Communication connectors having switchable electrical performance characteristics

A communication plug for use with first and second communication outlets, the first communication outlet comprising a first receptacle with a plurality of first outlet contacts, the first communication outlet being configured to operate in accordance with a first standard, the second communication outlet comprising at least one aperture and a second receptacle with a plurality of second outlet contacts, the second communication outlet being configured to operate in accordance with a second standard, the first standard being different from the second standard, the plug comprising:

• a housing having a portion configured to be received inside the first receptacle of the first communication outlet and form a first connection therewith, the housing being further configured to be received inside the second receptacle of the second communication outlet and form a second connection therewith;
• a coupling element subassembly configured to provide electrical coupling in accordance with the first standard;
• a plurality of plug contacts positioned inside the housing, the plurality of plug contacts being contactable through apertures in the housing by the plurality of first outlet contacts when the plug is received inside the first receptacle of the first communication outlet, and by the plurality of sec outlet contacts when the plug is received inside the second receptacle of the second communication outlet;
• and
• a switch assembly having at least one projecting portion, the first communication outlet pressing on the at least one projecting portion and causing the switch assembly to move allowing the plurality of plug contacts to contact the coupling element subassembly when the plug is inserted into the first receptacle of the first communication outlet, the at least one aperture of the second communication outlet receiving the at least one projecting portion and avoiding pressing on the switch assembly thereby allowing the plurality of plug contacts to remain disconnected from the coupling element subassembly when the plug is inserted into the second receptacle of the second communication outlet.

A communication plug for use with first and second communication outlets, the first communication outlet comprising a first receptacle, the second communication outlet comprising at least one aperture and a second receptacle, the plug comprising:

• an insulator comprising an insulating portion and at least one projection;
• a first electrical circuit portion comprising a plurality of plug contacts;
• and
• a second electrical circuit portion, the at least one projection being received inside the at least one aperture and the insulating portion being positioned in between the plurality of plug contacts and the second electrical circuit portion when the plug is inserted into the second receptacle of the second communication outlet, the insulating portion disconnecting the first electrical circuit portion from the second electrical circuit portion when positioned in between the plurality of plug contacts and the second electrical circuit portion, the first communication outlet pressing on the at least one projection and removing the insulating portion from in between the plurality of plug contacts and the second electrical circuit portion such that the second electrical circuit portion is connected to the first electrical circuit portion when the plug is inserted into the first receptacle of the first communication outlet, the plug operating in a first electrical performance mode when the second electrical circuit portion is disconnected from the first electrical circuit portion, and the plug operating in a different second electrical performance mode when the second electrical circuit portion is connected to the first electrical circuit portion.

A plug configured to mate one at a time with first and second outlets, the first outlet comprising a first receptacle, the second outlet comprising a second receptacle and at least one aperture, the plug comprising:

• a plurality of electrical circuits;
• a plurality of coupling elements that when connected to the plurality of electrical circuits electrically couple two or more of the plurality of electrical circuits together at least one of capacitively, inductively, or conductively such that the plug operates in a first electrical performance mode;
• and
• a switching mechanism having at least one projecting portion and an insulating portion, the at least one projecting portion being received inside the at least one aperture and the insulating portion being positioned to disconnect the plurality of electrical circuits from the plurality of coupling elements when the plug is inserted into the second receptacle of the second outlet, the first outlet pressing on the at least one projecting portion and moving the insulating portion such that the plurality of electrical circuits are connected with the plurality of coupling elements when the plug is inserted into the first receptacle of the first outlet, the plug operating in a different second electrical performance mode when the plurality of coupling elements are disconnected from the plurality of electrical circuits.

A plug for use with a first outlet configured to operate in a first electrical performance mode and a second outlet configured to operate in a different second electrical performance mode, the first outlet comprising a first receptacle, the second outlet comprising at least one aperture and a second receptacle, the plug comprising:

• a plurality of electrical circuits;
• a plurality of coupling elements that when connected to the plurality of electrical circuits electrically couple two or more of the plurality of electrical circuits together at least one of capacitively, inductively, or conductively such that the plug operates in the first electrical performance mode;
• and
• a switching mechanism having at least one projecting portion and an insulating portion, the first outlet pressing on the at least one projecting portion and moving the insulating portion into a first position where the plurality of coupling elements are connected to the plurality of electrical circuits when the plug is inserted into the first receptacle of the first outlet, the at least one projecting portion being received inside the at least one aperture and the insulating portion being positioned to disconnect the plurality of coupling elements from the plurality of electrical circuits when the plug is inserted into the second receptacle of the second outlet, the plug operating in the second electrical performance mode when the plurality of coupling elements are disconnected from the plurality of electrical circuits.

A communication plug for use with a cable comprising a plurality of wires, the communication plug comprising:

• a substrate comprising a plurality of plated through-holes, a plurality of circuit paths, and a plurality of contact pads, each of the plurality of plated through-holes being configured to receive a corresponding one of the plurality of wires,
• a plurality of plug contacts mounted on the substrate, a different one of the plurality of circuit paths connecting each of the plurality of plug contacts to a different one of the plurality of plated through-holes, the plurality of contact pads comprising a different contact pad corresponding to each of the plurality of plug contacts, at least a portion of the plurality of contact pads being connected to one or more coupling elements, each of the plurality of plug contacts being positioned to contact the contact pad corresponding to the plug contact;
• an insulator comprising an insulating portion and at least one projection, the insulating portion being adjacent the plurality of contact pads, the insulator being movable between an insulating position and a non-insulating position, the insulating portion of the insulator insulating the plurality of contact pads from the plurality of plug contacts when the insulator is in the insulating position, the plurality of plug contacts contacting the plurality of contact pads when the insulator is in the non-insulating position;
• and
• at least one biasing member exerting a biasing force on the insulator, the biasing force being sufficient to bias the insulator into a first one of the insulating position and the non-insulating position, the at least one projection being configured to receive sufficient force to overcome the biasing force and move the insulator from the first one of the insulating position and the non-insulating position to a second different one of the insulating position and the non-insulating position.