Patent Publication Number: US-9413107-B2

Title: Serial bus receptacle with adjustable exterior socket clamping

Description:
PRIORITY DATA 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/546,040, titled “Serial Bus Receptacle with Exterior Socket Clamping”, filed Aug. 1, 2012, whose inventors are Matthew R. Fallon, Dennis Vance Toth, and Christopher A. Rake, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety as though fully and completely set forth herein. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to the field of serial communication bus connector design. Specifically, the present invention addresses the problem of serial communication bus plug retention by augmenting the retention force of serial communication bus receptacles. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
     Certain types of serial communication cables, such as universal serial bus (USB) cables have a multitude of mainstream applications and allow for a wide variety of connectivity options. However, in certain environments, the low force necessary to decouple the connection of the cable has limited the use of these types of connections. For example, the USB specification provides bounds for the insertion and withdrawal forces needed to respectively couple and decouple the connection. This force limit is designed to maintain connection through very minor disturbances, but to separate easily when a user desires. Applications in the industrial market, however, require greater retention than typically provided by current serial bus interfaces and thus these applications need alternatives to or modifications for typical connectors to increase the retention force. Various solutions have been employed to accomplish an increase in retention force, especially with respect to USB connectors, but these solutions are not ideal for all industrial applications. 
     For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,878,865 discloses a locking connector for engaging a USB receptacle. The connector housing has a locking cam opening on one side of the connector and the connector is split on the same side as the locking cam and allows for a cam to be incorporated into the connector. Additionally, there is a locking sleeve that actuates the cam and closes the split in the connector locking the connector in the receptacle. While an improvement over the standard connector, this system does not allow standard peripherals to be connected to a system in an industrial environment since most peripherals are equipped with a plug and not a receptacle. This solution requires a change by the peripheral manufacturer or an after market modification. 
     U.S. Patent Application 2009/0088023 discloses a locking receptacle for engaging a USB device. The locking receptacle includes a four sided header that is connected to a pivotable lever that is connected to a locking tip where the locking tip engages the USB connector plug when the plug is inserted and the lever is pivoted. In this solution, the receptacle does not include retention springs. The locking tip of the pivotable lever restricts the movement of the plug. While more robust than the standard USB receptacle, this solution is not ideal for harsh industrial environments because the locking tip and lever are typically flexible and tend to lose retention force over time, therefore the connector becomes unreliable over time. 
     Various other solutions are available such as locking USB connectors that provide retention via a rigid plastic collar that envelopes the main body of the receptacle. The collar can slide along the main body and prevents the retention tabs of the connector from deflecting and thus prevents the USB plug from being withdrawn. However, this solution relies on a plastic collar that may not be rugged enough for industrial environments or allow for the use of standard peripherals. For example, the sliding collar may be more susceptible to loosening under the vibrations that are common in industrial environments. Additionally, the sliding collar may not be practical for use in some industrial environments given the method of actuation of the sliding collar. 
     Finally, there are solutions in which mating plastic barrels are fitted over the plug and receptacle and are threaded together to provide retention of the plug; however, these solutions require dedicated ends and do not allow for the exchange and use of standard peripherals. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Various embodiments of a system for connecting serial communication devices are presented. The system may include a housing that may be configured to couple to a serial communication bus. In one embodiment of the present invention, the serial communication bus may be USB. The housing may include a serial bus receptacle, which, in various embodiments, may by a USB receptacle. The serial bus receptacle may be communicatively coupled to the serial communication bus. The receptacle may include one or more internal retention springs that are internal to the serial bus receptacle. The one or more internal retention springs are configured to grip a male serial bus plug, which, in various embodiments, may be a USB plug, with a retention force when the male serial bus plug is inserted into the serial bus receptacle. In one embodiment, the serial bus plug may be communicatively coupled to a serial communication device so when the serial bus plug is inserted into the serial bus receptacle, the serial communication device is coupled to the serial communication bus. In some embodiments, the serial communication device may be a USB device. 
     The housing may contain or be coupled to a clamp, where the clamp is external to the serial bus receptacle. Further, when the clamp is adjusted via a clamping adjustment mechanism, the clamp may constrain the one or more internal retention springs and augment the retention force of the one or more internal retention springs. By augmenting the retention force of the one or more internal retention springs, the clamp further secures the male serial bus plug in the serial bus receptacle. 
     In one embodiment, the housing may be included on or connected to a serial communication cable and may be coupled to the serial communication bus via the serial communication cable, which, in another embodiment, may be a USB cable. The housing which may contain the serial bus receptacle may be included on one end of the serial communication cable and the serial bus receptacle may be communicatively coupled to the serial communication bus via the serial communication cable. In alternative embodiments, the serial communication cable may contain a housing as described above on one end and a serial bus plug, which in one embodiment, may be a USB plug, on the other end of the serial communication cable. In yet another embodiment, the serial communication cable may include a housing as described above on both ends, both of which may contain a serial communication receptacle, both of which, in another embodiment, may be USB receptacles. 
     In one embodiment, the clamping adjustment mechanism may include one or more threaded fasteners and a corresponding one or more threaded inserts. The threaded inserts may be included in or coupled to the housing. The clamp is configured to close in response to the one or more threaded fasteners being threaded into the corresponding one or more threaded inserts. 
     In an alternative embodiment, the clamping adjustment mechanism may include one or more threaded fasteners and a corresponding one or more threaded nuts. The clamp is configured to close in response to the one or more threaded fasteners being threaded into the corresponding one or more threaded nuts. 
     In another embodiment, the clamp may have a deploy position and a service position. When the clamp is in the deploy position, the clamp is closed thus further securing the male serial bus plug that has been inserted into the serial bus receptacle. When the clamp is in the service position, the clamp is opened thus allowing the removal of the male serial bus plug from the serial bus receptacle. 
     In another embodiment, the housing may be included in or coupled to a panel. The serial communication receptacle may be accessible from the front side of the panel or protrude through the front side of the panel. Additionally, the clamping adjustment mechanism may be accessible from the front side of the panel or protrude through the front side of the panel. In various embodiments, the panel may include a bulkhead, an enclosure, a computer panel, an instrument chassis such as a National Instruments&#39;s PXI™ or cRIO™ chassis, or other various panels. 
     In one embodiment, a male serial bus plug may be inserted into a serial bus receptacle. In various embodiments, the serial bus plug may be coupled to a serial communication device. The serial bus receptacle may be communicatively coupled to a serial communication bus. Thus, when the serial bus plug is inserted into the serial bus receptacle, the serial communication device is communicatively coupled to the serial communication bus. As described above, in some embodiments, the serial bus receptacle may include one or more internal retention springs situated inside the serial bus receptacle. These springs may be configured to grip the male serial bus plug with a retention force in response to the inserting. The serial bus receptacle may be included in a housing, which includes or is coupled to a clamp, and where the clamp is external to the serial bus receptacle. The clamp may be adjusted via a clamping adjustment mechanism to constrain the one or more internal retention springs. The constraining of the one or more internal retention springs augments the retention force of the one or more internal retention springs and further secures the male serial bus plug in the serial bus receptacle. 
     Various embodiments may be used to communicatively couple various serial communication devices to the serial communications bus. In one embodiment, the serial communication bus may be USB, the serial bus receptacle may be a USB receptacle, the male serial bus plug may be a USB plug, and the serial communication device may be a USB device. In other embodiments, the housing may be included in or connected to a serial communication cable and the serial bus receptacle may be communicatively coupled to the serial communication bus via the serial communication cable. Additionally, in one embodiment, the serial communication cable may by a USB cable. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A better understanding of the present invention can be obtained when the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment is considered in conjunction with the following drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates computer system, according to one embodiment; 
         FIG. 2A  illustrates an instrumentation control system, according to one embodiment; 
         FIG. 2B  illustrates an industrial automation system, according to one embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is an isometric view of the invention, according to one embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross section view of the invention, according to one embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross section view of the invention with serial plug engaged, according to one embodiment; 
         FIG. 6  is an isometric view of the invention, according to another embodiment; 
         FIG. 7  is a cross section view of the invention, according to another embodiment; 
         FIG. 8  is an isometric view of the invention, according to another embodiment; 
         FIG. 9A  is an isometric view of the invention, according to another embodiment; 
         FIG. 9B  is an isometric view of the invention, according to another embodiment; and 
         FIG. 10  is a flowchart describing an exemplary method of use of the invention, according to an embodiment. 
     
    
    
     While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the drawings and detailed description thereto are not intended to limit the invention to the particular form disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Terms 
     The following is a glossary of terms used in the present document. 
     Computer System—any of various types of computing or processing systems, including a personal computer system (PC), mainframe computer system, workstation, network appliance, Internet appliance, personal digital assistant (PDA), television system, grid computing system, or other device or combinations of devices. In general, the term “computer system” can be broadly defined to encompass any device (or combination of devices) having at least one processor that executes instructions from a memory medium. 
     Measurement Device—includes instruments, data acquisition devices, smart sensors, and any of various types of devices that are configured to acquire and/or store data. A measurement device may also optionally be further configured to analyze or process the acquired or stored data. Examples of a measurement device include an instrument, such as a traditional stand-alone “box” instrument, a computer-based instrument (instrument on a card) or external instrument, a data acquisition card, a device external to a computer that operates similarly to a data acquisition card, a smart sensor, one or more DAQ or measurement cards or modules in a chassis, an image acquisition device, such as an image acquisition (or machine vision) card (also called a video capture board) or smart camera, a motion control device, a robot having machine vision, and other similar types of devices. Exemplary “stand-alone” instruments include oscilloscopes, multimeters, signal analyzers, arbitrary waveform generators, spectroscopes, and similar measurement, test, or automation instruments. 
     A measurement device may be further configured to perform control functions, e.g., in response to analysis of the acquired or stored data. For example, the measurement device may send a control signal to an external system, such as a motion control system or to a sensor, in response to particular data. A measurement device may also be configured to perform automation functions, i.e., may receive and analyze data, and issue automation control signals in response. 
       FIG. 1 —Computer System 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the computer system  82  may include a display device configured to display a graphical program as the graphical program is created and/or executed. The display device may also be configured to display a graphical user interface or front panel of the graphical program during execution of the graphical program. The graphical user interface may comprise any type of graphical user interface, e.g., depending on the computing platform. 
     The computer system  82  may include at least one input device, such as a keyboard or mouse that may be coupled to the computer system  82  using various embodiments of the present invention. 
     Exemplary Systems 
     It is noted that embodiments of the present invention can be used for a plethora of applications and is not limited. In other words, applications discussed in the present description are exemplary only, and embodiments of the present invention may be used in any of various types of systems. Thus, embodiments of the system and method disclosed herein may be used in any of various types of applications. 
       FIG. 2A  illustrates an exemplary instrumentation control system  100  which may implement various embodiments of the invention. The system  100  comprises a host computer  82  which may couple to one or more instruments via embodiments of the present invention. The host computer  82  may comprise a CPU, a display screen, memory, and one or more input devices such as a mouse or keyboard as shown. The computer  82  may operate with the one or more instruments to analyze, measure, or control a unit under test (UUT) or process  150 . 
     The one or more instruments may include a GPIB instrument  112  and associated GPIB interface card  122 , a data acquisition board  114  inserted into or otherwise coupled with chassis  124  with associated signal conditioning circuitry  126 , a VXI instrument  116 , a PXI instrument  118 , a video device or camera  132  and associated image acquisition (or machine vision) card  134 , a motion control device  136  and associated motion control interface card  138 , and/or one or more computer based instrument cards  142 , among other types of devices. The computer system may couple to and operate with one or more of these instruments via embodiments of the present invention. The instruments may be coupled to the unit under test (UUT) or process  150 , or may be coupled to receive field signals, typically generated by transducers via various embodiments of the present invention. The system  100  may be used in a data acquisition and control application, in a test and measurement application, an image processing or machine vision application, a process control application, a man-machine interface application, a simulation application, or a hardware-in-the-loop validation application, among others. 
       FIG. 2B  illustrates an exemplary industrial automation system  160  which may use embodiments of the present invention. The industrial automation system  160  is similar to the instrumentation or test and measurement system  100  shown in  FIG. 2A . Elements which are similar or identical to elements in  FIG. 2A  have the same reference numerals for convenience. The system  160  may comprise a computer  82  which may couple to one or more devices or instruments via various embodiments of the present invention. The computer  82  may comprise a CPU, a display screen, memory, and one or more input devices such as a mouse or keyboard as shown. The computer  82  may operate with the one or more devices to perform an automation function with respect to a process or device  150 , such as MMI (Man Machine Interface), SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition), portable or distributed data acquisition, process control, advanced analysis, or other control, among others. 
     The one or more devices may include a data acquisition board  114  inserted into or otherwise coupled with chassis  124  with associated signal conditioning circuitry  126 , a PXI instrument  118 , a video device  132  and associated image acquisition card  134 , a motion control device  136  and associated motion control interface card  138 , a fieldbus device  170  and associated fieldbus interface card  172 , a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller)  176 , a serial instrument  182  and associated serial interface card  184 , or a distributed data acquisition system, such as the Fieldpoint system available from National Instruments, among other types of devices. Each of the one or more devices may couple to the system via various embodiments of the present invention. 
     Exemplary Embodiments 
     One embodiment, connector  300 , of the present invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 3-5 . The housing  310  may be configured to couple to a serial communication bus. The housing  310  may include a serial bus receptacle  320 . The serial bus receptacle  320  may be configured to communicatively couple to the serial communication bus. The serial bus receptacle  320  may include one or more internal retention springs  360  situated inside the serial bus receptacle  320 . The internal retention springs  360  may be configured to grip a male serial bus plug  550  with a retention force when the male serial bus plug is inserted into the serial bus receptacle  320 . 
     A clamp  330  that may be either included in or coupled to the housing  310 . The clamp  330  may be adjustable via a clamping adjustment mechanism to constrain the one or more internal retention springs  360  when a male serial bus plug  550  is inserted into the serial bus receptacle  320 . The clamp  330  may then augment the retention force of the one or more internal retention springs  360 , thus further securing the male serial bus plug  550  in the serial bus receptacle  360 . In various embodiments, the serial communication bus may be a USB bus, the serial bus receptacle  320  may be a USB receptacle, and the male serial bus plug  550  may be a USB plug. 
     In one particular embodiment of the connector  300 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 3-5 , the clamping adjustment mechanism may include one or more threaded fasteners  340  and a corresponding one or more threaded inserts  350 . The threaded inserts  350  may be included in or coupled to the housing  310 . The clamp may be configured to close in response to the one or more threaded fasteners  340  being threaded into the corresponding one or more threaded inserts  350 . When the one or more threaded fasteners  340  are threaded into the corresponding one or more threaded inserts  350 , the clamp  330  constrains the one or more internal retention springs  360  thus augmenting the retention force of the one or more internal retention springs  360  when a male serial plug  550  is inserted into the serial bus receptacle  320 , as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
     In an alternative embodiment of the connector  600 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 6-7 , the clamping adjustment mechanism may include one or more threaded fasteners  640  and a corresponding one or more threaded nuts  650 . The clamp may be configured to close in response to the one or more threaded fasteners  640  being threaded into the corresponding one or more threaded nuts  650 . When the one or more threaded fasteners  640  are threaded into the corresponding one or more threaded nuts  650 , the clamp  630  constrains the one or more internal retention springs  360  thus augmenting the retention force of the one or more internal retention springs  360  when a male serial plug is inserted into the serial bus receptacle  320 . It should be noted that the various clamping adjustment mechanisms described herein are meant to be exemplary only, and are not intended to limit the connector to any particular clamping adjustment mechanisms. 
     In one embodiment, the clamp may have a deploy position in which the clamp is closed. When in the deployed position, the clamp further secures the male serial bus plug that was inserted into a serial bus receptacle. Additionally, the clamp may have a service position in which the clamp is opened. When in the service position, the serial bus plug can be removed from the serial bus receptacle. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates another embodiment of the present invention  800 . The housing  810  may be included in or coupled to a panel  860 . The serial bus receptacle  320  may protrude through the front side of the panel  860 . In another embodiment, the serial bus receptacle  320  may be accessible from the front side of the panel  860 . Furthermore, in one embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 8  by clamp  830  and threaded fastener  840 , the clamping adjustment mechanism may protrude through the front side of the panel  860 . In another embodiment, the clamping adjustment mechanism may be accessible from the front side of the panel  860 . In various embodiments, the panel  860  may include a bulkhead, an enclosure, a computer panel, an instrument chassis such as a National Instruments&#39;s PXI™ or cRIO™ chassis, or other various panels. 
       FIGS. 9A and 9B  illustrate exemplary embodiments where the connector  300 , as described above in  FIGS. 3-5 , may be included on or connected to a serial communication cable  900  and may be communicatively coupled to the serial communication bus via the serial communication cable  900 . In one embodiment, the serial communication cable  900 A may include the connector  300 A on one end and a male serial bus plug  550  on the other end, as illustrated in  FIG. 9A . Alternatively, in another embodiment, referred to as cable  900 B, the other end of the cable  900 B may include another connector  300 B, as illustrated in  FIG. 9B . Thus, a cable so configured may be used to connect any of various serial communication devices to the serial communication bus. More specifically, in one embodiment, where the male serial bus plug is communicatively coupled to a serial communication device, when the male serial bus plug is inserted into the serial bus receptacle, the serial communication device is coupled to the serial communication bus via the serial communication cable  900 . Additionally, in one embodiment, the serial communication cable  900  may be a USB cable, the serial bus receptacle  320  may be a USB receptacle, and the serial bus plug  550  may be a USB plug. 
       FIG. 10 —Method of Use of a Serial Bus Receptacle 
       FIG. 10  illustrates a method for inserting and retaining a male serial bus plug in a serial bus receptacle, according to one embodiment. The method shown in  FIG. 10  may be used in conjunction with any of the computer systems, devices, or embodiments of the present invention described above, and shown in the above Figures, among other devices and embodiments. In various embodiments, some of the method elements shown may be performed concurrently, in a different order than shown, or may be omitted. Additional method elements may also be performed as desired. As shown, this method may operate as follows. 
     In  1002 , a male serial bus plug may be inserted into a serial bus receptacle. The serial bus receptacle may be communicatively coupled to a serial communication bus. As described above, in some embodiments, the serial bus receptacle may include one or more internal retention springs situated inside the serial bus receptacle. These springs may be configured to grip the male serial bus plug with a retention force in response to the inserting. The serial bus receptacle may be included in a housing, which includes or is coupled to a clamp, and where the clamp is external to the serial bus receptacle. 
     In  1004 , the clamp may be adjusted via a clamping adjustment mechanism to constrain the one or more internal retention springs. The constraining of the one or more internal retention springs augments the retention force of the one or more internal retention springs and further secures the male serial bus plug in the serial bus receptacle. 
     In various embodiments, the method may include communicatively coupling any of various serial communication devices to a serial communications bus. For example, the male serial bus plug may be communicatively coupled to a serial communication device, and so inserting the male serial bus plug into the serial bus receptacle ( 1002 ) may connect the serial communication device to the serial communication bus. In one embodiment, the serial communication bus may USB, the serial bus receptacle may be a USB receptacle, the male serial bus plug may by a USB plug, and the serial communication device may be a USB device. 
     In other embodiments, the serial communication device may be communicatively coupled to the serial communication bus via a serial communication cable as illustrated in  9 A- 9 B and described above. For example, the male serial bus plug may be communicatively coupled to a serial communication device, and so inserting the male serial bus plug into the serial bus receptacle ( 1002 ) may connect the serial communication device to the serial communication bus via the serial communication cable. In various embodiments, the serial communication bus may be USB, the serial bus receptacle may be a USB receptacle, the male serial bus plug may be a USB plug, and the serial communication device may be a USB device, and the serial communication cable may be a USB cable. 
     In various other embodiments, the method may include any of the clamping adjustment mechanisms described above and illustrated in  FIGS. 3-8 . 
     Although the embodiments above have been described in considerable detail, numerous variations and modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art once the above disclosure is fully appreciated. It is intended that the following claims be interpreted to embrace all such variations and modifications.