FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to communications connectors and, more particularly, to pin connectors and socket connectors which can be mated together.

BACKGROUND

Pin connectors and socket connectors are known types of communications connectors that may be used, for example, to detachably connect two communications cables and/or to connect a communications cable to a printed circuit board or an electronic device. Pin and socket connectors are used in a variety of applications such as, for example, in automobiles and in data centers.

FIG. 1is a perspective view of an example of a conventional pin connector10. As shown inFIG. 1, the pin connector10includes a housing20that has a plug aperture22. The plug aperture22may be sized and configured to receive a mating socket connector. The pin connector10further includes a conductive pin array24that includes eighteen conductive pins30that are mounted in the housing20. Each conductive pin30has a first end32that extends into the plug aperture22and a second end36that extends downwardly from a bottom surface of the housing20. The first end32of each conductive pin30may be received within a respective socket of a mating socket connector that is inserted into the plug aperture22, and the second end36of each conductive pin30may be inserted into, for example, a printed circuit board (not shown).

FIG. 2is a perspective view of conductive pins30-1through30-8that are included in the conductive pin array24of pin connector10ofFIG. 1. Herein, when a device such as a connector includes multiple of the same components, these components are referred to individually by their full reference numerals (e.g., conductive pin30-4) and are referred to collectively by the first part of their reference numeral (e.g., the conductive pins30). Only eight of the eighteen conductive pins30that are included in pin connector10ofFIG. 1are illustrated inFIG. 2in order to simplify the drawing and the explanation thereof. As shown inFIG. 2, a middle portion34of each conductive pin30that connects the first end32to the second end36includes a right angled section38. The first ends32of the conductive pins30extend along the x-direction (see the reference axes inFIG. 2) and are aligned in two rows. The second ends36of the conductive pins30extend along the z-direction and are also aligned in two rows. It will be appreciated that the remaining ten conductive pins30of pin connector10that are not pictured inFIG. 2are aligned in the same two rows and that the conductive pins30in each row all have the exact same design and spacing from adjacent conductive pins30.

FIGS. 3 and 4are perspective views of a partially disassembled socket connector50that may be used in conjunction with the pin connector10ofFIG. 1. As shown inFIGS. 3 and 4, the socket connector50includes a housing60that includes a plurality of pin apertures62. The housing60defines an open interior64that receives a socket contact holder70. The housing60includes a side opening66that provides an access opening for inserting the socket contact holder70within the open interior64. The side opening66also provides an access opening for the conductors of a communications cable (not shown) to be routed into the open interior64for termination within the socket contact holder70. A locking member68is mounted on an exterior surface of the housing60. The socket connector50may be received within the plug aperture22of the pin connector10so that each of the conductive pins30of the pin connector is received within a respective pin aperture62of housing60. The locking member68may be used to lock the socket connector50within the plug aperture22of the pin connector10.

FIG. 5is a perspective view the socket contact holder70.FIG. 6is a perspective view of a socket contact80. As shown inFIG. 5, the socket contact holder70includes a plurality of sockets76that extend from a front face74to the rear face72of the socket contact holder70. Each socket76is sized to receive a respective one of the socket contacts80. Accordingly, a socket contact array78that includes a plurality of socket contacts80may be populated into the sockets76in socket contact holder70. Each socket contact80includes a front end82and a rear end84. The front end82is configured to receive and grasp a conductive pin of a mating pin connector (e.g., one of the conductive pins30of pin connector10) that is received through a respective one of the pin apertures62in housing60. The front end82may include a spring mechanism (not visible inFIG. 6) that biases a conductive component of the socket contact80against the conductive pin30of the mating pin connector10that is received therein in order to maintain a good mechanical and electrical contact between the conductive pin30and the socket contact80. The rear end84of the socket contact80may be configured to receive a conductor of a communications cable (not shown) such as a copper wire by means of a crimped connection. Thus, each socket contact80may be used to electrically connect a conductive pin of a pin connector to a conductor of a communications cable.

SUMMARY

Pursuant to embodiments of the present invention, communications connectors are provided that include a housing and a plurality of substantially rigid conductive pins that are mounted in the housing, the conductive pins arranged as a plurality of differential pairs of conductive pins that each include a tip conductive pin and a ring conductive pin. Each conductive pin has a first end that is configured to be received within a respective socket of a mating connector and a second end. The tip conductive pin of each differential pair of conductive pins crosses over its associated ring conductive pin to form a plurality of tip-ring crossover locations.

Pursuant to additional embodiments of the present invention, communications connectors are provided that include a housing and a plurality of substantially rigid conductive pins that are mounted in the housing, the conductive pins arranged as a plurality of differential pairs of conductive pins. Each of the conductive pins has a first end, a second end and middle section wherein the first and second end are each staggered with respect to the middle section so that a first end of a second conductive pin of a first of the differential pairs of conductive pins is substantially aligned with a first end of a first conductive pin of a second of the differential pairs and a second end of a first conductive pin of the first of the differential pairs of conductive pins is substantially aligned with a second end of a second conductive pin of the second of the differential pairs. The differential pairs of conductive pins are routed so that differential-to-differential crosstalk is substantially cancelled between adjacent ones of the differential pairs of conductive pins. Moreover, the first ends of the conductive pins are arranged to mate with the respective sockets of a mating connector.

Pursuant to still further embodiments of the present invention, communications connectors are provided that include a housing and a plurality of contacts that are mounted in the housing, the contacts arranged as a plurality of differential pairs of contacts that each include a tip contact and a ring contact. The plurality of contacts comprises a plurality of sockets that each have a first end that is configured to receive a respective one of a plurality of conductive pins. The tip contact of each differential pair of contacts crosses over its associated ring contact to form a plurality of tip-ring crossover locations.

Pursuant to still further embodiments of the present invention, communications connector systems are provided that include a plurality of housings, where each housing has at least one pair of conductive pins mounted therein. Each of the pairs of conductive pins is arranged as a differential pair of conductive pins that includes a tip conductive pin and a ring conductive pin. Each conductive pin has a first end that is configured to be received within a respective socket of a mating connector and a second end. The tip conductive pin of each pair of conductive pins crosses over its associated ring conductive pin to form a tip-ring crossover location.

Pursuant to still other embodiments of the present invention, cabling systems for a vehicle are provided that include a first cable having a first twisted pair of conductors, a second cable having a second twisted pair of conductors, and a ruggedized connection hub electrically connecting the first twisted pair of conductors to the second twisted pair of conductors.

