Managed electrical connectivity systems
View Patent ↗A connector arrangement includes a plug nose body; a printed circuit board positioned within a cavity of the plug nose body; and a plug cover that mounts to the plug nose body to enclose the printed circuit board within the cavity. The printed circuit board includes a storage device configured to store information pertaining to the electrical segment of communications media. The plug cover defines a plurality of slotted openings through which the second contacts are exposed. A connector assembly includes a jack module and a media reading interface configured to receive the plug. A patch panel includes multiple jack modules and multiple media reading interfaces.
1. A jack module comprising:
a jack body having a front, a rear, a first end, a second end, a first side, and a second side, the jack body defining a socket configured to receive a plug from the front of the jack body, the second end of the jack body defining a cutout region that provides access to the socket through the second end of the jack body, the jack body including guides that define external guide channels at the first end of the jack body, each of the guides defining a ramped surface at a front end;
a plurality of plug contacts positioned within the jack body, at least a portion of the plug contacts extending into the socket from the first end of the jack body; and
a plurality of terminating contacts positioned within the jack body, the terminating contacts being electrically connected to the plug contacts, the terminating contacts being configured to terminate at least one electrical media segment.
2. The jack module of claim 1 , further comprising a printed circuit board positioned within the jack body, the printed circuit board electrically connecting the plug contacts and the terminating contacts.
3. The jack module of claim 2 , wherein the terminating contacts include insulation displacement contacts.
4. The jack module of claim 2 , wherein the printed circuit board extends parallel to an insertion axis of the socket.
5. The jack module of claim 1 , wherein the jack module includes at least one plug latching member positioned within the cutout region, each plug latching member including a camming surface and a shoulder.
6. The jack module of claim 1 , wherein the first end of the jack body opposes the second end of the jack body.
7. The jack module of claim 1 , wherein the jack module includes first and second guide channels positioned at the second end of the jack module on either side of the cutout region.
8. The jack module of claim 1 , wherein each guide includes a wing extension, wherein the wing extensions extend outwardly from the first and second sides of the jack body.
9. The jack module of claim 1 , wherein the jack body includes a panel latching arrangement disposed between the guides.
10. The jack module of claim 9 , wherein the panel latching arrangement includes at least a first latch member having a ramped surface and a shoulder.
11. The jack module of claim 10 , wherein the latching arrangement includes two latch members separated by a gap, each latch member defining a ramped surface at one end and a shoulder at the opposite end.
12. The jack module of claim 1 , wherein the plug contacts are first plug contacts, and further comprising a plurality of second plug contacts having first sections that extend through the cutout region of the jack body and into the socket, the second plug contacts being electrically isolated from the first plug contacts.
13. The jack module of claim 12 , wherein the second plug contacts are coupled to a media reading interface housing that is coupled to the second end of the jack module.
14. The jack module of claim 13 , wherein the media reading interface housing has a top, a bottom, a front, a rear, a first side, and a second side, the media reading interface housing defining a channel configured to receive a printed circuit board, the media reading interface housing also including guides at the top of the media reading interface housing, the guides being configured to fit within the external guide channels of the jack body to facilitate mounting the media reading interface housing to the jack body.
15. The jack module of claim 13 , wherein the media reading interface housing provides presence sensing for the jack module.
16. The jack module of claim 1 , wherein the jack body defines at least one rib at each of the first and second sides at the first end of the jack body.
17. The jack module of claim 16 , further comprising a strain relief device including a spring clip having arms configured to mount to the ribs.
18. The jack module of claim 16 , wherein the jack body defines a plurality of ribs at the first and second sides of the jack body.