Abstract:
Connector receptacles having a reduced height or z-dimension that are capable of accepting standard sized connector inserts. One example provides a connector having a reduction in the amount of height consumed by the deflection of a number of fingers. Specifically, the amount of deflection is reduced by eliminating one or more of these fingers on one or both sides of the connector receptacle. Instead of fingers, bumps may be used. These bumps fit into the connector insert cutouts or slots when the connector insert is fully inserted in the connector receptacle. Another example uses a rail, which may be referred to as speed rail. This speed rail can be formed along the seam of connector receptacle. The speed rail can run either a portion or the entire depth of the connector receptacle.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/242,712, filed Sep. 30, 2008, which claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 61/019,280, filed on Jan. 6, 2008, all of which are incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Mobile devices such as laptop and notebook computers, media players, and others have become ubiquitous the last few years and their popularity shows no signs of abating. To meet demand, designers have developed a wide range of devices having a constellation of form factors. One trend that has emerged is the desire for narrower, slimmer devices. Part of the motivation for this is practicality; a slimmer device is lighter and more portable. Part of the motivation is stylistic, thin devices, such a laptops, are simply attractive. 
     But there are limits to how slim a mobile device can get. One limiting factor has been the size of connectors used to interface these mobile devices to external devices. In particular, connector receptacles are typically located on the mobile devices. Cables having connector inserts on one or both ends are used to convey electronic or optical signals between the mobile device and an external device. 
     These connector receptacles typically have a certain height. Height may also be referred to as the z-dimension. Height consumed by the connector receptacle limits how slim the mobile device can get. Even if slimness is not the goal, this height is undesirable as it also consumes space inside the mobile device that could be used for circuitry or other components. Unfortunately, these receptacles cannot be made arbitrarily narrower. This is because they are often designed to receive a connector insert having a specified size. 
     Thus what is needed are circuits, methods, and apparatus that provide connector receptacles having a reduced height but that are capable of accepting standard sized connector inserts. 
     SUMMARY 
     Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention provide connector receptacles having a reduced height or z-dimension but are capable of accepting standard sized connector inserts. 
     An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a connector receptacle having a reduction in the amount of height consumed by the deflection of a number of fingers. Specifically, as a connector insert is inserted in the connector receptacle, the fingers deflect or open. As they deflect, the size of connector receptacle increases, thereby effectively increasing the height of the connector. When the connector insert is fully inserted into the connector receptacle, the fingers close by fitting into a cutout or slot on the connector insert. In a specific embodiment of the present invention, the total amount of deflection is reduced by eliminating one or more of these fingers. 
     Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention eliminates the fingers on one side of the connector receptacle. Instead of fingers, bumps, which may be referred to as speed bumps, are used. These bumps fit into the connector insert cutouts or slots when the connector insert is fully inserted in the connector receptacle. 
     Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention also eliminates the fingers on one side of the connector receptacle. Instead of fingers, a rail, which may be referred to as speed rail, is used. This speed rail can be formed along the seam of connector receptacle. The speed rail can run either a portion or the entire depth of the connector receptacle. 
     Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention eliminates the fingers on both side of the connector receptacle. Instead, a combination of speed bumps or speed rails can be used. In a specific embodiment of the present invention, the housing of the connector receptacle is split along each of two sides. This allows the connector receptacle to widen or deform as a connector insert is inserted. 
     Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a narrower connector receptacle having a tactile response close to that of a standard connector receptacle. That is, as a user inserts a connector insert, the initial friction and force needed to insert the connector insert is similar to that of a conventional receptacle. As the connector insert is fully inserted, the user experiences an expected tactile and possibly aural response letting her know that a connection has been made. Also, there is sufficient holding strength to maintain a connection during device use to provide a force to be overcome by the user when the connector insert is extracted. 
     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. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a data transfer system that may be improved by the incorporation of an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of a connector receptacle that may be improved by an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 3A-3D  illustrate side, front, top, and bottom views of a connector receptacle shell according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 4A-4D  illustrate the insertion of a connector insert into a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 5A-5D  illustrate another connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 6A-6D  illustrate forces encountered by a user inserting a connector insert into in a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 7A-7D  illustrate side, font, top, and bottom views of another connector receptacle shell according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 8A-8D  illustrate the forces involved when a connector insert is inserted into the connector receptacle of  FIGS. 7A-7D ; and 
         FIGS. 9A-9B  illustrate side and front views of a connector receptacle shell according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a data transfer system that may be improved by the incorporation of an embodiment of the present invention. The system includes a laptop  122  that may receive and transmit data from a USB device  130 . A data connection including cable  114 , connector insert  110 , and connector receptacle  120  facilitates data transfers between the laptop  122  and USB device  130 . This figure, as with the other included figures is shown for illustrative purposes only and does not limit on any possible embodiments of the present invention or the claims. 
     The connector insert  110  fits in the connector receptacle  120  forming electrical connections such that data can be transferred between the laptop  122  and the USB device  130  over the cable  114 . The connector insert  110  includes a connector insert housing  112  that may be held by a user when the connector insert  110  is inserted into the connector receptacle  120 . 
     In this specific example, a laptop  122  is shown. In other embodiments of the present invention, the connector receptacle  120  may be located on other mobile or non-mobile devices such as media players, desktop computers, notebook computers, or other electronic devices. The USB device  130  may be any appropriate device such as a monitor, disk drive, printer, or other electronic device. 
     While embodiments of the present invention are particularly suited to USB connector receptacles, other embodiments of the present invention may be used to improve other standard or proprietary connector receptacles. 
     Standard USB receptacles include a connector board or tongue. Contacts or connector pins are located on this tongue. These pins mate with pins on a connector insert forming electrical connections between the connector insert and the connector receptacle. An illustration of such a connector receptacle is shown in the following figure. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of a connector receptacle that may be improved by an embodiment of the present invention. The connector receptacle includes a connector receptacle shell  210 . Inside the connector receptacle shell  210  is a connector board or tongue  220 . Connector pins  230  are located on the tongue  220 . For USB, these pins include four pins total, specifically, a power, a ground, and two data pins. 
     Conventional USB receptacles include two cutouts or fingers (not shown) on the top of the receptacle shell  210  and two cutouts or fingers (not shown) on the bottom of the connector receptacle shell  210 . As a connector insert is inserted into the front of the connector receptacle shell  210 , these fingers deflect out of the way. This deflection must be accounted for in the design of the device circuitry or other components and housing surrounding the connector receptacle shell  210 . In various embodiments of the present invention, it is desirable to reduce this total deflection thereby reducing the effective height of the connector receptacle. In other embodiments of the present invention, it is desirable to shift the total deflection, such that the deflection occurs on only the top or bottom of the connector receptacle shell, instead of occurring on both sides of the receptacle shell. An embodiment of the present invention that achieves this is shown in the following figure. 
       FIGS. 3A-3D  illustrate side, front, top, and bottom views of a connector receptacle shell according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this example, one or more fingers  320  are placed on the bottom of the connector receptacle shell  310 . One or more bumps, referred to here as speed bumps  330 , replace fingers on the top of the connector receptacle shell  310 . Accordingly, there is no deflection on the top of the connector shell. Rather, all of the finger deflection occurs on the bottom of the connector receptacle shell  310 . By adjusting the height of the speed bump  330 , the total deflection and of the finger  320  may be made less than the total deflection of a standard USB connector receptacle. This in turn reduces the effective height of the connector receptacle shell  310 . 
       FIG. 3B  in this specific example illustrates two speed bumps  330  and two fingers  320 . When a connector insert is inserted into the connector receptacle, the speed bumps  330  and fingers  320  fit into cutouts or slots on the connector insert. 
       FIG. 3C  illustrates the positions of the speed bumps  330 . These speed bumps may be rectangular, circular, or have other shapes. The sides of the speed bumps  330  may be sloped, flat, or they may have other shapes. 
       FIG. 3D  illustrates exemplary shapes of the fingers  320 . These fingers may be formed by cutting out cutout portions  350  and bending the remaining finger  320  of the connector shell. While in this example, the end of the finger is rounded, other fingers in other embodiments of the present invention may have various shapes. For example, the end may be more squared off, it may be pointed, or it may have other shapes. 
     It is desirable that when a connector insert is inserted into this connector receptacle, that the connector receptacle provide a tactile response similar to that provided by a conventional connector receptacle. For example, it is desirable that the connector insert have similar initial friction, resistance to insertion, a positive tactile response such as a snap when inserted, hold strength, and resistance to connector insert removal, as compared to a conventional receptacle connector. These forces are adjusted by varying the size and shapes of the features of the connector receptacle. An example is shown in the following figures. 
       FIGS. 4A-4D  illustrate the insertion of a connector insert into a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention. In  FIG. 4A , a connector insert  440  is starting to be inserted into a connector receptacle  410 . At this time, the primary force acting on the connector insert  440  is friction along the sides of the connector receptacle  410 . 
     In  FIG. 4B , the user begins to feel resistance as she inserts the connector insert  440  into the connector receptacle. This is caused by the leading edge  442  of the connector insert  440  encountering either or both the speed bumps  430  or fingers  420 . This resistance can be adjusted by varying the height of the speed bumps  430  and fingers  420 . This resistance can also be adjusted by varying the thickness of the fingers  420  (which may be the same as the thickness of the connector receptacle shell) and the slopes of the front edges  436  of the speed bumps  430  and front edges  426  of the fingers  420 . 
     In  FIG. 4C , as the user continues to insert the connector insert  440 , the connector insert rides up on the speed bumps  430 . This in turn pushes the fingers  420  out of the way. Specifically the fingers  420  deflect an amount  450 . As the connector insert  440  is completely inserted in the connector receptacle  410 , the user feels a snap, which provides a positive tactile response informing the user that the insertion is complete. The degree of snap can be adjusted by varying the height and thickness of the fingers  420 . 
     In  FIG. 4D , the connector insert  440  is latched in the connector receptacle  410 . In this state, the speed bumps  430  are located in a cutout or slot on the connector insert  440 . The fingers  420  snap back into cutouts on the bottom of the connector insert  440 . These features also provide a hold force that helps prevent the connector insert  440  from being removed from the connector receptacle  410 . The hold force can be adjusted by varying the height of the speed bumps  430  and the fingers  420 , the thickness of fingers  420 , as well as the slopes of the trailing edge  438  of the speed bumps  430  and the trailing edge  428  of the fingers  420 . 
     As the user disengages the connector insert  440  from the connector receptacle  410 , these forces must be overcome. Like the hold force, the force necessary to extract the connector insert  440  from the connector receptacle can be adjusted by varying the heights of the speed bumps  430  and fingers  420 , the thickness of fingers  420 , as well as the slopes of the trailing edges  438  of the speed bumps  430  and the trailing edges  428  of the fingers  420 . 
     In other embodiments of the present invention, speed bumps are not used. Rather a rail, which may be formed as part of a seam along a top of a connector receptacle housing may be used. An example is shown in the following figure. 
       FIGS. 5A-5D  illustrate another connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention. This figure illustrates side, front, top, and bottom views of the connector receptacle. This connector receptacle employs a rail, which may be referred to as a speed rail  530 , along the top of the connector receptacle shell, and one or more fingers  520  along the bottom of the connector receptacle shell  510 . 
       FIG. 5A  illustrates the speed rail  530  along the top of the connector receptacle shell  510 . In various embodiments of the present invention, the rail may extend along the entire depth of the top of the connector receptacle shell  510 . In other embodiments, such as the one shown here, the speed rail  530  extends for a portion of the depth along the top of the connector receptacle shell  510 . 
       FIG. 5B  shows the position of the speed rail  530 ; in this example it is in the center of the top of the connector receptacle shell  510 . Again, two fingers  520  are shown on the bottom of the connector receptacle shell  510 . 
       FIG. 5A  illustrates the location of the speed rail  530  in this example. In other requirements of the present invention, the speed rail  530  may be placed in other locations.  FIG. 5D  illustrates two fingers  520  as before. In these various embodiments of the present invention, the fingers  520  may have other shapes. For example, they may be pointed, squared off, or have other shapes. 
     Again, it is desirable that the forces encountered when a connector insert is inserted into this connector receptacle be similar to that of a conventional connector receptacle. These forces are outlined in the following figure. 
       FIGS. 6A-6D  illustrate forces encountered by a user inserting a connector insert into in a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention. In  FIG. 6A , resistance begins when the leading edge  642  of connector insert  640  reaches the speed rail  630 . This resistance can be adjusted by varying the height and the slope of the front edge of the speed rail  630 . 
     In  FIG. 6B , the connector insert  640  rides up on the connector rail  630  and reaches the fingers  620 , where resistance increases again. This resistance can be adjusted by varying the height and thickness of the fingers  620 , as well as the slope of the front edges of the fingers  620 . 
     In  FIG. 6C , the fingers deflect out of the way as the connector insert  640  continues to be inserted into the connector receptacle  610 . As the connector insert  640  is completely inserted in the connector receptacle  610 , the user feels a snap, which provides a positive tactile response informing the user that the insertion is complete. The degree of snap can be adjusted by varying the height and thickness of the fingers  620 . 
     In  FIG. 6D , the connector insert  640  is latched in the connector receptacle  610 . In this case, the fingers  620  fit into cutouts or slots on the bottom of the connector insert  640 . It should be noted that the speed rail  630  does not fit into a top cutout or slot of the connector insert  640 . The hold and connector insert removal forces can be adjusted by varying the height and thickness of the fingers  620 , as well as the slope of the trailing edges of the fingers  620 . 
     In still another embodiment of the present invention, fingers are not used on the top or bottom of a connector receptacle shell. Rather, speed bumps or speed rails are used on either or both of the top and bottom of the connector receptacle shell. In this case, a portion of the connector receptacle shell may be cut away such that the connector receptacle shell may deform as a connector insert is inserted. In a specific embodiment of the present invention, the right and left sides of the connector receptacle shell are cut away beginning at the opening of the connector receptacle along at least a portion of the depth of the connector receptacle shell. An example is shown in the following figure. 
       FIGS. 7A-7D  illustrate side, font, top, and bottom views of another connector receptacle shell according to an embodiment of the present invention.  FIGS. 7A  shows a speed rail  730  that is employed along the top of the connector receptacle shell  710 , while one or more speed bumps  730  are located on the bottom of the connector receptacle shell  710 . The right and left sides are cut away as shown by the outline of the cutout  740 . This allows the top and bottoms of the connector receptacle shell to separate when a connector insert is inserted into the connector receptacle. 
       FIGS. 7B  shows that two speed bumps  720  are employed on the bottom, while one speed rail  730  is used on the top of the connector receptacle shell  710 . Cutout  740  illustrates locations where the right and left sides of the connector receptacle shell  710  are cut. 
       FIG. 7C  illustrates the location of the speed rail  730 , while  FIG. 7D  illustrates the positions of one or more speed bumps  720 . As before, the speed bumps  720  are located such that they fit in cutouts or slots on a connector insert when the connector insert is fully inserted into the connector receptacle. 
     Again, it is desirable that this connector receptacle shell provides an insertion experience similar to that of a conventional connector receptacle. Again the forces involved include an insertion force, a tactile feedback such as a snap when insertions is complete, and an amount of hold force that must be overcome when the connector insert is removed from the connector receptacle. These forces are shown in the following figure. 
       FIGS. 8A-8D  illustrate the forces involved when a connector insert is inserted into the connector receptacle of  FIGS. 7A-7D . In  FIG. 8A , the connector insert  840  faces only frictional forces as it begins to enter the connector receptacle  810 . The resistance begins to increase as the connector insert reaches the speed rail  830  in  FIG. 8B . This insertion resistance can be adjusted by varying the height of the speed rail  830 , as well as the slope of the front edge of the speed rail  830 . 
     In  FIG. 8C , the connector insert  840  reaches the speed bumps  820  and begins to deform in the connector receptacle  810 . Specifically, the top and bottom of the connector receptacle  810  begin to move away from each other. That is, the connector receptacle shell  810  opens, thereby allowing the insertion of the connector insert  840 . The force at this time can be adjusted by varying the height and slope of the front edge of the speed bumps  820 , as well as the width of the side cutouts. 
     As the connector insert  840  is completely inserted in the connector receptacle  810 , the user feels a snap, which provides a positive tactile response informing the user that the insertion is complete. The degree of snap can be adjusted by varying the height of the speed bump  820  as well as the width of the cutouts on the left and right sides of the connector receptacle shell  810 . 
     In  FIG. 8D , the connector insert  840  is latched in the connector receptacle  810 . As before, the speed bump  820  fits in a cutout or slot on the connector insert  840 . The hold and extraction forces can be adjusted by varying the width of the cutouts on the left and right sides of the connector receptacle shell  810 , as well as the height of the speed bump  820  and slope of the trailing edge of the speed bump  820 . 
     In various embodiments of the present invention, it is desirable to minimize the opening of a connector receptacle. This may be for aesthetic, dust particle, or other reasons. This is possible, particularly with an embodiment of the present invention that employs a speed rail. An example of this is shown in the following figure. 
       FIGS. 9A-9B  illustrate side and front views of a connector receptacle shell according to an embodiment of the present invention. This connector receptacle shell  910  employs a speed bump  930  on its top and one or more fingers  920  on its bottom. A receptacle cover  990  may be used to reduce the size of the opening  950  of the connector receptacle shell  910 . Again, this may be for aesthetic reasons, to simply reduce the opening  950  to avoid the introduction of dust or other contaminants, or for other reasons. 
     The above description of exemplary embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form described, and many modifications and variations are possible in light of the teaching above. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.