Abstract:
Interconnection systems are shown that include communication contacts, and a guide. Configurations are shown with a guide that locates a male portion with respect to a female portion and guides their engagement before any communication contacts are engaged. Configurations are also shown with a guide that includes one or more power contacts.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    Various embodiments described herein relate to apparatus, systems, and methods associated with interconnection systems. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    As electronic devices are getting smaller, interconnection systems (e.g., cables, connections, interfaces, mechanisms, and/or structures and the like) are also getting smaller . As size is reduced, concerns such as mechanical integrity and reliability become more prominent. One example includes peripheral devices for computers. Universal Serial Bus (USB) interconnection systems have evolved from USB type A, to mini USB, to micro USB. Other electronic devices also use interconnection systems for items such as removable memory cards. Such cards are typically used so that the edges of the card act as alignment surfaces, which may result in a slight misalignment with regards to the electrical connections of the card and receptacle. For example, electronic devices such as digital cameras, tablet computers, mobile telephones, etc. can interface with memory cards. What is needed is an improved interconnection system with properties such as good mechanical integrity and reliability. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0003]      FIG. 1  shows an isometric view of an interconnection system according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0004]      FIG. 2  shows a front view of a memory device from  FIG. 1  according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0005]      FIG. 3A  shows a guide according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0006]      FIG. 3B  shows a guide according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0007]      FIG. 3C  shows a guide according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  shows an information handling system according to an embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0009]    In the following detailed description of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof and in which are shown, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Other embodiments may be utilized and logical, electrical, material changes, etc. may be made. 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  shows an interconnection system  100  according to an embodiment of the invention. An male portion  102  is shown with a corresponding female portion  120 . In the example shown, the male portion  102  can be integrated with a peripheral electronic device, and the female portion  120  can be arranged as a socket of a host device (not shown). In other examples, the peripheral device may include the female portion, and the host device may include the male portion. 
         [0011]    The male portion  102  in  FIG. 1  can be structured as part of a card. In one example, the card includes non-volatile memory such as flash memory. The memory device may include a number of possible configurations (e.g. NAND, NOR, etc.). The card may contain some input/output functionality, such as IEEE 802.11 wireless capability, or even combinations of functionality. Although the male portion  102  shown in  FIG. 1  includes a memory device, the invention is not so limited. In other embodiments, the male portion  102  includes an end of a cord (not shown) coupled between, for example, a host device, and a peripheral device. 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  shows the male portion  102  including a unique geometry that mates with the female portion  120 . For example, a slanted side  106  and a rail  104  are shown on the male portion  102 . Configurations with unique features (e.g. slants, rails) prevent users from inadvertently trying to couple the male portion  102  with the female portion  120  in the wrong way. By providing only one way to insert the male portion  102  into the female portion  120 , unwanted events such as short circuits, mechanical damage, etc. are prevented. 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  also illustrates a latch  108 . In selected embodiments, for example a memory card embodiment, the male portion  102  is inserted into the female portion  120 , and latched to prevent the memory card or other device from falling out of the female portion  120 .  FIG. 1  further illustrates a bias post  130 , such as a spring loaded post. In selected examples, the male portion  102  is pushed into the female portion  120  once to engage the latch  108 . If removal of the male portion  102  is desired, a second push deactivates the latch  108 , and the bias post  130  at least partially ejects the male portion  102  from within the female portion  120 . 
         [0014]    A number of first communication contacts (e.g., connectors, conductors, pins, posts, terminals, waveguides, etc.)  121  are shown in the female portion  120 , to interface with a number of second communication contacts (not shown) on the male portion  102 . In one example, the communication contacts  121  include electronic communication contacts, such as metal conductors. In one example, the communication contacts  121  include optical communication contacts, such as fiber optic interfaces. 
         [0015]    In one example, the communication contacts  121  are grouped into one or more arranged protocols, such as USB, SATA, etc.  FIG. 1  illustrates a USB 2.0 protocol arrangement  122  and a USB 3.0 protocol arrangement  124 . Other examples of protocols include mini USB 2.0, and micro USB 2.0. An unoccupied region  126  is included in one example for future inclusion of additional protocol arrangements. Although two separate protocol arrangements  122 ,  124  are shown in  FIG. 1 , other examples include only one arrangement, or more than two. 
         [0016]    In addition to communication contacts  121 , in one example, a port  140  may be included for transmission of media, such as gas or liquid media. For example, liquid can be transmitted for cooling of one or more components. Hydrogen gas can be transmitted for power, such as in a hydrogen fuel cell. A port  140  is shown in the front view of the male portion  120  of  FIG. 2 . In one embodiment, the port  140  is located within a region  116  for expansion of additional future protocol arrangements. In one embodiment, the port  140  is integrated within a guide  128 , as described below. 
         [0017]    A guide (e.g., a pin, post, etc.)  128  is further illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The guide  128  includes a leading taper section  132  and a tolerance fit section  134 . In the present disclosure, a tolerance fit describes an interface between two components (e.g. guide  128  and guide hole  118 ) where the tightness of the fit is controlled to limit an available amount of play between the components. Inclusion of a tolerance fit in a mechanically robust component such as a guide, and the resulting limited amount of play available, can protect more sensitive components such as communication contacts from damage due to excessive play during insertion of the male portion  102  into the female portion  120 . 
         [0018]    In one example, the guide  128  is configured with a length, such that when the male portion  102  is inserted into the female portion  120 , the leading taper section is the first item within the female portion  120  to make contact on the front surface  103  of the male portion  102 . Next, the tolerance fit section  134  of the guide  128  engages (e.g., mates with) a guide hole ( 118  in  FIG. 2 ) in the male portion. 
         [0019]    In one example, any tolerance issue between the male portion&#39;s rail and slanted side ( 104  and  106  in  FIG. 1 ), and the female portion&#39;s ( 120  in  FIG. 1 ) matching mating surfaces, and the male portion&#39;s ( 102  in  FIG. 1 ) communication contacts and the female portion&#39;s communication contacts ( 121  in  FIG. 1 ), may be resolved by having section  134  of the guide  128  engage the guide hole before any communication contacts  121  interface with each other between the male portion  102  and the female portion  120 . When the tolerance fit section  134  engages the guide hole  118  first, alignment of the male portion  102  and the female portion  120  is ensured prior to any engagement between corresponding communication contacts. This protects the communication contacts  121  from mechanical damage. 
         [0020]    In one example, the guide  128  further includes one or more power contact surfaces.  FIG. 2  shows the guide hole  118  with a number of contact surfaces  119  that correspond to power contact surfaces on the guide  128 . Although four contact surfaces  119  are show in the guide hole  118  of  FIG. 2 , other configurations may include one, two, three or more contact surfaces. Example configurations of power contact surfaces on guides  128  are discussed in more detail below, regarding  FIGS. 3A-3C .  FIG. 2  further shows a first mating connection  112  and a second mating connection  14  for coupling with protocol arrangements  122  and  124  respectively. 
         [0021]    In one example, power contact surfaces on the guide  128  engage corresponding power contact surfaces  119  within the guide hole  118  before any communication contacts  121  interface with each other between the male portion  102  and the female portion  120 . In one example, the power contact surfaces on the guide  128  are located within the tolerance fit section  134  of the guide  128  to facilitate the timing of engagement. When the power contact surfaces on the guide  128  engage power contact surfaces  119  within the guide hole  118  first, an electrical connection between the male portion  102  and the female portion  120  is ensured prior to any engagement between corresponding communication contacts. In one example, engagement between the power contact surfaces on the guide  128  and the power contact surfaces  119  within the guide hole  118  is monitored by a circuit, and no transmission (e.g. data transmission) is performed before the power connection is checked. This protects the communication contacts  121  and devices such as memory cells coupled to the communication contacts from electrical damage. 
         [0022]    In one example the guide provides the additional functionality of a heat exchange capability between the female portion  120  and the male portion  102 , such as a heat pipe. In one example the guide provides the additional functionality of a conduit for exchange of other gaseous or liquid materials to support male portion  102  functionality. 
         [0023]    Although a single guide  128  is shown, other embodiments may include multiple guides  128 . In one example different guides  128  include one or more different functionalities described above, such as heat exchange, power supply, material transport, etc. 
         [0024]      FIG. 3A  shows one example of a guide  310  that may be used similar to guide  128  from  FIG. 1 . The guide  310  includes a tolerance fit section  312  and a non-conductive leading taper section  314 . The leading taper section  314  is shown in a front end view  316 . The guide  310  includes two power contact surfaces  318  and  320 , with an insulating material  319  separating the contact surfaces  318  and  320 . In the example shown, the power contact surfaces  318  and  320  are on opposite sides of the guide  310 . Other configurations may include the power contact surfaces  318  and  320  on adjacent sides of the guide  310 . 
         [0025]    In one example, the power contact surface  318  includes a supply contact surface. Examples of supply voltages may include 3.3V, 1.8V, or other voltages suitable for powering a peripheral device. In one example, power contact surface  320  include a ground contact surface. In other examples, the power contact surface  320  may include a voltage that is different than the power contact surface  318 . 
         [0026]      FIG. 3B  shows another example of a guide  330  that may be used similar to guide  128  from  FIG. 1 . The guide  330  includes a tolerance fit section  332  and a leading taper section  334 . The leading taper section  334  is shown in a front end view  336 . Similar to guide  310 , the guide  330  includes two power contact surfaces  338  and  340 , with an insulating material  339  separating the contact surfaces  338  and  340 . In the example shown, the power contact surfaces  338  and  340  are on opposite sides of the guide  330 . 
         [0027]    In  FIG. 3B , the power contact surface  338  includes a supply contact surface. Examples of supply voltages may include 3.3V, 1.8V, or other voltages suitable for powering a peripheral device. In one example power contact surface  340  include a ground contact surface. In  FIG. 3B , the ground power contact surface  340  is integrated with, or otherwise coupled to, the leading taper section  334 . This configuration facilitates the ground power contact surface  340  engaging before the supply contact surface  338 . This configuration can further prevent electrical damage by ensuring a ground before any power is supplied. 
         [0028]      FIG. 3C  shows another example of a guide  350  that may be used similar to guide  128  from  FIG. 1 . The guide  350  includes a tolerance fit section  352  and a non-conductive leading taper section  354 . The leading taper section  354  is shown in a front end view  356 . The guide  350  includes more than two contact surfaces separated by insulating material  359 .  FIG. 3C  shows a first contact surface  358 , a second contact surface  360 , a third contact surface  362 , and a fourth contact surface  364 . 
         [0029]    In the example shown, the first contact surface  358 , and the second contact surface  360  are both supply contact surfaces, with different voltages. In one example, the first contact surface  358  is a 3.3V supply, and the second contact surface  360  is a 1.8V supply. In one example, the third contact surface  362  is a ground. In one example the fourth contact surface  364  provides one or more communication contacts such as supporting a system peripheral interface (SPI) or I 2 C interface. 
         [0030]      FIG. 3C , in the end view  356 , illustrates the contact surfaces  358 ,  360 ,  362 ,  364 , located in a recess below a surface  366  of the tolerance fit section  352 . This configuration provides good mechanical alignment of the male portion  102  and female portion  120 , without relying on the contact surfaces  358 ,  360 ,  362 ,  364  as the alignment surfaces. The surface  366  of the tolerance fit section  352  can be made of a material that provides better friction and wear characteristics, while the contact surfaces  358 ,  360 ,  362 ,  364  can be made of materials that provide better power transmission. 
         [0031]    An embodiment of an information handling system such as a computer is included in  FIG. 4  to show an embodiment of a high-level device application.  FIG. 4  is a block diagram of an information handling system  400  incorporating a interconnection system according to an embodiment of the invention. The information handling system  400  shown in  FIG. 4  is merely one example of a system in which the present invention can be used. Other examples include, but are not limited to, tablet computers, notebook PSs, cellular telephones, media players, aircraft, satellites, military vehicles, etc. 
         [0032]    In this example, information handling system  400  comprises a data processing system that includes a system bus  402  to couple the various components of the system. System bus  402  provides communications links among the various components of the information handling system  400  and may be implemented as a single bus, as a combination of busses, or in any other suitable manner. 
         [0033]    Chip assembly  404  is coupled to the system bus  402 . Chip assembly  404  may include any circuit or operably compatible combination of circuits. In one embodiment, chip assembly  404  includes a processor  406  that can be of any type. As used herein, “processor” means any type of computational circuit such as, but not limited to, a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a graphics processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), or any other type of processor or processing circuit or cores thereof. Multiple processors such as “multi-core” devices are also within the scope of the invention. 
         [0034]    In one embodiment, a memory device  407 , is included in the chip assembly  404 . Those skilled in the art will recognize that a wide variety of memory device configurations may be used in the chip assembly  404 . Acceptable types of memory chips include, but are not limited to, Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAMs) such as SDRAMs, SLDRAMs, RDRAMs and other DRAMs. Memory chip  407  can also include non-volatile memory such as NAND memory or NOR memory. 
         [0035]    In one embodiment, additional logic chips  408  other than processor chips are included in the chip assembly  404 . An example of a logic chip  408  other than a processor includes an analog to digital converter. Other circuits on logic chips  408  such as custom circuits, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), etc. are also included in one embodiment of the invention. 
         [0036]    Information handling system  400  may also include external components  411 , which can include one or more functional elements, such as one or more modular memory components  412 , such as hard drives, one or more devices that handle removable media  413  such as memory cards, compact disks (CDs), digital video disks (DVDs), and the like, and/or removable or modular input/output functionality for removable peripherals  415 , such as IEEE 802.11, GSM, CDMA, Bluetooth and the like. In one example, one or more external components  411  and a removable interface include an interconnection system according to embodiments of the invention. 
         [0037]    Information handling system  400  may also include a display device  409  such as a monitor, additional peripheral components  410 , such as speakers, etc. and a keyboard and/or controller  414 , which can include a mouse, or any other device that permits a system user to input data into and receive data from the information handling system  400 . 
         [0038]    While a number of embodiments of the invention are described, the above lists are not intended to be exhaustive. Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that any arrangement that is calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiment shown. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of embodiments of the present invention. It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments, will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon studying the above description.