Patent Publication Number: US-2009239417-A1

Title: Connector arrangement of multiple independently operable electrical connectors

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to connector arrangements and, more particularly to connectors for electrically connecting devices. 
     Generally, to connect two electrical devices to each other, various kinds of connectors may be used. Electrical device in this context is to be understood as encompassing any kind of device, for example mobile devices like mobile computers, mobile phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs) and the like, stationary devices like home computers, peripheral devices like hard disks, modems and also connecting cables used to transmit signals and the like to other devices. For example, to connect a desktop computer with a mobile device, a first electrical connector may be provided at the desktop computer, which is connected with a connector at one end of a cable, and a connector at the other end of the cable may be connected to a connector of the mobile device. 
     To facilitate connections between devices, some standardized connectors have been developed which are widely used, for example universal serial bus (USB) connectors or IEEE1394 connectors. Of these standardized connectors, different communication protocols with different data rates like USB 1.1 and USB 2.0 or IEEE1394a and IEEE1394b and/or different physical implementations of the connectors like mini USB, USB-A, USB-B and the like may be specified. 
     Such standardized connectors facilitate communication between devices since for example one and the same USB cable may be used for various different devices. On the other hand, while such standardized connectors are in many cases designed to fulfill the needs of a variety of applications, they may not be optimized for a specific application. 
     On the other hand, for many specific applications connectors individually designed for the respective purpose are used. Such connectors may in some cases provide better performance for the specific application, but require dedicated equipment, for example cables, which are only usable with the specific connector. 
     Therefore, a general need exists for improved connectors and connector arrangements. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to an embodiment of the invention, a connector arrangement is provided comprising a first electrical connector and a second electrical connector which is arranged around the first electrical connector. In embodiments of the present invention, “arranged around” means that portions of the second electrical connector are continuously or discontinuously arranged along one or more closed lines, e.g. circles, squares or rectangles, surrounding said first electrical connector. For example different portions of the second electrical connector are arranged on different sides of the first electrical connector, e.g. on two opposing sides or on four sides spaced apart approximately 90 degrees. In such an embodiment, the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector are configured to be operable independently of each other or, in other words, the first electrical connector may be used for transmitting signals, power and the like independently of using the second electrical connector and vice versa. “Electrical connector” in this respect refers to any connector which is usable to transmit electrical signals, currents, voltages and the like. 
     With the connector arrangement of this embodiment, a high degree of flexibility is achieved since the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector may be used independently. Moreover, by arranging the second electrical connector around the first electrical connector, a compact connector arrangement may be provided. 
     In another embodiment of the present invention, the first electrical connector may be implemented according to an industry standard. For example, the first electrical connector may be chosen from the group comprising a mini USB connector, a micro USB connector, a USB connector, a standard audio connector like a 3.5 mm audio connector and an IEEE1394 connector. In such an embodiment, a connection with the first electrical connector may be established using standard equipment according to the respective industry standard, while for example the second electrical connector may be used to provide additional features. 
     In a further embodiment, the connector arrangement includes a jacket surrounding said first electrical connector. In such an embodiment, the second electrical connector is associated with said jacket, for example incorporated in the jacket or otherwise connected with the jacket. Providing such a jacket may protect the connector arrangement for example against dust. 
     In an embodiment, the jacket may be made from a shielding material or contain such a shielding material, for example a metal, thus providing a shielding for the first electrical connector and/or the second electrical connector. 
     The jacket in an embodiment also may include a locking mechanism for locking the jacket to a further connector arrangement to be connected with the connector arrangement. In this way, the connection may be secured. 
     In a further embodiment, the jacket may be detachable from the connector arrangement. In such an embodiment, with the jacket and the second electrical connector associated therewith being detached the connector arrangement may be used as if only the first electrical connector were present. 
     In such an embodiment, the jacket may be connected with the connector arrangement via a flexible securing element like a wire, a cord, a strip or the like, to prevent loss thereof when the jacket is detached. 
     In another embodiment, the jacket may be reversibly deformable in such an embodiment, in a deformed state of the jacket the connector arrangement may be basically used as if only the first electrical connector were present. In such an embodiment, the jacket may for example include a memory metal. 
     In an embodiment, the second electrical connector may include a plurality of connecting elements arranged around said first electrical connector. In an embodiment, the connecting elements may be pins or balls. 
     In an embodiment where the above-mentioned jacket is provided, the connecting elements may be at least partially arranged within said jacket. 
     In such an embodiment, the jacket may include an ejection mechanism which is configured such that in a first state of the ejection mechanism the connecting elements protrude from said jacket towards an outside of said jacket and in a second state of said ejection mechanism the connecting elements are located closer to a center of the jacket than in the first state, for example retracted into said jacket. In such an embodiment, when in use for making a connection, the ejection mechanism may be in the first state, whereas when not in use, the ejection mechanism may be in the second state such that the connecting elements are protected by the jacket. 
     In an embodiment, such an ejection mechanism may include an inner ring member and an outer ring member. In such an embodiment, the inner ring member is rotatable with respect to the outer ring member, and the outer ring member includes openings for said connecting elements. In this embodiment, the inner ring member is coupled with the connecting elements to push said connecting elements through said openings in said first state. In this way, by a simple rotating movement the ejection mechanism may be changed between the first state and the second state. 
     In an embodiment, the connecting elements may include a plurality of pins, wherein one end of each of said pins is coupled with the above-mentioned inner ring member and the pins are guided by said openings of said outer ring member. In another embodiment, the connecting elements may include a plurality of balls, in which case the inner ring member may include a plurality of step elements at an outer surface thereof to move the balls between a first position associated with said first state and a second position associated with said second state. 
     In another embodiment, the second electrical connector may include a plurality of contact areas. Such a connector arrangement may for example be used to couple with the abovementioned connector arrangement which includes pins or balls, such that each pin or ball connects with one of the contact areas when the connection is established. 
     In an embodiment, the connector arrangement may include a ring element surrounding said first electrical connector, and the above-mentioned contact areas may be arranged in the ring element. 
     A connector arrangement as described above may be incorporated in any kind of electrical device and coupled to an electrical element like a circuit or a wire of the electrical device, for example a mobile device, a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant, a desktop computer or also a cable. 
     One or more of the above-described embodiments may be combined with each other unless specifically noted to the contrary. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a schematic representation of a connector arrangement according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  shows a schematic representation of connector arrangements according to further embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  shows a schematic cross-sectional view of connector arrangements according to other embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of portions of connector arrangements according to other embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  shows another view of the portions of connector arrangements of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of portions of connector arrangements according to further embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  shows another view of the portions of connector arrangements of  FIG. 6 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In the following, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail. It is to be understood that the following description is given only for the purpose of illustration and is not to be taken in a limiting sense. The scope of the invention is not intended to be limited by the exemplary embodiments described hereinafter or by the drawings which are taken to be illustrative only. 
     It should be noted that the drawings are to be regarded as being schematic representations only, and the drawings are not necessarily to scale with each other. Also within a single drawing, elements are not necessarily depicted in scale with each other, but rather the representation of the various elements is chosen such that their function becomes apparent to a person skilled in the art. 
     In the following, different embodiments comprising a first electrical connector and a second electrical connector will be described. In all these embodiments, the first electrical connector for example may be a connector as defined by an industry standard like a mini USB connector, micro USB connector, USB connector, an audio connector like a 3.5 mm audio connector, or an IEEE1394 connector, wherein in each case a male or a female connector may be used but is not limited to these connectors. However, also first electrical connectors not complying with an industry standard may be used. 
     In  FIG. 1 , a connector arrangement  10  according to an embodiment of the present invention is schematically shown. The connector arrangement  10  includes a first electrical connector  11 . Furthermore, the connector arrangement  10  includes a second electrical connector formed by four contact pins  12  which are arranged around the first electrical connector  11 . Instead of contact pins, other types of electrical contacting elements may be provided. For example, instead of connecting pins  12 , also connecting sockets for receiving pins or contact areas or pads to be contacted by contacting elements like pins may be provided. In other words, as connecting elements both male and female connecting elements may be used. 
     Moreover, while four contact pins  12  are shown in  FIG. 1 , any number of contact pins or other electrical contacting elements may be provided around the first electrical connector  11 . Also, the arrangement of the contact pins or other contacting elements is not limited to the arrangement shown, but any arrangement, for example an arrangement where the distance between the contact pins varies, or where the contact pins are arranged following two or more circles around first electrical connector  11  may be realized in corresponding embodiments of the present invention. 
     In  FIG. 2 , further embodiments of connector arrangements according to the present invention are schematically shown. A connector arrangement  20  according to an embodiment includes a first electrical connector  21  and a jacket  22  arranged around first electrical connector  21 . Jacket  22  may be made of any suitable material, like a plastic material or a metal material. In case metal is fully or partially (for example in form of a metal web) used, jacket  22  may be used for shielding first electrical connector  21 . To this end, the metal portions of jacket  22  in an embodiment may be connected to a reference potential like ground. 
     Inside jacket  22 , a plurality of pins  23  are located forming a second electrical connector. In a first state shown in  FIG. 2 , pins  23  are essentially completely retracted within jacket  22 . In the connector arrangement  20 , jacket  22  includes an ejection mechanism (not shown) such that pins  23  may be moved to a second state where they protrude from jacket  22  towards an outside thereof Embodiments of suitable ejection mechanisms will be discussed later. 
     Connector arrangement  20  shown in  FIG. 2  is adapted to be coupled with a further connector arrangement which includes a first electrical connector configured to be coupled with first electrical connector  21  and a plurality of contact areas  25 , for example contact pins, contact pads or sockets for receiving pins, forming a second electrical connector of the further connector arrangement which surrounds the first electrical connector of the further connector arrangement. For example, if first electrical connector  21  of connector arrangement  20  is a male USB connector, the corresponding first electrical connector of the further connector arrangement is a corresponding female USB connector. Furthermore, in a connected state between the connector arrangement  20  and the further connector arrangement as schematically shown in  FIG. 2 , each contact area  25  is associated with one of pins  23 . When the ejection mechanism is activated, which in an embodiment may be done by turning jacket  22 , pins  23  are ejected from the jacket such that each pin contacts the contact area  25  with which it is associated, thus establishing electrical contact between pins  23  and contact areas  25 . 
     Further embodiments of connector arrangements which are somewhat similar to the embodiments shown in  FIG. 2  are shown in  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 3  shows a schematic cross-sectional view where a cable  31  comprising a connector end  32  equipped with a connector arrangement  30  according to an embodiment of the present invention is connected with a mobile device  41  equipped with a connector arrangement  40  according to an embodiment of the present invention. Mobile device  41  may be any kind of mobile device like a mobile phone or a personal digital assistant and includes circuitry  44  coupled with connector arrangement  40 . Cable  31  may be a shielded cable, an unshielded cable and the like. It should be noted that cable  31  and mobile device  41  merely serve as examples for devices which may be connected using connector arrangements according to embodiments of the present invention. 
     Connector arrangement  30  includes a male USB mini connector  36  arranged substantially at a center of connector arrangement  30  and a jacket  33  surrounding USB connector  36 . Similar to the embodiment of  FIG. 2 , jacket  33  is provided with a plurality of pins  34  which in  FIG. 3  are shown as extending from jacket  33  towards an outside thereof. 
     Pins  34  in an embodiment may be ejected from jacket  33  such that they protrude towards an outside thereof as shown and retracted into jacket  33  using an ejection mechanism. At an end of jacket  33 , a projection  35  projecting towards an inside of jacket  33  is provided. 
     Connector arrangement  40  correspondingly includes a female USB connector  43  to be engaged with male USB connector  36  and a plurality of contact pins or contact pads  41  which in the state shown are contacted by pins  34 . Furthermore, connector arrangement  40  includes projections  42  which in the state shown in  FIG. 3  are engaged with projections  35 . Projections  35  and  42  provide a locking mechanism for locking connector arrangement  30  to connector arrangement  40 . In an embodiment, this locking mechanism may be provided only over a portion of the circumference of jacket  33  such that the locking mechanism may be engaged and disengaged by turning jacket  33 . 
     In the embodiment of  FIG. 3 , jacket  33  is detachable from connector end  32 . For example, jacket  33  may be connected to connector end  32  with a locking mechanism similar to the locking mechanism comprising projections  35  and  42 , or jacket  33  at the end engaged with cable end  32  may include threads engaging with corresponding threads formed in cable end  32 . When jacket  33  together with pins  34  is detached from cable end  32 , a standard male USB connector remains which may be connected with any standard USB female connector. 
     In the embodiment of  FIG. 3  a flexible strip  37  is provided coupling jacket  33  with connector end  32 . Through strip  37 , it is assured that jacket  33  when detached from cable end  32  does not get lost. Instead of a strip, a different flexible securing element like a wire or a cord may be provided. 
     In another embodiment, jacket  33  may be reversibly deformable to be deformed from the state shown in  FIG. 3  to a deformed state where connector arrangement  30  may essentially be used as having only the male mini USB connector  36 . To achieve such a reversible deformability, jacket  33  may include a so-called memory metal which “remembers” its original state when being deformed. 
     In the embodiments shown in  FIG. 3 , connector arrangement  30  comprising jacket  33  and a male USB connector is attached to cable  31 , while connector arrangement  40  comprising connecting areas  41  and a female USB connector is attached to mobile device  41 . However, in other embodiments, connector arrangement  30  may be attached to a mobile device, and connector arrangement  40  may be attached to a cable. Moreover, in a connector arrangement according to different embodiments, a jacket may be provided surrounding a female connector like a female USB connector, or connecting areas may be provided surrounding a male connector like a male USB connector. Therefore, the scope of the present invention is not be construed to be limited to any specific combination of first electrical connector and second electrical connector. 
     Next, embodiments of ejection mechanisms which for example are usable for ejecting the pins from the jacket in the embodiments of  FIGS. 2 and 3 , but also in other embodiments of connector arrangements, will be discussed. In  FIG. 4 , a perspective view of portions of connector arrangements according to embodiments of the present invention comprising an ejection mechanism are shown, and  FIG. 5  shows another view of these portions. Since  FIGS. 4 and 5  focus on explaining an embodiment of an ejection mechanism, the respective first electrical connectors like the above-explained USB connectors are simply depicted as a black box  55 . 
     In the embodiment of  FIGS. 4 and 5 , an ejection mechanism which for example may be integrated in a jacket like jacket  33  of  FIG. 3  or jacket  22  of  FIG. 2  includes an inner ring  60  and an outer ring  62 . As contacting elements forming a second electrical connector besides the already mentioned USB or similar connector  55 , a plurality of pins  61  is provided. One end of each pin is attached to inner ring  60 . Outer ring  62  includes a plurality of openings  63 , wherein one opening is assigned to each pin and the pins are guided through the respectively assigned openings  63 . Outer ring  62  in the embodiment of  FIGS. 4 and 5  further includes two protrusions  64 . 
     As second electrical connector of a further connector arrangement a plurality of contact areas  51  are provided, which may in an embodiment for example correspond to contact areas  41  of  FIG. 3  or contact areas  25  of the embodiment of  FIG. 2 . Contact areas  51  are arranged in a ring element  50 . Ring element  50  furthermore includes cut-outs  52  for receiving protrusions  64  of outer ring  62  in a state where the connector arrangements are connected with each other. 
     In the embodiments of  FIGS. 4 and 5 , inner ring  60  and outer ring  62  are displaceable (e.g., rotatable) relative to one another. In an embodiment, this may be achieved by coupling inner ring  60  to an outer sleeve of a corresponding jacket. When inner ring  60  is rotated, pins  61  are radially displaced with respect to outer ring  60 . When in the view of  FIGS. 5 and 6  inner ring  60  is rotated in a clockwise direction, pins  61  are “pushed” to extend or project to the outside through opening  63  to engage contact areas  51 , thereby establishing electrical contact between pins  61  and contact areas  51 . When inner ring  60  is turned in the counter-clockwise direction, conversely pins  61  are retracted away from contact areas  51  through holes  63 , to thereby electrically disconnect pins  61  from contact areas  51  or insulate pins  61  from contact areas  51 . It should be noted that in a different embodiment the ejection mechanism may be designed such that a turning in the counter-clockwise direction ejects or the pins and a turning in the clockwise direction retracts the pins. In one embodiment, pins  61  extend tangentially from inner ring  60  in an insulated state, and pins  61  extend normally from inner ring  60  in an electrically conductive state. 
     In the embodiments of  FIGS. 4 and 5 , projections or protrusions  64  combined with cut-outs  52  serve two purposes: on the one hand, they lock the connector arrangements with each other and on the other hand they prevent a rotation of outer ring  62  with respect to ring element  50 . In some embodiments, protrusions  64  may be depressed radially inward from a biased radially outward position to be disposed with an inner surface of outer ring  50 . In such a position, protrusions  64  may be circumferentially displaced along the inner surface of outer ring to alignment with cut-outs  52 , where protrusions  64  may biasly engage cut-outs  52 . 
     While in the embodiment of  FIGS. 4 and 5  two processes or protrusions  64  and two corresponding recesses or cut-outs  52  are shown, the number and also the position of the protrusions is not limited to the ones shown, and any suitable number of protrusions may be provided. Also other locking mechanisms or articulations, for example balls provided on outer ring  62  which fit into corresponding grooves in ring element  50  may be provided. 
     In  FIGS. 6 and 7 , portions of connector arrangements according to further embodiments of the present invention comprising a further embodiment of an ejection mechanism are shown, wherein  Fig.6  shows a perspective view and  FIG. 7  shows a further view. Similar to the embodiment of  FIGS. 4 and 5 , in the embodiment of  FIGS. 6 and 7  the respective first electrical connectors like USB connectors or IEEE1394 connectors of connector arrangements illustrated, are shown as black box  75  since  FIGS. 6 and 7  focus on the ejection mechanism. However, it is to be understood that any suitable first electrical connectors may be present. 
     Similar to the embodiment of  FIGS. 4 and 5 , a connector arrangement according to an embodiment shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7  includes an inner ring  80  and an outer ring  83 . Between inner ring  80  and outer ring  83  a plurality of balls  82  forming contacting elements of a second electrical connector are arranged and spaced apart evenly in the embodiment of  FIGS. 6 and 7 . In outer ring  83 , openings are provided corresponding to the positions of balls  82 . Outer ring  83  further includes protrusions  84 . 
     A second electrical connector of a further connector arrangement includes contact areas  71  arranged in a ring element  70  similar to the embodiment of  FIGS. 4 and 5 . Ring element  70  includes cut-out  72  for engaging with protrusions  84 . When protrusions  84  are engaged in cut-outs  72  balls  82  are essentially aligned with contact areas  71 . 
     Furthermore, in the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , step elements  81  are provided on an outer surface of ring  80 . In the position shown in  FIG. 6 , each of the balls  82  rests essentially between two step elements  81  and does not protrude or protrudes only slightly through the openings provided in outer ring  83  towards an outside of outer ring  83  to thereby produce a non-electrically conducting or insulated state. Similar as described with respect to the embodiment of  FIGS. 4 and 5 , inner ring  80  is rotatable with respect to outer ring  83 . When inner ring  80  is turned in a clockwise direction, balls  82  are moved “up” or traverse steps  81  and are thereby displaced to protrude through the openings provided in outer ring  83  and to engage contact areas  71 , thereby establishing contact between the second electrical connectors of the connector arrangements involved. As a matter of course, the form of step elements  81  shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7  is to be taken as an example only, and other step structures may be used for moving balls  82  between a state where they are substantially retracted between outer ring  83  and inner ring  80  and a state where they protrude from outer ring  83  to engage contact areas  71 . 
     Regarding the number and position of protrusions  84  and cut-outs  72 , the same possibilities for modifications as already discussed with respect to  FIGS. 4 and 5  apply. 
     Moreover, the number of pins  61  in the embodiment of  FIGS. 4 and 5  and the number of balls  82  in the embodiment of  FIGS. 6 and 7  illustrated is to be taken as an example only, and any number of respective contacting elements like pins or balls, or combinations thereof, may be used as desired for any particular application. Furthermore, while in the embodiments of  FIGS. 4-7  the contacting elements, i.e., pins or balls, are regularly spaced apart from each other, a varying spacing between the contacting elements may also be used. Further, while substantially square-shape contacting areas  51 ,  71  and ring elements  50 ,  70 , respectively, are shown in the figures, the contact areas may assume any suitable shape for making electrical contact with the respective contacting elements, for example pins  61  or balls  82 . Still further, shapes and/or dimensions of the contacting elements and/or steps  81  corresponding to their respective contact areas  51 ,  71  may vary among the contacting elements so that different electrical connections may be established at different degrees of rotation of inner rings  60  and  80 , for example. That is, a first rotation position from an insulated position may cause a first predetermined number of contact elements to engage their respective contact areas while another number of contact elements do not engage their respective contact areas; a second rotation position from the first rotation position may cause a second predetermined number of contact elements to engage their respective contact areas while still another number of contact elements do not engage their respective contact areas; and so on, for a third rotation position, a fourth rotation position, or any number of rotation positions. Still further, some of the predetermined first number of contact elements may disengage their respective contact areas in the second rotation position based on, for example, the shape of steps  81  (e.g., multi-step) or multiple ball sizes corresponding to the predetermined first number of contact elements, different lengths of pins  61 , etc. 
     Embodiments of the present invention provide an adjustable and/or universal connector. 
     The embodiments of ejection mechanisms discussed with reference to  FIGS. 4-7  are intended to serve only as an example how an ejection mechanism may be implemented and are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the present application to these particular ejection mechanisms. Other ejection mechanisms may be employed as well, for example ejection mechanisms based on elastic elements like springs or rubber elements which push contacting elements towards contact areas when positioned accordingly. 
     While embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it is to be understood that the practice of the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and modifications and deviations are possible for a person skilled in the art within the scope of the present invention. Moreover, while for the purpose of streamlining the present detailed description embodiments comprising a plurality of features have been described, this is not to be construed as indicating that all these features are necessary for practicing the present invention. In contrast, as apparent from the appended claims, embodiments of the present invention may include fewer features than the embodiments described above. The scope of the present invention is intended to be limited only by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.