Plug insertion detection circuits that sense a change in capacitance and related methods and communications connectors
AssigneeCommScope, Inc. of North Carolina
InventorsScott Lynn Michaelis, David Heckmann, Jeff Oberski
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods of detecting a plug insertion into a plug aperture of a communications connector are provided in which a control signal is received that is electromagnetically coupled across a plug aperture of the communications connector using a reactive coupling element. A determination may be made that a mating plug (e.g., an RJ-45 plug or a connector on a fiber optic jumper cable) has been inserted into the plug aperture based on this received control signal. Related connectors are also provided.
Claims19
A method of detecting a plug insertion into a plug aperture of a communications connector, the method comprising:
- receiving a control signal that is electromagnetically coupled across a plug aperture of the communications connector using a reactive coupling element;
- and
- detecting that a mating plug has been inserted into the plug aperture based on the received control signal.
A communications connector, comprising:
- a housing that defines a plug aperture;
- a capacitor that has a first electrode that is mounted adjacent a first side of the plug aperture and a second electrode that is mounted adjacent a second side of the plug aperture, wherein the second side is opposite the first side;
- a plug insertion detection circuit that is configured to couple a plug insertion detection signal though the capacitor.
A communications connector, comprising:
- a housing that defines a plug aperture;
- a capacitor;
- a plug insertion detection circuit that is configured to couple a plug insertion detection signal though the capacitor;
- and
- a movable element that moves between a resting position and an activated position in response to the insertion of a plug within the plug aperture, wherein the capacitor exhibits a first capacitance when the movable element is in the resting position and a second capacitance when the movable element is in the activated position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.