Controlled mode conversion connector for reduced alien crosstalk

A communications plug, comprising:

• a plurality of conductive contacts, each of the contacts being substantially aligned and parallel with each other in a contact region of the plug;
• and
• a printed circuit board, the contacts being mounted on the printed circuit board, the printed circuit board comprising at least one dielectric substrate and traces deposited thereon, each of the traces being electrically connected to a respective contact, each of the traces being adapted to connect with a respective conductor of an entering cable;
• wherein the arrangement of the traces on the dielectric substrate is selected to control the differential to common mode coupling between the traces of at least two pairs of traces.

A method of controlling the signal being output by a communications plug when a balanced signal is applied, comprising:

• positioning a first pair of conductors relative to a dielectric substrate;
• and
• positioning a second pair of conductors relative to a dielectric substrate;
• wherein the first and second pairs of conductors are arranged in one region of the plug such that one conductor of the first pair is selectively positioned to be closer to both of the conductors of the second pair than is the other conductor of the first pair,
• and such that the one conductor of the first pair couples a common mode signal of a first polarity onto the conductors of the second pair;
• and
• wherein in another region of the plug the other conductor of the first pair is selectively positioned to be closer to both of the conductors of the second pair to couple a common mode signal of a second polarity onto the conductors of the second pair, thereby enhancing mode conversion performance.

A telecommunications plug for mating with a telecommunications jack, the plug comprising:

• a first conductor and a second conductor that are adjacent to one another in a contact region of the plug and that together form a second pair of conductors;
• a fourth and a fifth conductor that are adjacent to each other in the contact region of the plug and that together form a first pair of conductors;
• a third conductor that is disposed between the second conductor and the fourth conductor on the contact region of the plug;
• and
• a sixth conductor that is adjacent to the fifth conductor, the third and the sixth conductor together forming a third pair of conductors that sandwiches the first pair of conductors;
• wherein the third conductor and the sixth conductor are arranged to couple substantially equal amounts of signal energy onto each of the first conductor and the second conductor.

A method of controlling the signal being output by a communications plug when a balanced signal is applied, comprising:

• positioning a first pair of conductors relative to a dielectric substrate;
• positioning a second pair of conductors relative to a dielectric substrate;
• positioning a third pair of conductors relative to a dielectric substrate;
• and
• positioning a fourth pair of conductors relative to a dielectric substrate;
• wherein the positions of the first, second, third and fourth pairs of conductors are selected to control differential to common mode coupling between the conductors to counteract the effects of cross-modal coupling that would otherwise exist between the conductors.

A telecommunications connection assembly, the assembly comprising a plug and a jack that receives the plug, wherein the plug comprises:

• first and second pairs of electrical conductors;
• the first and second pairs of conductors being arranged in a first plug region of the plug such that a first conductor of the first pair is selectively positioned to be closer to both of the conductors of the second pair than is a second conductor of the first pair,
• wherein in a second plug region of the plug the second conductor of the first pair is selectively positioned to be closer to both of the conductors of the second pair than the first conductor of the first pair;
• and wherein the jack comprises:
• first and second pairs of electrical conductors;
• the first and second pairs of conductors being arranged in a first jack region of the jack such that a first conductor of the first pair is selectively positioned to be closer to both of the conductors of the second pair than is a second conductor of the first pair,
• wherein in a second jack region of the jack the second conductor of the first pair is selectively positioned to be closer to both of the conductors of the second pair than the first conductor of the first pair;
• wherein each of the plug and the jack includes a contact region, the plug and jack contact regions contacting each other when the plug and jack are in a mated condition in which the conductors of the plug are electrically connected with the conductors of the jack.