CN103682758B - Universal serial bus connector and electronic device using the serial bus connector - Google Patents

Abstract

A USB connector and an electronic device using the same, wherein the USB connector can be used for connecting a USB device, comprising: a tongue piece, a first feeding unit and a second feeding unit. The tongue piece can move between a containing position and a using position, wherein the tongue piece is electrically connected with the universal serial bus device when in the using position. The first feeding unit provides an outward pushing force to the tongue piece, so that the tongue piece reaches the use position from the storage position. The second feeding unit provides an inward pushing force to the tongue piece, so that the tongue piece reaches the storage position from the use position.

Description

Universal serial bus connector and electronic device using the serial bus connector

technical field

The invention relates to a universal serial bus connector (serial bus connector) and its application, in particular to a universal serial bus connector with retractable tongue and its application.

Background technique

USB connectors have become an essential part of a variety of electronic devices, including desktop computers, notebook computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and even mobile phones. Please refer to FIG. 1 , which is a schematic diagram of a conventional notebook computer. The notebook computer 10 is composed of a host 12 and a screen 11 , and the screen 11 can be rotated relative to the host 12 to close or open it. Generally speaking, taking the figure as an example, the USB connector 13 is arranged on the side of the host 12, and an opening 14 is reserved on the side of the host 12 for the USB plug 15 to be inserted therein and connected to the USB. The row bus connector is electrically connected.

Limited by the thickness of the USB plug 15, the opening 14 for accommodating the USB plug 15 on the side of the host 12 also needs to have a relative width, which will limit the overall appearance design of the host 12, and also It cannot be applied to thin electronic devices.

Contents of the invention

In view of the widespread use of thin and light electronic devices, the present invention provides a universal serial bus connector (hereinafter referred to as USB connector) that can solve the above problems, so as to meet the design goal of reducing the thickness of electronic devices.

In one embodiment, the electronic device of the present invention can be selectively connected to a universal serial bus device (hereinafter referred to as a USB device), which includes: a casing and a tongue. The tongue has a surface and includes a plurality of contact portions arranged on the surface. When the tongue is at a receiving position, the contact part is accommodated in the opening, and when the tongue is at a use position, the contact part is located outside the opening and is electrically connected to the USB device.

In the above embodiment, the electronic device further includes a circuit board and a plurality of armature parts electrically connected to the circuit board. In the use position, the contact parts are respectively electrically connected with the armature part.

In the above embodiment, the electronic device further includes a first limiting member, a second limiting member, a first feeding unit and a second feeding unit. The first feeding unit is coupled to the first limiting member, and the second feeding unit is coupled to the second limiting member. When the tongue moves from the storage position to the use position, the first feed unit releases from the first stopper and provides an outward thrust to the tongue, and when the tongue moves from the use position to the storage position, the second feed unit The unit is released from the second stopper and an inward thrust is provided to the tongue.

In the above embodiment, the first feeding unit includes an extension extending along the long axis direction of the tongue and terminating at the vicinity of the outer end surface of the tongue. When the contact portion of the tongue is connected to the USB device, the extension is The USB device is pushed to move inwardly, so that the first feeding unit is separated from the tongue.

In another embodiment, the USB connector of the present invention can be used to connect a USB device, which includes: a tongue piece, a first feeding unit and a second feeding unit. The tongue can move between a storage position and a use position, wherein the tongue is electrically connected to the USB device when in the use position. The first feeding unit provides an outward thrust to the tongue, so that the tongue moves from the storage position to the use position. The second feeding unit provides an inward thrust to the tongue, so that the tongue moves from the use position to the storage position.

In the above embodiments, the second feeding unit is fixed to the tongue and the first feeding unit is detachably connected to the tongue. The first feeding unit includes an extension extending along the long axis direction of the tongue and terminating near the end of the tongue. When the tongue is connected to the USB device, the extension is pushed by the USB device to move inward, so that the first feeding unit Separate the unit from the tongue.

In the above embodiment, the USB connector further includes a first limiter and a second limiter, wherein when the tongue moves from the storage position to the use position, the first feeding unit is released from the first limiter And provide an outward thrust to the tongue, and when the tongue moves from the use position to the storage position, the second feeding unit is released from the second limiting member and provides an inward thrust to the tongue.

In the above embodiment, the first feeding unit includes a first flexible element for generating an outward thrust to the tongue, and the second feeding unit includes a second flexible element for generating an inward pushing force. The thrust is given to the tongue piece, wherein the elastic constant of the first flexible element is greater than the elastic constant of the second flexible element.

In order to make the above-mentioned objects, features and advantages of the present invention more comprehensible, preferred embodiments are specifically cited below and described in detail with accompanying drawings.

Description of drawings

FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of an existing electronic device;

FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the tongue of the electronic device in a preferred embodiment of the present invention when it is in a storage position;

Fig. 3 shows the top view of the USB connector of the electronic device of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4A shows a schematic diagram of the first body of the first feeding unit of the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 4B shows a schematic diagram of the second body of the second feeding unit of the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

5 shows a cross-sectional view of the tongue of the electronic device according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention when it is in the use position, wherein the tongue has not been connected to the USB device;

Figure 6 shows a top view of the USB connector of the electronic device of Figure 5; and

FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of the tongue of the electronic device according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention when it is in the use position, wherein the tongue is connected to the USB device.

Wherein, the reference signs are explained as follows:

10 laptops;

11 screens;

12 hosts;

13 universal serial bus connectors;

14 openings;

15 universal serial bus plugs;

100 electronic devices;

110 chassis;

111 upper casing;

113 lower casing;

115 spaces;

117 openings;

130 circuit boards;

150 keyboard modules;

200 Universal Serial Bus connector (USB connector);

210 frame;

220 armature part;

230 tongue pieces;

230a outer end face;

230b inner end face;

231 Electrical Conduction Department;

233 contact part;

235 surface;

237 bumps;

240 first feeding unit;

241 first guide rod;

243 a first flexible element;

245 first body;

246 abutment part;

247 Extension;

248 first groove structure;

248a the first card slot;

250 first limit piece;

260 second feeding unit;

261 second guide rod;

263 second flexible component;

265 second body;

267 second groove structure;

267a second card slot;

270 second limit piece;

300 universal serial bus devices (USB devices);

310 shell.

detailed description

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.

Referring to FIG. 2 , the electronic device 100 of the preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a case 110 , a circuit board 130 , a keyboard module 150 and a universal serial bus connector 200 (hereinafter referred to as the USB connector). In this embodiment, the electronic device 100 is a portable (portable) computer, but it is not limited thereto. The electronic device 100 can also be a tablet computer, a smart (smart) mobile phone, and the like. The casing 110 includes an upper casing 111 and a lower casing 113 , wherein the upper casing 111 is combined with the lower casing 113 such that a space 115 is defined therebetween. The circuit board 130 is disposed in the space 115 and is electrically connected to a backend operation system (not shown) of the electronic device 100 . The keyboard module 150 is disposed on the upper casing 111 as a signal input interface. It should be understood that when the electronic device 100 uses other components such as a touch panel (not shown) as a signal input interface, the touch panel (not shown) will replace the keyboard module 150 .

Please continue to refer to FIG. 2 and refer to FIG. 3 together. The USB connector 200 includes a frame body 210, a plurality of armature parts 220, a tongue piece 230, a first feed unit 240, a first stopper 250, a The second feeding unit 260 and a second limiting member 270 . The armature part 220 is electrically connected to the circuit board 130 to transmit electronic signals to the circuit board 130 or receive electronic signals from the circuit board 130 , wherein the armature part 220 is electrically connected to the tongue 230 through the bottom of the frame body 210 . The tongue piece 230 is a plate, and the inside of the tongue piece 230 includes a plurality of electrical conduction portions 231 and a plurality of contact portions 233 . Each electrical conduction portion 231 extends in the tongue 230 along the long axis direction (X direction) of the tongue 230 , and is respectively connected to one of the contact portions 233 . The contact portion 233 is formed on the surface 235 of the tongue 230 . In this embodiment, the contact portion 233 is formed on the bottom surface of the tongue 230 , but it is not limited thereto.

As shown in FIG. 3 , the frame body 210 has a first side wall 211 , a second side wall 213 , a third side wall 215 and a fourth side wall 217 , the first side wall 211 and the third side wall 215 are located on the frame body 210 The second side wall 213 and the fourth side wall 217 are respectively connected between the first side wall 211 and the third side wall 215 on opposite sides of the side wall. The first feeding unit 240 is located between the tongue 230 and the second side wall 213 , and includes a first guide rod 241 , a first flexible element 243 and a first body 245 . The first guide rod 241 is connected to the inner side of the third side wall 215 and extends along a direction (X direction) parallel to the long axis of the tongue piece 230 . The first flexible element 243 surrounds the outer side of the first guide rod 241 , one end abuts against the inner side of the third side wall 215 , and the other end abuts against the first body 245 .

The first body 245 is movably disposed on the first guide rod 241 , and the first body 245 includes a contact portion 246 , an extension portion 247 and a first groove structure 248 . The abutment portion 246 and the extension portion 247 are respectively located on opposite sides of the first body 245 , wherein the abutment portion 246 extends in a direction (Y direction) perpendicular to the long axis of the tongue 230 , and the extension portion 247 extends along a direction parallel to the long axis of the tongue 230 . The direction (X direction) extends. In this embodiment, the distance L between the abutting portion 246 and the end of the extension portion 247 is equal to (or slightly smaller than) the length of the tongue 230 , and the abutting portion 246 abuts against the inner end surface 230 b of the tongue 230 . Accordingly, the extension 247 ends in the vicinity of the outer end surface 230 a of the tongue 230 .

Referring to FIG. 4A , the features of the first groove structure 248 are described as follows. For clarity, the five reference positions R1 , R2 , R3 , R4 , R5 are respectively marked in FIG. 4A , and are specified here. The first groove structure 248 is recessed downward from the first body 245, and substantially presents an A-shape, wherein in order to limit the moving direction of the first limiting member 250 ( FIG. The reference positions R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 have the following changes: from the reference position R1 to the reference position R2, the depth of the first groove structure 248 gradually increases; from the reference position R2 to the reference position R3, the first groove structure 248 from the reference position R3 to the reference position R4, the depth of the first groove structure 248 gradually decreases; from the reference position R4 to the reference position R5, the depth of the first groove structure 248 gradually increases; the depth of the reference position R5 is more than the reference The depth of position R1 is shallow. It is worth noting that at the reference position R3, the first groove structure 248 includes a first locking groove 248a that is recessed toward the direction away from the first limiting member 250 (the direction opposite to the X direction), that is, the reference positions R3, R4, R5 not on the same straight line.

Referring to FIG. 3 again, the second feeding unit 260 is located between the tongue piece 230 and the fourth side wall 217 and includes a second guide rod 261 , a second flexible element 263 and a second body 265 . The second guide rod 261 is connected to the inner side of the first side wall 211 and extends along a direction (X direction) parallel to the long axis of the tongue piece 230 . The second flexible element 263 surrounds the outer side of the second guide rod 261 , one end abuts against the inner side of the first side wall 211 , and the other end abuts against the second body 265 . The elastic constant of the second flexible element 263 is smaller than the elastic constant of the first flexible element 243 . The second body 265 is movably disposed on the second guide rod 261 , and the second body 265 includes a groove 266 and a second groove structure 267 . The groove 266 is formed on a side of the second body 265 adjacent to the tongue 230 , and is combined with a protrusion 237 formed on the tongue 230 , thus being fixed on the tongue 230 . As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B , the structural features of the second groove structure 267 are the same as those of the first groove structure 248 . To simplify the description, the structural features of the second groove structure 267 will not be described again. However, it should be noted that the arrangement positions of the first groove structure 248 and the second groove structure 267 are opposite, wherein the second locking groove 267 a is recessed in a direction away from the second limiting member 270 (direction X).

As shown in FIG. 3 , one end of the first limiting member 250 is pivotally mounted on the inner side of the first side wall 211 , and a free end of the first limiting member 250 slides in the first groove structure 248 . One end of the second limiting member 270 is pivotally mounted on the inner side of the third side wall 215 , and the free end of the second limiting member 250 slides in the second groove structure 267 . In this embodiment, both the first limiting member 250 and the second limiting member 270 are elastic rods.

The use mode of the electronic device 100 of the present invention is described as follows: as shown in FIG. The contact portion 233 is not electrically connected to the armature portion 220 . At the same time, as shown in Figure 3, the free end of the first limiting member 250 is fastened in the first slot 248a, so that the first flexible element 243 is in the compressed position; the free end of the second limiting member 270 is in the The location of the reference point R1 ( FIG. 4B ) of the second groove structure 267 . It should be noted that at this moment, the second flexible element 263 is in a slightly compressed state, so that the inner end surface 230 b of the tongue piece 230 is abutted against the abutting portion 246 of the first body 245 .

When the user applies an external force F1 to the outer end surface 230 a of the tongue 230 to move the tongue 230 inward, the tongue 230 moves the first body 245 through the contact portion 246 . At this time, the free end of the first limiting member 250 is released from the first locking slot 248a, and moves from the reference point R3 of the first slot structure 248 to the reference point R4 ( FIG. 4A ). Because the elastic coefficient of the first flexible element 243 is greater than the elastic coefficient of the second flexible element 263, the thrust generated by the first flexible element 243 is greater than the thrust generated by the second flexible element 263, the first flexible element The flexible element 243 provides an outward thrust and pushes the tongue 230 through the abutting portion 246 to move the tongue 230 from the storage position to the use position.

Referring to FIG. 5 , when the tongue 230 is in the use position, the contact portion 233 of the tongue 230 is located outside the opening 117 , and the contact portion 233 of the tongue 230 is electrically connected to the armature portion 220 through the electrical conductive portion 231 . At the same time, as shown in FIG. 6 , the free end of the first limiting member 250 is located at the reference point R1 ( FIG. 4A ) in the first groove structure 248 , and the free end of the second limiting member 270 is fastened to the second card slot 267a. It should be noted that at this moment, the first flexible element 243 is in a released state, and the second flexible element 263 is in a compressed state.

Please refer to FIG. 7, when the USB connector 200 is connected to a Universal Serial Bus device 300 (hereinafter referred to as the USB device), the shell 310 of the USB device 300 surrounds the tongue 230, and the USB device 300 is electrically connected to the contact portion of the tongue 230. 233 for signal transmission. Since the shell 310 of the USB device 300 abuts against the extension portion 247 of the first body 245 , the first body 245 is pushed by an external force to generate an inward displacement. Therefore, the first limiting member 250 reaches the reference point R3 from the reference point R1 of the first groove structure 248 via the reference point R2 and is fastened in the first locking groove 248a ( FIG. 4B ), so that the abutting portion 246 of the first body 245 Separated from the tongue 230.

When the USB device 300 is pulled out from the tongue piece 230, the tongue piece 230 is driven by the external force F2 to move the second body 265 outward. Then, the free end of the second limiting member 270 is released from the second locking slot 267a and moves from the reference point R3 of the second slot structure 267 to the reference point R4 ( FIG. 4B ). Since the tongue 230 is not restricted by the first feeding unit, the second flexible element 263 provides an inward thrust to move the tongue 230 from the use position to the storage position, as shown in FIG. 3 .

The tongue of the USB connector of the electronic device of the present invention can move between a storage position and a use position, and when the tongue protrudes out of the housing of the electronic device, the USB device can be electrically connected to the USB connector through the contact portion on the tongue. sexual connection. Therefore, the electronic device does not need to reserve an opening for accommodating the USB device, thereby achieving the purpose of reducing the thickness of the electronic device.

Although the present invention has been disclosed above with preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Any person skilled in the art may make partial changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, this The scope of protection of the invention shall be as defined by the appended claims.

Claims (7)

1. An electronic device, comprising: a casing, including an opening; A tongue piece has a surface and includes a plurality of contact portions arranged on the surface, wherein when the tongue piece is in a storage position, the contact portions are accommodated in the opening, and when the tongue piece is in a use position , the contact portion is located outside the opening; a first limiter; a second limit piece; a first feeding unit coupled to the first limiting member; and a second feeding unit coupled to the second limiting member; Wherein when the tongue piece moves from the storage position to the use position, the first feeding unit releases from the first stopper and provides an outward thrust to the tongue piece, and when the tongue piece moves from the use position When moving to the storage position, the second feeding unit is released from the second limiting member and provides an inward thrust to the tongue; Wherein the first feeding unit further includes a first groove structure with varying depth, and the second feeding unit further includes a second groove structure with varying depth, the free end of the first limiting member slides on the In the first groove structure, the free end of the second limiting member slides in the second groove structure. 2. The electronic device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a circuit board and a plurality of armature parts electrically connected to the circuit board, when the tongue is in the storage position, the contact part and the electric armature The armature part is electrically separated, and when the tongue piece is in the use position, the contact parts are respectively electrically connected with the armature part. 3. The electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first feeding unit comprises an extension extending along the long axis direction of the tongue and terminating at the vicinity of the outer end surface of the tongue, when the tongue When it is in the use position and connected with a USB device, the extension part is pushed by the USB device to move inward, so that the first feeding unit is separated from the tongue. 4. The electronic device according to claim 3, wherein the first feeding unit further comprises an abutting portion, wherein the abutting portion extends in a direction perpendicular to the long axis of the tongue, when the tongue is received from the receiving When the position is moved to the use position, the first feeding unit provides an outward thrust to the tongue through the abutment portion, and when the tongue is in the use position and connected to the Universal Serial Bus device, the extension The part is pushed by the universal serial bus device to move inward, so that the abutting part is separated from the tongue. 5. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the first slot structure comprises a first card slot, which is recessed toward a direction away from the first limiting member, and the second slot structure comprises a second card slot , which is recessed away from the second stopper, wherein when the tongue moves from the storage position to the use position, the first stopper breaks away from the first slot, and when the tongue moves from the storage position to the use position When the use position is moved to the storage position, the second limiting member is disengaged from the second locking slot. 6. A universal serial bus connector for connecting a universal serial bus device, comprising: A tongue, capable of moving between a storage position and a use position; A first feeding unit provides an outward thrust to the tongue, so that the tongue reaches the use position from the storage position; A second feeding unit provides an inward thrust to the tongue, so that the tongue reaches the storage position from the use position; a first limiter; and a second limiting member, wherein when the tongue moves from the storage position to the use position, the first feeding unit is released from the first limiting member and provides the outward thrust to the tongue, and When the tongue piece moves from the use position to the storage position, the second feeding unit is released from the second limiting member and provides the inward thrust to the tongue piece; Wherein the first feeding unit further includes a first groove structure with varying depth, and the second feeding unit further includes a second groove structure with varying depth, the free end of the first limiting member slides on the In the first groove structure, the free end of the second limiting member slides in the second groove structure. 7. The USB connector as claimed in claim 6, wherein the first feeding unit comprises a first flexible element for generating the outward pushing force to the tongue, and the second feeding unit The feeding unit includes a second flexible element for generating the inward thrust to the tongue, wherein the elastic constant of the first flexible element is greater than the elastic constant of the second flexible element.