Patent 1: Inductance-Offset Design for 180° Keystone Jacks

U.S. Patent 9,325,117 B1

The Challenge

In 180° keystone jack configurations, fringing field effects between adjacent contact pairs can degrade NEXT, FEXT, and Return Loss performance—particularly at frequencies approaching 500 MHz where Cat 6A margins are tightest.

The Solution

Our patented lead-frame employs an inductance-offset technique that compensates for capacitive coupling between contacts. By precisely controlling the geometric relationship between conductor paths, we achieve superior crosstalk cancellation without requiring additional PCB real estate or complex multi-layer board designs.

Performance Impact

This design ensures compliance with both ISO/IEC 11801 Cat 6A connecting hardware requirements and ANSI/TIA-568.2-D Cat 6A component-rated specifications—the most stringent transmission standards in the industry. Distributors can specify these jacks with confidence in mixed-vendor environments where component-rated performance is essential.

Featured Products:

• KHA Series - Unshielded Component-Rated 180° Keystone Jack
• LKHB Series - Unshielded Component-Rated 180° Keystone Jack
• LKHBD Series - Unshielded Component-Rated 180° Keystone Jack w/Dust Shutter
• LKHBS Series - Shielded Component-Rated 180° Keystone Jack
• LKHBSD Series - Shielded Component-Rated 180° Keystone Jack w/Dust Shutter

Patent 2: Three-Dimensional Design for High-Performance Patch Panel

U.S. Patent 9,667,004 B1

The Challenge

In high-density patch panel installations, alien crosstalk between adjacent ports becomes the limiting factor for Cat 6A channel performance. Traditional planar port arrangements place neighboring RJ-45 jacks too close together, allowing electromagnetic coupling between cables.

The Solution

Our patented three-dimensional staggered port structure positions neighboring jacks in a carefully engineered spatial configuration. Rather than arranging all ports in a single plane, we use vertical offset positioning to maximize the physical separation between adjacent ports while maintaining standard 1U panel density.

Performance Impact

This geometry-based approach to alien crosstalk control maintains Cat 6A channel performance without requiring expensive shielding materials or complex grounding schemes. The result is a cost-effective solution that meets Cat 6A channel requirements even in demanding data center and telecom room environments.

Featured Products:

• SP24ZM Series - Unshielded 3D-Staggered Snap-in Patch Panel w/Wire Management
• DSP12ZD Series - Unshielded 3D-Staggered Snap-in Patch Panel (w/89D)

Patent 3: Three-Directional IDC for Field Plugs

U.S. Patent 10,490,960 B1

The Challenge

Field-terminable plugs must accommodate four twisted pairs within a compact RJ-45 form factor while maintaining circuit balance and pair-to-pair isolation. Traditional termination methods often compromise performance by forcing excessive conductor untwisting or creating unequal path lengths between pairs.

The Solution

The PCBA design in our 88TK Series employs a three-directional termination strategy that optimizes both spatial efficiency and electrical performance. The piercing terminals are arranged in three distinct groups: Group A positions two pairs horizontally at opposing 30-degree angles, while Groups B and C use vertical 30-degree offsets in mirrored configurations.

This geometry enables an innovative routing architecture where the Green and Blue pairs pass through an underpass ramp to forward slots, while the Orange and Brown pairs traverse an overpass to side slots. The result is efficient cable organization between the IDCs and wire organizer that accommodates all four pairs without sacrificing balanced circuit performance.

Performance Impact

This patented termination method delivers component-rated Cat 6A performance in a field-installable format, supporting MPTL (Modular Plug Terminated Link) configurations that simplify installation while maintaining 10GBASE-T and PoE++ capability. For distributors serving customers who value installation efficiency without performance compromise, this represents a genuine engineering advantage over conventional field plug designs.

Featured Products:

• 88TK Series - Unshielded Cat 6A Field Terminable Plug
• 88TSK Series - Shielded Cat 6A Field Terminable Plug

Learn More About HCI's Patented Solutions

Visit our product catalog to explore our complete range of structured cabling components, or contact our team at hci@hci.com.tw to discuss how these patented technologies can address specific application requirements in your territory.