	US 7,563,996 B2
	Plug connector for cable television network and method of use
Todd A. Loeffelholz, Minnetonka, Minn. (US); Terry E. McClellan, Maple Grove, Minn. (US); Sara Manderfield, Saint Paul, Minn. (US); Zakhary Bluband, Minnetonka, Minn. (US); and Par G. Peterson, Eden Praire, Minn. (US)
Assigned to ADC Telecommunications, Inc., Eden Prairie, Minn. (US)
Filed on May 02, 2007, as Appl. No. 11/800,062.
Application 10/330450 is a division of application No. 09/780585, filed on Feb. 09, 2001, granted, now 6,545,562.
Application 11/800062 is a continuation of application No. 11/343905, filed on Jan. 31, 2006, granted, now 7,230,192.
Application 11/343905 is a continuation of application No. 11/095132, filed on Mar. 30, 2005, granted, now 7,135,649.
Application 11/095132 is a continuation of application No. 10/777694, filed on Feb. 12, 2004, granted, now 6,888,078.
Application 10/777694 is a continuation of application No. 10/330450, filed on Dec. 27, 2002, granted, now 6,720,841.
Prior Publication US 2008/0047807 A1, Feb. 28, 2008
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. H01P 1/10 (2006.01)

U.S. Cl. 200—51R [200/51.09; 200/51.07; 333/100; 439/170; 439/955]

35 Claims

1. A combiner module, comprising:

a) a housing having a front and a back;

b) rear connectors located at the back of the housing;

c) front connectors located at the front of the housing, each of the front connectors including a first spring contact and a second spring contact, each of the first and second spring contacts being electrically connected to one of the rear connectors;

d) attenuator plugs that plug into the front connectors, each attenuator plug including first and second pins that engage the first and second spring contacts of one front connector when plugged into the one front connector wherein signals entering the one front connector from the rear connectors are caused to be routed through the attenuator plug; and

e) electrical by-pass circuits that each permit signals from the rear connectors to pass through an associated front connector in the absence of the attenuator plug.