Connector retention features

Connector systems that may include improved locking and retention features. One example includes a connector plug having an opening to accept an end of a wide portion of a connector receptacle tongue. Another connector plug may include top and bottom rails for holding a wide portion of a connector receptacle tongue. The locking and retention features may provide a large locking force. Further examples may accordingly provide unlocking features.

BACKGROUND

The amount of data transferred between electronic devices has grown tremendously the last several years. Large amounts of audio, streaming video, text, and other types of data content are now regularly transferred among desktop and portable computers, media devices, handheld media devices, displays, storage devices, and other types of electronic devices. Power may be transferred with this data, or power may be transferred separately.

Power and data may be conveyed over cables that may include wire conductors, fiber optic cables, or some combination of these or other conductors. Cable assemblies may include a connector insert at each end of a cable, though other cable assemblies may be connected or tethered to an electronic device in a dedicated manner. The connector inserts may be inserted into receptacles in the communicating electronic devices.

It may be desirable that a connector insert not accidently disconnect from a connector receptacle during device operation. For example, during a large data transfer, if a connector insert disconnects from a connector receptacle, the transfer may become corrupted. This may require a transfer restart thereby costing a user time and may diminish the user's opinion of the electronic devices involved.

Thus, what is needed are inserts, receptacles, and apparatus for connector systems that are at least less likely to become accidently or inadvertently disconnected.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention may provide inserts, receptacles, and apparatus for connector systems that are at least less likely to become accidently or inadvertently disconnected.

An illustrative embodiment of the present invention may provide a first connector having one or more sides ground contacts having openings. These openings may be arranged to accept edges of a wide portion of a tongue on a second connector. During insertion, front edges of the side contacts may slide along outer edges of the wide portion of the tongue on the second connector. The opening in the side ground contact may have a front edge to engage an edge defining the wider portion of the tongue. The relative angle between these two surfaces and their relation to a direction of insertion of an insert into a receptacle may determine an amount of a retention force between two connectors. For instance, two flat surfaces facing each other, where the surfaces are orthogonal to a direction of insertion (or more specifically, extraction), may provide a robust locking feature, while more angled or slopped surfaces at other angles to the direction of insertion may provide retention forces that are more easily overcome.

Another illustrative embodiment of the present invention may provide a first connector having one or more side ground contacts formed from an upper and a lower rail. These upper and lower rails may include contacting portions at their ends that are arranged to hold a wide portion of a tongue on a second connector. In this example, during insertion, the upper and lower rail's contacting portions may slide across a top and bottom surface of the wide portion of the tongue. Facing edges of the wide portion of the tongue and contacting portions of the upper and lower rails may be angled relative to each other and to the direction of insertion (or extraction) in order to adjust an amount of retention force to a desired level.

In various embodiment of the present invention, it may be desirable to adjust a level of retention force provided by a retention mechanism. In various embodiment of the present invention, this may be done by adjusting an angle of contacting surfaces between one or more side contacts and a wider portion of a connector tongue both relative to each other and to a direction of insertion (or extraction.). For example, two opposing flat surfaces orthogonal to a direction of extraction may provide a high retention force in a robust locking mechanism. However, a user may inadvertently fail to release the locking mechanism and may attempt to pull the connectors apart. This force may damage either a side ground contact or a wide portion of a tongue in one or both of the connectors. Accordingly, one or both surfaces may be slightly angled to reduce the locking force to a level that prevents accidental disconnects while preventing damage when a large force is applied. In still other embodiments of the present invention, such as those employed in docking stations, only a slight retention force may be desirable so that a user does not pick up the docking station when extracting an electronic device, such as a phone or tablet device.

In various embodiments of the present invention, one or more side ground contacts may be located in either a connector insert or plug or a connector receptacle. The tongue may be included in either a connector receptacle or a connector insert or plug.

Further embodiments of the present invention may provide unlocking mechanisms to allow a user to remove the retention or locking force. Various embodiments of the present invention may provide unlocking mechanisms that may be actuated by one or more buttons on sides, top, or bottom of a connector insert.

Embodiments of the present invention may be used in connector inserts and receptacles for cables that may connect to various types of devices, such as portable computing devices, tablets, desktop computers, laptops, all-in-one computers, cell phones, smart phones, media phones, storage devices, portable media players, navigation systems, monitors, power supplies, adapters, and chargers, and other devices. These connector inserts may provide pathways for signals and power compliant with various standards such as Universal Serial Bus (USB), a High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI), Digital Visual Interface (DVI), power, Ethernet, DisplayPort, Thunderbolt, Lightning and other types of standard and non-standard interfaces.

Various embodiments of the present invention may incorporate one or more of these and the other features described herein. A better understanding of the nature and advantages of the present invention may be gained by reference to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1illustrates a connector receptacle and insert according to an embodiment of the present invention. This figure, as with the other included figures, is shown for illustrative purposes and does not limit either the possible embodiments of the present invention or the claims.

In this example, the connector insert may be inserted into the connector receptacle. Specifically, shield210of the connector insert may be inserted into shield110of connector receptacle. Tongue120may be inserted into an opening in the front of the connector insert. Contacts250of the connector insert may mate with contacts140in the connector receptacle. Contacts230of the connector insert may engage ground contacts (not shown) in the connector receptacle. Housing290may be grasped by a user during insertion and extraction of a connector insert into and out of the connector receptacle.

FIG. 2illustrates a connector system retention mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this example, one or two (or more) side ground contacts240may be located on a connector insert. Tongue120may be located in a connector receptacle and may have a wide portion formed by notch130. More specifically, notch130may narrow the tongue defining a narrow portion, leaving a wider portion to support contacts140. A first end of this wide portion of tongue120may fit in openings246of side ground contact240. Side ground contact240may have a leading edge242angled away from connector insert contacts250. Side ground contact240may further have an angled tab244at a front of opening246. In this example, shield210of the connector insert may include one or more contacts230to form electrical contact with one or more ground pads on tongue120.

During insertion, leading edge242of side ground contact240may engage the wide portion of tongue120. This may cause side ground contact240to deflect. When leading edge242reaches notch130, side ground contact240may return to its position thereby holding an edge of the wide portion of tongue120in opening246. During extraction, tab244may cause side ground contact240to again deflect, thereby releasing the tongue.

FIG. 3illustrates a top view of the connector system retention mechanism ofFIG. 2. Again, tongue120may have a wider portion defined by a notch130. Side ground contact240may include an angled leading edge242and an angled trailing edge244. The angled trailing edge244may be located in a front of an opening in the side ground contact240.

Again, an angle between a face of trailing edge244and tongue edge122relative to a direction of extraction may determine the amount of retention force provided by this mechanism. To provide a high retention or lock force, edge244may be made flat. An example is shown in the following figure.

FIG. 4illustrates another connector system retention mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this example, one or two side ground contacts440may include an opening446for accepting an end of a wide portion of a tongue120. As before, a leading edge442may be angled. The amount of this angle may provide a resistance to user inserting a connector insert into a connector receptacle. This leading edge may also pass along an outside edge surface of the wide portion of tongue120during insertion.

Again, during insertion, leading edge442may deflect when it encounters tongue120. When leading edge442reaches notch130, side ground contact440may return to its pre-biased state and hold an edge of the wide portion of tongue120in opening446.

FIG. 5illustrates a top view of the connector system retention mechanism ofFIG. 4. Again, side ground contacts440may include an angel to leading portion442. A wide portion of tongue120may be formed by notch130. More specifically, notch130may form a narrow portion of tongue120, forming a wider portion of tongue120in front of it toward the connector insert. Opposing faces122of tongue120and447of side ground contacts440may be relatively flat and orthogonal to the direction of extraction. This may in turn cause a large retention force, which may be referred to as a locking force.

FIG. 6illustrates an oblique view of a connector insert that includes the connector system retention mechanism ofFIG. 4. Specifically, one or more sides ground contacts440having opening446may be included.

Again, the arrangement inFIG. 4may provide a very high retention or locking force. In order to remove such a connector insert from a connector receptacle, the side ground contacts440may be moved away from tongue120and such that the side ground contact disengages the wide part of the tongue. Examples of unlocking mechanisms that may be employed by embodiments of the present invention are shown in the following figures.

FIG. 7illustrates an unlocking mechanism that may be employed by an embodiment of the present invention. The unlocking mechanism may include a button710that may be depressed by a user when removing a connector insert from a connector receptacle. A depressing force on button710may cause ground contact portion730to be pushed toward the inside of the connector insert. This may, in turn, pivot side ground contact440around point720, thereby pushing opening446away from tongue120. When the user releases button710, side ground contact portion720may actively return button720to its initial position and may further move side ground contact portion442towards an inside of the connector insert.

FIGS. 8-9illustrate another unlocking mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this example, button810may be depressed in a downward direction as shown, pushing aside elements820and830. This may push side ground contact portions840and850away from a tongue120. As shown inFIG. 9, when button810is released, side ground contacts840and850may return to their original pre-biased positions, thereby pushing elements820and830closer to each other and returning button810to its original position.

FIG. 10illustrates another connector system retention mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this example, a top rail1020and a bottom rail1010of a side ground contact may be arranged to hold a wide portion of tongue120. As before, the wide portion of tongue120may be defined by notch130. More specifically, the relative angles of faces1012,1022, and122may determine a retention or locking force provided. As with the other examples, a similar side ground contact may be provided at a far end of tongue120and is not shown here for clarity.

During insertion, upper and lower rails may deflect away from each other when they encounter tongue120. The rails may then slide along a top and bottom of tongue120. When contacting ends of the rails1010and1020reach notch130, they may return to their pre-biased state and hold the wide end of tongue120.

FIG. 11illustrates a side view of a connector system retention mechanism ofFIG. 10. As before, a side ground contact may include a top rail1020and a bottom rail1010. These rails may include contacting portions arranged to hold a wide portion of tongue120. Again, both the relative of angles of faces1012,1022, and122to each other and to the direction of extraction may be adjusted to provide a desired retention or locking force.

In this example, the rails of the side ground contacts may engage tongue120at approximately the same time during insertion as the remaining contacts of the connector insert. This may provide a smooth tactile response to user during insertion of a connector insert into a connector receptacle.

FIG. 12illustrates an oblique view of a connector insert employing in the connector system retention mechanism ofFIG. 10. Specifically, a side ground contact may include an upper rail1020and a lower rail1010.

Again, the connector system retention mechanism ofFIG. 10may provide a large locking force. Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention may provide an unlocking mechanism to unlock the connector insert and receptacle during extraction. An example of such an unlocking mechanism is shown in the following figure.

FIG. 13illustrates an unlocking mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention. Again, a side ground contact may include an upper rail1020and a lower rail1010. An unlocking mechanism may be actuated by a user depressing button1310. The depressing of this button may rotate an oblong portion1330about pivot point.1320, thereby pushing the upper rail1020and lower rail1010away from each other.

FIG. 14illustrates a rear view of the unlocking mechanism ofFIG. 13. Again, a user may depress button1310, thereby lowering arm1340. This may cause oblong portion1330to rotate, which may result in upper rail1020and lower rail1010being pushed away from each other.