PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-8444438-B2
Application Number: US-201113183398-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: High-speed card connector having wide power contact

Abstract:
Connectors to connect optional or daughter cards or boards to main or motherboards. One example provides a connector that is capable of supporting high-speed data rates by employing contacts that provide short signal paths and a ground plane to improve signal quality. The space consumed in electronic devices may be reduced by providing a connector having a low profile, while another example may provide a connector having mechanical stability. Another example provides a connector having an increased manufacturability. Other examples include wider contacts for increased current capabilities.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A connector to form a plurality of signal paths between a printed circuit board and a card, the connector comprising:
 an insulative housing having an opening in a front surface to receive the card; 
 a plurality of contacts, each having:
 a first portion extending away from the front surface of the insulative housing to attach to a contact on a surface of the printed circuit board; 
 a second portion approximately in line with the first portion to form an electrical connection with a contact on the card; and 
 a third portion extending into the insulative housing; and 
 
 a shield over at least a top and back portion of the insulative housing, 
 wherein at least two contacts are placed next to each other such that a larger contact is formed, and 
 wherein the first portion of each of the plurality of contacts extends beyond a front of the insulative housing and the shield. 
 
     
     
       2. The connector of  claim 1  wherein the card is a memory card. 
     
     
       3. The connector of  claim 1  wherein the card is a solid state drive. 
     
     
       4. The connector of  claim 1  wherein the card is a wireless networking card. 
     
     
       5. The connector of  claim 1  wherein the first portion comprises a surface mount connector. 
     
     
       6. The connector of  claim 1  wherein the third portion extends into the insulative housing in a direction approximately parallel to a bottom of the connector. 
     
     
       7. The connector of  claim 1  wherein the third portion provides mechanical stability. 
     
     
       8. The connector of  claim 1  wherein the shield provides a ground plane. 
     
     
       9. The connector of  claim 1  wherein the shield holds the card in place when the card is inserted into the connector. 
     
     
       10. The connector of  claim 1  wherein the shield is split into multiple portions. 
     
     
       11. A connector comprising:
 an insulative housing having an opening in a front surface and at least one opening in a top surface; 
 a plurality of first contacts, each having:
 a first portion extending away from the front surface of the insulative housing; and 
 a second portion approximately in line with the first portion; 
 
 a plurality of second contacts, wider than contacts in the first plurality of contacts and each having:
 a first portion extending away from the front surface of the insulative housing; and 
 a second portion approximately in line with the first portion; and 
 
 a shield over at least a top and back portion of the insulative housing to form a ground plane, 
 wherein the first portion of each of the plurality of first contacts and the first portion of each of the plurality of second contacts extend beyond a front of the insulative housing and the shield. 
 
     
     
       12. The connector of  claim 11  wherein the connector is arranged to receive a card, wherein the at least one opening in the top surface may be used to ensure the card is properly received by the card. 
     
     
       13. The connector of  claim 11  where the insulative housing comprises two openings in the top surface, wherein the openings in the top surface may be used to ensure the card is properly received by the connector. 
     
     
       14. The connector of  claim 11  wherein each of the plurality of contacts further comprises a third portion extending into the insulative housing. 
     
     
       15. The connector of  claim 14  wherein the third portion provides mechanical support. 
     
     
       16. The connector of  claim 15  wherein the third portion is approximately in line with the first portion and extends into the housing in a direction approximately parallel to a bottom of the connector. 
     
     
       17. The connector of  claim 11  wherein the shield holds a card in place when a card is inserted into the connector. 
     
     
       18. The connector of  claim 17  wherein the shield is split into multiple portions. 
     
     
       19. A connector to form a plurality of signal paths, the connector comprising:
 an insulative housing having an opening in a front surface; 
 a plurality of contacts including a first contact and a second contact, the first contact wider than the second contact, the first and second contact each having:
 a first portion extending away from the front surface of the insulative housing; 
 a second portion approximately in line with the first portion; and 
 a third portion extending into the insulative housing to provide mechanical support; and 
 
 a shield over at least a top and back portion of the insulative housing, 
 wherein the first portion of each of the plurality of first contacts and the first portion of each of the plurality of second contacts extend beyond a front of the insulative housing and the shield. 
 
     
     
       20. The connector of  claim 19  where the insulative housing comprises a plurality of openings in the top surface, wherein the plurality of openings in the top surface may be used to ensure a card is properly received by a connector. 
     
     
       21. The connector of  claim 19  wherein the first portion comprises a surface mount connector. 
     
     
       22. The connector of  claim 19  wherein the shield holds a card in place when the card is inserted into the connector. 
     
     
       23. The connector of  claim 22  wherein the shield is split into multiple portions. 
     
     
       24. The connector of  claim 22  wherein the card is a solid state drive. 
     
     
       25. The connector of  claim 22  wherein the card is a wireless networking card.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/894,437, filed Sep. 30, 2010, which is incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The number and types of electronic devices on the market have grown tremendously the past few years. Tablet, netbook, laptop, and all-in-one computers, media players, handheld media players, cell phones, and other devices have proliferated. These devices have proliferated not only in the types that are available, but also as to the functionality they include. 
     Moreover, options for some particular devices have also proliferated. For example, for a particular device, the size of an internal memory may be an option. Other functionalities, such as video or graphics cards, network connections, and others, may also be made available as options or as possible upgrades. This allows a manufacturer to offer products at several price points, and allows customers to buy only the amount of functionality that is required to suit their needs and to possibly upgrade at a later time. 
     In these devices, various options may be added by including an optional card or board inside a housing of the electronic device. Also, certain cards or boards may be manufactured separately, for example, by a different manufacturer. In these and other situations, it may be desirable to include the card in the electronic device as a daughter card or board. These optional or daughter cards or boards may be attached to a main or motherboard. Specifically, these optional or daughter cards or boards may be attached to a board inside the electronic device housing a connector. 
     Unfortunately, these connectors consume space inside the electronic device housing. This consumed space may increase the size of the electronic device or reduce the functionality that could otherwise be included in the electronic device. Also, data rates among devices in these electronic devices have increased tremendously. Using a connector may degrade signal quality and reduce the data rates to a lower frequency that may otherwise be achievable. 
     Thus, what is needed are connectors that can be used to connect optional or daughter cards or boards to main or motherboards in electronic devices. It may also be desirable for these connectors to have a reduced size and to be able to support high data rates. 
     SUMMARY 
     Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention may provide connectors to connect optional or daughter cards or boards to main or motherboards. An illustrative embodiment of the present invention may provide a connector that is capable of supporting high-speed data rates. This connector may employ contacts that provide short signal paths. The contacts may have a first prong and a second prong. The first prong may attach to a surface of a main or motherboard. The second prong may form an electrical connection with a contact on a daughter or optional card or board. This embodiment may also provide a ground plane to improve signal quality. In a specific embodiment of the present invention, the ground plane may be on a top side of a connector and contacts for power and data may be on a second side of the connector. In this or other embodiments of the present invention, the ground plane may be split into two or more portions. In this way, in the event of warping of the connector shield, the ground plane may still contact the daughter or optional board in multiple locations. In a specific embodiment of the present invention, the ground plane may be split into three portions. 
     Another illustrative embodiment of the present invention may reduce the space consumed in electronic devices by providing a connector having a low profile. This low profile may be achieved by having the short signal paths, where each signal path may include contacts having a first prong that attaches to a main or motherboard and a second prong that forms an electrical connection to a contact on the daughter or optional board. 
     Another illustrative embodiment of the present invention may also provide a connector having mechanical stability. In a specific embodiment of the present invention, this may be achieved by providing a contact having a third prong. This third prong may be located parallel to a bottom surface of the connector as to reduce or eliminate any increase in the profile or height of the connector that may otherwise result due to its inclusion. 
     Another illustrative embodiment of the present invention may provide a connector having an increased manufacturability. In a specific embodiment of the present invention, the first contact prongs may be surface mount leads. These surface mount leads may be located in front of the connector. When these surface mount leads are connected to a board by soldering or other method, the connection to the board may be easily inspected. In another specific embodiment of the present invention, the connector may include one or more windows. These windows may allow inspection of an inserted daughter or optional card. Specifically, these windows may be used to ensure that a daughter or optional card is fully inserted into the connector. 
     Another illustrative embodiment of the present invention may provide a connector having one or more contacts having increased current carrying capabilities. These contacts may be formed wider as compared to other contacts, or they may be two or more contacts placed together in a connector. The wider contacts may be used to convey power, ground, or other type of electronic signals or information. 
     Another illustrative embodiment of the present invention may include one or more tabs connected to a shield, where the tabs may be soldered or otherwise fixed to grounds on a printed circuit board. These embodiments may also include one or more solder ends, where the solder ends are also soldered or otherwise fixed to grounds on the printed circuit board. 
     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 a top perspective view of a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a bottom perspective view of a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a daughter or optional card inserted into a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a top view of a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a cross-section of view of a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a detail of a portion of a top of a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a front view of a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a side view of a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a detail of a side view according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a bottom view of a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  illustrates a top perspective view of a connector having wider contacts according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 12  illustrates a top perspective view of another connector having wider contacts according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 13  is a closer view of a portion of a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 14  illustrates a backside view of a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS 
     Electronic devices often include a first printed circuit board onto which one or more circuits are attached. Signal traces and ground and power planes on the first printed circuit board connect these circuits together, such that a desired functionality is achieved. This first printed circuit board may also be referred to using other terms, such as motherboard, main board, or multilayer board. 
     On occasion, it may be desirable to attach a second printed circuit board to this first printed circuit board for each electronic device. This second printed circuit board may be referred to as a daughter card or board. For example, it may be desirable to attach a video card to a first printed circuit board for each of a particular type of electronic device made. In other situations, it may be desirable to provide optional cards or boards that may be attached to the first printed circuit board. For example, additional memory may be made available on optional cards that may be attached to the first printed circuit board. This enables a supplier to provide devices having varying amounts of memory. Also, other types of functionality, such as wireless or other networking functions, may be included on these optional cards. Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention provide connectors that may attach these daughter or optional cards to the first printed circuit board. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a top perspective view of 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. 
     Connector  100  may include insulative housing  110 , a plurality of contacts  120 , and shield  130 . This connector may be mounted on a printed circuit board. The printed circuit board may be a motherboard, main board, multilayer board, or other type of board. Connector  100  may be adapted to receive a card or board, such as a daughter or optional card or board. 
     Insulative housing  110  may include front side opening  112  for receiving a daughter or optional card. Insulative housing  110  may also include one or more openings  114 , shown in this example on a top side of insulative housing  110 . These one or more openings  114  may be used to visually or otherwise determine that a card is properly inserted into connector  100 . 
     In this example, each of the plurality of contacts  120  may include a first portion  122  and a second portion  124 . First portion  122  may extend away from a front of housing  110 . First portion  122  may be used to make contact with a contact or pad located on a printed circuit board. Second portion  124  may be approximately in line with first portion  122 . Second portion  124  may make contact with a contact on a card when the card is inserted into connector  100 . Each of the contacts  120  may also include a third portion (not shown) for mechanical stability, as will be discussed below. 
     Shield  130  may cover at least a top portion and a back portion of connector  100 . Shield  130  may be used as a ground plane, where it connects to one or more ground contacts on a card and one or more ground contacts on the printed circuit board. Shield  130  may be split into two or more portions. In this specific example, shield  130  may be split into three portions. Splitting shield  130  into portions may improve the grounding provided by shield  130  by ensuring that shield  130  comes into contact with ground contacts on a card at three or more points when the card is inserted into connector  100 . In this specific example, one or more portions  132  of shield  130  may be folded back under a top portion of shield  130 . With this arrangement, when a card is inserted into opening  112  of connector  100 , shield portion  132  may press down on a top surface of the card, thereby engaging one or more ground contacts. This action may also push contacts on the card into second portions  124  of contacts  120  to form electrical pathways. Tabs  134  may be located on shield  130  and may be used to connect shield  130  to grounds on a printed circuit board. 
     Connector  100  may further include keying portion  150 . Keying portion  150  may be offset from a center of connector  100 . Keying portion  150  may be arranged to mate with a slot or cutout section on a daughter board or optional card. This configuration may prevent the inadvertent upside-down insertion of the daughter board or optional card. 
     Embodiments of the present invention may provide connectors having high-speed paths between a daughter or optional card and a printed circuit board. Specifically, first portions  122  and second portions  124  of contacts  120  may form short and direct paths over which one or more signals and power supplies may travel. Also, these paths may be shielded by shield  130 , which may improve signal quality and allows for faster data rates. By splitting shield  130  into multiple portions, ground connections between ground on a card and a shield may be improved. 
     Moreover, the short and direct paths provided by contacts  120  may allow connector  100  to have a low profile. A third portion of contacts  120  may be used to provide mechanical stability. This third portion may be approximately in line with first portions  122 , and parallel to a bottom of the connector  100 . 
     Embodiments of the present invention may provide connectors that improve the reliability of the manufacturing process. Specifically, first portions  122  may be surface mounted contacts. These first portions  122  may be soldered to pads or contacts on the printed circuit board. This may allow for easy inspection of solder connections of contacts  122  the printed circuit board. Also, openings  114  may allow for inspection to ensure that a card is properly inserted into connector  100 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a bottom perspective view of a connector  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention. This figure includes insulative housing  110 , a plurality of contacts  120 , and shield  130 . 
     Insulative housing  110  may include tabs  140 . These tabs may be used to provide mechanical support for connector  100  on a printed circuit board. 
     Tab  134  may be used to form an electrical connection between shield  130  and ground lines or planes on a printed circuit board. 
     In various embodiments of the present invention, housing  110  may be plastic or other insulative material. Contacts  120  may be stainless steel, copper, brass, aluminum, or other conductive material. Similarly, shield  130  may be stainless steel, copper, brass, aluminum, or other conductive material. 
     While eighteen contacts are shown in this specific example, in other embodiments of the present invention, other numbers of contacts may be used. Also, while first portions  122  are shown as extending from the front of contacts  100 , in other embodiments of the present invention they may extend in other directions. For example, they may extend in a downward direction, or they may extend towards the back of connector  100 . In other embodiments of the present invention, first portions  122  and second portions  124  of contacts  120  may be the same portion. Moreover, while shield  130  is shown as having a particular configuration, other configurations may be possible. For example, shield  130  may not be split into multiple portions, while in other embodiments of the present invention, shield  130  may be split into two or more portions. Also, while one or more openings  114  are shown in top of insulative housing  110 , in other embodiments, these openings may be omitted, there may be more or fewer than two openings  140 , and the openings may be provided elsewhere. 
     Again, connector  100  may accept or receive a daughter or optional card. An example is shown in the following figure. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a daughter or optional card inserted into a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. This example includes a connector  300  receiving a daughter or optional card  360 . When card  360  is inserted into connector  300 , contacts on a top of card  360  may form electrical connections with portion  332  of shield  330 . Contacts on a bottom portion of card  360  may form electrical connections with second portions  324  of contacts  320 . 
     Again, embodiments of the present invention may provide a very short signal path from card  310  to a printed circuit board on which connector  300  resides. Specifically, the signal path may include first portion  322  and second portion  324  of contacts  320 . 
     Contacts  320  may also provide mechanical stability by including third portion  326 . Specifically, third portion  326  may extend into insulative housing  310 . In this example, second portion  324  and third portion  326  may extend into insulative housing  310 , while first portion  322  may extend away from the front of connector  300 . Second portion  324  and third portion  326  of contact  320  may be approximately in line with first portion  322 . Third portion  326  may extend approximately parallel to a bottom of connector  300 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a top view of a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a cross-sectional view along the line F-F of the connector receptacle of  FIG. 4 . This figure illustrates a cross-sectional view of contact  520  and shield  530  according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a detail of a portion of the top of a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a front view of a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a side view of a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates a detail of a side view according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 10  illustrates a bottom view of a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     Again, various embodiments of the present invention may include various numbers of contacts. Also, in various embodiments of the present invention, one or more of these contacts may have different widths or lengths. For example, one or more contacts may be wider to handle higher currents. These one or more contacts may be used to convey a power supply or ground. 
       FIG. 11  illustrates a top perspective view of a connector having wider contacts according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this example, contacts  1140  and  1142  may be located on each end of connector  1100 . Contacts  1140  and  1142  may both be used to convey power, one contact may be used to convey power while the other conveys ground, or both contacts  1140  and  1142  may be used to convey ground. In this example, contacts  1140  and  1142  are formed by placing two contacts  1120  next to each other. These contacts may be separate contacts when assembled, or they may be spot welded or otherwise fixed to each other before assembly. 
     Connector  1100  may include insulative housing  1110 , a plurality of contacts  1120 , and shield  1130 . Again, this connector may be mounted on a printed circuit board. The printed circuit board may be a motherboard, main board, multilayer board, or other type of board. Connector  1100  may be adapted to receive a card or board, such as a daughter or optional card or board. Specifically, insulative housing  1110  may include front side opening  1112  for receiving a daughter or optional card. 
     In this example, each of the plurality of contacts  1120  may include a first portion  1122  and a second portion  1124 . First portion  1122  may extend away from a front of housing  1110 . First portion  1122  may be used to make contact with a contact or pad located on a printed circuit board. Second portion  1124  may be approximately in line with first portion  1122 . Second portion  1124  may make contact with a contact on a card when the card is inserted into connector  1100 . Each of the contacts  1120  may also include a third portion (not shown) for mechanical stability, as was discussed above. 
     Shield  1130  may cover at least a top portion and a back portion of connector  1100 . Shield  1130  may be used as a ground plane, where it connects to one or more ground contacts on a card and one or more ground contacts on the printed circuit board. Shield  1130  may be split into two or more portions. In this specific example, shield  1130  may be split into three portions. One or more portions  1132  of shield  1130  may be folded back under a top portion of shield  1130 . 
     Connector  1100  may further include keying portion  1150 . Keying portion  1150  may be offset from a center of connector  1100 . Keying portion  1150  may be arranged to mate with a slot or cutout section on a daughter board or optional card. This configuration may prevent the inadvertent upside-down insertion of the daughter board or optional card. 
     Embodiments of the present invention may provide connectors having high-speed paths between a daughter or optional card and a printed circuit board. Specifically, first portions  1122  and second portions  1124  of contacts  1120  may form short and direct paths over which one or more signals and power supplies may travel. Moreover, the short and direct paths provided by contacts  1120  may allow connector  1100  to have a low profile. A third portion of contacts  1120  may be used to provide mechanical stability. This third portion may be approximately in line with first portions  1122 , and parallel to a bottom of the connector  1100 . 
     Again, various embodiments of the present invention may include various numbers of pins. The example in  FIG. 1  includes 18 pins, while the example in  FIG. 11  includes 24 pins, and an example below includes 26 pins. These additional pins may be used for additional data, power supplies, grounds, bias, control lines, or other electronic signals. One embodiment of the present invention may include 26 pins, where four pins—two on each end—may be used to convey a power supply. These power contacts may have the same width as other contacts, they may be double contacts as shown in  FIG. 11 , or they may be wider single contacts. An example is shown in the following figure. 
       FIG. 12  illustrates a top perspective view of another connector having wider contacts according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this example, contacts  1240  and  1242  may be located at one end of connector  1200 , while contacts  1244  and  1246  may be located at the other. Contacts  1240 ,  1242 ,  1244 , and  1246  may each be used to convey power, some may be used to convey power while the others convey ground, or contacts  1240 ,  1242 ,  1244 , and  1246  may be used to convey ground. In this example, contacts  1240 ,  1242 ,  1244 , and  1246  are formed as wider contacts as compared to contacts  1220 . 
     Connector  1200  may include insulative housing  1220 , a plurality of contacts  1220 , and shield  1230 . This connector may be mounted on a printed circuit board. The printed circuit board may be a motherboard, main board, multilayer board, or other type of board. Connector  1200  may be adapted to receive a card or board, such as a daughter or optional card or board. Insulative housing  1210  may include front side opening  1212  for receiving a daughter or optional card. 
     In this example, each of the plurality of contacts  1220  may include a first portion  1222  and a second portion  1224 . First portion  1222  may extend away from a front of housing  1210 . First portion  1222  may be used to make contact with a contact or pad located on a printed circuit board. Second portion  1224  may be approximately in line with first portion  1222 . Second portion  1224  may make contact with a contact on a card when the card is inserted into connector  1200 . Each of the contacts  1220  may also include a third portion (not shown) for mechanical stability, as was discussed above. 
     Shield  1230  may cover at least a top portion and a back portion of connector  1200 . Shield  1230  may be used as a ground plane, where it connects to one or more ground contacts on a card and one or more ground contacts on the printed circuit board. Shield  1230  may be split into two or more portions. In this specific example, shield  1230  may be split into three portions. Splitting shield  1230  into portions may improve the grounding provided by shield  1230  by ensuring that shield  1230  comes into contact with ground contacts on a card at three or more points when the card is inserted into connector  1200 . In this specific example, one or more portions  1232  of shield  1230  may be folded back under a top portion of shield  1230 . With this arrangement, when a card is inserted into opening  1212  of connector  1200 , shield portion  1232  may press down on a top surface of the card, thereby engaging one or more ground contacts. This action may also push contacts on the card into second portions  1224  of contacts  1220  to form electrical pathways. Tabs  1234  may be located on shield  1230  and may be used to connect shield  1230  to grounds on a printed circuit board. 
     Connector  1200  may further include keying portion  1250 . Keying portion  1250  may be offset from a center of connector  1200 . Keying portion  1250  may be arranged to mate with a slot or cutout section on a daughter board or optional card. This configuration may prevent the inadvertent upside-down insertion of the daughter board or optional card. 
     Embodiments of the present invention may provide connectors having high-speed paths between a daughter or optional card and a printed circuit board. Specifically, first portions  1222  and second portions  1224  of contacts  1220  may form short and direct paths over which one or more signals and power supplies may travel. Also, these paths may be shielded by shield  1230 , which may improve signal quality and allows for faster data rates. By splitting shield  1230  into multiple portions, ground connections between ground on a card and a shield may be improved. 
     Moreover, the short and direct paths provided by contacts  1220  may allow connector  1200  to have a low profile. A third portion of contacts  1220  may be used to provide mechanical stability. This third portion may be approximately in line with first portions  1222 , and parallel to a bottom of the connector  1200 . 
     Embodiments of the present invention may provide connectors that improve the reliability of the manufacturing process. Specifically, first portions  1222  may be surface mounted contacts. These first portions  1222  may be soldered to pads or contacts on the printed circuit board. This may allow for easy inspection of solder connections of contacts  1222  the printed circuit board. Also, openings  1214  may allow for inspection to ensure that a card is properly inserted into connector  1200 . 
       FIG. 13  is a closer view of a portion of a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, contacts  1240  and  1242  can be seen as being wider than contact  1222 . Again, contacts  1240  and  1242  may both be used to convey power, one contact may be used to convey power while the other conveys ground, or both contacts  1240  and  1242  may be used to convey ground. Contacts  1222  may be used to convey data, bias, supplies, or other type of electronic signals. In other embodiments, contacts  1222 ,  1240 , and  1242  may be used to convey other types of electronic signals or information. 
     In various embodiments of the present invention, tabs, such as tabs  134 ,  1134 , and  1234  may be used to provide a ground connection for shields  130 ,  1130 , or  1230 . In other embodiments of the present invention, other ground connections may be used in addition to, or instead of, tabs  134 ,  1134 , and  1234 . An example is shown in the following figure. 
       FIG. 14  illustrates a backside view of a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. This example includes solder ends  1450  in addition to tabs  1434 . Solder ends  1450  may be soldered to ground connections on a printed circuit board. Spacings between solder ends  1450  may allow signal paths to be routed. Post  1440  is also included for mechanical stability. 
     Again, in these examples, illustrative examples of embodiment of the present invention have been shown. It should be noted that variations on portions of these connectors, such as insulative housings  110 ,  1110 , and  1210 ; contacts  120 ,  1120 , and  1220 ; and shields  130 ,  1130 , and  1230 , and portions thereof, may be made consistent with embodiments of the present invention, and none of these are required to have the particular shape, size, arrangement, or other characteristics shown in the figures in order for a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention to function properly. 
     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: 20110714
Publication Date: 20130521
Grant Date: 20130521
Priority Date: 20100930
Inventors: GAO ZHENG
SIMMEL GEORGE MARC
ABRAHAM EUAN
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "H01R12/721", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/6582", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R12/73", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R12/7082", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/6582", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R12/7082", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R12/73", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R12/721", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 45890202