David D Oliphant
Engineers in Salt Lake City, UT

6375479, Apr 23, 2002

Aug 31, 2000

09/652547

Thomas A. Johnson - Draper UT
Jeffrey L. Jones - Orem UT
David Oliphant - Salt Lake City UT
Steven Lo Forte - Midvale UT

3Com Corporation - Santa Clara CA

H01R 1344

439131, 439946

The present invention provides a retractable connector with a guide structure for use with electronic devices. The guide structure minimizes the lateral movement of the retractable connector and helps ensure that the retractable connector moves smoothly between the extended and retracted positions. The retractable connector and guide structure are preferably used in conjunction with multiple receptacles so that the connector can be connected to more than one communication system or network simultaneously. Advantageously, the guide structure allows the retractable connector to have a larger size while permitting smooth and controlled movement of the connector. The large size retractable connector can also include one or more antennas used for wireless communication.

6599152, Jul 29, 2003

May 17, 2002

10/150034

David Oliphant - Salt Lake City UT
Thomas A. Johnson - Draper UT
Brent D. Madsen - Providence UT

3Com Corporation - Santa Clara CA

H01R 2400

439660, 439676, 439 761, 439638, 439946

A communications card allows computers to be electrically connected to electronic devices and communications systems. The communications card includes a modular jack with a plurality of contact pins. The contact pins include a plug engaging portion that does not include any sections that are angled more than about 90° in order to minimize the stresses in the contact pins. The contact pins also include a connector portion that allows the contact pins to be electrically connected to a printed circuit board disposed within the communications card. Preferably, the plug engaging portion includes an elongated arm that aids in absorbing stress and deflection of the contact pins. Advantageously, the contact pins are designed to minimize the height of the modular jack such that the modular jack can be used with communications cards that comply with the PCMCIA Type III standards.

6338656, Jan 15, 2002

Mar 20, 2000

09/528331

David Oliphant - Salt Lake City UT
Ryan A. Kunz - Roy UT
Thomas A. Johnson - Draper UT
Steven Lo Forte - Midvale UT

3Com Corporation - Santa Clara CA

H01R 2400

439676, 439923

The modular jack allows a RJ series connector plug to be attached to a communications card that conforms to the PCMCIA requirements for a Type III card. The modular jack includes a main body portion including a top surface, a bottom outer surface and a front surface. The receptacle is disposed entirely within the front surface of the modular jack such that no portion of the plug extends through either the top surface or the bottom surface of the main body portion of the modular jack. Thus, the modular jack allows the communications card to be connected to standard RJ series plugs without deviating from the Type III PCMCIA card height requirement, even when the plug is inserted into the jack. Desirably, the main body portion has a height measured from the top surface to the bottom surface that is generally equal to or less than about 10. 5 mm. Additionally, the receptacle preferably includes an upper inner surface and a lower inner surface that are separated by a distance that is generally equal to or less than about 10. 1 mm.

6469681, Oct 22, 2002

Oct 12, 1999

09/416247

Jeffrey L. Jones - Orem UT
David Oliphant - West Valley City UT
David Andrus - Provo UT
Tom Johnson - Draper UT

3Com Corporation - Santa Clara CA

H01Q 110

343906, 439676, 343702

The present invention relates to an antenna which is configured to plug into a retractable connector on an electronic apparatus. Some embodiments of the present invention may be configured to plug into common RJ-11 or RJ-45 jacks allowing devices equipped with these jack to utilize external antennas to increase range and functionality. Further, some embodiments of the present invention comprise at least a partial ground plane located in the antenna plug which connects to a jack. The present invention also comprises connectors such as RJ jacks which comprise ground plane elements which may be used to improve antenna range and efficiency.

6167781, Jan 2, 2001

Nov 30, 1998

9/201682

Brent Madsen - Providence UT
Ryan Kunz - Roy UT
David Oliphant - West Valley UT
Dexter Francis - Salt Lake City UT
Josh Randall - Crystal MN

3Com Corporation - Santa Clara CA

F16H 5300, F16H 5306, H01R 1200, H05K 100

74569

An apparatus for providing a guide and positioning mechanism for dictating retraction motion of a retractable member such as a retractable media jack. The apparatus is comprised of a "J-shaped" cam follower having a short end press-fit into a cam pushing with the longer end of the cam follower tracing out the path boundaries as dictated by a groove within a cam track. The cam bushing is comprised of a generally cylindrical cam axle through with the short end of the cam follower passes and an extended wedge-shaped extension for providing support to the extended longer portion of the cam follower. The longer portion of the cam follower is rotationally bounded by stops on each end of the wedge-shaped extension on the cam axle which keeps the long end of the cam follower radially bounded as the cam follower traces a catch and release path of the cam track during extension and retraction of the retractable member.

6109934, Aug 29, 2000

Nov 30, 1998

9/201647

Brent D. Madsen - Providence UT
David D. Oliphant - West Valley City UT

3COM Corporation - Santa Clara CA

H01R 909

439 79

The present invention relates to a system for interconnect modularity of an electronic communication card such as a PCMCIA card where a printed circuit board has a peninsular electrical lead configuration upon a finger section thereof and an electronic device that is slidably disposed upon the peninsular lead configuration. The electronic device preferably has a standardized footprint and the device may be an electrical interconnect such as a cable, a jack such as an RJ-11 jack, an IRDA transceiver, a combination cable and 4-pin connector, and an electronic video interface. The system provides a solution to insufficient spacing between tip and ring leads and remaining leads on a 15-pin connector required by various international safety standards. The system may also include a translucent portion of the electronic device and a light source that, in combination provide a visual diagnostic output for the user.

6333860, Dec 25, 2001

Mar 20, 2000

9/528502

David Oliphant - Salt Lake City UT
Brent Madsen - Providence UT
Michael Cochrane - San Jose CA

3Com Corporation - Santa Clara CA

H01R 903

361818

A communications card includes a housing formed by a top cover and a lower cover panel. The top cover is constructed from a generally non-conductive material and the lower cover panel is constructed from a conductive material. A substrate is disposed within the housing and a conductive panel is positioned between the substrate and the top cover. The conductive panel overlies at least a portion of the substrate, and the conductive panel and lower cover panel are electrically connected to ground when the communications card is inserted into a host device in order to decrease the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the communications card. Preferably, the communications card conforms to the standards established for a PCMCIA Type III card. Additionally, the communications card may include a modular jack with a main body portion having a top surface, a bottom outer surface and a front surface. A receptacle is disposed entirely within the front surface of the modular jack such that no portion of a corresponding plug extends through either the top surface or the bottom surface of the main body portion of the modular jack.

6332784, Dec 25, 2001

Jun 2, 2000

9/585931

David Oliphant - Salt Lake City UT
Brent Madsen - Providence UT

H01R 1200

439 761

A communications card, which preferably conforms to the PCMCIA requirements for a Type III PC card, includes a housing formed by a top cover and a bottom cover. An opening is formed in the housing of the communications card sized and the opening is sized and configured to receive a RJ series connector plug such that no portion of the plug extends through either the top surface or the bottom surface of the communications card. In particular, a portion of the top cover defines an upper portion of the opening and a portion of the bottom cover defines a lower portion of the opening. Preferably, the distance from the top surface to the bottom surface of the communications card is generally equal to or less than about 10. 5 mm. Additionally, a distance that is generally equal to or less than about 10. 1 mm separates the inner upper surface of the opening from the lower inner surface of the opening.

6120307, Sep 19, 2000

Apr 5, 1999

9/286284

Paul E. Nagel - Sandy UT
Brent Madsen - Providence UT
David Oliphant - Salt Lake City UT
Joshua Randall - Crystal MN
Ryan A. Kunz - Salt Lake City UT

3Com Corporation - Santa Clara CA

H01R 1344, H01R 1360

439131

A connector includes a modular housing having a jack slidably disposed thereto. The housing includes a substantially U-shaped frame having a cover mounted thereon. A printed circuit board (PCB) is secured to the frame and has an elongated center finger extending between the opposing side walls of the frame. A plurality of partially exposed contact lines are formed on the center finger of the PCB. The jack includes a slide plate having an aperture extending therethrough and a channel communicating with the aperture. The aperture is configured to receive a media plug. Mounted on the slide plate so as to be positioned over the channel is a pin block. The pin block has a plurality of elongated slots formed therein. The slots face the channel and are separated by insulating walls. Disposed within each of the elongated slots is a substantially S-shaped pin.

6152779, Nov 28, 2000

Nov 30, 1998

9/201322

Brent Madsen - Providence UT
David Oliphant - West Valley City UT
Thomas A. Johnson - Draper UT
Ryan A. Kunz - Roy UT

3Com Corporation - Santa Clara CA

H01R 2302

439676

The present invention is a shield which protects the electrical connections between a media interface and a physical/electrical media connector. The shield is made of a material which meets the electrical and safety specifications found in the IEEE 950 standard and the UL 1950 standard When a media connector is inserted in a media interface used in Type I and Type II PCMCIA cards, the shield covers and isolates the electrical connections between the media interface and the media connector and prevents current from flowing to an external object.