WO2003094308A1

WO2003094308A1 - Modular jack and cable connection method using thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2003094308A1
Application number: PCT/KR2003/000844
Authority: WO
Inventors: Pil-Kyu Heo
Original assignee: Pil-Kyu Heo
Priority date: 2002-04-29
Filing date: 2003-04-25
Publication date: 2003-11-13
Also published as: KR20040004609A; KR100549739B1; AU2003223133A1

Abstract

A modular jack allowing for an ease of cable connection and a cable connection method using the same is provided. Even an unskilled worker can carry out a cable connection in a convenient and simple way through the use of a cap, eliminating the necessity of using an additional tool. Inner cables have uniform lengths, and the distance between the cable connection point and twisted inner cables is maintained minimum, to thereby achieve improved communication quality. A cap holder is protected from damages during the attachment/detachment of a cap, and the connected cables are prevented from escaping from a cable holder during cable connection.

Description

MODULAR JACK AND

CABLE CONNECTION METHOD USING THEREOF

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a modular jack and a cable connection method using thereof, and more particularly, to a modular jack which allows for an ease of cable connection, significant reduction in time required for cable connection, and improved communication quality, in connecting an unshielded twisted-pair(UTP) cable to the modular jack installed in the plug socket arranged at the wall for connection of television, computer and telephone. The present invention further relates to a cable connection method using such a modular jack.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

Generally, electrical connection of communication cable is performed by securing the cable to a terminal pin. In an early stage, a cable is secured to a simple U-shaped terminal pin, which causes connection faults since the part of the terminal pin secured with the cable gradually becomes wider over time. To overcome such problems, a method for coupling a connector pin to a connector holder of an insulation displacement contact(IDC) type modular jack is proposed, which will be explained in more detail as follows. Inner cables branched off from a UTP cable are separated, in a vertical direction, into groups each of which consists of four inner cables. Connector pins of inner cables are coupled to connector holders, respectively, through the use of a punch down tool which permits connector pins to be inserted into connector holders one by one. As shown in Figs.1 la and 1 lb, connector holders H are arranged in two vertical rows each consists of five connector holders. This results in the formation of four gaps between connector holders arranged in a vertical direction in each row. Each inner cable UT1 of a UTP cable UT is bent in different lengths, and each connector pin of each bent inner cable is secured into the gap formed between holders.

However, as shown in Fig. 12, a terminal pin 30 is mounted in each gap formed between holders, wherein the terminal pin has a groove formed by cutting out the center thereof. Therefore, a connector pin 31 of the inner cable UT1 is secured into the terminal pin 30. The inner cable is pressed down by a punch down tool after securing of the connector pin to the terminal pin, in such a manner that the intermediate portion of the terminal pin which has a less width than upper and lower portions of the terminal pin becomes wider, and the connector pin 31 of the inner cable UT1 is compulsorily fit into the widened intermediate portion.

In cases where connector pins of inner cables are fixed in the above- described way, connector pins are arranged in vertical two rows. This causes differences in lengths of inner cables when connected. Further, inner cables of the UTP cable are exposed outward from the main body of a modular jack. As shown in Fig. l ib, the distance between the twisted cable and the connection point is

13mm or larger, causing deterioration of communication quality. Moreover, the connected inner cables easily move even when they are slightly drawn during cable connection. This may result in the escape of the inner cable from the connector holder or cable disconnection.

The above-described conventional modular jack has more drawbacks which will be explained with reference to Figs. 11a and l ib. First, since the conventional modular jack is configured in that im er cables of the UTP cable are connected in a vertical direction, length of each inner cable becomes different when the UTP cable is connected, which causes deterioration of communication.

Second, since inner cables of the UTP cable are untwisted and separated from each other, and bent and secured to each connector holder. Subsequently, the inner cable is compulsorily fit into the connector holder through the use of a punch down tool. This requires complicated procedures for cable connection.

Third, since the connector holder is arranged to the lowest part of the main body of the modular jack, the distance between the twisted cable and the connection point is 13mm or larger. In addition, inner cables of the UTP cable are exposed outward from the main body of the modular jack, cable disconnection is likely to occur during cable connection. This causes deterioration of communication quality.

Fourth, in cases where the terminal pin has a low hardness and unstable structure, crack of the inner cable connected to the terminal pin, or cable disconnection may occur. The cable disconnection or crack in the LAN system increases communication traffic and loads, lowering overall speed of the communication network.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a modular jack which allows for an ease of connection, and a cable connection method using thereof. The modular jack of the present invention allows cable connection to be performed in a convenient and easy manner through the use of a cap, while eliminating the necessity of using an additional tool. Inner cables have uniform lengths, and the distance between the connection point and the twisted cable is maintained minimum. As a consequence, improved communication quality and preventing damages of a cap holder during removal of a cap are attained. Further, connected cables are maintained stable during cable connection.

To accomplish the object of the present invention, there is provided a modular jack including a cap and a jack body which are integrated into a single unit. The cap has, at a front interior thereof, inner cable insertion openings for fixing inner cables of a UTP cable. The jack body includes an inner cable connector having inner cable holders arranged in a transverse direction, wherein each of inner cable holders has, at an interior thereof, support pieces and terminal pins.

The modular jack of the present invention permits a cap holder to be coupled to the inner surface of the cap, to thereby allow a cap holder to move inward during assembly or disassembly of the cap.

There is provided a cable connection method in that inner cables of a UTP cable are secured into inner cable insertion openings of a cap, and the cap is overturned and coupled with a jack body, to thereby simply connect inner cables of the UTP cable.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 illustrates a modular jack of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the modular jack of the present invention; Fig. 3 is a plane view illustrating the main body of the modular jack of the present invention; Fig. 4a is a cross section view, taken along the line A-A of Fig. 3;

Fig. 4b is a cross section view, taken along the line B-B of Fig. 3;

Figs. 5a and 5b are vertical cross section views illustrating the jack body and cap when they are coupled with or separated from each other;

Fig. 6 is a transverse cross section view illustrating the main body of the modular jack and cap of the present invention when they are coupled with each other;

Fig. 7a is a cross section view, taken along the line C-C of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7b is a cross section view, taken along the line D-D of Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is a vertical cross section view illustrating the main body of the modular jack and cap of the present invention when they are coupled with each other;

Fig. 9 illustrates imier cables connected by a cable connection method of the present invention;

Fig. 10 is a vertical cross section view and a plane view illustrating inner cables connected by the cable connection method of the present invention;

Figs. 11a and l ib are plane views illustrating a conventional modular jack; and

Fig. 12 is a vertical cross section view and a plane view illustrating inner cables connected by a conventional cable connection method.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

In drawings of the present invention, identical elements bear identical reference numerals, and detailed descriptions of the related known function or configuration will be omitted for clarity of the idea of the present invention.

Fig. 1 illustrates a modular jack M of the present invention, wherein the modular jack is installed in a plug socket box C which is to be mounted at a wall, as is widely known. In Fig. 1, F denotes a connection plug.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a modular jack of the present invention, wherein a cap is illustrated as overturned. The modular jack includes a cap 10 and a jack body 20. The cap 10 has, at a rear surface thereof, a UTP cable fixing hole 1 with an open top, and at a front portion thereof, square columns arranged into two rows in a transverse direction at a constant spacing, and inner cable insertion openings 4 and 4a formed between square columns and rows. The jack body 20 includes, at one side of the top surface thereof, an inner cable connector 22 having an inner cable holder 22a and terminals 22b and 22c. The jack body 20 has a wall 23 arranged upright from the sidewall thereof. The inner cable holder 22a has a plurality of narrow grooves formed sequentially in a transverse direction, and is arranged to face the wall 23 of the jack body 20. Terminals 22b and 22c are alternately arranged in two rows in such a manner that terminals tightly contact walls of grooves formed at the inner cable holder 22a and have different positions. As shown in Fig. 3, inner cables UT1 of a UTP cable

UT are secured into inner cable insertion openings 4 and 4a of the cap 10, and the jack body 20 and the cap 10 are coupled with each other so as to thereby connect the UTP cable.

As shown in Figs. 5a, 5b and 6, the cap 10 includes support pieces 5 and

5 a arranged upright between inner cable insertion openings 4 and 4a, wherein each support piece has, at an intermediate portion thereof, a cut-out part. Support pieces are arranged in such a manner that cut-out parts thereof are alternately directed upward and downward. The jack body 20 has, at the other side of the top surface thereof, a plurality of cable support protrusions 21b so as to permit inner cables to be firmly connected.

Support pieces and terminals are arranged in the inner cable insertion openings and inner cable holder in such a manner as to avoid contact between support pieces and terminal do not contact when the cap 10 and the jack body 20 are coupled with each other. This will be discussed in more detail later.

As shown in Fig. 8, the cap 10 has, at both side wall surfaces thereof, cap holder fixing holes 3, and the jack body 20 has, at the top surface thereof, cap holders 21 with protrusions 21a. The protrusion 21a of the cap holder 21 is inserted into the cap holder fixing hole 3, to thereby permit the cap 10 and the jack body 20 to be tightly coupled with each other.

Fig. 3 illustrates the plane of the modular jack body and interior of the cap.

Inner cables UT1 of the UTP cable UT are inserted into inner cable insertion openings 4 and 4a of the cap 10. Fig. 3 shows arrangement of support pieces 5 and 5 a mounted between inner cable UT1 insertion openings 4 and 4a, and terminal 22b and 22c mounted between inner cable holders 22a.

Figs. 4a and 4b are cross section views, taken along the lines A-A and B- B of Fig. 3, respectively, wherein terminals 22b and 22c which are tightly fit into grooves formed at wall surfaces of the inner cable holder 22a have different positions.

Figs. 5a and 5b are vertical cross section view illustrating the main body of the modular jack and the cap when they are coupled with or separated from each other. Inner cable insertion openings 4 and 4a of the cap 10 where inner cables UT1 of the cable UT, and the inner cable connector 22 of the jack body 20 are coupled with each other.

Fig. 6 is a transverse cross section view illustrating the main body of the modular jack and the cap when they are coupled with each other. The cap 10 and the jack body 20 are coupled with each other at the state where inner cables UTl are fit into inner cable insertion openings 4 and 4a of the cap 10.

Figs. 7a and 7b are vertical cross section views, taken along the lines C-C and D-D of Fig. 3, wherein the arrangement of terminals 22b and 22c inserted into grooves formed at the inner cable holder 22a of the inner cable connector 22 is shown.

Fig. 8 is a vertical cross section view illustrating the main body of the modular jack and the cap when they are coupled with each other. The protrusion 21a of the cap holder 21 of the jack body 20 is inserted into the cap holder fixing hole 3 formed at wall surface of the cap 10.

Fig. 9 illustrates inner cables connected by a cable connection method of the present invention, wherein inner cables connected to the terminal pin inserted into the inner cable holder of the inner cable connector are shown in front and plane views.

Fig. 10 is a cross section view and a plane view illustrating the connection of inner cables at the state where the cap 10 and the jack body 20 are coupled with each other. Terminals 22b and 22c are firmly fixed by the inner cable holder

22a made up of a synthetic resin material. The inner cable holder 22a is covered by the cap 10 having inner cable insertion openings 4 and 4a so as to prevent movement of the inner cable holder. Support pieces 5 and 5 a arranged between inner cable insertion openings 4 and 4a press inner cables UTl so as to prevent inner cables UTl from escaping from the inner cable holder 22a.

Now, a cable connection method of the present invention and effects resulted therefrom will be explained with reference to the drawings. Inner cables of the UTP cable UT are secured, one by one, into inner cable UTl insertion openings 4 and 4a of the cap 10. In general, front parts of inner cables UTl are twisted while back parts of inner cables are formed straight, as shown in Fig. 9. Inner cables UTl are separated from each other, and back parts of inner cables UTl are simultaneously secured into inner cable insertion openings 4 and 4a. Subsequently, twisted front parts of inner cables are cut by cutting means including scissors so as to accomplish uniform front ends(refer to Fig. 3). And then, the cap 10 is overturned, assembled to the jack body 20, and pressed until the protrusion 21a of the cap holder 21 is fit into the cap holder fixing hole 3 formed at the cap 10. Thus, inner cables UTl secured to inner cable insertion openings 4 and 4a of the cap 10, are connected to the inner cable holder

22a of the jack body 20. Subsequently, inner cables UTl are secured to terminals 22b and 22c arranged at the inner cable holder 22a in a transverse direction, and connected to the inner cable connector 22, as shown in Figs. 5a and 5b.

Referring to Fig. 6, the cap 10 and the jack body 20 are coupled with each other in such a manner that support pieces 5 and 5 a of the cap 10 are disposed at a space(a) where terminals 22b and 22c are not arranged, to thereby prevent warpage of the inner cable holder 22a. As a result, inner cables UTl are maintained firm even when the cable moves. When inner cables UTl secured into inner cable insertion openings 4 and 4a of the cap 10, are connected to the inner cable holder 22a through the coupling of the cap 10 and the jack body 20, the portion of the inner cable holder where inner cables UTl and terminals substantially contact with each other becomes wider by terminals 22b and 22c mounted in the inner cable holder 22a, and the other portion becomes narrow. This arrangement is repeatedly formed by the terminals disposed alternately with each other in the inner cable holder. As a consequence, enhancement in the coupling force between inner cables and the imier cable holder is achieved. Referring to Fig. 8, the cap holder 21 is inserted into the cap holder fixing hole 3 in such a manner that the cap holder 21 is directed toward outside from inside of the cap holder fixing hole. The protrusion 21a formed at the upper portion of the cap holder 21 is inserted into the cap holder fixing hole 3 while the cap holder 21 is moving along the inner wall of the cap 10, to thereby permit the jack body 20 and the cap 10 to be firmly coupled with each other.

Referring to Figs. 5a and 5b, when the cap 10 is coupled with the jack body 20 through the cap holder 21, the front portion of the cap 10 tightly contacts the wall 23 of the jack body 20, and front ends of inner cables UTl connected to the inner cable holder 22a are maintained at constant spacings.

Referring to Fig. 10, inner cables UTl are secured to inner cable insertion openings 4 and 4a of the cap 10, the cap 10 is overturned, and inner cables UTl are inserted into the inner cable connector 22 of the jack body 20, to thereby permit inner cables to be tightly inserted to terminals 22b and 22c of the inner cable holder 22a. The support piece 5 is accommodated into the space(a) of the inner cable holder 22a while supporting inner cables UTl. Therefore, inner cables UTl are connected to the inner cable connector 22 in an accurate and tight way even when inner cables UTl are slightly deviated. Since terminals 22b and 22c with inner cables fixed thereto, are fixed by the inner cable holder 22a, and the inner cable holder 22a is fixed by the cap 10, inner cables UTl are firmly fixed by the inner cable holder 22a in such a manner as to be prevented from escaping from the inner cable holder 22a. In addition, terminals 22b and 22c are prevented from becoming wider, to thereby prevent ingress of dust.

Referring to Fig. 6, an outer coating of the UTP cable UT is disposed within the cap 10, and is tightly coupled into the cable support protrusions 216 and the UTP cable fixing hole 1. This prevents inner cables UTl from escaping from the inner cable connector 22 during cable connection. Inner cables UTl are twisted in a relatively short length, for example 7mm or shorter, thereby improving communication quality. Since a predetermined spacing between the cap 10 and the jack body 20 is maintained by the wall 23 of the jack body 20 when the cap 10 and the jack body 20 are coupled with each other, ends of inner cables UTl are spaced apart from the jack body 20, to thereby prevent leakage of wave.

In addition, since the cap holder 21 is inserted outward from the cap 10, damage of the cap holder 21 is prevented and the cap 10 is maintained stable despite of the frequent attachment or detachment of the cap 10.

As described above, modular jack of the present invention allows for an ease of cable connection and improvement of productivity. With the modular jack of the present invention, even an unskilled worker can carry out a cable connection, accomplishing a quality similar to the case done by a skilled worker.

The cable connected through the modular jack of the present invention is prevented from easily escaping from the cable holder, and the exposed portion of the inner cable is maintained at a minimum length, to thereby minimize the twisted portion of the inner cable and achieve improved communication quality. The cap holder is protected from damages during the attachment/detachment of the cap.

The following table shows a comparison between the modular jack of the present invention and a conventional modular jack.

The modular jack of the present invention is evaluated as an "appropriate level" in the June 14, 2002 dated certificate of evaluation issued from the Radio Research Laboratory of the Ministry of Information and Communication of Korea. The modular jack of the present invention is officially certificated as a telecommunication equipment with the certification number T-A71-02-0476 by the same Radio Research Laboratory, on the date of June 17, 2002.

The invention has been described in great detail in the foregoing specification, and it is believed that various alterations and modifications of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a reading and understanding of the specification. It is intended that all such alterations and modifications are included in the invention, insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A modular jack allowing for an ease of cable connection, comprising: a cap having, at a rear surface thereof, a UTP cable fixing hole and at a front interior thereof, inner cable insertion openings formed at a constant spacing in a transverse direction; and a jack body having a wall arranged upright from the sidewall thereof, and at a top surface thereof, an inner cable connector including an inner cable holder arranged in a transverse direction and terminals alternately inserted, in two rows, to said inner cable holder.

2. A modular jack according to Claim 1, wherein said cap has support pieces arranged upright between inner cable insertion openings.

3. A modular jack according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein said jack body has, at a side top surface thereof, a plurality of cable support protrusions.

4. A modular jack according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein said cap has, at a side wall thereof, a cap holder fixing hole, and said jack body has a cap holder with a protrusion 21a arranged upright from the top surface of said jack body, such that said cap and said jack body are coupled with each other by inserting said protrusion of said cap holder into said cap holder fixing hole.

5. A cable connection method using a modular jack, comprising of the steps: securing inner cables to inner cable insertion openings formed at a cap; cutting inner cables protruded outward from said inner cable insertion openings of said cap; overturning said cap in such a manner that inner cables and inner cable insertion openings are directed downward; and coupling said overturned cap and said jack body in such a manner that said inner cable insertion openings of said cap and an inner cable connector of said jack body are coupled with each other.

6. A cable connection method according to Claim 5, wherein said inner cables are separated into two or three plies when said inner cables are twisted, and secured simultaneously into said inner cable insertion openings.