Patent Publication Number: US-2013237085-A1

Title: USB connector for sensing insertion

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a universal serial bus (USB) connector, and more particularly, to a USB connector for sensing insertion capable of sensing the insertion of USB devices into the USB connector, such as a mobile phone, PDA, MP3 player which are powered through the USB connector. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     The Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface is the most popular connection fashion recently. The USB connector refers to a terminal, a plug or a connector that is installed in a personal computer, a laptop computer or an adaptor and inserts therein a USB device such as a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a MP3 player, a memory stick for operating power supply or data communication. 
     As various application programs have been developed, more USB devices such as a printer, a speaker, a mouse, a scanner, an adapt, a mobile phone and an MP3 player need to be connected, than is conventionally required. Nowadays, more convenient and capable USB interfaces are used for connecting the USB devices to a main body. The USB interfaces benefit in that it may easily connect the USB devices and is equipped with a hot plugging capability and an excellent plug and play capability so that a computer need not be re-booted when USB devices are changed. 
     Typically, the USB connectors are installed at least one of the front, side or rear of the main body of a computer or a communication terminal. However, even when a USB device is not inserted into the USB connector, current is applied to the USB connector due to the operation of a power converter in a power-on or standby state, thereby resulting in unnecessary power consumption of the power converter. 
     DISCLOSURE 
     Technical Problem 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a USB connector for sensing insertion capable of sensing the insertion of USB devices into the USB connector, such as a mobile phone, PDA, MP3 player and the like which are powered through the USB connector, based on physical contact. 
     Objects of the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned object. Other objects that are not mentioned may be obviously understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains from the following description. 
     Technical Solution 
     In one general aspect, a USB connector for sensing insertion includes: a fixing body being shaped as a quadrangle and made of metal material; an insulating member which is inserted and fixed within the fixing body, wherein one side of which has a power terminal and a data terminal connected to respective lead pins; and a switching pin which is elastically coupled to one side of the insulating member, wherein the switching pin is insulated from the fixing body and senses the insertion of a USB device by being brought into contact with the USB device inserted into the fixing body. 
     The switching pin may be extended from the one side of the insulating member toward the inside of the fixing body through a slot of the fixing body, and the switching pin may be bent in the slot of the fixing body. 
     The switching pin may allow current applied from the outside to flow into the fixing body upon being brought into contact with the USB device, a lead pin corresponding to the switching pin may be connected and fastened through the insulating member, and standby power supplied to the power terminal may be interrupted upon sensing that the USB device is detached through the switching pin. 
     The USB connector may further include a fixing pin formed on and integrated with at least one of the surfaces of the fixing body, and elastically fixing the USB device inserted therein. 
     Advantageous Effects 
     As set forth above, according to the present invention, the insertion of USB devices such as a mobile phone, a PDA, a MP3 player can be sensed based on physical contact. Further, if a USB device is not inserted into a USB connector, a power converter is not operated even in a power-on or standby state, such that unnecessary power consumption can be prevented. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a USB connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the USB connector assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of the USB connector of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram conceptually illustrating an application example of a USB connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
       
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                 [Detailed Description of Main Elements] 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 100: USB connector 
                 110: fixing body 
               
               
                   
                 120: fixing pin 
                 115, 130: slot 
               
               
                   
                 140: protrusion 
                 150: insulating member 
               
               
                   
                 151: base 
                 153: rear part 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 155: pin coupling part 
               
               
                   
                 161~167: power and data terminals 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 162~168: lead pins 
                 170: switching pin 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     BEST MODE 
     Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Throughout the drawings, like reference numbers are used to designate like elements. Moreover, detailed descriptions related to well-known functions or configurations will be omitted in order not to unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present invention. 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a USB connector according to an embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating the bottom of the USB connector assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
     The USB connector  100  includes a fixing body  110 , fixing pins  120 , an insulating member  150 , and a switching pin  170 . 
     The fixing body  110  is shaped generally as a quadrangle and made of conductive material such as metal. 
     The fixing pins  120  are integrated with at least one of the surfaces of the fixing body  110  so as to elastically fix a USB device (not shown) inserted into the fixing body  110 . As shown, the fixing pins  120  are integrated with the fixing body  110  at top and bottom surfaces of the fixing body  110 , and are bent inwardly in slots  115  so as to elastically fixing the inserted USB device. In the embodiment, plural spaced-apart fixing pins  120  are formed in the slots  115  at the top surface of the fixing body, and one fixing pin  120  is formed in the slot  115  at the bottom surface of the fixing body  110 . At the bottom surface of the fixing body  110 , only a slot  130  is formed on the other side. 
     The insulating member  150  is inserted into and fixed in the fixing body  110 , and has power terminals  161  and  167  and data terminals  163  and  165  formed spaced apart on its one side. Each of the terminals  161 ˜ 167  is connected to the respective one of the lead pins  162 ˜ 168  formed on the other side of the insulating member  150 . As shown, the insulating member  150  includes: a base  151 , on one surface of which the power terminals  161  and  167  and the data terminals  163  and  165  are disposed spaced apart; a rear part  153  in which lead pins  162 ˜ 168  connected to the power terminals  161  and  167  and the data terminals  163  and  165  extending from the base  151  and being bent, and in which a concaved groove  154  are formed at the side thereof to couple with a protrusion  140  of the fixing body  110 ; and a pin coupling part  155  which extends downwardly at the interface between the base  151  and the rear part  153  and has a switching pin  170  disposed at one side. Typically, in arranging the plurality of terminals  161 ˜ 167 , the power terminals  161  and  167  (V+, V−) are disposed on the outer side and the data terminals  163  and  165  (D−, D+) are disposed on the inner side. 
     Here, the switching pin  170  disposed at the pin coupling part  155  is connected to a corresponding lead pin  175  disposed at the rear part  153 . That is, the insulating member  150  may be divided into the base  151  inserted into the fixing body  110 , a rear part  153  extended from the base  151  and positioned on outer side of the fixing body  110 , and a pin coupling part  155  having the switching pin  170 . The power terminals  161  and  167  and the data terminals  163  and  165  are disposed on one surface of the base  151  inserted into the fixing body  110 , the lead pins  162 ˜ 168  are disposed on one side of the rear part  153  positioned on outer side of the fixing body  110  and electrically connected to the respective terminals  161 ˜ 167 , and the switching pin  170  is disposed at the pin coupling part  155  and electrically connected to the corresponding lead pin  175  disposed at the rear part  153 . 
     The switching pin  170  is extended from one side of the insulating member  150  toward the inside of the fixing body  110  through the slot  130 , and, as shown, is bent in the slot  130  like the fixing pin  120 . The switching pin  170  faces and is spaced apart from the power terminals  161  and  167  or the data terminals  163  and  165  formed on one surface of the insulating member  150 . 
     The insulating member  150  thus configured is inserted into and fastened in the fixing body  110  such that the protrusion  140  of the fixing body  110  is fitted into the concaved groove  154  of the insulating member  150  so as to tightly couple the fixing body  110  with the insulating member  150 . Here, one end of the switching pin  170  is inserted toward the inside of the fixing body  110  through the slot  130  so as to be bought into contact with a surface of a USB device inserted from the outside. Accordingly, the switching pin  170 , which is insulated from and elastically coupled with the fixing body  110  at one side of the insulating member  150 , may electrically sense the insertion of the USB device by being brought into contact with the USB device inserted into the fixing body  110  based on physical contact to change an electrical signal. 
       FIG. 3  is a front view of the USB connector of  FIG. 2  in which the base  151  of the insulating member  150  is spaced apart from the inner surfaces of the fixing body  110 . The distance between the surface of the base  151  on which the terminals  161 ˜ 167  are disposed and the inner surface of the fixing body  110  is set to be greater than the distance between the other surface of the base  151  and the inner surfaces of the fixing body  110 . 
     Accordingly, when a USB device is inserted into the fixing body  110  to be brought into contact with the switching pin  170 , the current applied from the outside through the switching pin  170  flows into the fixing body  110 . Needless to say, when the USB device is detached from the fixing body  110 , the switching pin  170  is electrically open, and no current flows. 
     It is also possible to configure the switching pin  170  to be brought contact with the fixing body  110  when the USB device is inserted. In this configuration, when the USB device is inserted, current directly flows into the fixing body  110  through the switching pin  170 , without passing through the USB device. This configuration may be useful when a USB device inserted into a fixing body  110  has no metal frame and only terminals  161 ˜ 167  are formed on a plastic base  151 . 
       FIG. 4  is a diagram conceptually illustrating an application example of a USB connector according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which a USB connector  100  and a power converter  200  are shown. 
     The USB connector  100  may be installed in a such product as a personal computer, a laptop computer and a communication terminal. When powered on or in a standby power mode, the power converter  200  output standby power regardless of whether or not a USB device is connected to power terminals (V+, V−) of a USB connector  100 . 
     The switching pin  170  is electrically connected to an input terminal EN of the power converter  200  so that the power converter  200  may determine if a USB device is attached by sensing change in voltage at the input terminal EN. 
     If a USB device is detached from the USB connector  100 , the switching pin  170  would be in an open (off) state, and thus the input terminal EN of the power converter  200  would maintain a “high” signal. If a USB device is inserted into the USB connector  100 , the switching pin  170  would be in a closed (on) state, and thus current applied to the switching pin  170  would flow to ground through the fixing body  110  so that the input terminal of the power converter  200  is pulled down to ground potential GND and changed to a “low” signal. 
     Accordingly, upon sensing that a USB device is detached with the input terminal EN, the power converter  200  interrupts the power output to the power terminals (V+, V−) of the USB connector  100 , such that unnecessary power consumption may be prevented. 
     The power converter  200  serves to step down a direct current power input through a rectifying circuit unit  210  to a necessary voltage and then supply it to the USB connector  100 . The power converter of  FIG. 4  is merely an example, and the USB connector according to the present invention may be applied to any device requiring sensing of whether a USB device is detached. 
     Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art may conceive other embodiments within the essential scope of the invention. The essential scope of the present invention is defined by the accompanying claims, and technical ideas equivalent thereto are within the scope of the present invention.