Abstract:
A combination terminal includes a first logic circuit that is configured to interface with a first device using a first protocol. The combination terminal also includes a second logic circuit configured to interface with a second device using a second protocol. The combination terminal includes a retractable portion that includes a first plurality of contacts and retracts based upon an insertion of the second device; connects a first portion of the first device with the first logic circuit; and selects an active logic circuit. The combination terminal includes a static portion comprising a second plurality of contacts and connects the second device with the second logic circuit; and connects a second portion of the first device with the first logic circuit using the second plurality of contacts. The first device is connected to the first logic circuit using the first plurality of contacts and the second plurality of contacts.

Description:
CONTINUITY DATA 
     The present application is a continuation of, and claims priority to, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/299,223, filed Nov. 17, 2011. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Form factors of computing devices, such as laptops, tablets, cell phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), etc., generally continue to become smaller and smaller. In addition, various input and output ports/slots such as universal serial bus (USB) ports, secure digital (SD) slots, etc., can be integrated into computing devices. 
     SUMMARY 
     In general, one aspect of the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in a combination terminal that includes a first logic circuit that is configured to interface with a first insertable device using a first protocol. The combination terminal also includes a second logic circuit configured to interface with a second insertable device using a second protocol. The first protocol and the second protocol are different. The combination terminal also includes a retractable portion that includes a first plurality of contacts. The retractable portion is configured to retract based upon an insertion of the second insertable device; connect a first portion of the first insertable device with the first logic circuit using the first plurality of contacts; and select an active logic circuit from the first logic circuit or the second logic circuit. The combination terminal also includes a static portion comprising a second plurality of contacts. The static portion is configured to connect the second insertable device with the second logic circuit using the second plurality of contacts; and connect a second portion of the first insertable device with the first logic circuit using the second plurality of contacts. The first insertable device is connected to the first logic circuit based upon the first plurality of contacts in conjunction with the second plurality of contacts. Other implementations of this aspect include corresponding systems, apparatuses, and methods. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The details of one or more implementations of the subject matter described in this specification are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, aspects, and advantages of the subject matter will become apparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims. 
         FIG. 1A  illustrates contacts of a USB series A plug. 
         FIG. 1B  illustrates contacts of an SD card. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a combination terminal in an unretracted state in accordance with an illustrative implementation. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a combination terminal in a retracted state in accordance with an illustrative implementation. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a combination terminal in a housing in accordance with an illustrative implementation. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a combination terminal in an unretracted state in accordance with an illustrative implementation. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a combination terminal in a retracted state in accordance with an illustrative implementation. 
     
    
    
     Like reference numbers and designations in the various drawings indicate like elements. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Computing devices can connect to various devices and modules. USB offers one way in which various devices can connect to other devices. For example, a mouse, keyboard, hard drive, etc., can be connected to a computer device or other device using a USB port. USB supports numerous different form factors. One example is a USB series “A” plug that includes four contacts aligned in series.  FIG. 1A  illustrates contacts of a USB series A plug  100 . A USB series “A” plug can be inserted into a corresponding USB series “A” receptacle. Contacts  102 ,  104 ,  106 , and  108  can come into physical contact with corresponding contacts of the receptacle. From these contacts, data can be sent/received between the connected devices. The width of the contacts  102 ,  104 ,  106 , and  108  can be 1.00 millimeters (mm) in width +/−0.05 mm. In addition, the space between the centers of contacts  104  and  106  can be 2.00 mm +/−0.05 mm. The space between the centers of contacts  102  and  104  can be 2.50 mm +/0 0.05 mm. 
     Memory cards can be connected to devices using various slots, including an SD slot. Similar to USB, there are various form factors for SD memory cards. One such form factor is the standard SD form factor.  FIG. 1B  illustrates contacts of a standard SD card  150 . The SD card  150  can be inserted into a corresponding SD card receptacle. The SD card  150  has contacts  152 - 168  that can come into physical contact with corresponding contacts of the receptacle. The contacts  152 - 164  can have a width of 1.40 mm and a spacing of 1.10 mm. The widths of the contacts  166  and  168  can be 1.10 mm and 0.90 mm, respectively. The spacing between contacts  166  and  168  can be 0.07 mm, and the spacing between contacts  164  and  166  can be 1.15 mm. The various widths and relative positions disclosed regarding the contacts of the SD card  150  have a general tolerance of +/−0.15 mm. 
     From these contacts, data can be sent/received between the device and the memory card. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a combination terminal in an unretracted state in accordance with an illustrative implementation. In one implementation, the combination terminal  200  has two portions, a retractable portion  202  and a static portion  204 . The static portion  204  is fixed and does not move. In other implementations, the combination terminal  200  can include multiple retractable portions and a static portion. In one implementation, the static portion  204  includes four contacts  212 - 218 , and the retractable portion  202  includes five contacts  220 - 228 . The contacts can be made of any conductive material such as, but not limited to, gold. The retractable portion  202  can be in one of two states, a retracted state and an unretracted state. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a combination terminal in a retracted state in accordance with an illustrative implementation. In some implementations, the combination terminal can be housed in a computing device.  FIG. 4  illustrates a combination terminal in a housing in accordance with an illustrative implementation. In one implementation, housing  400  is a housing of a computing device. The housing  400  can expose all of the contacts of the combination terminal. The housing  400  can also expose a portion of a face  402  of the retractable portion  202  and the entire face  404  of the static portion  204 . The exposed portion of the face  402  can be used to move the retractable portion  202  into the retracted state. In one implementation, the retractable portion  202  can be operably connected to a spring. In this implementation, the retractable portion  202  is spring loaded, such that the retractable portion  202  moves into the unretracted state when pressure is not asserted against the retractable portion  202 . For example, an insertable device can interact with only the contacts of the static portion  204 . In this example, the insertable device can contact the exposed portion of the face  402  and when the insertable device is inserted move the retractable portion  202  into a retracted state. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , the spacing and size of the USB contacts  102 ,  104 ,  106 , and  108  are similar, although not exactly the same, compared to the spacing and size of the contacts  152 - 168  of the SD card  150 . Accordingly, in one implementation the combination terminal can be used to connect either a series A USB plug or an SD memory card. In this implementation, the contacts  212 - 218  of the static portion  204  can be used to connect both the USB plug and a portion the SD memory card to a device. The contacts  212 - 218  of the static portion combined with the contacts  220 - 228  of the retractable portion can be used to connect the SD memory card with the device. Because contacts  212 - 218  are used to connect both the USB plug and the SD memory card, these contacts serve dual purposes based upon the type of device inserted into the combination terminal. 
     To interact with either a USB plug or an SD memory card, two different types of logic circuits can be used. The logic circuits interact with either the USB plug or the SD memory card to read/write data to/from the USB plug or the SD memory card. In one implementation, the two different logic circuits can be separate logic circuits. In another implementation, the two logic circuits can be combined into a single logic circuit that can interact with either a USB plug or an SD memory card. The retractable portion  202  can include two additional contacts  516  and  520 . These contacts can be used to select between two different circuits/logics  502  and  504  that can be used to interact with an SD memory card or a USB plug, respectively.  FIG. 5  illustrates a combination terminal in an unretracted state in accordance with an illustrative implementation. In the unretracted state, contact  520  is physically connected through an interconnect  518  to a first logic circuit  502 . In this state, a second logic circuit  504  is not connected to the combination terminal through the contact  516 . In one implementation, this logic circuit can be used to interact with an SD memory card. In this implementation, both the contacts from the retractable portion  202  and the static portion  204  are interconnected to the first logic circuit  502 . 
     When the retractable portion  202  is moved into the retracted state, the retractable portion connects to the second logic circuit  504  using the contact  516  through an interconnect  514 . Accordingly, the first logic circuit  502  is not connected to the combination terminal through the contact  520 .  FIG. 6  illustrates a combination terminal in a retracted state in accordance with an illustrative implementation. In one implementation, the second logic circuit  504  can be used to interact with a USB plug. In this implementation, the four contacts of the static portion  204  are connected to the second logic circuit  504 . In some implementations, the contacts of the retractable portion can be inactive when the combination terminal is in the retracted state, as they are not needed to interact with a USB plug. 
     In one implementation, the combination terminal can be used to connect either a USB plug or an SD memory card. When inserted, the USB plug will move the retractable portion  202  into a retracted state, such that data can be sent/received through the USB plug using the second logic circuit  504 . When a USB plug is not inserted, the retractable portion  202  is in an unretracted state. In this state, when an SD memory card is inserted, the combination terminal can be used to read/write data to/from the SD memory card using the first logic circuit  502 . 
     The term “computing device” encompasses all kinds of apparatus, devices, and machines for processing data, including by way of example a programmable processor, a computer, a system on a chip, or multiple ones, or combinations of the foregoing. The apparatus can include special purpose logic circuitry, e.g., an FPGA (field programmable gate array) or an ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit). The apparatus can also include, in addition to hardware, code that creates an execution environment for the computer program in question, e.g., code that constitutes processor firmware, a protocol stack, a database management system, an operating system, a cross-platform runtime environment, a virtual machine, or a combination of one or more of them. The apparatus and execution environment can realize various different computing model infrastructures, such as web services, distributed computing and grid computing infrastructures. 
     While this specification contains many specific implementation details, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of any inventions or of what may be claimed, but rather as descriptions of features specific to particular implementations of particular inventions. Certain features described in this specification in the context of separate implementations can also be implemented in combination in a single implementation. Conversely, various features described in the context of a single implementation can also be implemented in multiple implementations separately or in any suitable subcombination. Moreover, although features may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, one or more features from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination, and the claimed combination may be directed to a subcombination or variation of a subcombination. 
     Thus, particular implementations of the subject matter have been described. Other implementations are within the scope of the following claims. In some cases, the actions recited in the claims can be performed in a different order and still achieve desirable results. In addition, the processes depicted in the accompanying figures do not necessarily require the particular order shown, or sequential order, to achieve desirable results. In certain implementations, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous.