical connectors and/or fiber optic connectors. The plug housing  12  supports the contacts  11  and receives a cable  13  having wires making electrical connection with contacts  11 . A sensing conductor  14  is used to carry a monitoring signal for detecting connectivity as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/037,859. Sensing conductor  14  may be a wire or a cable shield of cable  13 .  
         [0014]     A contact pad  15  is a conductive member (e.g., copper) secured to the plug housing  12  and electrically connected to sensing conductor  14 . The contact pad  15  may be formed from a bent piece of conductive sheet material and secured to the plug housing  12  by wrapping the contact pad  15  around the plug housing. Mechanical features on the contact pad (e.g., prongs) may be used to secure the contact pad  15  to the plug housing.  
         [0015]     The contact pad  15  is electrically connected to sensing conductor  14  through known techniques such as crimping, soldering, an insulation displacement contact (IDC), etc. Integrally formed with the contact pad  15  is an extension  16 , which is a z-shaped element. Extension  16  makes electrical contact with an outlet contact pad ( FIG. 7 ) used in the connectivity detection systems. Extension  16  is sized and shaped to provide a spring force so that when the plug  10  is mated with an outlet, extension  16  applies a spring force to maintain physical and electrical contact with the outlet contact pad.  
         [0016]      FIG. 2  illustrates a contact pad  25  in an alternate embodiment of the invention. Contact pad  25  is a conductive member (e.g., copper) secured to the plug housing  12  and electrically connected to sensing conductor  14 . The contact pad  25  may be formed from a bent piece of conductive sheet material and secured to the plug housing  12  by wrapping the contact pad  25  around the plug housing. Mechanical features on the contact pad (e.g., prongs) may be used to secure the contact pad  25  to the plug housing.  
         [0017]     The contact pad  25  is electrically connected to sensing conductor  14  through known techniques such as crimping, soldering, an IDC, etc. Integrally formed with the contact pad  25  is a coil  27  and an extension  26 . Extension  26  makes electrical contact with an outlet contact pad ( FIG. 7 ) used in the connectivity detection systems. Extension  26  and coil  27  are sized and shaped to provide a spring force so that when the plug  20  is mated with an outlet, extension  26  applies a spring force to maintain physical and electrical contact with the outlet contact pad.  
         [0018]      FIG. 3  illustrates a contact pad  35  in an alternate embodiment of the invention. Contact pad  35  is a conductive member (e.g., copper) secured to the plug housing  12  and electrically connected to sensing conductor  14 . The contact pad  35  may be formed from a bent piece of conductive sheet material and secured to the plug housing  12  by wrapping the contact pad  35  around the plug housing. Mechanical features on the contact pad (e.g., prongs) may be used to secure the contact pad  35  to the plug housing.  
         [0019]     The contact pad  35  is electrically connected to sensing conductor  14  through known techniques such as crimping, soldering, an IDC, etc. Conductive arms  36  are in electrical contact with contact pad  35  through conductive member  37 . Conductive arms  36  and conductive member  37  may be formed from conductive sheet material (e.g., copper). Conductive arms  36  move relative to plug body  12 , while maintaining electrical contact with contact pad  35  through conductive member  37 . Arms  36  may travel in a channel formed on the plug housing  12 . When the plug  30  is mated with an outlet, the metal arms are then slid by the user towards contacts  11 , to make electrical contact with an outlet contact pad ( FIG. 7 ) used in connectivity detection systems. Arms  36  are sized and shaped to provide a spring force so that when the plug  30  is mated with an outlet, and arms  36  slid forward, arms  36  apply a spring force to maintain physical and electrical contact with the outlet contact pad.  
         [0020]      FIG. 4  illustrates a contact pad  45  in an alternate embodiment of the invention. Contact pad  45  is a conductive member (e.g., copper) secured to the plug housing  12  and electrically connected to sensing conductor  14 . The contact pad  45  may be formed from a bent piece of conductive sheet material and secured to the plug housing  12  by wrapping the contact pad  45  around the plug housing. Mechanical features on the contact pad (e.g., prongs) may be used to secure the contact pad  45  to the plug housing.  
         [0021]     The contact pad  45  is electrically connected to sensing conductor  14  through known techniques such as crimping, soldering, an IDC, etc. Integrally formed with the contact pad  45  is an extension  46 . In contrast with prior embodiments, extension  46  is positioned on the side of plug body  12  rather than on top. Extension  46  makes electrical contact with an outlet contact pad ( FIG. 7 ) used in connectivity detection systems. Extension  46  is sized and shaped to provide a spring force so that when the plug  40  is mated with an outlet, extension  46  applies a spring force to maintain physical and electrical contact with the outlet contact pad.  
         [0022]      FIG. 5  illustrates a contact pad  55  in an alternate embodiment of the invention. Contact pad  55  is a conductive member (e.g., copper) secured to the plug boot  58  and electrically connected to sensing conductor  14 . In this embodiment, the contact pad  55  is fixed to a plug boot  58 , with the plug boot  58  movable with respect to plug body  12 . An exemplary moveable plug boot is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,863,556, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. A similar boot  58  may be used in the embodiment in  FIG. 5 .  
         [0023]     The contact pad  55  is electrically connected to sensing conductor  14  through known techniques such as crimping, soldering, an IDC, etc. When the plug  50  is mated with an outlet, the boot  58  may be slid forward towards contacts  11  to place the contact pad  55  in electrical contact with an outlet contact pad ( FIG. 7 ) used in connectivity detection systems. Retention features on boot  58  can maintain the contact pad  55  in contact with the outlet contact.  
         [0024]      FIG. 6  illustrates a contact pad  65  in an alternate embodiment of the invention. Contact pad  65  is a conductive member (e.g., copper) secured to the plug housing  12  and electrically connected to sensing conductor  14 . The contact pad  65  may be formed from a bent piece of conductive sheet material and secured to the plug housing  12  by wrapping the contact pad  65  around the plug housing. Mechanical features on the contact pad (e.g., prongs) may be used to secure the contact pad  65  to the plug housing.  
         [0025]     The contact pad  65  is electrically connected to sensing conductor  14  through known techniques such as crimping, soldering, an IDC, etc. Integrally formed with the contact pad  65  is an extension  66 , which includes a z-shaped section  67  to provide spring force. An arcuate section  68  is provided to prevent the plug  60  from snagging on other wires with the plug  60  is pulled through installation areas. Extension  66  makes electrical contact with an outlet contact pad ( FIG. 7 ) used in the connectivity detection systems. Extension  66  is sized and shaped to provide a spring force so that when the plug  60  is mated with an outlet, extension  66  applies a spring force to maintain physical and electrical contact with the outlet contact.  
         [0026]      FIG. 7  illustrates an outlet contact in a connectivity detection system. An outlet  100  includes an opening  102  for receiving a plug such as that shown in  FIGS. 1-6 . An outlet contact pad  104  is, for example, a conductive pad (e.g., copper) electrically connected to a connectivity detection system  106 . The outlet contact pad  104  may be positioned in a different location depending upon the nature of plug used. The plugs of  FIGS. 1-6  all include components to place the outlet contact pad  104  in electrical connection with sensing conductor  14 .  
         [0027]     Embodiments of the invention improve the strength and durability of the contact with the sensing conductor  14 , reducing the possibility of damage to the contact pad. The contact pad is preferably formed from a metal conductive sheet which simplifies the contact and reduces time and cost to manufacture. This eliminates the need for overmolded, clip on or other proprietary plastic boots required to hold a spring-load pin. Embodiments also eliminate the need for solder to connect the sensing conductor. Embodiments of the invention improve manufacturability patch cords and jumpers and reduce cost of patch cords and jumpers versus existing cords using spring-loaded pin technology.  
         [0028]     Embodiments have been described with respect to copper connectors having eight contacts such as the RJ-45 type connector. It is understood that other types of wire patch cords (e.g., coaxial cable) having a sensing conductor may be used to detect port connectivity as disclosed herein. Furthermore, non-wire patch cords (e.g., fiber optic connectors) may include a sensing conductor and be used to detect port connectivity as disclosed herein.  
         [0029]     All the above described embodiments may be equipped with a strain relief boot as shown in  FIG. 5 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , a cable passed through the plug boot to provide strain relief.  
         [0030]     While the invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt to a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed for carrying out this invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7