Patent ID: 7186147

Claim:
A peripheral device, comprising: a device processor; a set of protocol processors having at least a first protocol processor, said set of protocol processors being operatively coupled to communicate with said device processor, said first protocol processor being configured to process a first protocol; and an extended Universal Serial Bus (USB) plug configured to be pluggable into an industry-standard Series A USB socket, said extended USB plug also being configured to facilitate communication between said device processor and a host computer configured to be detachably coupled with said extended USB plug, said extended USB plug lacking an industry-standard Series A USB cover associated with an industry-standard Series A USB plug, said extended USB plug including an extended pin substrate having an extended substrate length longer than a length of a pin substrate of said industry-standard Series A USB plug, said length of said pin substrate of said industry-standard Series A USB plug being about 12 mm; a plurality of USB plug contacts supported by said extended pin substrate and arranged in a first plug row in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said extended USB plug, said plurality of USB plug contacts being configured to carry USB signals; and a plurality of non-USB plug contacts supported by said extended pin substrate and arranged in a second plug row parallel to said first plug row, said plurality of non-USB plug contacts being configured to carry non-USB signals; wherein said extended USB plug is configured to detachably couple with said industry-standard Series A USB socket and an extended USB socket alternatively, said extended USB socket including an extended cavity having an extended cavity length longer than a length of a cavity of said industry-standard Series A USB socket, said length of said cavity of said industry-standard Series A USB socket being about 9 mm, and a plurality of USB socket contacts arranged in a first socket row in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said extended USB socket, said plurality of USB socket contacts being disposed in said cavity and configured to carry said USB signals, and a plurality of non-USB socket contacts arranged in a second socket row parallel to said first socket row, said plurality of non-USB socket contacts being configured to carry said non-USB signals and wherein said plurality of non-USB plug contacts being disposed on an opposite substrate side of said extended pin substrate relative to said plurality of USB plug contacts, said plurality of non-USB plug contacts being recessed below one of a surface of said opposite substrate side and insulating ribs that are disposed proximate said plurality of non-USB plug contacts, thereby preventing said plurality of non-USB plug contacts from making physical contact with a component of said industry-standard Series A USB socket when said extended USB plug is fully inserted into said industry-standard Series A USB socket.