Patent Publication Number: US-8523610-B2

Title: Connector for multiple interface connection standards

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is related to and claims priority benefits from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/438,140, filed on Jan. 31, 2011, entitled UNIVERSAL USB 1, 2, 3, ESATA I, II, III CONNECTOR. The &#39;140 application is hereby incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to mobile storage devices and the like. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Universal Serial Bus (“USB”) and External Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (“eSATA”) are two types of commonly used standards for connectors. Each of these standards have undergone rapid development since their inception. 
     The USB standard that governs the design of the USB connections has undergone several revisions since its earliest release in 1994. The first widely adopted version, USB 1.1, specified data rates of 1.5 Mbit/s (“Low-Bandwidth”) and 12 Mbit/s (“Full-Bandwidth”). USB 1.1 was replaced by USB 2.0 in 2000. USB 2.0 provided a higher maximum data transfer rate of 480 Mbit/s (“Hi-Speed”). In this version, the USB 2.0 cable has four wires: two wires for power (+5 volts and ground) and a twisted pair of wires for carrying data. In the USB 2.0 design, as well as USB 1.1, data is transmitted in one direction at a time (downstream or upstream). 
     In 2008, a new USB 3.0 standard was announced. USB 3.0 includes a new “SuperSpeed” bus, which provides a fourth data transfer rate of 5.0 Gbit/s. In order to achieve this increased throughput, the USB 3.0 cable has a total of eight wires: two wires for power (+5 volts and ground), the twisted pair for carrying non-SuperSpeed data (allows backward compatibility with earlier versions of USB devices), and two differential pairs for carrying SuperSpeed data. Full-duplex signaling occurs over the two differential pairs. To date, adoption of the USB 3.0 standard has been slow due to the need to re-design motherboard hardware that supports the USB 3.0 standard, and the need to revise operating systems to support the USB 3.0 standard. 
     Traditionally, SATA is an internal computer bus interface for connecting host bus adapters to mass storage devices. First generation SATA interfaces (“SATA I”) specified data transfer rates 1.5 Gbit/s. Second generation SATA interfaces (“SATA II”) specified data rates of 3.0 Gbit/s. All SATA data cables meeting the SATA spec are rated for 3.0 Gbit/s. In 2009, the third generation SATA interface (“SATA III”) was released, specifying a peak throughput of 6 Gbit/s. The SATA III standard is backwards compatible with SATA II. eSATA was standardized in 2004 and provides a variant of the SATA protocols for external connectively. In each version of eSATA (“eSATA I”, “eSATA II”, and “eSATA III”), the hardwire includes two differential pairs of wires, plus an additional three ground wires. Because eSATA uses the same ATA protocol as a computer&#39;s internal hard drive, a bridge chip is not needed to translate from the computer&#39;s internal ATA protocol to another protocol, such as USB. However, while most computers use SATA standards internally, many computers do not include external SATA connectors, opting instead to include external USB connectors. 
     Because eSATA connectors are not yet widely available, it is desirable to provide eSATA connectors that include full backward and forward compatibility between the SATA I, II, and III standards, in combination with USB connectors that include full backward and forward compatibility between the USB 2.0 and 3.0 standards. 
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments of the invention may comprise a connector having a substrate, a first interface connection terminal set electrically coupled to the substrate, a second interface connection terminal set electrically coupled to the substrate, a third interface connection terminal set electrically coupled to the substrate, a housing coupled to the substrate and surrounding at least a portion of the first interface connection terminal set, the second interface connection terminal set, and the third interface connection terminal set, and a shell coupled to the housing and the substrate, wherein the first interface connection terminal set and the second interface connection terminal set are configured to support at least two interface connection standards with interfaces that are mechanically different. In certain embodiments, the shell is metal. 
     In some embodiments, the first interface connection terminal set comprises a plurality of conductive pads. The second interface connection terminal set may comprise a plurality of springs. In certain embodiments, the substrate comprises a plurality of apertures, wherein each of the plurality of springs of the second interface connection terminal set are partially enclosed within each of the plurality of apertures. The third interface connection terminal set may comprise a plurality of springs. In some embodiments, the housing comprises a plurality of channels, wherein each of the plurality of springs of the third interface connection terminal set are partially enclosed within each of the plurality of channels. 
     In some embodiments, a recess is positioned between a lower surface of the housing and a component surface of the substrate. At least one controller may also be electrically coupled to the substrate. The controller may be at least partially surrounded by the housing and/or may be positioned within a recess, which is positioned between a lower surface of the housing and a component surface of the substrate. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a connector according to certain embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of the connector of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded front perspective view of the connector of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of the connector of  FIG. 1  with the shell removed. 
         FIG. 5  is a front perspective view of the connector of  FIG. 1  with the shell, housing, and third interface connectors removed. 
         FIG. 6  is a front perspective view of a second interface connection terminal set of the connector of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is a front perspective view of a third interface connection terminal set of the connector of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 8  is a bottom plan view of the connector of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of the connector of  FIG. 1  taken along line  9 - 9 . 
         FIG. 10  is a cross-section view of the connector of  FIG. 9  with a controller added. 
         FIG. 11  is a front perspective view of a connector according to alternative embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 12  is a front perspective view of a connector according to alternative embodiments of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The described embodiments of the invention provide connectors for use with multiple interface connection standards. While the designs may be discussed for use with eSATA and USB standards, they are by no means so limited. Rather, embodiments of these designs may be used for other devices that couple to any type of serial bus connection, parallel bus connection, or otherwise as desired. 
       FIGS. 1-12  illustrate embodiments of a connector  10  with multiple interface connection standards. In the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 1-12 , the connector  10  comprises a substrate  12 , a first interface connection terminal set  14 , a second interface connection terminal set  16 , a third interface connection terminal set  18 , a housing  20 , and a shell  22 . 
     As best shown in  FIGS. 1-5  and  8 - 12 , the substrate  12  may be a printed circuit board (“PCB”), which is used to mechanically support and electrically connect the first interface connection terminal set  14 , the second interface connection terminal set  16 , and the third interface connection terminal set  18  to other components that may be mounted to the substrate  12 . In some embodiments, the substrate  12  may include a component surface  24  and a connection surface  26 . Items such as an oscillator, an LED status light, discrete components, or other suitable devices, may be mounted and electrically coupled to the component surface  24  and/or the connection surface  26 . 
     In some embodiments, as illustrated in FIGS.  1  and  3 - 5 , the first interface connection terminal set  14  may be positioned proximate an end  28  of the substrate  12  and configured to be inserted within corresponding connector using the first interface connection standard. In some embodiments, such as the embodiments illustrated in FIGS.  1  and  3 - 5 , the first interface connection terminal set  14  may comprise a plurality of conductive pads  30 . In these embodiments, the conductive pads  30  may be mounted to or embedded within the connection surface  26  of the substrate  12  and electrically coupled to the substrate  12 . In certain embodiments, such as where the first interface connection standard is a USB 2.0 standard or any other standard that is forward or backwards compatible with the USB 2.0 standard, the conductive pads  30  may be configured to electrically couple to the power and ground wires and the twisted pair of wires (for Hi-Speed and lower data transfer) of the corresponding USB 2.0 connector when the connector  10  is inserted within the corresponding USB 2.0 connector. In the embodiments shown in FIGS.  1  and  3 - 5 , the first interface connection terminal set  14  may comprise four conductive pads  30 . However, one of ordinary skill in the relevant art will understand that any suitable number and configuration of conductive pads  30  may be used in conjunction with the first interface connection standard or other suitable standards. 
     In some embodiments, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 ,  3 - 5 , and  9 - 10 , the second interface connection terminal set  16  may be positioned proximate the end  28  of the substrate  12 , as well as behind and/or proximate the first interface connection terminal set  14 , and configured to be inserted within a corresponding connector using the second interface connection standard. In some embodiments, such as the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1 ,  3 - 5 , and  9 - 10 , the second interface connection terminal set  16  may comprise a plurality of contact springs  32 . Each spring  32  may be formed of a resilient material that, when bent or compressed, exerts a force to return to its original shape. One of ordinary skill in the relevant art will understand that the springs  32  may be made of any suitable material and have any suitable design that allows the second interface connection terminal set  16  to electrically couple to the corresponding connector when the connector  10  is inserted within the corresponding connector. In certain embodiments, such as where the second interface connection standard is a USB 3.0 standard or any other standard that is forward or backwards compatible with the USB 3.0 standard, the springs  32 , in combination with the conductive pads  30 , may be configured to electrically couple to the power and ground wires, the twisted pair of wires (for Hi-Speed and lower data transfer), and the two differential pairs of wires (for SuperSpeed data transfer) of the corresponding USB 3.0 connector when the connector  10  is inserted within the corresponding USB 3.0 connector. In the embodiments shown in FIGS.  3  and  5 - 6 , the second interface connection terminal set  16  may comprise five springs  32 . However, one of ordinary skill in the relevant art will understand that any suitable number and configuration of springs  32  may be used in conjunction with the second interface connection standard or other suitable standards. 
     Each spring  32  may also include a coupling projection  34 , as best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 ,  4 - 5 , and  9 - 10 . In some embodiments, the coupling projection  34  may be integrally formed with the spring  32 . In other embodiments, the coupling projection  34  may be soldered or otherwise electrically coupled to the spring  32  in a suitable manner that allows the coupling projection  34  to be electrically coupled to the substrate  12 . The coupling projection  34  may have any suitable shape that provides sufficient contact with the corresponding connector when the connector  10  is inserted within the corresponding connector. Examples of suitable shapes include but are not limited to a triangular, L-shape, U-shape, T-shape, solid projection having a circular or rectilinear cross-sectional shape, or other suitable shapes. 
     The substrate  12  may include a plurality of apertures  36  in the connection surface  26  adjacent the plurality of springs  32 . The plurality of apertures  36  may be shaped so that the coupling projection  34  of each spring  32  extends through the aperture  36  and is positioned above the connection surface  26 , while the remainder of the spring  32  body is positioned within the substrate  12 , when each spring  32  is in an uncompressed position. 
     Each spring  32  may include an extension  38  that mounts to and electrically couples the spring  32  to the substrate  12  via a coupling point  40  located on the connection surface  26 . The substrate  12  may include a separate coupling point  40  for each spring  32 . In some embodiments, as shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  5 - 6 , and  9 - 10 , the extension  38  may have a U-shape configuration that is shaped to extend above the aperture  36  and over a portion of the substrate  12 , then return to the connection surface  26  of the substrate  12  adjacent the coupling point  40 . An end  42  of the extension  38  may be soldered or otherwise electrically coupled to the coupling point  40  in a suitable manner that allows each coupling projection  34  to be electrically connected to the corresponding coupling point  40 . 
     The coupling points  40  may be mounted to or embedded within the connection surface  26  of the substrate  12  and electrically coupled to the substrate  12 . In these embodiments, the coupling points  40  may be positioned behind and/or adjacent the apertures  36 . In other embodiments, the coupling points  40  may be mounted to or embedded within the component surface  24 , while the conductive pads  30  may be mounted to or embedded within the connection surface  26 , or vice versa. One of ordinary skill in the relevant art will understand that the coupling points  40  may be positioned in any suitable location on the substrate  12  that allows the second interface connection terminal set  16  to electrically couple to the substrate  12 . 
     In some embodiments, when the connector  10  is inserted within the corresponding connector (not shown), the corresponding connector presses against the coupling projections  34 , in turn applying a compressive force to the springs  32 . When the springs  32  are compressed by the corresponding connector, the spring-loaded design of each spring  32  then applies a force to create a firm electrical coupling between the corresponding connector and each coupling projection  34  when the connector  10  is inserted within the corresponding connector. 
     The housing  20  may be coupled to the substrate  12  proximate the end  28 . The shell may be formed of composite materials, plastic materials, or other suitable materials. The housing  20  may comprise a front wall  44  and side walls  46  that are joined to form a U-shaped frame that substantially surrounds at least a portion of a front surface  48  and side surfaces  50  of the end  28 . In some embodiments, the side walls  46  may have substantially the same height as or may have a greater height than the side surfaces  50 , and the front wall  44  may have substantially the same height as or may have a greater height than the front surface  48 . In the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 3-4  and  9 - 10 , upper edges  52  of the front wall  44  and the side walls  46  are substantially aligned with the connection surface  26 . In these embodiments, lower edges  54  of the front wall  44  and the side walls  46  extend below the front surface  48  and the side surfaces  50 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4  and  9 - 10 , a rear wall  56  may be coupled to a portion of the upper edges  52  of the side walls  46 . The rear wall  56  may be configured to extend across the connection surface  26  behind and/or adjacent the apertures  36 . An upper platform  58  may be coupled to a portion of a front surface  59  of the rear wall  56 , wherein the upper platform  58  extends over the end  28  of the substrate  12 , but is spaced apart from the end  28  by the height of the rear wall  56 . 
     In some embodiments, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 ,  3 - 4 ,  7 , and  9 - 10 , the third interface connection terminal set  18  may be positioned proximate an interior surface  60  of the upper platform  58  and configured to be inserted within a corresponding connector using the third interface connection standard. In some embodiments, such as the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1 ,  3 - 4 ,  7 , and  9 - 10 , the third interface connection terminal set  18  may comprise a plurality of contacts  62 . In certain embodiments, such as where the third interface connection standard is an eSATA I, eSATA II, eSATA III, or any other standard that is forward or backwards compatible with any of the foregoing eSATA standards, the contacts  62  may be mounted to or embedded within the interior surface  60  of the upper platform  58  and configured to electrically couple to the two differential pairs of wires, plus an additional three ground wires, of the corresponding eSATA connector when the connector  10  is inserted within the corresponding eSATA connector. In the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  3 , and  7 , the third interface connection terminal set  18  comprises seven contacts  62 . However, one of ordinary skill in the relevant art will understand that any suitable number and configuration of contacts  62  may be used in conjunction with the third interface connection standard or other suitable connection standards. 
     Each contact  62  may include a main body  64  and a spring  66 , as best illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 7 . Each spring  32  may be formed of a resilient material that, when bent or compressed, exerts a force to return to its original shape. One of ordinary skill in the relevant art will understand that the springs  32  may be made of any suitable material and have any suitable design that allows the third interface connection terminal set  18  to electrically couple to the corresponding connector when the connector  10  is inserted within the corresponding connector. In some embodiments, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 4 , the main body  64  of each contact  62  may be positioned within a corresponding channel  68  located on the interior surface  60  of the upper platform  58 , so that the interior surface  60  includes a plurality of channels  68 . The main body  64  may be coupled to the spring  66  adjacent a front edge  70  of the channel  68 . In some embodiments, the channel  68  is shaped so that the spring  66  may be positioned alongside the main body  64  within the channel  68 . 
     Each spring  66  may also include a coupling projection  72 , as best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 ,  4 , and  9 - 10 . In some embodiments, the coupling projection  72  may be integrally formed with the spring  66 . In other embodiments, the coupling projection  72  may be soldered or otherwise electrically coupled to the spring  66  in a suitable manner that allows the coupling projection  72  to be electrically coupled to the substrate  12 . The coupling projection  72  may have any suitable shape that provides sufficient contact with the corresponding connector when the connector  10  is inserted within the corresponding connector. Examples of suitable shapes include but are not limited to a triangular, L-shape, U-shape, T-shape, solid projection having a circular or rectilinear cross-sectional shape, or other suitable shapes. 
     The channels  68  may be shaped so that the coupling projection  72  of each spring  66  extends through the channel  68  and is positioned below the interior surface  60 , while the remainder of the spring  66  is positioned within the channel  68 , when each spring  66  is in an uncompressed position. 
     Each main body  64  may include an extension  74  that mounts to and electrically couples the spring  66  to the substrate  12  via a coupling point  76  located on the connection surface  26 . The substrate  12  may include a separate coupling point  76  for each spring  66 , as best shown in  FIG. 2 . In some embodiments, as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 7 , the extension  74  may have an L-shape configuration that is shaped to extend down from the upper platform  58  and over a portion of connection surface  26  of the substrate  12  adjacent the coupling point  76 . An end  78  of the extension  74  may be soldered or otherwise electrically coupled to the coupling point  76  in a suitable manner that allows each coupling projection  72  to be electrically connected to the corresponding coupling point  76 . 
     The coupling points  76  may be mounted to or embedded within the connection surface  26  of the substrate  12  and electrically coupled to the substrate  12 . In these embodiments, the coupling points  76  may be positioned behind and/or adjacent the apertures  36 , as well as adjacent the coupling points  40 . In other embodiments, the coupling points  76  may be mounted to or embedded within the component surface  24 , while the conductive pads  30  and/or the coupling points  40  may be mounted to or embedded within the connection surface  26 , or vice versa. One of ordinary skill in the relevant art will understand that the coupling points  76  may be positioned in any suitable location on the substrate  12  that allows the third interface connection terminal set  18  to electrically couple to the substrate  12 . 
     When the connector  10  is inserted within the corresponding connector (not shown), the corresponding connector presses against the coupling projections  72 , in turn applying a compressive force to the springs  66 . When the springs  66  are compressed by the corresponding connector, the spring-loaded design of each spring  66  then applies a force to create a firm electrical coupling between the corresponding connector and each coupling projection  72  when the connector  10  is inserted within the corresponding connector. 
     While in some embodiments, the first, second, and third interface connection standards may be a USB 2.0 standard, a USB 3.0 standard, and/or an eSATA I, eSATA II, eSATA III (or any other standard that is forward or backwards compatible with any of the foregoing standards), one of ordinary skill in the relevant art will understand that the three interface connection standards may be any suitable combination of interface connection standards that achieve the desired performance of the connector  10 . 
     The rear wall  56  may include apertures  80  shaped to allow the extensions  38 ,  74  to pass through the rear wall  56 , which may otherwise form a barrier between the springs  32 ,  66  and the coupling points  40 ,  76 . 
     A lower surface  82  may be coupled to the lower edges  54  of the front wall  44  and the side walls  46  of the housing  20 , forming a partially enclosed recess  84  between the component surface  24  of the substrate  12  and the lower surface  82 . The recess  84  may provide a space for at least one controller  86  to be mounted to or embedded within the component surface  24  of the substrate  12  and electrically coupled to the substrate  12 . Specifically, in some embodiments, the controller  86  may be designed as a surface mount device (“SMD”) part, which makes it possible to mount the connector easily and does not require the presence of holes in the substrate  12 . By locating the controller  86  within the connector  10 , the connector  10  design conserves space and allows for the use of very short signal lines between the first interface connection terminal set  14 , the second interface connection terminal set  16 , and/or the third interface connection terminal set  18 , resulting in better signals and higher transmission speed. 
     The shell  22  may then be coupled to the housing  20  and the substrate  12 . The shell may be formed of metallic materials, composite materials, plastic materials, or other suitable materials. The shell  22  is shaped to wrap around at least a portion of the outer shape of the housing  20 . Edges  88  of the shell  22  may be joined below the lower surface  82  of the housing  20 , as shown in  FIG. 8 . In certain embodiments, the shell  22  comprises an opening  90  that is positioned adjacent the upper platform  58 . The opening  90  is surrounded by sides  92 , a front edge  94 , and a rear bridge  96 . In other embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 12 , the rear bridge  96  may be eliminated to reduce weight and costs. 
     In some embodiments, as shown in  FIGS. 1-5 ,  8 , and  12 , the substrate  12  may be shaped so that the end  28  has a narrower width than a remaining portion  98  of the substrate  12 . Thus, the remaining portion  98  extends outwardly past the side walls  46  of the housing  20 . In these embodiments, the shell  22  may include tabs  100  that are shaped to couple to the remaining portion  98  adjacent and outside the side walls  46  of the housing  20 . 
     In other embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 11 , the substrate  12  has the same width in the remaining portion  98  and the end  28 . In these embodiments, the shell  22  may include tabs  102  that are shaped to couple to the side surfaces  50  adjacent the side walls  46  of the housing  20 . 
     The foregoing is provided for purposes of illustrating, explaining, and describing embodiments of the present invention. Further modifications and adaptations to these embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art and may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.