Network socket and network system

Abstract

A network socket includes a housing, a terminal assembly, and a light-emitting assembly. The housing has a first insertion hole and an accommodating space, the first insertion hole communicates with the accommodating space. The terminal assembly is disposed in the accommodating space and includes a first circuit board and a plurality of first conductive terminals. Each of the first conductive terminals has a first end and a second end. The first end of each of the first conductive terminals is fixed and electrically connected to the first circuit board, and the first conductive terminals are configured to be electrically connected to a plug that enters the accommodating space through the first insertion hole. The light-emitting assembly is disposed in the accommodating space and includes a second circuit board and at least one light-emitting element. The light-emitting element is disposed on and electrically connected to the second circuit board. The second ends of at least some of the first conductive terminals are detachably and electrically connected to the second circuit board.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This invention relates to a network socket and a network system. [Previous Technology]

[0002] Currently, when connecting a network cable to a slot, users often need to insert the cable and check the signal transmission to determine if the slot is powered. In other words, users cannot know if the slot is powered before inserting the cable, meaning they can only test for power by actually inserting the cable, making it difficult to quickly determine if the slot is powered. Therefore, researchers in this field are currently working to solve the aforementioned problem. [Summary of the Invention]

[0003] The present invention provides a network socket and network system that allows users to quickly determine whether the slot is powered before inserting the network cable into the slot.

[0004] One embodiment of the present invention discloses a network socket for inserting a plug. The network socket includes a housing, a terminal assembly, and a light-emitting component. The housing has a first socket and a receiving space, the first socket communicating with the receiving space. The terminal assembly is disposed within the receiving space and includes a first circuit board and a plurality of first conductive terminals. Each of these first conductive terminals has a first end and a second end opposite to each other, the first end of each of these first conductive terminals being fixed and electrically connected to the first circuit board, and these first conductive terminals being used to electrically connect a plug entering the receiving space from the first socket. The light-emitting component is disposed within the receiving space and includes a second circuit board and at least one light-emitting element. The light-emitting element is disposed and electrically connected to the second circuit board, and at least a portion of the second ends of each of these first conductive terminals are detachably electrically connected to the second circuit board.

[0005] Another embodiment of the present invention discloses a network system. The network system includes a network device and the aforementioned network socket. The network socket is electrically connected to the network device to receive a first voltage or a second voltage greater than or equal to the first voltage output by the network device. When the plug is not inserted into the network socket, the light-emitting element of the network socket is driven by the first voltage output by the network device to emit light. When the plug is inserted into the network socket, the terminal assembly of the network socket receives the second voltage output by the network device, and the light-emitting element is separated from the terminal assembly.

[0006] According to the network socket and network system disclosed in the above embodiments, by providing a light-emitting component in the accommodating space, the light-emitting element of the light-emitting component is provided and electrically connected to the second circuit board, and the second ends of at least some of the first conductive terminals in the terminal assembly are detachably electrically connected to the second circuit board, the user can quickly determine whether the network socket is energized or whether the source of the network socket is supplying power by observing whether the light-emitting element is lit before inserting the network cable into the network socket.

[0007] The above description of the content of the present invention and the following description of the embodiments are used to demonstrate and explain the principles of the present invention, and to provide a further explanation of the scope of the patent application of the present invention.

Implementation Method

[0008] Please refer to Figures 1 to 3. Figure 1 is a perspective view of the network socket, cable, and network device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is an exploded view of the network socket and cable of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the network socket and cable of Figure 1.

[0009] In this embodiment, the network socket 10 is used to connect to a network device N via a cable 20, wherein the network socket 10, the cable 20, and the network device N form a network system S, and the network socket 10 is a Power over Ethernet (PoE) socket. The network socket 10 includes a housing 100, a terminal assembly 200, and a light-emitting component 300.

[0010] The housing 100 includes, for example, a base portion 110, a support portion 120, and a cover portion 130. The support portion 120 and the cover portion 130 are assembled to the base portion 110, and the base portion 110, the support portion 120, and the cover portion 130 together form an accommodating space S. The base portion 110 has a first insertion hole 111, which is located on one side of the accommodating space S and communicates with the accommodating space S. The first insertion hole 111 is used to allow the plug 31 of the network cable 30 (please refer to FIG. 5 first) to pass through, so that the plug 31 of the network cable 30 enters the accommodating space S.

[0011] The terminal assembly 200 is disposed within the accommodating space S and supported by the base portion 110. The terminal assembly 200 includes a first circuit board 210 and a plurality of first conductive terminals 220. The first circuit board 210 has a first bearing surface 211, the normal N1 of which is perpendicular, for example, to the opening direction D of the first socket 111. Each of the first conductive terminals 220 has a first end 221 and a second end 222. The first end 221 of each of the first conductive terminals 220 is fixed to the first bearing surface 211 of the first circuit board 210 and electrically connected to the first circuit board 210. The first conductive terminals 220 are arranged, for example, from one side of the first socket 111 to the other side. For example, there are eight first conductive terminals 220, and the numbering of the first conductive terminals 220 from one side of the first socket 111 to the other side (e.g., from the right side to the left side of the first socket 111) is numbered one to eight. These first conductive terminals 220 are used to electrically connect the plug 31 of the network line 30.

[0012] In this embodiment, the network socket 10 may further include a cable management base 400, and the terminal assembly 200 may further include a plurality of piercing terminals 230. The cable management base 400 is used for assembling multiple core wires 21 of the cable 20. The cable management base 400 is disposed within the accommodating space S, and the cable management base 400 and the cover portion 130 together form a cable mounting hole H. The cable mounting hole H communicates with the accommodating space S and is relative to the first socket 111. The cable mounting hole H is used for the cable 20 to pass through. These piercing terminals 230 are disposed on the first circuit board 210, and these piercing terminals 230 are assembled on the cable management base 400 to pierce the core wires 21 respectively.

[0013] Next, please refer to Figures 3 and 4. Figure 4 is a plan view of the light-emitting component of Figure 2.

[0014] The light-emitting component 300 is disposed within the accommodating space S and supported by the carrier portion 120. The light-emitting component 300 includes a second circuit board 310 and two light-emitting elements 320. The second circuit board 310 has a second carrier surface 311, and the normal N2 of the second carrier surface 311 is parallel to the opening direction D of the first socket 111. The two light-emitting elements 320 are disposed, for example, on opposite sides (such as the left and right sides) of the second carrier surface 311 of the second circuit board 310, and the two light-emitting elements 320 are electrically connected to the second circuit board 310.

[0015] The second circuit board 310 has a plurality of conductive portions 312 arranged from one side of the first socket 111 toward the other side (e.g., from the right side to the left side of the first socket 111). The second ends 222 of the first conductive terminals 220 are respectively electrically and separably connected to the conductive portions 312 of the second circuit board 310.

[0016] For example, one light-emitting element 320 is electrically connected to a portion of the first conductive terminals 220, and another light-emitting element 320 is electrically connected to another portion of the first conductive terminals 220. Furthermore, the two electrodes of the right-side light-emitting element 320 are electrically connected to the first conductive terminal 220 numbered one or two and the first conductive terminal 220 numbered three or six respectively via corresponding conductive portions 312; the two electrodes of the left-side light-emitting element 320 are electrically connected to the first conductive terminal 220 numbered four or five and the first conductive terminal 220 numbered seven or eight respectively via corresponding conductive portions 312.

[0017] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG2, the base portion 110 of the housing 100 may further have two light-transmitting holes 112, which are located next to the first socket 111 and correspond to the two light-emitting elements 320 respectively. The network socket 10 may further include two light guides 600, which are respectively disposed in the two light-transmitting holes 112 to guide the light emitted by the two light-emitting elements 320.

[0018] It should be noted that the light guide 600 and the light-transmitting hole 112 are optional components and structures, and may be omitted in other embodiments.

[0019] In this embodiment, when no network cable 30 is plugged into the network socket 10, the network device N provides a detection voltage (such as a first voltage, approximately 2.7V to 10.1V) to the network socket 10 via cable 20 to detect whether a network cable 30 is plugged into the network socket 10. When the detection voltage is applied to the light-emitting element 320, the light-emitting element 320 will emit light and flash. At this time, the user can know that the network socket 10 is energized and its energized state through the light-emitting element 320 emitting light and flashing, where the energized state is, for example, PoE Type 1 (802.3af), Type 2 (802.3at), Type 3 (802.3bt), or Type 4 (802.3bt). In addition, the light-emitting element 320 has multiple energized states to present different visual effects. For example, the detection voltage can be input to the two light-emitting elements 320 in a positive or negative manner. When voltage is input to the light-emitting element 320 in a positive direction (e.g., when the first conductive terminal 220 numbered one / two and the first conductive terminal 220 numbered three / six are electrically connected to the positive and negative terminals of one of the light-emitting elements 320 respectively, and the first conductive terminal 220 numbered four / five and the first conductive terminal 220 numbered seven / eight are electrically connected to the positive and negative terminals of another light-emitting element 320 respectively), the light-emitting element 320 lights up a green light and flashes. When voltage is input in reverse to the light-emitting element 320 (e.g., the first conductive terminals 220 numbered one / two and three / six are electrically connected to the negative and positive terminals of one light-emitting element 320 respectively, and the first conductive terminals 220 numbered four / five and seven / eight are electrically connected to the negative and positive terminals of the other light-emitting element 320 respectively), the light-emitting element 320 will illuminate orange and flash. When only one light-emitting element 320 is lit, the network socket 10 is in PoE Mode A or PoE Mode B. When both light-emitting elements 320 are lit, the network socket 10 is in PoE++ 4-pair mode.

[0020] In this way, by setting the light-emitting component 300 in the accommodating space S, and setting the light-emitting element 320 of the light-emitting component 300 to be electrically connected to the second circuit board 310, and setting the second end 222 of each of the first conductive terminals 220 of the terminal component 200 to be electrically connected to the second circuit board 310 separately, the user can quickly determine whether the network socket 10 is energized or whether the source of the network socket 10 is supplying power by checking whether the light-emitting element 320 is lit before inserting the network cable 30 into the network socket 10.

[0021] Once the user observes that the light-emitting element 320 is lit, the user can know that the network socket 10 is energized and can directly insert the plug 31 of the network cable 30 into the network socket 10. Please refer to Figure 5, which is a cross-sectional view of the network socket and network cable assembly in Figure 4. After the plug 31 of the network cable 30 is inserted into the receiving space S through the first socket 111, the plug 31 of the network cable 30 will force the second ends 222 of these first conductive terminals 220 to separate from the conductive part 312 of the second circuit board 310, and the terminal T inside the plug 31 of the network cable 30 will make electrical contact with these first conductive terminals 220. In this way, the second circuit board 310 is not electrically connected to these first conductive terminals 220, so the detection voltage can no longer be transmitted to the light-emitting element 320, causing the light-emitting element 320 to turn off. Conversely, at this time, the detected voltage will be transmitted to the network cable 30 through these first conductive terminals 220. Therefore, the network device N detects that the network cable 30 is plugged into the network socket 10, and can start to increase the voltage (such as a second voltage greater than the first voltage) to provide a large voltage (such as 48V) to the electronic device connected to the network cable 30. Alternatively, the network device N may not increase the voltage, but still apply the same voltage (such as a second voltage equal to the first voltage) to the electronic device connected to the network cable 30.

[0022] In this embodiment, by means of the second end 222 of each of the first conductive terminals 220 of the terminal assembly 200 being detachably electrically connected to the second circuit board 310, the large voltage supplied by the network device N can be prevented from being transmitted to the light-emitting element 320 after the network cable 30 is inserted into the network socket 10, thereby protecting the light-emitting element 320.

[0023] It should be noted that the normal N1 of the first circuit board 210 is perpendicular to the opening direction D. In other embodiments, the normal of the first circuit board may be parallel to the opening direction. That is, the first circuit board may be configured parallel to the second circuit board.

[0024] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the first circuit board 210 and the second circuit board 310 are two separate circuit boards, but this is not a limitation. In other embodiments, the first circuit board and the second circuit board may be integrated together to form a single circuit board.

[0025] In this embodiment, the light-emitting component 300 may further include multiple protective elements 330 and 340. These protective elements 330 and 340 are, for example, capacitors and resistors, respectively. These protective elements 330 and 340 are disposed on the second circuit board 310. That is, these protective elements 330 and 340 are disposed on the second circuit board 310, which passively receives the voltage applied by the network device N, to further prevent the light-emitting component 320 from being burned out by high voltage. It should be noted that the protective elements 330 and 340 are optional components and may be omitted.

[0026] Please refer to Figures 6 to 9. Figure 6 is a perspective view of the network socket according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Figure 7 is an exploded view of the network socket of Figure 6. Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the network socket of Figure 6. Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of the network socket of Figure 8 connected to the network cable.

[0027] The network socket 10a of this embodiment is similar to the network socket 10 of the above embodiment. The following mainly describes the differences between the two, while the same parts can be referred to the paragraphs of the above embodiment, and will not be repeated.

[0028] In this embodiment, the network socket 10a is used to couple two network lines 30 and 30'. The network socket 10a includes a housing 100a, a terminal assembly 200a, a light-emitting component 300a and two light guides 600a, but does not include a cable management base, and the terminal assembly 200a does not pierce the terminals.

[0029] The housing 100 includes a first housing portion 110a, a second housing portion 130a, and a support portion 120a. The first housing portion 110a, the second housing portion 130a, and the support portion 120a together form an accommodating space Sa. The first housing portion 110a has a first insertion hole 111a, and the second housing portion 130a has a second insertion hole 131a. The first insertion hole 111a and the second insertion hole 131a are located on opposite sides of the accommodating space Sa and communicate with the accommodating space Sa. The first insertion hole 111a is used for the plug 31 of one of the network cables 30 to pass through, so that the plug 31 of the network cable 30 enters the accommodating space Sa. The second insertion hole 131a is used for the plug 31' of another network cable 30' to pass through, so that the plug 31' of the network cable 30' enters the accommodating space Sa.

[0030] In addition to the first circuit board 210a and a plurality of first conductive terminals 220a, the terminal assembly 200a also includes a plurality of second conductive terminals 230a. These first conductive terminals 220a are disposed on the side of the first circuit board 210a adjacent to the first socket 111a, while these second conductive terminals 230a are disposed on the side of the first circuit board 210a adjacent to the second socket 131a. The first conductive terminals 220a are used to electrically connect to the plug 31 of the network cable 30 entering the accommodating space Sa from the first socket 111a, while the second conductive terminals 230a are used to electrically connect to the plug 31' of the network cable 30' entering the accommodating space Sa from the second socket 131a.

[0031] Next, please refer to Figures 10 to 12. Figure 10 is a perspective view of a network socket according to a third embodiment of the present invention. Figure 11 is an exploded view of the network socket of Figure 10. Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view of the network socket of Figure 10.

[0032] The network socket 10b of this embodiment is similar to the network socket 10 of the above embodiment. The network socket 10b of this embodiment also includes a housing 100b, a terminal assembly 200b, a cable management base 400b, a light-emitting component 300b, and two light guides 600b. The following paragraphs mainly describe the differences between the network socket 10b of this embodiment and the network socket 10 of the above embodiment, while the same parts can be referred to the paragraphs of the above embodiments, and will not be repeated.

[0033] In this embodiment, the first circuit board 210b of the terminal assembly 200b includes a first substrate B1 and a second substrate B2. The first substrate B1 is larger than the second substrate B2, and the second substrate B2 is stacked on the first substrate B1. The first conductive terminals 220b of the terminal assembly 200b include a plurality of front conductive terminals FT and a plurality of rear conductive terminals RT. The first end 221b of each of the front conductive terminals FT is fixed to the first substrate B1 and located on one side of the second substrate B2, and the second end 222b of each of the front conductive terminals FT is detachably electrically connected to the second circuit board 310b of the light-emitting component 300b. The first end 221b of each of the rear conductive terminals RT is fixed to the first substrate B1 and located on the other side of the second substrate B2, and the second end 222b of each of the rear conductive terminals RT is not electrically connected to the second circuit board 310b.

[0034] It should be noted that the above-described network socket is a single-hole type, but it is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the network socket can be multi-hole type (such as that used in the panel of a network switch), and each hole is equipped with a terminal assembly and a light-emitting component.

[0035] Next, please refer to Figures 13 to 15. Figure 13 is a perspective view of a network socket according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. Figure 14 is an exploded view of the network socket of Figure 13. Figure 15 is a cross-sectional view of the network socket of Figure 13.

[0036] The network socket 10c of this embodiment is similar to the network socket 10b of the above embodiment. The network socket 10c of this embodiment also includes a housing 100c, a terminal assembly 200c, a cable management base 400c, a light-emitting component 300c, and two light guides 600c. The following paragraphs mainly describe the differences between the network socket 10c of this embodiment and the network socket 10b of the above embodiment, while the same parts can be referred to the paragraphs of the above embodiments and will not be repeated.

[0037] In this embodiment, the support portion 120c of the second circuit board 310c used to support the light-emitting component 300c in the housing 100c is mounted on the terminal base 240c of the terminal assembly 200c and housed in the base portion 110c of the housing 100c.

[0038] According to the network socket and network system disclosed in the above embodiments, by providing a light-emitting component in the accommodating space, the light-emitting element of the light-emitting component is provided and electrically connected to the second circuit board, and the second ends of at least some of the first conductive terminals in the terminal assembly are detachably electrically connected to the second circuit board, the user can quickly determine whether the network socket is energized or whether the source of the network socket is supplying power by observing whether the light-emitting element is lit before inserting the network cable into the network socket.

[0039] Although the present invention has been disclosed above with reference to the preferred embodiments described above, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Any person skilled in the art may make some modifications and refinements without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of patent protection of the present invention shall be determined by the scope of the patent application attached to this specification. [Simplified Explanation of the Diagram]

[0040] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the network socket and cable according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is an exploded view of the network socket and cable of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the network socket and cable of Figure 1. Figure 4 is a plan view of the light-emitting component of Figure 2. Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the network socket and network cable connection of Figure 4. Figure 6 is a perspective view of the network socket according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Figure 7 is an exploded view of the network socket of Figure 6. Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the network socket of Figure 6. Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of the network socket and network cable connection of Figure 8. Figure 10 is a perspective view of the network socket according to the third embodiment of the present invention. Figure 11 is an exploded view of the network socket of Figure 10. Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view of the network socket of Figure 10. Figure 13 is a perspective view of the network socket according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. Figure 14 is an exploded view of the network socket of Figure 13. Figure 15 is a cross-sectional view of the network socket of Figure 13.

Claims

1. A network socket for inserting a plug, comprising: a housing having a first socket and a receiving space, the first socket communicating with the receiving space; a terminal assembly disposed within the receiving space, the terminal assembly including a first circuit board and a plurality of first conductive terminals, each of the first conductive terminals having a first end and a second end opposite to each other, the first end of each of the first conductive terminals being fixed and electrically connected to the first circuit board, the first conductive terminals being used to electrically connect the plug entering the receiving space from the first socket; and a light-emitting component disposed within the receiving space, the light-emitting component including a second circuit board and at least one light-emitting element, the at least one light-emitting element being disposed and electrically connected to the second circuit board, at least a portion of the second ends of each of the first conductive terminals being detachably electrically connected to the second circuit board.

2. The network socket as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing has at least one light-transmitting hole located next to the first socket and corresponding to the at least one light-emitting element.

3. The network socket as described in claim 2 further includes at least one light guide, the at least one light guide being disposed at the at least one light-transmitting hole.

4. The network socket as claimed in claim 1, wherein the number of the at least one light-emitting element is two, wherein one light-emitting element is electrically connected to a portion of the first conductive terminals, and the other light-emitting element is electrically connected to another portion of the first conductive terminals.

5. The network socket as described in claim 4, wherein the first conductive terminals are numbered from one to eight from one side of the first socket to the other, wherein the two electrodes of one of the light-emitting elements are electrically connected to one of the first conductive terminals numbered one or two and one of the first conductive terminals numbered three or six, and the two electrodes of another light-emitting element are electrically connected to one of the first conductive terminals numbered four or five and one of the first conductive terminals numbered seven or eight.

6. The network socket as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first circuit board has a first bearing surface, the normal of the first bearing surface is perpendicular to the opening direction of the first socket, the first end of each of the first conductive terminals is disposed on the first bearing surface of the first circuit board, the second circuit board has a second bearing surface, the normal of the second bearing surface is parallel to the opening direction of the first socket, and the at least one light-emitting element is disposed on the second bearing surface of the second circuit board.

7. The network socket as claimed in claim 1 further includes a cable management base, the terminal assembly further includes a plurality of piercing terminals, the housing further includes a cable mounting hole communicating with the receiving space and relative to the first socket, the cable mounting hole being for a cable to pass through, the cable management base being disposed within the receiving space, the cable management base being for assembling multiple core wires of the cable, the piercing terminals being disposed on the first circuit board, the piercing terminals being assembled on the cable management base to pierce the core wires respectively.

8. The network socket as claimed in claim 1, wherein the terminal assembly further includes a plurality of second conductive terminals, the housing further includes a second socket communicating with the receiving space and relative to the first socket, the second conductive terminals being fixed and electrically connected to a first circuit board, the second conductive terminals being used to electrically connect another plug entering the receiving space from the second socket.

9. The network socket as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first circuit board includes a first substrate and a second substrate, the first substrate being larger than the second substrate, the second substrate being stacked on the first substrate, the first conductive terminals including a plurality of front conductive terminals and a plurality of rear conductive terminals, the first end of each of the front conductive terminals being fixed to the first substrate and located on one side of the second substrate, the second end of each of the front conductive terminals being detachably electrically connected to the second circuit board, the first end of each of the rear conductive terminals being fixed to the first substrate and located on the other side of the second substrate, and the second end of each of the rear conductive terminals not being electrically connected to the second circuit board.

10. The network socket as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second end of each of the first conductive terminals is detachably electrically connected to the second circuit board.

11. The network socket as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light-emitting component further includes a plurality of protective elements disposed on the second circuit board.

12. The network socket as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one light-emitting element has multiple energized states to present multiple different visual effects.

13. A network system comprising: a network device; and a network socket as described in claim 1, electrically connected to the network device to receive a first voltage or a second voltage greater than or equal to the first voltage output by the network device; wherein, When the plug is not inserted into the network socket, the at least one light-emitting element of the network socket is driven to emit light by the first voltage output by the network device; wherein, when the plug is inserted into the network socket, the terminal assembly of the network socket receives the second voltage output by the network device, and the at least one light-emitting element is separated from the terminal assembly.

Images