HK1180113B - Dual orientation electronic connector with external contacts - Google Patents
Dual orientation electronic connector with external contacts Download PDFInfo
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- HK1180113B HK1180113B HK13107270.1A HK13107270A HK1180113B HK 1180113 B HK1180113 B HK 1180113B HK 13107270 A HK13107270 A HK 13107270A HK 1180113 B HK1180113 B HK 1180113B
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Description
Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to electronic connectors such as audio and data connectors.
Background
Depending on the outer diameter of the plug, standard audio connectors or plugs have three dimensions: 6.35mm (1/4 ') plug, 3.5mm (1/8 ') mini-plug, and 2.5mm (3/32 ') sub-mini-plug. These plugs comprise a plurality of conductive areas extending along the length of the connector in different parts of the plug, such as the tip, the sleeve (sleeve) and one or more intermediate parts between the tip and the sleeve, and these connectors are therefore often referred to as TRS (tip, ring and sleeve) connectors.
Fig. 1A and 1B illustrate examples of audio plugs 10 and 20 having three and four conductive portions, respectively. As shown in FIG. 1A, plug 10 includes a conductive tip 12, a conductive sleeve 16, and a conductive ring 14 electrically insulated from tip 12 and sleeve 16 by insulating rings 17 and 18. The three conductive portions 12, 14, 16 provide for left and right audio channels and ground connections. The plug 20 shown in fig. 1B includes four conductive portions: a conductive tip 22, a conductive sleeve 26 and two conductive rings 24, 25, and is therefore sometimes referred to as a TRRS (tip, ring, sleeve) connector. These 4 conductive portions, which are typically used for left and right audio, microphone and ground signals, are electrically isolated by isolation 27, 28 and 29. As is apparent from fig. 1A and 1B, both audio plugs 10 and 20 are non-directional. That is, the conductive portion completely surrounds the connector, making 360 degree contact so that there is no distinct top, bottom or side for the plug portion of the connector.
When the plugs 10 and 20 are 3.5mm miniature connectors, the outer diameter of the conductive sleeves 16, 26 and conductive rings 14, 24, 25 is 3.5mm and the insertion length of the connectors is 14 mm. For a 2.5mm miniature connector, the outer diameter of the conductive sleeve is 2.5mm and the insertion length of the connector is 11 mm. Such TRS and TRRS connectors are used in many commercial MP3 players and smart phones and other electronic devices. Electronic devices such as MP3 players and smart phones are continually being designed to be thinner and smaller, and/or include video players with screens that push outward as close as possible to the outer edges of the devices. The diameter and length of current 3.5mm and even 2.5mm audio connectors is a limiting factor in making such devices smaller and thinner and allowing the display to be larger in a given profile.
Many standard data connectors also have only such a size that is a limiting factor in making portable electronic devices smaller. In addition, and in contrast to the TRS connectors described above, many standard data connectors require that they mate with a corresponding connector in a single, specific orientation. Such connectors may be referred to as polarized connectors (polarized connectors). As an example of a polarized connector, fig. 2A and 2B show a micro-USB connector 30, which is the smallest USB connector currently available. The connector 30 includes a body 32 and a metal shell 34, the metal shell 34 extending from the body 32 and being insertable into a corresponding receptacle connector. As shown in fig. 2A, 2B, the shell 34 has an angled corner 35 formed at one of its bottom plates. Similarly, a receptacle connector (not shown) that mates with connector 30 has an insertion opening with a mating angled feature that prevents shell 34 from being inserted into the receptacle connector in the wrong manner. That is, it can only be inserted in a manner that aligns the angled portion of the shell 34 with the mating angled portion in the receptacle connector. It is sometimes difficult for a user to determine when a polarized connector, such as connector 30, is facing the correct insertion position.
The connector 30 also includes an internal cavity 38 within the housing 34 and contacts 36 formed within the cavity. The cavity 38 is susceptible to collecting and containing debris within the cavity which can sometimes interfere with the signal connection to the contacts 36. Further, in addition to the orientation problem, even if the connector 30 is correctly aligned, the insertion and extraction of the connector is not precise, and there may be a sense of incongruity. Furthermore, even if the connector is fully inserted, there may be an undesirable degree of wobble, which may result in erroneous connections or breakage.
Many other common data connectors, including standard USB connectors, small USB connectors, FireWire connectors, and many proprietary connectors used with common portable media electronic devices, suffer some or all of these disadvantages, or similar disadvantages.
Disclosure of Invention
Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to electronic connectors that ameliorate some or all of the above disadvantages. Other embodiments of the invention relate to methods of manufacturing such electronic connectors and electronic devices including such connectors.
In view of the above-described shortcomings of currently available electronic connectors, some embodiments of the present invention are directed to an improved plug connector having a reduced plug length and thickness, an intuitive insertion direction, and a smooth, consistent feel when inserted and when extracted from its corresponding receptacle connector. Furthermore, some embodiments of plug connectors according to the present invention include only external contacts and no contacts located within cavities that are prone to collect and contain debris.
One particular embodiment of the present invention is directed to an unpolarized multidirectional plug connector having external contacts carried by connector tabs. The connector tabs may be inserted into the corresponding receptacle connector in at least two different insertion directions. The contacts are formed on the first and second surfaces of the tab and are arranged in a symmetrical arrangement such that the contacts are aligned with the contacts of the receptacle connector in any one of at least two insertion directions. One or more individual contacts of the first plurality of contacts are electrically coupled to corresponding contacts of the second plurality of contacts within the tab or body of the connector. Further, the connector tabs themselves may have a symmetrical cross-sectional shape to facilitate the multi-directional feature of the present embodiment.
Another embodiment relates to a bi-directional plug connector that includes a body and a 180 degree symmetrical metal tab connected to and extending longitudinally outward from the body. The tab includes first and second opposed major surfaces, and third and fourth opposed minor surfaces extending between the first and second major surfaces. A first contact area is formed at the first major surface of the tab, the first contact area including a first plurality of external contacts spaced apart along a first row. A second contact area is formed at the second major surface of the tab, the second contact area including a second plurality of external contacts spaced along a second row that is a mirror image of the first row. Each individual contact of the first plurality of contacts is electrically connected within the tab or body to a respective contact of the second plurality of contacts and is filled with a dielectric material between adjacent contacts in the first and second rows and between the contacts and the metal tab. In some embodiments, first and second retention features adapted to engage with retention features on a corresponding receptacle connector are formed on the third and fourth mirrored surfaces of the tabs.
Another embodiment of the invention is directed to a plug connector that includes a body and a tab connected to and extending outwardly from the body. The tab includes first and second opposed major surfaces, and third and fourth opposed major surfaces extending between the first and second major surfaces. A first contact region is formed on the first major surface of the tab, the first contact region including 8 sequentially numbered external contacts spaced along a first row. These sequentially numbered contacts include first and second contacts assigned to data signals at locations 2 and 3, first and second power contacts electrically coupled to each other and assigned to power supplies at locations 4 and 5, and third and fourth contacts assigned to data signals at locations 6 and 7. In some embodiments, the plug connector further includes an accessory power contact at position 1 or 8 and an ID contact at the other of position 1 or 8. In some embodiments, the plug connector also has a second contact area formed on the second major surface of the tab, the second contact area including sequentially numbered 8 external contacts spaced apart along a second row. The second row is directly opposite and mirrors the first row, with each individual contact in the first row being electrically connected to a corresponding contact in the second row.
Yet another embodiment of the present invention is directed to a reversible plug connector that includes a body and a connector tab coupled to and extending outwardly from the body. The airfoil includes first and second opposed surfaces, and third and fourth opposed surfaces extending between the first and second surfaces. A first contact area is formed on the first surface of the tab, the first contact area including 8 external contacts spaced along a first row. A second contact area is formed on the second surface of the tab and includes 8 external contacts spaced along a second row at contact locations that mirror the contact locations in the first row. In one version of this embodiment, the first and second rows each include a single ground contact assigned to ground, a first pair of data contacts that can communicate data signals according to a first communication protocol, and a second pair of data contacts that can communicate data signals according to a second communication protocol different from the first protocol. Other versions of this embodiment may also include one or more power input contacts for communicating a first power signal at a first voltage, a power output contact for communicating a second power signal at a second voltage different from the first voltage, and an ID contact capable of communicating a configuration signal identifying a communication protocol used by the first and second pairs of data contacts. In various other versions of this embodiment, the contacts are arranged according to one or more of the following rules: (i) a first pair of data contacts in the first and second rows are arranged in a mirror image relationship directly opposite each other; (ii) the second pair of data contacts in the first and second rows are arranged in a mirror image relationship directly opposite each other; (iii) the ground contacts in the first and second rows are arranged in a diagonal relationship to each other across a centerline of the connector; (iv) the first power contacts in the first and second rows are arranged in a diagonal relationship to each other across a centerline of the connector; (v) the ID contacts in the first and second rows are arranged in a diagonal relationship to each other across a first quad (quatterline) of the connector; and (vi) the second power contacts in the first and second rows are arranged in a diagonal relationship to each other across a second four-split (quarteline) of the connector.
For a better understanding of the nature and advantages of the present invention, reference is made to the following description and accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are given for illustrative purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Further, as a general rule, elements in different figures, unless otherwise indicated, are generally the same or at least similar in function and purpose where the elements use the same reference numeral.
Drawings
Figures 1A and 1B show perspective views of previously known TRS and TRRS audio plug connectors, respectively;
FIG. 2A shows a perspective view of a previously known micro-USB plug connector, while FIG. 2B shows a front plan view of the micro-USB connector shown in FIG. 2A;
fig. 3A is a simplified top view of a plug connector 40 according to one embodiment of the present invention;
FIGS. 3B and 3C are simplified side and front views, respectively, of the connector 40 shown in FIG. 3A;
fig. 4A-4E are front views of alternative embodiments of a connector 40 according to the present invention;
fig. 5A and 5B are simplified top and side views of plug connector 50 according to another embodiment of the present invention;
FIGS. 5C and 5D are simplified top and bottom perspective views of one embodiment of a grounding ring that may be included in one embodiment of the present invention;
fig. 6A is a simplified top view of a plug connector 60 according to another embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 6B is a simplified perspective view of another embodiment of a ground ring according to the present invention;
figures 7A-7H are simplified top views of contact layouts within contact region 46 according to various embodiments of the present invention;
fig. 8A and 8B are simplified views of one embodiment of a plug connector 80 having four contacts located on each major opposing surface of the tab 44 according to one embodiment of the present invention;
figure 8C is a simplified schematic cross-sectional view of the plug connector 80 shown in figures 8A and 8B, taken along line a-a';
fig. 9A and 9B are diagrams illustrating alignment of contacts in plug connector 80 with corresponding contacts in receptacle connector 85 along different insertion directions according to one embodiment of the present invention;
fig. 10A and 10B are simplified views of another embodiment of a plug connector 80 having four contacts on each opposing surface of the tab 44 according to one embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 10C is a simplified schematic cross-sectional view of the plug connector 90 shown in FIG. 10A, taken along line B-B';
fig. 11A and 11B are diagrams illustrating alignment of contacts in plug connector 90 with corresponding contacts in receptacle connector 85 along different insertion directions according to one embodiment of the present invention;
fig. 12A is a simplified view of another embodiment of a plug connector 99 having three contacts on each opposing surface of the tab 44 according to one embodiment of the present invention;
fig. 12B and 12C are diagrams illustrating alignment of contacts in the plug connector 99 with corresponding contacts in the receptacle connector 95 along different insertion directions according to one embodiment of the present invention;
fig. 13A is a simplified perspective view of a plug connector 100 having 8 contacts formed on each of the opposing surfaces of the tabs 44 according to one embodiment of the present invention;
fig. 13B and 13C are simplified top and bottom views of the plug connector 100 shown in fig. 13A;
fig. 14A is a diagram illustrating a lead arrangement of the connector 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention;
fig. 14B is a diagram illustrating a pin arrangement of the connector 100 according to another embodiment of the present invention;
fig. 15A is a schematic representation of a receptacle connector 140 according to one embodiment of the present invention;
fig. 15B is a front plan view of the receptacle connector 140 according to one embodiment of the present invention;
fig. 15C and 15D are diagrams illustrating lead arrangements of connectors 140 according to two different embodiments of the present invention, the connectors 140 being configured to mate with plug connectors having leads 106a and 106B as shown in fig. 14A and 14B, respectively;
figures 16A-16K are simplified diagrams illustrating a time sequence associated with mating plug connector 100 to receptacle connector 140 according to one embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 17 is a schematic representation of a receptacle connector 140 coupled to a switching circuit 150 within a host device according to one embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 18 is a simplified perspective view of a USB charger/adapter cable 160 according to one embodiment of the present invention having a USB connector at one end and a connector at the other end;
fig. 19A is a diagram illustrating pin (pin) locations of the plug connector 162 shown in fig. 18, wherein the connector 162 is compatible with the leads shown in fig. 14A, according to one embodiment of the invention;
fig. 19B is a diagram illustrating pin locations of the plug connector 162 shown in fig. 18 according to another embodiment of the invention, wherein the connector 162 is compatible with the leads shown in fig. 14B;
FIG. 20 is a simplified schematic representation of a USB charger/adapter 160 according to one embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 21 is a simplified perspective view of docking station 170 according to one embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 22 is a simplified top plan view of a video adapter 180 according to one embodiment of the present invention;
fig. 23A is a diagram illustrating pin locations of the plug connector 182 shown in fig. 22, wherein the connector 182 is compatible with the leads shown in fig. 14A, according to one embodiment of the invention;
fig. 23B is a diagram illustrating pin locations of the plug connector 182 shown in fig. 22, wherein the connector 182 is compatible with the leads shown in fig. 14B, according to one embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 24 is a simplified schematic representation of a video adapter 180 according to one embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 25 is a simplified top plan view of SD card adapter 190, according to one embodiment of the present invention;
fig. 26A is a diagram illustrating pin locations of the plug connector 192 shown in fig. 25, wherein the connector 192 is compatible with the leads shown in fig. 14A, according to one embodiment of the present invention;
fig. 26B is a diagram illustrating pin locations of the plug connector 192 shown in fig. 25 according to another embodiment of the invention, wherein the connector 192 is compatible with the leads shown in fig. 14B;
FIG. 27 is a simplified schematic representation of a video adapter 190 according to one embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 28A is a simplified schematic representation of an accessory adapter 200 according to one embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 28B is a diagram illustrating the leads of the connector 205 included within the adapter 200, according to one embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 29 is a flowchart illustrating steps associated with the manufacture of the connector 100 shown in FIGS. 13A-13C in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;
fig. 30A-30T show various views of the connector 100 at various stages of manufacture as discussed with reference to fig. 29;
FIG. 31 is a flowchart illustrating various sub-steps associated with bonding a contact assembly to a printed circuit board that are performed in step 130 shown in FIG. 29, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 32 is a simplified, exemplary block diagram of a suitable electronic media device that may incorporate or apply various embodiments of the present invention; and
FIG. 33 illustrates an exemplary representation of one particular embodiment of an electronic media device suitable for applying embodiments of the present invention.
Detailed Description
The invention is described in detail below with reference to specific embodiments shown in the drawings. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that the present invention may be practiced without some or all of these specific details. In other instances, well-known details have not been described in detail in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present invention.
For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is first made to fig. 3A-3C, which are simplified top, side and front views, respectively, of a bi-directional plug connector 40 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The connector 40 includes a body 42 and a tab portion 44 extending away from the body 42 in a longitudinal direction along a direction parallel to the length of the connector 40. As shown in fig. 3A and 3B, the cable 43 may optionally be joined to the body 42 at opposite ends of the tab portion 44. The tab 44 is sized to be inserted into a corresponding receptacle connector during a mating event, and the tab 44 includes a first contact area 46a formed on a first major surface 44a and a second contact area 46b (not shown in fig. 3A-3C) formed on a second major surface 44b opposite the surface 44 a. the tab 44 also includes first and second opposing side surfaces 44C, 44d extending between the first and second major surfaces 44a, 44 b.
Contact areas 46a and 46b are centered between opposing side surfaces 44C and 44d and may form a plurality of external contacts (not shown in fig. 3A-3C) at the outer surface of fin 44 in each contact area. These contacts may be raised, recessed, or flush with the outer surface of the tabs 44 and located within the contact area so that when the tabs 44 are inserted into a corresponding receptacle connector, they may be electrically coupled with corresponding contacts in the receptacle connector. In some embodiments, the plurality of contacts are self-cleaning wiping contacts that slide further past the receptacle connector contacts by a wiping motion after initially contacting the receptacle connector contacts in a mating event. The contacts within regions 46a and 46b may be made of copper, nickel, brass, stainless steel, metal alloys, or any other suitable conductive material or combination of conductive materials. In some embodiments, contacts may be printed on surfaces 44a and 44b using techniques similar to those used to print contacts on printed circuit boards. In some other embodiments, the contacts may be stamped (stamp) from a lead frame (leadframe) that is located within regions 46a and 46b and surrounded by a dielectric material.
In some embodiments, one or more ground contacts may be formed on the tab 44. For example, fig. 3A and 3B show a ground contact 47a formed on the first side 44c and a ground contact 47B formed on the second side 44d opposite the ground contact 47 a. As another example, one or more ground contacts may be formed on the end face 44e at the distal end of the connector 40 in addition to or instead of the ground contacts 47a, 47 b. In some embodiments, each of the one or more ground contacts may be formed on or form part of the exterior of its respective side. In other embodiments, the one or more ground contacts may be formed within and/or as part of pockets, indentations (indentations), cuts, or similar recessed areas formed on each of the sides 44c, 44d that operatively engage with retention mechanisms in the respective receptacle connectors as described in detail below.
The tabs 44 may have a 180 degree symmetrical, bi-directional design that enables the connector to be inserted into a corresponding receptacle connector in a first orientation with the surface 44a facing upward and a second orientation with the surface 44a rotated 180 degrees and facing downward. To achieve the non-directional feature of the connector 40, the connector 40 is not polarized. That is, the connector 40 does not include a physical key configured to mate with a mating key in a corresponding receptacle connector, and ensures that mating between two connectors occurs in only a single direction. Further, contacts may be placed within contact areas 46a and 46b such that the individual contacts in area 46a are arranged symmetrically with the individual contacts in area 46b on the opposite side of tab 44, and the ground contacts formed at the tip or side of connector tab 44 may also be arranged symmetrically. The symmetrical arrangement of the contacts enables the contacts in either of the regions 46a or 46b of the plug connector to be properly aligned with the contacts in the receptacle connector regardless of orientation.
In some embodiments, the fins 44 may be shaped to: if the fin is divided into upper and lower halves along a horizontal plane bisecting the center of the fin 44 (as shown by plane P1 in fig. 3C), the physical shape of the cross-section of the upper half of the fin 44 is substantially the same as the physical shape of the cross-section of the lower half. Similarly, if the flap 44 is divided into left and right halves along a vertical plane bisecting the center of the flap (as shown by plane P2 in FIG. 3C), the physical shape of the left half of the flap 44 is substantially the same as the shape of the right half. In other bi-directional embodiments, the cross-sectional shape of the tabs 44 need not be perfectly symmetrical, so long as the connector does not include a key that prevents the connector from being inserted into the corresponding receptacle connector in two different directions and the contacts are properly aligned with the contacts in the corresponding receptacle connector in either direction.
In addition to the 180 degree symmetrical, bi-directional design, plug connectors according to some embodiments of the present invention electrically connect each contact formed at surface 44a of the connector with a corresponding contact on surface 44b of the opposite side of the connector. That is, in some embodiments of the present invention, each contact in contact region 46a is electrically connected to a corresponding contact in contact region 46 b. In this manner, each given signal to be transmitted by the plug connector is routed through the contacts in contact area 46a and the contacts in area 46 b. The effect of this aspect of some embodiments of the invention is: the number of different signals that a given number of contacts can carry is reduced by half compared to if the contacts formed in regions 46a and 46b were electrically isolated from each other and assigned to different signals. However, this feature provides the following benefits: a corresponding receptacle connector need only have contacts on one surface (e.g., a top or bottom surface) within its cavity. The receptacle connector can thereby be made thinner than a receptacle connector having contacts on both the top and bottom surfaces of the cavity, which in turn allows the electronic device in which the receptacle connector is housed to be thinner as well.
The body 42 is generally the portion of the connector 40 that a user will grasp when inserting the connector 40 into or removing the connector 40 from a corresponding receptacle connector. The body 42 may be made of a variety of materials, and in some embodiments, a dielectric material (e.g., a thermoplastic polymer formed in an injection molding process). Although not shown in fig. 3A or 3B, a portion of the cable 43 and a portion of the tab 44 may extend within the body 42 and be surrounded by the body 42. The contacts in the contact areas 46a, 46b can contact the respective conductors in the cable 43 within the body 42. In one embodiment, cable 43 includes a plurality of individual insulated conductors, one for each electrically unique contact in regions 46a and 46b, which are soldered to bond pads on a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) housed within body 42. Each bond pad on the PCB is electrically coupled to a respective individual contact within the contact region 46a or 46 b. Further, one or more Integrated Circuits (ICs) may be operatively coupled within body 42 to contacts within regions 46a, 46b to provide information about connector 40 and/or accessories of which the connector is a part, or to perform other specific functions as described in detail below.
In the embodiment shown in fig. 3A and 3B, the body 42 has a rectangular cross-section that generally matches but is slightly larger in shape than the cross-section of the tab 42. As discussed with reference to fig. 4A-4E, however, the body 42 may have various shapes and sizes. For example, the body 42 may have a rectangular cross-section with rounded or angled edges (referred to herein as a "generally rectangular" cross-section), a circular cross-section, an oval cross-section, and many other suitable shapes. In some embodiments, both the body 42 and the tabs 44 of the connector 40 may have the same cross-sectional shape and the same width and height (thickness). As one example, the body 42 and the tab 44 may combine to form a substantially flat, uniform connector, wherein the body and tab appear to be one piece. In other embodiments, the cross-sectional shape of the body 42 may be different than the cross-sectional shape of the flap 44, for example, the body 42 may have curved upper and lower faces and/or curved sides, while the flap 44 is substantially flat.
In addition, the embodiment shown in fig. 3A-3C includes a connector 40 as part of the cable connector. In some embodiments, plug connectors according to the present invention are used in devices such as docking stations, clock radios, and other accessories or electronic devices. In such an embodiment, the tab 44 may extend directly out of the housing associated with the dock, clock radio, and other accessories or electronic devices. The housing associated with the accessory and device (which may be shaped quite differently from the body 42) may thus be considered the body of the connector.
Although the tabs 44 shown in fig. 3A-3C are shown as having a substantially rectangular and substantially flat shape, in some embodiments of the invention, the first and second major surfaces 44a, 44b may have matching convex or concave curved portions, or may have matching concave regions located centrally between the sides of the tabs 44. The contact regions 46a and 46b may be formed in recessed regions, and the recessed regions may extend, for example, from the distal end of the tab 44 all the way to the base 42, or may extend along only a portion of the length of the tab 44 (e.g., extending between the length of the tab 1/2 and 3/4), ending at a point near the base 42. Sides 44c and 44d may also have matching convex or concave curvatures.
Generally, the shape and curvature of surfaces 44a and 44b mirror each other, as do the shape and curvature of surfaces 44a and 44b, according to bi-directional design of connector 40 as described below. Furthermore, although fig. 3A-3C illustrate surfaces 44C, 44d having a width that is significantly less than that of surfaces 44a, 44b (e.g., less than or equal to a quarter or half of the width of surfaces 44a, 44 b), in some embodiments, sides 44C, 44d have a width that is relatively close to, or even equal to or wider than, the width of surfaces 44a, 44 b.
Fig. 4A-4E are simplified front plan views of embodiments of connector 40 in which body 42 and/or fins 44 have different cross-sectional shapes. For example, in fig. 4A, major surfaces 44A and 44B are slightly convex, while in fig. 4B and 4C, sides 44C and 44d are rounded. Fig. 4C shows an example of a connector having recessed regions 45a and 45b formed at the main surfaces 44a and 44b of the tab 44, respectively. The recessed area extends from the distal end of tab 44 along a portion of the length of tab 44 and is centered between sides 44c and 44 d. Fig. 4D shows an example of a connector in which the fin 44 has a dog-bone-shaped cross section, and ridges 45c and 45D are formed on the sides of the fin. The corresponding receptacle connector may include a cavity shaped to mate with the ridges such that ridges 45c and 45d help align the connectors into the cavities during a mating event. Fig. 4E shows an example of a connector in which the body 42 has approximately the same width as the tab 44, but is larger in height than the tab. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that FIGS. 3C and 4A-E are examples of suitable cross-sectional shapes for the body 42 and tab 44, but that many other cross-sectional shapes may be employed as the shapes of the body 42 and tab 44 in various embodiments of the invention.
The fins 44 may be made of various materials including metals, dielectrics, or combinations thereof. For example, the tab 44 may be ceramic-based with contacts printed directly on its outer surface, or may comprise a frame made of an elastomeric material that includes a flexible circuit bonded to the frame. In some embodiments, the fins 44 comprise an outer frame made primarily of metal or simply of metal (e.g., stainless steel), and the contact areas 46a and 46b are formed within openings of the frame, as shown in fig. 5A-5C.
Fig. 5A and 5B are simplified top and side views of plug connector 50 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Plug connector 50 includes many of the same features as plug connector 40, but also includes first and second retention features 54a and 54b that are adapted to engage with retention features on a corresponding receptacle connector to secure the connectors together during a mating event. Further, the frame 52 may sometimes be referred to as a housing and when made of a conductive material as a ground ring, the frame 52 provides structural support for the connector and defines the outer shape of the tabs 44.
As shown in fig. 5C and 5D, which are simplified perspective top and bottom views of the frame 52, the frame may include first and second opposing sides 52a, 52b extending along the width and length of the frame, third and fourth opposing sides 52C, 52D extending between the first and second sides along the height and length, and an end 52e extending between the first and second sides and between the third and fourth sides along the width and height at the distal end of the frame. Sides 52a-52e enclose a cavity 55 that can receive various portions of connector 50. Openings 56a and 56b opposite to the cavity 55 are formed in the side faces 52a and 52b, respectively. The opening 56a defines the location of the first contact region 46a, while the opening 56b (which in some embodiments has the same size and shape as the opening 56 a) defines the location of the second contact region 46 b. Thus, as shown in fig. 5C and 5D, each contact area is completely surrounded by the outer surface of the frame 52 in the X and Y axes. This configuration is particularly useful when the frame 52 is made of an electrically conductive material, such as stainless steel or other hard conductive metal. In such an embodiment, the frame 52 may be grounded (and thus may be referred to as a ground ring 52) to minimize interference that would otherwise occur on the contacts of the connector 50. As such, in some embodiments, the ground ring 52 may provide electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and serve as a single ground reference for all signals transmitted through the connector.
The first and second retention features 54a and 54b may be formed on opposite sides of the tab 44 within the frame 52. The retention features 54a, 54b are part of a retention system that includes one or more features on the plug connector that are designed to engage with one or more features on a corresponding receptacle connector when the plug connector is inserted into the receptacle connector to secure the connectors together. In the illustrated embodiment, the retention features 54a, 54b are semi-circular indentations on the sides of the tab 44 that extend from the surface 44a to the surface 44 b. The retention features may vary widely and may include angled indentations or cutouts, pockets formed only on the sides and not extending to either of the surfaces 44a, 44b on which the contact areas 46a, 46b are formed, or other recessed areas. The retention features are adapted to engage with retention mechanisms on the receptacle connector that may also vary to a large extent. The retention mechanism may be, for example, one or more springs including a tip or surface that fits within indentations 54a, 54b, one or more spring loaded detents (detentes), or similar latching mechanisms. The retention system, including retention features 54a, 54b and corresponding retention mechanisms on the receptacle connector, may be designed to provide a particular insertion and extraction force such that the retention force required to insert the plug connector into the receptacle connector is greater than the retention force required to remove the plug connector from the receptacle connector.
Although the retaining members 54a, 54b are shown in fig. 5A-5C as having a female mating characteristic and the retaining members associated with the receptacle connector are described above as having a male characteristic projecting into the retaining members 54a, 54b, in other embodiments, these tasks may be different. For example, in one embodiment, the retention members 54a, 54b may be spring-loaded projections that engage with female retention members on the receptacle connector. In other embodiments, one of the members 54a, 54b may be male while the other of the members 54a, 54b is female. In other embodiments, other retaining members may be used, such as mechanical or magnetic latches or orthogonal insertion mechanisms. Additionally, although retaining members 54a and 54b are shown in FIG. 5A as being formed within frame 52, in embodiments of the invention that do not include a frame, the retaining members may be formed within any structure or material that makes up tab 44.
The retaining members 54a and 54b may also be positioned at various locations along the connector 50, including along the sides of the tab 44 and/or the upper and lower surfaces of the tab 44. In some embodiments, the retention members 54a and 54b may be positioned on the front surface 42a of the body 42 and adapted to engage with retention members located on the front outer surface of the receptacle connector. In the embodiment shown in fig. 5A-5C, the retaining members 54a and 54b are positioned within the rear third of the length of the tab 44. The inventors have determined that positioning the retention member and corresponding latching mechanism within the receptacle connector proximate the tail of the plug connector helps to better secure the connectors laterally when the connectors are in an engaged position within the receptacle connector.
Referring now to fig. 6A and/or 6B, fig. 6A is a simplified top view of a plug connector 60 according to another embodiment of the invention, and fig. 6B is a view of a portion of a tab 44 forming the connector 60. A simplified perspective view of the frame 62. The frame 62 is a U-shaped frame that extends from the distal tip of the connector 60 along the side of the connector toward the body 42 and has a thickness equal to the thickness (T) of the connector 60. The frame 62 includes sides 62a, 62b that may have different lengths in different embodiments. In some embodiments, the side portions 62a, 62b extend beyond the contact areas 46a, 46b up to the body 42 of the connector. In other embodiments, the side portions 62a, 62B may extend beyond the contact areas 46a, 46B, but not reach the body 42 (as shown in fig. 7B); may extend just to the ends of the contact regions 46a, 46b or may be relatively short and extend only partially along the length of the contact regions. The contact areas 46a, 46b are located between the opposing sides 62a, 62 b. Like frame 52, frame 62 may be made of an electrically conductive material and is referred to as a ground ring 62.
The contact regions 46a, 46b in any of the connectors 40, 50, or 60 discussed above (as well as the connectors 80, 90, 100 discussed below, and others) may include any number of external contacts arranged in various patterns, from 1 to 20 or more. Fig. 7A-7H provide different examples of contact arrangements within the contact region 46, according to different embodiments of the present invention. As shown in fig. 7A, contact area 46 may include 2 contacts 71(1) and 71(2) centered and symmetrically located within the contact area. Similarly, fig. 7B shows a contact region 46 having 3 contacts 72 (1.. 72 (3)) centered and symmetrically positioned within the contact region, while fig. 7C and 7D show a contact region 46 having 4 contacts 73 (1.. 73(4) and eight contacts 74 (1.. 74 (8)), respectively.
In some embodiments, the individual contacts may have different sizes. This may be particularly useful when one or more contacts are dedicated to carrying high power or high current. Fig. 7E shows an embodiment in which 7 contacts 75 (1.. 75 (7)) are arranged in a single row within the contact region 46, and the central contact 75(4) is twice or three times as wide as the other contacts.
Although each of fig. 7A-7E includes a single row of contact points within region 46, some embodiments of the invention may include two, three, or more rows of contact points. By way of example, the contact region 46 shown in fig. 7F includes two rows of 4 contacts 76 (1.. 76 (4)) and 76 (5.. 76 (8)), each row being centrally disposed between the sides of the contact region and symmetrically spaced relative to a centerline through the length of the contact region; fig. 7G shows a contact area 46 having a first row of 3 contacts 77 (1.. 77 (3)) and a second row of 4 contacts 77 (4.. 77 (7)) positioned within the contact area; and fig. 7H shows a contact area 46 having three rows of 3 contacts, for a total of 9 contacts 78 (1.. 78 (9)).
Each of the contact regions 46 shown in fig. 7A-7H is representative of two regions 46a and 46b in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention. That is, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the plug connector may include two contact areas 46a and 46b, each of which includes 2 contacts within the area 46 as in fig. 7A. In another embodiment, the plug connector may include contact areas 46a and 46B that each include 3 contacts as shown in fig. 7B. Other embodiments of the invention include: a plug connector having contact areas 46a and 46b as shown in area 46 of fig. 7C; a plug connector having contact areas 46a and 46b as shown in area 46 of fig. 7D; a plug connector having contact areas 46a and 46b as shown in area 46 of fig. 7E; a plug connector having contact areas 46a and 46b as shown in area 46 of fig. 7F; a plug connector having contact areas 46a and 46b as shown in area 46 of fig. 7G; and a plug connector having contact areas 46a and 46b as shown in area 46 of fig. 7H.
The contacts within the regions 46a, 46b may include contacts designated for various signals, including, among other things, power contacts, ground contacts, analog contacts, and digital contacts. In some embodiments, one or more ground contacts may be formed within the regions 46a and 46b, while in other embodiments, the ground contacts are located only at the tip of the connector 40 and/or on the sides 44c, 44 d. Embodiments employing ground contacts at one or more locations along the outside and/or tip surface of connector 40, rather than ground contacts within contact areas 46a and 46b, may result in the overall footprint of connector tab 44 being smaller than similar connectors that include ground contacts within contact areas 46a or 46 b.
The power contacts within the regions 46a, 46b may carry signals of any voltage and, by way of example, may carry signals between 2-30 volts. In some embodiments, multiple power contacts are included within the regions 46a, 46b to carry power signals of different voltage levels that may be used for different purposes. For example, one or more contacts within regions 46a, 46b may be included for delivering 3.3 volt low current power available for power accessory devices connected to connector 40, and one or more contacts for delivering 5 volt high current power for charging portable media devices connected to connector 40. As discussed with reference to fig. 7E, in certain embodiments, one or more of the power contacts within the regions 46a, 46b may be larger than the other contacts to enable the larger contacts to carry higher power and/or larger currents more efficiently. In other embodiments, multiple contacts may be electrically coupled together to provide one or more "larger contacts" for carrying higher power and/or larger current. For example, in one embodiment, contacts 74(4) and 75(5) shown in fig. 7D may be electrically coupled together to act as a single power contact.
Examples of analog contacts that may be included within the contact regions 46a, 46b include contacts for different left and right channels of both audio output and audio input signals, as well as contacts for video signals, such as RGB video signals, YPbPr component video signals, and others. Similarly, the contacts within the regions 46a, 46b may carry many different types of digital signals, including data signals, such as USB signals (including USB1.0, 2.0, and 3.0) FireWire (also known as IEEE1394) signals, UART signals, Thunderbolt signals, SATA signals, and/or any other type of high-speed serial interface signal or other type of data signal. The digital signals within the contact areas 46a, 46b may also include signals for digital video, such as DVI signals, HDMI signals, and DisplayPort signals, as well as other digital signals that perform functions that enable detection and identification of the device or accessories of the connector 40.
In some embodiments, the dielectric material is filled between the individual contacts within the contact areas 46a, 46b using, for example, injection molding techniques so as to be flush with the upper surfaces of the contacts. The dielectric material separates adjacent contacts from each other and separates the set of contacts within the contact area from the metal surface of the frame or ground ring surrounding the contacts. In some embodiments, the dielectric material and contacts form a flush outer surface of the tab 44 that provides a smooth, consistent feel on the tab 44, while in other embodiments, each contact region 46a, 46b, including the dielectric material and contacts, may be slightly depressed (e.g., between 0.2 and 0.01 mm) to help ensure that no single contact protrudes above the outer surface of the frame 52, which enhances the recognition that a protruding or "conspicuous" contact may somehow become disengaged from the connector over 1000 usage cycles. Additionally, to enhance robustness and reliability, the connector 40 may be completely sealed and include no moving parts.
For a better understanding and appreciation of the 180 degree symmetrical dual-orientation design of certain embodiments of the present invention, referring to fig. 8A-8C, fig. 8A-8C illustrate a plug connector 80 including 4 individual contacts formed within each of the contact areas 46a and 46b, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention. In particular, fig. 8A and 8B are simplified views of a first side 44a and an opposing second side 44B, respectively, of plug connector 80, while fig. 8C is a simplified cross-sectional view of plug connector 80 taken along line a-a' (shown in fig. 8A) that also includes a schematic representation of the electrical connections between the contacts of the connector. As shown in fig. 8C, each contact 73 (1.. 73 (4)) at surface 44a of plug connector 80 is electrically coupled to its opposing contact at surface 44b by an electrical connection 82 (1.. 82 (4)) shown in schematic form. For ease of reference, the contacts on two different sides of the connector that are electrically coupled together are indicated with the same contact number and are sometimes referred to herein as "corresponding pairs" of contacts or "mating connected contacts". Electrical contact between corresponding pairs of contacts may be made in various ways. In some embodiments, electrical contact between contacts within a corresponding pair is made within the tab 44 or body 42. As an example, a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) including contact pads printed on its upper and lower surfaces may extend within 444. Vias or vias may be formed in the printed circuit board directly between the contact pads on the opposing surface and filled with a conductive material (e.g., copper) to electrically connect each contact pad formed on the upper surface to a corresponding contact pad on the opposing surface. The individual contacts at connector surface 44a that are soldered to contact pads on one side of the PCB can thus be electrically connected to mating contact points at surface 44b that are soldered to contact pads on the other side of the PCB. In other embodiments where the grounding ring does not surround the contacts at the connector tip, instead of being electrically connected by the tabs 44, the contacts may be coupled together by wrapping the connector tip from surface 44a to surface 44 b.
Turning now to both aspects of fig. 8A and plug connector 80, contact region 46a may include 4 evenly spaced contacts 73 (1.. 73 (4)) formed therein. Contacts 73(1) and 73(2) mirror contacts 73(3) and 73(4) across centerline 59 with respect to a central plane 59 that is perpendicular and passes through the middle of connector 50 along its length. That is, the interval from the center line 59 to the contact 73(2) is the same as the interval from the center line 59 to the contact 73 (3). In addition, the interval from the center line 59 to the contact 73(1) is the same as the interval from the center line 59 to the contact 73 (4). The contacts in each of the pairs of contacts 73(1), 73(4) and 73(2), 73(3) are also equally spaced relative to each other from the sides 44c and 44d of the connector and from the end face 44e along the length of the fin 44.
Similarly, in fig. 8B, contact region 46B includes the same number of contacts as region 46a, which are also spaced according to the same spacing as in fig. 46 a. Thus, the contact region 46b includes 4 contacts 73 (1.. 73 (4)) spaced apart within the region 46 according to the same layout and spacing of the contacts 73 (1.. 73 (4)) in the region 46 a. Since the layout and spacing of the contacts within regions 46a and 46b are the same, and some type of marking or indicia on one of surfaces 44a or 44b is not shown, these surfaces and the layout of the contacts on each of surfaces 44a, 44b may appear the same, or at least substantially the same.
As described above, the plug connector 80 may mate with a receptacle connector having a single set of contacts on an interior surface, disregarding ground contacts. By way of example, fig. 9A and 9B are simplified diagrams illustrating the plug connector 80 mated with the receptacle connector 85 in two different possible mating orientations. The receptacle connector 85 includes a housing 86 defining a cavity 87. Contacts 88(1).. 88(4) are positioned along a first inner surface of cavity 87, and ground contacts 88(a) and 88(b) are positioned on side inner surfaces of the cavity. There is no contact on a second inner surface opposite the first inner surface.
As shown in fig. 9A and 9B, when the tabs 44 of the plug connector 80 are fully inserted into the cavities 87, each of the contacts 73 (1.. 73 (4)) is aligned with and in physical contact with one of the contacts 88 (1.. 88 (4)), regardless of which of the two possible orientations of the plug connector 80 (referred to herein for convenience as "up" or "down," although it should be understood that these are relative terms and are intended merely to mean a 180 degree change in connector orientation) is inserted into the cavities 87. When plug connector 80 is inserted into cavity 87 with side 44a up (fig. 9A), contacts 73(1) are aligned with contacts 88(1), contacts 73(2) are aligned with contacts 88(2), contacts 73(3) are aligned with contacts 88(3), and contacts 73(4) are aligned with contacts 88 (4). When plug connector 80 is inserted into cavity 87 with side 44B up (fig. 9B), the contacts are aligned in a different manner such that contacts 73(4) are aligned with contacts 88(1), contacts 73(3) are aligned with contacts 88(2), contacts 73(2) are aligned with contacts 88(3), and contacts 73(1) are aligned with contacts 88 (4). In addition, when the plug connector 80 includes side ground contacts 73a, 73B, each of the side contacts is aligned with one of the side ground contacts 88a, 88B from the receptacle connector 85 in either of the two possible insertion orientations shown in fig. 9A and 9B.
Thus, whether plug connector 80 is inserted into receptacle connector 85 in either the "up" or "down" positions, proper electrical contact can be made between the contacts within the plug and receptacle connectors. Certain embodiments of the present invention are also directed to an electronic host device that includes a receptacle connector and circuitry that switches functionality of contact pins of the receptacle connector based on an insertion orientation of a plug connector. In some embodiments, sensing circuitry within the receptacle connector or host electronics housing the receptacle connector may detect the orientation of the plug connector and set software and/or hardware switches to switch the internal connections of the contacts within the receptacle connector and properly mate the contacts of the receptacle connector and the contacts of the plug connector as appropriate. Details of various embodiments of such circuitry are set forth in co-pending and commonly owned U.S. application No. _______ (attorney docket No.90911-825181), the contents of which are hereby incorporated in their entirety for all purposes.
In some embodiments, the orientation of the plug connector may be detected based on a physical orientation key (which differs from a polarity key in that the orientation key does not prevent the plug connector from being inserted into the receptacle connector in multiple orientations), which may or may not engage with corresponding orientation contacts within the receptacle connector, depending on the orientation of the plug connector. The circuitry connected to the orientation contacts may then determine which of two possible orientations the plug connector is inserted into the receptacle connector. In other embodiments, the orientation of the plug connector may be determined by detecting a characteristic (e.g., voltage or current level) at one or more of the contacts, or by sending and receiving signals on one or more of the contacts using a handshaking algorithm. Circuitry within the host device that is operatively coupled to the receptacle connector may set software and/or hardware switches to properly mate the contacts of the receptacle connector to the contacts of the plug connector.
While each contact within the contact region 46a of the plug connector 80 is electrically connected to its own opposing contact within the contact region 46b, in other embodiments, the contacts within the contact region 46a may be electrically connected to contacts within the contact region 46b that are not opposing each other. Fig. 10A-10C, which are similar to fig. 8A-8C and show a connector 90 having 4 contacts equally spaced from the plug connector 80, are illustrative examples of such an embodiment, wherein each contact in the contact region 46a connects to a corresponding contact in the contact region 46b that are spaced from each other in a diagonal relationship. As shown in fig. 10A, the layout of the contacts 73 (1.. 73 (4)) in the contact region 46a of the connector 90 is the same as the layout of the contact region 46a of the connector 80. In connector 90, however, contact 73(1) within contact region 46a is electrically coupled to a corresponding contact within contact region 46b, contact 73(1) on the opposite side of and spaced the same distance from central plane 59. Similarly, each of contacts 73(2), 73(3), and 73(4) in contact region 46a is electrically coupled to a matching contact 73(2), 73(3), and 73(4) in contact region 46b located in diagonal relation on the opposite face and spaced the same distance from central face 59.
The electrical connections between the contacts in the corresponding pair in the connector 90 may be made in any suitable manner. In one embodiment, the connection between the mating contacts is formed within the tabs and/or the body of the connector. As an example, a PCB having contact pads printed on its upper and lower surfaces, one for each contact 73 (1.. 73 (4)) in each of the areas 46a and 46b, may extend inside the fin 44. A series of conductive lines, vias and vias formed on the PCB may electrically connect each contact in contact area 46a to its mating contact within area 46b according to the schematic in fig. 10C.
Electrically connecting contacts between surfaces 46a and 46b in the manner shown in fig. 10C provides the benefit that the contacts in the receptacle connector align with the same contacts in connector 90 regardless of which of two possible orientations connector 90 mates with the receptacle connector. Fig. 11A and 11b, which are simplified diagrams illustrating a connector 90 mated with a receptacle connector 85, illustrate this aspect of the embodiment of fig. 10C. In fig. 11A, the connector 90 is inserted into the cavity 87 of the connector 85 by the side 44a upward. In this alignment, plug connector contacts 73(1) are in physical contact with receptacle connector contacts 88(1), plug connector contacts 73(2) are in physical contact with receptacle connector contacts 88(2), plug connector contacts 73(3) are in physical contact with receptacle connector contacts 88(3), and plug connector contacts 73(4) are in physical contact with receptacle connector contacts 88 (4).
As shown in fig. 11B, when connector 90 is inserted into connector 85 by side 44B upward, the contacts align in exactly the same manner. Thus, receptacle connector 85, which is designed to mate with connector 90, need not include circuitry to switch contacts based on the orientation of connector 90. Additionally, as with connector 80, if connector 90 includes side contacts 73a, 73b, each side contact is aligned with one of side contacts 88a, 88b regardless of the insertion orientation.
In other embodiments, some of the individual contacts in contact area 46a may be connected to mating contacts that face each other within area 46b as shown in fig. 8A-8C, while other individual contacts in contact area 46a may be connected to mating contacts that are positioned diagonally to each other in area 46b as shown in fig. 10A-10C. For example, center contacts 73(2) and 73(3) may be connected together as shown in fig. 8A-8C, while contacts 73(1) and 73(4) may be connected together as shown in fig. 10A-10C.
To facilitate the bi-directional nature of some embodiments of the present invention, some or all of the contacts within the contact regions 46a, 46b of one connector may be arranged such that contacts for similar purposes are positioned within each contact region in a mirror image relationship with respect to each other relative to a plane 59 (central plane) that bisects the connector along the length of the tab 44. For example, referring to fig. 8A, contacts 73(1) are in a mirror image relationship with contacts 73(4) in that each contact is in the same row and spaced the same distance relative to plane 59, but on the opposite side of the central plane. Similarly, contact 73(2) is in a mirror image relationship with contact 73(3) relative to centerline 59. Contacts used for similar purposes are contacts designated to carry similar signals. Examples of contacts for similar purposes may include first and second power contacts, left and right audio output contacts, first and second ground contacts, a pair of differential data contacts or two differential data contacts of the same polarity (e.g., two positive or two negative differential data contacts), a pair of serial transmit and receive contacts, and/or other general first and second digital contacts.
The symmetrical mirror image relationship between the contacts for similar purposes in each of the areas 46a, 46b ensures that, for each pair of contacts for similar purposes in mirror image relationship, one of the contacts for similar purposes is electrically connected to a contact in the receptacle connector that is dedicated to or can be easily switched to that particular contact. This in turn simplifies the switching circuitry required within the receptacle connector. By way of example, where contacts 73(1) and 73(4) are contacts dedicated to a pair of differential data signals for similar purposes, when plug connector 80 is inserted into receptacle connector 85, one of the differential data signal contacts is in physical contact with receptacle contact 88(1) and the other of the differential data signal contacts is in physical contact with receptacle contact 88(4), regardless of whether the plug connector and receptacle connector mate in an "up" or "down" insertion direction. Thus, the two receptacle contacts 88(1) and 88(4) may be differential data contacts that ensure that they are electrically coupled to differential data contacts within the plug connector (or may be operatively coupled to circuitry supporting the differential data contacts through a switch or multiplexer) regardless of their insertion orientation. The switching circuitry within the receptacle connector need not take into account that the power contact or another contact having an internal connection very different from that required for the differential data contacts may be in one of the positions aligned with contacts 88(1) or 88 (4).
Although fig. 8A-8C and 10A-10C illustrate particular embodiments of the present invention with even contacts within each of contact areas 46a and 46b, certain embodiments of the present invention may include odd contacts within each of contact areas 46a and 46 b. In these embodiments, one of the contacts on each side of the plug connector is a center contact that is centrally located about the bisecting plane 59, and thus aligned with the centrally located receptacle contact in both the "up" and "down" positions. The center contact itself is not in a mirror image relationship (relative to the centerline 59) with the other contact, except that the left and right halves of the center contact are mirror images of each other, and thus are not mated with another contact for a similar purpose in the same manner as the other contacts can.
Fig. 12A-12C illustrate this aspect of certain embodiments of the invention and show a plug connector 99 having three contacts 72 (1.. 72 (3)) formed on the upper surface of the tabs 44 of the plug connector, which are electrically connected to mating contacts on the lower surface, as with the connector 80 of fig. 8C. When plug connector 99 is inserted into corresponding receptacle connector 95 in the "up" position, contacts 72 (1.. 72 (3)) are aligned with contacts 98 (1.. 98 (3)) of the receptacle connector, respectively. When the connector is inserted into the corresponding receptacle connector 80 in the "down" position, the contacts 72(3) ·.72(1) are flipped over and aligned with the receptacle connector contacts 98(1) ·.98(3), respectively. In both orientations, the plug connector contacts 72(2) are aligned with the central receptacle contacts 98 (2). In addition, in each orientation, each of the side contacts 72a, 72b is aligned with a side contact 98a, 98 b.
Referring now to fig. 13A-13C, fig. 13A-13C illustrate a bi-directional connector 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, the bi-directional connector 100 having 8 contacts spaced apart within a single row within each of the contact areas 46a and 46 b. Fig. 13A is a simplified perspective view of the connector 100, and fig. 13B and 13C are simplified top and bottom plan views, respectively, of the connector 100. As shown in fig. 13A, the connector 100 includes a body 42 and a tab portion 44 extending longitudinally away from the body 42 in a direction parallel to the length of the connector. The cable 43 is attached to the body 42 at an end opposite the tab portion 44.
The tab 44 is sized to insert a corresponding receptacle connector in a mating event and includes a first contact area 46a formed on the first major surface 44a and a second contact area 46b formed on the second major surface 44b (not shown in fig. 13). The surfaces 44a, 44b extend from the distal tip of the plug to a ratchet-like projection 109, and when the tab 44 is inserted into a corresponding receptacle connector, the ratchet-like projection 109 abuts the receptacle connector or a housing of a host device incorporating the receptacle connector. The flap 44 also includes first and second opposing side surfaces 44a, 44d extending between the first and second major surfaces 44a, 44 b. In some embodiments, the tab 44 is between 5-10mm wide and 1-3mm thick, and has an insertion depth (distance from the tip of the tab 44 to the ratchet-like projection 109) of between 5-15 mm. In some embodiments, the tab 44 has a length greater than its width, and a width greater than its thickness. In other embodiments, the length and width of the fins 44 are within 0.2mm of each other. In one particular embodiment, the tab 44 is 6.7mm wide by 1.5mm thick and has an insertion depth (distance from the tip of the tab 44 to the ratchet-like projection 109) of 6.6 mm. In other embodiments, the fins 44 have the same width of 6.7mm and height of 1.5mm, but a longer length. These embodiments may be particularly useful when mating with receptacle connectors having openings in the sides of electronic devices having curved or other highly stylized housings. In these devices, the length of the fins may be increased by an amount determined by the inclination of the device housing and the height of the body 42. That is, the tabs 44 may have a length a to properly operate with a receptacle connector that is received within a housing having vertical edges or faces at the opening of the receptacle connector. However, for proper operation with a tilted equipment housing, additional length B may be added to compensate for the curvature of the equipment housing, and additional length C may be added to compensate for the thickness of the plug connector housing 42 to ensure that the contacts in the areas 46a, 46B can mate with the contacts in the receptacle connector in a curved housing as if they were in a housing with a flat or vertical face. As the bending of the housing becomes shallower, the value of B may be increased accordingly. Similarly, when the plug connector housing 42 becomes thicker, the value of C may be increased.
The configuration and shape of the tabs 44 are defined by a grounding ring 105 similar to the grounding ring 52 shown in fig. 5C, and may be made of stainless steel or another hard conductive material. Ground ring 105 also includes a flange portion or ratchet-like projection 109 including surfaces 109a and 109b that extend from the ratchet-like projection to surfaces 44a and 44b of the ground ring, respectively. The connector 100 includes retaining members 102a, 102b formed with curved recesses in the sides of the ground ring 105 that do not extend to the upper surface 44a or the lower surface 44 b. The body 42, which is connected to the ground ring 105 at the ratchet-like projections 109, is shown in transparent form in fig. 13A (by dashed lines) so that certain components within the body are visible. As shown, within the body 42 is a Printed Circuit Board (PCB)104 that extends between the contact areas 46a and 46b into a ground ring 105 toward the distal tip of the connector 100. One or more Integrated Circuits (ICs), such as Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) chips 108a and 108b, may be operatively coupled to the PCB104 to provide information about the connector 100 and any accessory or device of which the connector 100 is a part, and/or to perform certain functions, such as authentication, identification, contact configuration, and current or power regulation.
By way of example, in one embodiment, the ID module is contained within an IC that is operatively coupled to the contacts of the connector 100. The ID module may be programmed with identification and configuration information about the connector and/or its associated accessory that may communicate with the host device in the event of a match. As another example, an authentication module programmed to perform an authentication routine with circuitry on the host device, e.g., a public key encryption routine, may be included within an IC operatively coupled to connector 100. The ID module and the authentication module may be contained within the same IC or different ICs. As another example, in embodiments where the connector 100 is part of a charging accessory, the current regulator may be included within one of the ICs 108a or 108 b. The current regulator may be operatively coupled to contacts capable of delivering power to charge a battery within the host device, and regulate the current delivered across these contacts to ensure a constant current regardless of the input voltage and even when the input voltage changes in a transient manner.
A solder pad 110 is also formed in the body 42 near the end of the PCB 104. Each pad may be connected to a contact or contact pair within regions 46a and 46 b. Wires (not shown) within the cable 43 may be soldered to the pads to provide an electrical connection from the contacts to the accessory or device with which the connector 100 is associated. Generally, for each set of electrically independent contacts (e.g., a pair of mating connection contacts, one in region 46a and one in region 46b, which are electrically coupled to each other by PCB 104), there is one pad and one conductor in cable 43. Additionally, one or more ground wires (not shown) in the cable 43 may also be signal-grounded soldered or otherwise connected to the ground ring 105.
As shown in fig. 13B, 13C, 8 outer contacts 106(1)..106 (8) extend a single row spacing within each of the contact regions 46a, 46B. Each contact in contact area 46a is electrically connected to a corresponding contact in contact area 46b on the opposite side of the connector. Contacts 106 (1.. 106 (8)) may be used to carry various signals, including digital and analog signals, as well as power and ground signals, as discussed previously. In one embodiment, each contact 106 (1.. 106 (8)) has an elongated contact surface. In one embodiment, the overall width of each contact is less than 1.0mm at the surface, and in another embodiment, the width is between 0.75 and 0.25 mm. In one particular embodiment, the length of each contact 106(i) is at least 3 times longer than its width at the surface, and in another embodiment, the length of each contact 106(i) is at least 5 times longer than its width at the surface.
Fig. 14A illustrates one particular implementation of pin assignment 106a for plug connector 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Pin assignment 106a includes 8 contacts 106 (1.. 106 (8)), which may correspond to the contacts in fig. 13A-13C. Each contact 106 (1.. 106 (8)) in pin assignment 106a is a mirror image contact, meaning that a single contact 106(i) is coupled to another connector 106(i) directly opposite it on the opposite side of the connector. Thus, each contact 106(1) ·.106(8) is in a mirror image relationship with an identical contact, which for convenience is denoted by the same reference numeral as its opposite or mirror image contact.
As shown in fig. 14A, pin assignment 106a includes 2 contacts 106(4), 106(5) electrically coupled together so as to be a single contact dedicated to carrying power; first and second accessory contacts 106(1) and 106(8) usable for an accessory power signal and an accessory ID signal; and 4 data contacts 106(2), 106(3), 106(6), and 106 (7). There is no dedicated contact for grounding in any of the contacts 106 (1.. 106 (8)) on the upper or lower surface of the connector. Instead, as discussed above, ground is taken from between the ground ring (not shown in fig. 14A) and the corresponding contacts within the side of the receptacle connector.
Power contacts 106(4), 106(5) may be sized to handle any reasonable power requirements of the portable electronic device and may be designed, for example, to carry a voltage between 3-20 volts from the accessory in order to charge a host device connected to connector 100. The power contacts 106(4), 106(5) are positioned in the center of the contact areas 46a, 46b to improve signal integrity by keeping the electrical energy as far away as possible from the sides of the ground ring 105.
Accessory power contact 106(1) an accessory power signal usable to power the accessory from the host. The accessory power signal is typically a lower voltage signal than the power of the signals received on contacts 106(4) and 106(5), e.g., 3.3 volts compared to 5 volts or more. The accessory ID contact provides a communication channel that enables the host device to authenticate the accessory and enables the accessory to communicate information about the capabilities of the accessory to the host device as described in more detail below.
Data contacts 106(2), 106(3), 106(6), and 106(7) may be used to enable communication between the host and accessory using one or more of several different communication protocols. In certain embodiments, contacts 106(2) and 106(3) operate as a first pair of data contacts, and contacts 106(6) and 106(7) operate as a second pair of data contacts that allow two different serial communication interfaces to be implemented on the data contacts as discussed below. In pin assignment 106a, data contacts 106(2), 106(3) are positioned adjacent to and on one side of the power contacts, while 106(6) and 106(7) are positioned adjacent to but on the other side of the power contacts. Accessory power and accessory ID contacts are positioned at each end of the connector. The data contact may be a high speed data contact that operates at a rate that is at least two orders of magnitude faster than any signal sent on the accessory ID contact, which makes the accessory ID signal clock appear essentially to be a DC signal to the high speed data line. Thus, positioning the data contact between the power contact and the ID contact improves signal integrity by sandwiching the data contact between contacts designated for DC signals or signals that are DC in nature.
Fig. 14B illustrates an implementation of pin assignment 106B for plug connector 100 according to another embodiment of the present invention. Similar to pin assignment 106a, pin assignment 106b also includes 8 contacts 106(1)..106 (8), which may correspond to the contacts of fig. 13A-13C, on each side of connector 100. Pin assignment 106a differs from pin assignment 106b in that some contacts are mirror image contacts, while others are in a diagonal relationship to each other across the centerline 59 of the connector or across one of the two quad-lines of the connector as described below (as used herein, the term "quad-line" does not include a centerline). In addition, pin assignment 106a includes a single power contact instead of two power contacts on each side of the connector, and a dedicated ground contact is added.
In particular, as shown in fig. 14B, pin assignment 106B includes a first pair of mirrored data contacts 106(2), 106(3), and a second pair of mirrored data contacts 106(6) and 106(7), with each individual mirrored data contact being electrically connected to its own opposing corresponding data contact on the opposite side of the connector. Power contact 106(5) includes two contacts positioned in diagonal relation to each other across center line 59, and ground contact 106(1) includes two contacts positioned in diagonal relation to each other across center line 59. In another aspect, accessory power contacts 106(4) and accessory ID contacts are positioned in diagonal relation to the opposing contacts across quad-lines 59a and 59b, respectively. When connector 100 includes pin assignment 106B, one side of connector 100 may have contacts 106 (1. (8) arranged in the order shown in fig. 14B, while the other side of connector 100 includes contacts in the following order: 106(1), 106(7), 106(6), 106(8), 106(5), 106(3), 106(2), 106(4), wherein each individual contact 106(i) is electrically coupled to a contact having the same reference number on the opposite side of the connector as shown in fig. 14B.
Power contacts 106(5) may be sized to handle any reasonable power requirements of the portable electronic device and may be designed, for example, to carry a voltage between 3-20 volts from the accessory in order to charge a host device connected to connector 100. Ground contacts 106(8) provide dedicated ground contacts at one end of the row of contacts as far away from power contacts 106(5) as possible. As with pin assignment 106a, grounding in pin assignment 106b is also provided through grounding ring 105 by contacts within the side of the corresponding receptacle connector. However, the additional dedicated ground contacts 106(1) provide additional ground coverage and provide the benefit that the contact integrity of the ground pins 106(1) can be specifically designed to carry an electrical ground signal (e.g., using gold plated copper contacts) without being limited by the stiffness or other requirements associated with the contacts within the sides of the ground ring 105, which ensures that the ground ring is robust enough to withstand thousands of cycles of use.
The data contacts 106(2), 106(3), 106(6), and 106(7) in pinout 106b can be the same as the data contacts of pinout 106a in question. In pinout 106b, each pair of data contacts 106(2), 106(3), and 106(6), 106(7) is located between a power contact 106(5) or a ground contact 106(1), each of which carries a DC signal, and one of accessory power or accessory ID contacts 106(4) and 106(8), which carries an accessory power signal (DC signal) or a relatively low speed accessory ID signal. As described above, the data contacts may be high speed data contacts that operate at a rate at least two orders of magnitude faster than the accessory ID signal, making the accessory ID signal appear as a DC signal to the high speed data lines. In this way, positioning the data contacts between the power or ground contacts and the ACC contacts improves signal integrity by sandwiching the signal contacts between the contacts designated for DC signals (or primary DC signals).
In one embodiment, pin function table 106a represents the signal assignments of plug connector 100 in a plug connector/receptacle connector pair, which may be the primary physical connector system of a product ecosystem including both host electronic devices and accessory devices. In another embodiment, pin function table 106b represents such signal assignments. Examples of host devices include smart phones, portable media players, tablet computers, laptop computers, desktop computers, and other computing devices. An accessory may be any hardware that connects to and communicates with or otherwise extends the functionality of a host. Many different types of accessory devices may be specifically designed or adapted to communicate with a host device through connector 100 to provide additional functionality to the host. Plug connector 100 may be incorporated into each accessory device that is part of the ecosystem, such that when plug connector 100 from an accessory is mated with a corresponding receptacle connector in a host device, the host and accessory are able to communicate with each other through physical/electrical pathways. Examples of accessory devices include docking stations, charging/synchronization cables and devices, cable adapters, clock radios, game controllers, audio devices, memory card readers, headsets, video devices and adapters, keyboards, medical sensors (such as heart rate monitors and blood pressure monitors), point of sale (POS) terminals, and a host of other hardware devices that can connect to and exchange data with a host device.
It can be appreciated that some accessories may wish to communicate with the host device using a different communication protocol than other accessories. For example, some accessories may wish to communicate with a host using a differential data protocol (such as USB2.0), while other accessories may wish to communicate with a host using an asynchronous serial communication protocol. In one embodiment, data contacts 106(2), 106(3), 106(6), and 106(7) may be dedicated to two pairs of differential data contacts, two pairs of serial transmit/receive contacts, or one pair of differential data contacts and one pair of serial transmit/receive contacts, depending on the purpose of connector 100 or the function of an accessory that includes connector 100. As one example that is particularly useful for consumer-oriented accessories and devices, four data contacts may accommodate two of the following three communication interfaces: USB2.0, Mikey bus, or universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter (UART) interface. As another example that is particularly useful for debugging and testing devices, the set of data contacts may accommodate two of the USB2.0, UART, or JTAG communication protocols. In each case, the actual communication protocol used to communicate over a given data contact may depend on the accessory, as discussed below.
As described above, the connector 100 may include one or more integrated circuits that provide information about the connector and any accessories or devices that contain the connector and/or perform specific functions. The integrated circuit may include circuitry that participates in a handshaking algorithm that informs a host device with which connector 100 is interfaced of the functionality of one or more contacts. For example, as described above, the ID module may be contained in IC108a and operatively coupled to the ID contacts, i.e., contacts 106(8) in each of pin function tables 106a and 106b, and the authentication module may be contained in IC108a along with the ID module, or in another IC, such as 108 b. The ID and authentication modules each include computer readable memory that can be programmed with identification, configuration, and authentication information related to the connector and/or its associated accessory, which can be communicated to the host device in a docking event. For example, when connector 100 is mated with a receptacle connector in a host electronic device, the host device may send a command through its accessory ID contact (which is positioned to align with the ID contact of the corresponding plug connector) as part of a handshaking algorithm to determine whether the accessory is authorized to communicate and operate with the host. The ID module may receive the command and respond to the command by sending a predetermined response back through the ID contact. The response may include information identifying the type of accessory or device that includes connector 100 and various capabilities or functions of the device. The response may also inform the host device what communication interface or communication protocol is used by the connector 100 on each of the data contact pairs 106(2), 106(3), and 106(6), 106 (7). For example, if the connector 100 is part of a USB cable, the response sent by the ID module may include information telling the host device contacts 106(2) and 106(3) are USB differential data contacts. If connector 100 is a headphone connector, the response may include information telling the host contacts 106(6) and 106(7) are Mikey bus contacts. The switching circuitry within the host may then configure the host circuitry operatively coupled to the contacts in the receptacle connector accordingly, as discussed below.
During the handshake routine, the authentication module may also authenticate the connector 100 (or an accessory containing the connector 100) and determine whether the connector 100 (or the accessory) is a connector/accessory suitable for the host to interact with using any suitable authentication routine. In one embodiment, authentication is performed through the ID contact prior to the identification and contact switching steps. In another embodiment, authentication is performed through one or more data contacts after the data contacts are configured according to the response sent by the accessory.
Fig. 15A and 15B depict one embodiment of a receptacle connector 140 according to the present invention, wherein the receptacle connector 140 may be included in a host device to enable an accessory having the connector 100 to be physically coupled to the host device. As shown in fig. 15A and 15B, the receptacle connector 140 includes eight contacts 146 (1.. 146) (8) that are spaced apart in a single row. In one embodiment, the pin function table of contacts 146 (1.. 146) (8) of receptacle connector 140 is compatible with a plug connector having pin function table 106a, while in another embodiment, the pin function table of contacts 146 (1.. 146) (8) is compatible with a plug connector having pin function table 106 b. These contacts are located within a cavity 147 defined by the housing 142. Receptacle connector 140 also includes side retention mechanisms 145a, 145b that engage retention features 102a, 102b in connector 100 to secure connector 100 in cavity 147 once the connectors are mated. The retention mechanisms 145a, 145b may be, for example, springs, and may be made of a conductive material with dual pairs as ground contacts. Receptacle connector 140 also includes two contacts 148(1) and 148(2) (sometimes referred to as "connector detect" contacts) that are located slightly behind a row of signal contacts and that can be used to detect when connector 100 is inserted into cavity 140 and to detect when connector 100 is removed from cavity 140 when connectors are disengaged from one another.
In one embodiment, the receptacle connector 140 has a pin function table as shown in fig. 15C that mates with the pin function table 106a, while in another embodiment, the receptacle connector 140 has a pin function table as shown in fig. 15D that mates with the pin function table 106 b. IN each of fig. 15C and 15D, depending on the insertion direction of the plug connector, the ACC1 and ACC2 pins are configured to interface with accessory Power or accessory ID pins of the plug connector, the DataA contact pair is configured to interface with a Data1 contact pair or a Data2 contact pair of the plug connector, and the P _ IN (Power IN) pin(s) is configured to interface with Power contact(s) of the plug connector. Further, in the pin function table of fig. 15D, the GND contacts are configured to be butted against the GND contacts of the plug connector.
Reference is now made to fig. 16A-16K, which illustrate simplified cross-sectional views of plug connector 100 associated with an accessory device (not shown) that interfaces with a receptacle connector 140 incorporated into a host electronic device (a housing or shell of which is partially shown in each figure). Each time a user interacts with an accessory device or a host electronic device, the user can evaluate its quality. Such interaction may occur when a user inserts a plug connector (such as connector 100) into a corresponding receptacle connector (such as receptacle connector 140). If the plug connector is easily inserted into the receptacle connector, the user may get the impression that the electronic device including the connector 100 or the connector 140 is of high quality and that the company manufacturing the electronic device is also a quality company, which may be trusted to manufacture reliable devices. Also, this easy-to-insert feature may enhance the user experience and simply make the device more enjoyable to use.
Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention may provide plug connector and receptacle connector openings that enable the plug connector to be easily inserted into the receptacle connector. FIG. 16A shows an example, which is an implementation according to the inventionEmbodiments, a simplified top view of the plug connector 100 and the receptacle connector 140 aligned with each other prior to a mating event. In this example, the plug connector 100 may have a curved leading edge 101. The leading edge 101 may have rounded corners at each end thereof having a length of about 1mm, such as the distance L1As shown, and in some embodiments, between 0.5mm and 1.5mm of rounded corners at each end. The rounded front end may make it easier to insert plug connector 100 into receptacle connector 140 when the plug connector is rotated off axis, i.e., when the plug connector is inserted at an incorrect angle of inclination. Also in this example, the device housing (and its associated components) may provide a multi-tiered opening to the receptacle connector 140 into which the plug connector 100 is inserted. The multi-layered opening may make it easier to insert the plug connector into the receptacle when the plug connector is inserted too far to the left of the opening or too far to the right of the opening in the X-direction.
In this particular example, the opening of the receptacle connector 140 may be formed by an edge of a trim ring (trimring)492, the trim ring 492 cooperating with the receptacle housing 142 to form an insertion cavity into which the plug connector 100 is inserted during a mating event. A trim ring 492, which may be attached to the device housing 490 at a location not shown in fig. 16A, may have a beveled leading edge 494. The receptacle housing 142 may be offset behind the trim ring 492 and may have angled surfaces 495 at the sides of the trim ring 492 that further narrow the insertion cavity. In some embodiments, beveled edge 494 and angled surface 495 are each at an angle of 30-60 degrees, and in one embodiment, at an angle of approximately 45 degrees. Also, in some embodiments, the beveled edge 494 has a width of between 0.1 and 0.5mm, and the angled surface is 2 to 4 times the width of the beveled edge 494. In one particular embodiment, the beveled leading edge is beveled about 0.3mm, and the angled surfaces 495 narrow the opening of the insertion cavity by about 1mm on each side of the trim ring. Thus, in this embodiment, the multi-tiered opening may provide a tolerance of 2.6mm when the plug connector 100 is placed relative to the opening of the receptacle connector 140. This relatively large tolerance (assuming that the overall width of the plug connector is 6.6mm) in combination with the curved edge of the plug connector 100 may enable a user to insert the plug connector into the receptacle connector with relative ease. Also, this easy-to-insert feature can affect the user's perspective with respect to the quality of the accessory device and/or the host electronic device.
Fig. 16B is a simplified side view of plug connector 100 and receptacle connector 140 having the same aligned position with respect to each other prior to a mating event as was the case shown in fig. 16A. When the plug connector is inserted into the cavity 147 of the receptacle connector 140, the first point of contact between the two connectors will be the ground ring 105 contacting the metal trim ring 492, with the trim ring 492 surrounding the opening of the cavity 147 and being grounded. Therefore, any static electricity accumulated on the plug connector after contact with the trim ring can be discharged. As the plug connector is inserted further into cavity 147, different portions of the plug connector may first contact or snap with various portions of the receptacle connector, as shown in fig. 16C-K. For example, fig. 16C depicts the respective positions of the two connectors when an individual contact 106(i) may be in contact with the trim ring 492. In one embodiment, this is about 1.5mm, or 6.35mm from the fully mated position, after the leading edge 101 of the connector 100 has entered the cavity 147. Fig. 16D depicts the respective positions of the two connectors when an individual contact 106(i) may be in continuous contact with the trim ring. In one embodiment, this is about 4.1mm, or 3.75mm from the fully mated position, after the leading edge 101 of the connector 100 has entered the cavity 147.
Fig. 16D and 16F depict connector 100 in a position prior to physical contact of plug connector contacts 106 with receptacle connector contacts 146, respectively. As shown in fig. 16D and 16E, each receptacle connector contact 146(i) includes a tip portion 146a, a beam portion 146b, and an anchor portion 146 c. The plug connector contacts 106 are friction contacts (wipingcontacts), i.e., each contact 106(i) moves laterally with a frictional motion on the tip 146a of its respective contact 146(i) during a mating event until settling to a fully mated position in which a central portion of the contact surface of the contact 106(i) is in physical contact with the tip 146a of the receptacle contact 146 (i). The process by which the contacts of the plug connector and receptacle first contact each other results in wear of the contacts, which can result in reduced performance after thousands of repeated use cycles. Embodiments of the present invention have designed contacts to reduce such wear and thereby improve equipment life. For a better understanding of this aspect of certain embodiments of the invention, reference is made to fig. 16E, which is an expanded view of the portion shown in phantom in fig. 16D.
As shown in fig. 16E, edges 101a and 101b may be formed at the interface between the front edge 101 and the top and bottom surfaces 105a and 105b of the connector 100, respectively. As plug connector 100 is further inserted into receptacle connector 140, edges 101a (or edges 101b if the connector is inserted in the opposite direction) of contacts 106(i) may snap or contact receptacle contacts 146(i), as shown in fig. 16G. Embodiments of the invention may form the surfaces 103a, 103b of the ground ring 105 such that the edge 101a is located at the height Z, which reduces wear of the socket contacts 106(i) and improves equipment life. In particular, the height Z may increase as the angle of the surfaces 103a, 103b is steeper. This in turn may cause the edges 101a, 101b to engage the contact 146(i) near the top surface or tip 146 a. However, when plug connector 100 is snapped into receptacle connector 140, contacts 106(i) on the plug connector may mate with receptacle contacts 146(i) at top surface 146a (as shown in fig. 16K). Thus, if the slope of the surfaces 103a, 103b is too steep, the edges 101a, 101b may wear the metal plating near the tip 146a of the socket contact 146(i), which may degrade the electrical connection between the connector insertion contact 106(i) and the connector socket contact 146 (i).
It should be noted that by increasing the height of the socket contacts 146(i), a large height Z can be accommodated. But this requires greater deflection of the receptacle contacts 146(i) during insertion of the plug connector. A greater deflection of the socket contact 146(i) may require a longer contact beam and thus a greater socket length in the insertion direction of the cavity 147 to avoid fatigue and cold-working of the socket contact 146 (i). Conversely, when Z is too small, the edges 101a, 101b may encounter the contact 146(i) at a location well below the top surface 146a, in this example as shown at location 146 d. Engaging the contacts 146(i) at location 146d may increase the force exerted on the receptacle contacts 146(i) during insertion of the plug connector, thereby increasing wear of the plating of the contacts 146 (i). Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention may provide a grounding ring 105 having edges 101a, 101b, the edges 101a, 101b being positioned to engage the connector receptacle contacts 146 at a location spaced from the top surface 146a to protect plating at the pair of contacts. The edges 101a, 101b may further be positioned to avoid applying excessive force to the receptacle connector contacts 146 during insertion of the plug connector.
Turning now to fig. 16F and 16H, before any contact 106 makes electrical contact with the contacts 146, the ground ring 105 is brought into contact with latches 145a, 145b (which also act as ground contacts) (fig. 16F), and then each contact 146 slides across the interface between the front of the ground ring 105 and the beginning of one of the contact regions 46a, 46b (fig. 16H). In one particular embodiment, the initial contact with the latches 145a, 145b occurs at 2.6mm from the fully mated position, while the first contact of the contact 146 with the dielectric material in one of the contact regions 46a, 46b occurs at 1.4mm from the fully mated position. Then, as shown in fig. 16I, the connector 100 contacts the connector sense contacts 148(1) and 148(2) only 0.2mm (1.2 mm from the fully mated position) after the contacts 146 are no longer in physical contact with the ground ring 105, and the plug connector contacts 106 begin to contact the receptacle connector contacts 146 only after 0.4mm, and the fully mated position is achieved after 0.8 mm.
Fig. 16K depicts the completion of a mating event between the plug and receptacle connectors, wherein plug connector 100 is fully inserted into cavity 147 of receptacle connector 140. In the fully mated position, each contact 106 (1.. 106 (8)) from one of the contact regions 46a or 46b is physically coupled to one of the contacts 146 (1.. 146 (8)) depending on the insertion direction of the connector 100 relative to the connector 140. Thus, when header connector 100 has pin function table 106a, depending on the direction of insertion, contact 146(1) will physically connect to contact 106(1) or 106 (8); depending on the direction of insertion, data contacts 146(2), 146(3) will connect with data contacts 106(2), 106(3) or with data contacts 106(7), 106(6), etc.
Prior to the mating event, the host typically does not know the direction of insertion of plug connector 100 or what communication protocol will be transmitted over data contacts 106(2), 106(3), 106(6), and 106 (7). Switching circuitry within the host device includes switches operable to connect host-side circuitry necessary to support the signal and communication interfaces used by the contacts of connector 100 to receptacle connector contacts 146 (1.. 146(8) as appropriate. Fig. 17 depicts one embodiment of a switching circuit 150 configured to allow a host device to implement the pin function table 106a shown in fig. 14A. Switching circuit 150 includes switches 151 and 158 operatively coupled to socket contacts 146(1) and 146(8), respectively, and switches 152, 153, 156, and 157 operatively coupled to contacts 146(2), (146), (3), 146(6), and 146(7), respectively. In one embodiment, contacts 146(4) and 146(5) do not require switches because they are always aligned with power contacts 106(4) and 106(5) of pin function meter 106a that are electrically connected to each other, regardless of the insertion direction. In another embodiment, each of the contacts 146(1)..146(8) has a switch 151 and 158, and the switch is initially in the open state until the circuitry connected to the contacts 148 (1). 148(2) detects that the connector 100 has been fully inserted into the receptacle connector and that the accessory is authorized to operate with the host, at which time the switch connects the circuitry, as described below.
Each switch 151 and 158 enables the following circuitry: which provides an accessory power signal to the receptacle connector contacts to be switched to either contacts 146(1) or 146(8) depending on the direction of insertion of plug connector 100. In addition, some embodiments of the invention allow data signals (e.g., a pair of UART transmit and receive signals or JTAG clock signals) to be transmitted through contacts 146(1), 146 (8). Switches 151 and 158 may also be operable to connect the circuitry required to implement such UART or JTAG communications to contacts 146(1), 146(8), as determined during a handshaking routine and/or communicated by connector 100. Similarly, each switch 152, 153, 156, and 157 switches the circuitry necessary to support the communications interfaces USB2.0, Mikey bus, or UART onto the contacts 152, 153, 156, and 157 as indicated by the connector 100.
Switching circuitry 150 also allows the communication interface employed by the data contacts to be dynamically switched when connector 100 is coupled to a host device. For example, the dynamic switching may be initiated by a message sent from the ID module in the accessory to the host device through contacts 106(8) informing the host that a new communication interface will be used on the contacts. As an example, in response to an initial handshaking sequence when connector 100 is mated with a corresponding connector on a host device, the ID module may send a response that informs the host that data contacts 106(2), 106(3), and 106(6), 106(7) are used for two pairs of USB2.0 differential data contacts. At some later point during operation of the accessory into which connector 100 is incorporated, the accessory may request to communicate with the host device using the UART serial interface over the same two contacts as were previously dedicated to USB signals. To do so, the accessory sets an internal switch coupled to contacts 106(6), 106(7) that switches the contacts from being operatively coupled to USB circuitry in the accessory to being coupled to UART circuitry and sends a message to host 100 to notify the new configuration of contacts 106(6), 106 (7).
As previously described, many different types of accessories may employ plug connector 100 to physically couple to and communicate with a host device that includes receptacle connector 140. Fig. 18-28 provide some specific examples of such accessories. Fig. 18 is a simplified perspective view of a USB charger/adapter 160 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The USB adapter 160 includes an eight-contact bi-directional inline connector 162 at one end and a USB male connector 164 at the other end. An optional cable 163 couples connector 162 to connector 164, and in other embodiments, both connectors 162 and 164 extend from opposite sides of a single compact housing. The connector 162 may have the same physical form factor as the connector 100 shown in fig. 13A and includes contacts 166 (1.. 166 (8)) that correspond in size and shape to the contacts 106 (1.. 106 (8)).
The USB charger/adapter 160 is specifically adapted for use with data synchronization applications and charging applications. To this endConnector 162 includes two USB2.0 differential Data contacts at the locations where a pair of differential Data contacts Data1 are located (locations 166(2), 166 (3)). Fig. 19A and 19B depict two different pin function tables for the USB charger 160, where the pin function table in fig. 19A is compatible with the pin function table 160a, and the pin function table in fig. 19B is compatible with the pin function table 160B. As shown in fig. 20, the USB contacts are coupled to USB contacts in connector 164 through ESD protection circuit 169. Connector 162 also includes power contact(s) coupled to current regulator 168b for drawing V from USB connector 164BusThe line provides a power output signal that may be used to charge the host device. The accessory ID contact connects to the ID module 168a in the connector 162 to enable an initial handshaking routine between the connector and its host. The memory within the ID module 168a stores information that informs the host contacts 166(2), 166(3) that it is dedicated to USB2.0 differential data signals.
Adapter 160 also includes an authentication module (not shown) to authenticate the adapter to a host, as discussed above with reference to FIG. 14. In one embodiment, an authentication module is included within the ID module 168a and authenticates the adapter 160 through the ID contacts. In another embodiment, the authentication module is connected to the data contacts 166(2), 166(3), and the adapter is authenticated through these contacts after a handshaking routine between the host and the ID module is operable to connect USB circuitry in the host to the receptacle contacts aligned with contacts 166(2) and 166 (3). Grounding is provided at the side of connector 162 by contact at the side of the grounding ring, and in the embodiment of fig. 19B, grounding is provided at ground contact 166(1). Since the USB adapter does not require other Data signals, nor does it need power to be transferred from the host, the contacts for the accessory power and for the second Data pair Data2 are not needed, and in some embodiments, are not connected to circuitry. As configured, connector 520 allows USB2.0 synchronization, and 5V, 2A charging when USB connector 164 is coupled to charger 165.
Fig. 21 is a simplified perspective view of a docking station 170 including a plug connector 172 similar to the connector 100 discussed in fig. 13A-C and 14, according to one embodiment of the present invention. Connector 172 extends upwardly from surface 173 on which the portable electronic device may rest when docked in docking station 170. When docked, the tab 172 mates with a receptacle connector incorporated into the portable media device, and the second surface 174 may support the back of the electronic device. The ID contact of connector 172 connects to the ID module in that connector to inform the host that the two data contacts are dedicated to USB2.0 differential data signals. Docking station 170 also includes an authentication module that can authenticate the docking station to its host, as discussed with respect to USB adapter 160. The docking station may charge the portable media device through two centrally located power contacts coupled together and to a current regulator to provide a power output signal. Grounding is provided at the side of the connector by contacts at the side of the grounding ring.
Docking station 170 allows a portable media device, such as an iPod or MP3 player or an iPhone or other smart phone, to connect to a computer via connector 172. In one embodiment, the connector 172 supports all 8 contacts set forth in FIGS. 16A and 16B, and the docking station 170 is capable of connecting to a computer through a USB cable. In another embodiment, the docking station includes a receptacle connector having the same pin out as connector 140 and can be connected to a computer also having a receptacle connector with a cable adapter that includes two plug connectors 100 coupled together via a cable.
Fig. 22 is a simplified top plan view of a video adapter 180 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The video adapter 180 includes a plug connector 182 similar to the connector 100 discussed in fig. 13A-C. The pin-out of adapter 180 is shown in fig. 23A (for a version compatible with pin-out 160 a) and 23B (for a version compatible with pin-out 160B) and includes a set of USB2.0 differential data contacts and a set of UART transmit/receive contacts. The accessory ID contact is coupled to an ID module 188a within the connector, the ID module 188a including a memory that stores information to inform the host that two data contacts are dedicated for USB2.0 communications and the other two data contacts are dedicated for UART signals. In one embodiment, one of the two sets of data contacts (either the USB contact or the UART contact) may be connected to the authentication module 188c to authenticate the adapter 180, while in another embodiment, the authentication module may be connected to the ID contact along with the ID module (as discussed above with reference to other accessories).
The adapter 180 includes an adapter housing 184, and within the adapter housing 184 is a video connector 185a for any suitable video signal format. In one embodiment, video connector 185a is an HDMI receptacle connector, in another embodiment, connector 185a is a VGA receptacle connector, and in yet another embodiment, connector 185a is a video component connector. A video processor 187 (shown in fig. 24) separates the audio and video data for transmission over the USB2.0 format connector 182 and converts the data into an appropriate format for output via connector 185 a.
In certain embodiments, the video adapter 180 further includes a receptacle connector 185b, the receptacle connector 185b including the same pin-out and physical form factor as the connector 140. Any plug connector capable of mating with connector 140 may also mate with connector 185 b. Connector 185b enables other accessories to be coupled to the same host device to which connector 182 is coupled via a cascade connection. Controller 188 is coupled to connector 185b and provides all of the functionality (authentication, contact switching, etc.) provided by the host device with respect to connector 140. Thus, the controller 188 can set the 8 contacts of the connector 185b in the same manner that the switching circuit 150 sets the contacts 146(1)..146 (8). The power boost circuit 189 boosts an accessory power signal received from the host device via contact 186(4) and provides the signal as a power output signal to the appropriate contact in the connector 185b via the controller 188. Further, in this embodiment, when the connector 185B is connected to an accessory or other device capable of charging, the adapter 180 may provide power rectified by the rectifier 188B to the host device via the power contacts (contacts 186(4) and 186(5) in the embodiment of fig. 23A or 186(5) in the embodiment of fig. 23B).
FIG. 25 is a simplified top plan view of an SD (secure digital) card adapter 190 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The video adapter 190 includes a plug connector 192 similar to the connector 100 discussed in fig. 13A-C and a housing 194. The housing 194 and the plug connector 192 are connected by a cable 193. Within housing 194 are an SD card reader 195, a microcontroller 197, an SD card interface 198, and a power converter 199, the power converter 199 being operably coupled to convert power provided by the host via contacts 196(4) to a 3 volt power output signal to be provided to the appropriate contacts on the SD card reader.
The pin outputs of connector 192 include a set of USB2.0 differential data contacts and a set of UART transmit/receive contacts as shown in fig. 26A and 26B, respectively, with the version shown in fig. 26A for compatibility with pin output 160a and the version shown in fig. 26B for compatibility with pin output 160B. The power contacts (contacts 196(4) and 196(5) in the embodiment of fig. 26A or contacts 196(5) in the embodiment of fig. 26B) are not used. The ID contact is coupled to an ID module 198a, which ID module 198a includes a memory that stores information to inform the host that two data contacts are dedicated for USB2.0 communications and the other two data contacts are dedicated for UART signals. In one embodiment, one of the two sets of data contacts (either the USB contact or the UART contact) may be connected to an authentication module 198c to authenticate the adapter 190, while in another embodiment, the authentication module may be connected to the ID contact along with the ID module (as discussed above with reference to other accessories). SD card interface 198 is coupled to SD card reader 195 to read data stored on the SD card inserted into the card read and transfer the data to the host device via two USB data contacts under the control of microcontroller 197.
In another embodiment, a camera adapter is provided similar to SD card adapter 190, except that the camera adapter is connected to the camera via a USB connection. This embodiment includes a USB connector instead of a SD card reader and is also provided with a power boost circuit to supply a 5 volt output signal via the USB power contact. The USB camera adapter does not include an SD card interface, instead it buffers data received directly via the camera USB contacts and provides that data to the host via the two USB data contacts.
FIG. 28A is a simplified pictorial representation of an adapter 200 according to one embodiment. The adapter 200 includes external contact plug and receptacle connectors 202 and 205, wherein the connectors 202 and 205 each include a plurality of contacts capable of receiving some or all of the video, audio, data and control signals along with power and ground. The plug connector 202 is compatible with a receptacle connector 216 of a host device 215 (which may be, for example, a portable media player). Receptacle connector 205 is compatible with plug connector 22 of accessory 220, and although accessory 220 is shown as a docking station/clock broadcast, it may be any electronic accessory including a plug connector capable of coupling to adapter 200. Plug connector 222 is incompatible with receptacle connector 216 (and therefore receptacle connector 205 is also incompatible with plug connector 202). This incompatibility may be either a physical incompatibility between the two connectors (e.g., plug connector 22 having a size or shape that is not mateable with connector 216) or an electrical incompatibility (i.e., even though plug connector 222 is physically connectable to receptacle connector 216, the connectors carrying one or more signals or power supply outputs are incompatible with each other in frequency, voltage level, or other electrical parameter). Adapter 200 allows accessory 220 to communicate with host 215. In certain embodiments, the connector 202 is similar to the connector 100 discussed in fig. 13A-C and has pin-outs as discussed with respect to fig. 14 that enable the connector to couple to a host device having a receptacle connector 216 therein corresponding to the connector 140 shown in fig. 15. Also in some embodiments, connector 205 is a 30 pin connector (such as the 30 pin connectors used on apple ipod and iPhone devices) and has a pin out as shown in fig. 28B.
As shown in fig. 28A, the adapter 200 includes a conversion circuit 201 within the housing 204, the conversion circuit 201 converting signals and voltages received from the accessory 220 via contacts of the connector 205 to signals and voltages capable of being transmitted via the connector 202 and processed by the host device 215. The converter may also convert signals and voltages sent by host 215 via contacts 206(1) · 206(8) into signals and voltages that can be transmitted via connector 205 and processed by accessory 220. In one embodiment, the conversion circuit 201 includes an audio/video converter 207, a data converter 208, and a power converter 209. Other embodiments may include only one or two of the converters 207, 208, and 209, or may include other types of converters as well.
The audio/video converter 207 can be a one-way converter (e.g., only converts video and/or audio data sent by the host into a format that can be received and processed by the accessory, or only converts video and/or audio data sent by the accessory into a format that can be received and processed by the host) or a two-way converter (i.e., converts video and/or audio data sent between the host and the accessory in two directions). In one particular embodiment, the audio/video converter 207 is a one-way converter that converts digital audio and digital video data sent over the USB data line of the connector 202 into analog audio and analog video signals. In another embodiment, converter 207 converts only audio data and adapter 200 does not support conversion of video data between host 215 and accessory 220.
Similarly, the data converter 208 may be a unidirectional or bidirectional data converter. In one embodiment, data converter 208 is capable of translating data signals received via a first communication protocol used by accessory 220 and connector 205 into a USB protocol or a UART protocol used by connector 202 and host 215. In another embodiment, connectors 202 and 205 each support both USB and UART communication protocols, and data converter 208 transfers USB signals between the two connectors without conversion, but converts UART signals received from one of host 215 and accessory 220 to a format suitable for the other of host 215 and accessory 220. The data converter 208 may also process control and ID signals received via the connector 205 as required for communication with the accessory. Power converter 209 can convert a first DC voltage received from accessory 220 via connector 205 to a second DC voltage that can be transmitted to host 215 via connector 202, and can convert a third DC voltage received from host 215 via connector 202 to a second DC voltage that is provided to the accessory via connector 205.
The pin-out of connector 202 includes a set of USB2.0 differential data contacts and a set of UART transmit/receive contacts as shown in fig. 23. The ID contact is coupled to an ID module 208a, the ID module 198a including a memory that stores information to inform the host that two of the data contacts are dedicated to USB2.0 communications and the other two data contacts are dedicated to UART signals. The rectifier 208b is operatively coupled to the two centrally located power contacts 206(4) and 206(5) to rectify current to the host when the connector 206 is connected to an accessory or other device capable of charging.
In some embodiments, the adapter 202 may include two levels of authentication. In the first level, the adapter 202 authenticates itself to the host through its connection to the host 215 via the connector 202 and the connector 216. As described above with reference to other accessories, this level of authentication may be performed by the authentication module 208c through one of two sets of data contacts (USB contacts or UART contacts) after the contacts are configured in the host receptacle connector in one embodiment, while in another embodiment this level of authentication may be performed by the authentication module connecting to the ID contacts as an initial part of the handshaking algorithm between the host and the adapter 200. After the adapter is authenticated and communicates with the host via connector 202, a second level of authentication may occur in the following situations: authentication processor 210 in adapter 200 authenticates accessory 220 connected thereto via connector 205 and connector 222 according to an authentication protocol conventionally used by accessory 220 when connected to a host with which accessory 220 is designed to operate.
In a particular embodiment in which connector 205 has a pin out as shown in fig. 28B and the adapter converts digital video data received via connector 202 to an analog video data output that is sent via connector 205, the circuitry of adapter 200 is capable of connecting to contacts in connectors 202 and 205 as shown in table 1 (for an adapter in which connector 202 has a pin out compatible with pin out 106 a) or table 2 (for an adapter in which connector 202 has a pin out compatible with pin out 106B).
TABLE 1
TABLE 2
In another embodiment, where adapter 200 does not support video data conversion, the contact-to-adapter circuit connections set forth in Table 1 can be used provided contacts 21, 22, and 23 remain open and are not connected to active circuitry within the adapter. Adapter 200 can also include a microprocessor (not shown) that can communicate with accessory 220 using protocols that accessory 220 conventionally uses to communicate with a host device with which it is compatible. For example, in one embodiment, adapter 200 includes a microcontroller that communicates with accessory 220 using the iAP protocol used in the AppleiPod or iPhone device. Part or all of the conversion circuit 200 may be part of a microprocessor or may be a separate circuit. The microcontroller may also set selected contacts of the connector 205 (e.g., contacts 13, 18-20, and 30 used for iPod detection) to an open state so that the accessory will not recognize that it is connected to the host until the adapter 200 authenticates itself to the host and the host configures its contacts to allow communication between the host and the adapter 200. Once the host and adapter are operatively connected and in full communication with each other, the adapter 200 is able to connect the previously open/floating contacts to the appropriate circuitry so that the accessory recognizes that it is already connected to the adapter and is able to initiate and complete a communication link between the adapter and accessory in response to any authentication requirements from the adapter 200 and ultimately effect connection of the host to the accessory via the adapter 200.
Reference is now made to fig. 29, 30A-30T, and 31 regarding the various steps associated with the manufacture and assembly of the connector 300 (see fig. 30T). Fig. 29 is a flow chart illustrating the general steps associated with the manufacture and assembly of the connector 300 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 30A-30T depict the connector 300 at various stages of manufacture as set forth in fig. 29. Fig. 31 is a detailed depiction of the general steps in attaching the contact assembly to a PCB, wherein the attachment process is identified as step 130 in the general manufacturing and assembly process illustrated in fig. 29.
Referring now to fig. 30A-30D, the manufacture of the connector 300 may begin with the fabrication of the ground ring 305, the construction of the Printed Circuit Board (PCB)304, and the contact assemblies 316a and 316b (steps 122, 124, and 126 in fig. 29), each of which may occur independently of one another in any order. At step 122, grounding ring 305 (see fig. 30A) may be fabricated using various techniques, such as a metal injection molding process (MIM), a cold forging process, or a blank machining process. MIM processes can provide great flexibility in achieving desired geometries and can result in parts that approach the final desired shape with minimal post-machining operations. In some embodiments, grounding ring 305 may be formed using alternative processes such as injection molding and plating. The notches 302a, 302b and the window 307 may be machined or molded into the ground ring, and the surface of the ground ring may be ground flat using a dielectric blasting process. Further, it may be desirable to grind or machine the surface of the ground ring, such as flats 319a and 319b on the top and bottom of the ground ring. Grinding and machining operations may be used to create tight tolerance features. For example, flats 319a and 319b may be precision ground to form a pair of surfaces that are substantially flat and separated by a precise distance. The geometry of the tight tolerance components may be beneficial for subsequent assembly operations and may further be beneficial for the performance of the extremely small connectors. In one embodiment, the connector body has a circumference of less than 30 mm. Ground ring 305 may be plated with one or more metals to achieve a desired finish.
The PCB304 (see fig. 30B-30C) fabricated in step 124 may be a conventional epoxy and glass combination, or may be any equivalent structure capable of routing electrical signals. For example, some embodiments may use a flexible structure comprising alternating layers of polyimide and conductive traces, while other embodiments may use a ceramic structure with conductive traces or a plastic material directly constructed by a laser to create conductive traces. The PCB may be formed from a set of conductor bond pads 310 disposed at one end and a set of contact bond pads 312(1) · 312(8) disposed at an opposite end. In one embodiment, the contact bond pads are each divided into two separate bond pads in the transverse direction. The PCB may also be equipped with one or more ground spring bond pads 301 to electrically connect to one or more ground springs 320 as illustrated in fig. 30D. In addition, a set of component bond pads 314 may be formed on the PCB to electrically connect to one or more active or passive electronic components, such as integrated circuits, resistors, or capacitors. The embodiments depicted herein are for illustrative purposes only, and other embodiments may have different arrangements, more or less bond pads, and bond pads formed on either or both sides of PCB304, and fewer, more, or different electronic components than bond pads 301, 314, 310, 312(1) · 312 (8).
Exemplary electronic components 308a and 308b are depicted as being located on both sides of PCB304 (see fig. 30C). In some embodiments, a conductive epoxy is used to electrically attach the electronic components to the PCB 304. In other embodiments, the solder alloy may be used using various techniques such as through-hole mounting, screen printing and reflow, chip-on-board, flip-chip, or other suitable connection methods. In one embodiment, a screen printing process is used to place solder paste on component bond pads 314. The electronic components 308a and 308b are then disposed on the solder paste and a convection heating process can be used to reflow the solder paste to attach the electronic components to the PCB. The solder alloy may be a lead-tin alloy, a tin-silver-copper alloy, or other suitable metal or metal alloy.
The same solder reflow attachment process may also be used to attach the ground spring 320 to the PCB 304. The grounding spring is described in more detail in fig. 30D. The ground spring 320 may be composed of a phosphor bronze alloy or other metal and may optionally be plated with nickel and gold. The ground spring may also have one or more spring arms 322a, 322b and one or more protrusions 324a, 324b with one or more perforations therebetween. The perforations between the protrusions may improve the mechanical strength of the attachment of ground spring 320 to PCB304 to help center PCB304 within ground ring 305 and provide additional ground contact between PCB304 and the ground ring during the assembly process described below.
During the electronic component attachment process, solder paste may be disposed on the contact bond pads 312(1). 312(8) and reflowed. Fig. 30C depicts solder bumps 313 (1.. 313 (8)) formed on contact pads during the reflow process. Due to the high surface tension of the solder in the liquid, the solder paste forms bumps during the reflow process.
In some embodiments, after the components are attached to the PCB304, the assembly may be cleaned and dried. However, in other embodiments, the components may not be cleaned until after subsequent processing is complete. In other embodiments, a no-clean flux is used to assist the welding process and there is no cleaning process. In still other embodiments, a no-clean or cleanable flux is used to assist the welding process and clean the components. Finally, some or all of the electronic components 308a, 308b may be encapsulated in a protective material, such as an epoxy, urethane, or silicone-based material. In certain embodiments, the protective encapsulant may provide mechanical strength to improve reliability and/or environmental protection from moisture damage to sensitive electronic components. In still other embodiments, the protective encapsulant may improve the dielectric breakdown voltage performance of the connector 300. The sealant can be applied by an automated machine or by a manual dispenser.
The next step of assembly may involve inserting PCB304 through the rear opening of ground ring 305, thereby positioning solder bumps 313(1) ·.313(8) within windows 307 (step 128 of fig. 29; fig. 30E and 30F). Fig. 30E depicts PCB304 inserted into ground ring 305. Fig. 30F depicts a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the assembly of fig. 30E under line a-a' and bond pad 313 (2). Fig. 30F depicts grounding spring arms 322a and 322b in contact with the top and bottom surfaces of grounding ring 305. It can also be seen from this figure that the ground ring protrusions 324a and 324b define the maximum over-center position that the PCB304 can occupy within the ground ring. More specifically, the PCB304 can move vertically within the ground ring 305 only within the range allowed by the protrusions. In addition, it can be seen from this figure that the solder bumps 313(1) · 313(8) disposed on the contact bonding pads 312(1) · 312(8) are aligned with the windows 307. In certain embodiments, the next step of assembly includes disposing flux on the solder bumps 313 (1.. 313 (8)) through the windows 307. This can be accomplished, for example, using an automated atomizing spray nozzle or by the dispenser operator.
Next, contact assemblies 316a, 316b (formed at step 126 in fig. 29) may be positioned within windows 307 on each side of ground ring 305 for attachment to PCB304 (step 130 of fig. 29, fig. 30G). Contact assemblies utilized in certain embodiments are illustrated in fig. 30H-30J. Fig. 30H shows a top perspective view, fig. 30I shows a plan view from the bottom, and fig. 30J shows a side view. Each contact assembly 316a, 316b can include a mold frame 315 that can be formed from a dielectric material, such as polypropylene. In other embodiments, the frame is made of a liquid crystal polymer that may be partially filled with glass fibers. One embodiment has 8 contacts 306(1). 306(8) insert molded and held by a frame 315. The frame 315 may be provided with one or more alignment posts 323 protruding from a bottom surface of the frame 315 as shown in fig. 30F. The alignment posts 323 may be tapered, may have beveled distal ends that fit within the alignment rules of the PCB304, and are designed to align the frame 315 with the PCB 304. In certain embodiments, the frames may have alignment tabs 318 disposed on the outer periphery of the frames to align each frame within the opening 307. In addition, the frame may also have one or more crushable fingers 325(1). 325(8) that protrude from the bottom surface of the contact assemblies 316a and 316b and help ensure proper spacing between the frame 315 and the PCB304 in the vertical direction.
Each contact 306(1). 306(8) in contact assemblies 316a and 316b may be made of various conductive materials, such as phosphor bronze, copper, or stainless steel. In addition, the contacts may be plated to improve their performance and appearance, for example, nickel/gold, multiple layers of nickel/gold, nickel/palladium, or any other acceptable metal. The contacts may be cut to size from sheet metal and insert molded into the frame 315 in an advanced stamping and forming process. Each contact may include more than one metal composition, and each contact may also have one or more metal protrusions 321 (1.. 321 (16)) disposed on the bottom surface of the contact assembly. Fig. 30I depicts a bottom view of an embodiment with 8 contacts, each with two protrusions. Fig. 30J shows a side view of an exemplary contact assembly 316a, 316b, from which it can be seen that crushable combs 325 (1.. 325) (8) protrude a greater distance from the bottom of the contact assembly than do contact protrusions 321 (1.. 321 (16)).
Reference is now made to fig. 30K and 30L, which illustrate the contact assembly attachment process for one particular embodiment. The detailed steps in the flowchart depicted in fig. 31 will be used to illustrate the process used in this embodiment. Ground ring 305 and PCB304 may be placed in a fixture to hold the components in place (step 130a of fig. 31; fig. 30K). The contact assembly 316a may be positioned in the window 307 of the ground ring 305 and the alignment posts 323 may engage with guide holes 326 in the PCB304 (step 130b of fig. 31). The contact assembly alignment tab 318 can precisely position the contact assembly 316a within the window 307. The crushable combs 325 (1.. 325 (8)) may be in physical contact with the PCB 304.
Referring now to fig. 30K, a thermocompression bonding tool 328 in step 329 may be used to thermocompression bond the contact assembly 316a to the PCB 304. In step 130c, the thermocompression bonding tool may be heated to a temperature that exceeds the melting temperature of the solder mass 313(1) · 313 (8). For example, if the solder mass is made of a tin/silver/copper alloy containing about 3% silver, 1.5% copper, and the other being tin, the thermocompression bonding tool can be added to over 221 degrees celsius. The higher the temperature of the thermocompression bonding tool, the faster the solder reflow. In step 130d, the thermocompressor bonding tool may travel downward toward the contact assembly in the direction of arrow 331 until it physically contacts the top surface of the contacts 306 (1.. 306 (8)). In step 130e, the thermocompressor welder tool may further push the contact assembly in the direction of arrow 331, partially deforming the crushable combs 325(1) ·.325(8) against the PCB 304. The crushable comb may be specifically designed for this purpose, and may impart a controlled amount of force that resists movement of the contact assembly 316a in the direction of arrow 331. The alignment tab 318 and alignment post 323 can hold the contact assembly in the center of the window 307 during assembly (see fig. 30A). Step 329 of thermocompression bonding tool 328 may be precise to maintain the top surfaces of contacts 306 (1.. 306 (8)) coplanar and at a controlled height during the alignment process. In step 130e, the contact assembly may be further pushed in the direction of the arrow until the contact protrusion 321(1) · 321(16) contacts the solder bump 313(1) · 313 (8). The thermocompression bonding tool 328 may be configured to apply a controlled force in the direction of arrow 331 at this time so as not to damage the contact assembly.
As described above, the solder mass 313 (1.. 313 (8)) may be coated with flux (flux). In some embodiments, the flux coating may not only improve wetting of the solder with the contact protrusions 321(1) · 321(16), but may also achieve more efficient heat transfer from the contacts 306(1). 306(8) to the solder mass. At step 130f, the thermocompression bonding tool 328 can transfer thermal energy through the contacts and to the solder mass. Once a sufficient amount of thermal energy has been transferred into the solder, they will transform into a liquid state when heated above their melting temperature. Once in the liquid state, the solder tends to have difficulty resisting additional movement of the contact component 316a in the direction of arrow 331. In step 130g, the contact assembly may then be further pushed by the thermocompressor welder tool, resulting in increased deformation of the crushable combs 325(1)..325(8) until the thermocompressor welder tool "stops" at the flats 319a of the ground ring 305. Fig. 30L shows the stop position of the thermocompression bonding tool. It can be seen in this figure that step 329 of the thermocompression bonding tool 328 can be used to precisely position the top surfaces of the contacts 306(1)..306(8) a known distance below the flat 319a of the ground ring 305. In some embodiments, step 329 has a height of between 0.1 and 0.01mm, thus recessing contacts 306(1) ·.306(8) by the same amount from surface 319a of ground ring 305. In other embodiments, step 329 is not included and the contacts are pressed flush with surface 319 a. In addition, in step 130g, the contact protrusions 321(1) · 321(16) on the bottom surface of the contact component 316a may be wetted by liquefying the solder mass 313(1) · 313 (8). In step 130h, the thermocompression bonding tool can be cooled until the liquefied solder mass cools to a temperature below the liquefaction temperature of the solder metal and solidifies. In step 130i, the thermocompression bonding tool may then be retracted and the component may be removed from the fixture (fixturing).
In some embodiments, the contact bonding process is performed on one side of the ground 305 at a time, while in other embodiments the process is performed on both sides of the ground ring simultaneously. In some embodiments, the crushable comb 325(1) · 325(8) may be deformable between 0.02mm and 0.12 mm. In other embodiments, the crushable comb may be deformed between 0.05mm and 0.09 mm. In some embodiments, the heating of the crushable combs by the thermocompression bonding tool 328 makes them more easily deformable. The partially assembled connector may look like fig. 30M, with contact assemblies 316a, 316b mounted on either side of ground ring 305. The partially assembled connector may then be cleaned.
The next assembly step may include placing the partially assembled connector (see fig. 30M) in an injection molding tool (insert molding tool) and forming a thermoplastic or similar dielectric cover mold (overmold)338 (fig. 29, step 132, fig. 30M-30P) around the contacts and within the windows 307 of ground ring 305. Such a treatment may provide a smooth and substantially flat mating surface 341 in the contact area of the ground ring 305. Fig. 30N illustrates an injection molding process of one embodiment. The injection molding tool 335 may be configured to seal against the top surface ground ring 305. Step 336 of forming tool 335 may simultaneously seal the top surfaces of contacts 306 (1.. 306 (8)). The forming tool may also be configured to seal the PCB 304. To seal all of these surfaces simultaneously and prevent dielectric cover mold bleed (venting), the injection molding tool may be equipped with a spring-loaded insert to accommodate dimensional variations of the connector assembly. The injection molding tool may also be configured to inject the dielectric cap mold 338 from the rear of the connector, as generally indicated by arrow 337. In one embodiment, the injection molding tool has a recessed gate for injecting a dielectric cap mold. In some embodiments, ground spring tabs 324a, 324b (see fig. 30F) may accurately maintain the position of PCB304 in ground ring 305 during the dielectric cap mold injection process. In some embodiments, dielectric cap mold 338 may be polyoxymethylene (pom). In other embodiments, the dielectric cap 338 may be a nylon-based polymer (nylon-based).
Fig. 30O shows an embodiment after the injection molding process. In some embodiments, the mating surface 341 may be disposed below a top surface of the ground ring 305 and substantially coplanar with a top surface of the contacts 306(1)..306 (8). Fig. 30P shows the simplified cross-section of fig. 30O in the region of the mating surface 341. As can be seen from this illustration, the mating surface 341 may be recessed below the top surface of the ground ring. In some embodiments, the recess may be between 0.01 and 0.1mm below the top surface of ground ring 305. The recess may protect the contact from contact with surfaces, such as surfaces of mating devices, which may damage the top surface of the contact. In some embodiments, the recess may extend around the entire perimeter of the window 307 (see fig. 30M). In other embodiments, the depressions may be deeper in some regions and shallower in other regions. In other embodiments, the recess may be deeper toward the rear of the connector and substantially coplanar with the top surface of the ground ring 305 toward the distal end of the connector. In yet another embodiment, the mating surface 341 of the dielectric cap mold 338 may be substantially coplanar with the flat portion 319a of the ground ring 305. In some embodiments, a dielectric cap mold 338 may be used to help retain the contacts within the connector.
When the connector 300 is part of a cable, the next assembly step may include splicing the cable bundle 342 to the partially assembled connector (fig. 29, step 134; fig. 30Q). The cable bundle may have individual conductors (e.g., wires) 343 for bonding to the conductor bond pads 310 of the PCB 304. The individual conductors may be cut and stripped, and the jacket of the cable bundle may also be cut and stripped. Each conductor may be soldered to its respective conductor bonding pad using an automated, semi-automated, or manual process. In one embodiment, the conductors are aligned in a jig and each conductor is automatically soldered to a respective conductor bond pad. In another embodiment, each conductor is soldered to its respective conductor bond pad. In some embodiments, where the connector 300 is part of an electronic device or accessory that does not engage a cable to the connector, a docking station, individual wires, a flex circuit, etc. may electrically connect the engagement pads 304 to circuitry in the device. A wide variety of conductor bonding processes may be used without departing from the invention.
The next few figures illustrate additional example assembly steps when the connector 300 is part of the cable shown in fig. 30Q. In this case, the next assembly step may include overmolding a portion of the connector that includes the electronic components and cables bonded to PCB304 (FIG. 29, step 136; FIG. 30R). A first injection molding operation may be performed, encapsulating PCB304 in a plastic material, and forming connector body 347. A second injection molding process may then be performed to make a strain-reducing sleeve 348 bonded to the rear surface of the connector body 347 and extending a short distance over the cable 342. In some embodiments, the connector body may be made in part of injection molded plastic and in part of other materials. The first and second injection molded materials may be any type of plastic or other non-conductive material. In one embodiment, both materials are thermoplastic elastomers, wherein the second injection molded material has a lower hardness than the first injection molded material. Fig. 30R illustrates an embodiment having two pieces of conductive metal shields 345a, 345b that can be mounted over a portion of the connector body 347 and electrically joined to the ground ring 305 with tabs 346. In some embodiments, the shields 345a, 345b may be installed first, and the connector body 347 molded in a subsequent operation. In some embodiments, shield cans (shield cans) 346 may be welded to ground ring 305. In some embodiments, the shields 345a, 345b may be made of steel, while in other embodiments copper or tin alloys may be used.
The next assembly step may include bonding the housing 349 to the body 347 (fig. 29, step 138; fig. 30R-30T). In fig. 30R, the housing 349 is shown in a pre-assembly position over the cable bundle 342. The housing may be sized to slide over the connector body 347 to substantially enclose the connector body within the housing. The housing may be made of any type of plastic and other non-conductive material, and in some embodiments is made of ABS.
Fig. 30S shows a cross-sectional view of the housing 349. The figure further shows bonding material 350 disposed on two locations on the inner surface of the housing 349. The bonding material may be deposited using a syringe or needle assembly 351 as shown, or may be deposited using a number of other techniques without departing from the invention. Fig. 30T shows a final assembly step, including sliding the housing 349 over the connector body 347 until the housing substantially surrounds the connector body.
The bonding material 350 may be cured, bonding the inner surface of the shell 349 to the outer surface of the connector body 347. In some embodiments, the bonding material may be a cyanoacrylate or cyanoacrylate adhesive (cyanoacrlate) that cures in the absence of moisture. In other embodiments, the bonding material may be a thermally cured epoxy or urethane or polyurethane (urethane). Other bonding materials are known and may be used without departing from the invention.
Embodiments of the present invention are suitable for a variety of electronic devices, including any device that receives or transmits audio, video, or data signals. In some cases, embodiments of the present invention are particularly suited for portable electronic media devices because they can have small dimensions. As used herein, an electronic media device includes any device having at least one electronic component that may be used to present human perceptible media. Such devices may include, for example, portable music players (MP3 devices and apple iPod devices), portable video players (e.g., portable DVD players), cellular telephones (e.g., apple iPhone device smartphones), video cameras, digital still cameras, projection systems (e.g., holographic projection systems), gaming systems, PDAs, desktop computers, and tablet devices (e.g., apple iPad devices), laptops or other mobile computers, some of which may be configured to provide audio, video, or other data or sensory output.
Fig. 32 is a simplified schematic block diagram representation of an electronic media device 400 including an audio plug receptacle 405 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Electronic media device 400 may include, among other components, connector receptacle 410, one or more user input components 420, one or more output components 425, control circuitry 430, graphics circuitry 435, bus 440, memory 445, storage device 450, communication circuitry 445, and POM (position, orientation, or motion sensor) sensor 460. Control circuitry 430 may communicate with other components of electronic media device 400 (e.g., over bus 400) to control the operation of electronic media device 400. In some embodiments, control circuitry 430 may execute instructions stored in memory 445. Control circuitry 430 may also control the performance of electronic media device 400. Control circuitry 430 may also include a processor, a microcontroller, and a bus (e.g., for sending instructions to other components of electronic media device 400). In some embodiments, the control circuit 430 may also drive the display and process inputs received from the input component 420.
Memory 445 may include one or more different types of memory that may be used to perform device functions. For example, memory 445 may include cache, flash, ROM, RAM, and hybrid memory. Memory 445 may also store the firmware of the device and its applications (e.g., operating system, user interface functions, and processor functions). Storage 450 may include one or more suitable storage media or mechanisms, such as a magnetic disk drive, flash drive, tape drive, optical drive, persistent storage (e.g., ROM), semi-persistent storage (e.g., RAM), or cache. Storage 450 may be used to store media (e.g., audio and video files), text, pictures, graphics, advertisements, or any other suitable user-specific information or global information that may be used by electronic media device 400. Storage 450 may also store programs or applications that may be run on control circuitry 430, may hold files formatted to be read and edited by one or more applications, and may store any other files (e.g., files with metadata) that may facilitate the operation of one or more applications. It should be appreciated that any information stored in memory device 450 may be stored in memory 445.
Electronic media device 400 may also include input component 420 and output component 425 for providing a user with the ability to interact with electronic media device 400. For example, the input component 420 and the output component 425 may provide an interface for a user to interact with an application running on the control circuitry 430. The input component 420 may take any form, such as a keyboard/keypad, track pad, mouse, click wheel, button, pen, or touch screen. The input component 420 may also include one or more devices for user authentication (e.g., a smart reader, a fingerprint reader, or an iris scanner), as well as an audio input device (e.g., a microphone) or a video input device (e.g., a camera or web cam) for recording video or still frames. Output component 425 may include any suitable display (e.g., a liquid crystal display LCD or touch screen display), projection device, speaker, or any other suitable system for presenting information or media to a user. The output component 425 may be controlled by the graphics circuit 435. Graphics circuitry 435 may include a video card, such as a video card with 2D, 3D, or vector graphics capabilities. In some embodiments, output component 425 may also include an audio component remotely coupled with electronic media device 400. For example, output component 425 may include a headset, a head-worn headset or earbud (earrud) that may be coupled to electronic media device 400 by a wire or wirelessly (e.g., a bluetooth headset or bluetooth headset).
Electronic media device 400 may have one or more applications (e.g., software applications) stored in storage device 450 or memory 445. Control circuitry 430 may be configured to execute instructions of an application from memory 445. For example, the control circuit 430 may be configured to execute a media player application that causes full motion video or audio to be presented or displayed on the output component 425. Other applications on electronic media device 400 may include, for example, a phone application, a GPS navigation application, a web browser application, and a calendar or organization application. Electronic media device 400 may also execute any suitable operating system, such as MacOS, AppleiOSLinux, or Windows, and may include a set of applications stored on storage device 450 or memory 445 that are compatible with the particular operating system.
In some embodiments, electronic media device 400 may also include communications circuitry 455 to connect to one or more communications networks. Communication circuit 455 may be any suitable communication circuit that connects to a communication network and sends communications (e.g., voice or data) from electronic media device 400 to other devices within the communication network. The communication circuit 455 may interface with a communication network using any suitable communication protocol, such as Wi-Fi (e.g., 802.11 protocol), bluetooth, high frequency systems (e.g., 900MHz, 2.4GHz, and 5.6GHz communication systems), infrared, GSM plus EDGE, CDMA, quadband and other cellular protocols, VOIP, or any other suitable protocol.
In some embodiments, communications circuitry 455 may create a communications network using any suitable communications protocol. The communication circuit 455 may utilize a short-range communication protocol to create a short-range communication network to connect to other devices. For example, the communication circuit 455 may create a local communication network using the bluetooth protocol to couple with a bluetooth headset (or any other bluetooth device). The communication circuit 455 may also include a wired or wireless Network Interface Card (NIC) configured to connect to the internet or any other public or private network. For example, electronic media device 400 may be configured to connect to the internet via a wireless network, such as a packet radio network, an RF network, a cellular network, or any other suitable network. The communication circuit 455 may be used to initiate and perform communications with other communication devices or media devices within a communication network.
Electronic media device 400 may also include any other components suitable for performing communication operations. For example, electronic media device 400 may include a power supply, an antenna, a port or interface for coupling to a host device, a secondary input mechanism (e.g., an on/off switch), or any other suitable component.
Electronic media device 400 may also include POM sensor 460. POM sensors 460 may be used to determine the approximate geographic or physical location of electronic media device 400. As described in more detail below, the location of electronic media device 400 may be derived from any suitable triangulation or trilateration technique, in which case POM sensor 460 may include an RF triangulation detector or sensor or any other location circuit configured to determine the location of electronic media device 400.
POM sensor 460 may also include one or more sensors or circuits for detecting the position, orientation, or motion of electronic media device 400. Such sensors and circuits may include single or multi-axis accelerometers, angular velocity or inertial sensors (e.g., optical gyroscopes, vibratory gyroscopes, gas rate gyroscopes, or ring gyroscopes), magnetometers (e.g., scalar or vector magnetometers), ambient light sensors, proximity sensors, motion sensors (e.g., passive infrared PIR sensors, active supersonic sensors, or active microwave sensors), and linear velocity sensors. For example, control circuitry 430 may be configured to read data from one or more POM sensors 460 to determine a position, orientation, or velocity of electronic media device 400. One or more POM sensors 460 may be located near the output component 425 (e.g., above, below, or on any side of the display screen of the electronic media device 400).
FIG. 33 shows an exemplary presentation of one particular electronic media device 400. The device 480 includes a multipurpose key 482 as an input component, a touch screen display 484 as an input and output component, and a speaker 485 as an output component, all contained within a device housing 490. The device 480 also includes a main receptacle connector 486 and an audio plug receptacle 488 within the device housing 490. Both receptacle connectors 486 and 488 can be located within housing 490 such that the cavity of the receptacle connector into which the corresponding plug connector is inserted is located on the outer surface of the device housing. In some embodiments, the cavity opens to the outside surface of the device 480. For simplicity, various internal components, such as control circuitry, graphics circuitry, buses, memory, storage, and other components are not shown in FIG. 33. Embodiments of the invention disclosed herein are particularly suited for plug connectors configured to mate with the main receptacle connector 486, but may also be used for the audio plug receptacle 488 in some embodiments. Further, in some embodiments, electronic media device 480 may have only a single receptacle connector 486 that is used to physically interface and connect the device to other electronic devices (as opposed to a wireless connection that may also be used).
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the present invention may be embodied in many other specific forms without departing from the essential characteristics thereof. For example, various embodiments of the present invention are described above with reference to a bi-directional connector. Other embodiments include connectors having more than two possible insertion directions. For example, a connector system according to the present invention may comprise: a plug connector having a triangular cross-section to fit within the triangular cavity of a corresponding receptacle connector in any one of three possible orientations; a plug connector having a square cross-section and being fitted within the receptacle connector in any one of four possible insertion directions; a plug connector having a hexagonal cross-section to fit within a corresponding receptacle connector in any one of six possible orientations; and so on. Further, in some embodiments, the plug connector of the present invention is shaped to be insertable into the receptacle connector in multiple directions, but includes contacts on only a single side of the plug connector. Such a connector may be coupled in any of its multiple orientations to a receptacle connector having contacts on each of the surfaces of the interior cavity. As an example, one embodiment of a plug connector similar to connector 80 shown in fig. 8A-8B may have contacts formed only in region 46a and not in region 46B. Such a plug connector may be operatively coupled to a receptacle connector in either of two directions, such as receptacle connector 85 shown in fig. 9A-9B, if the receptacle connector has appropriate contacts on both the upper and lower surfaces of interior cavity 87. The connector may also be operatively coupled to a receptacle connector 85 having contacts only on the upper surface of cavity 87 if it is inserted into cavity 87 with side 44a in the "up" position, as shown in fig. 9A.
As a further example, fig. 13A-13C illustrate an embodiment in which each contact in contact area 46a is electrically connected to a mating contact in contact area 46b on the opposite side of the connector. In some embodiments, only a subset of the contacts in region 46a are electrically connected to the contacts in region 46 b. As an example, in one embodiment including 8 contacts similar to the connector 100 shown in fig. 13A formed in a single row within each contact region 46a and 46b, the contacts 106(4) and 106(5) in region 46a are electrically connected to corresponding contacts 106(4) and 106(5) in region 46, respectively, while contacts 106(1)..106(3) and 106(6). 106(8) are electrically independent of each other and electrically independent of the contacts within region 46 b. Thus, such an embodiment may have 14 electrically independent contacts instead of 8. In yet another embodiment, none of the contacts in region 46a are electrically coupled to contacts in region 46 b. Further, in another embodiment of the adapter 200, the connector 202 may be a plug connector having 30 pins of the leads shown in fig. 28B, while the connector 205 is a receptacle connector similar to the 8 contacts of the receptacle connector 140 shown in fig. 15.
In addition, although specific embodiments have been disclosed with particular features, those skilled in the art will recognize that features of one embodiment may be combined with features of other embodiments. For example, some particular embodiments of the invention described above are described in the context of a pouch (pocket) as the retention feature. It will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that any of the other retention features described herein, as well as others not specifically mentioned, may be used instead of or in addition to the bag. Further, those skilled in the art will understand, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific embodiments of the invention described herein. Such equivalents are intended to be encompassed by the following claims.
Claims (15)
1. An unpolarized multidirectional plug connector comprising:
a main body;
a connector tab coupled to and extending outwardly from the body, the connector tab including a first surface and a second surface;
a first plurality of external contacts carried by the tab at the first surface and a second plurality of contacts carried by the tab at the second surface, wherein each individual contact of the first plurality of external contacts is electrically connected to a corresponding contact of the second plurality of contacts within the tab or body; and
an identification circuit coupled to a first contact of the first plurality of external contacts and a second contact of the second plurality of contacts, the identification circuit configured to participate in a handshaking algorithm by receiving a command over the first contact or the second contact and sending a response to the command over the same contact over which the command was received in response to a docking event, wherein the response provides configuration information for the plug connector.
2. The plug connector of claim 1, wherein:
the first surface and the second surface are opposite to each other;
each contact of the first plurality of external contacts and its corresponding contact of the second plurality of contacts are diametrically opposed; and is
The tabs are shaped and the first and second pluralities of external contacts are arranged 180 degree symmetrically such that the tabs can be inserted and operatively coupled to corresponding receptacle connectors in either of two orientations.
3. The plug connector of claims 1 or 2, wherein the first plurality of external contacts includes a first pair of data contacts electrically coupled to a corresponding pair of data contacts of the second plurality of contacts located diametrically opposite the first pair of data contacts.
4. The plug connector of claim 1 or 2, wherein the connector tab has a width, a height, and a length and includes a conductive frame defining the shape of the connector tab, the conductive frame having opposing first and second sides extending in the width and the length and opposing third and fourth sides extending between the first and second sides in the height and the length, the first side including a first opening that surrounds the first plurality of external contacts, and the second side including a second opening that is diametrically opposite the first opening and that surrounds the second plurality of contacts.
5. The plug connector of claim 1 or 2, wherein each of the first and second pluralities of external contacts includes a power contact, a first pair of data contacts on one side of the power contact, and a second pair of data contacts on the other side of the power contact.
6. The plug connector of claims 1 or 2, wherein the first plurality of external contacts consists of eight sequentially numbered contacts and includes a first pair of data contacts at contact locations 2 and 3, and wherein the data contact at contact location 2 is electrically coupled to the data contact of the second plurality of contacts at a location diametrically opposite location 2, and the data contact at contact location 3 is electrically coupled to the data contact of the second plurality of contacts at a location diametrically opposite location 3.
7. The plug connector of claim 6, wherein:
the first plurality of external contacts further comprises a second pair of data contacts at contact locations 6 and 7, and wherein the data contact at contact location 6 is electrically coupled to the data contact of the second plurality of contacts at a location diametrically opposite location 6, and the data contact at contact location 7 is electrically coupled to the data contact of the second plurality of contacts at a location diametrically opposite location 7; and is
The first plurality of external contacts further includes a first power contact located in one of contact locations 4 or 5, the one of contact locations 4 or 5 being electrically coupled to a second power contact of the second plurality of contacts located diametrically opposite the one of contact locations 4 or 5.
8. A plug connector, comprising:
a main body;
a connector tab extending from the body and configured to be inserted into a corresponding receptacle connector;
a plurality of contacts including a first plurality of external contacts carried by the tab at the first surface, the first plurality of external contacts including first and second data contacts configured to enable communication using a first communication protocol, and an ID contact configured to carry information identifying the communication protocol associated with the first and second data contacts;
circuitry configured to engage in a handshake algorithm in response to a docking event that receives a command through the ID contact and sends a response to the command through the ID contact, the response communicating a communication protocol used by the first and second data contacts.
9. The plug connector of claim 8, wherein the plurality of contacts further includes third and fourth data contacts configured to enable communication using a second communication protocol, and wherein the ID contact is further configured to carry information identifying the communication protocol associated with the third and fourth data contacts.
10. The plug connector of claims 8 or 9, wherein the connector has 180 degree symmetry such that it can be inserted into a corresponding receptacle connector in either of two insertion directions, and wherein the plurality of contacts includes a first plurality of external contacts carried by the tab on a first surface, and a second plurality of contacts carried by the tab on a second surface opposite the first surface.
11. The plug connector of claim 10, wherein each individual contact of the first plurality of external contacts is electrically connected to a contact of the second plurality of contacts within the tab or body.
12. The plug connector of claim 9, wherein:
the connector having 180 degree symmetry such that it can be inserted into a corresponding receptacle connector in either of two insertion directions, and wherein the plurality of contacts includes a first plurality of external contacts carried by the tab on a first surface, and a second plurality of contacts carried by the tab on a second surface opposite the first surface,
each individual contact of the first plurality of external contacts is electrically connected to a contact of the second plurality of contacts within the tab or body,
the first plurality of external contacts further includes fifth and sixth data contacts configured to enable communication using a second communication protocol;
the second plurality of contacts further includes seventh and eighth data contacts electrically coupled to the fifth and sixth data contacts, respectively;
an ID contact further configured to carry information identifying a communication protocol associated with the fifth and sixth data contacts; and
the circuitry configured to participate in a handshaking algorithm is further configured to communicate a communication protocol used by the third and fourth data contacts over the ID contact.
13. An electronic device, comprising:
a main body;
a header connector coupled to the body, the header connector having a plurality of contacts including first and second data contacts configured to enable communication using a first communication protocol, and an ID contact configured to carry information identifying a communication protocol associated with the first and second data contacts;
one or more non-transitory computer-readable memories storing contact configuration information and authentication information specifying a communication protocol used by the first and second data contacts; and
a circuit operatively coupled to the one or more non-transitory computer-readable memories, the circuit configured to participate in a handshaking algorithm that uses the authentication information to authenticate the electronic device to a host, receive a command through the ID contact and send a response to the command through the ID contact, the response including the contact configuration information.
14. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the plurality of contacts further includes third and fourth data contacts configured to enable communication using a second communication protocol, and wherein the contact configuration information further specifies the communication protocol used by the third and fourth data contacts.
15. The electronic device of claim 13 or 14, wherein the circuitry is further configured to authenticate the electronic device to the host prior to transmitting the contact configuration information.
Applications Claiming Priority (8)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US201161556692P | 2011-11-07 | 2011-11-07 | |
| US61/556,692 | 2011-11-07 | ||
| US201161565372P | 2011-11-30 | 2011-11-30 | |
| US61/565,372 | 2011-11-30 | ||
| US201261694423P | 2012-08-29 | 2012-08-29 | |
| US61/694.423 | 2012-08-29 | ||
| US13/607,366 US8708745B2 (en) | 2011-11-07 | 2012-09-07 | Dual orientation electronic connector |
| US13/607,366 | 2012-09-07 |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| HK1180113A1 HK1180113A1 (en) | 2013-10-11 |
| HK1180113B true HK1180113B (en) | 2017-06-02 |
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