Modular jack with removable contact array

Abstract

A modular jack includes a housing having a socket and an opening arranged to receive a modular plug into the socket, and a sled including a contact array arranged within the socket, wherein the sled is removable from the socket through the opening of the housing without disassembling the housing.

1 . A method of replacing a modular jack comprising:
 providing a modular jack including a housing having a socket and an opening arranged to receive a modular plug into the socket;   providing a sled including a contact array arranged within the socket; and   removing the sled through the opening of the housing without disassembling the housing.   
   
   
       2 . The method of replacing a modular jack according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of removing the sled includes:
 inserting a tool into the socket between the sled and the housing to disengage the sled from the housing.   
   
   
       3 . The method of replacing a modular jack according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing the sled with at least one additional component arranged to modify at least one signal transmitted through the modular jack, wherein the at least one additional component is arranged on the sled such that the at least one additional component is removed from the housing when the sled is removed from the housing.   
   
   
       4 . The method of replacing a modular jack according to  claim 3 , wherein the at least one additional component is arranged to modify the signal through at least one of amplification, noise suppression, noise filtration, impedance matching, voltage isolation, magnetic filtering, ESD protection, resistive termination, shunt programming, solid state/active compensation, and differential signal equalization.