Patent Publication Number: US-8968012-B2

Title: Device connection cable

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Various forms of cables are used to carry signals to and provide power for portable electronic devices. In many arrangements cables can be used to connect a device to a wall outlet to provide power either for direct operation or to charge an internal batter for later usage. In other arrangements, cables can be used to facilitate connections between portable electronics, such as between smartphones and computers, from one computer to another computer, or from a computer to another peripheral device. Such cables often involve various forms of mating connections, wherein for example, the cable has ends that are configured according to a standard or proprietary configuration, both in shape and with respect to a number and position of electrical connections therein. Such an end can mate with a properly configured port in, for example a computer. The other end of the cable can have the same or a different connection that corresponds with a port in, for example, a portable electronic device. 
     Many computers and computer peripheral connections are configured to provide power to a portable electronic device, including designated connections that connect, through corresponding wires in the cable to corresponding power pins in a device. In such arrangements, power adapters can also be provided that can connect with a wall outlet and convert the outlet power to that which the power pins and wires are adapted to carry. In such an arrangement, a common cable can provide power and a signal connection with a computer, directly, or a power source, through connection with an adapter. 
     Docking stations have also been developed that are configured to retain an electronic device in a particular position by cradling a large portion of the device. Such docking stations, however, can often be bulky and heavy, making them difficult to transport. This can be due to their arrangements in which they hold a device completely off of a surface on which the docking stations are configured to rest. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     An embodiment of the disclosure relates to a kit. The kit includes an electronic device including a connection surface having a connection port exposed thereon and at least one support surface spaced apart from the connection surface in at least a direction normal thereto. The kit also includes a connection cable including a cable body extending between a first end unit and a second end unit. The first end unit is configured to connect with an electronic component, and the second end unit is configured to connect with the electronic device at the connection port thereof in an assembly of the connection cable and the electronic device. In such an assembly, the at least one support surface of the device is configured to provide first and second points of contact between the assembly and an external supporting surface. The second end unit is further configured to provide a third point of contact between the connection cable and device assembly and such an external supporting surface with the connection surface spaced apart from such an external supporting surface with the second end unit disposed therebetween. 
     The second end unit can be configured to extend along an axis disposed at an angle of between 80° and 100° with respect to the connection surface of the device when the connection cable is assembled with the electronic device. The second end unit can further include a housing defining a surface thereof that is configured to be spaced apart from the connection surface of the device and disposed relative to the connection surface between parallel therewith and an angle of 15° thereto. Such a surface can be configured to provide the third point of contact. 
     The electronic component with which first end unit is configured to connect can be a power adapter configured to connect to a wall outlet. Additionally or alternatively, the electronic component with which first end unit is configured to connect can be a computer peripheral port. 
     The connection surface of the device can be defined on a portion of a device housing, and the support surface can be a corner surface on the device housing that is adjacent the connection surface. The at least one support surface can include a first support surface and a second support surface. Each of the first and second support surfaces can be spaced apart from the connection surface in at least a direction normal thereto. 
     The electronic device can be a wearable display device that can include a band having a central support portion and extending between first and second ends remote from the central portion. The wearable display device can also include an extension arm attached with the band and supporting an optical element on a side of the center support opposite the first and second ends and a nosepiece attached with the band along the center support and extending away therefrom. In such an example, the connection surface can be defined on a surface of the extension arm disposed away from the band, and the first support surface can be defined on the first end of the band. The second support surface can be defined by a portion of the nosepiece. 
     Another aspect of the disclosure relates to a connection cable for use with a wearable electronic device. Such an exemplary electronic device can include a band having a central support portion and extending between first and second ends remote from the central portion, a nosepiece attached with the band along the center support and extending away therefrom, and an extension arm attached with the band defining a surface opposite the band with a connection feature exposed thereon and supporting an optical element on a side of the center support opposite the first and second ends. The cable includes a first end unit configured to connect with an electronic component and a second end unit. The second end unit has a housing with a connection end configured to connect with the connection feature of the extension arm and a support end spaced apart from the connection end. The housing is configured such that, when the connection end is connected with the connection feature, the support end, the first end of the band, and the nosepiece define at least three points of contact along a plane spaced apart from the surface of the extension arm with the second end unit disposed between the surface of the extension arm and the plane. The cable also includes a cable body extending between the first end unit and the second end unit. 
     A first axis can be defined between the connection end and the support end of the housing, and the cable body can extend from the housing along a second axis disposed at an angle between and 100° to the first axis. The second axis can be substantially parallel to the contact surface. A portion of the cable can connect with the housing at a point substantially even with a surface of the support end in a direction along the first axis. In another example, portion of the cable can connect with the housing at a point disposed within 0.2 mm and 1 mm of a surface of the support end in a direction along the first axis. 
     The cable body can include at least one wire and a jacket surrounding the wire. The cable body can further including a reinforcement insert disposed between at least a point of connection between the cable body and at least one of the first and second end units, and positioned between the wire and the jacket. The reinforcement insert can taper from a first thickness adjacent the one of the first and second end units to a second thickness less than the first thickness at a location remote from the one of the first and second end units. The cable body can extend away from the first end unit along an axis thereof, and the cable body can have a cross-section with a width greater than a thickness thereof by at least a factor of 2 when the cross section is defined by a plane substantially normal to the axis. 
     Another aspect of the disclosure relates to a kit. The kit includes a device including a band having a central support portion and extending between first and second ends remote from the central portion, an end housing attached with the first end of the band, a nosepiece attached with the band along the center support and extending away therefrom, and an extension arm attached with the band defining a surface opposite the band with a connection feature exposed thereon and supporting an optical element on a side of the center support opposite the first and second ends. The kit also includes a connection cable including a cable body and an end unit. The end unit has a housing with a connection end configured to connect with the connection feature of the extension arm and a support end spaced apart from the connection end. The housing is configured such that, when the connection end is connected with the connection feature, the support end, the end housing, and the nosepiece define at least three points of contact along a plane spaced apart from the surface of the extension arm with the second end unit disposed between the surface of the extension arm and the plane. The plane defined by the nosepiece, the end housing, and the support surface can be within 15° of being parallel to the surface of the extension arm. 
     The nosepiece can be resiliently deformable such that an orientation of the plane can be related to a deformation of the nosepiece. The nosepiece can include includes first and second pads, and one of the first and second pads can define one of the at least three points along the plane. In a further example, the other of the first and second pads can define a fourth point along the plane. The end housing can be connected with the band by a resiliently flexible connection, and an orientation of the plane can be related to a movement of the end housing permitted by the flexible connection. 
     The plane can be defined on an external surface on which the wearable device is configured to rest with the surface of the extension arm facing the external surface and spaced apart there from by the end housing of the connection cable. 
     The support end of the end unit housing can be configured to be substantially parallel to the surface of the extension arm when the connection end is connected with the connection feature. 
     Side walls of the end unit can be defined between the support end of the end unit housing and the connection end thereof, and the cable body can be connected with the end unit housing at one of the side walls. 
     The extension arm can be attached with the band on a side of the center support adjacent the end housing, and the end unit of the connection cable can be configured to support the extension arm above an external surface when the end housing and nosepiece are placed in contact with the external surface. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a cable according to an embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  shows a view of a portion of the cable of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  shows a partial cutaway view thereof; 
         FIG. 4  shows the cable of  FIG. 1  with an adapter that can be used therewith; 
         FIGS. 5A and 5B  shows an arrangement where a cable according to an embodiment of the disclosure is used with an electronic device; 
         FIG. 6  another arrangement where a cable according to an embodiment of the disclosure is used with an electronic device; 
         FIG. 7  shows a head wearable display device in an assembly with the cable of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 8  shows a detail view of the head wearable display device shown in  FIG. 7 ; and 
         FIG. 9  shows an alternate view of the assembly of  FIG. 7 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A cable  10  according to an embodiment of the disclosure is shown in  FIG. 1 . Cable  10  is shown as an assembly having a cable body  12  with ends  20  and  30  thereof that are configured to provide connections between cable  10  and another electronic device. Cable body  12  can generally be a section of bunched or gathered individual wires (such as wire  14  in  FIG. 3 ) covered in a flexible wire jacket  15  that provides support and additional insulation for the internal wires. Any number of wires can be included in cable body  12 , and generally, the number of such wires can correspond to the number of connections between devices that the cable  10  is configured to provide. In an example, cable  10  can be used to connect an electronic device with a computer. Such electronic devices can include, among others, a smartphone, a table computer, an external memory device or the like. In such an example, cable  10  can be used to carry information back and forth between the computer and the device, to provide power to the device, or a combination of both. Cable body  14  can be configured to have any length  13  desired to facilitate connection between electronic devices. In an example, different cables  10  can be provided in varying length, such as 0.5 m, 1.5 m, or 3 m. 
     To allow for connection between electronic devices, as in the above examples, cable  10  is configured with ends  20  and  30  that are structured to connect with mating ports in electronic devices by insertion thereinto. In the example of  FIG. 1 , first end  20  includes a connection  22  that is in the form of a standard USB-A style connection. Connection  22  is attached to and extends from a housing  24  that covers the joints between various features of connection  22  and the wires  18  that extend through cable body. Housing  24  can also provide a rigid feature that a user can grasp while inserting or removing connection  22  into or out of a mating USB port. In other examples, connection  22  can be configured to connect with a Firewire™ port, a Thunderbolt™ port, or any other standardized, proprietary, or specialized connection port in a computer or other electronic device. In the example shown in  FIG. 4 , first end  20  can have a USB-A style connection structure that can, in addition to connecting with a USB port of a computer, can connect with a USB power connection  62  in, for example a power adapter  60  that can include prongs  64  configured to connect with a wall outlet. This can allow the same cable  10  to connect with a computer, for charging a device or data transfer between a device and a computer, or to adapter  60  to charge a device. Other connections can be used to connect with an adapter, including other computer peripheral connections configured for delivering power, a barrel-type connection, or other proprietary or specialized connections. 
     As also shown in  FIG. 1 , second end  30  also includes a connection structure  32  and a housing  34  that conceals any internal joints between conductive features of the connection structure  32  and the wires  14  internal to the cable  10 . Connection structure  32  can be arranged to connect with an electronic device, which can include by a connection structure  32  that is similar to connection structure  22  of first end  20 . In other embodiments, such as that shown in  FIG. 1 , the connection structure  32  of second end  30  can be generally smaller than that of first end  20  to connect with the generally smaller connection ports of portable electronic devices, such as smartphones, head-mounted displays, or the like. In an embodiment, connection structure  32  can be a USB-B or a USB-mini size connection structure, a 4-pin Firewire™ connection structure or the like. In a further embodiment, connection structure  32  can be a specialized or proprietary structure configured to connect with a mating port in a device. Such structures can be used to provide variations of cable  10  that can have a similar connection structure  32  on second end  30  but different connection structures  22  on first end  20 . 
     Second end  30  is further configured such that connection structure  32  extends from a connection end  36  of housing  34  and a support surface  38  disposed at an opposite end of housing  34  from connection end  36 . Sidewalls  40  of housing  34  extend between connection end  36  and support surface  38  thereof. Support surface  38  can be spaced apart from connection end  36  to give second end a height  42  and can be angled with respect thereto to give second end  30  the ability to provide a support for an electronic device with which it is connected, as described below. Additionally, cable body  12  can be connected with second end  30  at a sidewall  40  thereof and can extend generally normal to an axis of second end  30  that can be defined by an insertion direction of the connection structure  32  with a mating port or by a direction normal to the connection end  36  of second end  30 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , cable body  12  can include a reinforcing insert near its attachment with either or both of the first  20  and second  30  ends. The reinforcing structure can provide additional bulk or structure to the cable body  12  in the area of second housing  30  to help second housing maintain an upright position on a surface when carrying out a supporting function, as described below. Such a reinforcing insert can also provide additional support for cable at an area that is prone to wear from bending about such a housing during winding or use thereof. In one embodiment, insert  16  can be positioned inside jacket  15  surrounding wire  18  (or a group of bundled wires) on four sides thereof. Insert  16  can be of a more rigid material than jacket  15 , which is typically of a flexible rubber material. In an example, insert  16  can be of a flexible plastic material such as polyethylene, polystyrene, polypropylene, or the like. In other examples, insert  16  can be of a rubber or TPE that is comparatively more rigid than that of jacket  15 , or insert  16  can be of the same material as jacket  15 , providing reinforcement by the added total thickness by the presence of insert  16  or by being of a thicker construction that jacket  15 . 
     In an example, cable body  12  can be cut from a length of cable on a roll or other supply and then an insert  16  can be pressed into place beneath jacket  15 . Insert  16  can be tapered to a wedge shape to facilitate such an assembly. Such a tapered structure can also provide reinforcement that is strongest at the attachment  18  with housing  34  (or  24 ) and gradually lessens along the length  17  of insert  16  to the end of the insert  16  adjacent to which, the flexibility thereof can be similar to that of the cable body  12  with no reinforcement. 
     As mentioned above, second end  30  of the cable  10  can be configured to provide a supporting function when connected with an appropriately-configured electronic device. In the example shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B , an electronic device  110  can be provided with a connection port available for connection with connection structure  32  on a surface  115 , thereof. In an embodiment, such a surface  115  can be a bottom surface of the device that is intended or otherwise configured to face a surface upon which the device  110  is placed during use, rest, or storage. In an example, device  110  can be a smartphone with a screen thereof facing away from surface  115  such that when second end  30  of cable  10  is assembled with the connection port, surface  115  can be propped-up with the screen angled to face a user thereof, as shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B . In such an arrangement, an edge surface  145  of the device  110  adjacent surface  115  can remain in contact with the surface  400  on which device  110  is resting to form at least two points of contact therewith. In such an arrangement, support surface  38  can provide a third point of contact with the surface  400  so that device  110  can stably rest on surface  400 . With second end  30  held in place beneath surface  115  by connection  32  and a mating connection feature of device  115 . 
     In the propped-up arrangement shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B , support surface  34  can be angled with respect to connection end at an angle that corresponds with the desired angle  404  for surface  115  of device  110  with respect to surface  400 . As such, support surface  38  can be described as being angled with respect to the axis of the housing  32  at an angle complementary to the angle  404  of device  110  on surface  400 . Additionally, height  42  of second end  30  can be configured to give device  115  the desired angle with respect to surface  400 , given the length of device  110  and the distance from edge surface  145  the second end  30  is connected with device  110 . 
     In another example shown in  FIG. 6 , device  210  can include a first surface  215  on which a mating connection port for assembly with connection structure  34  is positioned. A second surface  245  can also be included that is spaced away from surface  215  such as in the direction from which the housing  32  of second end  30  is configured to extend. In such an arrangement, device can be configured such that, when second end  30  is not connected therewith, surface  215  is angled with respect to a surface  400  on which device  210  is resting. When second end  30  of cable  10  is connected therewith, surface  215  can be supported above surface  400  with support surface  38  providing a point of contact with surface  400  by attachment with device  215 . Further, second surface  245  can provide at least two additional points of contact with surface  400 . In such a configuration, the height  42  of second end  30  can be configured to substantially match the distance away from surface  215  that second surface  245  is positioned. 
     In the examples shown in  FIGS. 5A ,  5 B, and  6 , devices  110  and  210  can represent smartphones, tablet computers, laptop computers, keyboards or the like, or can generally schematically represent various forms of head-wearable display devices. The supporting functionality of second end  30  can be used to provide optional positioning of input features, such as touchscreens, keyboards, or the like or can be configured to provide optimized resting or storage positions thereof on surface  400 . 
     When second end  30  of cable  10  is configured to provide such a supporting function, it can be advantageous to position cable body  12  such that it attaches with a sidewall  40  of housing  34  at a position adjacent support surface  38 . In an embodiment, a portion of cable body  12  can be substantially flush with support surface  38 . In another example, cable body  12  can be positioned such that a portion thereof is at a distance  44  that is within 2 mm of support surface  38 . In a further example, a portion of cable body  12  can be positioned such that distance is less than about 1 mm or in other embodiments less than about 0.5 mm. Such an arrangement can allow for cable to rest on surface  400  near the connection  18  thereof with housing  32 , which can reduce instability of housing  32  due to the weight of cable body  12 . 
     An example of a head-wearable display device  310  that can be used with cable  10  is shown in  FIGS. 7-9 . Such a device  310  can include a band  312  that provides a desired fit of device  310  on a user&#39;s head. Device  310  can further include an extension arm  314  that extends from a portion of band  312  to a free end  316  thereof that includes a display element  354 . Extension arm  314  can be configured such that, when device  310  is worn by a user, display  354  mounted on extension arm  314  can be positioned adjacent the user&#39;s eye, within the user&#39;s line of sight of at least that eye, for making an image presented thereon viewable by the user. 
     Band  312  is shown in  FIG. 7  as including a central portion  330  with side arms  340 A, 340 B extending away from opposite sides of the central portion  330 . Central portion  330  can include a nosepiece  320  configured to rest on the nose of a wearer with the central portion  330  providing a central support for side arms  340 A, 340 B, which can extend unitarily therefrom including a bend or curve therebetween. Accordingly, device  310  can be worn on a user&#39;s head such that nosepiece  320  can rest on the user&#39;s nose with side arms  340 A, 340 B extending over respective temples of the user and over adjacent ears. The device  320  can be configured such that display element  354  is appropriately positioned in view of one of the user&#39;s eyes. 
     Side arms  340 A, 340 B can be configured to contact the head of the user along respective temples or in the area of respective ears of the user. Side arms  340 A, 340 B include respective free ends  344  opposite central portion  330 . Free ends  344  can be positioned to be located near the ear of a user when wearing device  310 . As shown in  FIG. 7  the center portion  330  and side arms  340 A, 340 B may generally have a “U” shape. In this example, the U shape is asymmetric. The asymmetry is due, in part, to the different configurations of the free ends  344 A, 344 B of the side arms  340 A, 340 B. As shown, free end  344 A may be enlarged to house circuitry and/or a power supply (e.g., removable or rechargeable battery) for the device  310 . The configurations of the two free ends may be switched so that free end  344 B houses circuitry and/or power supply equipment. 
     Extension arm  314  can include a first portion  376  that extends downward from band  312  at a first portion  376  that can be shaped to also extend along a length of band, such as along side arm  340 A. First portion  376  is further shaped to extend away from band  312  to an elbow portion  350  connected with first portion  376  by a joint  356 . Elbow portion  350  can support display  354  at an angle relative to arm  376  that can be adjusted by rotation of elbow portion  350  about joint  356 . 
     Enlarged free end  344 A can also include one or more connection contacts  382  that can be used to connect device  310  to a power source to recharge a battery without removal thereof. Further device  310  can include a connection port  380  that can be used to connect device  310  to small end  30  of cable  10  by being adapted to receive connection structure  32  therein. As such, cable  10  can be used to connect device  310  with another component or structure, as discussed above. Other features, structures, and functionality of device  310  can be similar to those of the head-wearable display device described in the co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/426,033, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , while device is adapted to be worn on the head of a user, as described above, it may not be adapted to evenly or stably rest on a surface, such as surface  400 , while not being worn by a user. As shown, both nosepiece  320  and enlarged free end  344 A are configured to extend below band  312  when device  310  is resting right-side-up (as shown in  FIG. 7 ) on surface  400 . Extension arm  314  also extends below band  312 , but by a lesser distance than either enlarged free end  344 A or nosepiece  320 . Therefore, when device  310  is positioned on surface  400  with a portion of the lower surface  245  of enlarged free end  344 A and a surface of at least one of the pads  324  also contacting surface  400 , device would tend to tip downward in the direction of extension arm  314  until extension arm  314  also touched surface  400 . Such a resting configuration could be undesirable from an aesthetic point of view, and could also give a feeling of instability to a user or could lead to inadvertent damage to device  310  by accidental contact with free end  344 B, which would, accordingly, be positioned at a height  402  above surface  400  greater than the other portions of device  310 . 
     By positioning port  380  on the lower surface  315  of extension arm  314 , second end  30  of cable  10  can be connected with device  310  in a position such that second end  30  can provide a supporting function for device  310 . As shown in  FIGS. 7 and 9 , second end  30  can connect to port  380  by connection structure  32  such that it extends away from surface  315  to position supporting surface  38  away from surface  315 . Accordingly, when the device  310  is then positioned right-side-up on surface  400 , second end  30  of cable  10  is secured in a position between surface  315  and surface  400  with device  310  supported thereby. Such an arrangement can prevent undesirable tipping of device  310  under unsupported weight of extension arm  314 . 
     In an embodiment, second end  30  of cable  10  can be configured such that surface  315  is substantially parallel with surface  400  when device  310  is resting thereon with extension arm  314  supported by second end  30 . In other embodiments, the height relationship among supporting surface  38 , nosepiece  320  and the lower surface  245  of enlarged free end  344 A may be such that surface  315  is not exactly parallel with surface  400 . This can be due to the relative sizes of these features or various arrangements in which they are positioned. In an example, the arms  322  of nosepiece  320  that support pads  324  can be flexible to allow a user to configure a distance between pads  324  to position display  354  in a comfortable viewing position with respect to the user&#39;s eye. This can affect the distance below central portion  330  of band  312  to which pads  324  extend. Further, enlarged free end  344 A can be flexibly attached to the remaining portion of band  312 . Such a flexible attachment can either be configured to provide user-adjustability or a comfortable retention force against the user&#39;s head. In an example where the flexible attachment provides adjustment, the variation in position of the enlarged free end  344 A can lead to differences in how second end  30  supports device  310 . Further in an example where such a connection is generally resiliently flexible, the band  312  can bend at the connection with enlarged free end  344 A under the weight of device  310  when positioned on a surface  400 . 
     In an embodiment, the height  42  of second end  30  can be configured to provide support through a desired range of adjustment or flexation of nosepiece  320  and enlarged free end  344 A such that, when second end  30  is connected with device  310 , surface  315  is positioned within about 10° of being parallel with surface  400  or, in another embodiment within about 5° of parallel with surface  400 . In an example configuration of device  310 , nosepiece is configured to adjustably position pads below band  312  in a range between about 20 mm and 22 mm. Enlarged free end  344 A is configured to extend below band  312  to a point that can be between about 25 mm, and surface  315  can be positioned at about 10 mm below band  312 . A corresponding housing  32  of second end  30  can have a height  42  between about 10 mm and 20 mm to achieve a supporting configuration as described above. In a further example, height  42  can be between about 12 and 16 mm and in another example about 14 mm. The height  42  of housing  32  can be adjusted proportionately with changes in the ranges of dimensions for the other features of device  310  to provide a similar supporting functionality. In one example, the height  42  of housing  32  can be configured such that the height  402  of free end  344 B above surface  400  is between 90% and 110% of the distance below band  312  to which free end  344 A extends. 
     In an example, support surface  38  can be generally parallel to connection end  34  of second end  30 . Such an arrangement can allow support surface  38  to rest evenly on surface  400  when positioned at a similar distance below band  312  as enlarged free end  344 A and at least one of the pads  324 . In variations of device  310 , such as by user adjustment of the features thereof, support surface  38  can be uneven on surface  400  such that only a portion (including an edge or corner, for example) can contact surface  400  to provide a desired supporting characteristic. Further, in some embodiments, such as by user adjustment or the like, either or both of the pads  324  can provide points of contact with surface  400 . 
     Although the description herein has been made with reference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and applications of the present disclosure. It is therefore to be understood that numerous modifications may be made to the illustrative embodiments and that other arrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.