USB connector

A USB plug comprises a shell, a stationary port, upper and lower sliders and a levering device. The shell has an opening formed at a front end thereof and two pairs of terminal pins connected at a rear end thereof. The stationary port extending horizontally is fixed at a middle of the rear end of the shell, each side of the port being provided with two pairs of contacts in electrically connection with the terminal pins. The upper and lower sliders respectively have first sides thereof facing towards each other and second sides thereof being slidable along upper and lower sidewalls of the shell, each one slider having two metal contacts provided on the first side thereof corresponding to the contacts of the stationary port. The levering device is operatively provided between the upper and lower sliders in order to alternately shift the upper and lower sliders by means of an external intrusion force exerted on one of the upper and lower sliders. Advantageously the USB plug is adapted for connecting with a conventional USB socket in both upside and upside down orientation.

This application claims the benefit, under 35 U.S.C. § 365 of International Application PCT/EP2005/056133, filed Nov. 22, 2005, which was published in accordance with PCT Article 21(2) on Jun. 15, 2006 in English and which claims the benefit of European patent application No. 04300864.8, filed Dec. 9, 2004.

The present invention relates to a USB connector, particularly to a USB plug which is adapted for reversibly connecting with a conventional USB socket.

USB standard connectors are widely used in the computer and electronic consumer products. It can be easily used to connect a peripheral device with a host computer without rebooting of the host computer and ensure fast transmission rate. Due to the special configuration of the USB connectors, a USB plug can only be inserted into a USB socket in a given orientation. A mark is usually provided on an external surface to help user to identify the correct plug-in orientation, however, majority of users still often find it is difficult to recognize the correct plug-in orientation, because the metal shell of the USB plug has identical shape formed at opposite sides.

As shown inFIGS. 1aand1ba conventional USB socket80generally comprises a body81, a plate member82, a shell83and two pairs of spring contacts84. The plate member82is integrally formed with the body81, and extruded from the body81towards an opening end of the shell83. The shell83is usually metal-made and encloses around the whole body81and the plate member82. The two pairs of spring contacts84are fixed in the plate member82and arranged in parallel along a lower side of the plate member82. An upper space85and a lower space86are respectively defined in the USB socket80between the plate member82and the shell83.

FIGS. 2aand2billustrate a conventional USB plug90, which comprises a body91, a plate member92, a shell93and two pairs of electrode contacts94. The plate member92is integrally formed at a lower side of the body91, and extruded from the body91towards an opening end of the shell93. The shell93is usually metal-made and encloses around the whole body91and the plate member92. The electrode contacts94are fixed in the plate member92and the body91are arranged in parallel along an upper side surface of the plate member92corresponding to the spring contacts84of the USB socket80. A space95is defined in the USB plug90between the plate member92and the shell93.

When the conventional USB plug90is connected to the conventional USB socket80as shown inFIG. 3, first the front end of the USB plug90is inserted into the upper and lower spaces85and86of the USB socket80. The plate member82of the USB socket80is inserted into the space95of the USB plug90. The electrode contacts94of the USB plug90are electrically connected to the corresponding spring contacts84of the USB socket80.

It can be noted that there is only one single plate member92being nonsymmetrically extruded from the lower side of the body91, therefore the USB plug90can only be correctly connected to the USB socket80in an upside plug-in orientation as shown inFIG. 3. If one of the USB socket80and the USB plug90is reversed, for example, when the USB socket80remains in the upside orientation as shown inFIGS. 1 and 3and the USB plug90is reversed into an upside down orientation, or alternatively when the USB plug90remains in the upside orientation as shown inFIGS. 2 and 3and the USB socket80is reversed into an upside down orientation, a correct connection can not be established between the USB plug90and the USB socket80.

In order to identify the correct plug-in orientation of the USB connectors, usually an identify mark96is provided on an external surface of the USB plug90as can be seen fromFIGS. 2 and 3. However, sometimes the connection between the USB connectors is still unavoidable from incorrect operations. If an incorrect plug-in operation is acted under a compelling force, permanent damages on the hardware of the USB connectors may occur.

In order to solve the above problems of the conventional USB connectors, a Japanese patent of application No. JP 2003-217728 had disclosed an improved USB socket which is adapted for connecting with a conventional standard USB plug in a reversible way to overcome the above defects.

As shown inFIG. 4, a first example according to the above patent provides a USB socket200, which comprises a body201, a plate member202, a shell203and spring contacts204. Wherein the plate member202is integrally formed at a middle of the body201and extrude from the body201towards an opening end of the shell203. The shell203encloses around the whole body201and the plate member202. More particularly, each one of upper and lower sides of the plate member202is provided with two pairs of spring contacts204. An upper space205and a lower space206are symmetrically defined in identical shape in the USB socket200at opposite sides of the plate member202. Due to the symmetrical configuration of the USB socket200, when a user intends to connect the conventional USB plug90to the USB socket200as shown inFIG. 4, he/she can just adjust the vertical position of the USB plug90in order to make the space95of the USB plug90to be in line with the plate member202of the USB socket200no matter whether the plug-in orientation of the USB plug90is in an upside or an upside down orientation, that is to say, the conventional USB plug90can be reversibly connected to the USB socket80in both upside and upside down plug-in orientations.

However the defects of the above described USB socket200is that the opening size of the shell203of the USB socket200is unmatched to the conventional standard USB plug90, and the vertical position of the USB plug90have to be adjusted in order to make the space95of the USB plug90in line with the plate member202of the USB socket200. Additionally, the metal-made shell93of the USB plug90may cause the spring contacts204of the USB socket200to be short cut during the plug-in connection, therefore the reliability of this type of USB socket200is low.

As shown inFIGS. 5,6and7, another example according to the above patent provides a USB socket300comprising an upper slide302and a lower slider302′ slidably received in a shell303. A pair of upper spring contacts304and a pair of lower spring contacts304′ are respectively provided on a lower side of the upper slider302and an upper side of the lower sliders302′. In particular, two springs305and305′ are respectively connected at rear ends of the upper and lower sliders302and302′ to provide compressive resilient energy to the sliders302and302′.

When the USB plug90is connected to the USB socket300in an upside plug-in orientation as shown inFIG. 6, the upper slider302will be inserted into the space95of the USB plug90, and the lower slider302′ will be retracted inwardly by the intrusion of the plate member92of the USB plug90. When the USB plug90is connected to the USB socket300in a reversed upside down plug-in orientation as shown inFIG. 7, the lower slider302′ will be inserted into the space95of the USB plug90, and the upper slider302will be retracted inwardly by the intrusion of the plate member92of the USB plug90. If the USB plug90is plugged out from the USB socket300, the retracted slider302or302′ will return to the original position by the resilience of the spring305or305′.

However, the structure of the USB socket300of the above patent is very complicated, so the manufacturing cost must be expensive, and moreover it does not illustrate a reliable electrical connection between the spring contacts304and304′ and terminal pins of the USB socket300.

Therefore, there exists an object for the present invention to provide an improved type of USB connector in order to solve the problems and defects of the prior art.

The present inventions provides a new type of USB connector, and more particularly a USB plug, which is adapted to connect with a standard USB socket. The USB plug of the present invention comprises a shell, a stationary port, an upper slider, a lower slider and a levering device.

Wherein the shell has an opening formed at a front end thereof and two pairs of terminal pins connected at a rear end thereof.

The stationary port extending horizontally is fixed at a middle of the rear end of the shell. Each one of upper and lower sides of the stationary port has two pairs of contacts provided thereon corresponding to and electrically connected to the two pairs of terminal pins in respective.

The upper and lower sliders being slidably received in the shell have first sides thereof facing towards each other and second sides thereof being slidable along upper and lower sidewalls of the shell, each one of the upper and lower sliders having two pairs of metal contacts provided on the first side thereof corresponding to the two pairs of contacts provided on the stationary port.

The levering device is operatively provided between the upper and lower sliders in order to alternately shift the upper and lower sliders by an external intrusion force exerted on one of the upper and lower sliders, whereby when the USB plug is connected into a conventional standard USB socket in an upside or an upside down orientation, one of the sliders is retracted inwardly by an intrusion force exerted thereon while another one of the sliders is shifted outwardly by means of the levering device.

Advantageously, the USB plug is adapted for connecting with a conventional standard USB socket in both upside and upside down orientation.

In one embodiment the levering device comprises at least one gear operatively engaged between at least one upper gear rail and at least one lower gear rail.

Preferably the at least one upper gear rail and the at least one lower gear rail are integrated on the first sides of the upper and lower sliders

In one embodiment of the present invention, outside pairs of metal contacts of the sliders intended for power supply extend longer towards the front end of the shell than inside pairs of the metal contacts of the sliders intended for signal communication extend, and outside pairs of contacts of the stationary port for power supply extend longer intended towards the front end of the shell than inside pairs of the contacts of the stationary port intended for signal communication extend.

Advantageously, the power supply connection between the USB plug and a conventional USB socket is established before the signal communication connected, and the signal communication disconnected before the power supply connection is disconnected.

As shown inFIGS. 8 and 9, an improved USB plug10according to the present invention comprises a shell11having an opening formed at a front end thereof and two pairs of terminal pins12connected to a rear end thereof.

It can be seen more clearly fromFIG. 10that two insulating plates110are respectively fitted at opposite sides of the rear end portion of the shell11. Now with reference toFIGS. 10 and 11, the USB plug10of the present invention further comprises a stationary port13provided at the rear end of the shell11, an upper slider14and a lower slider15slidably received in the shell11, and an adaptive levering means operatively provided between the upper slider14and lower slider15.

The stationary port13is formed in a thin piece member extended horizontally and fixed at a middle of the rear end of the shell11. Each one side of the stationary port13has two pairs of contacts16provided thereon in electrical connection with the pair of terminal pins12. Wherein two outside pairs of contacts16are intended for power supply, two inside pairs of contacts16are intended for signal communication. The two outside pairs of contacts16extend longer towards the front end of the shell11than the two inside pairs of contacts16extend.

The upper and lower sliders14and15are integrally formed plate members made of insulating material in identical configuration. As shown inFIGS. 10 and 11with reference toFIG. 12, the upper and lower sliders14and15respectively have first sides thereof facing towards each other and second sides thereof being slidable along upper and lower sidewalls of the shell11.

The upper slider14has two pairs of metal contacts17provided on the first side thereof corresponding to the contacts16, and the lower slider15also has two pair of metal contacts18provided on the first side thereof corresponding to the contacts16. Wherein outside pairs of the metal contacts17and18are intended for power supply and inside pairs of the metal contacts17and18are intended for signal communication. Each one of the metal contacts17and18has a fixed end portion secured on the first sides of the sliders14and15and a curved spring end portion extending towards the rear end of the shell11. The fixed end portions of each outside pairs of the metal contacts17and18extend longer towards the front end of the shell11than the fixed end portions of the inside pairs of metal contact17and18extend.

One embodiment of the levering means according to the present invention includes a pair of gears19, which are operatively provided between the first sides of the upper and lower sliders14and15at two opposite edges. Correspondingly, a pair of upper gear rails141and a pair of lower gear rails151are respectively provided on the first sides of the upper and lower sliders14and15at opposite edges. The pair of gears19are rotatably mounted in shell11and operatively engaged between the pair of upper gear rails141and the pair of lower gear rails151. The pair of upper gear rails141are attached to the upper slider14, and the pair of lower gear rails151are attached to the lower slider15, therefore, when the pairs of upper and lower gear rails141and151driven by the pair of gears19in one rotation direction, the upper and lower sliders14and15will be driven to move in two opposed directions respectively.

In such a way, the upper and lower sliders14and15are enabled to be alternately shifted by an external intrusion force exerted on one of the upper and lower sliders. When one of the sliders14and15is retracted inwardly by an external intrusion force, this external intrusion force exerted on the retracted slider in inward direction will be transferred into an press force exerted on another one of the sliders14and15in outward direction through the gear19and gear rails141and151, therefore the another one of the sliders14and15will be shifted outwardly by means of the levering device.

In one embodiments of the levering means, the upper and lower gear rails141and151are integrated on the first side of the sliders14and15at opposite edges. However, the gear rails141and151may also be formed separately from the slider14and15. It can be understood by those skilled in the art, the levering device may be any practical mechanism which enables the upper and lower sliders14and15to be alternately shifted within the shell11.

As shown inFIG. 13, a conventional standard USB socket20may generally comprise a main body21, a plate member22, a shell23, two pairs of spring contacts24and two pairs of terminal pins25electrically connected to the two pairs of spring contacts24. An upper space26and a Lower space27are respectively defined in the USB socket20between the plate member22and the shell23.

When the USB plug10of the invention is connected to the conventional USB socket20in an upside orientation as shown inFIG. 13a, or in an upside down orientation as shown inFIG. 13b, it can be seen that due to the identical configuration of the upper and lower sliders14and15, there is no obstacle for both upside and upside down plug-in connection orientation. The arrows shown in the drawings respectively indicate the upside and upside down orientations of plug-in connection orientation of the USB plug10.

FIGS. 14a,14band14cshows the plug-in steps of connecting the USB plug10of the present invention to the conventional USB socket20in the upside orientation. The horizontal arrows show the moving direction of the USB plug10.

First, the front end portion of the shell11of the USB plug10is inserted into the upper and lower spaces26and27of the shell23of the USB socket20. Then when the USB plug10is continuously moving forwards to the USB socket20, the plate member22of the USB socket20is continuously intruding into the shell11of the USB plug10. The lower slider15forced by the plate member22of the USB socket20is retracted inwardly till the lower slider15moves to the innermost position, in which the spring contacts18of the lower slider15are electrically connected with corresponding contacts16of the stationary port13, and synchronously the upper slider14is shifted outwardly by means of the levering device till the upper slider14moves to the outermost position, in which the spring contacts24of the USB socket20are electrically connected with the metal contacts17of the upper slider14.

In this way, the spring end portions of the metal contacts18of the lower slider15are electrically connected with the contacts16of the stationary port13, the spring end portions of the metal contacts17of the upper slider14are electrically connected with the fixed end portion of the metal contacts18of the lower slider15, and the spring contacts24of the USB socket20are electrically connected with the fixed end portions of the metal contacts17of the upper slider14. Therefore an electrical connection is built up between the USB plug10and the USB socket20through the upper slider14which served as a bridge between the lower slider15and the plate member22of the USB socket20.

FIGS. 15a,15band15cshows the plug-in steps of connecting the USB plug10of the present invention to the USB socket20in the upside down orientation. The horizontal arrows show the moving direction of the USB plug10.

First, the front end portion of the shell11of the USB plug10is inserted into the upper and lower spaces26and27of the shell23of the USB socket20. Then when the USB plug10is continuously moving forwards to the USB socket20, the plate member22of the USB socket20is continuously intruding into the shell11of the USB plug10. The upper slider14forced by the plate member22of the USB socket20is retracted inwardly till the upper slider14moves to the innermost position, in which the spring contacts17of the upper slider14are electrically connected with corresponding contacts16of the stationary port13, and synchronously the lower slider15is shifted outwardly by means of the levering devices till the lower slider15moves to the outermost position, in which the spring contacts24of the USB socket20are electrically connected with the metal contacts18of the lower slider15.

In this way, the spring end portions of the metal contacts17of the upper slider14are electrically connected with the contacts16of the stationary port13, the spring end portions of the metal contacts18of the lower slider15are electrically connected with the fixed end portion of the metal contacts17of the upper slider14, and the spring contacts24of the USB socket20are electrically connected with the fixed end portions of the metal contacts18of the lower slider15. Therefore, an electrical connection is built up between the USB plug10and the USB socket20through the lower slider15which is served as a bridge between the upper slider14and the plate member22of the USB socket20.

Advantageously, because the fixed end portions of the outside pairs of metal contacts14and15extend longer towards the front end of the shell11than the fixed end portions of the inside pairs of contacts14and15extend, and the outside pairs of the contacts16of the stationary port13extend longer towards the front end of the shell11than the inside pairs of the contacts16of the stationary port13extend, the power supply connection is established before the signal communication at plug-in, and the signal communication is disconnected before the power supply at plug-out.