# US 8,771,009 B2 · 3×8 stacked RJ45 connector with integrated LEDs option for 1U product form factor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,771,009 B2 - Document ID: US8771009B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/463,752 - Filed: 2012-05-03 - Published: 2013-11-07 - Granted: 2014-07-08 - Earliest claimed: 2012-05-03 - Assignees: Extreme Networks, Inc. - Applicants: Alice Meng; Unnikrishnan Gangadharan; Marwan Naboulsi; Gavin Richard Cato - Inventors: Alice Meng; Unnikrishnan Gangadharan; Marwan Naboulsi; Gavin Richard Cato - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8771009B2 ## CPC - H01R 24/64: for high frequency, e.g. RJ 45 - H04Q 1/09: {Frames or mounting racks not otherwise provided for} - H01R 13/518: for holding or embracing several coupling parts, e.g. frames - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS - H04Q: SELECTING (switches, relays, selectors H01H; wireless communication networks H04W) ## Abstract Systems and apparatuses are disclosed having a 3×8 stacked RJ45 connector with an integrated LEDs option for a 1U product form factor to provide increased density of an RJ45 connector which utilizes open source and non-proprietary modular connectors in conformity with published standards. For example, in one embodiment such systems and apparatuses include a networking component having therein a connector which includes a plurality of RJ45 jacks arranged into exactly three horizontal rows and a plurality of vertical columns; a printed circuit board to electrically interface with each of the plurality of RJ45 jacks; and a 1x Rack Unit (1U) chassis having the connector and printed circuit board therein, in which at least a portion of the connector extends into a horizontal plane occupied by the printed circuit board. Rack systems and methods are further described for employing such a networking component. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A networking component comprising: a connector having therein a plurality of RJ45 jacks arranged into exactly three horizontal rows and a plurality of vertical columns; a printed circuit board to electrically interface with each of the plurality of RJ45 jacks; a 1x Rack Unit (1U) chassis having the connector and printed circuit board therein, wherein at least a portion of the connector extends into a horizontal plane occupied by the printed circuit board; and wherein the 1U chassis further includes: (a) a bottom chassis layer, (b) the printed circuit board atop the bottom chassis layer separated by a gap, (c) the connector oriented atop the bottom chassis layer and having a lowermost portion of the connector positioned anterior to the printed circuit board, wherein the portion of the connector that extends into the horizontal plane occupied by the printed circuit board comprises the lowermost portion of the connector positioned anterior to the printed circuit board, and (d) a top chassis layer. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The networking component of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of RJ45 jacks embody a female portion of an 8P8C (8 position 8 contact) modular connector in compliance with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) IEC 60603 standard. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The networking component of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of RJ45 jacks adhere to a non-proprietary and open-source standard. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The networking component of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of RJ45 jacks accept a category 5 or category 5e Ethernet cable via an RJ45 plug end without requiring use of a cable converter, adapter, or dongle. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The networking component of claim 1, wherein 1x Rack Unit (1U) chassis complies with dimensional height requirements specified by the Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA) EIA-310 or EIA-310-E standards, or both. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The networking component of claim 1, wherein 1x Rack Unit (1U) chassis complies occupies one Rack Unit of space within a 19-inch or 23-inch rack when installed within the respective 19-inch or 23-inch rack. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The networking component of claim 1, wherein the connector comprises a 3×8 stacked RJ45 connector having a total of 24x RJ45 jacks arranged into the exactly three horizontal rows and further arranged into exactly eight vertical columns. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The networking component of claim 1, wherein the plurality of RJ45 jacks are vertically aligned within the multiple vertical columns such that no lateral shift exists between the plurality of RJ45 jacks on different rows which occupy the same vertical column. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The networking component of claim 1: wherein the connector has a height of less than 1U; and wherein the connector has a width which is less than ⅓ of a 19-inch rack width. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The networking component of claim 9, further comprising: a second connector having therein a second plurality of RJ45 jacks arranged into exactly three horizontal rows and a plurality of vertical columns; a second printed circuit board to electrically interface with each of the second plurality of RJ45 jacks; and wherein the second connector and the second printed circuit board are incorporated into the same 1x Rack Unit (1U) chassis. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The networking component of claim 10, further comprising: a third connector having therein a third plurality of RJ45 jacks arranged into exactly three horizontal rows and a plurality of vertical columns; a third printed circuit board to electrically interface with each of the third plurality of RJ45 jacks; and wherein the third connector and the third printed circuit board are incorporated into the same 1x Rack Unit (1U) chassis as the first connector and the second connector. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The networking component of claim 1, further comprising: a face plane, wherein the plurality of RJ45 jacks are exposed at the face plane. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The networking component of claim 12, wherein the face plane of the networking component comprises a plurality of labels uniquely identifying each of the plurality of RJ45 jacks exposed at the face plane. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The networking component of claim 12, wherein the face plane of the networking component comprises a plurality of Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs) oriented within the face plane and exposed by the face plane, wherein the LEDs indicate status for each of the plurality of RJ45 jacks exposed at the face plane. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The networking component of claim 14, wherein each of the LEDs oriented within the face plane are electrically connected with an LED controller integrated to the printed circuit board. ### Claim 16 A networking component comprising: a connector having therein a plurality of RJ45 jacks arranged into exactly three horizontal rows and a plurality of vertical columns; a printed circuit board to electrically interface with each of the plurality of RJ45 jacks; a 1x Rack Unit (1U) chassis having the connector and printed circuit board therein, wherein at least a portion of the connector extends into a horizontal plane occupied by the printed circuit board; wherein the printed circuit board is oriented upon the horizontal plane within the 1U chassis establishing a printed circuit board layer; and wherein the portion of the connector that extends into the horizontal plane occupied by the printed circuit board is characterized by one of the following: (a) the connector being positioned wholly anterior to the printed circuit board with no overlap between the connector 605A and the printed circuit board within a vertical plane; (b) the printed circuit board is partially overlapped by the connector, wherein a lowermost portion of the connector is positioned anterior to the printed circuit board within the horizontal plane established by the printed circuit board layer and further wherein another portion of the connector does not extend into the horizontal plane of the printed circuit board layer and is positioned above and atop the printed circuit board which is positioned posterior to the lowermost portion of the connector which extends vertically down into the horizontal plane of the printed circuit board layer; and (c) the printed circuit board having an opening for the connector, wherein lowermost portion of the connector extends vertically down into the opening of the printed circuit board such that the lowermost portion of the connector occupies a space within the printed circuit board layer and further wherein the printed circuit board at least partially surrounds the connector at a lateral left side, at a lateral right side, and at a posterior side, but does not surround the connector at an anterior side. ### Claim 17 A rack system comprising: rack rails; and a 1x Rack Unit (1U) chassis mounted to the rack rails of the rack system, the 1U chassis having embodied therein: (a) a connector, wherein the connector includes a plurality of RJ45 jacks arranged into exactly three horizontal rows and a plurality of vertical columns, (b) a printed circuit board to electrically interface with each of the plurality of RJ45 jacks, and (c) wherein the 1U chassis having the connector and printed circuit board therein includes at least a portion of the connector extending into a horizontal plane occupied by the printed circuit board within the 1U chassis. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The rack system of claim 17, wherein the 1U chassis embodies a network component having therein the connector, wherein the connector comprises a 3×8 stacked RJ45 connector having a total of 24x RJ45 jacks arranged into the exactly three horizontal rows and further arranged into exactly eight vertical columns. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The rack system of claim 17, wherein each of the plurality of RJ45 jacks embody a female portion of an 8P8C (8 position 8 contact) modular connector in compliance with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) IEC 60603 standard. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The rack system of claim 17, further comprising: one or more other network components mounted to the rack rails. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The rack system of claim 17: wherein the rack system embodies a 19-inch rack or a 23-inch rack; and wherein vertical space of the rack system is arranged into a plurality of Rack Units (RUs) in conformity with dimensional height requirements specified by the Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA) EIA-310 or EIA-310-E standards, or both.