Patent Publication Number: US-7585176-B2

Title: Connector encompassing 15-pin high density D-SUB pinout having additional pin capacity

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   The present Application for Patent is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 10/813,066, filed Mar. 31, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,281,067. 

   BACKGROUND 
   1. Field of Invention 
   The present invention relates to electrical connectors. More particularly, the present invention relates to extended electrical connectors which increases pin density of the typical high-density D-SUB connectors. 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   A conventional D-Sub electrical connector comprises an insulative housing having a D-shaped mating portion and a plurality of terminals received in the housing. A metal shell often surrounds a substantial portion of the housing to protect at least the mating portions of the contacts from RF (Radio Frequency) and EMI (Electro Magnetic Interference) as well as to protect the surrounding from interference radiating from the connector, itself. 
   Conventionally, a high-density D-SUB connector of the typical type is ruled to have 15 terminals, such as 15 contacts of the high-density D-SUB female connector or 15 pins of the high-density D-SUB male connector. However, the limited terminal number of the high-density D-SUB connector sometimes is still not enough to transmit various kinds of signals provided for different functions in addition to video displaying. Moreover, each terminal of the high-density D-SUB connector, corresponding to in its position, has been defined to transmit signals of a fixed function according to the D-SUB connector standard. It is complicated and difficult to compress other signals into the signals of which the functions are well defined and limited by the terminal positions. 
   Hence, it is desirable to have an extended electrical connector to overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art. 
   SUMMARY 
   According to one embodiment of the present invention, an electrical female connector comprises an insulative housing and a plurality of contacts. The insulative housing comprises a base portion, a mating portion and a plurality of passageways. The base portion has a rear terminating face. The mating portion extends from the base portion. Two opposite sides of the mating portion are not parallel and have different lengths. The passageways extend through the rear terminating face and the mating portion. The contacts are received in the passageways, respectively, and the contacts are adapted for electrically connecting a complementary connector. 
   According to another embodiment of the present invention, an electrical male connector comprises a substrate and a plurality of pins. The pins are mounted on the substrate, and a number of the pins is greater than 15 and a position arrangement of fifteen pins is the same as that of a 15-pin high-density D-SUB male connector. 
   According to another embodiment of the present invention, an electrical connector comprises a group of first electrical terminals and at least one second electrical terminal. The group of first electrical terminals is arranged in three rows, and the first electrical terminals in one of the three rows are separate from each other in a first pitch. The second electrical terminal is separate from an outmost first electrical terminal in the group of first electrical terminals in a second pitch. 
   According to another embodiment of the present invention, a cable comprises a transmitting line, a set of computer connectors and a combination connector. The set of computer connectors connects between the computer and the transmitting line. The combination connector connects between the KVM switch and the transmitting line to transmit keyboard signals, mouse signals, and video signals. The combination connector comprises a substrate and a plurality of pins mounted on the substrate. The number of the pins is greater than 15, and the position arrangement of fifteen of the pins is the same as that of a 15-pin high-density D-SUB male connector. 
   It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are examples, and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where: 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded, perspective view of an electrical female connector according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a front view of the electrical female connector of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a front view of an electrical male connector according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a front view of an electrical female connector according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 5  is a front view of an electrical male connector according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIGS. 6A-6C  illustrate cables according to embodiments of the present invention, which may be provided for connecting a computer to a KVM switch, respectively; and 
       FIG. 7  illustrates the combination connector utilized in  FIGS. 6A-6C . 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts. 
     FIG. 1  is an exploded, perspective view of an electrical female connector according to one embodiment of the present invention. An electrical female connector  100  has an insulative housing  102  and contacts  104 . The insulative housing  102  includes a base portion  112 , a mating portion  122  and passageways  124 . The base portion  112  defines a rear terminating face  132 . The mating portion  122  extends from the base portion  112  with a predetermined height and shape for coupling a complementary connector, for example, plugging into a shell of the complementary connector. Two opposite sides  144  and  142  of the mating portion  122  are not parallel and have different lengths. That is, the side  144  of the mating portion  122  is the same as that of a 15-pin high-density D-SUB female connector, and another side  142  of the mating portion  122  is extended more outwardly than that of the 15-pin high-density D-SUB female connector. The passageways  124  extend through the rear terminating face  132 , the base portion  112  and the mating portion  122  in the front-to-back direction. The contacts  104  are received in the passageways  124 , respectively, and the contacts  104  are adapted for electrically connecting a complementary connector (not shown) which mates with the electrical female connector  100 . 
     FIG. 2  is a front view of the electrical female connector  100  of  FIG. 1 . The slope of the side  144  is the same as that of one side of the 15-pin high-density D-SUB female connector, but the slope of the side  142  is different from that of the other side of the 15-pin high-density D-SUB female connector. More precisely, compared to the 15-pin high-density D-SUB female connector, the mating portion  122  extends the side  142  more outwardly to increase the surface area thereof so as to accommodate more passageways  124 . 
   In this embodiment, the number of the passageways  124  is 18. However, the number of the passageways  124  can be 16 or 17 in order to meet the requirements of different applications according to other embodiments of the present invention. In some examples, the design illustrated here may increase the pin density and provide a pin density that is higher than a typical 15-pin high-density D-SUB connector. Moreover, the passageways  124  are arranged in three parallel rows, and the position arrangement of fifteen of the passageways  124   a  (solid circle) is the same as that of the 15-pin high-density D-SUB female connector. That is, the fifteen passageways  124   a  can respectively correspond to the fifteen passageways of the 15-pin high-density D-SUB female connector. 
   The rest of the passageways  124  excluding the fifteen passageways  124   a , i.e. the passageways (dash circle)  124   b   1 ,  124   b   2  and  124   b   3 , are disposed in an extending region of the mating portion  122  compared with a mating portion of the 15-pin high-density D-SUB female connector. Referring to  FIG. 2 , each of the passageways  124   b   1  to  124   b   3  is disposed in one of the three parallel rows, and is disposed in the position where the passageways of the 15-pin high-density D-SUB female connector have never occupied. In one embodiment, the passageways  124   b   1  to  124   b   3  are disposed in the three parallel rows, respectively. 
   In addition, the contacts  104  shown in  FIG. 1  in the same position arrangement of the 15-pin high-density D-SUB female connector, which are received in the passageways  124   a , are provided to transmit video signals; and the rest of the contacts  104 , which are received in the passageways  124   b   1  to  124   b   3 , can be provided to transmit audio signals, keyboard signals, mouse signals or other digital signals. 
   In other words, the electrical terminals (e.g. the contacts  104 ) of the electrical female connector  100  may be divided into two or more groups. Referring to  FIG. 2  as an example, the electrical female connector  100  has a group of first contacts  104  received in the passageways  124   a  (solid circle) and a group of second contacts  104  received in the passageways  124   b   1  to  124   b   3  (dash circle). 
   The contacts  104  received in the passageways  124   a , which include fifteen contacts  104  in this example, belong to the group of first contacts, which are arranged in three rows. In one example, the group of second contacts  104  received in the passageways  124   b   1  to  124   b   3  may include the right-most contacts  104  received in the passageway  124   b   2  in the first row and the passageway  124   b   3  in the third row, respectively, and the left-most contact  104  received in the passageway  124   b   1  in the second row. 
   The first contacts, each of which is received in one of the passageways  124   a  in the three rows, may be separated from each other with approximately the same pitch (first pitch) d 1 , which may be approximately 2.29 mm in one example. The second contact, each of which is received in the passageways  124   b   1  to  124   b   3 , may be separated from the closest first contact received in the passageway  124   a  with a smaller pitch (second pitch) d 2 , which may be approximately 2.07 mm in one example. In this example, the second pitch d 2  is smaller than the first pitch d 1 . However, depending on the application, the second pitch d 2  can be equal to or larger than the first pitch d 1 . 
     FIG. 3  is a front view of an electrical male connector according to another embodiment of the present invention. The electrical male connector  300  has a substrate  302  and pins  324 . The pins  324  are mounted on the substrate  302 . The number of the pins  324  is greater than 15, and the position arrangement of fifteen of the pins  324  is the same as that of a 15-pin high-density D-SUB male connector. 
   In this embodiment, the number of the pins  324  is 18. However, the number of the pins  324  can be 16 or 17 in order to meet the requirements of different applications according to other embodiments of the present invention. Moreover, the pins  324  are arranged in three parallel rows, and the position arrangement of fifteen of the pins  324   a  (solid circle) is the same as that of the 15-pin high-density D-SUB male connector. That is, the fifteen pins  324   a  can respectively correspond to the fifteen pins of the 15-pin high-density D-SUB male connector. 
   The rest of the pins  324  excluding the fifteen pins  324   a , i.e. the pins (dash circle)  324   b   1  to  324   b   3 , are disposed in an extending region compared with the 15-pin high-density D-SUB male connector. Referring to  FIG. 3 , each of the pins  324   b   1  to  324   b   3  is disposed in one of the three parallel rows, and is disposed in the position where the pins of the 15-pin high-density D-SUB male connector have never occupied. In one embodiment, the pins  324   b   1  to  324   b   3  are disposed in the three parallel rows, respectively. 
   In addition, the pins  324   a  in the same position arrangement of the 15-pin high-density D-SUB male connector are provided to transmit video signals; and the rest of the pins  324 , i.e. the pins  324   b   1  to  324   b   3 , can be provided to transmit audio signals, keyboard signals, mouse signals or other digital signals. However, in practice, persons skilled in the art can arbitrarily assign the pins  324  to transmit the video signals, audio signals, keyboard signals, mouse signals or other digital signals, not limited by the embodiment as described above. 
   In other words, the electrical terminals (e.g. the pins  324 ) of the electrical male connector  300  may be divided into two or more groups. Referring to  FIG. 3  as an example, the electrical male connector  300  has a group of first pins  324   a  (solid circle), a group of second pins  324   b   1  to  324   b   3  (dash circle), and a shield  306 . The group of first pins  324   a  is arranged in three rows. In one example, the group of second pins  324   b   1  to  324   b   3  may include the left-most pin  324   b   2  in the first row and the left-most pin  324   b   3  in the third row, and the right-most pin  324   b   1  in the second row. 
   Each of the first pins  324   a  in the three rows may be separated from each other with approximately the same pitch (first pitch) d 1 , which may be approximately 2.29 mm in one example. Each of the second pins  324   b   1  to  324   b   3  may be separated from the closest first pin  324   a  with a smaller pitch (second pitch) d 2 , which may be approximately 2.07 mm in one example. In this example, the second pitch d 2  is smaller than the first pitch d 1 . However, depending on the application, the second pitch d 2  can be equal to or larger than the first pitch d 1 . The shield  306  surrounding the group of first pins  324   a  and the group of the second pins  324   b   1  to  324   b   3  may have a dimension (i.e. in its length×width) of approximately 8.36 mm×17.15 mm. 
     FIG. 4  is a front view of the electrical female connector according to one embodiment of the present invention. The slope of the side  444  is the same as that of one side of the 15-pin high-density D-SUB female connector, and the slope of the side  442  is also the same as that of the other side of the 15-pin high-density D-SUB female connector. More precisely, compared to the 15-pin high-density D-SUB female connector, the mating portion  422  extends the side  442  more outwardly to increase the surface area thereof so as to accommodate more passageways  424 . 
   In this embodiment, the number of the passageways  424  is 17. However, the number of the passageways  424  can be 16 in order to meet the requirements of different applications according to other embodiments of the present invention. In some examples, the design illustrated here may increase the pin density and provide a pin density that is higher than a typical 15-pin high-density D-SUB connector. Moreover, the passageways  424  are arranged in three parallel rows, and the position arrangement of fifteen of the passageways  424   a  (solid circle) is the same as that of the 15-pin high-density D-SUB female connector. That is, the fifteen passageways  424   a  can respectively correspond to the fifteen passageways of the 15-pin high-density D-SUB female connector. 
   The rest of the passageways  424  excluding the fifteen passageways  424   a , i.e. the passageways (dash circle)  424   b   1  and  424   b   2 , are disposed in an extending region of the mating portion  422  compared with a mating portion of the 15-pin high-density D-SUB female connector. The passageways  424   b   1  and  424   b   2  are disposed in the position where the passageways of the 15-pin high-density D-SUB female connector have never occupied. 
   In addition, the contacts in the same position arrangement of the 15-pin high-density D-SUB female connector, which are received in the passageways  424   a , are provided to transmit video signals; and the rest of the contacts, which are received in the passageways  424   b   1  and  424   b   2 , can be provided to transmit audio signals, keyboard signals, mouse signals or other digital signals. 
   In other words, the electrical terminals (e.g. the contacts) of the electrical female connector  400  may be divided into two or more groups. Referring to  FIG. 4  as an example, the electrical female connector  400  has a group of first contacts received in the passageways  424   a  (solid circle) and a group of second contacts received in the passageways  424   b   1  and  424   b   2  (dash circle). 
   The contacts received in the passageways  424   a , which include fifteen contacts in this example, belong to the group of first contacts, which are arranged in three rows. In one example, the group of second contacts received in the passageways  424   b   1  and  424   b   2  may include the right-most contact received in the passageway  424   b   2  in the first row, and the left-most contact received in the passageway  424   b   1  in the second row. 
   The first contacts, each of which is received in one of the passageways  424   a  in the three rows, may be separated from each other with approximately the same pitch (first pitch) d 1 , which may be approximately 2.29 mm in one example. The second contact, each of which is received in the passageways  424   b   1  and  424   b   2 , may be separated from the closest first contact received in the passageway  424   a  with a smaller pitch (second pitch) d 2 , which may be approximately 2.07 mm in one example. In this example, the second pitch d 2  is smaller than the first pitch d 1 . However, depending on the application, the second pitch d 2  can be equal to or larger than the first pitch d 1 . 
     FIG. 5  is a front view of an electrical male connector according to another embodiment of the present invention. The electrical male connector  500  has a substrate  502  and pins  524 . The pins  524  are mounted on the substrate  502 . The number of the pins  524  is greater than 15, and the position arrangement of fifteen of the pins  524  is the same as that of a 15-pin high-density D-SUB male connector. 
   In this embodiment, the number of the pins  524  is 17. However, the number of the pins  524  can be 16 in order to meet the requirements of different applications according to other embodiments of the present invention. Moreover, the pins  524  are arranged in three parallel rows, and the position arrangement of fifteen of the pins  524   a  (solid circle) is the same as that of the 15-pin high-density D-SUB male connector. That is, the fifteen pins  524   a  can respectively correspond to the fifteen pins of the 15-pin high-density D-SUB male connector. 
   The rest of the pins  524  excluding the fifteen pins  524   a , i.e. the pins (dash circle)  524   b   1  and  524   b   2 , are disposed in an extending region compared with the 15-pin high-density D-SUB male connector. The pins  524   b   1  and  524   b   3  are disposed in the position where the pins of the 15-pin high-density D-SUB male connector have never occupied. 
   In addition, the pins  524   a  in the same position arrangement of the 15-pin high-density D-SUB male connector are provided to transmit video signals; and the rest of the pins  524 , i.e. the pins  524   b   1  and  524   b   2 , can be provided to transmit audio signals, keyboard signals, mouse signals or other digital signals. 
   In other words, the electrical terminals (e.g. the pins  524 ) of the electrical male connector  500  may be divided into two or more groups. Referring to  FIG. 5  as an example, the electrical male connector  500  has a group of first pins  524   a  (solid circle), a group of second pins  524   b   1  and  524   b   2  (dash circle), and a shield  506 . The group of first pins  524   a  is arranged in three rows. In one example, the group of second pins  524   b   1  and  524   b   2  may include the left-most pin  524   b   2  in the first row, and the right-most pin  524   b   1  in the second row. 
   Each of the first pins  524   a  in the three rows may be separated from each other with approximately the same pitch (first pitch) d 1 , which may be approximately 2.29 mm in one example. Each of the second pins  524   b   1  and  524   b   2  may be separated from the closest first pin  524   a  with a smaller pitch (second pitch) d 2 , which may be approximately 2.07 mm in one example. In this example, the second pitch d 2  is smaller than the first pitch d 1 . However, depending on the application, the second pitch d 2  can be equal to or larger than the first pitch d 1 . The shield  506  surrounding the group of first pins  524   a  and the group of the second pins  524   b   1  and  524   b   2  may have a dimension (i.e. in its length×width) of approximately 8.36 mm×17.15 mm. 
     FIG. 6A  illustrates a cable  600   a  according to one embodiment of the present invention, which may be provided for connecting a computer to a KVM switch, for example. The cable  600   a  has a transmitting line  602 , a set of computer connectors  604   a  and a combination connector  606 . The set of computer connectors  604   a  connects between the computer (not illustrated) and the transmitting line  602 . The combination connector  606  connects between the KVM switch (not illustrated) and the transmitting line  602  to transmit keyboard signals, mouse signals, and video signals. 
   The set of computer connectors  604   a  includes a USB connector  614  and a monitor connector  624 . The monitor connector  624  can be a typical connector for coupling a monitor, such as a VGA HDB15 connector or other suitable monitor connector. The USB connector  614  can be a typical USB connector, such as a type A USB connector or other suitable USB connector. When the cable  600   a  receives the mouse and keyboard PS/2 signals from the KVM switch via the transmitting line  602 , a signal converting device (not illustrated) integrated in one of the transmitting line  602 , the combination connector  606  and the set of the computer connectors  604   a  may convert the mouse and keyboard PS/2 signals into USB signals for the computer coupled to the set of the computer connectors  604   a . In this embodiment, the USB connector  614  may convert the mouse and keyboard PS/2 signals into USB signals for the computer coupled thereto. The monitor connector  624  transmits the video signals to the KVM switch via the transmitting line  602 . 
     FIG. 6B  illustrates a cable  600   b  according to another embodiment of the present invention, which may be provided for connecting a computer to a KVM switch, for example. The cable  600   b  has a transmitting line  602 , a set of computer connectors  604   b  and a combination connector  606 . The set of computer connectors  604   b  connects between the computer (not illustrated) and the transmitting line  602 . The combination connector  606  connects between the KVM switch (not illustrated) and the transmitting line  602  to transmit keyboard signals, mouse signals, and video signals. 
   The set of computer connectors  604   b  includes a speaker connector  634  and a microphone connector  644  in addition to the USB connector  614  and the monitor connector  624  as described above. The speaker connector  634  can transmit audio signals for a speaker, and the microphone connector  644  can transmit audio signals for a microphone, such as provided from an audio interface configured on the computer. 
     FIG. 6C  illustrates a cable  600   c  according to another embodiment of the present invention, which may be provided for connecting a computer to a KVM switch, for example. The cable  600   c  has a transmitting line  602 , a set of computer connectors  604   c  and a combination connector  606 . The set of computer connectors  604   c  connects between the computer (not illustrated) and the transmitting line  602 . The combination connector  606  connects between the KVM switch (not illustrated) and the transmitting line  602  to transmit keyboard signals, mouse signals, and video signals. 
   The set of computer connectors  604   c  includes at least one PS/2 connector, such as a keyboard PS/2 connector  654   a  and a mouse PS/2 connector  654   b , and the monitor connector  624  as described above. When the cable  600   c  receives the mouse and keyboard USB signals from the KVM switch via the transmitting line  602 , a signal converting device (not illustrated) integrated in one of the transmitting line  602 , the combination connector  606  and the set of the computer connectors  604   c  may convert the mouse and keyboard USB signals into PS/2 signals for the computer coupled to the set of the computer connectors  604   c . In this embodiment, the PS/2 connectors  654   a ,  654   b  may convert the mouse and keyboard USB signals into PS/2 signals for the computer coupled thereto. It is to be understood that the keyboard PS/2 connector  654   a  and the mouse PS/2 connector  654   b  may be configured to arrange in one side of the monitor connector  624 . 
   More particularly, the signal converting device may have a compact size, for example, constructed by a semiconductor chip. Therefore, the signal converting device can be configured in any place of the cable  600   a  or  600   c  to convert the signals. That is, the signal converting device can be integrated in the set of computer connectors, or the combination connector, or the transmitting line, thus not increasing the appearance dimensions and volume thereof. 
     FIG. 7  illustrates the combination connector  606  in  FIGS. 6A-6C . The combination connector  606  has a substrate  702  and pins  724 . The pins  724  are mounted on the substrate  702 . The number of the pins  724  is greater than 15, and the position arrangement of fifteen of the pins  724  is the same as that of a 15-pin high-density D-SUB male connector. 
   In this embodiment, the number of the pins  724  is 18. However, the number of the pins  724  can be 16 or 17 in order to meet the requirements of different applications according to other embodiments of the present invention. The pins  724  may be divided into two or more groups. Referring to  FIG. 7  as an example, the combination connector  606  has a group of first pins  724   a  (solid circle), a group of second pins  724   b   1  to  724   b   3  (dash circle), and a shield  706 . 
   Each of the first pins  724   a , which are arranged in three rows, may be separated from each other with approximately the same pitch (first pitch) d 1 , which may be approximately 2.29 mm in one example. Each of the second pins  724   b   1  to  724   b   3  may be separated from the closest first pin  724   a  with a smaller pitch (second pitch) d 2 , which may be approximately 2.07 mm in one example. In this example, the second pitch d 2  is smaller than the first pitch d 1 . However, depending on the application, the second pitch d 2  can be equal to or larger than the first pitch d 1 . The shield  706  surrounding the group of first pins  724   a  and the group of the second pins  724   b   1  to  724   b   3  may have a dimension (i.e. in its length×width) of approximately 8.36 mm×17.15 mm. 
   In conclusion, the electrical connectors provided by the above embodiments, the electrical female connector or the electrical male connector, can provide more terminals to transmit various kinds of signals provided for different functions in addition to video displaying, thus increasing the extensibility and flexibility of the D-SUB connector. 
   It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present invention cover modifications and variations of this invention provided they fall within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.