# US 2021/0242639 A1 · Switched Power over Ethernet Connector > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0242639 A1 - Document ID: US20210242639A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/188,341 - Filed: 2021-03-01 - Published: 2021-08-05 - Earliest claimed: 2017-02-10 - Assignees: Sentinel Connector Systems, Inc. - Applicants: Sentinel Connector Systems, Inc. - Inventors: Robert Brennan; Justin Wagner; Brett Robinson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210242639A1 ## CPC - H01R 13/701: {the switch being actuated by an accessory, e.g. cover, locking member} - H01R 13/6272: {comprising a single latching arm} - H01R 13/7033: {making use of elastic extensions of the terminals} - H01R 13/713: the switch being a safety switch - H01R 24/64: for high frequency, e.g. RJ 45 - H01R 2107/00: Four or more poles - H01R 2201/04: for network, e.g. LAN connectors - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS ## Abstract An arc prevention system including a jack having a receptacle, a modular connector sized to be positioned in the receptacle of the jack, the modular connector including a plurality of contacts, with at least two of the contacts creating an energized electrical path with an external power source in electrical communication with the external power source, a latch extending from a top surface of the modular connector, a switching unit positioned on the latch, a plug unit positioned between the latch and the jack that prevents the modular connector from moving out of the receptacle, a control circuit in electrical communication with switch and the at least two energized contacts, where the electrical path between the control circuit and the switching unit is energized when the plug engages the switching unit on the latch, and the control circuit adjusts the energized electrical path to a predetermined electrical level. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An arc prevention system including: a jack having a receptacle; a modular connector sized to be positioned in the receptacle of the jack, the modular connector including: a plurality of contacts, with at least two of the contacts creating an energized electrical path with an external power source in electrical communication with the external power source; a latch extending from a top surface of the modular connector, a switching unit positioned on the latch, a plug unit positioned between the latch and the jack that prevents the modular connector from moving out of the receptacle; a control circuit in electrical communication with switch and the at least two energized contacts, wherein, the electrical path between the control circuit and the switching unit is energized when the plug engages the switching unit on the latch, and the control circuit adjusts the energized electrical path to a predetermined electrical level. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The arc prevention system of claim 1, wherein the switching unit is a microswitch. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The arc prevention system of claim 1, wherein the switching unit is a pressure switch. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The arc prevention system of claim 1, wherein the switching unit is positioned on the top surface of the latch. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The arc prevention system of claim 1, wherein the switching unit is in a closed state when the connector engages the receptacle of the jack. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The arc prevention system of claim 1, wherein the switching unit is positioned on the latch such that the switching unit enters an open state when the plug is moved 0.01 inches or less. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The arc prevention system of claim 1, wherein the external power supply is a power over Ethernet power supply unit. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The arc prevention unit of claim 1, wherein the switching unit is in an open state when the plug engages the receptacle of the jack. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The arc prevention unit of claim 1, wherein the switching unit, via the control circuit, de-energizes the contacts when the latch is pushed towards plug unit. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The switching unit of claim 1, wherein the switching unit is an infrared switch. ### Claim 11 A method of preventing an arc, the method including the steps of: positioning a switching unit on an external surface of a modular connector, with the modular connector being sized to engage a receptacle in a jack; creating an energized path between at least two of the plurality of contacts and in the modular connector and an external power supply; forming a control circuit connected to the switching unit and to the energized path, adjusting an electrical level of the energized path when the switching unit is de-energized positioning a plug unit between the latch and the jack that prevents the modular connector from moving out of the receptacle, wherein, the electrical path between the control circuit and the switching unit is energized when the plug engages the switching unit on the latch. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the switching unit is a microswitch. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the switching unit is a pressure switch. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the switching unit is positioned on the top surface of the latch. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the switching unit is in a closed state when the connector engages the receptacle of the jack. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the switching unit is positioned on the latch such that the switching unit enters an open state when the plug is moved 0.01 inches or less. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the external power supply is a power over Ethernet power supply unit. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the switching unit is in an open state when the plug engages the receptacle of the jack. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, including the step of de-energizing the control circuit when the latch disengages the plug unit. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the wherein the switching unit is an infrared switch.