Patent Publication Number: US-2007099467-A1

Title: Engagement sensing system and method for same

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention concerns maintaining manufacturing quality and more particularly, ensuring that connections between components are properly engaged.  
      2. Description of the Related Art  
      Many electrical devices include flexible circuits (“flex circuit”) and corresponding zero insertion force (ZIF) connectors. The flex circuit typically includes a number of pins positioned at the end of the flex circuit, and the ZIF connector includes contacts that contact the pins of the flex circuit when the flex circuit is properly engaged with the ZIF connector. In particular, the end of the flex circuit containing the pins is inserted in the ZIF connector, and a bar or door on the ZIF connector is pressed downward. As it is pressed downward, the bar forces the pins of the flex circuit to contact the contacts of the ZIF connector. This process is generally performed manually.  
      During this process, however, the flex circuit may not be properly engaged with the ZIF connector. Even so, the improper engagement may not be initially detected because the pins of the flex circuit are still in sufficient contact with the contacts of the ZIF connector, at least as determined by initial testing. Over time, however, because of the improper engagement, the flex circuit may dislodge from the ZIF connector, which will cause the pins to lose contact with the contacts. As a result, this disengagement will negatively affect the performance of the radio.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention concerns an engagement sense pin system. The system can include a circuit having an end, in which the end can include a plurality of pins, at least one of which may be a sense pin, and a connector that can receive the end of the circuit. The connector can include a set of contacts corresponding to the pins of the circuit. In one arrangement, the sense pin can have a length that can be shorter than a number of the remaining pins of the circuit. As such, when the contact receives the sense pin, the engagement between the circuit and the connector may be deemed sufficient.  
      The system can also include a detection mechanism that can detect the receipt of the sense pin of the circuit by the contact of the connector. In addition, the circuit can include at least two sense pins that may be electrically coupled to one another. The detection mechanism can detect the receipt of the sense pins by the contacts by determining whether a closed electrical path exists between the sense pins and the contacts.  
      In another arrangement, the sense pin of the circuit may be electrically coupled to a pin having a predetermined setting. The sense pin can also have the predetermined setting through the electrical coupling, and the detection mechanism can detect the receipt of the sense pin by the contact by detecting the predetermined setting on the sense pin. As an example, the predetermined setting can be a supply voltage.  
      As another example, the circuit can include at least two sense pins, and the plurality of pins can include a first end and a second end. One sense pin may be positioned at the first end, and another sense pin may be positioned at the second end. In one arrangement, the connector can be a zero insertion force connector, and the circuit can be a flexible circuit. Additionally, the system may be contained within a mobile communications unit.  
      The present invention also concerns a method of determining whether a circuit is properly engaged with a connector. The method can include the step of coupling an end of a flexible circuit having a plurality of pins—at least one of which may be a sense pin having a length shorter than a number of the remaining pins—to a connector having a set of contacts corresponding to the pins of the flexible circuit. The method may also include the step of determining whether the contact receives the sense pin. When the contact receives the sense pin, the coupling between the flexible circuit and the connector may be deemed sufficient.  
      As an example, the flexible circuit can include at least two sense pins and determining whether the contact receives the sense pin can include determining whether a closed electrical path exists between the sense pins and the contacts. As another example, the sense pin of the circuit can be electrically coupled to a pin having a predetermined setting in which the sense pin may also have the predetermined setting through the electrical coupling. Determining whether the contact receives the sense pin can include detecting the predetermined setting on the sense pin.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in the several figures of which like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which:  
       FIG. 1  illustrates a mobile communication unit in accordance with an embodiment of the inventive arrangements;  
       FIG. 2  illustrates an engagement sensing system in accordance with an embodiment of the inventive arrangements;  
       FIG. 3  illustrates examples of an end of a flexible circuit and a connector in accordance with an embodiment of the inventive arrangements; and  
       FIG. 4  illustrates a method for determining whether a circuit is properly engaged with a connector in accordance with an embodiment of the inventive arrangements. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the drawings, in which like reference numerals are carried forward.  
      As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting but rather to provide an understandable description of the invention.  
      The terms “a” or “an,” as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. The term “plurality,” as used herein, is defined as two or more than two. The term “another,” as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms “including” and/or “having,” as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The terms “coupled” and “engagement,” as used herein, are defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically. The term “module” can be defined as any combination of hardware and/or software to enable an appropriate function to be performed.  
      The terms “program,” “application,” and the like as used herein, are defined as a sequence of instructions designed for execution on a computer system. A program, computer program, or application may include a subroutine, a function, a procedure, an object method, an object implementation, an executable application, an applet, a servlet, a source code, an object code, a shared library/dynamic load library and/or other sequence of instructions designed for execution on a computer system. Where suitable, the term “application” may even refer to a hardware setting or component.  
      The present invention concerns an engagement sense pin system. The system can include a circuit, such as a flexible circuit, having an end in which the end may include a plurality of pins, at least one of which may be a sense pin. The system can also have a connector that can receive the end of the circuit, and the connector can include a set of contacts that can correspond to the pins of the circuit. In one arrangement, the sense pin may have a length that can be shorter than a number of the remaining pins of the circuit. As such, when the contact receives the sense pin, the engagement between the circuit and the connector may be deemed sufficient.  
      The system may also include a detection mechanism that can detect the receipt of the sense pin of the circuit by the contact of the connector. Because the connections between the sense pins and the contacts of the connector are more difficult to achieve given the shorter length of the sense pins as compared to the remaining pins, the connections between the sense pins and the contacts can provide an indication that the flexible circuit is properly engaged with the connector.  
      Referring to  FIG. 1 , a mobile communication device  100  is shown. As an example, the mobile communication device  100  can include a display  110  and a keypad  112 . The device  100  can be, for example, a cellular telephone, a two-way radio or a personal digital assistant (PDA), although the device  100  is in no way limited to these examples.  
      Referring to  FIG. 2 , an engagement sensing system  200  is shown. As an example, the system  200  can be incorporated in the device  100  of  FIG. 1 . It is understood, however, that the system  200  can be part of any other suitable electrical device. The system  200  can include a circuit  210  and a connector  212  that can receive the circuit  210 . As an example, the circuit  210  can be a flexible circuit, and the connector  212  can be a ZIF connector, although the invention is not limited to either of these.  
      In one arrangement, the flex circuit  210  can have an end  214  that can include a plurality of pins  216 . In addition, the connector  212  can include a plurality of contacts  220 , which may correspond to the pins  216 . As is known in the art, signals can pass through the flex circuit  210  and through the pins  216  to the contacts  220  of the connector  212  when the connector  212  receives the end  214  of the flex circuit  210 . In one particular arrangement, one or more of the pins  216  can be sense pins  218 . As will be described further below, the sense pins  218  may have a length that is shorter than a number of the remaining pins  216 .  
      The end  214  of the of the flex circuit  210  may be inserted in the connector  212 . As can be seen, the connector  212 , because it may be a ZIF connector, can include a door  222 . When the end  214  of the flex circuit  210  is placed in the connector  212 , the door  222  can be closed. Because of its design, the door  222  can force the end  214  of the flex circuit  210  towards the contacts  220 , which can cause the contacts  220  to receive the pins  216 . In addition, the contacts  220  may also receive the sense pins  218 . For purposes of the invention, the contacts  220  receiving the pins  216  and sense pins  218  can mean that the connection between the contacts  220  and the pins  216  or sense pins  218  is sufficient enough to enable signals to pass through them.  
      The system  200  may also include a detection mechanism  224 , which can be coupled to the connector  212 . As an example, the detection mechanism  224  can detect the receipt of the sense pins  218  of the flexible circuit  210  by the contacts  220  of the connector  212 . There are several ways for the detection mechanism  224  to perform this process, and several examples will be presented below. When the detection mechanism  224  determines that the appropriate contacts  220  have received the sense pins  218 , the detection mechanism  224  can determine that the engagement between the flex circuit  210  and the connector  220  is sufficient. That is, when the contacts  220  receive the sense pins  218 , the engagement between the flex circuit  210  and the connector  212  can be acceptable.  
      When the receipt is detected, the detection mechanism  224  can signal any other suitable device or component to indicate the acceptable engagement between the flex circuit  210  and the connector  212 . Conversely, if the detection mechanism  224  does not detect the contacts  220  receiving the sense pins  218 , the detection mechanism  224  can signal the device or component that the engagement between the flex circuit  210  and the connector  212  is not acceptable. Any suitable type of corrective action may be performed at this point. The detection mechanism  224  can be any suitable component capable of determining whether the contacts  220  have received the sense pins  218 , or whether the engagement between the flex circuit  210  and the connector is acceptable, and signaling some other component to indicate such determination. As an example, the detection mechanism  224  can be a logic circuit or a processor.  
      In one arrangement, the connector  212  and the detection mechanism  224  can be positioned on a printed circuit board (PCB)  226  of the mobile communication device  100  or some other electronic device. Of course, these components can be positioned on any other suitable surface. It must be noted that the detection mechanism  224  is not limited to being located in the device  100 , as the detection mechanism  224  can be positioned outside the device  100 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 3 , a closer view of the connector  212 , the detection mechanism  224  and several examples of the end  214  of the flex circuit  210  is shown. As can be seen, the detection mechanism  224  can be coupled to the connector  212 , and the contacts  220  of the connector  212  can receive the pins  216  of the flex circuits  210 . In the flex circuit  210  closest to the connector  212 , the plurality of pins  216  can have a first end  230  and a second end  232 . In one arrangement, this flex circuit  210  can have two sense pins  218 , one of which can be positioned at the first end  230  and the other can be positioned at the second end  232 .  
      The sense pins  218  in this example can be shorter than the rest of the pins  216 . The sense pins  218  can be shorter than the remaining pins  216  by any suitable distance, although the shorter they are in comparison to the remaining pins  216 , the more accurate the determination of acceptable engagement between the flex circuit  210  and the connector  212  may be. In addition, the sense pins  218  can be electrically coupled by a path  234 . As the connector  212  receives the flex circuit  210 , the contacts  220  can receive the longer pins  216  first and can eventually receive the shorter sense pins  218 .  
      During this process, the detection mechanism  224  can detect the receipt of the sense pin  218  by the contact  220 . For example, because the sense pins  218  may be connected by the path  234 , the detection mechanism  224  can determine whether a closed electrical path exists between the sense pins  218  and the contacts  220 . Because the sense pins  218  may be shorter than the remaining pins  216 , this electrical connection can ensure that the remaining pins  216  are in suitable contact with the contacts  220 . As such, the engagement between the flex circuit  210  and the connector  212  can be deemed sufficient, and the detection mechanism  224  can indicate this detection, as described above. If the contacts  220  have not received one or more of the sense pins  218 , then the closed electrical path may not exist, and the engagement may not be deemed sufficient.  
      The component located at the bottom of  FIG. 3  also shows another example of the end  214  of the flex circuit  210 . In this arrangement, the sense pins  218  may be electrically connected to one or more of the remaining pins  216  through an electrical connection  236 . The pins  216  to which the sense pins  218  are connected may have a predetermined setting. For example, the pin  216  electrically coupled to the sense pin  218  may be a pin that carries a supply voltage or some other signal. Thus, because it is electrically connected to the pin  216  having the predetermined setting, the sense pin  218  may also have this predetermined setting. In this example, the sense pin  218  may carry the supply voltage or other suitable signal. As a result, the detection mechanism  224  can detect the receipt of the sense pin  218  by the contact  220  by detecting the predetermined setting on the sense pin  218 . If the detection mechanism  224  does not detect the predetermined setting on the sense pin  218 , then the contact  220  may not have received the sense pin  218 , which may indicate that the flex circuit  210  and the connector  212  are not properly engaged. These sense pins  218  may also be positioned at the first end  230  and the second end  232 .  
      The predetermined setting can be associated with any suitable signal that one or more of the pins  216 - to which the sense pins  218  are electrically coupled—may carry. The predetermined setting can be an actual setting or condition that presently exists on the relevant pin  216  or a setting that may be present at some future time on the pin  216 . Similar to the process described above, the detection mechanism  224  can signal an appropriate component when it determines whether the sense pin  218  has the predetermined setting.  
      Although several examples of flex circuits  210  having sense pins  218  have been presented here, the invention is in no way limited to them. For example, it is not necessary to position the sense pins  218  at the first end  230  and/or second end  232 , as the sense pins  218  can be placed at any other suitable location in relation to the remaining pins  216 . Moreover, the flex circuits  210  can include any suitable number of sense pins  218 , including just one or more than two. In addition, it is not necessary that the sense pins  218  be shorter than every pin  216 , as the number of pins  216  that are longer than the sense pins  218  can be any suitable count. Those of skill in the art will also appreciate that there are many other ways to detect whether the contacts  220  have received the sense pins  218 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 4 , a method  400  for determining whether a circuit is properly engaged with a connector is shown. When describing the method  400 , reference will be made to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , although it must be noted that the method  400  can be practiced in any other suitable system or device. Moreover, the steps of the method  400  are not limited to the particular order in which they are presented in  FIG. 4 . The inventive method can also have a greater number of steps or a fewer number of steps than those shown in  FIG. 4 .  
      At step  410 , the method can begin. At step  412 , an end of a flexible circuit having a plurality of pins, at least one of which being a sense pin having a length shorter than a number of the remaining pins, can be coupled to a connector having a set of contacts corresponding to the pins of the flexible circuit. For example, referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the flex circuit  210  can be inserted in the connector  212 , and the door  222  of the connector  212  can be shut, which can force the sense pins  218  to contact the appropriate contacts  220 .  
      Referring back to  FIG. 4 , at step  414 , it can be determined whether the contact has received the sense pin. If and when the contact receives the sense pin, the coupling between the flexible circuit and the connector can be deemed sufficient. For example, this determining process can be performed by determining whether a closed electrical path exists between the sense pins and the contacts and/or by detecting a predetermined setting on the sense pin.  
      For example, referring once again to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the detection mechanism  224  can determine whether the contacts  220  have received the sense pins  218 . As described earlier, the detection mechanism  224  can determine whether a closed electrical path exists between the sense pins  218  and the contacts  220  or by detecting a predetermined setting on the sense pins  218 . It is understood that these examples of detection are not exclusive of one another. In particular, the flex circuit  210  can be designed such that the detection mechanism  224  can detect the closed electrical path between sense pins  218  and the predetermined setting on the sense pins  218 .  
      Where applicable, the present invention can be realized in hardware, software or a combination of hardware and software. Any kind of computer system or other apparatus adapted for carrying out the methods described herein are suitable. A typical combination of hardware and software can be a mobile communications device with a computer program that, when being loaded and executed, can control the mobile communications device such that it carries out the methods described herein. Portions of the present invention may also be embedded in a computer program product, which comprises all the features enabling the implementation of the methods described herein and which when loaded in a computer system, is able to carry out these methods.  
      While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be clear that the invention is not so limited. Numerous modifications, changes, variations, substitutions and equivalents will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.