Rotating contact ring with legs extending at an angle to a lower surface of the ring

A rotating contact device is described. The rotating contact device can include a contact ring and a pair of legs extending from a lower ring surface of the contact ring. Along an upper ring surface of the contact ring can be disposed one or more raised contacts. The rotating contact device can also include an inside contact held within an inside of the contact ring. Application of a downwards force on the upper ring surface of the contact ring causes the pair of legs to deflect and the contact ring and the inside contact to rotate and translate. When mated with opposing contacts, this rotation can function to radially wipe the opposing contacts and the upper ring surface.

FIELD

This disclosure relates to electrical contacts. In particular, electrical contacts that are used in connection with electronic devices.

BACKGROUND

Electrical contacts can be included in connectors and used to transfer power, data, and other signals between electronic devices and/or accessories. The electrical contacts within the connectors can be exposed to the environment in which the electronic devices are used, which can lead to a buildup of contaminants (e.g., oxides, oils, etc.) on surfaces of the electrical contacts. Because the contaminants can function to increase resistance of the electrical contacts, it is desirable to remove the contaminants prior to or as part of connecting to the electronic device. Wiping is a process in which two mating connectors “wipe” past each in a manner that removes at least some of the contaminants. For example, when a Uniform Serial Bus (USB) plug connector is installed in a USB port, metal contacts of the plug connector slide transversely across metal contacts in the port. This transverse wipe functions to remove contaminants from the metal contacts and improves the connection between the USB plug connector and the USB port.

However, in certain types of connectors, transverse wiping may not be an option for cleaning the contacts. This may be because of limits on the area surrounding the contacts. For example, connectors that use circular contacts that mate in a face-to-face orientation typically are not capable of transverse wiping. This can lead to poor connections between such connectors.

SUMMARY

Examples of the present disclosure are directed to rotating contacts for use in connecting electronic devices and/or accessories. These rotating contacts can be implemented to radially wipe opposing contacts in a face-to-face orientation and thus can be used to remove contaminants from the contacts in applications where transverse wiping is not possible or otherwise available. A particular rotating contact can include an annular or ring contact that has one or more contact surfaces formed along a upper surface. A pair of radially curved legs can be attached at a bottom surface of the annular contact. In some embodiments, within the inside of the contact ring is an inside contact that can be held in place by an insulative structure. The insulative structure also electrically isolates the inside contact from the contact ring. Opposing ends of the pair of legs can be fixed in a particular orientation. When an axial force that is normal to the upper surface is applied to the upper surface, the legs oppose the axial force and begin to deflect. This deflection lowers the contact ring and causes the inside contact and the contact ring to rotate. When the contact surfaces and the inside contact are engaging with opposing contacts (e.g., contacts mounted in a second electronic device), this rotation functions to radially wipe the opposing contacts, thereby improving the electrical connections between the contacts.

In some examples, a rotating contact device can include a contact having an upper ring surface, a lower ring surface, and a rotational axis. The rotating contact device can also include at least one contact surface disposed on the upper ring surface. The rotating contact device can also include a first leg and a second leg. The first leg can extend at a first predetermined angle from a first location on the lower ring surface. The second leg can extend at a second predetermined angle from a second location on the lower ring surface. The first leg and the second leg can be composed of deflectable material such that when an axial force is applied along the rotational axis of the contact ring, the first leg and the second leg oppose the axial force and apply a rotational force to the contact ring.

In some examples, a rotating contact system can include a housing and a rotating contact. The housing can include a cylindrical barrel and the rotating contact can be disposed in the cylindrical barrel. The rotating contact can include a contact ring having an upper ring surface, a lower ring surface, and a rotational axis. The rotating contact can also include at least one contact surface disposed on the upper ring surface. The rotating contact can also include a first leg and a second leg. The first leg can extend at a first predetermined angle from a first location on the lower ring surface. The second leg can extend at a second predetermined angle from a second location on the lower ring surface. The first leg and the second leg can be composed of deflectable material such that when an axial force is applied along the rotational axis of the contact ring, the first leg and the second leg oppose the axial force and apply a rotational force to the contact ring.

In some examples, an electronic device can include a housing and a connector disposed at an exterior surface of the housing. The connector can include a plurality of rotating contacts arranged in a pattern. Each rotating contact of the plurality of rotating contacts can include a contact having an upper contact surface, a lower surface, and a rotational axis. Each rotating contact can also include a first leg extending at a first angle from a first location on the lower surface. Each rotating contact can also include a second leg extending at a second angle from a second location on the lower surface. The first leg and the second leg can be composed of a deflectable material whereby when an axial force is applied along the rotational axis of the contact ring, each leg opposes the axial force and applies a rotational force to the contact.

To better understand the nature and advantages of the present disclosure, reference should be made to the following description and the accompanying figures. It is to be understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the scope of the present disclosure. Also, as a general rule, and unless it is evident to the contrary from the description, where elements in different figures use identical reference numbers, the elements are generally either identical or at least similar in function or purpose.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1A-1Billustrate a rotating contact100that can be included in a first electronic device, in accordance with at least one example of the disclosure. The rotating contact100can be used to create an electrical connection between the rotating contact100and an opposing contact, such as a circular contact202of an opposing contact200shown inFIG. 2, included in a second electronic device that is normal to the rotating contact100(i.e., aligned face-to-face with the rotating contact100). During a connector mating event (e.g., when a connector having the rotating contact100is mated with a connector having the opposing contact200), the rotating contact100creates an electrical connection with the opposing contact and also radially wipes the opposing contact200as it engages with the opposing contact200. Such wiping can remove oxide layers, oils, and other contaminants that are present on the opposing contact and/or portions of the rotating contact100and improve the electrical connection between the rotating contact100and the opposing contact. Implementation of the rotating contact100in a face-to-face alignment achieves improved wipe, as compared to conventional contacts in a similar alignment that provide little or no wipe. Either contact100or200can be included in any type of electronic device such as, for example, smart phone, tablet, laptop computer, personal computer, docking station, camera, cable, keyboard, or any other suitable electronic device.

The rotating contact100includes an annular or contact ring104and a pair of contact beams or legs106(shown inFIG. 1as legs106a,106b). The contact ring104can be pressed, stamped, cast, or otherwise formed as a single structure. Likewise, each leg106can be formed as a single structure and attached to the contact ring104. In some examples, the rotating contact100, including the contact ring104and the pair of legs106, is formed as a single structure. In some examples, when the contact ring104and one or more of the legs106are separate structures, they can be welded, soldered, snap-fit, or otherwise attached together.

In some examples, the contact ring114can function as a power contact, a ground contact, a contact for control signals, a data contact for the transfer of data, or a contact for a variety of other signals. Therefore, the contact114can include any suitable lead (e.g., a flexible wire) to connect to an electrical system of an electronic device.

The contact ring104includes an upper ring surface including one or more raised contact surfaces108(shown inFIG. 1as raised portions108a-108d) disposed about the upper ring surface. The contact ring104also includes a lower ring surface with a depressed portion and a planar portion opposite the upper ring surface. In the example ofFIGS. 1A and 1B, the raised contact surfaces108are ramped portions that are formed from the same piece of material as the contact ring104. In some examples, the raised contact surfaces108are formed from different material than the contact ring104. Because the surface area of the raised contact surfaces108is less than the total area of the upper surface of the contact ring104, the contact pressure between the raised contact surfaces108and the opposing contact will be greater than if the raised contact surfaces108were not included. In this manner, a more effective wipe may be achieved as contact surface108rotates across a corresponding contact during a mating event. In some examples, the raised contact surfaces108(and any other rotating contacts) function to remove about 1 millimeter of contaminant material from the opposing contact. In some examples, the raised contact surfaces108function to remove about 0.1 millimeters of contaminant material.

Each leg106can have an elongated shape and be radially curved relative to the rotational axis that extends through the contact ring104. Each leg106can be attached to a particular location on the lower ring surface of the contact ring104and extend away at a predetermined angle103a,103b. Each angle103a,103bextends between its respective axis105a,105bof the respective leg106and the planar portion of the lower ring surface. In some examples, the predetermined angle can be between 20-60 degrees. Each leg106can extend to a location below the contact ring104. In some examples, the legs106aand106bcan form a helical shape extending from the lower ring surface to the location below the contact ring104. When the rotating contact100is included, for example, in a housing of an electronic device, terminal ends110of the legs106(shown inFIG. 1Bas110aand110b) can be fixedly attached to the housing. In some examples, the terminal ends110are fixedly attached to a printed circuit board or some other electrical structure to which power, control signals, or data can flow via the contact ring104(and the legs106). The terminal ends110can be fixedly attached at locations opposite from each other, or in any other suitable configuration.

The legs106can be formed from any suitable conductive material, which also has a relatively high yield strength and a relatively high modulus of elasticity. Thus, in some examples, the material can be considered a deflectable material or one that has elastic characteristics. Over the lifetime of the rotating contact100, the legs106can be deflected thousands of times. A material with a high yield strength may enable suitable performance of the legs106over these thousands of deflections.

In some examples, the outer diameter of the contact ring104is less than 10 millimeters. In some examples, the outer diameter is about 6 millimeters. In some examples, the outer diameter is larger than or smaller than 10 millimeters. An inner radius for each of the mounting locations of the two terminal ends110can be less than an outer radius that corresponds to the outer diameter of the contact ring104. In some examples, adjusting the inner radius compared to the outer radius affects the amount of rotation, i.e., radial wipe, of the contact ring104. In some examples, the angle at which the legs106extend away from the contact ring104also impacts the amount of rotation of the contact ring104.

As illustrated inFIG. 1B, the rotating contact100can also include an inside contact112held within an inside of the contact ring104by an insulative structure114. The inside contact112can be offset from a center of the contact ring104so that when the rotating contact100rotates, the inside contact112will travel radially and function to wipe an opposing contact. Thus, the raised contact surfaces108and the inside contact112can function to wipe different individual contacts of an opposing contact structure. In some examples, the inside contact112can function as a power contact, a ground contact, a contact for control signals, a data contact for the transfer of data, or a variety of other contact types. Therefore, the inside contact112can include any suitable lead (e.g., a flexible wire) to connect to an electrical system. In some examples, more than one inside contact112can be provided in the rotating contact100.

In some examples, the upper surface of contact112is shaped like a dome to enable increased pressure, and thus improved wiping, between contact112and its corresponding contact during mating event with another contact.

The insulative structure114can support the inside contact112and electrically isolate the inside contact from the contact ring104. Insulative structure114can be formed using a variety of different methods from a variety of different materials having appropriate insulation properties. In various examples, insulative structure114can be made from polycarbonate, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), nylon, glass-filled polymer, and any other suitable material having desired insulating properties. In some examples, structure114can be reflowed into the inside of the contact ring104after the contact ring104and the legs106have been formed. In some examples, the insulative structure114can function to retain the legs106in addition to the inside contact112and the contact ring104.

In some examples, the rotating contact100can include a solid disk-shaped contact, instead of the inside contact112and the contact ring104. The solid disk-shaped contact can be included in a first electronic device and configured to provide a single connection between the first electronic device and a second electronic device. To accommodate multiple single connections between the first electronic device and the second electronic device, other rotating contacts similar to the rotating contact100can be disposed in the first electronic device to mate with corresponding contact locations on the second electronic device.

In some examples, a plurality of rotating contacts100can be included in any suitable structure to form a connector. The connector can be included in an electronic device and/or an accessory device. For example, the connector can be disposed at an exterior surface of a housing of the electronic device. In some examples, the connector can be raised up relative to the exterior surface and can include any suitable structure to hold multiple rotating contacts100in any suitable pattern (e.g., a single line of n contacts, an n×m array of contacts, or other patterns). As an additional example, the connector can be recessed relative to the exterior surface and can include any suitable structure to hold multiple rotating contacts100in any suitable pattern. In some examples, the connector is about flush with the exterior surface of the housing. The connector can also include other contacts that are dissimilar to the rotating contacts100and can include structures that have functions other than transferring signals (e.g., physically supporting a second electronic device that is connected to the electronic device via the connector). In some examples, the plurality of rotating contacts100are arranged in any suitable pattern (e.g., one layer, multiple layers, etc.), whether within the connector or otherwise. The connectors can be used to transfer power, data, and other signals between electronic devices and/or accessory devices.

FIG. 2illustrates the opposing contact200that can be included in any suitable second electronic device and which can be paired with the rotating contact100included in any suitable first electronic device to create an electrical connection, in accordance with at least one example of the disclosure. The opposing contact200includes the circular contact202and an internal contact204located within the circular contact202. The circular contact202and the internal contact204can be held by an insulative cap206. In some examples, the insulative cap206functions to retain the circular contact202and the internal contact204and to electrically isolate the two contacts. The circular contact202extends radially around the opposing contact200in a donut shape. The internal contact204can be centered within the donut shape of the circular contact202, or off center to allow radial wipe. The internal contact204can have a suitable surface210such that the inside contact112of the rotating contact100can engage with the internal contact204. Similarly, the circular contact202can have a suitable surface208such that one or more of the raised contact surfaces108can engage with the circular contact202. In some examples, the circular contact202can include one or more raised contact surfaces.

FIG. 3illustrates a contact system300in accordance with at least one example of the disclosure. The contact system300includes the opposing contact200and the rotating contact100in a face-to-face orientation (i.e., the contacts of the opposing contact200are aligned with the contacts of the contact ring104). In the contact system300, the rotating contact100is disposed within in a cylindrical barrel302. In some examples, the cylindrical barrel302may be formed in a housing of a first user device. The opposing contact200may be formed in a housing of a second user device that will be electrically connected to the first user device. The cylindrical barrel302may function to retain the translation of the contact ring104and the rotation of the contact ring104. The insulative structure114can be sized to fit within the cylindrical barrel302. In some examples, the interior surface of the barrel302and/or the exterior surface of the insulative structure114is coated, treated, or polished in order to reduce the friction between the two surfaces. In this manner, the contact ring104may move more freely within the cylindrical barrel302. In some examples, a gasket is provided that is attached around the exterior surface of the insulative structure114. The gasket can function to keep unwanted contaminants from entering the interior of the barrel302. In some examples, the gasket can be water-tight. The terminal ends110can be fixedly held within the interior of the cylindrical barrel302. In some examples, the terminal ends110are fixedly held in an orientation outside of the cylindrical barrel302.

In practice, as an axial force304is applied to the opposing contact200, the legs106begin to deflect or bend because the axial force304is transferred to the rotating contact100via the opposing contact200. The axial force304can be a force applied as part of connecting the second electronic device to the first electronic device in which the rotating contact100is held. In some examples, the axial force304is a result of magnetic attraction between a part of the second electronic device and a part of the first electronic device (e.g., a portion of the housing). In any event, the axial force304and/or the deflection of the legs106causes the contact ring104to begin to rotate in the direction of arrow306. Such rotation of the contact ring104causes the one or more raised contact surfaces108to radially wipe the surface208of the circular contact202. Similarly, such rotation of the contact ring104causes the inside contact112to radially wipe the surface210of the internal contact204.

In some examples, two or more rotating contacts100are included in a housing of a device. The two or more rotating contacts100can be included in an array (e.g., 2×2 or 4×4), a line, or in any other suitable pattern.

FIGS. 4A-4Cillustrate the rotating contact100at three different states of deflection and rotation, in accordance with at least one example of the disclosure. In particular,FIG. 4Aillustrates the rotating contact100at an initial state before a force has been applied to the rotating contact100. In the initial state, the legs106of the rotating contact100are fully extended and the contact ring104is at its furthest distance away from a bottom where the terminal ends110are held. InFIG. 4A, the raised contact surface108ais identified as a rotational reference point.

FIG. 4Billustrates an intermediate state of the rotating contact100. In between the initial state and the intermediate state, a force402began to be applied to the rotating contact100. Thus, in the intermediate state inFIG. 4B, the legs106of the rotating contact100have begun to deflect. In particular, the legs have transitioned from fully-extended with a slight curve inFIG. 4A, to being partially-extending and having a much greater curved shape. The raised contact surface108ainFIG. 4Bhas rotated to the right in the figure (i.e., counter-clockwise when looking down on the contact ring104). Similarly, the contact ring104has translated down as the legs106have deflected.

FIG. 4Cillustrates a final state of the rotating contact100. The force402was continuously applied in between the intermediate state ofFIG. 4Band the final state ofFIG. 4C. Because of this, the legs106have continued to deflect down. In addition, the raised contact surface108ahas rotated further to the right. Similarly, the contact ring104has translated further down towards the terminal ends110. In some examples, the translation of the contact ring104between the initial state and final state is between 2-3 millimeters. In some examples, the rotation of the raised contact surface108abetween the initial state and the final state amounts to about 0.6 millimeters of radial wipe. In other examples, the amount of translation and the rotation is greater than or less than 2-3 millimeters and 0.6 millimeters, respectively. Thus, the rotating contact100can be scaled up, depending on the implementation, or scaled down.

FIGS. 5A-5Cillustrate a top view of the rotating contact100at three different states of rotation, in accordance with at least one example of the disclosure. In particular,FIG. 5Aillustrates the rotating contact100at an initial state. The initial state illustrated inFIG. 5Acorresponds to the initial state illustrated inFIG. 4A. InFIG. 5A, the contact ring104and the inside contact112are illustrated, and the raised contact surface108aand the inside contact112are identified as rotational reference points. At the initial state illustrated inFIG. 5A, the rotating contact100has not yet been mated with an opposing contact.

FIG. 5Billustrates an intermediate state of the rotating contact100. The intermediate state illustrated inFIG. 5Bcorresponds to the intermediate state illustrated inFIG. 4B. InFIG. 5B, the rotating contact100has rotated in a counter-clockwise direction500as compared to the state illustrated inFIG. 5A. This can be evidenced by the inside contact112rotating slightly to the left and the raised contact surface108arotating slightly down and to the right betweenFIGS. 5A and 5B. The rotating contact100may rotate in response to an axial force being applied to the rotating contact100as part of mating the rotating contact100with an opposing contact (not shown).

FIG. 5Cillustrates a final state of the rotating contact100. The final state illustrated inFIG. 5Ccorresponds to the final state illustrated inFIG. 4C. InFIG. 5C, the rotating contact100has continued to rotate in the counter-clockwise direction500as compared to the state illustrated inFIG. 5B. This can be evidenced by the inside contact112rotating slightly down and to the left and the raised contact surface108arotating slightly to the right and up betweenFIGS. 5B and 5C.

In some examples, the rotating contact100and its elements (e.g., the ring contact104and the inside contact112) may rotate through a rotation angle of about 5-25 degrees between the initial state illustrated inFIG. 5Aand the final state illustrated inFIG. 5C. Thus, it should be appreciated that the movement of the rotating contact100inFIGS. 5A-5Chas been exaggerated for illustrative purposes. In other examples, however, the rotation angle is greater than or less than 5-25 degrees. For example, the rotation angle can be closer to 90 degrees. In any event, the rotating contact100can be scaled up, depending on the implementation, or scaled down, which can affect the rotation angle, among other things. In some examples, the value of the rotation angle can depend on the length of the legs106, the alignment of the legs106, the curvature of the legs106, the material used to form the legs106, the diameter of the ring contact104as compared to a diameter defined by the terminal ends110of the legs106, and any other suitable characteristic of the rotating contact100. In some examples, the rotating contact100can rotate in a clockwise direction (e.g., opposite the direction500).

FIG. 6illustrates an electronic device600that includes a housing605and a connector610disposed at an exterior surface of the housing605. Connector610can include multiple rotating contacts615arranged in a pattern. As described above with respect toFIG. 1A, each individual rotating contact615can include an upper contact surface, a lower surface, and a rotational axis. Each rotating contact615can also include a first leg extending at a first angle from a first location on the lower surface, and a second leg extending at a second angle from a second location on the lower surface. The first leg and the second leg can be composed of a deflectable material whereby when an axial force is applied along the rotational axis of the contact ring, each leg opposes the axial force and applies a rotational force to the contact.

The above description of embodiments of the disclosure has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise form described, and many modifications and variations are possible in light of the teaching above. For example, while rotating contact100was described above as having a contact ring, in some embodiments rotating contact100includes a solid disk-shaped contact that does not include a central opening. The embodiments set forth above were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the disclosure and its practical applications to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the disclosure in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Thus, it will be appreciated that the disclosure is intended to cover all modifications and equivalents within the scope of the following claim.