Add-on electrical assembly with light transmission means

Abstract

 An add-on electrical assembly (10) is provided for association with an electrical connector for receiving a complementary mating plug to a circuit board. The electrical connector may be a standard modular jack (12) including a connector housing (16) having a front face (18) with a receptacle (20) receiving the plug, a top wall (22), a rear wall (24) and a bottom face (26) adapted for mounting on the circuit board. A plurality of terminals each include one end extending into the receptacle for making electrical contact with a corresponding terminal on the plug and the other end (38) adapted to contact the circuit board. A separate LED assembly 10 is provided with housing (40) for mounting over the top and rear walls (22,24) of the connector housing. A light emitting device (46) is mounted on the LED housing (40) and is viewable through a front face (42a) thereof adjacent the receptacle (20). Conductors (50) extend from the light emitting device (46) through the LED housing (40) for connection to the circuit board.

Description

Field of the Invention

[0001] This invention generally relates to the art of electrical connectors and, particularly, to an add-on electrical connector assembly which has light transmission means for visual indication of the status of an associated electrical connector.

Background of the Invention

[0002] Electrical connectors having built-in indicator lights have been known for some time. In these connectors, the indicator lights typically are located at the front of the connector. A typical connector may include an integral LED device to emit a light which indicates an operational function such as the reception or transmission of data or voice signals, verification of a good connection between separate pieces of equipment, indication when power is on or off, indication of a defect in a network transmission or any other state or condition in the equipment with which the connector is operatively associated.

[0003] Visual light indicating connectors are popular in modular jacks or similar types of connectors commonly used in telecommunications and data networking equipment. These jacks often are mounted on a circuit board to which they are to be connected. Problems have been encountered in incorporating such light indicating devices, such as LED devices, directly onto the connector due to the ever-increasing miniaturization of telecommunications and data networking equipment. There may simply not be enough space to mount the desired LED devices directly on the connector housing. In addition, regardless of the size of the connector or jack, connectors which include light transmitting devices are expensive to manufacture and assemble for an otherwise relatively inexpensive component. For instance, for an integral LED device the connector or jack housing must be provided with internal molded passages to accommodate the light indicating devices as well as the conductors which lead from the devices. Such provisions might not be practical or cost effective.

[0004] The present invention is directed to solving these problems by providing an add-on assembly for an electrical connector or modular jack assembly which provides light indicating capabilities without making the source of the light integral with the connector or modular jack itself.

Summary of the Invention

[0005] An object, therefore, of the invention is to provide a new and improved add-on electrical connector assembly capable of transmitting and indicating light for various visual indication purposes.

[0006] In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, a printed circuit board mounted connector assembly is adapted for electrically connecting a complementary mating plug to a printed circuit board. The connector assembly is disclosed as a modular jack assembly.

[0007] More particularly, the assembly includes a board mounted connector having a connector housing mounted on the printed circuit board. The housing includes a front face with a cavity therein defining a plug-receiving opening or receptacle, a top wall and a rear wall. A plurality of terminals are mounted on the housing and each terminal includes one end extending into the cavity for making electrical contact with a corresponding terminal on the plug and an opposite end adapted to contact the printed circuit board.

[0008] An LED module is provided separate from the board mounted connector for association with the connector housing. The module includes a separate LED housing adapted to be mounted over the top and rear walls of the connector housing. A light emitting device is mounted on the LED housing and is viewable through a front face thereof adjacent the plug-receiving opening. Conductor wires extend from the light emitting device through the interior of the LED housing and downward for connection to the printed circuit board.

[0009] As disclosed herein, the LED housing is generally L-shaped to include a top portion adapted to overlie the top wall of the connector housing and a rear portion adapted to overlie the rear wall of the connector housing. The terminals of the connector and the distal ends of the LED conductor wires include feet for surface mounting on the printed circuit board. The feet of the terminals and the conductor wires are generally in a line. In the embodiment shown the light emitting device is snap fit into a recess formed in the bottom of the LED housing, and the conductor wires are snap fit into channels formed in the bottom of the LED housing.

[0010] Another feature of the invention includes complementary interengaging retaining means on the LED housing and the connector housing for retaining the LED module mounted on the board mounted connector. The retaining means may provide a snap type releasable latch system.

[0011] Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0012] The features of this invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, together with its objects and the advantages thereof, may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals identify like elements in the figures and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a prior art shielded board mountable modular jack.

FIGURE 2 is a rear perspective view of a printed circuit board mounted connector associated with an add-on LED module embodying the concepts of the invention;

FIGURE 3 is a front perspective view of connector assembly with the add-on module of the present invention in place on top of the modular jack;

FIGURE 4 is an outside perspective view of a LED module embodying the concepts of the invention;

FIGURE 5 is an inside perspective view of the LED module;

FIGURE 6 is another inside perspective view of the LED module taken at a different angle from that of Figure 5;

FIGURE 7 is an inside perspective view of a modified form of a LED module incorporating a retaining feature; and

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of the LED module of Figure 7 snapped in place on a modular jack assembly.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

[0013] Referring to the drawings in greater detail, and first to Figures 1, 2, and 3 the invention is embodied in a LED module 10 shown associated with a printed circuit board mounted connector assembly, generally designated 12. The connector assembly is in the form of a modular jack adapted for electrically connecting a complementary mating plug (not shown) to a printed circuit board (not shown) as is known in the art.

[0014] According to our aspect of the invention, the LED module 10 is separate from the modular jack 12 and, as best seen in Figure 2, the separate LED module generally overlies the top and rear surfaces of the modular jack such as a prior art modular jack shown in Figure 1.

[0015] More particularly, modular jack 12 is of a convention design and includes a housing 16 having a front face 18 (Fig. 1 and 3) defining a cavity 20 which forms a plug-receiving opening or receptacle for the complementary mating plug. The housing further includes a top wall 22, a rear wall 24 and a bottom face 26 adapted for mounting on the circuit board. To that end, the housing includes a pair of integral mounting posts 28 depending from bottom face 26 for insertion into appropriate mounting holes in the circuit board. As best seen in Figure 1 and 2, a conductive shroud 30 may be positioned about the inside of receptacle 20 to define a shield for engaging a grounding shield of the mating plug. The shroud or shield 30 has a pair of legs 32 projecting through slots 34 in the side walls of housing 16, with the legs terminating in generally planar feet or "fitting nails" 36 for solder connection to appropriate ground pads on the circuit board.

[0016] A plurality of terminals 39 are mounted within connector or jack housing 16 for electrically connecting the complementary mating plug to circuit traces on the circuit board. Such terminals are well known in the art and include inner ends 37 which extend in a cantilevered fashion into receptacle 20 for making electrical contact with corresponding terminals on the complementary mating plug. Opposite ends of the terminals project from the housing as at 38 in Figure 2 for solder connection to appropriate circuit traces on the circuit board. As shown, ends 38 of the terminals are provided as feet for surface mounting to the circuit traces on the board. The surface mount feet are generally in a line.

[0017] Referring to Figures 4 and 5 in conjunction with Figures 2 and 3, the LED module 10 includes a dielectric housing, generally designated 40, which is generally L-shaped to include a top portion 42 and a rear portion 44. The separate LED module then can be associated with, including mounting directly thereto, the top of modular jack housing 16 with top portion 42 over top wall 22 of the jack housing and rear portion 44 over rear wall 24 of the jack housing, as shown in Figure 2. LED housing 40 can be unitarily molded of dielectric material such as plastic or the like.

[0018] Still referring to Figures 4 and 5, LED module 10 includes a pair of light emitting devices 46 which are snap-fit into recesses 48 in the bottom of LED housing 40 as seen in Figure 5. The recesses and, therefore, the light emitting devices are located at a front face 42a of top portion 42 of the LED housing so that the devices are viewable through front face 42a adjacent receptacle 20 of modular jack 12, as shown in Figure 3.

[0019] Generally, a pair of conductors 50 extend from each light emitting device 46 through the interior of LED housing 40 and downward for connection to the printed circuit board. The conductors terminate in feet 52 adapted for surface mounting to circuit traces on the printed circuit board. Feet 52 of conductors 50 can be seen in Figure 2 to be in line with terminal feet 38.

[0020] More particularly, referring to Figure 6 in conjunction with Figure 5, a pair of channels 54 are formed in the bottom of top portion 42 of LED housing 40, and a pair of channels 56 are formed in rear portion 44 of the LED housing to accommodate each pair of conductors 50 leading from each light emitting device 46. Figure 6 shows that detent bosses 58 can be formed to project inwardly into channels 54 and 56 to facilitate snapping or press fitting the conductors into the channels and retaining the conductors therein. Therefore, it can be understood that separate LED module 10 can be easily assembled by simply snapping or press-fitting light emitting devices 46 into recesses 48 and snapping or press fitting conductors 50 into channels 54 and 56. The recesses and channels can be very easily molded into LED housing 40. The subassembly of LED module 10 then is simply positioned onto the top and rear of modular jack 12 as seen in Figures 2 and 3.

[0021] With the simple and inexpensive connector or jack assembly described above, various options are available for retaining the LED module on the connector or jack housing 16. For instance, with the jack housing also being unitarily molded of dielectric material such as plastic or the like, the plastic LED housing simply can be ultrasonically welded to the plastic jack housing. Of course, this would provide a permanent retention. On the other hand, it may be desirable to releasably mount the LED module onto the modular jack with a releasable retention system as shown in Figures 7 and 8.

[0022] More particularly, the embodiment of Figures 7 and 8 show that a snap-latch clip 60 can be molded integrally with rear portion 44 of LED housing 40. The clip defines an inwardly directed hook 60a which can snap beneath a bottom edge of rear wall 24 of modular jack housing 16. Top wall 22 of the modular jack housing can be provided with an integral, upstanding boss as shown in phantom in Figure 1 for insertion into a hole 62 in the underside of top portion 42 of the LED housing, as by a press-fit. With such an arrangement the separate LED module 10 can be assembled downwardly onto modular jack 12 in the direction of arrow "A" (Fig. 8) whereupon the post on the top of the modular jack enters hole 62 of the LED module, and retention clip 60 snaps behind a bottom edge of the front wall of the modular jack. If it is desired to remove the LED module for inspection, repair or other purposes, the lower edge of the rear portion 44 simply is pulled outwardly in the direction of arrow "B" (Fig. 8) to clear retention clip 60 from the front wall of the modular jack, and LED module 14 simply is lifted off of the modular jack opposite the direction of arrow "A".

[0023] Even without retention clip 60, the embodiment of Figures 1-5 may include hole 62 on the underside of top portion 42 of LED housing 40 as shown in phantom in Figures 5 and 6, simply to receive a locating post upstanding from jack housing 16.

[0024] It will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or central characteristics thereof. The present examples and embodiments, therefore, are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein.

Claims

1. A LED module (10) for association with a printed circuit board mounted connector assembly (12) for electrically connecting a complementary mating plug to a printed circuit board, the connector assembly having a connector housing (16) for mounting on the printed circuit board, the housing including a front face (18) with cavity (20) therein defining a plug-receiving opening, a top wall (22) and a rear wall (24), and a plurality of terminals each including one end extending into the cavity to make electrical contact with a corresponding terminal on the plug within the cavity and the other end (38) adapted to contact the printed circuit board, wherein the LED module (10) comprises:

a separate LED housing (40) mounted over the top and rear walls (22,24) of the connector housing (16),

a light emitting device (46) mounted on said LED housing (40) and viewable through a front face (42a) thereof adjacent the plug-receiving opening (20), and

conductors (50) extending from said light emitting device (46) through the interior of the LED housing (40) and downward for connection to the printed circuit board.

2. The LED module of claim 1 wherein said LED housing (40) is generally L-shaped including a top portion (42) over the top wall (22) of the connector housing (16) and a rear portion (44) over the rear wall (24) of the connector housing.

3. The LED module of claim 1 wherein said other ends (38) of the terminals and distal ends (52) of said conductors (50) include feet for surface mounting on the printed circuit board.

4. The LED module of claim 3 wherein said feet (38,52) of the terminals and the conductors are generally in a line.

5. The LED module of claim 1 wherein said light emitting device (46) is snap fit into a recess (48) formed in the bottom of the LED housing (40).

6. The LED module of claim 1 wherein said conductors (50) are snap fit into channels (54,56) formed in the bottom of the LED housing (40).

7. The LED module of claim 6 wherein said light emitting device (46) is snap fit into a recess (48) formed in the bottom of the LED housing (40).

8. The LED module of claim 1, including complementary interengaging retaining means (60) on the LED housing (40) and the connector housing for retaining the LED module (14) mounted on the board mounted connector (12).

9. The LED module of claim 1, wherein said conductors (50) are press fit into channels (54, 56) formed in the LED housing (40).

10. A modular jack assembly (10) for electrically connecting a complementary mating plug to a circuit board, comprising:

a jack housing (16) having a front face (18) with a receptacle (20) for receiving the plug, a top wall (22), a rear wall (24) and a bottom face (26) adapted for mounting on the circuit board;

a plurality of terminals (39) each including one end (37) extending into the receptacle for making electrical contact with a corresponding terminal on the plug and the other end (38) adapted to contact the circuit board;

a separate LED housing (40) mounted over the top (22) and rear (24) walls of the jack housing (16);

a light emitting device (46) mounted on the LED housing (40) and viewable through a front face (42a) thereof adjacent the receptacle (20); and

conductors (50) extending from the light emitting device (46) through the LED housing (40) for connection to the circuit board.

11. The modular jack assembly of claim 10 wherein said LED housing (40) is generally L-shaped including a top portion (42) over the top wall (22) of the jack housing (16) and a rear portion (44) over the rear wall (24) of the jack housing.

12. The modular jack assembly of claim 10 wherein said other ends (38) of the terminals and distal ends (52) of said conductors (50) include feet for surface mounting on the printed circuit board.

13. The modular jack assembly of claim 12 wherein said feet (38,52) of the terminals and the conductors are generally in a line.

14. The modular jack assembly of claim 10 wherein said light emitting device (46) is snap fit into a recess (48) formed in the bottom of the LED housing (40).

15. The modular jack assembly of claim 10 wherein said conductors (50) are snap fit into channels (54,56) formed in the bottom of the LED housing (40).

16. The modular jack assembly of claim 15 wherein said light emitting device (46) is snap fit into a recess (48) formed in the bottom of the LED housing (40).

17. The modular jack assembly of claim 10, including complementary interengaging retaining means (60) between the jack housing and the separate LED housing.

Drawing