WO1994008365A2

WO1994008365A2 - Wiring connection system including crosstalk compensating connector

Info

Publication number: WO1994008365A2
Application number: PCT/US1993/009263
Authority: WO
Inventors: William V. Carney; Prem G. Chandran; Christopher V. Kayser
Original assignee: Porta Systems Corp.
Priority date: 1992-09-30
Filing date: 1993-09-29
Publication date: 1994-04-14
Also published as: WO1994008365A3

Abstract

High performance socket and plug modules are included in a wiring connection system. The socket modules can be wall mounted in a number of different ways using suitable wall plates. Adaptor plugs are also provided to allow users to link devices having RJ plugs, MIC plugs or other plugs to the high performance socket modules. The adaptor plug for use with RJ plugs includes electrical circuitry which minimizes near end crosstalk for an inserted RJ plug. In addition, specially-shaped RJ plug contacts can be used to reduce crosstalk even further. This invention includes a crosstalk reduction device which can reduce crosstalk between different signals, for example, in the socket module, wire connection, or in a multiple signal path wiring connector. Crosstalk is reduced by arranging wires from each of the interfering signal paths to run together for a distance, so that inductive coupling reduces crosstalk in the connector. The wiring connector is modular and a single connector assembly can be employed in a variety of situations by mounting the connector assembly in plate members such as wall plates and patching panels which are suitable for the particular environment.

Description

TITLE

WIRING CONNECTION SYSTEM INCLUDING CROSSTALK COMPENSATING CONNECTOR

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to connectors used to join lengths of wiring, to novel modular connectors for use in systems transmitting high-density high-speed digital data information.

Description of the Related Art Modern data networks typically link together two or more different components using data transmission wiring.

As computer technology evolves and the operating speed of interconnected data processing equipment increases, the need for connections able to reliably communicate data at higher speeds also increases. Ideally, all of the components of a given signal path should be able to exchange data at least at the maximum transmission or reception rates of the "fastest" connected device without unduly degrading the data. However, devices are becoming available which send and receive data at the rates on the order of 100 MHz, and at these rates such performance can be both difficult and costly to achieve. In order to transmit data at these high rates, the nature of the components used to join the devices is critical.

A popular type of data transmission scheme employs high quality wiring and modular connectors. These devices, which in some ways are similar to those found in telecommunication switching networks, are used in situations demanding levels of performance comparable to that achieved by fiber-optic systems. Accordingly, cable and connector structures have been developed which allow the use in high-speed data transmission lines of wiring in place of fiber-optic cabling.

With modern businesses growing ever-more dependent on computers, newly-constructed office buildings are often built with cabling for data systems in place even before occupants have moved into the building. Much like electrical and telephone lines, data transmission lines are now built into the very structure of the building, and like these other systems, are designed so that occupants can install equipment of their own choosing using these pre-existing lines.

Currently, the building are designed using both fiber¬ optic and wire technology. Fiber-optic cabling is used to connect nodes on each floor of the building to those on the other floors, and any computers maintained at a site remote from the building.

Data transmission wiring is then used to carry signals from the connect node on each given floor out to various remote locations throughout that floor. To avoid the need to later rewire the building, wiring is run to all locations on the floor where it might eventually be desirable to connect data processing equipment (this is akin to designing the electrical system of a building to provide an electrical outlet in every room of the building, regardless of whether those rooms are to be occupied immediately) . Thus, by providing all parts of the building with standard connections, it becomes as easy to connect computers, work stations, printers and any other data processing equipment in any given area as it is to plug an electrical appliance into the electrical system using one of the wall outlets found in each of the rooms.

Like telephone and electrical systems, modern data transmission schemes are designed to readily enable users to connect and disconnect devices. To do this it is impractical to connect remote devices using an uninterrupted length of wiring, but rather, it is preferable to use several lengths of wiring joined to one another with suitable connectors. A wall or floor mounted connector is provided at each location where a remote device might be linked to another device, and this connector is designed to accept one of the several types of plugs which have become standard for use on the remote devices. This way, devices can be connected disconnected.

Fig. 1 shows how a remote device, here an office work station 2, is connected to a Multi-station Access Unit ("MAU"), concentrator, or any other connected device 18. The work station is connected to a wall jack 4 via cabling 6 and a removable plug (not shown) . The wall jack 4 is connected to a length of high grade copper data transmission wiring 8 that runs through the building walls to a wiring closet, where it terminates in what is called a connector block 10 (the reason for providing a connector block will be explained shortly) . Patch cord 14 connects the connector block 10 to a second connector block 12, and finally, the second connector block is joined by another length of wiring 16 to the MAU or other device 18. The MAU/other device 18 may be joined to the rest of a LAN network (not shown) . Of course this technique can be used to connect devices not linked in a LAN.

With this type of system one can connect a new device to the MAU or other device 18 just by plugging it into a convenient wall jack 4. Likewise, a station can be removed simply by disconnecting it from the wall jack.

To deny unwanted users access, it is desirable to be able to disconnect unused wall jacks. Were the wires used to link such wall jacks permanently, it would be burdensome to disconnect wall jacks, since such connections are inconvenient to undo.

Instead, the data transmission wiring for all of the wall jacks distributed on a given floor runs through the building walls and terminates in a first set of connector blocks. These connector blocks are designed so that each set of wires coming from a given wall jack terminates at a single plug socket on the connector block.

Likewise, a second set of connector blocks are connected by wiring to a MAU, concentrator or other device. Again, each particular port of the MAU is wired to a particular connector block plug socket.

Now any of the wall sockets can be connected to any of the ports of the MAU by using a length of data transmission line (a "patch cord") to join the plug socket in the first set of connector blocks linked to the wall socket to the plug socket in the second set of connector blocks which is linked to the particular MAU port. Connection of the two plug sockets is simplified because each end of the patch cord ends in a plug designed to mate with the plug sockets used in the first and second connector blocks.

Disconnecting any wall socket is even simpler. All that need be done is to remove the patch cord linking the wall socket and MAU, that is, which connects the appropriate first and second connector block plug sockets.

To maximize configuring flexibility, two connector blocks are provided in relatively close proximity, no more than a few feet apart. One connector block is joined to all of the various data transmission lines running through the walls of a building, which at their far ends terminate at the remote wall sockets where work stations may be connected. The other connector block is joined by cable in like manner to all of the various access ports of a MAU. The preferred system for joining the various conductors to the contacts is by "punch-down connectors", which are electrical contacts located within the connector blocks each having a slot dimensioned and disposed so that when an insulated wire is forcibly inserted into the slot, the insulation is stripped from the wire and the conductor is securely gripped by the edges of the slot.

Now, by using patch cords one can connect or disconnect any given data transmission line to or from any given MAU access port. Such connections are facilitated when the patch cords are made from the same grade of cable as is used in the rest of the data transmission line, and the patch cords are preferably fitted with plugs which fit into the aforementioned connector block sockets. Examples of known connector blocks and other related hardware can be found in U.S. Patent No. 3,399,372; No. 4,741,711; No. 4,410,225; and No. 4,533,196.

Examples of connectors employing card- ype contacts and flexible fingers are described in U.S. Patent No. 4,283,103; No. 4,659,155; No. 5,024,609; and No. 5,026,292.

However, none of these devices minimizes interference between different signal channels to the extent desirable so as to make practical their use with high¬ speed data transmission lines.

As data is transmitted over wiring at increasing rates, the wiring exhibits behavior which degrades the transmitted signals and which, if not prevented, effectively limits the rate at which data can be reliably transmitted. This problem arises when signals being transmitted through one particular set of wires induce spurious signals in other nearby wires. If the crosstalk is caused by components located near the device which receives and transmits the signals subject to such crosstalk, that is commonly referred to as Near End Cross Talk ("NEXT"), and it is the most severe impediment to the use of wiring in high-speed data transmission lines.

NEXT can be a significant impediment to the use of wiring in high-speed data transmission lines. NEXT can be generated throughout the length of a data transmission line, both in the different lengths of copper wiring and the connectors which are used at the remote wall jack, the connector blocks, and the MAU or other devices which send or receive data. The effect of NEXT is to impair the ability of a data transmission line to carry information. NEXT can be defined as n_

N_β~201og₁₀ ( -ϊ )

where n_a is the measured voltage of the crosstalk signal, and S is the measured voltage of the information-containing signal. NEXT is measured in decibels (dB) .

NEXT values have been measured for all data transmission line components, and so designers can easily determine which components are suitable for use in any given line.

Of course when several components (i.e., block connector, patch cords, block connector, wiring run and wall socket) are all connected, each contributes to the crosstalk value for the data communication line. The cumulative overall crosstalk value for two connected components each having its own crosstalk contribution (N_a and N_b, respectively) is expressed as:

-___ -___ N_ajb=20log₁₀ [10 ²⁰ +10 ²⁰ ]

Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that when two components each having the same individual crosstalk value are joined together, the combined crosstalk value will be higher than the individual values (i.e., if two components each having crosstalk values of 10 dB are connected, the resulting signal path will have a crosstalk value of 4 db) . Because the total NEXT value of a signal line is a function of the NEXT values of its components, it is desirable to reduce NEXT in each of those components to the greatest extent feasible. NEXT is caused by coupling between a first signal path and a second, different signal path. This coupling can be either inductive or capacitive. Inductive coupling takes place when an oscillating electrical signal carried by the first signal line generates an oscillating magnetic field, and that field in turn influences the second signal line by inducing a similar oscillating signal. Capacitive coupling occurs when two conductive materials having a relative electrical charge between them are separated by a dielectric material; because the dielectric is not ideal, current flows from one material to the other. When the conductive materials are wires carrying oscillating signals, the oscillations in one line perturb the other line through this current flow.

Inductive and capacitive coupling are markedly affected by the frequency of the signal which causes the coupling. As signal frequency increases, NEXT also increases. In the case of a data transmission line, the frequency of the transmitted signal is based on the data transmission scheme being employed. Thus, NEXT becomes more of a problem as data transmission rates rise.

Thus, the effect of NEXT is to practically limit the maximum rate at which data can be transferred in a line. While the connected, devices may be able to operate at higher data transfer rates, data sent at such rates may be so degraded by NEXT as to be unusable.

NEXT is a problem because each of the connected devices is joined by both transmit and receive lines. Since the signals carried on these lines may not be the same, one line will interfere with the other. All of the connecting components are susceptible to NEXT. Among these components are the connector blocks and patch cords used to customize the wiring configuration, and the wall sockets and plugs which are used to connect remote devices. When designing a high¬ speed data transmission line, (typically, line in which data is transmitted at rates of 16 MHz or better) it is imperative that these components be selected so as to result in the lowest possible overall NEXT values.

It has been discovered that when a data transmission line formed from several components each having a NEXT value which does not exceed the maximum NEXT allowed for the intended service, the overall NEXT of the line may nevertheless exceed the maximum permitted NEXT. Accordingly, it is imperative that the NEXT of all components be minimized.

To this end, one of the present inventors has developed a connector block having extraordinarily low NEXT values. This connector block is described in parent application U.S. Ser. No. 07/719,939, Now U.S. Patent No. 5,160,273, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. This application describes a connector which reduces NEXT by providing a highly shielded structure that minimizes coupling between the channels.

A low-NEXT patch cord has also been developed by one of the present inventors, and that patch cord is described in parent application U.S. Ser. No. 07/803,424, now U.S. Patent No. 5,205,762, the contents of which are incorporated herein.

Two different types of data transmission cables are typically connected to either a connector block, wall socket or cable plug. The first kind of cable is called Unshielded Twisted Pair ("UTP") wiring and consists of two insulated copper wires wrapped around one another in a double helix . The geometry of the helix is such that the influence of each of these wires on external lines is cancelled by the influence of the other wire, markedly reducing NEXT (these wires are part of the same circuit) . The wire pairs can then be wrapped around each other to reduce NEXT further. Then, the two pairs of wire are then covered in a single insulated jacket. Of course the conductor used in this wire need not be copper; other conductive materials can be used.

As shown in U.S. Patent No. 4,873,393, the geometry of the helix is such that the influence of each of these wires on external lines is cancelled by the influence of the other wire on those external lines, markedly reducing crosstalk. The wire pairs can also be wrapped around each other to reduce crosstalk further. Then, the two pairs of wire are then covered in a single piece of insulation.

The other type of cable, Shielded Twisted Pair ("STP") wiring, also contains two different pairs of wires, but differs from UTP in that each of the twisted pairs of wire is surrounded by a shield that isolates the pair, and the two pairs of wire are then surrounded by another shield. These shields are then connected to ground. Standards for STP cable require minimum NEXT values of -58 dB per thousand feet from three to five MHz, and -40 dB per thousand fee from 16 to 100 MHz. STP is growing less popular than UTP.

Like telephone and electrical systems, modern data transmission schemes are designed to readily enable users to connect and disconnect devices. To do this it is impractical to connect remote devices using an uninterrupted length of wiring, but rather, it is preferable to use several lengths of wiring joined to one another with suitable connectors. A wall, floor or rack mounted connector is provided at each location where a remote device might be linked to another device, and this connector is designed to accept one of the several types of plugs which have become standard for use on the remote devices. This way, devices can be connected and disconnected.

One of the signal line components which is susceptible to NEXT are the plugs used to connect devices (i.e., computers, printers and data storage devices) , and the sockets which accept those plugs. When designing a high-speed data transmission line, (typically, a line in which data is transmitted at rates of 16 MHz or better) it is imperative that these components be selected so as to result in the lowest possible overall NEXT values.

A variety of different connectors have been used to link components which transmit data. One popular type of connector is known as an RJ ("Registered Jack") plug. RJ plugs are typically used with UTP wiring, which has already been described. Although the UTP wiring is generally free from NEXT, conventional RJ plugs can generate unacceptable levels of NEXT.

When using UTP, connections are ordinarily made using an "RJ" plug. A typical RJ plug is shown in Fig. 15. Unfortunately, RJ plugs are not shielded, and so can generate unacceptable levels of NEXT.

When using STP, connections are customarily made using a hermaphroditic Medium interface Connector ("MIC"), also known as an "IBM connector". Such a MIC is shown in IEEE Standard 802.5-1989. These connectors are specifically designed for use with STP cable, and preserve the integrity of both the individual twisted pair shields and the surrounding cable shield.

Another type of plug connector is described in the aforementioned U.S. Patent No. 5,160,273 and No. 5,205,762. Although this connector is intended for use with UTP, it can be employed with STP as well. This plug connector is designed to be used with receptacles like those described in the aforementioned U.S. Patent No. 5,160,273, and when properly installed, can reduce NEXT.

As previously noted, as a result of the manner in which they are designed, RJ connectors often have undesirable NEXT values. A study of RJ plugs has revealed that the reason why they are prone to coupling is their basic structure. As shown in Fig. 28, each contact in an RJ plug is a small, flat, rectangular piece of metal. All of these contacts are aligned and kept parallel in the RJ plug body which is made from a block of plastic, a dielectric (insulating) material. Because at most just one of the two contacts adjacent a given contact can be part of the same circuit as the given contact, when electrical signals pass through the given contact, it may develop an electrical charge different from at least one of the two adjacent contacts, and this will cause capacitive coupling between the two signal paths.

NEXT is caused by coupling between a first signal path and a second, different signal path. This coupling can be either inductive or capacitive. Inductive coupling takes place when an oscillating electrical signal carried by the first signal line generates_^ an oscillating magnetic field, and that field in turn influences the second signal line by inducing a similar oscillating signal. Capacitive coupling occurs when two conductive materials having a relative electrical charge between them are separated by a dielectric material; because the dielectric is not ideal, current flows from one material to the other, causing crosstalk. When the conductive materials are wires carrying oscillating signals, the oscillations in one line perturb the other line through this current flow.

Inductive and capacitive coupling are markedly affected by the frequency of the signal which causes the coupling. As signal frequency increases, NEXT also increases. In the case of a data transmission line, the frequency of the transmitted signal is based on the data transmission scheme being employed. Thus, NEXT becomes more of a problem as data transmission rates rise. Components which were acceptable for use in older, relatively slow data transmission systems may have NEXT levels which prevent their use in new, high speed systems.

Although many of the standards applied to data transmission lines have international applicability, a few aspects of installation do fall within the scope of local specifications and/or customs. One example of this involves the design of the wall sockets to which each remote device is connected. Rather than design different wall sockets and other components for all of the different controlling standards, it is preferable to provide a system having standard connector components which can be used in a variety of jurisdictions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a high performance wiring connection system which can be used to connect data transmission lines used in modern computer systems (of course it is to be understood that this system can be employed in many other ways, and is not to be limited in its field of use) . This system has wall mounted sockets for connecting devices, which sockets allow easy connection and disconnection of the remote devices. Even though this system uses only a few standard connector devices, it is easily adaptable to installation in a wide variety of environments. Still another benefit of this system is its ability to operate with all sorts of data processing equipment regardless of the types of connector hardware used in that equipment.

Accordingly, a socket module is provided for receiving an insert member having at least one electrical contact pad. This socket module includes a hollow insulative block having a forward portion and a rear portion, an internal cavity, and means for mounting the block on a wall plate. The forward portion of the block has a front wall having at least one insert member access opening communicating with the internal cavity. The rear portion is formed with at least one wire access opening, and an electrically conductive spring connector is disposed within the internal cavity, the electrically conductive spring connector being dimensioned and disposed so that when an insert member is inserted into that access opening, the spring connector contacts the contact pad.

Also provided is a wire connector having a socket module for receiving an insert member having at least one electrical contact pad, this module in turn having a hollow insulative block having a forward portion and a rear portion, an internal cavity, and means for mounting the block on a surface. The forward portion of the block has a front wall having at least one insert member access opening communicating with the internal cavity, the rear portion being formed with at least one wire access opening. An electrically conductive spring connector is disposed within the internal cavity, this electrically conductive spring connector being dimensioned and disposed so that when an insert member is inserted into the slot, the spring connector contacts the electrical contact pad. Also included is a plug module having a base portion, and a substrate portion having at least one electrical line. The substrate portion is attached to the base portion, and the insert member is formed on the substrate portion. The electrical contact pad is electrically connected to the electrical line. Thus, when the plug module is inserted into the socket module the insert member engages the insert member access opening and the electrical contact pad is in electrical communication with the spring connector.

It is also possible for the socket module and/or wire connector to include a device which reduces crosstalk between different signals being transmitted therethrough.

Another aspect of the invention concerns a wall plate for mounting a socket module having a well of a given shape behind a wall plane. This wall plate includes a flat front plate having an open recess, the recess having a back wall having a back surface, this back wall having at least one opening. The opening corresponds in shape to the given shape. At least one latch arm extends from the back surface, this latch arm ending in a finger, and the latch arm and finger are dimensioned and disposed so that when the well is positioned against the back wall the latch_ arm and finger cooperate to hold the socket module in place. Still another aspect of the invention is a wall plate for mounting a socket module having a well of a given shape behind a wall plane, and including a flat front plate having a portal and a back surface, and a plurality of stand-off posts extending from that back surface. In addition, a backplate having a back surface, a window and a plurality of openings corresponding in position and shape to the stand-off posts is mounted on the stand-off posts so that the window is disposed in registry with the portal. This provides space between the front plate and backplate. At least one latch arm extends from the back surface and ends in a finger, the latch arm and finger being dimensioned and disposed so that when the well is positioned against the back wall the latch arm and said finger cooperate to hold the socket module in place. Meanwhile, a shutter is slidably contained within the space and a spring is also contained within the space, the spring urging the shutter so that an object cannot pass directly through the portal to the window.

A further aspect of the invention is a socket module adaptor plug for connecting a plug fitting into a first socket module configuration and having a number of electrically conducting elements to a socket module configuration having an entry opening of a second configuration. The socket module has at least one internal electrically conductive spring finger dimensioned and disposed so that a portion of the spring finger is coplanar with the entry opening. This adaptor plug includes an insulative socket which can securely mate with the plug, this socket having a number of electrical contacts corresponding to the number of electrically conducting elements_,. The contacts are disposed so that when the electrical connector plug is inserted into the socket, the electrical connectors make electrical contact with the electrical contacts. A flat substrate having a region dimensioned and disposed to enter into a socket module having the second configuration is provided and has a number of electrical contact pads disposed on the region, and this substrate also has a number of signal lines extending from and in electrical contact with the electrical contacts to the housing to the electrical contact pads. When the flat substrate is inserted into the slot the contact pads are placed in electrical contact with the electrically conductive spring fingers.

The adaptor plug may also have at least a first signal path and a second signal path, and have structure that reduces cross-talk between these signal paths.

Another aspect of the invention is an RJ-style connector plug having a plastic body having a number of parallel grooves. Each groove has a cross-sectional area, and a number of contact plates. The number of contact plates corresponds to the number of grooves, and one contact plate is disposed each groove. Each contact plate has an area which is less than the cross- sectional area of the groove.

Still a further aspect of the invention is a crosstalk reduction device having a first signal path for carrying a first signal, a second signal path for carrying a second signal, and at least one inductor inductively coupling the first and second signal paths.

Yet another aspect of this invention is a crosstalk reduction device which includes a first signal path for carrying a first signal, a second signal path for carrying a second signal, a first length of wire which conducts the first signal, and a second length of wire which conducts the second signal. The first length of IS

wire is disposed adjacent to the second length of wire so that the first and second wires are inductively coupled.

One embodiment of the crosstalk reduction device is a crosstalk-compensating connector for electrically connecting a first portion of a first signal path and a first portion of a second signal path to, respectively, a second portion of the first signal path and a second portion of the second signal path. This connector includes a jack having a receptacle for accepting a plug, and this plug contains the first portions of the first and second signal paths. A plurality of wires exiting from the jack, and this plurality of wires is associated with and carries signals from the first and second signal paths, respectively. The jack includes a first jack wire which is part of the first signal path and a second jack wire which is part of the second signal path. A fanning body is attached to the jack, and the fanning body has a routing structure for routing the plural wires such that at least the first jack wire and second jack wire are held sufficiently close so that the first and second signal paths are inductively coupled.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a crosstalk-compensating connector is provided for electrically connecting each of a first portion of a first signal path and a first portion of a second signal path to, respectively, a second portion of the first signal path and a second portion of the second signal path. The connector has a connector core, and the connector core includes a jack having a receptacle for accepting a plug, the plug containing the first portions of the first and second signal paths. The jack has plural wires exiting therefrom, and these plural wires are associated with and carry signals from the first and second signal paths, respectively. Thus, a first jack wire is part of the first signal path and a second jack wire is part of the second signal path. Also included is a fanning body attached to the jack, and this fanning body has a routing structure for routing the plural wires such that at least the first and second jack wires are held sufficiently close so that the first and second signal paths are inductively coupled. A mounting structure mounts the connector.

In both these embodiments, the routing structure means can take the form of a rectangular structure having plural slots contained therein. Each slot is dimensioned and disposed to accept one wire.

Other aspects of this invention involve the use of plural wire connectors, each of which is constructed to allow connection of two signal wires, and a wire connector carrying body that holds the wire connectors. This wire connector carrying body is joined to either the jack or the fanning body such that at least the first and second jack wires are each engaged by corresponding wire connectors.

In yet another aspect of the invention, the connector also includes a faceplate that is attached to at least one of the jack, fanning body, or wire connector carrying body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating various connections used to link a remote device to a multi¬ station access unit, concentrator, or other connected device; FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a plug module being connected to a socket module according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the wall plate and socket module;

FIG. 4 is a top view of a socket module held in a wall plate in Fig. 3;

FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view along line 5-5' of the socket module shown in Fig. 4, connected to the insert portion of a plug module;

FIG. 6 is a top view of the various electrical contacts of a socket module similar to that depicted in Figs. 5, 23, 24 and 42 engaging with an insert;

FIG. 7 is a front view of the electrical contacts in Fig. 6;

FIG. 8 is a side sectional view showing the spring finger connectors and the spring finger grounds in relation to the shield plate;

FIG. 9 is a top exploded view of the socket module showing the base and housing prior to assembly;

FIG. 10 is a front view of the base;

FIGS. 11-13 are side, top and bottom views, respectively, of a spring finger connector;

FIG. 14 is a top view of a plug module according to the present invention; FIGS. 15 and 16 are side and top views, respectively, of the printed circuit boards used in the plug module depicted in FIG. 14;

FIGS. 17-19 are top, side and bottom views, respectively, of a printed circuit board which can be used to form a single-tongue plug module; >

FIG. 20 is a front view of an alternate wall plate for mounting a socket module;

FIG. 21 is a top view of the wall plate in Fig. 20 also showing tne socket module held by the wall plate;

FIG. 22 is an exploded perspective view of the wall plate shown in Fig. 20;

FIG. 23 is a side cross-sectional view of the wall plate and socket module as seen along line 23-23' in Fig. 21;

FIG. 24 is a side cross-sectional view of the wall plate shown in Fig. 21 connected to an insert;

FIG. 25 is a partially-exploded perspective view of an eight-contact RJ plug showing a connector configured according to this invention;

FIG. 26 is a partial side cross-sectional view of the RJ plug shown in Fig. 25;

FIG. 27 is a partial side cross-sectional view of an RJ plug showing a differently-configured connector;

FIG. 28. is a partial side cross sectional view of a conventional RJ connector; FIG. 29 is a top view of the internal components of an assembled adaptor plug for connecting an RJ plug to the socket module shown in Figs. 3-5;

FIG. 30 is a side view of the assembled internal components of the adaptor plug shown in Fig. 29;

FIGS. 31-33 are bottom, side and top views of the printed circuit board substrate used in the adaptor plug shown in Figs. 29 and 30;

FIG. 34 is a side view of a fully-assembled adaptor plug;

FIGS. 35 and 36 are exploded side and top views, respectively, of the adaptor plug shown in Fig. 34.

FIG. 37 is a top view of an adaptor plug for connecting an MIC plug to the socket module shown in Figs. 3-5;

FIG. 38 is a side view of the adaptor plug shown in Fig. 37;

FIG. 39 is a front view of the adaptor plug shown in Figs. 37 and 38;

FIG. 40 is a front view of a wall plate designed to accommodate an RJ adaptor plug connected to a socket module of the type shown in Fig. 5;

FIG. 41 is a top view of the wall plate, RJ adaptor plug, and socket module shown in Fig. 40;

FIG. 42 is a side cross-sectional view of _the wall plate shown in Fig. 20 and socket module shown in Fig. 5 as partially connected to a preferred embodiment of the adaptor plug shown in Fig. 41; FIG. 43 is a front view of a jack panel containing a number of socket modules;

FIG. 44 is a top view of the jack panel shown in Fig. 43; and

FIG. 45 is an exploded perspective view of the jack panel shown in Figs. 43 and 44.

Fig. 46 is a front and side perspective view of another embodiment of the present inven ion;

Fig. 47 is a side and rear perspective view of the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 46;

Fig. 48 is an exploded side view of portions of the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 46 and 47;

Figs. 49 and 50 are exploded side views of portions of the aforementioned embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 51 is an exploded side cross-sectional view of the aforementioned embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 52 is a front plan view of an RJ connector body;

Fig. 53 is a rear plan view of the RJ connector body shown in Fig. 52;

Fig. 54 is a rear plan view of the fanning body;

Fig. 55 is a rear plan view of the fanning body similar to Fig. 54, save that it also shows the RJ body wiring.

Fig. 56 is an exploded top view of the foregoing embodiment of the invention; Fig. 57 is a front plan view of the assembled foregoing embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 58 is a side cross-sectional view taken along line 58-58' of Fig. 57;

Fig. 59 is a top cross-sectional view taken along line 59-59' of Fig. 58;

Fig. 60 is a front plan view of yet another embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 61 is a side cross-sectional view taken along line 61-61' of Fig. 60;

Fig. 62 is a top cross-sectional view taken along line 62-62' of Fig. 60;

Fig. 63 is a side plan view of a subassembly of the foregoing embodiment of this invention;

Fig. 64 is a front plan view of the subassembly shown in Fig. 63;

Fig. 65 is a front plan view of still another embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 66 is a side cross-sectional view taken along line 66-66' of Fig. 65;

Fig. 67 is a top cross-sectional view taken along line 67-67' of Fig. 65;

Fig. 68 is a side plan view of a subassembly of the foregoing embodiment of this invention; Fig. 69 is a front plan view of the subassembly shown in Fig. 68;

Fig. 70 is a bottom plan view of a further embodiment of this invention;

Fig. 71 is a side plan view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 70;

Fig. 72 is a rear view of the bezel used in the foregoing embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 73 is a front view of the bezel shown in Fig. 72;

Fig. 74 is a front plan view of still another embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 75 is a bottom view of the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 74;

Fig. 76 is a side plan view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 74;

Fig. 77 is a front plan view of another embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 78 is a side cross-sectional view taken along line 78-78' in Fig. 77;

Fig. 79 is a front and side perspective view of fanning body constructed according to a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 80 is a top view of the embodiment of the invention depicted in Fig. 79; Fig. 81 is a bottom view of the embodiment of the invention depicted in Fig. 79;

Fig. 82 is a side plan view of the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 79;

Fig. 83 is a front plan view of yet another and particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 84 is a side plan view of the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 83;

Fig. 85 is an exploded side view of the embodiment of the invention depicted in Fig. 83;

Fig. 86 is a front view of a further and particularly preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 87 is a top cross-sectional view taken along line 87-87' of Fig. 86;

Fig. 88 is an exploded top view of the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 86;

Fig. 89 is a front plan view of a component used in the embodiment of Fig. 86;

Fig. 90 is a top cross-sectional view along line 90-90' of the component shown in Fig. 89; and

Fig. 91 is a side plan view of the component shown in Fig. 86. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

To reduce NEXT in data transmission lines, a high performance connector system has been invented. This systems employs a plug module 1 and mating wall-mounted socket module 3. These components are shown in Fig. 2- 5, and 14.

The socket module 3 is mounted in a wall plate which can have various configurations in order to accommodate different installation requirements. As shown in the embodiment of the invention depicted in Figs. 2-4, it may be preferred to have the socket module 3 be recessed behind the plane of the wall plate 5; however, the recessed area 7 into which plug module 1 fits can be left open. Alternatively, as depicted in Figs. 20- 24 and 42, wall-mounted connectors can be recessed behind wall plate 9, and the openings 11 in the wall plate allowing access to the connectors can must be closed off by spring-loaded shutters 13 whenever plugs 1 are disconnected therefrom.

The flexibility of the socket module 3 is further increased by providing various adaptor plugs which enable users to plug into the socket module data transmission lines terminating in plugs which differ in configuration from the socket modules. For example, plug adaptors 15a and 15b have been developed which allow users to connect a device whose data transmission line ends in either an RJ connector or a MIC connector into the socket module 3. These are standard connectors customarily provided on devices which are to be connected to other devices. For example, a remote device located in an office can be joined jto a data transmission line by a short length of cable terminating in either an RJ or MIC connector; this connector is then attached to a wall-mounted socket which is in turn connected to another device using the wiring running through the walls of the building (at some point this wiring may terminate in favor of fiber¬ optic cabling) .

As previously explained, RJ connectors have higher NEXT than is desirable for use with high-speed data transmission lines. While in theory it is possible to replace the RJ connector with the better-performing MIC connector, it is preferable to simply reduce the NEXT of the RJ connector (MIC connectors require ground circuitry, which complicates the replacement of RJ plugs with these adaptors) . Accordingly, an RJ adaptor plug 15a has been provided which allows a user to connect an RJ plug to the socket module 3 used in this system, and which adaptor plug 15a drastically reduces the NEXT for this connection.

For those cases in which a remote device is to be connected by a cable terminating in an MIC connector, a suitable adaptor 15b is provided.

Finally, an RJ plug has been invented which is less susceptible to the causes of NEXT than conventional RJ plugs. When this RJ plug is used with the RJ adaptor, NEXT is reduced dramatically.

The general construction of the socket module 3 is in some ways similar to the invention described in detail in the aforementioned U.S. Patent No. 5,160,273.

Insofar as the socket module of the present invention differs from the connector blocks described in U.S. Patent No. 5,160,273, those difference will be explained in detail below.

It has been found to be desirable to form the structure of the socket module frames 17 from molded polycarbonate polymer (LEXAN^®) . Of course other suitable materials can be used. The socket modules 3 are generally rectangular in shape. Each module is provided with pairs of transmit terminal wire openings 19a, b along one side thereof and corresponding pairs of receive terminal wire openings 21a, b. Each transmit terminal wire opening 19 allows signal wire 107 to be joined to a spring finger connector 23a along a centerline of the block, and that spring finger connector 23a normally contacts another spring finger connector 23b which extends from a corresponding terminal. The same arrangement is provided for the receive terminal wire openings 21a, b and related hardware.

As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the socket module 3 used in this invention is made in part from a plastic frame 117. Such frames can be molded, die cut, assembled from separate elements, or made in any other convenient way, and any other suitable materials can be used.

The overall structure of the socket module frame 17 is determined by the internal elements used in the socket module 3. When viewed from the front, the frame has a rectangular well 25,2 the longer axis of which runs horizontally, and the bottom of this well has two coplanar access slots 27a, 27b, each some 1/3" wide by 1/32" high. In order to better isolate the electrical components which are positioned behind the well 25, the access slots 27 are the only openings in the well. Of course those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the well can have additional openings and that the access slots can be of different size.

As can be seen in Figs. 5, 9 and 10, and as will be described more fully hereinafter, the frame 17 consists of a base 29 and a housing 31 attached to the base. The frame is constructed in this manner to simplify fabrication and assembly of the socket module 3.

The housing 31 fits onto the base 29 and is snap locked onto the base by means of engaging projections 35 along the upper surface of the base 37. These projections 35 extend into recesses or openings 39 in a skirt portion 41 of the housing which fits over a mating part of the base. Again, other connection methods such as adhesives, ultrasonic welding, or solvent welding can be used.

As can also be seen in Figs. 4, 5, 9 and 23, and as will be described in detail hereinafter, the housing is formed with internal cavities 33a-c into which the connector, ground and shield elements extend. One side of the housing 31 is formed with slots 43 into which insulated signal wires 107 to be connected to the socket module 3 are inserted. These slots 43 are located at a position remote from the base 29. The slots each have first wider portion 45 for guiding a wire into a second narrower portion 47. The width of the narrower portion 47 is chosen to be less than the overall diameter of an insulated wire to be connected, but greater than the diameter of the conductor portion of the wire. This allows the wires to be held tightly in the slots without imposing any strain on their conductor portions.

As shown in Figs. 4, 6, 9 and 10, the base 29 has a shoulder 49 along one side and against which an edge of the skirt portion 41 of the housing 31 abuts in assembly. The projections 35 are formed near the shoulder 49 at spaced apart locations along the length of the base 29. Similar projections 35 and recesses 39 are provided along the bottom surfaces of the base and the housing. The base 29 is also formed with recesses separated by walls 53 for accommodating pairs of connectors and ground elements. Also, pairs of fingers 55 extend out backward from the base (away from the slots) for holding connectors in place in the housing.

Electrically conductive shield plates 85 extend between the recesses and are held by other parts of the ground plate.

The housing 31 has mounted therein, in a manner described more fully hereinafter, an electrically conductive ground strip 57 from which spring finger ground elements 59 extend, as well as pairs of electrically conductive, spring finger connector elements 23a, b. These spring finger connectors are, of course, electrically isolated from one another and the ground strip 57.

The sectional view of Fig. 5 is taken through a plane in the body which passes through the slot in one of the walls and then through projection 35 and opening 39 in base 29. As can be seen, when the housing 31 is joined to the base 29 the spring finger connector elements 23a, b and the spring finger ground elements 59 are held in position so that they are isolated from one another.

Spring finger connector elements 23 a,b are depicted in Figs. 11-13. Seen from the side, the spring finger connector elements 23a, b are hook-shaped. The tip of the longer leg of the hook 61 forms the wire attachment terminal that is affixed to the incoming signal wire 107. This end of each connector element is approximately doubled into a U-shaped configuration and fits snugly into an associated housing recess 65. As shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 11, the tip of the doubled portion of this leg 61 has a small right-angle bend 67, and this bent portion 67 touches the opposing part of the leg. The other leg of each connector element (the short leg of the hook) 63 is a spring finger end. The spring finger leg 63 is bent inwardly to form a contact which normally abuts a corresponding contact on the spring finger end of an opposing, mating connector element. The curved portion of the hook-shaped connector is located near the front of the socket module, that is, by the access slots 27. The connector elements are resilient and the mating contacts of each pair of elements are resiliently biased into contact with each other. The tip 69 of each of the short legs 63 is bent slightly toward the opposing long leg of the connector 61 to better facilitate insertion of flat tabs between the opposing connectors. Preferably the connector elements are stamped out of sheet metal which is resilient and which has high electrical conductivity, for example, tempered pre-plated brass. Of course other suitable forming techniques and materials can be used.

Figs. 6 and 7 show in greater detail the spring connector, ground and shield structures. The ground strip 57 which extends along the ground strip channel 71, when seen from above, is generally U-shaped, and has an elongated base 73 as well as the spring finger ground elements 59 and shield contact elements 75 which are interposed with each other and which extend out from along the opposite edges of the base 29. Viewed from above, one of the legs of the "U" is longer than the other, and this longer leg is machined to form a spring clip 77. This clip allows easy attachment of a wire to the ground strip 57. The ground elements 59 are arranged in pairs and as with the hook-shaped connectors 23, they are bent inward toward the center plane of the ground strip channel 71 so that the ground elements of each pair normally contact each other, as shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 14. Like the connectors, the tips 79 of the opposing ground elements are bent away from one another slightly. Since these elements are resilient they can be flexed away from each other by insertion of an insert member between them. The shield contact elements 75 extend flat against the inner surfaces of the inner walls.

The base of the ground strip 57 rests against an inner wall of the housing 81. The inner wall 81 extends between the upper and lower plates of the housing 83a, 83b, which are located across the width of the housing 31.

The inner wall 81 is preferably solid, so that a tab inserted into the socket module 3 through the access slots 27a, 27b and past the contacts 23, 59 stops when it strikes inner wall 81. Of course small openings can be provided to improve ventilation without affecting this operation.

Additional shielding between adjacent contacts is provided by shield plates 85 which fit between adjacent pairs of contacts 23, as shown in Figs. 6-8. These shield plates 85 can be made from any suitable conductive material, such as plated copper. Viewed from the side, the shield plates 85 are shaped like a rectangle 87 having two elongated arms 89 extending outward from a short side of the rectangle, the arms both lying parallel to a line running along the long axis of the rectangle.

Thus, when placed between two contacts 23, the shield plate 85 isolates those contacts from one_another. The shield plate 85 is connected to the ground circuit because when positioned between the contacts 23, the rectangular end 87 of the shield plate passes into narrow slots 91 formed by the two pairs of projections, which are bent toward one another to form shield contact elements 75 (two top, two bottom) formed in the ground strip 57. Since the slots 91 are slightly narrower than the shield plate 85, when the shield plate 85 is inserted therebetween, the elastic deformation of the projections holds the shield plate in position.

Referring now to Figs. 5 and 9, it will be seen that the upper and lower plates of the housing 83a, 83b, are symmetrical about the horizontal center plane of the socket module 3. When viewed from above, the upper plate 83a is symmetrical about the vertical center plane of the socket module, as is the hidden lower plate 83b.

Again referring to the top view of the housing in Fig. 9, two regions of the upper plate can be seen. Region 93 is inserted into and joined to the base 29.

Connector region 95 has a wide central finger 55a, middle fingers 55b and outer fingers 55c. Adjacent fingers 55 are separated by slots 43. These slots all have a first, fairly wide region 45, and closer to the center of the housing, a narrower gripping region 47.

In addition, as seen in Figs. 6 and 11-13, the U-shaped wire attachment ends of the connector elements are each formed with a corresponding wire connection slot 97, with a wider entry portion 99 and a narrower second portion 101. These connectors are disposed beneath the fingers 55 so that when the wire attachment ends of the connector elements are inserted into the recesses of the housing 31, the wire connection slots _97 of the connector elements are located in registry with the slots 43 between the fingers. By aligning the connectors and wire connection slots in this manner, connection of signal wiring 107 to the socket module 3 is facilitated. Since the wire connection slots 97 of the connector elements 23a, are narrower than both the wire insertion slots in the housing 45 and 47, as a signal wire 107 is pressed down into one of the slots 97, the sides of the narrower part of the slot 99 first cut through the wire insulation and then the sides of the narrower second portion 101 of the slot bite into and form a positive electrical contact with the conductor portion of the wire. At the same time the narrow portion 47 of the wire insertion slot 43 securely holds the insulator portion of the wire without straining the conductor portion of the wire. This connection technique is well-known, and is referred to as punch-down wiring. The connectors are frequently referred to as insulation displacement connectors ("IDC's"). Suitable punch-down wire stripping and positioning tools are available for use with a range of different size connectors.

As can be seen in Figs. 7-9, each of the slots 43 in the housing 31 is centered between two sets of mating contacts of associated spring connector elements 23a, and coplanar with one set of ground elements 59 from the ground strip 57. Also, as mentioned, the wire insertion slots 43 in the housing 31 and their associated wire connection slots 97 are aligned with the mating contacts. Thus, it will be seen that when a wire is thrust through one of the slot assemblies at the top of the device, and another wire is laid into the corresponding slot assembly at the bottom of the device, the wires will be electrically connected to each other via the mating contacts 23a,b which are seen and are accessible through the associated insert slot. The connection between these wires will be broken when the contacts are separated as by inserting an insulative member into the slot. Thus, the socket module contacts are all self-shunting.

The spring finger connector elements 23a,b with their contact elements also can be seen in Figs. 6, 7 and Il¬ ls. Figs. 6 and 7 also show the spring finger grounds 59 connected to the ground strip 57. The spring finger grounds are connected to ground via a ground wire (not shown) joined to the ground strip 57 via the spring clip 77. Of course other types of connectors, such as a screw terminal, can be used.

Preferably, ground strip 57 is stamped out of resilient sheet metal which has high electrical conductivity, for example, tempered pre-plated brass. As previously explained, when seen from above, ground strip 57 is "U" shaped; one leg of the "U" is longer than the other, and is formed into a spring clip 77. This clip is used to connect the ground strip to ground. Alternatively the connector can be attached to the ground strip, for example, by crimping, at either the same or a different position. Of course, other types of wiring connectors such as screw or plug terminals can be used.

Seen from the front, the ground strip 57 is approximately rectangular. Two upper and two lower spring finger grounds 59 are symmetrically placed about both the vertical and horizontal mid planes of the ground strip. Ideally, each of these spring finger grounds 59 is formed by shaping and then bending down rectangular projections formed in the ground strip 57. Again, any other acceptable fabrication technique can be employed. Between the horizontally adjacent ground elements 59 lie upper and lower shield contact elements 75 which are bent toward each other to extend at a right angle to the base elements. The shield contact elements 75 are each formed with slots 91 which divide each element into two segments. The slots 91, which are located in alignment with each other, accommodate and engage edges of the shield plates 85 inserted therebetween and make electrical contact with those plates when assembled.

As shown in Figs. 6-8, the electrically conductive shield plates 85 extend over the area occupied by the mutually facing surfaces of different groups of spring finger connectors 23a,b. As previously explained, the shield plates 85 are connected to ground by virtue of their engagement in the slots 91 in the shield contact elements 103 of the ground strip 57. These shield plates 85 are capable of preventing cross-radiation between adjacent groups of spring finger connectors 23a,b and thus permit very close spacing between these groups. Such cross-radiation might otherwise cause cross-talk between different signals. Accordingly, a high density of signal carrying wires and connectors is made possible without undesirable cross-talk.

As seen from the above, the electrically conductive shield plates 85 have a surface area at least as great as the projected area between adjacent pairs of the spring finger connectors 23a,b, and preferably, a somewhat greater area.

As can be seen from the above description, the contacting spring finger ground elements 59 are coplanar with the contacting spring finger ends of the spring finger connector elements 23a,b. Thus, when an insert element 105 is inserted into one of the slots it will first engage and spread apart the connector elements 23 and thereafter, as it is inserted further, will engage and spread apart the ground elements 59. However, because the spring finger ground elements 59

receive terminals is broken and the remote device is interposed into the loop.

As shown in Fig. 2, socket module 3 mates with a suitably-dimensioned plug module 1. The inserts 115 of the plug module fit into the corresponding access slots 27a, 27b of the socket module. Although the inserts 115 and access slots 27 are shown as being rectangular, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that any other suitable shapes can be used and will still fall within the scope of this invention. Likewise, these slots need not be coplanar. The base 113 of the plug module is dimensioned to fit into the well 25 of the socket module 3, and so helps to prevent relative movement of these parts. Of course the plug module base can be made larger than the well, or the well can be omitted entirely.

As shown in Figs. 14-16, each plug module 1 has a printed circuit board insert 115 mounted in the base portion 113. The printed circuit board insert 115 is formed with a central, electrically conductive isolating shield layer 117 having surrounding insulative portions 119a,b on both top and bottom surfaces. The contact pads formed on the outer surfaces of the insulative portions include transmit line contact pads 121a,b and a ground contact pad 123 on one side and receive line contact pads 125a,b and a ground contact pad 127 on the opposite side. When the plug module 1 is inserted into the socket module 3, the tab-shaped printed circuit board insert 115 passes through the access slot 27 and as it advances the transmit line contact pads 121 of the printed circuit board insert touch the spring finger connectors 23 while the receive line contact pads touch the corresponding spring finger connectors 23. Likewise, the ground contact pads 123, 127 touch the spring finger grounds 55 of the socket 3. Finally, a shield pad 84 contacts the shield plate 85 in the socket module 3. The center of the shield plate can be shaped with a groove (not shown) to accommodate the shield pad 84.

Fig. 14 shows a plug module 1 attached to the end of a patch cable 129 to be connected to the socket module 3. The printed circuit board insert 115 is mounted to the end of the cable 129 by means of the molded plastic housings 113. This housing can be formed in two parts which are clamped over the ends of the cable 115 and are held together at welded posts (either ultrasonic or solvent welding can be used) .

As can be see in Fig. 9 and 14-16, the printed circuit board insert 115 is of elongated rectangular shape and comprises a laminate formed of the inner electrically conductive shield layer 117 sandwiched between the insulative portions 119a,b (because the insert is symmetrical about the plane of the shield layer, the a bottom view of the insert is not shown; of course it is not required that the bottom and tops of the insert be symmetrical) . The isolating shield layer 117 is a thin plate of copper or other highly conductive material, and when properly positioned can prevent radiation between electrical signal paths located on opposite sides of that shield layer. This decreases crosstalk between those signal paths. The insulative portions are made from conventional printed circuit board base material. The shield layer 117 extends over the entire lateral area of the insulative portions 119a,b.

The printed circuit board insert 115 is formed with an elongated insert portion 133 at one end and a rectangular cable connection portion 135 at the other end. The insert and cable connection portions are separated by a neck portion 137 but other configurations are also possible. The insert portion 133 is formed with a slight taper at its tip 139 to facilitate insertion of the board between normally contacting spring fingers in the blocks. Such a taper 139 can be formed by grinding or any other suitable technique. In addition, the corners of the insert portion can be beveled.

A pair of parallel, spaced apart, electrically conductive transmit line contact pads 121a,b and associated transmit circuit traces 122a,b are formed, by conventional printed circuit plating technique, along the outer surface of the insulative portion 119a. As can be seen in Fig. 15, the pads 121a,b extend from a location near the taper 139 on the insert portion 133, through the neck portion 137 and are connected by the circuit traces 122a,b to transmit line cable connector terminals 141 near one edge of the cable connection portion. The cable connector terminals are formed by drilling holes 143 through the printed circuit board insert and metal plating the interior of the holes with the plating in contact with the respective circuit trace. This enables a wire to be connected to the circuit traces 122a,b by passing the wire through the plated hole 143 and then soldering it in place. Corresponding receive line contact pads 125a,b and receive circuit traces 136a,b are formed on the other side of the printed circuit board in the same manner.

A ground contact pad 123 is also formed by conventional printed circuit plating technique between the contact pads. Plated through hole 143 is formed in the ground contact pad and electrically connects the ground contact pad to the shield layer 117. As shown in Figs. 15-19, an insulative protective layer 119a,b covers the outer surface of the transmit circuit traces 122, receive circuit traces 136 and ground circuit trace (which is in fact the isolating layer) . The protective layer 119a is formed with openings in selected regions over the circuit traces whereby those regions form the contact pads 121, 123, which are contacted by the spring finger connectors 23a,b and ground 55 of the socket module 3. Again, another thin insulative protective layer 119b is provided on the other side of the printed circuit board in order to cover the receive circuit traces 126 and associated components and to form the corresponding contact pads 125, 127.

It will be seen that the electrically conductive shield layer 117 extends over the entire lateral area of the cable connection 135 and neck portions 137 of the insert 133. Thus the layer fully shields the transmit and receive circuit traces 122, 126 from one another. Also, the shield layer 117 extends over the ground contact pads 123, 127 and becomes electrically connected to these ground contact pads via the plated through hole 143. It will also be noted that the shield layer is dimensioned so that it does not contact the plated through holes 143 which form the transmit cable connector terminals. Thus the transmit and receive circuit traces 122, 126 and contact pads 121, 125 are electrically isolated from the shield portion.

It will also be understood that the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 15 and 16 has an underside which is the mirror image of that shown in Fig. 16, so that when viewed from above, transmit contact pad 121a lies atop receive contact pad 125, and so on. Of course it is also possible to provide for other configurations, or to omit the circuitry on the underside entirely. In the latter case, a suitably- positioned insulating layer may still be used.

It will be appreciated that while the forgoing discussion of the plug module was concerned with a insert made from printed circuit board, the insert can be made using any other suitable materials and techniques. In addition, other insert shapes are contemplated. One example of this is depicted in Figs. 17-19, which show a flat single-tongue insert 269.

Again, this insert is provided with contact pads 121, 123, 125, electrical traces 122 and 126, and openings 143, and is connected to a cable in the same manner as has just been described for the dual-tongue embodiment. Such a connector may be used where is only necessary to access half of the contacts 23, 55 within a socket module 3. In addition, contact pads can be provided on either both or just one of the insert's surfaces.

The printed circuit board inserts 115 and 269 are formed with notches 145 at one corner of their outer end. These notches accommodate shoulders (not shown) in the socket modules 3 to allow full insertion of the inserts 115 or 269 only when they are facing in the proper direction. If the inserts are turned over 180°, the notches will also be reversed and the shoulders in the blocks 145 will prevent complete insertion of the inserts. As already explained, the electrical contacts pads will not make electrical contact with their associated spring fingers until the insert is properly and entirely positioned in the socket module, and so because the shoulders and notches cooperate to prevent full insertion of an inverted insert, misconnection of the circuits can be prevented.

As shown in Fig. 5, when the printed circuit board insert 115 is fully inserted into the opening 27 in the socket module 3, it spreads apart and breaks the electrical connections between the spring finger connectors 23 from the transmit and receive terminals and also spreads apart and breaks the electrical connection between the spring finger grounds 55. In addition, when the printed circuit board insert is fully inserted into the socket module, its contact pads 121, 123, 125, 127 make electrical contact with the spread apart signal and ground spring fingers 23, 55. In this manner the circuit connections are established. It will be appreciated that when the insert 115 is withdrawn, the spring fingers connectors 23 again come into contact with each other to reestablish electrical contact between the transmit and receive lines of the multiple access unit cable. Similarly, the spring finger grounds 55 come back into mutual contact to ensure the integrity of the ground system. In this manner, the device is made self-shunting.

A particular benefit of the present invention is the ability to prevent high frequency signals conducted through one circuit from interfering with the signals on a second circuit of a printed circuit board insert mounted the socket module. This is achieved, according to the present invention, by the provision of the electrically conductive shield layer 117 between the transmit circuit traces 122 and transmit contact pads 121 on one side and the receive line circuit traces 126 and receive contact pads 125 on the other side of the printed circuit board inserts 115. Before an insert is inserted, the spring finger connectors 23a contact the spring fingers connectors 23b in the socket module 3 (Figs. 5 and 8) . In this condition the contacting spring finger connectors have the same signal on them at all times and they need no electrical isolation (self-shunting) . However, when a plug module is connected, as by inserting ics printed circuit board insert 115 into the connector blocks, the now separated spring finger connectors 23a,b are connected to different terminals of a computer work station and they carry different signals. Accordingly it then becomes necessary to provide isolation between the now separated spring finger connectors. This is achieved in the present invention by provision of the electrically conductive shield layers 117 in the printed circuit board inserts 115. These conductive shield layers 117 prevent any radiative or inductive coupling between the separated spring fingers connectors 23.

An alternative configuration of the present invention not shown involves the use of just half the spring finger connectors in each socket module to transmit or receive signals. In other words, only one side of the printed circuit board insert, for example, the top, is provided with contact and ground pads; the other side is completely covered by an isolating. Of course now some of the additional adjacent socket module spring finger contacts will have to transmit the signals that would otherwise have been carried by the contacts on the bottom of that insert. While this configuration of the plug and socket modules is more space consuming, it may nevertheless be of interest where space is not at a premium. While in this embodiment of the invention there will be no interference through the interior of the insert 115, interference from laterally adjacent signal lines may still be a concern.

As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, when plug modules are inserted in side by side relation into the socket module, the inner ground shield printed circuit segments 117 are interposed between adjacent transmit 121 and receive segments 125. These printed circuit segments, even though they have minimal thickness, nevertheless are at least as thick as the transmit and receive segments; and are effective in significantly isolating those segments from mutual interference at high frequencies. Specifically, it has been found that so long as the electrically conductive shield segments 117 occupy the projected area between the transmit 121 and receive 125 segments they will be effective to significantly reduce interference and crosstalk between those segments.

It is, of course, possible to provide an alternate form of a cable which has a printed circuit board insert on one end and an MIC type connector at the other end. Such a configuration is useful in arrangements where only one socket module 3 is provided and it is desired to make connections from a computer terminal which receives an MIC connector, to the socket module. Of course the MIC type connector could just as easily be replaced with an RJ-type connector, or any other suitable connector.

In the above described embodiments, the printed circuit board inserts 115 include not only ground contact pads 123, 127 but also transmit and receive line contact pads 121, 125, all dimensioned so that upon insertion of the insert into one of the socket modules all connections for a particular set of terminals is made simultaneously. The cables are connected simply by inserting their printed circuit board inserts into appropriate openings of the socket modules. Thus, the use of printed circuit board inserts, which make all connections simultaneously, permits quick and convenient connection and disconnection without need for any tools.

It will also be appreciated that the aspect of the invention described herein enables simple and convenient connection between remote devices and wall- mounted socket modules while maintaining good isolation between terminals and contacts in the socket modules and continuous shielding ground connections through the socket modules.

Another aspect of this invention relates to the manner in which the socket module 3 can be mounted in building walls. Several different wall mounts have been invented which allow a given socket module design to be mounted in different ways. This is particularly advantageous because while properties of connection components have been standardized, different regions have different construction requirements covering the installation of wall sockets.

For example, some installation codes or customs may require the socket module to be mounted in recessed manner behind a wall plate, and the entire socket module must be contained within a standard size grounded wall outlet box.

Accordingly, a wall outlet plate 5 has been designed which mounts the standard socket assembly in recessed fashion. Such a wall outlet plate is shown in Figs. 2- 4.

The front surface of the wall plate 5 is a beveled rectangle having a rectangular open central recess 7. As shown, this recess 7 is sized to accommodate two plug modules 1 of the type previously described, one module positioned above the other. The wall plate 5 also has two screw holes 149 dimensioned and disposed so that by passing suitably-sized screws therethrough, the wall plate 5 can be attached to the wall outlet box 151. Two rectangular openings 153 are provided in the back wall of the central rectangular recess 7. These openings 153 are sized so that the rectangular well 25 of a socket module 3 attached to the back of the recess 7 is sufficiently exposed. This way, when a plug module 1 is inserted into the recess 7, it can pass through the opening 153 and securely connect with the socket module 3, and is held in place by recess 7.

As can be seen in a side view of the wall plate 5, two pairs of latch arms 155 are provided on the back side of the recess back wall 157, one pair atop the other. Each latch arm 155 is approximately rectangular, and at the end of each latch arm remote from where the latch arm joins the back wall of the recess 157, there is also provided a finger 159. When viewed from above this finger 159 makes a right angle with the body of the latch arm. The corner of the finger facing toward the center of the wall plate has a beveled.inner edge 161, for reasons to be explained later.

Figs. 2-4 show a socket module 3 mounted in the wall plate 5 in the above-described manner. The socket module is easily mounted by orienting the socket module so that its well 25 lies in registry with the associated opening 153 in the wall plate. Mounting is accomplished by positioning the socket module just behind and out of engagement with the latch arms 155. Then, the socket module 3 is moved forward toward the wall plate 5, causing the edges of the base to strike the beveled edges 161 of fingers. Continued forward movement of the socket module along the beveled edge 161 forces the latch arms 155 apart so that the base 29 of the socket module can pass between them. The latch arms 155 and fingers 159 are dimensioned so that just as the front of the socket module abuts the back wall 157 of the recessed portion of the wall plate, the back of the base 29 clears the fingers, which then snap inward behind the base.

Among the benefits of this mounting scheme is the ability to connect a socket module without any tooling. A further advantage is that although the socket module is held securely, it can be readily removed from the wall plate simply by spreading the two latch arms 155 away from one another so that the tips of the fingers 159 are spaced apart by a distance greater than the width of the socket module. Since the fingers no longer engage the back of the base 29, the socket module 3 can simply be pulled out (of course the socket module should first be disconnected from the plug module) .

Clearly, this wall plate can be mounted in an orientation other than that shown in Figs. 2-4, for example, by rotating the wall plate 90°. Alternatively, the two openings in the recess 153 can be positioned differently, with corresponding repositioning of the latch arms. Of course if the wall plate 5 is to be used with a wall outlet box 151, the openings 153 must be positioned so that when the socket modules 3 are mounted they still fit within the wall outlet box.

An alternate wall plate configuration 9 is shown in Figs 20-24. This wall plate is designed to be used with a suitably-shaped wall outlet box 163, and is suitable for use where it is desirable to cover the socket wells 25 when they are not in use. As with the previously-discussed wall plate, socket modules 3 are held in place by latch arms 155 having fingers 159 at their remote ends and located on the back of the wall plate assembly 157. Again, the fingers have bevelled inner edges 161. The wall plate 9 is dimensioned so that when the socket modules are mounted between the latch arms 155, the front of each socket module lies slightly behind the front of the wall plate 9. It is also possible to provide a deeper recess behind the wall plate, like in the previously-discussed wall plate 5. An additional feature of this wall plate 9 is the provision of a movable shutter door 13 designed to automatically prevent access to the socket module 3 whenever a mating plug module 1 is withdrawn. Rectangular shutter 13 is movably contained within the wall plate 9 (i.e., in a suitably dimensioned slot) so that it can slide vertically. A spring 165 located above the shutter 13 in the slot is compressed whenever the shutter is raised. The shutter has a flange 167 which serves as a grip to help a user raise the shutter 13 before inserting the plug module 1. When the shutter is lifted, the socket module 3 that was shielded by the shutter 13 is exposed, and a plug module 1 can be connected to the socket module. When the plug module 1 is removed, the compressed spring 165 forces the shutter 13 downward, blocking access to the socket module.

Because of the movable shutter 13 and spring 165 the wall plate 9 must be formed with an internal cavity 169 to contain the shutter and spring. This cavity is dimensioned so that the shutter can move up and down by at least the height of the plug module 1.

This cavity 169 is formed by positioning a small backplate 171 adjacent to the back side of the recess back wall 157 of the wall plate 9. The two plates are connected with a space between them by four stand-off posts 173. Each post has a shoulder 175, and holes 177 formed in the backplate 171 fit over the smaller diameter portion 179 of the posts, but not past the shoulders. The shutter 13 and spring 165 are positioned behind the wall plate 9 and are held securely once the backplate 171 is mounted on the stand-off posts 173. The spring and shutter can be kept from sliding out through the spaces between the stand-off posts 173 by providing raised areas 176 on either the wall plate or backplate. These areas 176 narrow or close the gap between the two plates so that the spring and shutter cannot escape. Then, to complete assembly of the wall plate 9, the backplate is permanently connected to the standoff posts, i.e., by ultrasonic or solvent welding.

Because the two latch arms 155 are joined to the recess back wall 157 of the wall plate, the backplate 171 must be dimensioned to fit between the latch arms 155. It is also necessary to provide an opening in the backplate 171 so that when a plug module 1 is inserted into the wall plate 9 it can pass through that opening and mate with the socket module 3 which is mounted behind and in contact with the backplate. As shown in

Fig. 22, this is accomplished by constructing the backplate 171 from three subassemblies. Upper rectangular plate 181 and lower rectangular plate 183 are affixed (i.e. by ultrasonic or solvent welding) to a slightly narrower window 185. The window 185 is dimensioned to fit between the two latch arms 155, and is also sized so that a plug module can fit therethrough. The two rectangular plates 181, 183 are joined to the upper and lower edges of the window 185 and the entire assembly is sized so that when mounted to the recess back wall 157 the window fits between the latch arms and lies in registry with the opening in the wall plate.

Typically, two socket modules l are mounted alongside one another. Again, many alternate configurations are possible so long as they fit within the wall outlet box 163 or, if no such box is used, the space available for mounting.

Another manner of mounting the socket modules is shown in Figs. 43-45. In this embodiment of the invention, a number of socket modules 3 are mounted in a suitable faceplate 237 to form jack panel 235. The faceplate 237 has a number of rectangular openings 239 which are occupies by plastic inserts 241. These inserts are fit into the rectangular openings and have latch arms 243 projecting rearward, these latch arms being dimensioned and disposed to hold a socket module in the same manner as wall plates 5 and 9.

As depicted in Figs. 29, 30 and 34-35, the adaptor plug is formed by attaching a socket of the type found on the remote device intended to be linked to another device (i.e., an RJ socket or an MIC socket) to a rectangular piece of printed circuit board 259. This rectangular printed circuit board 259, which is shown in detail in Figs. 31-33, has a slot 253 formed in one of its two narrower sides, and both provides the mechanical support for the socket and contains the electrical wiring to connect the socket to the internal electrical contacts within the socket module. The slot 253 runs approximately half-way across the circuit board, so that when seen from above the circuit board 259 has two elongated tabs 261a,b. These tabs are dimensioned so that they will just fit into the corresponding access slots 27a, found in the base of the socket module 3. The tips of the two tabs 261a, are beveled 255 to facilitate installation in socket module 3.

The assembled electrical components are then enclosed by a two-piece shroud 245, 247, although alternate enclosures can be used. The tabs 261a, of printed circuit board 259 passes through a suitably-dimensioned opening (not shown) in shroud 245. The two parts of the shroud can be connected in a variety of ways, and are shown joined by two projections 249 which fit into suitably dimensioned openings 251. Other ways of connecting the parts of the shroud, such as by ultrasonic or adhesive welding, can also be used.

A suitable socket 267 is mounted on the printed circuit board 259. Electrical leads protrude from the bottom of the socket and are received in suitable openings 263 in the printed circuit board; electrical traces (not shown) lead from these openings to other portions of the printed circuit board 259, as discussed in more detail below. The socket 267 can be fastened to the printed circuit board 259 using a variety of well-known techniques. Adhesive, mechanical fasteners or other well-known bonding techniques can be employed.

The printed circuit board 259 is constructed to have transmit, receive and ground contact pads 257a,b,c formed on the top and/or bottom of the printed circuit board in positions that will engage the socket module internal connectors. In this regard, the printed circuit board is dimensioned like the plug module 1, since both must cooperate with the socket module 3. Accordingly, in view of the explanation of the plug module construction previously given, the electrical structure of the flat substrate need not be discussed further. Of course, if the socket module access openings are shaped differently, the corresponding portions of the adaptor plug can be modified accordingly.

It will also be appreciated that the plug adaptor structure just described allows as many as eight connector signal lines to be joined to the eight contact pads on the printed circuit board (each of the two arms has two pads on each surface) . Of course it is not necessary to use all eight connectors of the socket or all of the contact pads. Likewise, a smaller socket can be used. It is even possible to provide an insert with a single tab.

It should be noted that while it is preferable to use a suitable piece of printed circuit board, any other methods and materials able to provide a substrate having the requisite shape and electrical circuitry.

The adaptor plug is particularly suited to use with data transmission lines because it can incorporate a number of remarkable features which eliminated certain problems previously thought to be inherent to RJ plug connectors. At this point, a discussion of RJ plugs may be helpful.

RJ plugs are small modular connectors similar to those used in modern telephone sets. As seen in Figs. 25-28, they are blocklike in appearance. These connectors are simple, cheap, and convenient. Several standard sizes are available, one of which accommodates four signal lines, and another, slightly larger, eight lines. RJ plugs are made from plastic because this material is nonconductive, cheap and easy to form into the correct shape.

RJ plugs are held in place in a socket by a flexible latching arm 187. Once inserted into, a matching jack, they can only be removed when the flexible latching arm is pressed.

As shown in Figs. 25 and 28, the RJ jack includes several plate-like electrical contacts 189, each held in a suitably-dimensioned groove 191. The width of the grooves is chosen so that the contacts are held tightly in place by friction, while the depth of the groove is such that the tops of the contacts lie no higher than the level of the top 192 of the RJ plug. A data transmission cable 193 formed by wrapping together several individually-insulated signal wires 195, in an outside layer of insulation 196, i.e. UTP wire, passes through an opening 197 at one end of the RJ plug. The outer insulation layer 196 can be captivated in the RJ plug by a crimping bar (not shown) which tightly squeezes the data transmission cable 193. The inner, separately insulated signal wire 195 extend out beyond this crimping bar and these signal wires are separated so that they are coplanar and parallel to each other. These wires can also be secured by a crimping bar 199. Each of the separate signal wires 195 lies at the bottom of a different groove 191 (the walls forming each groove 194 may or may not be continuous) .

The contacts 189 are joined to the signal wire 195 as follows. At the bottom edge of each contact is one or more triangular projections 201. When the RJ plug is assembled, the separated signal wires 195 are spread so that one wire lies beneath each of the different grooves 191, and then a contact 189 is pressed downward into each of the grooves. As the contact nears its proper position, the triangular projection(s) 201 pierces the insulation of the signal wire and come into contact with the conductor. Again, friction between the groove walls 194 and the contacts 189 immobilizes the contacts.

RJ plugs are typically not preferred for use in high speed data lines because they are highly sj sceptible to crosstalk (NEXT) . Because of the small size of an RJ plug, it is not possible to shield the contacts or signal wires form one another, and so RJ plugs are perceived as low-performance connectors.

Investigation has revealed that the cause of RJ plug NEXT is the size and shape of the contacts 189 held in the grooves 191. Because adjacent contacts are separated by the groove wall 194, each of which walls is a layer of plastic (a dielectric material) , adjacent contacts have the potential to become capacitors, if charged to different electrical states (a capacitor can be constructed by placing a dielectric between two electrically charged plates) .

It is possible to connect the four (or eight) wires of an incoming signal line to an RJ connector in many different ways. However, a conventional wiring scheme has been adopted. When a eight-contact RJ plug is viewed from the front, the leftmost contact is designated contact 1, the contact immediately to the right, contact 2, and so on, through contact 8.

Eight-contact RJ plugs can also be used with only four incoming signal wires. In this case, only four of the jack contacts are connected to the signal wires. To simplify the explanation of this part of the invention, only this arrangement will be described. Of course those skilled in the art will appreciate that this invention is equally applicable without further inventive effort to four-contact RJ plugs, and eight- contact RJ plugs in which all eight contacts are utilized.

When an eight-contact RJ plug is used to connect two pairs of signal wires, a receive pair and a transmit pair, wiring convention dictates that one of the transmit signal wires be connected to contact 2, the other transmit signal wire to contact 5. Likewise, one receive signal wire is joined to contact 3, the other, to contact 4.

This wiring configuration means each contact lies next to a contact which is connected to a different circuit. Thus, when adjacent contacts conduct different electrical signals, the relative difference between these signals will cause the contacts to attain different electrical states, and as previously noted, they will act as capacitor plates. Because the plastic groove walls 194 between the charged contacts are not perfect dielectrics, there will be a current flow between the contacts 189. It is this current flow, which is known as capacitive coupling, that causes RJ plug NEXT. NEXT occurs between contacts 2 and 3, and contacts 4 and 5 (contacts 3 and 4, and 2 and 5 do not interfere with one another because they are part of the same circuit paths) .

While non-adjacent contacts (i.e., contacts 2 and 4) can also interfere with one another, increasing NEXT, this is not as critical as NEXT from adjacent circuitry.

Due to the compact size of RJ plugs, it is not feasible to isolate the different contacts by interposing shield plates between them, as has been done in the socket module. Nevertheless, several ways have been invented to dramatically reduce RJ plug NEXT.

The first way to reduce NEXT takes advantage of the fact that capacitance is related to the area of the capacitor plates (which, here, are the adjacent contacts) . Two alternative shapes for RJ contacts have been invented which are the same size as standard RJ contacts, have a reduced side area, but which have lower capacitance. Because NEXT due to capacitive coupling is directly proportional to capacitance, this means that in RJ plugs using these contacts, NEXT can be reduced even further.

As seen in Figs. 25 and 26, one novel contact 203 is roughly "π" shaped. The ends of the two legs 201 are pointed so that when pressed downward into an RJ plug groove 191 they pierce the signal wire insulation and lodge in the constrained conductor.

An alternate novel RJ plug contact 205 is shaped like a hollow rectangle, and is shown in Fig. 27. Again, one or more triangular projections 201 are provided at the bottom of this contact in order to engage the signal wire conductor.

Depending on the signal frequency involved, the NEXT of an RJ plug modified only by the use of these specially- shaped contacts can be reduced by 3-6 dB as compared to an unmodified RJ plug. A particular benefit of this aspect of the invention is that NEXT caused by capacitive coupling between non-adjacent contacts is also reduced.

Because NEXT acts like an unwanted second signal superimposed on the signal of interest, NEXT can also be greatly reduced by cancelling out the unwanted signal. This has been achieved by adding to the signal affected by crosstalk a new third signal which has exactly the same amplitude and precisely the opposite phase as the unwanted second signal. When this is done, the second signal caused by crosstalk is cancelled out, leaving only the signal of interest.

The invention takes advantage of the fact that capacitive coupling of two signal lines always takes place 180° out of phase from the inductive coupling of those same lines. Thus, by placing one or more inductor coils in the circuitry, the interfering signal lines can be inductively coupled with a 180° phase difference. Of course the inductors must be selected so that the amplitude of the induced signal is the same as the magnitude of the signal caused by capacitive coupling between the contacts.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a single cylindrical ferrite core 207 is used to inductively couple the two pairs of signal wire used in an eight- contact RJ plug having four connected contacts. As seen in Figs. 29 and 30, the cylindrical ferrite core 207 is mounted on the top of the printed circuit board 259 which forms the base of the RJ adaptor plug.

Ferrite core 207 is located along the centerline of the adaptor plug. Sufficient inductive coupling can be achieved by causing one of signal lines 2 and 5 and one of signal lines 3 and 4 to lie next to another within the gap of the ferrite core. It is also possible to turn the ferrite core 207 on its side and simply place the signal lines atop the ferrite core. Inductive coupling can be increased by wrapping both of the two lines around the core.

Inductive coupling can also be achieved by providing inductor coils (or ferrite cores) in each of the signal lines formed on the printed circuit board (not shown) . Specifically, a coil in line 2 is located by a coil in line 4, and a coil in line 3 is located by a coil in line 5, so that the respective signal lines are coupled by their adjacent coils. This configuration is, however, somewhat more complicated to construct than the embodiment described previously, but may be more easily ."fine-tuned". Of course construction can be simplified by forming the four coils on a single semiconductor device. In this case, the printed circuit board 259 will have to be designed to mount the semiconductor device, and the wiring of the printed circuit board must allow connection of the printed circuit board.

Inductive coupling of the signal lines can be achieved in yet another way. By arranging the adaptor plug circuitry so that the signal lines which experience NEXT due to capacitive coupling at their associated contact plates run alongside one another for a sufficient distance (i.e., 1"-1 1/2"), fluctuating magnetic field caused by electrical signals transmitted by one line which surround that line will also surround the adjacent line, and so will also influence that adjacent signal line.

Although an induced signal effective to reduce crosstalk can be produced in a variety of ways, care must always be taken to insure that each induced signal tracks (or matches) the crosstalk signal over the entire frequency range of interest.

In view of the foregoing discussion, it will be clear that the novel approach to crosstalk cancellation can be employed so as to reduce the crosstalk of any particular connector, whether it be a socket module 3, plug module 1, or connector block. In the case of socket module 3, NEXT can be reduced by configuring the socket module to include any of the various structures just described for inductively coupling different signals in the adaptor plug. This can be easily done by routing the different signals lines to pass through one or more suitably disposed ferrite cores or other coils (not shown) so that signals passing _^through the socket module are inductively coupled. Again, these cores/coils can be disposed on a semiconductor chip or printed circuit board. It is also possible to provide closely-adjacent different signal wires which, because of their proximity, are inductively coupled. All of these devices can be either included in the basic socket module structure or can be incorporated in a substrate (i.e., a printed circuit board) which is connected to the socket module.

The plug module can also be modified to reduce its crosstalk in the same manner. Ferrite cores or inductor coils can be included in the circuitry of the plug module either directly in the insert 115, in a separate substrate attached thereto, or in a suitable adaptor.

It is also possible to modify the wall plate 5 or 11 in the manner just described to reduce NEXT of signals passing therethrough.

An especially preferred embodiment of the plug adaptor 15a and the wall plate 9 is depicted in Fig. 42. Ease of use of this plug adaptor is improved by modifications to the shape of the plug adaptor and the flange 167 of the window shutter 13. In particular, flange 167 has been worked to form a bevelled flange 227. In addition, the edge 229 of the shroud 231 is provided with a sloped camming surface. Now, insertion of the plug adaptor into the wall plate automatically raises the shutter, even if done with one hand. Specifically, when the insert is pressed past the shutter 13, the taper (not shown) at the tip of the insert 115 automatically cooperates with bevelled flange 227 to raise the shutter 13 slightly. Then, when camming surface 233 contacts the partially-raised bevelled flange, it continues raising the jflange until the plug adaptor is fully seated in the socket module 3. This embodiment is particularly useful where the socket module is recessed somewhat behind the plane of the shutter. If the recess is properly dimensioned, the inserted adaptor plug will lie nearly flush with the front of the wall plate.

The adaptor plug can be used in a variety of ways. For example, it can be used to temporarily convert the slotted socket module, which already has been discussed at length, to an RJ connection, as shown in Fig. 42. Although Fig. 42 shows the adaptor plug being used to convert a wall socket having a movable shutter 13 which normally blocks access to the concealed, recessed socket modules 3, it will be appreciated that such an adaptor plug could just as easily be used with a different type of wall socket such as the arrangement shown in Figs. 3 and 4. It will also be understood that how much of the adaptor plug protrudes beyond the wall plate will depend upon the depth of the recess in the particular wall socket configuration being used.

To disconnect a remote device coupled to the wall socket via an adaptor plug 15, particularly an RJ plug, either the RJ plug can be removed from the adapter 15, leaving the adaptor plug in the socket module 3, or the entire adaptor plug can be removed from the socket module. The latter technique is to be preferred because when the adaptor plug is removed from the socket module, the self-shunting property of the socket module is allowed to operate.

The adaptor plug 15a can also be connected to the socket module and mounted in a more permanent way by providing a wall plate 211 like that shown in Figs. 40 and 41. In this embodiment of the invention, the wall plate 211 is provided with a recess 213 dimensioned to accept two RJ plug adaptors. On the back wall 215 of the recess are rectangular openings (not shown) suitably dimensioned and disposed so that the inserts of an RJ adaptor plug 15a can pass through each opening without interfering with the back wall 215 of the recess.

It should also be noted that the socket modules are held in the wall plate 211 by engagement with latch arms 219. Like the latch arms previously discussed, these latch arms 219 have beveled fingers 221 which engage and hold the socket module. Again, the socket modules can be removed by bending the latch arms apart sufficiently.

The RJ adaptor plug 15a used in this embodiment of the invention is provided with a locking lever 223. This locking lever prevents accidental removal of the RJ adaptor plug 15a from the wall plate 211. As shown in Fig. 41, the flexible locking lever 223 is formed on the side of the adaptor plug. A small triangular protuberance 225 is formed near where the locking lever joins the adaptor plug. The rectangular opening 217 in the back wall of the recess 215 is dimensioned so that when the adaptor plug is inserted into the wall plate 211 to engage the socket module 3, as the adaptor plug 15 is pushed forward the protuberance 225 strikes the side of the opening 217, and the force thereby exerted on the locking lever 223 forces that lever inward toward the adaptor plug body, enabling the protuberance 225 to pass through the back wall of the recess 215. At this point, the bent locking lever 223 springs back to its original position. The shape of the protuberance 225 is chosen to prevent removal of the adaptor plug 15 unless the locking lever 223 is pressed inward so that the protuberance clears the wall of the opening. Of course alternate methods of holding the adaptor plug in place in the socket can be used, or can be omitted entirely.

While non-adjacent contacts can also interfere with one another, increasing NEXT, the greater distance involved markedly reduces the crosstalk generated. Thus, such crosstalk is not as critical as NEXT from adjacent signal paths.

Because NEXT acts like an unwanted second signalt superimposed on the signal of interest, NEXT can be greatly reduced by nullifying the unwanted signal. This has been achieved by adding to the signal affected by crosstalk a new third signal which has exactly the same amplitude and precisely the opposite phase as the unwanted second signal. When this is done, the second signal caused by crosstalk is cancelled out, leaving only the signal of interest.

The present invention takes advantage of the fact that capacitive coupling of two signal lines takes place 180° out of phase from the inductive coupling of those same lines. This can be achieved by placing one or more inductor coils in the circuitry, so the interfering signal lines can be inductively coupled with a 180° phase difference. The inductors should be selected so that the amplitude of the induced signal is the same as the magnitude of the signal caused by capacitive coupling between the contacts.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, NEXT between signal lines is reduced by inductively coupling the signal lines without the use of an inductor coil. Instead, the inductive coupling is provided by routing the signal lines so that the signal paths which experience NEXT due to capacitive coupling at their associated contact plates run alongside one another for some distance (i.e., l/2"-l"). Now, when electrical signals pass through each line, the fluctuating magnetic field which accompanies those signals and which surrounds that line will also surround the adjacent line. That fluctuating magnetic field will influence the adjacent signal line, at least partially cancelling any crosstalk signals caused by the capacitive coupling between the signal paths.

Although an induced signal effective to reduce crosstalk can be produced in a variety of ways, care must always be taken to insure that each induced signal tracks (or matches) the crosstalk signal as closely as possible over the entire frequency range of interest.

One example of a modular RJ connector embodying Applicants' invention is shown in Figs. 46-59. This embodiment is a connector assembly suitable for installation in a building wall box plate, and it allows a user to plug a signal line terminating in an RJ plug into the connector. The connector is also electrically connected to signal lines running through the wall. Such signal lines can carry a variety of electrical signals, but it is here envisioned that the signals will be high speed digital data signals.

As depicted in Figs. 46-51 and 58, this embodiment has as its primary components a sub plate 301, fanning body 317, RJ body 341, IDC support body 319, and termination plate 323.

Sub plate 301 serves a number of functions. First, it attaches the entire connector assembly to the wall box plate. Second, it holds the complete connector assembly 349. The sub plate can have a variety of appearances, depending upon the jurisdiction in which it will be used.

The connector assembly is made from the following components. RJ body 341 is a conventional, commercially available RJ socket. It serves to receive an RJ plug, and it terminates in wires 343 which in turn are connected to the wall wiring 351 (wires 343 are electrically connected to the RJ body's contacts, and those contacts engage an inserted RJ plug.) Since many of the other components of this invention are designed to cooperate with the RJ body 341, it will be understood that if the construction of the RJ body is changed, the construction of those other parts can be correspondingly changed without affecting the invention.

Fanning body 317 serves to hold the wiring 343 of the RJ plug 341. An important function of the fanning body 317 is to hold that wiring 343 in a manner which reduces NEXT; the precise way in which this is done will be explained later.

IDC support body 319 serves to connect the RJ plug wiring 343 and the system wiring 351 to which the connector is to be joined. IDC support body contains double-ended insulation displacement connectors 347 which engage the RJ body wiring at one end, and the system wiring 351 at the other.

As discussed in greater detail below, termination plates 323 are used to facilitate connection of the connector assembly 349 to the system wiring 351.

The structure of this embodiment will now be described in detail.

As shown in Figs. 56 and 58, fanning body J317 is provided with one latching bar 333 on its top surface, and two latching tabs 333 on its bottom surface. These latches 333 serve to attach fanning body 317 to the RJ body 341. The RJ body 341 is provided with top and bottom projections 313, and latches 333 are dimensioned and disposed to engage projections 313, securing the RJ body and fanning body in abutting relationship.

The fanning body 317 is also attached to sub plate 301. Sub plate 301 has flexible arms 303 located on each of its sides. Flexible arms have projections 339 at their tips, and these projections fit into matching recesses 337 in the fanning body 317. Projections 339 therefore fit behind RJ body 341. Thus, the RJ body can be released from the fanning body simply by bending the flexible arms 303. The fanning body is preferably made from a durable, insulating material such as plastic. One such plastic is CYCOLOY^®, manufactured by General Electric. Alternatively, LEXAN^® (polycarbonate) , also manufactured by General Electric, can be used.

A particularly preferred embodiment of the fanning body 317 is depicted in Figs. 79-82. In this embodiment, latches 333 are replaced with upper and lower plates 334 and 336. Upper plate 334 has a central opening 338, while lower plate 336 has two tabs 340. The edges of the upper plate and the tabs are chamfered to facilitate attaching the fanning body 317a to the RJ body 341.

The fanning body 317a and the RJ body 341 can be attached by first causing tabs 340 of the lower plate 336 to engage the lower projection 313 on the RJ body, and by then pivoting the fanning body 317a toward the RJ body so that the chamfered edge of the upper plate 336 first strikes and then rides over the upper projection 313 on the RJ body. Once the upper plate has moved forward sufficiently, projection 313 will lie within opening 338, at which point the upper plate 334 will snap downward. Now the upper and lower plates 334, 336 are held to the RJ body 341 by virtue of their fit with the projections 313 on the RJ body.

Fanning body 317a can be similar to fanning body 317 in all other respects. Like the other embodiment, this fanning body 317a can be separated from the RJ body 341, in this case, simply by bending the upper and/or lower plates.

Fanning body 317 (and 317a) is of particular importance because it allows the connector assembly to be constructed in such a way that NEXT is reduced. As previously noted, RJ body 341 ends in a number of wires 343. Pairs of these wires correspond to and carry signals from pairs of contacts accessible through the opening in the front of the RJ body. The present invention solves the crosstalk problem by using the fanning body to route wires 343 so that for those signal paths which will experience a problem with NEXT, one wire 343 from each of the two interfering circuit paths will run for some distance directly alongside the corresponding wire from the other interfering circuit path. Inductive coupling between those adjacent wires will serve to reduce NEXT.

As shown in Figs. 51 and 55, to keep the adjacent wires in close contact, a tubular sleeve 345 can be passed over those wires 343. Any suitable material can be used, and preferably, that material is insulated and able to withstand the environment in which the device is used.

Figs. 51 and 55 show that the tubular sleeves encasing wires 343 are not themselves held by the fanning body. Rather, the portion of each wire not enclosed by the tubular sleeve 345 is held by the fanning body. This way, the wiring is exposed and it can be connected to the system wiring 351 in a relatively simple manner. The exposed portions of the wiring are held in wire holders 321, which are formed in two rows, one upper, one lower, on the rear of the fanning body. The slots 329 in the projections are dimensioned so that they help secure the wires 343 against motion, but do not prevent removal of those wires therefrom.

As shown in Figs. 54 and 55, a small horizontal slot 321a intersects each vertical slot 329. This slot is provided to accommodate the insulation displacement contact ("ID") connector which is used to join each wire 343 to the system wiring 351. That connector (an "IDC") will now be described in detail.

Connection between the wiring 343 held in the fanning body 317 and the system wiring 351 is accomplished via the IDC support body 319. The IDC support body 319 contains double ended ID connectors, which engage both the wiring 343 and the system wiring 351. As shown in Fig. 51, IDC's 347 have dimples that engage in rectangular slots in IDC support body 319 and provide an interference fit. The ID connectors 347 are firmly yet removably held in the IDC support body 319 by way of the interference fit between the dimple and slot in a way that does not interfere with access to the connectors.

The IDC support body 319 is attached to fanning body 317 in the following manner. IDC support body 319 has side fingers 335 which are dimensioned and disposed to fit into matching portions of the fanning body. Again, a benefit of this construction is that it both holds the parts together securely, yet allows ea_sy disconnection of those parts. The IDC support body is preferably made from a sturdy, stable insulator, such as plastic. Again, polycarbonate is preferred. As illustrated in Fig. 51, IDC 347 is held in IDC support body 319 by virtue of the cooperation between the dimple 353 and the support body, and the connector can fit into the correspondingly dimensioned horizontal slot 321a in the fanning body 317.

ID connectors 347 can have a variety of structures; however, the connector shown in Fig. 59 is presently preferred. This connector 347 has, in addition to the aforementioned securing dimple 353, V-shaped slots 347a at both ends, to facilitate entry of the wiring into the connector, a gripping region 347c which is designed to pierce the wiring insulation and engage the wiring conductor, and a relief region 347e following the gripping region. In addition, any other suitable connector structure could be used. The IDC's are made from a sturdy, conductive material such as a copper alloy like or phosphor bronze. It may also be desirable to surface treat the IDC's so that they are coated with tin-lead or nickel plating.

Termination plate 323 is used to facilitate joining the connector to the system wiring 351 without the use of special connector tooling. To do this, the system wiring 351 is forced into the appropriate slots in the IDC support body 319, and the termination plate is then pushed onto the IDC support body. Internal pusher bars 309 in the termination plate 323 correspond to and are aligned along the various slots in the IDC support body, and so as the cap is pressed forward onto the IDC support body, the pusher bars urge the wiring into the slots, pushing the wiring into engagement and electrical connection with the ID connectors 347. This termination plate can be made from plastic, again, preferably CYCOLOY^® or LEXAN^®. The last major component of this embodiment is sub plate 301 (Fig. 59, item 1) . Sub plate 301 both holds the other components of the connector, and is itself attached to a wall plate, as shown in Fig. 60, item 301.

As shown in Figs. 46 and 47, the sub plate is a rectangular panel having an upper ID window 305 and a lower jack opening in which there is held a movable shutter 307. A bevel 311 is provided in the lower opening to ease the transition from the front surface of the sub plate to the shutter 307. Bevel 311 also provides enough relief for a user to get his/her finger under shutter 307 when raising the shutter.

Protective shutter 307 is held inside the sub plate 301 in a track (not shown) , which allows the shutter to move up and down. When nothing is plugged into the connector, the shutter is held in the closed position by a spring 331.

The sub plate 301 is provided with a pair of arms 315 which are used to mount to the cover plate of an outlet box, on a rack, or in any other mounting system. Other mounting structures well-known to those of ordinary skill in the art, such as screw holes, could also be used.

Like the other components, sub plate 301 is preferably made from a sturdy, stable plastic such as CYCOLOY^® or LEXAN^®.

A modular connector which reduces NEXT can be constructed by assembling the above-mentioied parts as follows. First, the fanning body 317 is attached to the RJ body 341 as in Fig. 56. In doing this the wiring 343 emerging from the back of the RJ jack is guided through a central opening in the fanning body, and then the lower latch arms 333 of the fanning body are hooked around projections 313 formed on the bottom of the RJ body. When the fanning body and the RJ body are attached together, the upper latch tabs 333 of the fanning body are pressed against the projection 313 on the top of the RJ body. Because of the shape of the tips of those arms, the arms are forced apart, allowing them to pass around the projection. Once the arms pass the projection 313, they move back together, and the fanning body and RJ body are tightly, yet releasably, joined.

An alternate and preferred embodiment for attaching the fanning body to the RJ body is shown in Figs. 79-82. In this embodiment, the top surface of the fanning body is a flat plate 334 having a central rectangular opening 338. The edge of the flat plate is chamfered to facilitate attachment of the fanning body and RJ body. The lower surface of the fanning body 336 has two lower latch tabs 340 which are dimensioned and disposed to engage projections 313 and 313a in the RJ body.

This embodiment of the fanning body is preferred because the structure of the upper and lower surfaces of the fanning body is well-adapted to resist the stresses experienced when the fanning body and RJ body are joined.

The fanning body and the RJ body are assembled in the following manner. First, the lower latch tabs 340 are set between projections 313 and 313a on the lower side of the RJ body. The RJ body is then pivoted forward so that the upper surface approaches the projection 313 on the upper side of the RJ body. When the chamfered edge of the upper surface strikes projection 313, that upper surface is deflected upward, until the projection is disposed within opening 335. At that point, the upper surface moves downward, and the fanning body and RJ body are securely joined together.

At this point, the various wire pairs which are to be inductively coupled by means of the surrounding tubes 345 are identified, and tubes are inserted thereover. The wiring ends which are not covered by tubes 345 are then inserted into the corresponding wire holders 321 in the fanning body 317. The wires can be inserted in any arrangement in the individual wire holders 321, or according to a predetermined convention. Furthermore, if desirable, additional steps can be taken to secure the wiring 343 in the fanning body wire holders 321, such as applying adhesive to bond the wiring and fanning body.

The IDC support body 319 is loaded with the ID connectors. This can be done in advance, or during connector assembly. To load the IDC support body, ID connectors 347 are inserted into the slots 327 formed in the IDC support body, until the dimples 353 on the ID connectors engage the IDC support body. These connectors can be inserted individually, or can be inserted in groups. One way to insert a number of connectors at once is to form the connectors so that a number of such connectors equal to the number of slots 321a in the fanning body remain attached to a strip of material in the same relative orientation to one another that they have when the connector is fully assembled. Now, several connectors can be inserted into the IDC support body at once just by grasping the strip of material and inserting the connectors into their respective slots. Once the connectors are in place, they are separated from the supporting strip, and if necessary, the connectors' tips are finished (i.e., by grinding or filing).

The assembled IDC support body is attached to the fanning body - RJ body assembly. This can be done by pressing the IDC support body toward the fanning body so that the latch arms 335 on the IDC support body 319 are spread to accommodate the fanning body. Then, as the IDC support body and fanning body come together, latch arms 335 snap inward, since they have moved past the end of the IDC support body which had forced them apart.

As the IDC support body 319 and the fanning body 317 begin to come together, the ID connectors 347 held in the IDC support body 319 meet the RJ body wires 343 held in the fanning body wire holders 321. As the IDC support body and the fanning body come closer together, the RJ body wires 343 move into the V-shaped slot 347a in the ID connectors 347, and along the gripping region 347c. As this occurs, the gripping region 347c pierces the wire insulation and engages the wire conductor.

At this point the connector assembly 349 can be attached to the sub plate 301, bezel 403, or to the system wiring 351. Either of the last two steps can be performed first; however, it can be advantageous to first join the connector assembly 347 to the system wiring 351, since it may be useful to be able to move the connector while attaching it to the system wiring.

To join the connector 349 to the system wiring, the individual system wires are inserted into slots 327 in the IDC support body. These slots 327, like the slots in the wire holder 321 in the fanning body, are dimensioned to hold the wires 351, but not so securely that the wires cannot be removed therefrom.

It is not necessary to use a special tool to connect the system wires 351 to the ID connectors 347.

Instead, a termination plate 323 is constructed which fits over the portions of the IDC support body which hold the system wires 351. As shown in Figs. 56, 58 and 59, termination plate 323 has slots 325 and pusher bars 309 aligned with the slots 327 in the IDC support body 319. Thus, when the termination plate is pressed onto the back of the IDC support body, as it moves forward, the pusher bars 309 strike the system wires 351 held in slots 327 in the IDC support body. By the time the termination plate 323 is completely seated on the IDC support body, the pusher bars 309 have pressed the individual wires 351 into the gripping regions 347c of their associated ID connector 347.

Instead of using the termination plate, it is possible to use a conventional wiring tool to attach the individual wires 351 to the IDC support body.

Now, the connector assembly 349 is attached to the system wiring, and if desired, can be electrically tested to verify that all of the electrical connections are satisfactory.

To mount the connector assembly 349 in the sub plate 301, the connector assembly is pushed between the side arms 303 of the sub plate. Since the tips of the side arms 303 are beveled, pushing the connector assembly toward the sub plate 301 will force the side arms apart. The side arms 303 are dimensioned _^and disposed so that just as the front of the connector assembly 349 contacts the back of the sub plate 301, the beveled tips of the arms will pass beyond the back of the RJ body 341 and spring inward into recesses 337 in the sides of the fanning body, securely holding the connector assembly.

The sub plate 301 can then be mounted to the wall in a variety of well-known ways. For example, the top and bottom arms 315 of the sub plate can engage correspondingly positioned openings of a wall box cover plate which is mounted in the wall to receive the entire assembly.

One benefit of the present invention is its high degree of modularity. A standard connector structure can be used in a wide range of installations simply by designing the sub plate or bezel for the particular installation. For example, in some jurisdictions, it might not be necessary to provide a shutter that seals off the RJ jack when nothing is plugged into the jack. This could be done simply by omitting the shutter from the sub plate already discussed. Alternatively, a new sub plate structure could be used.

Preferably, all of the different sub plates will have the same arm structure for holding the connector assembly 349, since this will avoid the need for producing different connector assembly structures.

Examples of alternate sub and other plate structures are shown in Figs. 60-78 and 83-91. In a particularly versatile embodiment of this invention shown in Figs. 60-73, connector assembly 349 is held in a bezel 359. Bezel 359 is then mounted in a separate wall plate 301 designed to conform to a particular jurisdiction's requirements.

In the embodiment depicted in Figs. 60-62, connectors assemblies 349 are held in bezels 359. Bezels 359 have top and bottom arms 361. Wall plate 301 (of Figs. 60- 62 and 65-67) has an opening dimensioned to accept two bezels (other configurations could be provided, and if fewer bezels are to be used than the wall plate will hold, spacers or dummy bezels could be used to insure there are no gaps in the wall plate face) . The wall plate opening has a flange structure along its edges (not shown) which prevents the bezels from falling through the opening into the wall.

Rather than attach wall plate 301 directly to the wall, an H-shaped frame 357 is attached to the wall or wall box. The wall plate is indirectly secured to that H- shaped frame 357, and the frame has a rectangular inner opening though which can pass the connector assemblies 349. To attach the connector assembly to the wall or box, the top and bottom arms 361 of each bezel 359 are located such that when the bezel is inserted in the wall plate 301, and the wall plate and bezel are pressed toward the wall, the arms 361 will just pass through and securely engage the inner edges of the H- shaped plate 357. Cooperation between the bezels and the H-shaped frame 357 serves to hold the connector assembly 349 to the wall plate 301.

Figs. 65-67 show a further embodiment of the invention which differs from the embodiment shown in Figs. 60-62 in that the wall plate 301 is attached directly to a box mounted in the wall, while the bezels 359 are attached to the wall plate itself. The arms 361 on each bezel are dimensioned so that when the bezel 359 is inserted into the opening of the wall plate, the arms 361 engage the sides of the wall plate, holding the bezel in the wall plate. Again, the wall plate has an inner flange (not shown) , or some other structure, that prevents the bezels 359 and connector assemblies 349 from falling into the wall plate. Wall plate 301 is directly attached to the wall box by means of threaded fasteners which engage threaded openings in tabs 362 formed at the front of the wall box. Other connection schemes could be used.

It may also be desirable to provide a large number of connector assemblies in a small space, such as in a patching panel. Figs. 70-73 show a bezel 359 which is particularly compact, and which allows the connector assemblies 349 to be mounted in close proximity in a patching panel, as shown in Figs. 74-76. Patching panel 367 has a number of rectangular openings 371 arranged in two rows; other panel configurations can be used.

Like the previous bezels, bezel 359 has side arms 379 which engage and hold the connector assembly 349, and an identification window 305. Bezels 359 also have a front surface 365 which is somewhat larger than the slot 371 in the patching panel plate 367, and compressible triangular side projections 381 located a distance behind that front plate.

One possible way to mount the connector assembly in the patching panel 367 would be to design the assembly so that the connector assembly 349 is attached to the bezel 359 so that arms 379 hold the connector assembly as previously described. Next, the bezel 359 is inserted into an opening 371 in patch panel 367 (it may also be desirable to first insert the bezel 359 into the patching panel 367 and then attach the connector assembly from the other side) . As the bezel 359 is pressed into the patch panel opening 371, the compressible triangular portions 381 contact the walls of the opening. By applying sufficient force to the bezel, the compressible triangular portions 81 can be squeezed past opening 371. Front plate 365 then stops the bezel from being pushed completely through the patch panel pate 367.

Bezels 359 can be removed from their respective mounts by bending the appropriate arms or pulling the bezels from the plate, compressing and deforming the triangular projections so that the bezels will clear the openings in which they are held.

Bezels 359, and all of the foregoing bezels, can be made from any suitable material. One such material is CYCOLOY^®, a plastic manufactured by General Electric.

The following particularly preferred embodiment of this invention involves a patching plate in which the connector assemblies 349 are secured directly to the patching panel plate 391.

As shown in Figs. 83-85, connector assemblies 349 are disposed directly behind and abut against patching panel plate 391. Access to the RJ bodies 341 is obtained through suitably-dimensioned openings in the front of the patching panel plate. The connector assemblies are kept from falling through the openings in the patching panel 391 because the RJ bodies 341 are larger than those openings.

Connector assemblies 349 are held in position by a holding bar 397 which fits behind each of the connector assemblies and which runs widthwise behind all of those connector assemblies (of course, multiple connector bars could be used) . The bar is dimensioned to fit between the upper and lower regions of the connector assemblies, and it abuts the back of each »pf the IDC support bodies 319. Stand-offs 395 are attached to the patching panel plate, and the holding bar 397 is attached to these stand-offs by bolts 393 (other fasteners, and other fastening techniques, i.e. rivets or adhesive bonding, could also be used) . The stand¬ offs therefore serve to control how tightly the holding bar is urged against the IDC support bodies 319. Wiring harness 399 serves to confine the cabling used to connect the assemblies 349 to various devices (not shown) .

Figs. 77 and 78 show another preferred embodiment of this invention in which the wall plate 373 itself has structure which will hold the connector assemblies 349. Thus, it is not necessary to use separate bezels. As shown in Fig. 77, the wall plate has a 2 x 3 array of openings; thus, it can hold six connector assemblies. The wall plate itself has openings 375 which can accept threaded fasteners; this way, the wall plate 373 can be directly mounted to a wall box. Wall plate 373 also has ID windows 383 associated with each connector assembly.

Fig. 78 is a side view of wall plate 373 showing how the connector assemblies 349 are mounted. Hooked latch arms 379 are provided on the back surface of the wall plate, and these latch arms are positioned so that they can engage the projections 313 on the top and bottom of the RJ body 341, in the manner depicted.

Figs. 86-90 show a particularly preferred embodiment of this invention which allows a number of connector assemblies 349 to be attached to a wall plate using bezels. As shown in Fig. 86, six such connector assemblies are attached to the wall plate, but other numbers could be used.

As shown in Figs. 86 and 87, wall plate 301 has a number of openings 401 which will allow access to the connector body disposed therebehind. Wall plate 301 can be manufactured by taking a conventional solid wall plate (such wall plates are well-known and serve to cover unused wall boxes) and machining the requisite number of openings into that wall plate. Alternate manufacturing techniques (i.e., custom molding) could also be used.

Each connector assembly 349 is held in place in the wall plate 301 by an associated bezel 403. The bezels are constructed to engage both the connector assemblies and the wall plate 301.

As shown in Figs. 88-90, each bezel 403 has a flat front surface 405 with an opening 407 which is dimensioned so that an RJ connector can pass therethrough. The top of the flat front surface may bear a notation reflecting the nature of the connection which can be made with the associated connector assembly 349. The flat front surface is somewhat larger than the opening 401 in the wall plate, while a shoulder portion 409 of the bezel directly behind the flat front surface 405 is almost precisely the size of the opening 401. Thus, when the bezel 403 is inserted into the wall plate opening 401, the flat front surface keeps the bezel from falling through opening 401, while the shoulder portion 409 of the bezel sits within and keeps the bezel from shifting in opening 401.

Bezel 403 engages the connector assembly 349 in approximately the same manner as the aforementioned bezels 359. Again, side arms 379 engage and hold the connector assembly 349, while compressible triangular side projections 381 are located a distance behind the front plate and serve to hold the bezel in the opening 401. To mount the connector assembly 349 in the wall plate 301, the bezel 403 is first placed in front of the wall plate and pushed through the opening until the triangular portions 381 and the flat front plate securely hold the bezel in the wall plate. Next, the connector assembly 349 is pushed between the side arms 379 of the bezel, and is urged toward the back of the wall plate. As the front of the RJ body 341 meets the back of the wall plate, the side arms 379 snap into the depressions in the side of the fanning body 317, securing the connector assembly.

Bezels 403 can be made from any suitable material. Again, one such material is CYCOLOY^®, a plastic manufactured by General Electric.

It will be appreciated that the invention described herein facilitates connections between signal lines, while allowing standard components to be employed in a variety of ways. Numerous refinements to both the configuration and materials employed in the basic inventive concept can be made without departing from the intended scope of the above-described invention. In particular, alternate mounting schemes and component configurations, both as shown and described, and otherwise, can be used in practice of the claimed invention.

Claims

WHAT WE CLAIM IS;

1. A socket module for receiving an insert member having at least one electrical contact pad, comprising: a hollow insulative block having a forward portion and a rear portion, an internal cavity, and means for mounting said block on a wall plate, said forward portion of said block having a front wall having at least one insert member access opening communicating with said internal cavity, said rear portion being formed with at least one wire access opening; and an electrically conductive spring connector disposed within said internal cavity so that a wire passing through said wire access opening can be attached to said spring connector, said electrically conductive spring connector being dimensioned and disposed so that when said insert member is inserted into said access opening, said spring connector contacts said contact pad.

2. A socket module according to claim 1, wherein said electrically conductive spring connector is substantially hook-shaped, with a curved portion, a long leg, and a short leg, said curved portion connecting said long leg to said short leg, said spring connector όeing oriented within said receptacle so that said curved portion lies near said slot, and when said insert member is inserted into said slot it contacts said short leg along a side of said short leg which faces away from said long leg, said long leg extending approximately to said wire access opening.

3. A socket module according to claim 1, further comprising a first said spring connector and a second said spring connector, said spring connectors being disposed approximately symmetrically and contacting one another so that when said insert member is fully-inserted through said access opening, said insert member passes between said short legs and spreads apart said spring connectors.

4. A socket module according to claim 1, further comprising: a first said spring connector in a first signal path; a second said spring connector in a second signal path; a ground spring connector, said first and second spring connectors being symmetrically disposed with said ground spring connector located between them.

5. A socket module according to claim l, further comprising an isolating shield disposed within said internal cavity to reduce interference caused by signals transmitted through said socket module.

6. A socket module as in claim 1, wherein said insert member access opening has two coplanar rectangular openings.

7. A socket module as in claim 1, wherein said spring connector is an insulation displacement connector.

8. A socket module as in claim 1, further comprising means for reducing crosstalk between a first signal and a second signal at least one of which is carried through said socket module.

9. A socket module as in claim 8, wherein said means for reducing crosstalk comprises at least one inductor inductively coupling said first and said second signals.

10. A socket module as in claim 8, wherein said means for reducing crosstalk comprises a first length of wire which conducts said first signal and a second length of wire which conducts said second signal, said first length of wire being disposed adjacent to said second length of wire so that said first and said second signals are inductively coupled.

11. A wire connector, comprising: a socket module for receiving an insert member having at least one electrical contact pad, said module comprising: a hollow insulative block having a forward portion and a rear portion, an internal cavity, and means for mounting said block on a surface, said forward portion of said block having a front wall having at least one insert member access opening communicating with said internal cavity, said rear portion being formed with at least one wire access opening; an electrically conductive spring connector disposed within said internal cavity so that a wire passing through said wire access opening can be attached to said spring connector, said electrically conductive spring connector being dimensioned and disposed so that when said insert member is inserted into said slot, said spring connector contacts said electrical contact pad; a plug module comprising; a base portion; a substrate portion having at least one electrical line, said substrate portion being attached to said base portion, said insert member being formed on said substrate portion, said electrical contact pad being electrically connected to said electrical line; wherein when said plug module is inserted into said socket module said insert member engages said insert member access opening and said electrical contact pad is in electrical communication with said spring connector.

12. A wire connector according to claim 11, wherein said electrically conductive spring connector is substantially hook-shaped, with a curved portion, a long leg, and a short leg, said curved portion connecting said long leg to said short leg, said spring connector being oriented within said receptacle so that said curved portion lies near said slot, and when said insert member is inserted into said slot it contacts said short leg along a side of said short leg which faces away from said long leg, said long leg extending approximately to said wire access opening.

13. A wire connector according to claim 11 further comprising a first said spring connector and a second said spring connector, said spring connectors being disposed approximately symmetrically and contacting one another so that when said insert member is fully-inserted through said access opening, said insert member passes between and spreads apart said spring connectors.

14. A wire connector according to claim 11 further comprising: a first said spring connector in a first signal path; a second said spring connector in a second signal path; a ground spring connector, said first and second spring connectors being symmetrically disposed with said ground spring connector located between them.

15. A wire connector according to claim 11 further comprising an isolating shield disposed within said internal cavity to reduce interference caused by signals transmitted through said socket module.

16. A wire connector according to claim 11, wherein said insert member is a printed circuit board.

17. A wire connector as in claim 11, wherein said insert member has two coplanar flat tabs.

18. A wire connector as in claim 11, wherein said plug module has a first side and a seeond side and further comprises an inner shielding layer of material disposed between said first side and said second side, said inner shielding layer isolating a signal carried on said first side from a signal carried on said second side.

19. A wire connector as in claim 11, wherein said insert member access opening has two coplanar rectangular openings.

20. A wire connector as in claim 11, wherein said spring connector is an insulation displacement connector.

21. A wire connector as in claim 11, further comprising means for reducing crosstalk between a first signal and a second signal at least one of which is carried through said wire connector.

22. A wire connector as in claim 21, wherein said means for reducing crosstalk comprises at least one inductor inductively coupling said first and said second signals.

23. A wire connector as in claim 21, wherein said means for reducing crosstalk comprises a first length of wire which conducts said first signal and a. second length of wire which conducts said second signal, said first length of wire being disposed adjacent to said second length of wire so that said first and said second signals are inductively coupled.

24. A wall plate for mounting a socket module having a well of a given shape at least partially behind a wall plane, comprising: a flat front plate having an open recess, said recess having a back wall having a back surface, said back wall having at least one opening, said opening corresponding in shape to said given shape; at least one latch arm extending from said back surface, said latch arm ending in a finger, said latch arm and said finger being dimensioned and disposed so that when said well is positioned against said back wall said latch arm and said finger cooperate to hold said socket module in place.

25. A wall plate for mounting a socket module having a well of a given shape at least partially behind a wall plane, comprising: a flat front plate having a portal and a back surface; a plurality of stand-off posts extending from said back surface; a backplate having a back surface, a window and a plurality of openings corresponding in position and shape to said stand-off posts, said backplate being mounted on said stand-off posts so that said window is disposed in registry with said portal and to provide a space between said front plate and said backplate; at least one latch arm extending from said back surface, said latch arm ending in a finger, said latch arm and said finger being dimensioned and disposed so that when said well is positioned against said back wall said latch arm and said finger cooperate to hold said socket module in place; a shutter slidably contained within said space; and a spring contained within said space, said spring urging said shutter so that an object cannot pass directly through said portal to said window.

26. A wall plate according to claim 25, wherein said shutter comprises a beveled flange.

27. A socket module adaptor plug for connecting a plug fitting into a first socket module configuration and having a number of electrically conducting elements to a socket module configuration having an entry opening of a second configuration, said socket module having at least one internal electrically conductive spring finger dimensioned and disposed so that a portion of said spring finger is coplanar with said entry opening, comprising: an insulative socket which can securely mate with said plug, said socket having a number of electrical contacts corresponding to said number of electrically conducting elements and which said contacts are disposed so that when said electrical connector plug is inserted into said socket, said electrical connectors make electrical contact with said electrical contacts; and a substrate having a region dimensioned and disposed to enter into said a socket module having said second configuration, and a number of electrical contact pads disposed on said region, said also having a number of signal lines extending from and in electrical contact with said electrical contacts to said housing to said electrical contact pads so that when said substrate is inserted into said slot said contact pads are place in electrical contact with said electrically conductive spring fingers.

28. An adaptor plug according to claim 27, further comprising an isolating shield disposed within said socket to reduce spurious electromagnetic interference.

29. An adaptor plug according to claim 27, wherein said first socket module configuration is selected from the group consisting of an MIC connector plug according to IEEE specification no. 862.5. and an RJ connector plug.

30. An adaptor plug according to claim 27, wherein said entry opening is shaped to accommodate a pair of coplanar flat inserts.

31. An adaptor plug according to claim 27, further comprising at least a first signal path and a second signal path.

32. An adaptor plug according to claim 27, further comprising means for reducing cross-talk between said first and said second signal paths.

33. An adaptor plug according to claim 32, wherein said means for reducing cross-talk comprises at least one inductor inductively coupling said first and said second signal paths.

34. An adaptor plug according to claim 32, wherein said means for reducing cross-talk comprises a first length of wire in said first signal path and a second length of wire in said second signal path, said first length being disposed adjacent to said second length so that said first and said second signal paths are inductively coupled.

35. An adaptor plug according to claim 27 wherein said substrate is a rectangular printed circuit board.

36. An adaptor plug according to claim 27, further comprising a housing having a camming surface dimensioned and disposed so that when said adaptor is inserted into a wall plate according to claim 20, said camming surface cooperates with said bevel to raise said shutter.

37. A wall plate according to claim 24, wherein said recess is dimensioned and disposed to accept an adaptor plug.

38. An RJ-style connector plug, comprising: a plastic body having a number of parallel grooves, each groove having a cross-sectional area; and a number of contact plates, said number of contact plates corresponding to said number of grooves, one said contact plate being disposed in one said groove, each said contact plate having an area which is less than said cross-sectional area.

39. An RJ-style connector plug according to claim 38, wherein at least two said contact plates are shaped like a π.

40. An RJ-style connector plug according to claim 38, wherein at least two said contact plates are rectangular with a hollow center portion.

41. A crosstalk reduction device comprising: a first signal path for carrying a first signal; a second signal path for carrying a second signal; and at least one inductor inductively coupling said first and said second signal paths.

42. A crosstalk reduction device comprising: a first signal path for carrying a first signal; a second signal path for carrying a second signal; a first length of wire which conducts said first signal; and a second length of wire which conducts said second signal, wherein said first length of wire is disposed adjacent to said second length of wire so that said first and said second wires are inductively coupled.

43. A crosstalk-compensating connector for electrically connecting each of a first portion of a first signal path and a first portion of a second signal path to, respectively, a second portion of said first signal path and a second portion of said second signal path, said connector comprising: a jack having a receptacle for accepting a plug, said plug containing said first portions of said first and said second signal paths, said jack having a plurality of wires exiting therefrom, said plurality of wires being associated with and carrying signals from respective said first and said second signal paths so as to include a first jack wire which is part of said first signal path and a second jack wire which is part of said second signal path; and a fanning body attached to said jack, said fanning body having routing means for routing said plurality of wires such that at least said first jack wire and said second jack wire are held sufficiently close so that said first and said second signal paths are inductively coupled.

44. A connector according to claim 43, wherein said routing means comprises a rectangular structure having a plurality of slots contained therein, each said slot being dimensioned and disposed to accept one said wire.

45. A connector according to claim 43, further comprising a surrounding tubular member, said tubular member surrounding and holding sufficiently close said first jack wire and said second jack wire.

46. A connector according to claim 43, wherein said first jack wire and said second jack wire are inductively coupled in a manner which reduces crosstalk between said first and said second signal paths,

47. A connector according to claim 43, further comprising: a plurality of wire connectors, each said wire connector having a construction which allows the connection of two signal wires; and a wire connector carrying body, said carrying body holding said plurality of wire connectors, said wire connector carrying body being joined to at least one of said jack and said fanning body such that at least said first jack wire and said second jack are each engaged by corresponding said wire connectors.

48. A connector according to claim 47, further comprising: a faceplate, said faceplate being attached to at least one of said jack, said fanning body, and said wire connector carrying body.

49. A connector according to claim 48, further comprising: a plate member having an opening, said opening being dimensioned and disposed to accept and hold at least one said faceplate.

50. A connector according to claim 48, wherein said wire connecters are insulation displacement contacts.

51. A connector according to claim 43, wherein said jack is an RJ jack, and said plug is an RJ plug.

52. A crosstalk-compensating connector for electrically connecting each of a first portion of a first signal path and a first portion of a second signal path to, respectively, a second portion of said first signal path and a second portion of said second signal path, said connector having a connector core, said connector core comprising: a jack having a receptacle for accepting a plug, said plug containing said first portions of said first and said second signal paths, said jack having a plurality of wires exiting therefrom, said plurality of wires being associated with and carrying signals from respective said first and said second signal paths so as to include a first jack wire which is part of said first signal path and a second jack wire which is part of said second signal path; a fanning body attached to said jack, said fanning body comprising routing means for routing said plurality of wires such that at least said first jack wire and said second jack wire are held sufficiently close so that said first and said second signal paths are inductively coupled; and mounting means for mounting said connector .

53. A connector according to claim 52, wherein said routing means comprises a rectangular structure having a plurality of slots contained therein, each said slot being dimensioned and disposed to accept one said wire.

54. A connector according to claim 52, wherein said mounting means comprises a plate member.

55. A connector according to claim 54, wherein said plate member is a wall plate.

56. A connector according to claim 54, wherein said plate member comprises holding means for holding said connector core.

57. A connector according to claim 56, wherein said holding means comprises at least two latching tabs dimensioned and disposed for engaging and holding said connector core.

58. A connector according to claim 57, wherein said latching tabs are positioned alongside said connector core.

59. A connector according to cl-aim 57, wherein said latching tabs are positioned above and below said connector core.

60. A connector according to claim 56, wherein said plate member comprises an elongated holding member, said holding member being disposed adjacent to said connector core and being attached to said plate member so as to securely hold said connector core.

61. A connector according to claim 52, wherein said mounting means comprises a bezel, said bezel comprising: bezel mounting means for mounting said bezel in a plate member; and at least at least two latching tabs dimensioned and disposed for engaging and holding said connector core.

62. A connector according to claim 61, wherein said latching tabs are positioned alongside said connector core.

63. A connector according to claim 61, wherein said latching tabs are positioned above and below said connector core.

64. A connector according to claim 61, wherein said bezel mounting means comprises at least two latching tabs.

65. A connector according to claim 61, wherein said bezel mounting means comprises at least two triangular projections.