Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02365795 2001-12-21
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TITLE OF THE INVENTTON:
Universal Serial Bus To Ethernet Adaptor
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a universal serial bus
(USB) to ethernet adaptor.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Wall j acks are sockets into which a telephone, fax machine
or other communication devices are plugged to access telephone
lines. A computer plugged directly into a wall jack cannot
access the Internet via telephone lines without the assistance
of a USB to ethernet adaptor.
Deltron Technology Inc. sells a USB to ethernet adaptor
under the Trade Mark "U2PNA-1". Silicom Connectivity Solutions
Inc. sells a USB to ethernet adaptor under the Trade Mark
"HPE2U". These products are representative of the current
state of the art in USB to ethernet adaptors. Both of these
products have base units with connectors. For ethernet
applications two connectors are used. A first connector is
adapted for connection to a universal serial bus (USB) port of
a computer. A second connector is adapted for connection to a
wall mounted phone jack.
SUN~2ARY OF THE INVENTION
The present application represents a new approach to USB
to ethernet adaptors.
According to the present invention there is provided a USB
to ethernet adaptor which includes a wall jack having an
integral ethernet to universal serial bus convertor.
This new approach places USB to ethernet adaptors in
building-walls. The USB to ethernet adaptor is mounted inside
of a standard wall outlet that standard RJ-45 jacks (network)
or standard RJ-11 jacks (telephone) are mounted in. This USB
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to ethernet adaptor allows conversion of standard ethernet to
USB topology allowing for faster network connectivity without
the need for a network card installed in a personal computer.
Placing the ethernet to universal serial bus convertor in a
wall jack provides a number of advantages. It eliminates the
need for network cards. It eliminates base units. It
facilitates a higher rate of data exchange. These advantages
mean greater convenience to the consumer at lower cost.
As.will hereinafter be further described a wall jack in
accordance with the present invention will have a body with a
USB socket positioned in the body along with connectors adapted
to connect to wires of a telephone line. The ethernet to
universal serial bus convertor will be disposed between the
socket and the connectors and will be adapted to condition data
which passes through the body.
Although beneficial results may be obtained through the
use of the USB to ethernet adaptor, as described above, it is
preferred that the USB to ethernet adaptor be as compact as
possible so that two USB to ethernet adaptors can be positioned
on a single wall plate. This enables two different universal
serial buses with two different data transfer rates to be
positioned on a single wall plate, such. as a USB 1 and USB 2.
Even more beneficial results may, therefore, be obtained when
the bodyis elongate with an exterior surface, a first end and
a second end. The USB socket is positioned at the first end.
The connectors are positioned at the second end.
Although beneficial results may be obtained through the
use of the USB to ethernet adaptor, as described above, it is
important that the body securely engage a wall plate. Even
more beneficial results may, therefore, be obtained when the
body has means for engaging a wall plate on the exterior
surface at the first end.
Although beneficial results may be obtained through the
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use of the USB to ethernet adaptor, as described above, if
problems are occurring it is useful to know whether the problem
originates from the USB to ethernet adaptor or from the
computer or another source. Even more beneficial results may,
therefore, be obtained when at least one status indicator light
is positioned at the first end of the body. It is envisaged
that be two status indicator lights. A first of the two
status indicator lights indicates the presence of electric
power. A second of the two status indicator lights indicates
that a data transfer in progress.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other features of the invention will become more
apparent from the following description in which reference is
made to the appended drawings, the drawings are for the purpose
of illustration only and are not intended to in any way limit
the scope of the invention to the particular embodiment or
embodiments shown, wherein:
FIGURE 1 is a top plan view, of an ethernet adapter
constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present
invention.
FIGURE 2 is a side elevation view of the ethernet adapter
illustrated in FIGURE 1.
FIGURE 3 is a front elevation view of the ethernet adapter
illustrated in FIGURE 1.
FIGURE 4 is a end elevation view of the ethernet adapter
illustrated in FIGURE 1.
FIGURE 5 is a bottom plan view of the ethernet adapter
illustrated in FIGURE 1.
FIGURE 6 is a side elevation view, in section, of the
ethernet adapter illustrated in FIGURE 1, installed.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The preferred embodiment, a USB to ethernet adaptor
generally identified by reference numeral 10, will now be
described with reference to FIGURES 1 through 6.
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Structure and Relationship of Parts:
Referring to FIGURE l, USB to ethernet adaptor 10 includes
a wall jack 12 that has an integral ethernet to universal
serial bus convertor 14 in the form of a microprocessor. Wall
jack 12 has an elongate body 16 with an exterior surface 18;
a first end 20 and a second end 22. Referring to FIGURE 3, a
USB socket 24 is provided at first end 20 of body 16.
Connectors 26 that are adapted to connect to wires of a
telephone line are provided at second end 22 of body 16.
Ethernet to universal serial bus convertor 14 is disposed
between socket 24 and connectors 26. Convertor 14 is adapted
to condition data which passes through body 16.
An'engagement is provided for engaging a wall plate on
exterior surface 18 of body 16 at first end 20, generally
indicated by reference numeral 28. Engagement 28 including
includes an underlying projection 30 and a resilient
cantilevered arm 32 extending toward first end 20 of body 16.
Arm 32 has a remote end 34 on which is positioned an upstanding
projection 36. Referring to FIGURE 3, a first status indicator
light 38:and a second status indicator light 40 are provided
at first end 20. First status indicator light 38 indicates the
presence of electric power and second status indicator light
40 indicates that a data transfer in progress.
Operation:
The use and operation of USB to ethernet adaptor 10, will
now be described with reference to FIGURES 1 through 6.
Referring to FIGURE 6, USB to ethernet adaptor 10 is mounted
in a wall 100. Connectors 26 are connected to individual wires
102 of a~telephone line 104. A wall plate 106 with an opening
108 overlies first end 20 of body 16. Wall plate 106 and USB
to ethernet adaptor 10 are maintained in engagement by
engagement 28. Underlying projection 30 engages peripheral
edge 110 of opening 108 along with upstanding projection 36 at
remote end 34 of resilient cantilevered arm 32. A person
wishing to use USB to ethernet adaptor 10 provides a computer
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112 with a cord 114 having a male connector 115. Male
connector 115 is plugged into USB socket 24. A data stream
passing from computer 112 to telephone line 104 and from
telephone line 104 to computer 112 is conditioned by ethernet
5 °to universal serial bus convertor 14. Referring to FIGURE 3,
the person using USB to ethernet adaptor 10 can confirm that
USB to ethernet adaptor 10 is operational by observing whether
first status indicator light 38 is illuminated. As use takes
place, the person using USB to ethernet adaptor 10 can confirm
that a data transfer is taking place by observing second status
indicator light 40.
In this patent document, the word "comprising" is used in
its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word
are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not
excluded. A reference to wn element by the indefinite article
"a" does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the
element is present, unless the context clearly requires that
there be one and only one of the elements.
It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that
modifications may be made to the illustrated embodiment without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as
hereinafter defined in the Claims.
