PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-9991657-B2
Application Number: US-201614986742-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Magnetic adapter

Abstract:
Connector adapters that may have a MagSafe connector receptacle and a Universal Serial Bus Type-C connector insert. This may allow MagSafe chargers to be used to charge devices having Universal Serial Bus Type-C connector receptacles. This also may provide the breakaway characteristic of a MagSafe connector system for a device that does not include a MagSafe connector receptacle. Other adapters may have other types of magnetic connector receptacles and connector inserts.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An adapter for transferring power from a first device to a second device, the adapter comprising:
 a housing; 
 a first connector disposed at an exterior surface of the housing and configured to couple to a first connector interface of a first type in the first device, the first connector comprising:
 a first plurality of contacts including a first power contact and a first connection detection contact; and 
 a plurality of magnets; and 
 
 a second connector disposed at an exterior surface of the housing and configured to couple to a second connector interface of a second type in the second device, the second connector comprising:
 a second plurality of contacts including a second power contact electrically coupled to the first power contact in the first plurality of contacts enabling power to be transferred from the first device to the second device, a ground contact, and a second connection detection contact; 
 
 a first resistor coupled between the first connection detection contact of the first connector and the ground contact of the second connector, the first resistor selected such that when the first connector interface of the first type in the first device is coupled to the second connector interface of the second type in the second device through the adapter, the first connector interface of the first type responds as if the first connector interface of the first type is coupled to a second connector interface of the first type; and 
 a second resistor coupled between the second connection detection contact of the second connector and the first power contact of the first connector, the second resistor selected such that when the first connector interface of the first type in the first device is coupled to the second connector interface of the second type in the second device through the adapter, the second connector interface of the second type responds as if the second connector interface of the second type is coupled to a first connector interface of the second type. 
 
     
     
       2. The adapter of  claim 1  wherein the first plurality of contacts in the first connector comprise the first power contact and a ground contact, and each is electrically connected to at least a corresponding one of the second plurality of contacts in the second connector. 
     
     
       3. The adapter of  claim 1  wherein the second connector is a Universal Serial Bus Type-C connector insert and the second connector interface is a Universal Serial Bus Type-C connector interface. 
     
     
       4. The adapter of  claim 3  further comprising a first diode having a cathode coupled to the second power contact of the Universal Serial Bus Type-C connector insert and an anode coupled to the first power contact of the first connector. 
     
     
       5. The adapter of  claim 4  further comprising a second diode having an anode coupled to a third power contact of the first connector and a cathode coupled to a fourth power contact of the Universal Serial Bus Type-C connector insert. 
     
     
       6. The adapter of  claim 1  wherein the first plurality of contacts in the first connector are located on a raised surface. 
     
     
       7. The adapter of  claim 1  further comprising a backplate attached to the plurality of magnets such that the plurality of magnets are between the backplate and a connection surface of the first connector. 
     
     
       8. The adapter of  claim 1  wherein the first connector is disposed on a first side of the housing and the second connector is disposed on a second and opposing side of the housing. 
     
     
       9. The adapter of  claim 1  wherein the first connector interface of a first type is a connector interface for a magnetic connector and the second connector interface of a second type is a Universal Serial Bus Type-C connector interface. 
     
     
       10. The adapter of  claim 1  wherein the first connector interface of a first type is a MagSafe connector interface and the second connector interface of a second type is a Universal Serial Bus Type-C connector interface. 
     
     
       11. An adapter for transferring power from a first device to a second device, the adapter comprising:
 a housing; 
 a magnetic connector disposed at an exterior surface of the housing and configured to couple to the first device, the magnetic connector comprising:
 a first plurality of contacts comprising:
 a first connection detection contact enabling the first device to determine that a connection has been made; 
 a first power contact; and 
 a third power contact; and 
 
 a plurality of magnets; and 
 
 a Universal Serial Bus Type-C connector insert disposed at an exterior surface of the housing and configured to couple to the second device, the connector insert comprising:
 a second plurality of contacts comprising:
 a second connection detection contact enabling the second device to determine that a connection has been made; 
 a ground contact 
 a second power contact electrically coupled to the first power contact in the first plurality of contacts enabling power to be transferred from the first device to the second device; and 
 a fourth power contact; 
 
 
 a first resistor coupled between the first connection detection contact of the magnetic connector and the ground contact of the Universal Serial Bus Type-C connector insert; 
 a second resistor coupled between the second connection detection contact of the Universal Serial Bus Type-C connector insert and the first power contact of the magnetic connector; 
 a first diode having a cathode coupled to the second power contact of the Universal Serial Bus Type-C connector insert and an anode coupled to the first power contact of the magnetic connector; and 
 a second diode having an anode coupled to the third power contact of the magnetic connector and a cathode coupled to the fourth power contact of the Universal Serial Bus Type-C connector insert. 
 
     
     
       12. The adapter of  claim 11  wherein the first plurality of contacts in the magnetic connector are located on a raised surface. 
     
     
       13. The adapter of  claim 12  wherein the first power contact and a ground contact in the magnetic connector are electrically connected to at least a corresponding one of the second plurality of contacts in the Universal Serial Bus Type-C connector insert. 
     
     
       14. The adapter of  claim 11  wherein the magnetic connector is disposed on a first side of the housing and the connector insert is disposed on a second and opposing side of the housing. 
     
     
       15. The adapter of  claim 11  wherein the magnetic connector is a MagSafe connector. 
     
     
       16. An adapter for transferring power from a first device to a second device, the adapter comprising:
 a housing; 
 a MagSafe connector receptacle disposed at an exterior surface of the housing and configured to couple to a MagSafe connector interface in the first device, the MagSafe connector receptacle comprising:
 a first plurality of contacts comprising:
 a first connection detection contact; 
 a first power contact; and 
 
 a plurality of magnets; 
 
 a Universal Serial Bus connector insert disposed at an exterior surface of the housing and configured to couple to a Universal Serial Bus connector interface in the second device, the connector insert comprising:
 a second plurality of contacts comprising:
 a second connection detection contact; 
 a first ground contact; and 
 a second power contact electrically coupled to the first power contact in the first plurality of contacts enabling power to be transferred from the first device to the second device; 
 
 
 a first resistor coupled between the first connection detection contact of the MagSafe connector receptacle and the first ground contact of the Universal Serial Bus connector insert, the first resistor selected such that when the MagSafe connector interface in the first device is coupled to the Universal Serial Bus connector interface in the second device through the adapter, the MagSafe connector interface responds as if the MagSafe connector interface is coupled to a second MagSafe connector interface; and 
 a second resistor coupled between the second connection detection contact of the Universal Serial Bus connector insert and the first power contact of the MagSafe connector, the second resistor selected such that when the MagSafe connector interface in the first device is coupled to the Universal Serial Bus connector interface in the second device through the adapter, the Universal Serial Bus connector interface responds as if the Universal Serial Bus connector interface is coupled to second Universal Serial Bus connector interface. 
 
     
     
       17. The adapter of  claim 16  wherein the Universal Serial Bus connector insert is a micro Universal Serial Bus connector insert. 
     
     
       18. The adapter of  claim 16 
 wherein the Universal Serial Bus connector insert is a Universal Serial Bus Type-C connector insert. 
 
     
     
       19. The adapter of  claim 18  wherein the first plurality of contacts in the MagSafe connector receptacle comprise two power contacts, including the first power contact, and two ground contacts, including a first ground contact, and each is electrically connected to at least a corresponding one of the second plurality of contacts in the connector insert. 
     
     
       20. The adapter of  claim 19  wherein the first plurality of contacts in the MagSafe connector receptacle are located on a raised surface surrounded by a recess. 
     
     
       21. The adapter of  claim 20  further comprising a first diode having an anode coupled to the first power contact of the MagSafe connector receptacle and a cathode coupled to the second power contact of the Universal Serial Bus connector insert. 
     
     
       22. The adapter of  claim 21  further comprising a second diode having an anode coupled to a third power contact of the MagSafe connector receptacle and a cathode coupled to a fourth power contact of the Universal Serial Bus connector insert. 
     
     
       23. The adapter of  claim 16  wherein the MagSafe connector receptacle is disposed on a first side of the housing and the Universal Serial Bus connector insert is disposed on a second and opposing side of the housing.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a nonprovisional and claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application No. 62/235,146, filed Sep. 30, 2015, which is incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The number and types of electronic devices available to consumers have increased tremendously the past few years and this increase shows no signs of abating. Electronic devices, such as portable media players, storage devices, tablets, netbooks, laptops, desktops, all-in-one computers, wearable computing devices, smart phones, televisions, monitors and other display devices, navigation systems, and other devices have become ubiquitous in recent years. 
     These devices often receive power and share data using various cables. These cables may have connector inserts, or plugs, on one or both ends. The connector inserts may plug into connector receptacles on electronic devices, thereby forming one or more conductive paths between devices for signals and power. 
     But these cables may create hazards. For example, a user may place an electronic device, such as a laptop, on a desk or table. The desk or table may be a distance from an electrical outlet. The user may plug a charger into the remote outlet and may plug a connector insert of the charger into a connector receptacle on the laptop. A power cord may then span the distance from the laptop to the remote outlet. 
     Particularly where the desk or table is in a public or semi-public environment, such as a library or coffee shop, the power cord may become a tripping hazard. When this occurs, a force applied to the cable may be transferred and applied to the connector insert. This inadvertent force on the connector insert may damage the connector receptacle, the electronic device housing the connector receptacle, or both. In more severe situations, the laptop may be pulled to the ground, thereby causing damage. 
     Thus, what is needed are components for connector systems such that when a connector insert is mated with a connector receptacle, damage to the connector receptacle and electronic device may be avoided in the event of an inadvertent force on the connector insert. 
     SUMMARY 
     Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention may provide components for connector systems such that when a connector insert is mated with a connector receptacle, damage to the connector receptacle and electronic device may be avoided in the event of an inadvertent force on the connector insert. 
     An illustrative embodiment of the present invention may provide a connector adapter having a connector insert and a magnetic connector receptacle. The magnetic connector receptacle on the adapter may receive a corresponding magnetic connector insert that may be connected to a charger through a cable. The connector insert of the adapter may be inserted into a connector receptacle on an electronic device. When an inadvertent force is applied to the magnetic connector insert of the charger via the cable, the magnetic connector insert of the charger and magnetic connector receptacle of the adapter may disengage, thereby preventing or limiting damage to the connector receptacle on the electronic device, as well as to the electronic device itself. This adapter may also allow users to use an existing charger with a magnetic connector insert to charge a new device having different connector receptacle. 
     These and other embodiments of the present invention may provide a connector adapter having a magnetic connector receptacle. The magnetic connector receptacle may include a plurality of magnets and a plurality of contacts. The contacts may include a center contact, ground contacts on each side of the center contact, and power contacts between the center contact and the ground contacts. The center contact may be a signal or detect or other type of contact. The contacts may be arranged in a symmetrical line. The contacts may be on a raised surface or portion surrounded by a recess. In these and other embodiments of the present invention, the magnetic connector receptacle may be a MagSafe connector receptacle. This may provide the breakaway protection of a MagSafe connector system for a device that does not include a MagSafe connector receptacle. 
     These and other embodiments of the present invention may provide a connector adapter having a connector insert, where the connector insert may be a Universal Serial Bus or other type of connector insert. For example, the connector insert may be a micro Universal Serial Bus connector insert, a Universal Serial Bus Type-C connector insert, or other type of Universal Serial Bus connector insert. The ground contacts and power supply contacts of the magnetic connector receptacle may connect to ground contacts and power supply contacts of the connector insert. 
     These and other embodiments of the present invention may provide a connector adapter having various components to facilitate the charging of the electronic device using the charger. For example, a pull-down resistor may be connected between the center contact of the MagSafe connector receptacle and a ground contact. This resistance may be detected by the charger, after which the charger may provide power with a low series impedance to the MagSafe connector receptacle of the adapter. It should be noted that contacts of a Universal Serial Bus connector insert are covered such that contacts carrying voltages are not directly exposed when the adapter is connected to the charger but the connector insert of the adapter is not inserted in the electronic device. In these and other embodiments of the present invention, a pull-up resistor may be coupled between a connection detection contact of a Universal Serial Bus Type-C connector insert and a power supply contact of the MagSafe connector receptacle. The Universal Serial Bus Type-C connector receptacle on the electronic device may detect this pull-up resistor and determine that it is connected to a power providing device. In this case, the Universal Serial Bus Type-C connector receptacle may not provide power but may be configured to receive power from the charger through the adapter. 
     While embodiments of the present invention are well-suited for connector adapters, in other embodiments of the present invention, the MagSafe connector receptacle and USB Type-C connector insert may be connectors on a dongle or cable adapter that may also include one or more additional connector receptacles, such as an High-Definition Multimedia Interface® connector receptacle, a Video Graphics Array (VGA) connector receptacle, and other types of connector receptacles. 
     In various embodiments of the present invention, the components of the adapters may be formed in various ways of various materials. For example, contacts or pins, interconnect lines, and other conductive portions of the adapters may be formed by stamping, metal-injection molding, machining, printing, micro-machining, 3-D printing, or other manufacturing process. The conductive portions may be formed of stainless steel, steel, copper, copper titanium, phosphor bronze, or other material or combination of materials. They may be plated or coated with nickel, gold, or other material. The nonconductive portions, such as the adapter housing, raised surface, and other portions, may be formed using injection or other molding, 3-D printing, machining, or other manufacturing process. The nonconductive portions may be formed of silicon or silicone, rubber, hard rubber, plastic, nylon, elastomers, liquid-crystal polymers (LCPs), ceramics, or other nonconductive material or combination of materials. 
     Embodiments of the present invention may provide adapters that may connect to connector receptacles on various types of devices, such as portable computing devices, tablet computers, desktop computers, laptops, all-in-one computers, wearable computing devices, cell phones, smart phones, media phones, storage devices, portable media players, navigation systems, monitors, power supplies, adapters, remote control devices, chargers, and other devices. These connector receptacles may be compliant with various standards such as Universal Serial Bus (USB), USB2, USB3, USB Type-C, HDMI, Digital Visual Interface (DVI), Ethernet, DisplayPort, Thunderbolt™, Lightning™, Joint Test Action Group (JTAG), test-access-port (TAP), Directed Automated Random Testing (DART), universal asynchronous receiver/transmitters (UARTs), VGA, clock signals, power signals, and other types of standard, non-standard, and proprietary interfaces and combinations thereof that have been developed, are being developed, or will be developed in the future. In various embodiments of the present invention, these connector receptacles may be used to convey power, ground, signals, test points, and other voltage, current, data, or other information. 
     Various embodiments of the present invention may incorporate one or more of these and the other features described herein. A better understanding of the nature and advantages of the present invention may be gained by reference to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an electronic system that may be improved by the incorporation of an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a connector adapter according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an electronic system according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic of a connector adapter according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a cut-away side view of a connector adapter according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an electronic system that may be improved by the incorporation of an embodiment of the present invention. This figure, as with the other included figures, is shown for illustrative purposes and does not limit her either the possible embodiments of the present invention or the claims. 
     This figure illustrates an electronic device being charged by a charger. Specifically, laptop  100  may be charged by charger  110 . Charger  110  may be plugged into a power outlet (not shown.) Cable  112  may be attached to charger  110 , which may terminate in connector insert  114 . Laptop  100  may include a screen  102  and connector receptacle  104 . Connector receptacle  104  may accept connector insert  114 . Power may be provided from the wall outlet through charger  110  and cable  112  to connector receptacle  104  via connector insert  114 . 
     Again, a user may place laptop  100  on a desk, table, or other surface. The wall outlet may be remote from the desk. Accordingly, charger  110  may be plugged into the remote outlet and cable  112  may traverse the distance between the outlet and the laptop  100  and desk. In this arrangement, cable  112  may become a tipping hazard. That is, passersby or the user may trip over cable  112 . If connector insert  114  and connector receptacle  104  are like most connectors, the force on cable  112  may be applied to connector insert  114 . This force on connector insert  114  may be transferred to connector receptacle  104  and laptop  100 . This force may damage connector receptacle  104  or it may pull the laptop off of the desk. Either of these events may cause damage to laptop  100 . 
     Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention may provide a connector adapter. This adapter may include a connector insert and a magnetic connector receptacle. A charger may be attached to a magnetic connector insert via a cable. The magnetic connector insert may plug into the magnetic connector receptacle of the adapter. The connector insert on the adapter may plug into connector receptacle  104  on laptop  100 . When a force is applied to the cable, the magnetic connector insert of the charger may break away from the magnetic connector receptacle on the adapter. This may prevent damage to connector receptacle  104 , laptop  100 , or both. This arrangement may also allow the usage of a charger with a magnetic connector insert that the user may already own. Accordingly, these adapters may provide a breakaway mechanism that may protect connector receptacle  104  and laptop  100 , and may allow a user to use a presently-owned charger to charge laptop  100 . An example of such an adapter is shown in the following figure. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a connector adapter according to an embodiment of the present invention. Connector adapter  200  may include magnetic connector receptacle  210  and connector insert  250 . Magnetic connector receptacle  210  may be a MagSafe connector receptacle or other magnetic connector receptacle. Further, magnetic connector receptacle  210  may be one of the various versions of the MagSafe connector receptacle that were available in the past, are currently available, or that may be developed and made available in the future. 
     Connector insert  250  may be a Lightning connector, a USB connector, or other type of connector. When connector insert  250  is a USB connector, it may be a USB connector, a USB3 connector, a USB Type-C connector, or other type of USB connector that was available in the past, is currently available, or that may be developed and made available in the future. In one embodiment of the present invention, connector insert  250  may be a combination Lightning and USB3 type connector. 
     The magnetic connector receptacle  210  may include a raised portion  212  supporting a number of contacts. A recess  214  may surround the raised portion  212 . Contacts may include a signal or signal/detect contact  220 , power supply contacts  224  on either side of the contact  220 , and ground contacts  222  on the ends of the raised portion  212 . 
     Again, a MagSafe charger having a magnetic connector insert may plug into magnetic connector receptacle  210  of adapter  200 . Connector insert  250  may plug into a connector receptacle on an electronic device. This arrangement may provide a breakaway capability between a magnetic connector insert of a charger and a magnetic connector receptacle of an adapter, which may protect the electronic device. It may also allow a user to employ a charger that is already owned by the user for charging the electronic device. An example is shown in the following figure. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates an electronic system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Again, a user may already own a charger (not shown) that terminates in magnetic connector insert  314  via a cable  312 . Magnetic connector insert  314  may plug into magnetic connector receptacle  210  on connector adapter  200 . Again, this may provide this system with a breakaway capability of a MagSafe or similar connector, even though electronic device  100  may not include a MagSafe connector. Connector insert  250  may be inserted into connector receptacle  104 . In this way, power provided by the charger through cable  314  and magnetic connector insert  314  may be applied through adapter  200  to connector receptacle  104 , where it may charge electronic device  100 . 
     Again, in an embodiment of the present invention, magnetic connector receptacle  210  of adapter  200  may be a MagSafe connector, while connector insert  250  may be a USB Type-C connector. Both MagSafe and USB Type-C connector systems require a detection of a connection before more than a limited amount of power may be provided or received. Accordingly, these and other embodiments of the present invention may provide components for connection detection such that the MagSafe interface associated with the charger and the USB Type-C interface associated with connector receptacle  104  on electronic device  100  may detect a connection such that the MagSafe interface may charge electronic device  100  through the USB Type-C connector receptacle  104 . An example is shown in the following figure. 
       FIG. 4  is a schematic of a connector adapter according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this example, ground contacts  222  of MagSafe connector receptacle  210  may electrically connect to ground contacts and side ground contacts in USB Type-C connector insert  250 . Power contacts  224  on MagSafe connector receptacle  210  may connect to VBUS power supply contacts in the USB Type-C connector insert  250 . 
     When a MagSafe connector insert detects a pull-down resistance on its signal/detect contact  220 , a source impedance at power supply contacts  222  may drop from a high value to a low value. This high impedance in the absence of a connection may protect users from exposure to voltages on power supply contacts  222  that may supply a large amount of current when a MagSafe connector insert is not inserted into a MagSafe connector receptacle. Accordingly, connector adapter  200  may include resistor R 1 . Resistor R 1  may be connected between signal/detect contact  220  in MagSafe connector receptacle  210  and ground. In this way, when MagSafe connector insert  314  is inserted into MagSafe connector receptacle  210 , the charger may provide power having a low source impedance that may be used to charge electronic device  100 . It should be noted that this voltage may be provided even though the USB Type-C connector insert  250  is not inserted into electronic device  100 . In this case though, the VBUS power contacts of connector insert  250  may be shielded and recessed inside of connector insert  250 , and may therefore be unlikely to be inadvertently contacted by a user. 
     A USB Type-C interface that may accept charge from a charging device may one of two types of ports that may be referred to as an upward-facing port and a dual-role port. If connector receptacle  104  is a dual-role port, when it detects a pull-up resistor on its connection detect contact, the dual-port may detect a connection and be configured as an upward-facing port ready to accept a charging current. An upward-facing port is already configured to accept a charging current and a connection to a charging device is detected with the pull-up resistor. Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention may employ resistor R 2 , which may be connected as a pull-up resistor between the connection detect or CC contact of USB Type-C connector insert  250  and a power supply contact  222  in MagSafe connector receptacle  210 . 
     USB Type-C interfaces for upward-facing ports, and dual-role ports acting as upward-facing ports, may provide an internal resistor to ground from the connection detect or CC contact, or they may provide a current to ground from the connection detect or CC contact. The USB Type-C interface may also require that the voltage on the connection detect or CC contact be within a specified range, have a maximum or minimum voltage, or both, before a connection is properly detected. Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention may provide a pull-up resistor R 2  having a resistance that provides a resulting voltage on the connection detect or CC contact that meets the required voltage range or limits. 
     When connector receptacle  104  is a dual-role port, it may be capable of providing power back through the MagSafe connector receptacle  210  to the MagSafe connector insert  314 . To prevent this, diodes D 1  and D 2  may be used. These diodes may be in series with the power supply lines and may protect MagSafe connector insert  314  from current that may be provided by VBUS contacts in connector insert  250 . Further, these diodes D 1  and D 2  may be light-emitting diodes (LEDs) that may be used to provide indicating lights on connector adapter  200 . In various embodiments of the present invention, the current into a USB Type-C connector receptacle or other type of connector receptacle may be too large to be handled by an LED. Accordingly, in various embodiments of the present invention, a branch or portion of the supply current may pass through diodes D 1  and D 2  while the remaining supply current may flow through other diodes or other components (not shown.) In still other embodiments of the present invention, other indicators or LEDs may be used in other configurations. 
     Connector adapter  200  may be assembled in various ways. An example is shown in the following figure. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a cut-away side view of a connector adapter according to an embodiment of the present invention. Magnetic connector receptacle  210  may include a housing  540  and around a nonconductive inner housing  214 . Nonconductive inner housing  214  may include contacts  220  terminating in board  510 . Magnets  520  may be placed around the contacts  220 . In a specific embodiment of the present invention, four magnets  520  may be used. Back plate  530  may be used to direct the flux through magnets  520 . Connector insert  250  may include contacts  560  surrounded by shield  570  and supported by housing  562 . Contacts  560  may also terminate on board  510 . Traces on board  510  may connect contacts  220  in magnetic connector receptacle  210  to contacts  560  in connector insert  250 . Board  510  may also support connection detection resistors, current limiting diodes, and other components as needed. 
     While embodiments of the present invention are well-suited for connector adapters, in other embodiments of the present invention, the MagSafe connector receptacle and USB Type-C connector insert may be connectors on a dongle or cable adapter that may also include one or more additional connector receptacles, such as an High-Definition Multimedia Interface connector receptacle, a Video Graphics Array (VGA) connector receptacle, and other types of connector receptacles. 
     In various embodiments of the present invention, the components of the adapters may be formed in various ways of various materials. For example, contacts or pins, interconnect lines, and other conductive portions of the adapters may be formed by stamping, metal-injection molding, printing, machining, micro-machining, 3-D printing, or other manufacturing process. The conductive portions may be formed of stainless steel, steel, copper, copper titanium, phosphor bronze, or other material or combination of materials. They may be plated or coated with nickel, gold, or other material. The nonconductive portions, such as the adapter housings and other portions, may be formed using injection or other molding, 3-D printing, machining, or other manufacturing process. The nonconductive portions may be formed of silicon or silicone, rubber, hard rubber, plastic, nylon, elastomers, liquid-crystal polymers (LCPs), ceramics, or other nonconductive material or combination of materials. 
     Embodiments of the present invention may provide adapters that may be located in, and may connect to, various types of devices, such as portable computing devices, tablet computers, desktop computers, laptops, all-in-one computers, wearable computing devices, cell phones, smart phones, media phones, storage devices, portable media players, navigation systems, monitors, power supplies, adapters, remote control devices, chargers, and other devices. These adapters may provide pathways for signals that are compliant with various standards such as Universal Serial Bus (USB), USB2, USB3, USB Type-C, High-Definition Multimedia Interface® (HDMI), Digital Visual Interface (DVI), Ethernet, DisplayPort, Thunderbolt™, Lightning™, Joint Test Action Group (JTAG), test-access-port (TAP), Directed Automated Random Testing (DART), universal asynchronous receiver/transmitters (UARTs), clock signals, power signals, and other types of standard, non-standard, and proprietary interfaces and combinations thereof that have been developed, are being developed, or will be developed in the future. In various embodiments of the present invention, these interconnect paths provided by these adapters may be used to convey power, ground, signals, test points, and other voltage, current, data, or other information. 
     The above description of embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form described, and many modifications and variations are possible in light of the teaching above. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Thus, it will be appreciated that the invention is intended to cover all modifications and equivalents within the scope of the following claims.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20160104
Publication Date: 20180605
Grant Date: 20180605
Priority Date: 20150930
Inventors: POWERS, RONALD G.
KEELER, KEVIN M.
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "H01R24/60", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R31/065", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/6205", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R31/06", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R31/065", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R24/60", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R31/065", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R31/06", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R24/60", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/6205", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/6205", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 58409942