Patent Publication Number: US-2022231460-A1

Title: Universal serial bus plug and receptacle

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Universal Serial Bus (USB) is a standard that establishes specifications for cables and connectors and protocols for connection, communication, and power supply between computing devices and/or peripheral devices. USB cables, which include a plug to insert into a USB receptacle, can be a plurality of different types having different uses and capabilities including, for instance USB-A, USB-B, USB-C, mini-USB, micro-USB, and USB-3 types. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram of a system including a USB receptacle having a flexible locator tab and a USB plug having a locator slot according to an example; 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram of an assembly including a USB receptacle having a flexible locator tab and a USB plug having a locator slot according to an example; 
         FIG. 3  is another diagram of a system including a USB receptacle having a flexible locator tab and a USB plug having a locator slot according to an example; and 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram of a system including a USB receptacle having a flexible locator tab and a USB plug according to an example. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     USB cables are used to transfer data and charge devices, among other uses. Different USB connector types provide different functions and speeds and may not be compatible with one another. USB connectors can be used to transfer data across interfaces that make up shared boundaries between components of a computing device or system. These interfaces can include hardware and/or software, and in some examples can allow for high-speed transfer of data via the USB connector and a corresponding USB receptacle. As used herein, a computing device can be a mechanical or electrical device that transmits or modifies energy to perform or assist in the performance of human tasks. Examples include personal computers, laptops, tablets, smartphones, mobile devices, digital notebooks, printing devices, and gaming consoles, among others. 
     A USB type C (USB-C) connector system includes a plug having a rotationally symmetrical connector and a receptacle to receive the connector. For example, a connection can be made in a right-side-up or right-side-down orientation. USB-C connections systems can be used to connect both hosts and devices. USB-C connector systems utilize a point-contact connection (e.g., 24-pin connector) for transfer of data and/or energy transfer. 
     Examples of the present disclosure allow for a more secure and reliable connection as compared to other USB-C connection systems. For instance, some examples include a 2-part connection, including a plug portion having a rectangular shape with a locator slot and a receptacle portion to receive the plug and having a locator tab to fit in the location slot while retaining the same interior features of current USB-C connections. In some examples, the rectangular shape of both the plug and the receptacle allows for surface-to-surface contacts, which together with point contacts, resulting in a more snug and secure connection, improved alignment, and improved retention force. The rectangular shape may allow for more accurate manufacturing (e.g., stamping) of the USB plug and receptacle. Such examples of the present disclosure reduce shifting and other movements (e.g., lateral movement of the USB plug) resulting in reduced errors in the associated data stream. In some examples of the present disclosure the receptacle may be backwards compatible such that the receptacle can receive an older or different version of the plug (e.g., non-rectangular-shaped, no locator slot, etc.). 
     The figures herein follow a numbering convention in which the first digit or digits correspond to the drawing figure number and the remaining digits identify an element or component in the drawing. Similar elements or components between different figures may be identified by the use of similar digits. For example,  104  may reference element “ 04 ” in  FIG. 1 , and a similar element may be referenced as  204  in  FIG. 2 . Multiple analogous elements within one figure may be referenced with a reference numeral followed by a hyphen and another numeral or a letter. For example,  308 - 1  may reference element  08 - 1  in  FIGS. 3 and 308-2  may reference element  08 - 2 , which can be analogous to element  08 - 1 . Such analogous elements may be generally referenced without the hyphen and extra numeral or letter. For example, elements  308 - 1  and  308 - 2  may be generally referenced as  308 . 
     Elements shown in the various figures herein can be added, exchanged, and/or eliminated so as to provide a number of additional examples of the present disclosure. In addition, the proportion and the relative scale of the elements provided in the figures are intended to illustrate the examples of the present disclosure and should not be taken in a limiting sense. 
       FIG. 1  is a diagram of a system  100  including a USB receptacle  104  having a flexible locator tab  106  and a USB plug  102  having a locator slot  108  according to an example. In some examples, the USB receptacle  104  can be a USB-C receptacle. When the USB plug  102  (e.g., USB-C plug) is inserted into the USB receptacle  104 , the flexible locator tab  106  on the USB receptacle  104  displaces until the locator slot  108  of the USB plug  102  mates with the flexible locator tab  106 . For instance, as the USB plug  102  is inserted into the USB receptacle  104 , the flexible locator tab  106  is pushed up until it can mate (e.g., fall into place) with the locator slot  108 . In some examples, the USB plug  102  is flexible such that portions of the USB plug  102  are displaced responsive to insertion of the USB plug  102  into the USB receptacle  104  until the flexible locator tab  106  reaches the locator slot  108  for mating. The mating of the flexible locator tab  106  with the locator slot  108  can reduce shifting of the connection and can reduce or prevent transfer and communication issues. 
     In some examples, the USB plug  102  includes an additional locater slot (not illustrated in  FIG. 1 ) opposite the locator slot  108 . The additional locater slot may allow for insertion of the USB plug  102  in different orientations while maintaining a snug connection. For instance, the flexible locator tab  106  mates with the locator slot  108  when the USB plug  102  is in a first position. When the USB plug  102  is in a second position, for instance a 180-degree turned position (e.g., upside down), the flexible locator tab  106  mates with the additional locator slot. 
     When the system  100  is assembled such that the USB plug  102  is fully inserted into the USB receptacle  104  and the flexible locator tab  106  is mated with the locator slot  108 , surface-to-surface contacts are present between the USB receptacle  104  and the USB plug  102 . For instance, an inner side surface  107  of the USB receptacle  104  can have a surface-to-surface contact with outer side surface  105  of the USB plug  102  when the system  100  is assembled. In some examples, top surface  101  of the USB plug  102  can have a surface-to-surface contact with an inner top surface  103  of the USB receptacle  104 . Similar, an inner side surface opposite the surface  107  and a lower inner surface opposite the surface  103  of the USB receptacle  104  can have surface-to-surface contacts with an outer side surface opposite the surface  105  and an outer bottom surface opposite the surface  101  of the USB plug  102 , respectively. The surface-to-surface contacts can reduce shifting of the connection and can reduce or prevent transfer and communication issues as compared to connectors having point contact connections, but no surface-to-surface contacts. 
     In some examples, the USB receptacle  104  is rectangular shaped and the USB plug  102  is rectangular shaped. For instance, the portion of the USB plug  102  inserted in the USB receptacle  104  and the USB receptacle  104  may have a smaller radius and more squared-off shape as compared to other USB systems. For instance, a different USB-C connector may have rounded edges that do not allow for surface-to-surface contacts like the rectangular shapes of the USB receptacle  104  and the USB plug of the present disclosure. 
     In some instances, the USB receptacle  104  may be backwards compatible with a different USB plug. For instance, in an example in which the USB receptacle  104  is a USB-C receptacle, it may receive a different USB-C plug. Put another way, the USB-C receptacle  104  can be rectangular-shaped while the different USB-C plug has rounded edges. In such an example, the flexible locator tab  106  on the USB receptacle  104  can create a snugger fit between the USB receptacle  104  and a different USB plug as compared to a fit between a different USB receptacle and a different USB plug. 
     To make the USB receptacle  104  backwards compatible with a different USB plug, the inner contacts of the USB receptacle  104  and the USB plug  102  may be the same as different USB receptacles and plugs. For instance, in an example in which the USB receptacle  104  is a USB-C receptacle, the inner contacts may be the same as those in a different USB-C receptacle. Similar, in an example in which the USB plug  102  is a USB-C plug, the inner contacts may be the same as those in a different USB-C plug. 
       FIG. 2  is a diagram of an assembly  200  including a USB receptacle  204  having a flexible locator tab  206  and a USB plug  202  having a locator slot according to an example. Assembly  200  includes the flexible locator tab  206  mated with the locator slot of the USB plug  202 . In some examples, the flexible locator tab  206  is U-shaped, as shown at  210 , allowing for displacement of the flexible locator tab  206  while the USB plug  202  is inserted into the USB receptacle  204 . The flexible locator tab  206  is displaced until it is able to mate (e.g., fall into, slide into, etc.) the locator slot of the USB plug  202 . The assembly  200  facilitates high-speed transfer of data because of the consistent snug fit between the USB plug  202  and the USB receptacle  204 . For instance, surface-to-surface contacts between the inner surfaces of the USB receptacle  204  and the outer surfaces (e.g., surfaces  201 ,  205 ) of the USB plug  202  can reduce movement between the USB plug  202  and the USB receptacle  204 , which in turn reduces and/or prevents connection, data transfer, and/or electrical energy transfer issues. Put another way, responsive to insertion of the USB plug  202  into the USB receptacle  204  (e.g., forming the assembly  200 ), surface-to-surface contacts are formed between the USB plug  202  into the USB receptacle  204 , and data can be shared across a high-speed interface using the assembly  200 . 
       FIG. 3  is another diagram of a system  300  including a USB receptacle  304  having a flexible locator tab  306  and a USB plug  302  having a locator slot  308  according to an example. In some examples, the USB receptacle  304  is a USB-C receptacle, and the USB plug  302  is a USB-C plug. System  300  includes a rectangular-shaped USB receptacle  304  having a locator tab  306  and a rectangular-shaped USB plug  302  having a first locator slot  308 - 1  on a first side  312  of the USB plug  302 , and a second locator slot  308 - 2  on a second, opposite side  314  of the USB plug  302 . A portion of the flexible locator tab  306  can be located on a centerline of the USB receptacle  304 . The first and the second locator slots  308  can be located opposite each other, and both can be located on a respective centerline of the USB plug  302 . The centerline locations can, for example, allow for more accurate alignment of the flexible locator tab  308  and the locator slot  308 . The first and the second locator slots  308 , in some examples, can be located approximately perpendicular to an opening of the USB receptacle  304  (e.g., approximately parallel to the side surfaces  313 ,  305 ). As used herein, “approximately” includes being within a particular margin, range, and/or threshold). The locator tab  306  can be flexible such that it is displaced until the flexible locator tab  306  reaches the first locator slot  308 - 1  or the second locator slot  308 - 2  (e.g., based on the insertion orientation) of the USB plug  302  for mating. 
     The first locator slot  308 - 1  can mate with the locator tab  306  responsive to insertion of the USB plug  302  into the USB receptacle  304  in a first orientation (e.g., first side  312  up, also referred to as “right-side up”). The second locator slot  308 - 2  can mate with the locator tab  306  responsive to insertion of the USB plug  302  into the USB receptacle  304  in a second orientation (e.g., second side  312  up, also referred to as “upside down”). This can allow for insertion of the USB plug  302  into the USB receptacle in different orientations while retaining the surface-to-surface contacts and the secure fit of the locator slot  308  mated with the locator tab  306 . 
     For instance, the surface-to-surface contacts remain whether the first side  312  of the USB plug is up or the second side  314  of the USB plug  302  is up. For instance, in the first example (e.g., first side  312  up), top outer surface  311  of the USB plug  302  has surface-to-surface contact with top inner surface  303  of the USB receptacle  304 , and outer side surface  313  of the USB plug  302  has surface-to-surface contact with inner side surface  307  of the USB receptacle. In the same example, surface  301  of the USB plug  302  (which in this example would be an outer bottom surface opposite surface  311 ) has surface-to-surface contact with a bottom inner surface of the USB receptacle  304 , while surface  305  of the USB plug  302  (which in this example would be an outer side surface opposite surface  313 ) has surface-to-surface contact with an inner side surface opposite the inner side surface  307  of the USB receptacle  304 . 
     In the second example (e.g., second side  314  up), top outer surface  301  of the USB plug  302  has surface-to-surface contact with top inner surface  303  of the USB receptacle  304 , and outer side surface  305  of the USB plug  302  has surface-to-surface contact with inner side surface  307  of the USB receptacle. In the same example, surface  311  of the USB plug  302  (which in this example would be an outer bottom surface opposite surface  301 ) has surface-to-surface contact with a bottom inner surface of the USB receptacle  304 , while surface  313  of the USB plug  302  (which in this example would be an outer side surface opposite surface  305 ) has surface-to-surface contact with an inner side surface opposite the inner side surface  307  of the USB receptacle  304 . 
       FIG. 4  is a diagram of a system including a USB receptacle  404  having a flexible locator tab  406  and a USB plug  416  according to an example. In the example illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the USB receptacle  404  is a USB-C receptacle, and the USB plug  416  is a different USB-C plug type. USB receptacle  404  can be backwards compatible with the USB plug  416  such that the USB plug  416  and it&#39;s rounded-edge connector  415  can be inserted into USB receptacle  404  and function as desired. For instance, data and/or electrical energy can be transferred and communication can proceed with the USB receptacle  404  and the USB plug  416  are connected. The flexible locator tab  406  can displace when the USB plug  416  is inserted into the USB receptacle  404  and remain displaced. In such an example, the flexible locator tab  406  on the USB receptacle  404  can create a snugger fit (e.g., increased resistance to movement) between the USB receptacle  404  and the USB plug  416  as compared to a fit between a different USB receptacle and the USB plug  416 . 
     In the foregoing detailed description of the present disclosure, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration how examples of the disclosure can be practiced. These examples are described in sufficient detail to enable those of ordinary skill in the art to practice the examples of this disclosure, and it is to be understood that other examples can be utilized and that process, electrical, and/or structural changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.