Communication connector

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to the field of telecommunication, and more particularly, to the field of connectors such as plugs and/or jacks used to interconnect electronic equipment. In an embodiment, the present invention is a shielded RJ 45 network jack with an inter-jack connection method that has an electrical disengagement point outside of any electrical mating points, while still allowing for a relatively short distance to compensation from the plug/jack mating interface.

1 . A communication connector comprising:
 a connector housing;   a plurality of first contacts positioned at least partially within said connector housing, each of said first contacts configured to interface with one of a plurality of interface contacts of a corresponding connector;   a printed circuit board (PCB), said plurality of first contacts being positioned on said PCB, said PCB further including a plurality of second contacts, each of said second contacts being connected to one of said first contacts and having a mating portion and a disconnect portion; and   a plurality of third contacts, each of said third contacts having a mating section configured to interface with one of said mating portions and a disconnect section configured to interface with one of said disconnect portions.   
     
     
         2 . The communication connector of  claim 1 , wherein each of said second contacts is a contact pad and wherein each of said third contacts is a wiping contact. 
     
     
         3 . The communication connector of  claim 1 , further comprising a second PCB, said plurality of third contacts being fixed within said second PCB. 
     
     
         4 . The communication connector of  claim 3 , further comprising a plurality of cable contacts, said cable contacts being secured within said second PCB. 
     
     
         5 . The communication connector of  claim 1 , wherein for each of said second contacts, each mating portion is offset laterally from said respective disconnect portion. 
     
     
         6 . The communication connector of  claim 5 , wherein for each of said second contacts, each mating portion is offset longitudinally from said respective disconnect portion. 
     
     
         7 . The communication connector of  claim 1 , wherein said PCB is configured to be moveable between a plurality of positions, said plurality of positions including a first position corresponding to said plurality of first contacts being in contact with said interface contacts of said corresponding connector and a second position corresponding to said plurality of first contacts being disconnected from said interface contacts of said corresponding connector, wherein in said first position each of said third contacts is interfaced with one of said second contacts via respective said mating section and respective said mating portion, and wherein in said second position each of said third contacts is disconnected from each of said second contacts. 
     
     
         8 . The communication connector of  claim 7 , wherein said plurality of positions further include a third position corresponding to said plurality of first contacts being in contact with said interface contacts of said corresponding connector and each of said third contacts being interfaced with one of said second contacts via respective said disconnect section and respective said disconnect portion. 
     
     
         9 . The communication connector of  claim 8 , wherein said plurality of positions further include a fourth position corresponding to said plurality of first contacts being in contact with said interface contacts of said corresponding connector and each of said third contacts being disconnected from each of said second contacts. 
     
     
         10 . The communication connector of  claim 1 , wherein said communication connector is an RJ45 jack. 
     
     
         11 . The communication connector of  claim 1 , wherein said communication connector is an RJ45 plug. 
     
     
         12 . A communication connector comprising:
 a connector housing;   a plurality of first contacts positioned at least partially within said connector housing, each of said first contacts configured to interface with one of a plurality of interface contacts of a corresponding connector;   a printed circuit board (PCB), said plurality of first contacts being positioned on said PCB, said PCB further including a plurality of second contacts, each of said second contacts being connected to one of said first contacts and having a mating portion and a disconnect portion; and   a plurality of third contacts, each of said third contacts having a preferred mating leg configured to interface with one of said mating portions and a sacrificial leg configured to interface with one of said disconnect portions.   
     
     
         13 . The communication connector of  claim 12 , wherein each of said second contacts is a contact pad, wherein each of said preferred mating legs is a wiping contact, and wherein each of said sacrificial legs is a wiping contact. 
     
     
         14 . The communication connector of  claim 12 , further comprising a second PCB, said plurality of third contacts being fixed within said second PCB. 
     
     
         15 . The communication connector of  claim 14 , further comprising a plurality of cable contacts, said cable contacts being secured within said second PCB. 
     
     
         16 . The communication connector of  claim 12 , wherein for each of said second contacts, each mating portion is offset laterally from said respective disconnect portion. 
     
     
         17 . The communication connector of  claim 16 , wherein for each of said second contacts, each mating portion is offset longitudinally from said respective disconnect portion. 
     
     
         18 . The communication connector of  claim 12 , wherein said PCB is configured to be moveable between a plurality of positions, said plurality of positions including a first position corresponding to said plurality of first contacts being in contact with said interface contacts of said corresponding connector and a second position corresponding to said plurality of first contacts being disconnected from said interface contacts of said corresponding connector,
 wherein in said first position each of said third contacts is interfaced with one of said second contacts via respective said preferred mating leg and respective said mating portion, and   wherein in said second position each of said third contacts is disconnected from each of said second contacts.   
     
     
         19 . The communication connector of  claim 18 , wherein said plurality of positions further include a third position corresponding to said plurality of first contacts being in contact with said interface contacts of said corresponding connector and each of said third contacts being interfaced with one of said second contacts via respective said sacrificial leg and respective said disconnect portion. 
     
     
         20 . The communication connector of  claim 19 , wherein said plurality of positions further include a fourth position corresponding to said plurality of first contacts being in contact with said interface contacts of said corresponding connector and each of said third contacts being disconnected from each of said second contacts. 
     
     
         21 . A communication connector connectable to at least one of a communication cable and communication equipment, said communication connector capable of transmitting power over Ethernet, said communication connector comprising:
 means for interfacing said communication connector with a corresponding connector;   means for establishing an electrical path between said corresponding connector and said at least one of said communication cable and said communication equipment, said means for establishing said electrical path being located within said communication connector and occurring over a first physical path; and   means for breaking said electrical path between said corresponding connector and said at least one of said communication cable and said communication equipment, said means for breaking said electrical path being located within said communication connector and occurring over a second physical path.   
     
     
         22 . A communication system comprising:
 a communication plug including a plurality of plug contacts and a plurality of plug cable contacts; and   a communication jack including a plurality of plug interface contacts (PICs) and a plurality of jack cable contacts,   said communication plug configured to mate with said communication jack such that each of said plug contacts comes into contact with one of said PICs, a current path being established between each of said plug cable contacts and one of said jack cable contacts when said communication plug is mated with said communication jack,   said communication plug being further configured to disconnect from said communication jack such that each said current path is broken while each of said plug contacts maintains contact with one of said PICs.   
     
     
         23 . A communication system comprising:
 a communication plug including a plurality of plug contacts and a plurality of plug cable contacts; and   a communication jack including a plurality of plug interface contacts (PICs) and a plurality of jack cable contacts,   said communication plug configured to mate with said communication jack such that each of said plug contacts comes into contact with one of said PICs, a current path being established between each of said plug cable contacts and one of said jack cable contacts when said communication plug is mated with said communication jack,   said communication plug being further configured to disconnect from said communication jack such that each said current path is broken at a point other than between each of said plug contacts and respective one of said PICs.   
     
     
         24 . A communication system comprising:
 a communication plug including a plurality of plug contacts and a plurality of plug cable contacts; and   a communication jack including a plurality of plug interface contacts (PICs) and a plurality of jack cable contacts,   said communication plug configured to mate with said communication jack such that each of said plug contacts comes into contact with one of said PICs, a current path being established between each of said plug cable contacts and one of said jack cable contacts when said communication plug is mated with said communication jack, each said current path traversing one of said plug contacts and respective one of said PICs,   said communication plug being further configured to disconnect from said communication jack such that at least one said current path is broken while respective one of said plug contacts maintains contact with respective one of said PICs.   
     
     
         25 . A communication system including a communication plug and a communication jack, said communication system comprising:
 means for connecting said communication plug to a plug-cable having at least one conductor;   means for connecting said communication jack to a jack-cable having at least one conductor;   means for electrically and physically interfacing said communication plug with said communication jack;   means for transmitting a current between said at least one conductor of said plug-cable and said at least one conductor of said jack-cable; and   means for breaking said current at a point that does not include said means for electrically and physically interfacing said communication plug with said communication jack.