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  Integrated connector unitUSPTO Application #: 20060175905Title: Integrated connector unit Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, an integrated jack unit is provided. The integrated jack unit includes a housing. The integrated jack unit also includes a jack positioned at least in part in the housing. The integrated jack unit also includes a power controller positioned in the housing and coupled to the jack by a line. The line is designated for coupling with a transformer. The integrated jack unit also includes a pin protruding outwardly from the housing. The pin is electrically coupled to the jack through the power controller and the line. The pin is positioned to receive power for the jack from a printed circuit board. (end of abstract) Agent: Baker Botts L.L.P. - Dallas, TX, US Inventors: Robert A. Marshall, Anthony L. Randall, Frederick R. Schindler USPTO Applicaton #: 20060175905 - Class: 307147000 (USPTO) The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060175905. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/326,236 filed Dec. 20, 2002 and entitled "Integrated Connector Unit", now U.S. Pat. No. 7,026,730. TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] This invention relates generally to the field of communications and more particularly to an integrated connector unit. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] A communications switch, such as an ethernet switch, allows a plurality of communications devices to communicate with one another. To establish a conduit for data between the communications switch and the communications device, a connector may be coupled to the printed circuit board ("PCB") of the communications switch so that the communications device may plug into the connector. A connector is also referred to as a "jack." Where possible, the communication device may also receive power from the jack. Providing power through the jack eliminates the need for the communications device to have a separate power source, such as an AC/DC power source. Power provided through the jack is referred to as "inline power." [0004] Jacks are sometimes manufactured as a jack unit that includes in its housing one or more jacks and some of the components for carrying data. For example, isolation transformers for the data lines may be included in the housing of a jack unit. The pins of a jack unit may be soldered onto the PCB to electrically couple the data components in the housing of jack unit to the appropriate components of the PCB. Including some of the components for carrying data in the housing saves board space on the PCB. However, positioning the isolation transformers in the housing of the jack unit may not allow inline power to be provided to the communications devices that plug into the jack unit. This is because the jack side of the isolation transformer, which must be accessible to provide inline power, is blocked by the housing of the jack unit. Thus, inline power may not be available where the isolation transformers are included in a jack unit. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0005] According to one embodiment of the invention, an integrated jack unit is provided. The integrated jack unit includes a housing. The integrated jack unit also includes a jack positioned at least in part in the housing. The integrated jack unit also includes a power controller positioned in the housing and coupled to the jack by a line. The line is designated for coupling with a transformer. The integrated jack unit also includes a pin protruding outwardly from the housing. The pin is electrically coupled to the jack through the power controller and the line. The pin is positioned to receive power for the jack from a printed circuit board. [0006] Some embodiments of the invention provide numerous technical advantages. Some embodiments may benefit from some, none, or all of these advantages. For example, according to one embodiment, inline power may be provided through integrated jack units. According to another embodiment, the design of a main printed circuit board is simplified without substantially complicating the design of the jack unit. According to another embodiment, the overall manufacturing process of networking equipment is simplified because jack units having integrated isolation transformers may be used for both Ethernet, non-Ethernet, standard Ethernet, and inline Ethernet applications. According to another embodiment, a same printed circuit board design may be used for both standard and inline powered systems because the inline power circuitry is in the jack unit. [0007] Other technical advantages may be readily ascertained by one of skill in the art. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0008] Reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numbers represent like parts, in which: [0009] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating one embodiment of a communications system that may benefit from the teachings of the present invention; [0010] FIG. 2A is a schematic diagram illustrating one embodiment of an integrated jack unit of FIG. 1; [0011] FIG. 2B is a perspective view of one embodiment of the integrated jack unit of FIG. 2A; [0012] FIG. 3 is a bottom view of one embodiment of the integrated jack unit of FIG. 2B; and [0013] FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating one embodiment of a method of providing inline power through one embodiment of the integrated jack unit of FIG. 2A. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION [0014] Embodiments of the invention are best understood by referring to FIGS. 1 through 4 of the drawings, like numerals being used for like and corresponding parts of the various drawings. [0015] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating one embodiment of a communications system 10 that may benefit from the teachings of the present invention. System 10 comprises network segments 18A through 18C that are coupled to each other over a communications network 24 and/or a communications switch 14. Network segments 18A through 18C are jointly referred to as network segments 18. As shown in FIG. 1, network segment 18A is coupled to network segment 18B over communications switch 14. Network segment 18C is coupled to network segments 18A and 18B over communications network 24 and communications switch 14. More or less network segments 18 may be coupled to each other over communications network 24 and communications switch 14. [0016] Network segments 18A through 18C each comprises one or more communications devices 20. A jack unit 30 is coupled to communications switch 14 to provide one or more ports (not explicitly shown) that may be used to physically connect communications devices 20. For example, a cable having plugs may be used to plug in communications devices 20 to jack unit 30. In some embodiments, switch 14 and network segments 18 may be devices that are capable of operating according to the ethernet network standard. [0017] Communications switch 14 may be operable to send and receive packets to and from communications devices 20 according to the addresses of the packets. Upon receiving one or more packets from device 20, switch 14 sends the received packets to a particular communications device 20 that is identified by the included address. Switch 14 may send and receive the packets over network 24, jack unit 30, or any other suitable conduit or a combination of conduits that couples switch 14 to communications devices 20. In some examples, a hub, a router, or any other suitable device may be used instead of switch 14. Communications device 20 may be any communications device that is operable to communicate with other communications devices over a network architecture. Examples of communications device 20 include a Voice over Internet Protocol ("VoIP") phone and a computer. [0018] Jack unit 30 may comprise one or more RJ-45 jacks; however, jack unit 30 may comprise other types of jacks. Where jack unit 30 comprises RJ-45 jacks, communications devices 20 may plug into jack unit 30 using cables having plugs that are adaptable to a RJ-45 jack. Jack unit 30 may also comprise one or more isolation transformers within its housing. A jack unit having isolation transformers within its housing is referred to as a "mag jack." Thus, jack unit 30 may also be referred to as mag jack 30. An isolation transformer is a transformer that is operable to protect the components of switch 14, such as integrated circuit chips, against excessive common mode voltages from communications devices 20 and/or cables attaching devices 20 to switch 14. Mag jack 30 generally includes outwardly disposed pins that may be soldered onto the appropriate apertures of a printed circuit board of communications switch 14, thereby electrically coupling the components of mag jack 30 to the components of communications switch 14. The use of mag jack 30 saves space on the main printed circuit board ("PCB") of switch 14 because the isolation transformers are in mag jack 30 rather than on the PCB. Continue reading... Full patent description for Integrated connector unit Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Integrated connector unit patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Integrated connector unit or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Ups having a dual-use boost converter Next Patent Application: Method for assembling semiconductor switching elements and heat sink in rotary electric machine and rotary electric machine Industry Class: Electrical transmission or interconnection systems ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Integrated connector unit patent info. 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