Patent Publication Number: US-8986051-B2

Title: Socket connector, plug connector, connector assembly, and handheld electronic device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present application relates to a connector, and more particularly, to an universal connector compatible with multiple connecting interfaces. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Conventional external devices such as earphones or speakers are provided with different connectors to transmit data. Connecting interfaces of common connectors includes High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI), audio interface, universal serial bus (USB) interface, charging interface, and so on. For the design trend of being light, slim, short, and compact, handheld electronic devices such as cell phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs) or smart phones are provided with multiple connectors indifferent specifications to connect different external devices. However, the above requirement not only raises manufacturing cost, but increases volume and weight of handheld electronic devices. 
     Accordingly, designs for integrating plural connecting interfaces into one connector are proposed to meet the above requirement. Nonetheless, existing conventional universal connectors are still excluded from some applications such as transmitting large current or quick charge. In addition, an area of a tongue of the conventional universal connector is unavoidably increased for carrying a large number of terminals, which reduces structural strength of the tongue, while the tongue is likely to be damaged by external impact or in a long time use. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present application provides a socket connector having high current carrying capacity by enlarging cross-section of particular terminals, to meet requirements of transmitting large current or quick charge. 
     The socket connector suitable for being connected to a plug connector comprises a base, a first tongue, plural first terminals and plural second terminals. The base has a slot, and the plug connector is suitable for being assembled to the base through the slot. The first tongue is connected to the base and located in the slot, and the first tongue has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The first and second terminals pass through the base, wherein each of the first terminals and each of the second terminals respectively have a first contact portion and a second contact portion both mounted on the first surface of the first tongue. And, a cross-section of each of the second terminals is greater than a cross-section of each of the first terminals. 
     A handheld electronic device adopting the aforementioned socket connector is also provided, wherein a plug connector can be connected to a main body of the handheld electronic device through the socket connector. Since the socket connector has high current carrying capacity, diverse applications, such as integrating multifunctional interfaces of video-audio transmission, data transmission and quick charge, can be accomplished. 
     A plug connector for being connected to the socket connector mentioned above is also provided in the present application. The plug connector includes plural first leads and plural second leads. The first leads are disposed in corresponding to the first terminals and adapted to be contact with the corresponding first terminals when the plug connector is connected to the socket connector. The second leads are disposed in corresponding to the second terminals and adapted to be contact with the corresponding second terminals when the plug connector is connected to the socket connector, wherein each of the second terminals is contact with at least two of the second leads. 
     The present application further provides a connector assembly including a socket connector and a plug connector matched with each other. The socket connector includes a base, a first tongue, plural first terminals and plural second terminals. The base has a slot. The first tongue is connected to the base and located in the slot, and the first tongue has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The first and second terminals pass through the base, wherein each of the first terminals and each of the second terminals respectively have a first contact portion and a second contact portion both mounted on the first surface of the first tongue. And, a cross-section of each of the second terminals is greater than a cross-section of each of the first terminals. The plug connector is suitable for being connected to the socket connector and being assembled to the base through the slot. The plug connector includes plural first leads and plural second leads. The first leads are disposed in corresponding to the first terminals and adapted to be contact with the corresponding first terminals when the plug connector is connected to the socket connector. The second leads are disposed in corresponding to the second terminals and adapted to be contact with the corresponding second terminals when the plug connector is connected to the socket connector, wherein each of the second terminals is contact with at least two of the second leads to provide high current carrying capacity. 
     The present application can further be provided with enforcing members disposed on the first tongue of the socket connector, particularly to fragile portions of the first tongue, to enhance structural strength of the first tongue and prevent the first tongue from being damaged by external impact or in a long time use. Therefore, reliability and lifetime of the socket connector can be increased. 
     In order to make the aforementioned features and advantages of the application more comprehensible, embodiments accompanying figures are described in detail below. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings constituting a part of this specification are incorporated herein to provide a further understanding of the invention. Here, the drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a connector assembly according to an embodiment of the present application. 
         FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 2B  are schematic drawings showing a partial structure of the socket connector of  FIG. 1  in different view angles. 
         FIG. 3A  and  FIG. 3B  are schematic drawings respectively showing a whole structure and a partial structure of the plug connector of  FIG. 1  in another view angle. 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded view of a connector assembly according to another embodiment of the present application. 
         FIG. 5A  and  FIG. 5B  are schematic drawings showing a partial structure of the socket connector of  FIG. 4  in different view angles. 
         FIG. 6A  and  FIG. 6B  are schematic drawings respectively showing a whole structure and a partial structure of the plug connector of  FIG. 4  in another view angle. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a handheld electronic device adopting a socket connector of the present application. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a connector assembly according to an embodiment of the present application. The connector assembly  10  of the present embodiment includes a socket connector  100  and a plug connector  200  matched with each other. The socket connector  100  includes a base  110 , a first tongue  120 , plural first terminals  130  and plural second terminals  140 . The base  110  has a slot  112  for receiving the plug connector  200 . The first tongue  120  is connected to the base  110  and located in the slot  112 . 
       FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 2B  are schematic drawings showing a partial structure of the socket connector  100  of  FIG. 1  in different view angles. Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 A and  2 B, the first tongue  120  has a first surface  122  and a second surface  124  opposite to the first surface  122 . The first terminals  130  and the second terminals  140  pass through the base  110 , wherein each of the first terminals  130  and each of the second terminals  140  respectively have a first contact portion  132  and a second contact portion  142  both mounted on the first surface  122  of the first tongue  120 . Additionally, a cross-section of each of the second terminals  140  is greater than a cross-section of each of the first terminals  130 . In other words, the socket connector  100  of the present embodiment is provided with second terminals  140  having large cross-sections to meet the requirements of transmitting large current or quick charge. 
       FIG. 3A  and  FIG. 3B  are schematic drawings respectively showing a whole structure and a partial structure of the plug connector  200  of  FIG. 1  in another view angle. Referring to  FIG. 1  through  FIG. 3 , the plug connector  200  is suitable for being connected to the socket connector  100 . In the present embodiment, the plug connector  200  has an insertion end  210  which is in a profile matched with the slot  112  of the socket connector  100 . When the plug connector  200  is connected to the socket connector  100 , the insertion end  210  enters the slot  112  and is assembled to the base  110 . In addition, the insertion end  210  has an opening  212  for accommodating the tongue  120  of the socket connector  100  when the plug connector  200  is connected to the socket connector  100 . Plural first leads  230  and plural second leads  240  are disposed in the opening  212 . The first leads  230  are disposed in corresponding to the first terminals  130  and adapted to be contact with the corresponding first terminals  130  when the tongue  120  of the socket connector  100  is inserted into the opening  212  of the insertion end  210 . The second leads  240  are disposed in corresponding to the second terminals  140  and adapted to be contact with the corresponding second terminals  140  when the tongue  120  of the socket connector  100  is inserted into the opening  212  of the insertion end  210 . 
     In the present embodiment, one second terminal  140  is corresponding to a pair of second leads  240 , i.e., two second leads  240  in identical functions is arranged to be contact with the same second terminals  140  for carrying a large current. Obviously, in other embodiments, the amount of the second leads  240  being corresponding to each of the second terminals  140  may be varied according to actual requirements. Additionally, the amount of the terminals of the socket connector  100  is not limited in the present embodiment. Referring to the socket connector  100  of  FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 2B , the total amount of the first terminals  130  and the second terminals  140  is 35, which facilitates the integration of multiple interfaces, such as High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI), audio interface, universal serial bus (USB) interface, charging interface, and so on, wherein the amount of the second terminals  140  is two, to serve as power terminals. The universal serial bus (USB) interface may further comprises Mini-USB interface or Micro-USB interface. 
     Furthermore, referring to  FIG. 2A , the present embodiment may further be provided with a first enhancing member  150  mounted on the first tongue  120  to increase the structural strength thereof, wherein a stiffness of the first enhancing member  150  is greater than a stiffness of the first tongue  120 , to improve for example tensile strength, bending strength or shear strength, i.e. the ability of the first tongue  120  in resisting damage caused by external impact or in a long time use. More specifically, the first enhancing member  150  of the present embodiment includes two first enhancing plates  152  attached on the second surface  124  of the first tongue  120 . And, in consideration to the weak structure at two side edges of the first tongue  120 , the first enhancing plates  152  can be disposed adjacent to the two side edges to enhance the structural strength thereof. Therefore, reliability and lifetime of the socket connector can be increased. 
     Additionally, in order to keep a smooth appearance of the first tongue  120  to be inserted into the opening  212  of the insertion end  210 , the first tongue  120  can be formed with two depressed portions  124   a  on the second surface  124  for accommodating the two first enhancing plates  152 . Thus, the two first enhancing plates  152  can be embedded into the first tongue  120  through the corresponding depressed portions  124   a , and a top of each of the two first enhancing plates  152  is aligned with a top of the first tongue  120 . 
     However, the present application does not limit the profile or location of the first enhancing member  150 . For example, in other embodiments, the first enhancing member  150  can be embedded into the first tongue  120  deeply such that the first tongue  120  encapsulates the first enhancing member  150 , or the first enhancing member  150  may be extended to cover the whole second surface  124 . 
       FIG. 4  is an exploded view of a connector assembly according to another embodiment of the present application. The connector assembly  30  of the present embodiment includes a socket connector  400  and a plug connector  500  matched with each other. In compared with the connector assembly  10  of the above-mentioned embodiment, the connector assembly  30  of the present embodiment includes two independent connecting interfaces. In specific, the socket connector  400  has a first tongue  420  and a second tongue  460  both located in the slot  412  of the base  410  and connected to the base  410 . 
       FIG. 5A  and  FIG. 5B  are schematic drawings showing a partial structure of the socket connector  400  of  FIG. 4  in different view angles. Referring to  FIGS. 4 ,  5 A and  5 B, the first tongue  420  has a first surface  422  and a second surface  424  opposite to the first surface  422 . First terminals  430  and second terminals  440  pass through the base  410 , wherein each of the first terminals  430  and each of the second terminals  440  respectively have a first contact portion  432  and a second contact portion  442  both mounted on the first surface  422  of the first tongue  420 . In addition, the second substrate  460  has a third surface  462  and a fourth surface  464  opposite to the third surface  462 . Third terminals  470  pass through the base  410 , wherein each of the third terminals  470  has a third contact portion  472  mounted on the third surface  462  of the second tongue  460 . In the present embodiment, a cross-section of each of the second terminals  440  is greater than a cross-section of each of the first terminals  430  or each of the third terminals  470 . The socket connector  400  of the present embodiment is provided with second terminals  440  having large cross-sections to meet the requirements of transmitting large current or quick charge.  FIG. 6A  and  FIG. 6B  are schematic drawings respectively showing a whole structure and a partial structure of the plug connector  500  of  FIG. 4  in another view angle. Referring to  FIG. 4  through  FIG. 6 , the plug connector  500  is suitable for being connected to the socket connector  400 . In the present embodiment, the plug connector  500  has an insertion end  510  which is in a profile matched with the slot  412  of the socket connector  400 . When the plug connector  500  is connected to the socket connector  400 , the insertion end  510  enters the slot  412  and is assembled to the base  410 . In addition, the insertion end  510  has a first opening  512  and a second opening  514  for accommodating the first tongue  420  and the second tongue  460  of the socket connector  400  when the plug connector  500  is connected to the socket connector  400 . Plural first leads  530  and plural second leads  540  are disposed in the first opening  512 , while plural third leads  570  are disposed in the second opening  514 . The first leads  530  are disposed in corresponding to the first terminals  430  and adapted to be contact with the corresponding first terminals  430  when the first tongue  420  of the socket connector  400  is inserted into the first opening  512  of the insertion end  510 . The second leads  540  are disposed in corresponding to the second terminals  440  and adapted to be contact with the corresponding second terminals  440  when the first tongue  420  of the socket connector  400  is inserted into the first opening  512  of the insertion end  510 . The third leads  570  are disposed in corresponding to the third terminals  470  and adapted to be contact with the corresponding third terminals  470  when the second tongue  460  of the socket connector  400  is inserted into the second opening  514  of the insertion end  510 . 
     In the present embodiment, one second terminal  440  is corresponding to a pair of second leads  540 , i.e., two second leads  540  in identical functions is arranged to be contact with the same second terminals  440  for carrying a large current. Obviously, in other embodiments, the amount of the second leads  540  being corresponding to each of the second terminals  440  may be varied according to actual requirements. Additionally, the amount of the terminals of the socket connector  400  is not limited in the present embodiment. Referring to the socket connector  400  in  FIG. 5A  and  FIG. 5B , the third terminals  470  independently disposed on the second tongue  460  may serve as a Micro-USB interface and are provided in the amount of five. In other embodiments, the third terminals  470  independently disposed on the second tongue  460  may further serve as a Mini-USB interface or a USB interface, alternatively. Furthermore, the total amount of the first terminals  430  and the second terminals  440  on the first tongue  420  may be 30, which is capable of integrating various interfaces, such as High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI), audio interface, universal serial bus (USB) interface, charging interface, and so on, wherein the amount of the second terminals  440  is two, to serve as power terminals. 
     Furthermore, referring to  FIG. 5A , the present embodiment may further be provided with a first enhancing member  450  mounted on the first tongue  420  and a second enhancing member  480  mounted on the second tongue  460  to increase the structural strength of the first tongue  420  and the second tongue  460 . A stiffness of the first enhancing member  450  and a stiffness of the second enhancing member  480  are greater than a stiffness of the first tongue  420  and a stiffness of the second tongue  460 , respectively, to improve for example tensile strength, bending strength or shear strength, i.e. the ability of the first tongue  420  and the second tongue  460  in resisting damage caused by external impact or in a long time use. 
     More specifically, the first enhancing member  450  of the present embodiment includes two first enhancing plates  452  attached on the second surface  424  of the first tongue  420 . And, in consideration to the weak structure at two side edges of the first tongue  420 , the first enhancing plates  452  can be disposed adjacent to the two side edges to enhance the structural strength thereof. In addition, the second enhancing member  480  of the present embodiment includes a second enhancing plates  482  attached on the fourth surface  464  of the second tongue  460 . Since the second tongue  460  is in a smaller size as compared with the first tongue  420 , the second enhancing plate  482  approximately covers the whole fourth surface  464  of the second tongue  460 . Therefore, reliability and lifetime of the socket connector can be increased. 
     Additionally, in order to keep a smooth appearance of the first tongue  420  and the second tongue  460  to be respectively inserted into the first opening  512  and the second opening  514  of the insertion end  510 , the first tongue  420  can be formed with two depressed portions  424   a  on the second surface  424  for accommodating the two first enhancing plates  452 , and the second tongue  460  can be formed with a depressed portion  464   a  on the fourth surface  464  for accommodating the second enhancing plate  482 . Thus, the two first enhancing plates  452  can be embedded into the first tongue  420  through the corresponding depressed portions  424   a , and a top of each of the two first enhancing plates  452  is aligned with a top of the first tongue  420 . And, the second enhancing plate  482  can be embedded into the second tongue  460  through the corresponding depressed portions  464   a , and a top of the second enhancing plate  482  is aligned with a top of the second tongue  460 . 
     However, the present application does not limit the profile or location of the first enhancing member  450  and the second enhancing member  480 . For example, in other embodiments, the first enhancing member  450  and the second enhancing member  480  can be respectively embedded into the first tongue  420  and the second tongue  460  deeply such that the first tongue  420  and the second tongue  460  can respectively encapsulate the first enhancing member  450  and the second enhancing member  480 , or the first enhancing member  450  may be extended to cover the whole second surface  424 . 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a handheld electronic device adopting a socket connector of the present application. As shown in  FIG. 7 , a handheld electronic device  700 , such as a smart phone, comprising a main body  710  and a socket connector  720  is provided. The main body  710  may be provided with common components such as display panel  712  or operation interface  714  thereon. The socket connector  720  on the main body  710  can be coupled to a plug connector  810 , thereby the external device  800 , such as a earphone, a multimedia display, or a battery charger, having the plug connector  810 , can be connected to the main body  710  through the socket connector  720 . The socket connector  720  can be the socket connector  100  or the socket connector  400  illustrated in the above embodiments, while the plug connector  810  can be the plug connector  200  or the plug connector  500  matched with the socket connector  100  or the socket connector  400  in the above embodiments. The socket connector  720  is capable of integrating multiple connecting interfaces, such as High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI), audio interface, universal serial bus (USB) interface, charging interface, and so on, for saving the manufacturing cost, and the size and the weight of the handheld electronic device can be reduced. 
     In summary, the present application provides a socket connector having high current carrying capacity by enlarging cross-section of particular terminals, to meet the requirement of transmitting large current or quick charge. In addition, since the socket connector has high current carrying capacity, diverse applications, such as integrating multifunctional interfaces of video-audio transmission, data transmission and quick charge, can be accomplished. Furthermore, the present application can further be provided with enforcing members disposed on the tongue of the socket connector to enhance structural strength of the tongue and prevent the tongue from being damaged by external impact or in a long time use. Therefore, reliability and lifetime of the socket connector can be increased. 
     Although the application has been described with reference to the embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to one of the ordinary skills in the art that modifications to the described embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit of the application. Accordingly, the scope of the application will be defined by the attached claims not by the above detailed description.