Connector including reduced crosstalk spring insert

Abstract

A telecommunications electrical connector positions the contacts in a manner to reduce crosstalk problems. An insert assembly positions the spring contacts within a jack for electrical contact with the contacts of a plug. The insert assembly staggers the relative positions of adjacent spring contacts in the y-direction, and staggers the spring contact pivot points in the x-direction, yet maintains a common contact region for all the spring contacts for contacting the contacts of the plug. The distal ends of alternating spring contacts are positioned so as to increase the isolation between adjacent springs. The insert assembly includes selected air passages between spring contacts mounted to the insert assembly to increase isolation and selected dielectric to increase crosstalk cancellation.

1. An electrical connector for connecting to a plug having a plurality of electrical contacts, the connector comprising:
 a) a plurality of metallic spring contacts, each of the spring contacts including: 
 1) a circuit board connection end;  
 2) a first longitudinally extending section;  
 3) a main bend section;  
 4) a second longitudinally extending section, wherein the first longitudinally extending section, the main bend section, and the second longitudinally extending section define a general V-shape;  
 
 b) a dielectric contact housing for holding the spring contacts, wherein the contact housing defines an x-axis, a y-axis and a z-axis, the contact housing configured for receipt of the plug in a direction of the x-axis, wherein: 
 1) the contact housing includes a base for receiving each of the first longitudinally extending sections of the spring contacts extending parallel to the x-axis, wherein the base defines at least one dielectric channel extending in the direction of the x-axis and positioned between the first longitudinally extending sections of two spring contacts;  
 2) the base includes a front end and a rear end, the front end defining spring channels for receiving the first longitudinally extending sections of the spring contacts, wherein the dielectric channel and the spring channels define open ends at the front end of the base and extend toward the rear end of the base;  
 
 c); a printed circuit board mounted to the spring contacts at the circuit board connection ends, wherein the printed circuit board defines a plane parallel to the y and z axes.  
 
     
     
       2. The connector of  claim 1 , wherein the base of the contact housing includes a plurality of first longitudinal openings extending from a first exterior surface generally parallel to the x and z axes, each of the first longitudinal openings extending into the base to one of the first longitudinally extending sections of the spring contacts. 
     
     
       3. The connector of  claim 2 , wherein the base of the contact housing includes a plurality of second longitudinal openings extending from a second exterior surface generally parallel to the first exterior surface and positioned on an opposite side of the contact housing, each of the second longitudinal openings extending into the base to one of the first longitudinally extending sections of the spring contacts. 
     
     
       4. The connector of  claim 3 , wherein the first and second longitudinal openings alternate along the z-axis, wherein only one of the first and second longitudinal openings is provided for each spring contact. 
     
     
       5. A jack insert comprising:
   a circuit board having a first side positioned opposite from a second side, the circuit board also including a front end positioned opposite from a rear end;        a connector assembly for terminating wires to the jack insert, the connector assembly being mounted at the first side of the circuit board at a location adjacent to the rear end of the circuit board;        a plurality of spring contacts terminated to the first side of the circuit board, the spring contacts including contact sections located adjacent the front end of the circuit board and positioned at the first side of the circuit board; and        a divider positioned at the first side of the circuit board for separating the spring contacts, the divider including channels that receive the spring contacts, the channels having open sides that face away from the first side of the circuit board.     
     
     
       6. The jack insert of  claim 5 , further comprising elongate tabs that are elongated in a direction that extends generally between the front and rear ends of the circuit board. 
     
     
       7. The jack insert of  claim 6 , wherein the elongate tabs include base ends and free ends, and wherein the free ends include ramp surfaces. 
     
     
       8. The jack insert of  claim 6 , wherein at least portions of the spring contacts are located generally between the tabs. 
     
     
       9. The jack insert of  claim 5 , further comprising two tabs each having ramped surfaces, the spring contacts being located generally between the tabs. 
     
     
       10. The jack insert of  claim 5 , further comprising two tabs each having ramped surfaces, the divider being located generally between the tabs. 
     
     
       11. The jack insert of  claim 5 , wherein the insert further includes elongate tabs having a cantilevered configuration, the tabs being elongated in a direction that extends generally between the front and rear ends of the circuit board, the tabs being located at the first side of the circuit board, the tabs including ends having ramp surfaces, and the tabs being located on opposite sides of the divider. 
     
     
       12. The jack insert of  claim 5 , wherein the connector assembly includes an insulation displacement terminal housing that supports a plurality of insulation displacement terminals. 
     
     
       13. The jack insert of  claim 12 , wherein the insulation displacement terminal housing and the divider are part of a one- piece main body.   
     
     
       14. A jack insert comprising:
   a circuit board having a first side positioned opposite from a second side, the circuit board also including a front end positioned opposite from a rear end;        a connector assembly for terminating wires to the jack insert, the connector assembly being mounted at the first side of the circuit board at a location adjacent to the rear end of the circuit board;        a plurality of spring contacts including contact sections positioned at the first side of the circuit board and located adjacent the front end of the circuit board;        a spring contact holder positioned at the first side of the circuit board; and        elongate tabs that are elongated in a direction that extends generally between the front and rear ends of the circuit board.     
     
     
       15. The jack insert of  claim 14 , wherein the elongate tabs include base ends and free ends, and wherein the free ends include ramp surfaces. 
     
     
       16. A jack insert comprising:
   a circuit board having a first side positioned opposite from a second side, the circuit board also including a front end positioned opposite from a rear end;        a connector assembly for terminating wires to the jack insert, the connector assembly being mounted at the first side of the circuit board at a location adjacent to the rear end of the circuit board;        a plurality of spring contacts including contact sections positioned at the first side of the circuit board and located adjacent the front end of the circuit board;        a spring contact holder positioned at the first side of the circuit board; and        two tabs each having ramped surfaces, at least portions of the spring contacts being located generally between the tabs.     
     
     
       17. A jack insert comprising:
   a )  a connector mount having a first side positioned opposite from a second side, wherein the first side of the connector mount includes a front divider and a rear connector assembly, wherein the rear connector assembly includes two rows of means for terminating conductive wires extending adjacent opposite edges of the first side, and wherein the front divider includes a plurality of channels having open sides that face away from the first side of the connector mount;        b )  a plurality of spring contacts separated by the divider; and        c )  a circuit board having first and second sides, the spring contacts being terminated to the first side of the circuit board, and the circuit board being mounted at the second side of the connector mount with the first side of the circuit board facing the second side of the connector mount.     
     
     
       18. The jack insert of  claim 17 , wherein the connector mount includes elongate tabs positioned at the first side of the connector mount, the elongate tabs having lengths that extend generally along the opposite edges of the first side of the connector mount. 
     
     
       19. The jack insert of  claim 18 , wherein the elongate tabs include ends having ramped surfaces. 
     
     
       20. The jack insert of  claim 18 , wherein the divider is positioned generally between the elongate tabs. 
     
     
       21. The jack insert of  claim 18 , wherein at least portions of the spring contacts are positioned generally between the elongate tabs. 
     
     
       22. The jack insert of  claim 17 , wherein the connector mount comprises a unitary piece. 
     
     
       23. A jack comprising:
   a jack housing defining a port for receiving a plug;        a jack insert that mounts within the jack housing, the jack insert including:      a )  a connector mount having a first side positioned opposite from a second side, wherein the first side of the connector mount includes a front divider and a rear connector assembly, wherein the rear connector assembly includes two rows of means for terminating conductive wires extending adjacent opposite edges of the first side, and wherein the front divider includes a plurality of channels having open sides that face away from the first side of the connector mount;        b )  a plurality of spring contacts separated by the divider; and        c )  a circuit board having first and second sides, the spring contacts being terminated to the first side of the circuit board, and the circuit board being mounted at the second side of the connector mount with the first side of the circuit board facing the second side of the connector mount.       
     
     
       24. A jack insert comprising:
   a )  a connector mount having a first side positioned opposite from a second side, wherein the first side of the connector mount includes a front spring holder and a rear connector assembly, wherein the rear connector assembly includes two rows of means for terminating conductive wires extending adjacent opposite edges of the first side, wherein the connector mount also includes tabs positioned at the first side of the connector mount, and wherein the front spring holder is positioned generally between the tabs;        b )  a plurality of spring contacts separated by the divider; and        c )  a circuit board to which the spring contacts are terminated, the circuit board being mounted at the second side of the connector mount.     
     
     
       25. The jack insert of  claim 24 , wherein the tabs comprise elongate tabs having lengths that extend generally along the opposite edges of the first side of the connector mount. 
     
     
       26. The jack insert of  claim 25 , wherein the elongate tabs include ends having ramped surfaces. 
     
     
       27. The jack insert of  claim 24 , wherein the connector mount comprises a unitary piece. 
     
     
       28. A jack insert comprising:
   a )  a connector mount having a first side positioned opposite from a second side, wherein the first side of the connector mount includes a front spring holder and a rear connector assembly, wherein the rear connector assembly includes two rows of means for terminating conductive wires extending adjacent opposite edges of the first side, wherein the connector mount also includes elongate tabs positioned at the first side of the connector mount, and wherein the elongate tabs have lengths that extend generally along the opposite edges of the first side of the connector mount;        b )  a plurality of spring contacts separated by a divider; and        c )  a circuit board to which the spring contacts are terminated, the circuit board being mounted at the second side of the connector mount.