Abstract:
A connector is provided, which includes: a base, a first external connecting part disposed on the base, and a second external connecting part disposed on the base. The first external connecting part has a first terminal in a USB type. The second external connecting part has a second terminal in an eSATA type. When the connector is in use, either USB or eSATA connection can be selected accordingly.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority to Chinese Application No. 201430067186.8, filed Feb. 14, 2014, which is expressly incorporated by reference herein. 
       FIELD 
       [0002]    The present application relates to connectors, and, more particularly, to a connector with multiple functions. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    As the technology for developing electronic products rapidly grows, the design of electronic products is focusing on the concept of practicality and multiple functionality. A connector is used to be electrically connected with cables, printed circuit boards, and other electronic elements, which are widely used in all kinds of electronic products, such as computers, notebooks and mobile phones. 
         [0004]    Typically, a connector is connected with a specific type of circuits. For examples, the SATA (Serial Advanced Technology Attachment) circuit is only capable of being connected with a SATA connector. 
         [0005]    However, multiple connectors are often required to be connected to a single electronic device having multiple types of circuits, which undesirably increases the size of the electronic device, thereby making it harder to achieve the requirement of miniaturization. 
         [0006]    Therefore, there is an urgent need in solving the foregoing problems. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    In light of the foregoing drawbacks, the present disclosure proposes a connector, which can selectively choose eSATA or USB as a connection means. 
         [0008]    The connector proposed by the present disclosure comprises: a base; a first external connection part disposed on the base and having a first terminal in a Universal Serial Bus (USB) type; and a second external connection part disposed on the base and having a second terminal in an external Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (eSATA) type. 
         [0009]    In an embodiment, the first external connection part is stacked on the second external connection, and the second external connection part is fixed on the base. 
         [0010]    In an embodiment, the connector further comprises a fixing member disposed on the base to fix an element coupled with the connector. 
         [0011]    In an embodiment, the connector further comprises a housing that accommodates the base, the first external connection part, and the second external connection part. 
         [0012]    In an embodiment, the connector is coupled to the USB device. For example, an USB device is coupled to the external part to be electrically connected with the first terminal. 
         [0013]    In an embodiment, the connector, if coupled with an adaptor, is a connecting module. For example, the adaptor has an electrical connecting port for coupling with the second external connection part, and the electrical connection port has an eSATA wire for being electrically connected with the second terminal 
         [0014]    In an embodiment, the adaptor has a fixing member to prevent the eSATA wire from falling off. 
         [0015]    In an embodiment, the connector further comprises a first fixing member disposed on the base, and the adaptor has a second fixing member coupled with the first fixing member in order to securely fix the connector and the adaptor in place. 
         [0016]    In summary, the present disclosure has two types of connection wires (i.e., USB and eSATA) incorporated in the same connector, such that the connector can selectively choose eSATA or USB connection for signal communication, allowing a single electronic product to have multiple selections of wire choice, as well as to reduce the size of the electronic produce by incorporating two type of connectors in one connector, thereby desirably achieving the goal of miniaturization. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]    The present disclosure can be more fully understood by reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, with reference made to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0018]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a connecting module according to the present disclosure; 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of a connector according to the present disclosure; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of an adaptor according to the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0021]    The present disclosure is described in the following with specific embodiments, so that one skilled in the pertinent art can easily understand other advantages and effects of the present disclosure from the disclosure of the present disclosure. 
         [0022]    It is to be understood that the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements. The scope of the claims, therefore, should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements. In addition, words such as “on”, “top” and “a” are used to explain the preferred embodiment of the present disclosure only and should not limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
         [0023]      FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a connecting module  1  according to the present disclosure. The connecting module  1  comprises a connector  2  and an adaptor  3  connected with the connector  2 . 
         [0024]    In an embodiment, the connector  2  is a socket, and the adaptor  3  is a plug. 
         [0025]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the connector  2  comprises a base  20 , a first external connecting part  21  disposed on the base  20 , a second external connecting part  22  disposed on the base  20 , two first fixing members  23  disposed on the base, and a first housing  24  that accommodates the base  20 , the first external connecting part  21 , the second external connecting part  22 , and the first fixing members  23 . 
         [0026]    The first external connecting part  21  is stacked on the second external connecting part  22 , and the first external connecting part  21  has a first terminal  210  in a USB type. In an embodiment, the first terminal  210  downwardly extends to be exposed to the bottom of the first housing  24 . 
         [0027]    The first fixing member  23  is a metal plate, passing through the via of the base  20  to be fixed on the base and coupled with the adaptor  3 . 
         [0028]    The first housing  24  is disposed on the top, bottom, left, right, and back of the connector  2 , allowing the base  20 , the first external connecting part  21 , and the second connecting part  22  to be exposed from the front side of the housing  24 . 
         [0029]    The connector  2  incorporates two types of wire terminals (USB and eSATA) to provide two choices for external connection. 
         [0030]    Besides, the connector  2 , which has the base  20 , the first external connecting part  21 , and the second external connecting part  22  that are three detachable, can be assembled easily. 
         [0031]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , the adaptor  3  comprises a main body  30  having an electrical connection port  31 , two fixing member  33  disposed on the left and right sides of the main body  30 , and a second housing  34  that accommodates the main body  30  and the two fixing members  33 . 
         [0032]    The electrical connection port  31  is coupled with the second external connecting part  22  of the connector  2 , and the electrical connection port  31  has an eSATA wire to allow the electrical connection port  31  to be electrically connected with the second terminal  220 . In an embodiment, the eSATA wire  32  passes through the main body  30  to be electrically connected with the terminals inside of the electrical connection port  31 . 
         [0033]    The second fixing member  33  is in a shape of a long rod, with a hoop in the front, to securely hook the first fixing member  23 , so as to fix the connector  2  and the adaptor  3  in place. The second fixing member  33  abuts between the main body  30  and the second housing  34 , to avoid the movement of the main body  30 , thereby preventing the eSATA wire  32  from falling off. 
         [0034]    The second housing  34  is divided into an upper part and a lower part, allowing the electrical connection port  31  and the second fixing member  33  to project from the front of the second housing  34 , and the eSATA wire  32  extends beyond the back of the second housing  34 . 
         [0035]    Thus, when the connector  2  is in use, the adaptor  3  is connected with the connector  2  to allow eSATA signal communication, as shown as the connecting module  1  in  FIG. 1 . Alternatively, a USB device can be connected with the connector  2  to allow USB signal communication. 
         [0036]    In summary, the connector proposed by present disclosure has multiple wire communication means in a single electronic product, and the space for accommodating two connecting modules is now reduced to only need to accommodate one connecting module, as a result the size of the overall electronic product can be further reduced to meet the requirement of miniaturization. 
         [0037]    The present disclosure has been described using exemplary preferred embodiments. However, it is to be understood that the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements. The scope of the claims, therefore, should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.