Patent Publication Number: US-8523593-B2

Title: Standard receptacle connector with plug detecting functions and sink-type receptacle connector with plug detecting functions

Description:
The present invention is a divisional application of a U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/097,129 filed on Apr. 29, 2011. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a connector, and more particularly to a standard receptacle connector with plug detecting functions and a sink-type receptacle connector with plug detecting functions. Each aforementioned receptacle connector complies with the USB protocol and is capable of detecting and providing power for an external plug connector inserted in and connected to the receptacle connector. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Conventional Universal Serial Bus (USB) 2.0 connectors are widely used in various electronic devices. Most computer peripherals are equipped with USB connectors. Because electronic devices are constantly developed to increase transmission speed thereof, the USB 2.0 protocol does not meet the current transmission speed requirement of new electronic devices. Therefore, the USB Implementers Forum sets forth new USB 3.0 protocol for higher data transmission speed. 
     The USB 3.0 protocol is compatible with the USB 2.0 protocol and theoretically provides 5 Gbps of data transmission speed. 
     Generally, USB receptacle connectors are mounted on printed circuit boards (PCBs) such as motherboards of desktops and laptops and have a power terminal to provide a connected external electronic device with electric power. Current PCBs are designed to selectively switch to a power-saving mode. Under the power-saving mode, the PCB cuts off electric power supplied to devices or interface cards connected to the PCB. Accordingly the electric power supplied to the USB receptacle connectors is also cut off. 
     In particular aspects, some users have a demand that the PCBs of the desktops and laptops under the power-saving mode still provide electric power to external electronic devices through the USB receptacle connectors. 
     However, a conventional USB 3.0 receptacle connector is not designed to timely detect the insertion of a USB plug connector to start to supply electric power under the power-saving mode of a PCB on which the USB 3.0 receptacle connector is mounted. 
     To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides a standard receptacle connector with plug detecting functions and a sink-type receptacle connector with plug detecting functions to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The main objective of the invention is to provide a standard receptacle connector with plug detecting functions and a sink-type receptacle connector with plug detecting functions. Each aforementioned receptacle connector complies with the USB protocol and is capable of detecting and providing power for an external plug connector inserted in and connected to the receptacle connector. 
     A standard receptacle connector in accordance with the present invention comprises an insulating housing, multiple first terminals, multiple second terminals, a plug detecting terminal and a shell. The first and second terminals and the plug terminal are mounted on the insulating housing. The shell covers the insulating housing and all of the terminals. The plug detecting terminal is capable of being connected to a controlling circuit incorporated in a PCB on which the standard receptacle connector is mounted and selectively activates the controlling circuit to provide power to an external plug connector that is inserted in and connected to the standard receptacle connector. 
     Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a partially exploded perspective view of a first embodiment of a standard receptacle connector with plug detecting functions in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the standard receptacle connector in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of the standard receptacle connector in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the receptacle connector in  FIG. 1 , omitting the shell and the protection bracket; 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of a second embodiment of the standard receptacle connector in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a bottom view of the standard receptacle connector in  FIG. 5 , omitting the shell; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the standard receptacle connector in  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a front view of a third embodiment of the standard receptacle connector in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a side view of the standard receptacle connector in  FIG. 8 , omitting the shell; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the standard receptacle connector in  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a front view of a fourth embodiment of the standard receptacle connector in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 12  is a side view of the standard receptacle connector in  FIG. 11 , omitting the shell; 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the standard receptacle connector in  FIG. 12 ; 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a sink-type receptacle connector with plug detecting functions in accordance with the present invention when connected to a plug connector; 
         FIG. 15  an exploded perspective view of the sink-type receptacle connector and plug connector in  FIG. 14 ; 
         FIG. 16  is a perspective view of the sink-type receptacle connector in  FIG. 14 , omitting the shell; 
         FIG. 17  is an exploded perspective view of the sink-type receptacle connector in  FIG. 14 ; 
         FIG. 18  is a front view of the sink-type receptacle connector in  FIG. 14 ; 
         FIG. 19  is a side view of the sink-type receptacle connector in  FIG. 16 ; and 
         FIG. 20  is an exploded perspective view of a second embodiment of the sink-type receptacle connector with plug detecting functions in accordance with the present invention when connected to a plug connector. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 to 4 , a first embodiment of a standard receptacle connector with plug detecting functions in accordance with the present invention is compatible with the USB 3.0 standard-A-type receptacle connector and may be connected to a plug connector. The USB 3.0 specification disclosing various types of USB 3.0 receptacle and plug connectors has been released and published on the USB-IF website: “http://www.usb.org/developers/docs/” which is incorporated herein for reference. 
     The standard receptacle connector comprises an insulating housing ( 10 ), multiple first terminals ( 30 ), multiple second terminals ( 50 ), a plug detecting terminal ( 40 ), a shell ( 60 ) and a protection bracket ( 20 ). 
     The insulating housing ( 10 ) has a base ( 11 ) and a tongue ( 12 ). The base ( 11 ) has a front, a rear, a top ( 111 ), a bottom ( 113 ) and two opposite sides ( 112 ) and further has a mounting slot ( 115 ). The mounting slot ( 115 ) is defined in the bottom ( 113 ) of the base ( 11 ). 
     The tongue ( 12 ) is formed on and protrudes forward from the front of the base ( 11 ) and has a bottom surface. 
     The first terminals ( 30 ) are mounted on the insulating housing ( 10 ) and are capable of implementing USB 2.0 protocol. Each first terminal ( 30 ) has a first mounting section ( 31 ), a first contacting section ( 32 ) and a first soldering section ( 33 ). 
     The first mounting section ( 31 ) is mounted on the base ( 11 ). 
     The first contacting section ( 32 ) is formed on and protrudes forward from the first mounting section ( 31 ) and is mounted on the bottom surface of the tongue ( 12 ). 
     The first soldering section ( 33 ) is formed on and protrudes down from the first mounting section ( 31 ). 
     The second terminals ( 50 ) are mounted on the insulating housing ( 10 ) and are capable of cooperating with the first terminals ( 30 ) to implement USB 3.0 protocol. Each second terminal ( 50 ) has a second mounting section ( 51 ), a second contacting section ( 52 ) and a second soldering section ( 53 ). 
     The second mounting section ( 51 ) is mounted on the base ( 11 ). 
     The second contacting section ( 52 ) is formed on and protrudes forward from the second mounting section ( 51 ) and is mounted on the bottom surface of the tongue ( 12 ). 
     The second soldering section ( 53 ) is formed on and protrudes down from the second mounting section ( 51 ). 
     The plug detecting terminal ( 40 ) is mounted on the bottom ( 113 ) of the base ( 11 ) of the insulating housing ( 10 ) and has a mounting segment ( 41 ), a resilient detecting arm ( 42 ) and a soldering segment ( 43 ). 
     The mounting segment ( 41 ) is mounted in the mounting slot ( 115 ) of the bottom of the base ( 11 ) of the insulating housing ( 10 ) and has two side ends and two embedding tabs ( 411 ). The embedding tabs ( 411 ) are formed respectively on and protrude upward from the side ends of the mounting segment ( 41 ) and are embedded in the base ( 11 ). Each embedding tab ( 411 ) has multiple teeth formed on the embedding tab ( 411 ) and biting the base ( 11 ). 
     The resilient detecting arm ( 42 ) is formed on and protrudes forward from the mounting segment ( 41 ) and has a distal end and a contacting protrusion ( 421 ). The contacting protrusion ( 421 ) is formed on the distal end of the resilient detecting arm ( 42 ) and protrudes toward the tongue ( 12 ) of the insulating housing ( 10 ). 
     The soldering segment ( 43 ) is formed on and protrudes down from the mounting segment ( 41 ). 
     The shell ( 60 ) may be made of metal, covers the insulating housing ( 10 ), has a cavity ( 600 ) and may further have a top plate ( 61 ), two opposite side plates ( 62 ), a bottom plate ( 63 ), a resilient tightening tab ( 67 ) and an open slot ( 65 ). 
     The cavity ( 600 ) is defined in the shell ( 60 ) and covers the insulating housing ( 10 ), the first terminals ( 30 ), the second terminals ( 50 ) and the plug detecting terminal ( 40 ). 
     The side plates ( 62 ) are formed oppositely on and protrude down from the top plate ( 61 ). 
     The bottom plate ( 63 ) is formed between the side plates ( 62 ). 
     The resilient tightening tab ( 67 ) is formed on the top plate ( 61 ) and protrudes toward the cavity ( 600 ). 
     The open slot ( 65 ) is defined through the shell ( 60 ), may be defined through one of the top plate ( 61 ), side plates ( 62 ) and bottom plate ( 63 ) and is aligned with the resilient detecting arm ( 42 ) of the plug detecting terminal ( 40 ) so that the resilient detecting arm ( 42 ) selectively moves through the open slot ( 65 ). 
     The protection bracket ( 20 ) is mounted under the base ( 11 ) of the insulating housing ( 10 ) and has multiple through holes ( 21 ,  22 ). The through holes ( 21 ,  22 ) are defined through the protection bracket ( 20 ) and are mounted respectively around the first soldering sections ( 33 ), second soldering sections ( 53 ) and soldering segment ( 43 ). 
     With reference to  FIGS. 5 to 7 , a second embodiment of the standard receptacle connector in accordance with the present invention is similar to the first embodiment and has several modifications. The mounting slot ( 115 ) is defined on one side ( 112 ) of the base ( 11 ) of the insulating housing ( 10 ). The mounting segment ( 41 ) of the plug detecting terminal ( 40 ) is mounted in the mounting slot ( 115 ). 
     With reference to  FIGS. 8 to 10 , a third embodiment of the standard receptacle connector in accordance with the present invention is similar to the first embodiment and has several modifications. The mounting slot ( 115 ) is defined in the other side ( 112 ) of the base ( 11 ) of the insulating housing ( 10 ). The mounting segment ( 41 ) of the plug detecting terminal ( 40 ) is mounted in the mounting slot ( 115 ). 
     With reference to  FIGS. 11 to 13 , a fourth embodiment of the standard receptacle connector in accordance with the present invention is similar to the first embodiment and has several modifications. The mounting slot ( 115 ) is defined in the top ( 111 ) of the base ( 11 ) of the insulating housing ( 10 ). The mounting segment ( 41 ) of the plug detecting terminal ( 40 ) is mounted in the mounting slot ( 115 ). 
     With reference to  FIGS. 15 to 19 , a first embodiment of a sink-type receptacle connector in accordance with the present invention complies with the USB 3.0 protocol and may be connected to a plug connector ( 90 ). The sink-type receptacle connector comprises an insulating housing ( 10   a ), multiple first terminals ( 30   a ), multiple second terminals ( 50   a ), a plug detecting terminal ( 40   a ) and a shell ( 60   a ). 
     The insulating housing ( 10   a ) has a base ( 11 ), a tongue ( 12 ), a tailboard ( 13 ) and a printed circuit board (PCB) mounting slot ( 14 ). The base ( 11 ) has a front, a rear, a top ( 111 ), a bottom ( 113 ) and two opposite sides ( 112 ). 
     The tongue ( 12 ) is formed on and protrudes forward from the front of the base ( 11 ) and has a bottom surface. 
     The tailboard ( 13 ) is formed on and protrudes backward from the rear of the base ( 11 ). 
     The PCB mounting slot ( 14 ) is defined behind the rear of the base ( 11 ) and under the tailboard ( 13 ) and may engage with an edge of a PCB. 
     The first terminals ( 30   a ) are mounted on the insulating housing ( 10 ) and are capable of implementing USB 2.0 protocol. Each first terminal ( 30 ) has a first mounting section ( 31 ), a first contacting section ( 32 ) and a first soldering section ( 33 ). 
     The first mounting section ( 31 ) is mounted on the base ( 11 ). 
     The first contacting section ( 32 ) is formed on and protrudes forward from the first mounting section ( 31 ) and is mounted on the bottom surface of the tongue ( 12 ). 
     The first soldering section ( 33 ) is formed on and protrudes down from the first mounting section ( 31 ) and is mounted through the tailboard ( 13 ). 
     The second terminals ( 50   a ) are mounted on the insulating housing ( 10 ) and are capable of cooperating with the first terminals ( 30   a ) to implement USB 3.0 protocol. Each second terminal ( 50   a ) has a second mounting section ( 51 ), a second contacting section ( 52 ) and a second soldering section ( 53 ). 
     The second mounting section ( 51 ) is mounted on the base ( 11 ). 
     The second contacting section ( 52 ) is formed on and protrudes forward from the second mounting section ( 51 ) and is mounted on the bottom surface of the tongue ( 12 ). 
     The second soldering section ( 53 ) is formed on and protrudes down from the second mounting section ( 51 ) and is mounted through the tailboard ( 13 ). 
     The plug detecting terminal ( 40   a ) is mounted on the insulating housing ( 10   a ) and has a mounting segment ( 41 ), a resilient detecting arm ( 42 ) and a soldering segment ( 43 ). 
     The mounting segment ( 41 ) is mounted on the top ( 111 ) of the base ( 11 ) of the insulating housing ( 10   a ) and has two side ends and two embedding tabs ( 411 ). The embedding tabs ( 411 ) are formed respectively on and protrude downward from the side ends of the mounting segment ( 41 ) and are embedded in the base ( 11 ). Each embedding tab ( 411 ) has multiple teeth formed on the embedding tab ( 411 ) and biting the base ( 11 ). 
     The resilient detecting arm ( 42 ) is formed on and protrudes forward from the mounting segment ( 41 ) above the tongue ( 12 ) and has a distal end and a contacting protrusion ( 421 ). The contacting protrusion ( 421 ) is formed on the distal end of the resilient detecting arm ( 42 ) and protrudes toward the tongue ( 12 ) of the insulating housing ( 10   a ). 
     The soldering segment ( 43 ) is formed on and protrudes down from the mounting segment ( 41 ). 
     The shell ( 60   a ) may be made of metal, covers the insulating housing ( 10   a ) and has a cavity ( 600 ), a top plate ( 61 ), two opposite side plates ( 62 ) and a bottom plate ( 63 ) that are similar to those of the aforementioned standard receptacle connector. The top plate ( 61 ) has a top opening ( 68 ) defined through the top plate ( 61 ) and aligned with the resilient detecting arm ( 42 ) of the plug detecting terminal ( 40   a ) so that the resilient detecting arm ( 42 ) extends through the top opening ( 68 ) from an outside wall to the inside wall of the top plate ( 61 ). 
     With reference to  FIG. 20 , a second embodiment of the sink-type receptacle connector in accordance with the present invention is similar to the first embodiment and modifies the shell ( 60   b ). The shell ( 60   b ) further has a cap ( 69 ) formed on and protruding from the top opening ( 68 ) and having a slit ( 691 ) defined through the cap ( 69 ) and allowing the resilient detecting arm ( 42 ) to extend through the slit ( 691 ). The cap ( 69 ) protects the plug detecting terminal ( 40   a ) from electromagnetic interference. 
     The aforementioned standard/sink-type receptacle connector may be mounted on a PCB such as a motherboard of a computer. The plug detecting terminal ( 40 ,  40   a ) is connected electrically to a controlling circuit of the PCB. When a plug connector ( 90 ) is inserted in and connected to the standard/sink-type receptacle connector, a metal shell of the plug connector ( 90 ) electrically contacts the plug detecting terminal ( 40 ,  40   a ) to activate the controlling circuit. The activated controlling circuit provides the plug connector ( 90 ) with power. When no plug connector ( 90 ) is inserted into the cavity ( 600 ) of the standard/sink-type receptacle connector, the controlling circuit is deactivated and stops supplying power to the plug connector ( 90 ). 
     Therefore, the standard/sink-type receptacle connector incorporated with the plug detecting terminal ( 40 ,  40   a ) selectively provides or cuts power to external plug connectors to achieve the power saving purposes. The standard/sink-type receptacle connector may cooperate with the power-saving/standby mode of a motherboard. Even if the motherboard is under the power-saving/standby mode, the standard/sink-type receptacle connector on the motherboard is still allowed to provide external plug connectors with power instantly. 
     Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in the details, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.