PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-11114781-B1
Application Number: US-202016884913-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B1

Title: Sealed flexible printed circuit connector

Abstract:
Connectors for connecting traces on one or more flexible circuit boards to traces on a printed circuit board. These connectors can include gaskets, potting material, and other structures or materials to seal electrical connections in the connector from moisture ingress to prevent damage. The connectors can be locked to secure the one or more flexible circuit board in place in the connector. The connectors can be unlocked and then opened to remove the flexible circuit boards to remove components or to rework the electronic device.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A connector comprising:
 a plurality of contacts, each having a contacting portion at a first end; 
 a housing having a top surface, the top surface having one or more openings, the contacting portion for each of the plurality of contacts extending through the one or more openings and above the top surface; 
 a gasket on the top surface of the housing and laterally surrounding the one or more openings in the top surface; 
 a shell having a first arm extending along a first side and a second arm extending along a second side, the first arm terminating in a first prong, the second arm terminating in a second prong, the first prong and the second prong near a front of the connector, the shell further comprising a first raised portion; and 
 a cover having a first arm, the first arm having a first dimple to fit in a first detent on a first side of the housing and a second arm, the second arm having a second dimple to fit in a second detent on the second side of the housing, the cover further having a first tab to fit under the first prong of the shell when the cover is in a locked position and a second tab to fit under the second prong of the shell when the cover is in the locked position, the cover further having a first extension to fit under the first raised portion when the cover is in the locked position. 
 
     
     
       2. The connector of  claim 1  wherein the housing further comprises a plurality of alignment features extending above the top surface of the housing. 
     
     
       3. The connector  claim 2  wherein the first detent and the second detent are near a back of the housing. 
     
     
       4. The connector of  claim 3  wherein the one or more openings in the top surface comprising a plurality of openings, wherein each contacting portion for each of the plurality of contacts extends through a corresponding opening in the plurality of openings. 
     
     
       5. The connector of  claim 4  wherein each of the plurality of contacts further comprises a surface-mount contacting portion at a second end. 
     
     
       6. The connector of  claim 5  wherein the gasket is located in a groove in the top surface of the housing. 
     
     
       7. The connector of  claim 6  wherein the gasket comprises a plurality of ribs. 
     
     
       8. The connector of  claim 1  wherein the shell further comprises a second raised portion and the cover further comprises a second extension to fit under the second raised portion when the cover is in the locked position. 
     
     
       9. The connector of  claim 8  wherein the housing further comprises alignment features on the top surface to align a flexible circuit board when the flexible circuit board is mated with the connector. 
     
     
       10. A connector comprising:
 a plurality of contacts, each having a contacting portion at a first end; 
 a housing having a top surface, the top surface having one or more openings, the contacting portion for each of the plurality of contacts extending through the one or more openings and above the top surface; 
 a gasket on the top surface of the housing and laterally surrounding the one or more openings in the top surface; 
 a shell having a first arm extending along a first side and a second arm extending along a second side, the first arm terminating in a first prong, the second arm terminating in a second prong, the shell further comprising a first raised portion; and 
 a cover having a first arm, the first arm having a first pivot structure, and a second arm, the second arm having a second pivot structure, wherein the first pivot structure and the second pivot structure allow the cover to rotate relative to the housing, the cover further having a first tab to fit under the first prong of the shell when the cover is in a locked position and a second tab to fit under the second prong of the shell when the cover is in the locked position, the cover further having a first extension to fit under the first raised portion when the cover is in the locked position. 
 
     
     
       11. The connector of  claim 10  wherein the gasket is located in a groove in the top surface of the housing. 
     
     
       12. The connector of  claim 11  wherein the gasket comprises a plurality of ribs. 
     
     
       13. The connector of  claim 12  wherein the first arm of the cover terminates in a first fork, the first fork comprising the first prong, a third prong, and a first slot between the first prong and the third prong, and wherein the second arm of the cover terminates in a second fork, the second fork comprising the second prong, a fourth prong, and a second slot between the second prong and the fourth prong. 
     
     
       14. The connector of  claim 13  wherein the first pivot structure is a first dimple and the second pivot structure is a second dimple. 
     
     
       15. The connector of  claim 14  wherein the first dimple fits in a first detent in the first side of the housing and the second dimple fits in a second detent in the second side of the housing. 
     
     
       16. The connector of  claim 15  wherein the cover slides towards a front of the housing to move to an unlocked position, and wherein when the cover slides towards the front of the housing, the first dimple moves forward in the first detent and the second dimple moves forward in the second detent. 
     
     
       17. The connector of  claim 10  wherein the shell further comprises a second raised portion and the cover further comprises a second extension to fit under the second raised portion when the cover is in the locked position. 
     
     
       18. The connector of  claim 17  wherein the housing further comprises alignment features on the top surface to align a flexible circuit board when the flexible circuit board is mated with the connector. 
     
     
       19. A connector comprising:
 a first plurality of contacts, each having a contacting portion at a first end; 
 a second plurality of contacts, each having a contacting portion at a first end; 
 a housing having a top surface, the top surface having one or more first openings, the contacting portion for each of the first plurality of contacts extending through the one or more first openings and above the top surface, the top surface further having one or more second openings, the contacting portion for each of the second plurality of contacts extending through the one or more second openings and above the top surface; 
 a first gasket on the top surface of the housing and laterally surrounding the one or more first openings in the top surface; 
 a second gasket on the top surface of the housing and laterally surrounding the one or more second openings in the top surface; 
 a shell having a first arm extending along a first side and a second arm extending along a second side, the first arm terminating in a first prong, the second arm terminating in a second prong, the first prong and the second prong near a front of the connector; and 
 a cover having a first arm, the first arm having a first pivot structure, and a second arm, the second arm having a second pivot structure, wherein the first pivot structure and the second pivot structure allow the cover to rotate relative to the housing, the cover further having a first tab to fit under the first prong of the shell when the cover is in a locked position and a second tab to fit under the second prong of the shell when the cover is in the locked position, 
 wherein the first pivot structure is a first dimple and the second pivot structure is a second dimple. 
 
     
     
       20. The connector of  claim 19  wherein the shell further comprises a first raised portion and a second raised portion, and the cover further comprises a first extension to fit under the first raised portion and a second extension to fit under the second raised portion when the cover is in the locked position. 
     
     
       21. The connector of  claim 19  wherein the first dimple fits in a first detent in the first side of the housing and the second dimple fits in a second detent in the second side of the housing. 
     
     
       22. The connector of  claim 21  wherein the cover slides towards the front of the housing to move to an unlocked position. 
     
     
       23. The connector of  claim 22  wherein when the cover slides towards the front of the housing, the first dimple moves forward in the first detent and the second dimple moves forward in the second detent. 
     
     
       24. The connector of  claim 23  wherein the first arm of the cover terminates in a first fork, the first fork comprising the first prong, a third prong, and a first slot between the first prong and the third prong, and wherein the second arm of the cover terminates in a second fork, the second fork comprising the second prong, a fourth prong, and a second slot between the second prong and the fourth prong.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Electronic devices are continuously becoming more complicated and are packing an ever increasing amount of functionality. To support this increasing amount of functionality, electronic devices can include a number of various types of boards, such as flexible circuit boards, printed circuit boards, and other types of boards. These boards can require a correspondingly increasing number of interconnect paths between and among them. Accordingly, it can be desirable to provide connectors that provide a large number of connections between boards, such as a printed circuit board and a flexible circuit board. 
     During assembly of the electronic device, conventional connectors can be mated to both the flexible circuit board and the printed circuit board. But a complicated assembly procedure can result in component damage and the need to rework or scrap portions of the electronic device. To avoid this damage, it can be desirable that connectors readily connect a flexible circuit board to a printed circuit board. It can also be desirable that these boards can be easily disconnected in the event rework is still necessary. This ability can also allow servicing of components that fail or need replaced, which can extend the life of the electronic device. 
     These electronic devices can be portable or otherwise movable during their lifetime. As a result, they can be dropped or otherwise exposed to sudden, physically jarring events. When severe enough, these events can cause inadvertent disconnections between a flexible circuit board and a printed circuit board. It can therefore be desirable that these connectors securely connect the flexible circuit board to the printed circuit board, such that a connection can be maintained during the lifetime of the electronic device, despite the occurrence of such events. 
     Also, when these electronic devices are dropped, they are sometimes dropped into water or other liquids, thereby allowing water or moisture in the electronic device. Moisture can also enter an electronic device when liquids are spilled, or when an electronic device is exposed to harsh environments, such as rain or sweat exposure from contact with skin during exercise. Accordingly, it can be desirable that these connectors be water resistant. 
     These electronic devices can be manufactured in large numbers. It can therefore be desirable that these connectors be readily manufactured such that constraints on electronic device assembly are avoided. 
     Thus, what is needed are connectors that can easily and securely connect a flexible circuit board to a printed circuit board, are water and moisture resistant, and are readily manufactured. 
     SUMMARY 
     Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention can provide connectors that can easily and securely connect a flexible circuit board to a printed circuit board, are water and moisture resistant, and are readily manufactured. An illustrative embodiment of the present invention can provide connectors that easily connect a flexible circuit board to a printed circuit board. The connector can include a housing having one or more alignment features that are arranged to fit with one or more corresponding cutouts on a flexible circuit board such that the flexible circuit board can be accurately aligned to the housing. This in turn can accurately align contacting portions of contacts supported by the housing to contacts on the flexible circuit board such that reliable electrical connections are formed. 
     These and other embodiments of the present invention can provide connectors that provide a secure connection between a flexible circuit board and a printed circuit board. The connector can include a cover that closes to hold the flexible circuit board in place in the connector. The cover can include a recessed tray portion that can provide a force against the flexible circuit board to hold the flexible circuit board in place when the cover is closed. The cover can include tabs that fit under prongs to lock the cover in place to help prevent accidental disconnections between the flexible circuit board and the printed circuit board, for example after a drop event or other physical shock. The cover can be opened with a non-destructive procedure to provide the ability to rework portions of the electronic device during or after assembly. 
     These and other embodiments of the present invention can provide connectors that are water and moisture resistant. These connectors can employ seals or gaskets around the contacting portions of the contacts supported by the housing. A gasket can be located between a housing of the connector and a flexible circuit board when the flexible circuit board is connected by the connector. The gasket can be placed in a groove in a top surface of the housing and the gasket can include one or more concentric ribs to improve its sealing capability. 
     These and other embodiments of the present invention can provide connectors that are readily assembled. For example, a cover for a connector can include stamped features that form tabs that help to lock the cover in place, as well as dimples that can act as pivot structure to allow the cover to open and close. The pivot structures can fit in recesses or detents in sides of the housing to keep the cover attached to the housing. The detents can each include a forward recess and a rear recess, the forward recess separated from the rear recess by a raised portion. A shell portion can include arms along the sides of the housing, where the arms terminate in prongs. The tabs of the cover can fit under the prongs to hold the cover in a locked position. The prongs can each be part of a fork, where the fork include a slot and the tabs of the cover can fit in the slots in the forks to lock the cover in place. 
     These and other embodiments of the present invention can provide connectors that can be opened and closed. For example, a connector can be opened by moving a cover forward relative to a housing. As this happens, dimples or other pivot structures can move from rear recesses to forward recesses in detents in sides of housing. The tabs can emerge from under the prongs at ends of arms on a shell of the connector. The cover can then rotate away from the housing exposing the top surface of the housing. With the cover in this open position, a flexible circuit board can be removed (for example for rework) or inserted. The flexible circuit board can include cutouts that fit with alignment features on a top surface of the housing. The cover can then be closed by rotating the cover towards the housing. The cover can then be locked in position by moving the cover backward relative the housing. As this happens, the dimples or other pivot structures can move from forward recesses to rear recesses in detents in sides of housing. The tabs can fit under the prongs at ends of arms on a shell of the connector. The cover can then be in the locked position against the housing. 
     These and other embodiments of the present invention can provide connectors that can connect two or more flexible circuit boards to a printed circuit board. A housing of a connector can support two sets of contacts. Contacting portions of each set of contacts can be exposed at openings in a top surface. Individual gaskets can laterally surround each set of contacting portions. Alignment features can be included on the top surface of the housing to align separate flexible circuit boards with each set of contacting portions. A cover can be closed and locked as before to secure the multiple flexible circuit boards in place in the connector. This concept can be extended to three or more flexible circuit boards. 
     In these and other embodiments of the present invention, contacts, shells, covers, and other conductive portions of a connector can be formed by stamping, metal-injection molding, machining, micro-machining, 3-D printing, forging, drawing, or other manufacturing process. The conductive portions can be formed of stainless steel, steel, copper, copper titanium, phosphor bronze, or other material or combination of materials. They can be plated or coated with nickel, gold, or other material. The nonconductive portions, such as the housings, can be formed using injection or other molding, 3-D printing, machining, or other manufacturing process. The nonconductive portions can be formed of silicon or silicone, rubber, hard rubber, plastic, nylon, liquid-crystal polymers (LCPs), or other nonconductive material or combination of materials. 
     These and other embodiments of the present invention can provide connectors that can be located in various types of devices, such as portable computing devices, tablet computers, desktop computers, laptops, all-in-one computers, cell phones, wearable-computing devices, storage devices, portable media players, navigation systems, monitors, power supplies, adapters, remote control devices, audio devices, chargers, and other devices. These connectors can provide pathways for signals that are compliant with various standards such as Universal Serial Bus (USB), a High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI), Digital Visual Interface (DVI), power, Ethernet, DisplayPort, Thunderbolt, Lightning and other types of standard and non-standard interfaces that have been developed, are being developed, or will be developed in the future. 
     Various embodiments of the present invention can incorporate one or more of these and the other features described herein. A better understanding of the nature and advantages of the present invention can be gained by reference to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates the connector of  FIG. 1  in a closed state; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates the connector of  FIG. 1  in a locked state; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the connector  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIGS. 5A through 5F  illustrates a connector being opened, then closed and locked according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a back view of the connector of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a bottom surface of a flexible circuit board that can be mated with a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a cutaway side view of a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  illustrates details of a housing for the connector of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a detail of the connector of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 11  illustrates a cutaway view of a tab and related features of a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 12  illustrates a cutaway view of a tab and related feature of a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 13  illustrates a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 14  illustrates the connector of  FIG. 13  in a closed and locked position; 
         FIG. 15  illustrates a connector for connecting multiple flexible circuit boards to a printed circuit board according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 16  illustrates the connector of  FIG. 15  where multiple flexible circuit boards are being connected; and 
         FIG. 17  illustrates the connector of  FIG. 15  in a closed and locked position. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. This figure, as with the other included figures, is shown for illustrative purposes and does not limit either the possible embodiments of the present invention or the claims. 
     In this example, connector  10  is shown in an open state. Connector  10  can be used to connect a flexible circuit board, such as flexible circuit board  700  (shown in  FIG. 7 ), to a printed circuit board, such as printed circuit board  810  (shown in  FIG. 6 .) For example, traces  750  (shown in  FIG. 7 ) can connect circuitry and components in an electronic device (not shown) housing connector  10  to contacts  760  (shown in  FIG. 7 ) on flexible circuit board  700 . Contacts  760  can physically and electrically connect to contacting portions  210  of contacts  200  (shown in  FIG. 4 .) Contacts  200  can include surface-mount contacting portions  220  (shown in  FIG. 4 ), which can be soldered to pads  820  (shown in  FIG. 6 ) of printed circuit board  810 . Printed circuit board  810  can include traces that connect pads  820  to other circuitry and components in the electronic device housing connector  10 . 
     Contacting portions  210  of contacts  200  can emerge from housing  100  at openings  110 . Openings  110  and contacting portions  210  can be laterally surrounded by gasket  500 . Gasket  500  can include one or more raised ribs  510  that can extend circumferentially along gasket  500 . Ribs  510  can help to improve the moisture resistance provided by gasket  500 . Housing  100  can further include one or more alignment features including alignment feature  120  and alignment feature  122 . Alignment feature  120  and alignment feature  122  can aligned with cutouts  710  (shown in  FIG. 7 ) and other features on flexible circuit board  700  such that contacts  760  can accurately align to contacting portions  210 . 
     Shell  400  can include arms  410 . Arms  410  can terminate in forks  420 . Forks  420  can include slots  422  and prongs  424 . That is, arms  410  can terminate in prongs  424 . Cover  300  can include recessed top portion  310  and tabs  320 . Cover  300  can further include arms  330 , which can terminate in pivot structures, which in this particular example can be dimples  340 . Dimples  340  can be located in detents  140  on each side of housing  100 . Housing  100  can be supported by bottom covering  600 . 
     Tabs  320  and forks  420  can provide mechanisms for locking cover  300  to housing  100 . An example is shown in the following figures. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates the connector of  FIG. 1  in a closed state. In this example, cover  300  of connector  10  can lie flat on a top surface of housing  100 . Cover  300  can be positioned forward relative to housing  100 . Specifically, cover  300  can include arms  330  terminating in pivot structures, shown here as dimples  340 . Dimples  340  can be located in forward recess  146  (shown in  FIG. 9 ) of detent  140 . Tabs  320  can be clear of forks  420  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) of shell  400 . As before, housing  100  can be supported by bottom covering  600 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates the connector of  FIG. 1  in a locked state. In this example, cover  300  of connector  10  has been moved backward relative to housing  100 . Specifically, dimples  340  have been pushed backward into rear recess  144  of detent  140  (both shown in  FIG. 9 .) Tabs  320  can be fit in slots  422  of forks  420  of shell  400 , thereby locking cover  300  in place relative to housing  100 . As before, housing  100  can be supported by bottom covering  600 . 
     Connector  10  can be assembled in various ways. One example is shown in the following figures. 
       FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the connector  FIG. 1 . In this example, housing  100  can include a number of openings  110  in a top surface. The top surface of housing  100  can further include one or more alignment features, such as alignment feature  120  and alignment feature  122 , as well as groove  130 . Detents  140  can be located in sides of housing  100 . Contacts  200  can include contacting portions  210  that can emerge from housing  100  through openings  110 . Contacts  200  can be held together by housing  230 . Housing  230  can be injection molded around contacts  200 . Contacts  200  can further include surface-mount contacting portions  220 . In these and other embodiments of the present invention, contacts  200  can include through hole contacting portions, or a mix of surface-mount contacting portions and through hole contacting portions. Contacts  200  can be protected by bottom cover  600 . Bottom cover  600  can include alignment features  610  that fit with corresponding features (not shown) of housing  100  to align bottom cover  600  to an underside of housing  100 . Bottom covering  600  can be fastened or fixed to housing  100  using adhesives or other materials or techniques. 
     Gasket  500  can fit in groove  130  in housing  100 . Alternatively, gasket  500  can be insert molded in place on housing  100 . Gasket  500  can act as a face shield and can include one or more ribs  510  on a top and bottom surface. Ribs  510  can help to improve the moisture resistance provided by gasket  500 . Shell  400  can be located around a rear portion and sides of housing  100 . Shell  400  can include arms  410  that terminate in forks  420 . Cover  300  can include a recessed top portion  310 . Recessed top portion  310  can provide a proper surface to engage flexible circuit board  700  (shown in  FIG. 7 .) That is, recessed top portion  310  can be substantially free of sharp edges or burrs that could damage flexible circuit board  700 . Cover  300  can include arms  330  that terminate in pivot structures, shown here as dimples  340 . Cover  300  can further include tabs  320 . 
     Connectors provided by embodiments of the present invention can open to accept a flexible circuit board, and then close and lock to secure the flexible circuit board in place in the connector. Examples are shown in the following figures. 
       FIGS. 5A through 5F  illustrates a connector being opened, then closed and locked according to an embodiment of the present invention. In  FIG. 5A , cover  5300  of connector  20  can moved forward in a direction  5001  relative to housing  5100 . Housing  5100  can include pins  5110  that can reside in openings  5310  in cover  5300 . In  FIG. 5B , pins  5110  of housing  5100  have been moved to rear of openings  5310  in cover  5300 . In this configuration, cover  5300  of connector  20  can be opened, as shown in  FIG. 5C . In  FIG. 5C , cover  5300  of connector  20  has been opened thereby exposing contacting portions  5210  at a top surface of housing  5100 . Gasket  5500  can laterally surround contacting portions  5210 . Pins  5110  of housing  5100  can remain in a back of opening  5310  in cover  5300 . 
     In  FIG. 5D , flexible circuit board  700  can be placed on housing  5100  of connector  20 . Flexible circuit board  700  can include cutout  710  that can fit with alignment features  5120 . In  FIG. 5E , cover  5300  can be closed against a top surface of flexible circuit board  700 . Cover  5300  can then be moved backward in a direction  5002  relative to housing  5100 . In  FIG. 5F , cover  5300  can be locked in place relative to housing  5100  to secure flexible circuit board  700 . Pin  5110  can be located in a front of opening  5310  in cover  5300 . Tabs  5320  of cover  5300  can fit in notch  5180  on each side of housing  5100  to lock cover  5300  in place relative to housing  5100 . 
     In these and other embodiments of the present invention, gaskets  500  can improve the moisture resistance of connector  10 . In these and other embodiments of the present invention, other steps, such as potting, can be used to further improve moisture resistance of connector  10 . An example is shown in the following figure. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a back view of the connector of  FIG. 1 . In this example, cover  300  can be locked in place against housing  100 . Specifically, tabs  320  of cover  300  can be located in slots  422  of forks  420  (both shown in  FIG. 1 ) of shell  400 . Dimples  340  can be located in rear recess  144  of detent  140  (both shown in  FIG. 9 ) in housing  100 . Contacts  200  (shown in  FIG. 4 ) can include surface-mount contacting portions  220 , which can be soldered to pads  820  on printed circuit board  810 . To protect surface-mount contacting portions  220  from moisture that can ingress into an electronic device (not shown) housing connector  10 , a rear portion of connector  10  can be covered with potting material  800 . Potting material  800  can be an epoxy, polyurethane, or other adhesive or elastomer. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a bottom surface of a flexible circuit board that can be mated with a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this example, flexible circuit board  700  can include an area  730  having a protective or coverlay region surrounding an area  740 , where the protective layer or coverlay is absent. Traces  750  can connect to circuitry or components (not shown) in an electronic device (not shown) housing connector  10  (shown in  FIG. 1 .) Traces  750  can further connect to contacts  760 . Contacts  760  can physically and electrically connect to contacting portions  210  of contacts  200  (both shown in  FIG. 4 ) of connector  10 . Flexible circuit board  700  can include one or more features, such as cutouts  710  or cutouts  712 . Cutouts  710  and cutouts  712  can align with alignment features, such as alignment feature  120  and alignment feature  122  on a top surface of housing  100  (all shown in  FIG. 1 ) of connector  10 . 
     The various possible moisture ingress paths for a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention can be protected in various ways. Examples are shown in the following figure. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a cutaway side view of a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this example, connector  10  can be mated with flexible circuit board  700  to provide a connection between traces (not shown) of flexible circuit board  700  and traces (not shown) of printed circuit board  810 . Specifically, traces of flexible circuit board  700  can connect to contacts  760  on an underside of flexible circuit board  700 . Contacts  760  can physically and electrically connect to contacting portions  212  of contacts  200 . Contacts  200  can physically and electrically connect to pads  820  (shown in  FIG. 6 ) of printed circuit board  810  through surface-mount contacting portions  220  (shown in  FIG. 6 .) Cover  300  can hold flexible circuit board  700  in place. Shell  400  can provide shielding for connector  10 . 
     A first ingress path  861  between housing  230  and housing  100  can be blocked by potting material  800 . A second ingress path  871  between housing  100  and bottom cover  600  can be blocked by adhesive or other material (not shown). This adhesive can be a die-cut adhesive. Alternatively, ultrasonic welding, laser welding, or other technique can be used to join housing  100  to bottom cover  600 . A third ingress path  881  between housing  100  and flexible circuit board  700  can be blocked by gasket  500 , including ribs  510 . In this way, contacts  200  can be protected from moisture that can be located inside an electronic device (not shown) housing connector  10 . 
       FIG. 9  illustrates details of a housing for the connector of  FIG. 1 . Housing  100  can include detent  140 . Detent  140  can include forward recess  146  and rear recess  144 . Forward recess  146  and rear recess  144  can be separated by raised portion  142 . Raised portion  142  can tend to drive dimple  340  of cover  300  (both shown in  FIG. 1 ) into either forward recess  146  or rear recess  144 . When dimple  340  is in forward recess  146 , cover  300  can be rotated or pivoted relative to housing  100 . When dimple  340  is located in rear recess  144 , cover  300  can be locked relative to housing  100  using the methods shown above. 
       FIG. 10  illustrates a detail of the connector of  FIG. 1 . Cover  300  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) can include arm  330  terminating in dimple  340 . Dimple  340  can be located in detent  140  in a side of housing  100 . Detent  140  can include rear recess  144  and forward recess  146  separated by raised portion  142 . In these and other embodiments of the present invention, arms  330  can be preloaded to increase a force of dimple  340  in detent  140 . This can increase an amount of force needed to move cover  300  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) relative to housing  100 . 
     Again, in these and other embodiments the present invention, a cover can be locked relative to a housing using a tab that can fit in a slot in a fork of a shell. Alternatively, the fork can be replaced with a single prong, under which the tab can fit when the cover is locked. The tab can have various shapes, and these shapes can be varied to adjust a hold force provided by the tabs, where the hold force keeps the cover locked in place against the housing. 
     Also, these connectors, and the electronic devices (not shown) that house them, can be dropped or otherwise subjected to a fall. Such as fall can exert a force in an upward direction on a locked cover. It can be desirable that this upward force be insufficient to open the connector. By changing these tabs, the force necessary to inadvertently open the connector can be increased. Examples are shown in the following figures. 
       FIG. 11  illustrates a cutaway view of a tab and related features of a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this example, cover  300  can include tab  320  having locking portion  322 . Locking portion  322  can fit in slot  422  of fork  420 . Fork  420  can be reinforced by portion  170  of housing  100 . In this example, cover  300  can be opened if pulled straight up only when enough force is provided that locking portion  322  is bent around fork  420 . This necessary force can be increased by changing shape of locking portion  322 . An example is shown in the following figure. 
       FIG. 12  illustrates a cutaway view of a tab and related feature of a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this example, cover  300  can include tab  320  having locking portion  322 , where the locking feature now includes an upright portion  324 . As before, locking portion  322  can fit in slot  422  of fork  420 . Fork  420  can be reinforced by portion  170  of housing  100 . In this example, cover  300  can be opened if pulled straight up only when enough force is provided that upright portion  324  of locking portion  322  is bent around fork  420 . The necessary force for this can be much higher than when upright portion  324  is absent, such as in the previous figure. It should be noted that this is not a typical opening procedure but instead is an event that typically only occurs during a fall event. 
     These and other embodiments of the present invention can provide variations of connector  10  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) and connector  20  (shown in  FIG. 5 .) These variations can include features to improve grounding, flexible circuit board retention, water resistance, and others. These variations can also enable more than one flexible circuit board to be connected to a printed circuit board. Examples are shown in the following figures. 
       FIG. 13  illustrates a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. Connector  30  can be a variation of connector  10  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) or connector  20  (shown in  FIG. 5 .) Connector  30  can include housing  8100  supported by bottom cover  8600 . Shell  8400  can include arms  8410  that terminate in prongs  8424 . Arms  8410  can be located in slots  8104  in sides of housing  8100 . Flexible circuit board  700  can include notches and other cutouts  710  that can align with features  8120  on a top surface of housing  8100 . Cover  8300  can include tabs  8320  and arms  8330  that terminate in pivot structures, shown here as dimples  8340 . Dimples  8340  can be located in detents  8140 . Detents  8140  can be the same or similar as detents  140  in  FIG. 9 . 
     Connector  30  can provide improved grounding. For example, arms  8410  of shell  8400  can include tabs  8428 . Tabs  8428  can be soldered to pads or contacts (not shown) on a top surface of printed circuit board  810  (shown in  FIG. 6 .) 
     In this and other embodiments of the present invention, a front edge  790  of flexible circuit board  700  can fit under shell  8400 . This can help to retain flexible circuit board  700  in place when a connection using connector  30  is made. That is, fitting front edge  790  of flexible circuit board  700  under shell  8400  can help to secure flexible circuit board  700  in place as cover  8300  is closed and then locked. Extensions  8370  of cover  8300  can fit under raised portions  8470  of shell  8400 . This can help to secure cover  8300  in place relative to housing  8100 . 
     Inserting extensions  8370  under raised portions  8470  can increase a force applied by cover  8300  to flexible circuit board  700 . This can also more evenly distribute a force applied by cover  8300  to an interface between flexible circuit board  700  and gasket  8500 . This in turn can further improve the moisture resistance of connector  30 . 
       FIG. 14  illustrates the connector of  FIG. 13  in a locked position. In this example, flexible circuit board  700  (shown in  FIG. 13 ) has been removed for clarity. Cover  8300  of connector  30  can be closed or laid flat against a top surface of housing  8100 . Bottom cover  8600  can support housing  8100 . When cover  8300  is moved backward relative to housing  8100 , tabs  8320  can fit under prongs  8424 . Dimples  8340  can fit in a rear portion of detent  8140  (shown in  FIG. 13 ) in housing  8100 . Also, extensions  8370  can fit under raised portions  8470 . The interlocking features of extensions  8370  and raised portions  8470  can help to secure flexible circuit board  700  in place when connector  40  is locked. 
     In these and other embodiments of the present invention, it can be desirable to connect multiple flexible circuit boards to a printed circuit board. An example of such a connector is shown in the following figures. 
       FIG. 15  illustrates a connector for connecting multiple flexible circuit boards to a printed circuit board according to an embodiment of the present invention. Connector  40  can be similar to connector  10  (shown in  FIG. 1 ), connector  20  (shown in  FIG. 5 ), or connector  30  (shown in  FIG. 13 .) In this example, connector  40  can include housing  9100 . Housing  9100  can include openings  9110  for contacting portions  9210  of a first set of contacts (not shown) and openings  9111  for contacting portions  9211  of a second set of contacts (not shown.) Contacting portions  9210  can be laterally surrounded by gasket  9500 , while contacting portions  9211  can be laterally surrounded by gasket  9501 . Alignment features  9120 ,  9122 , and  9130  can be used to align flexible circuit boards to connector  30 . Cover  9300  can include tabs  9320  and arms  9330 . Arms  9330  can terminate in pivoting structures, shown here as dimples  9340 . Dimples  9340  can reside in detent  9140  in sides of housing  9100 . Shell  9400  can include arms  9410 , which can terminate in forks  9420 . Forks  9420  can include slots  9422  and prongs  9424 . That is, arms  9410  can terminate in prongs  9424 . 
       FIG. 16  illustrates the connector of  FIG. 15  where multiple flexible circuit boards are being connected. Specifically, flexible circuit board  700  and flexible circuit board  701  can be placed on a top surface of housing  9100 . Alignment feature  9120 , alignment feature  9122 , alignment feature  9130 , alignment feature  9121 , and alignment feature  9123  can be used to align flexible circuit board  700  and flexible circuit board  701  to housing  9100 . As before, this can ensure that contacts  760  (shown in  FIG. 7 ) accurately alignment with, and physically and electronically connect to, contacting portions  9210  and contacting portions  9011  (both shown in  FIG. 13 .) As before, cover  9300  can include tabs  9320  and arms  9330 , and arms  9330  can terminate in dimples  9340 . Dimples  9340  can reside in detents  9140  in sides of housing  9100  of connector  40 . 
       FIG. 17  illustrates the connector of  FIG. 15  in a closed and locked position. In this configuration, flexible circuit board  700  and flexible circuit board  701  can be held in place and locked by cover  9300  into position relative to housing  9100  of connector  40 . Tabs  9320  of cover  9300  can be fit in slots  9422  of forks  9420 . Dimples  9340  can be located in a rear recess similar to rear recess  144  (shown in  FIG. 9 ) of detent  9140  (shown in  FIG. 14 ) in housing  9100 . 
     In these and other embodiments of the present invention, contacts, shells, covers, and other conductive portions of a connector can be formed by stamping, metal-injection molding, machining, micro-machining, 3-D printing, forging, drawing, or other manufacturing process. The conductive portions can be formed of stainless steel, steel, copper, copper titanium, phosphor bronze, or other material or combination of materials. They can be plated or coated with nickel, gold, or other material. The nonconductive portions, such as the housings, can be formed using injection or other molding, 3-D printing, machining, or other manufacturing process. The nonconductive portions can be formed of silicon or silicone, rubber, hard rubber, plastic, nylon, liquid-crystal polymers (LCPs), or other nonconductive material or combination of materials. 
     These and other embodiments of the present invention can provide connectors that can be located in various types of devices, such as portable computing devices, tablet computers, desktop computers, laptops, all-in-one computers, cell phones, wearable-computing devices, storage devices, portable media players, navigation systems, monitors, power supplies, adapters, remote control devices, audio devices, chargers, and other devices. These connectors can provide pathways for signals that are compliant with various standards such as Universal Serial Bus (USB), a High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI), Digital Visual Interface (DVI), power, Ethernet, DisplayPort, Thunderbolt, Lightning and other types of standard and non-standard interfaces that have been developed, are being developed, or will be developed in the future. 
     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: 20200527
Publication Date: 20210907
Grant Date: 20210907
Priority Date: 20200527
Inventors: WANKOFF, ERIC B.
AMINI, MAHMOUD R.
CAMERON, Peter J.
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "H01R13/40", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R12/7005", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/516", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R12/88", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R12/771", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/639", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/5219", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R12/88", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R12/79", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R12/7058", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R12/613", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R12/7023", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R12/613", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R12/7058", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R12/7023", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 77559086