PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-10199784-B2
Application Number: US-201715686077-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Electronic connector

Abstract:
A unidirectional cable connector that can be operatively connected between a host device and accessory device in the ecosystem of products. The cable includes first and second plug connectors at opposite ends of a wire where the two plug connectors share a common pinout but the insertion plug of the second connector is shortened in length as compared to the insertion plug of the first connector. The shortened plug prevents the second connector from being fully inserted into the host device that includes a standard depth receptacle connector, and thus prevents the second connector from being operatively coupled to the host device. The shortened plug can, however, be operatively connected with an electronic device having a shortened receptacle connector according to embodiments of the disclosure.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A cable connector comprising:
 a cable having a first end and a second end; 
 a first plug connector at the first end of the cable, the first plug connector including a first body, a first insertion end extending away from the first body to a first connector tip and a first plurality of contacts, the first insertion end and the first plurality of contacts sized and positioned to be mated with and mechanically and electrically compatible with a first receptacle connector; and 
 a second plug connector at the second end of the cable, the second plug connector including a second body, a second insertion end extending away from the second body to a second connector tip and a second plurality of contacts, the second insertion end and second plurality of contacts configured to be mated with and mechanically and electrically compatible with the first receptacle connector, 
 wherein the first insertion end has a first length from the first connector tip to the first body and the second insertion end has a second length from the second connector tip to the second body, the second length being shorter than the first length such that the first insertion end and first plurality of contacts are configured to be mated with and mechanically and electrically compatible with a second receptacle connector having an insertion cavity that is deeper than an insertion cavity of the first receptacle connector while the second insertion end and second plurality of contacts are mechanically incompatible with the second receptacle connector. 
 
     
     
       2. The cable connector of  claim 1  wherein the first plurality of contacts are exposed at an external surface of the first plug connector and the second plurality of contacts are exposed at an external surface of the second plug connector. 
     
     
       3. The cable connector of  claim 2  wherein each of the first and second pluralities of contacts are spaced apart along a single row. 
     
     
       4. The cable connector of  claim 1  wherein each of the first and second plug connectors are reversible connectors that can be inserted in the first receptacle connector in either a first orientation or a second orientation rotated 180 degrees from the first orientation. 
     
     
       5. The cable connector of  claim 1  wherein the first plug connector has a uniform thickness along the width and length of the first insertion end and wherein the second plug connector has a uniform thickness along the width and length of the second insertion end connector. 
     
     
       6. The cable connector of  claim 5  wherein a thickness of the first insertion end is the same as a thickness of the second insertion end. 
     
     
       7. The cable connector of  claim 1  wherein each of the first and second plug connectors includes a retention mechanism configured to mate with a retention latch in a receptacle connector. 
     
     
       8. The cable connector of  claim 1  wherein a first distance is defined between the first connector tip and the first plurality of contacts, a second distance is defined between the second connector tip and the second plurality of contacts, and wherein the first distance and the second distance are equal. 
     
     
       9. The cable connector of  claim 8  wherein a third distance is defined between the first connector tip and the first body, a fourth distance is defined between the second connector tip and the second body, and wherein the third distance is greater than the fourth distance. 
     
     
       10. The cable connector of  claim 9  wherein the first plurality of contacts includes the same number of contacts as the second plurality of contacts. 
     
     
       11. A cable connector comprising:
 a cable having a first end and a second end; 
 a first plug connector at the first end of the cable, the first plug connector including a first body, a first insertion end extending away from the first body to a first connector tip, and a first plurality of contact; and 
 a second plug connector at the second end of the cable, the second plug connector including a second body, a second insertion end extending away from the second body to a second connector tip, a second plurality of contacts, wherein the second insertion end and the second plurality of contacts are sized and positioned to be mated with and mechanically and electrically compatible with the first receptacle connector; 
 wherein the first plug connector can be operatively coupled with a first receptacle connector having a first plurality of receptacle connector contacts positioned within a first cavity at a first distance from an opening of the first cavity and the second plug connector can be operatively coupled with the first receptacle connector; and 
 wherein the first plug connector can be operatively coupled with a second receptacle connector having a second plurality of receptacle connector contacts positioned within a second cavity at a second distance from an opening of the second cavity, the second distance being less than the first distance, and the second plug connector cannot be operatively coupled with the second receptacle connector. 
 
     
     
       12. The cable connector of  claim 11  wherein each of the first and second plug connectors are reversible connectors that can be inserted in the first receptacle connector in either a first orientation or a second orientation rotated 180 degrees from the first orientation. 
     
     
       13. The cable connector of  claim 12  wherein the first plurality of contacts includes a first set of contacts exposed at a first external surface of the first plug connector and a second set of contacts exposed at a second external surface of the first plug connector opposite the first external surface and wherein the second plurality of contacts includes a third set of contacts exposed at a first external surface of the second plug connector and a fourth set of contacts exposed at a second external surface of the second plug connector opposite the first external surface. 
     
     
       14. The cable connector of  claim 13  wherein a pinout of each of the first, second, third, and fourth sets of contacts is identical. 
     
     
       15. The cable connector of  claim 14  wherein the first plug connector includes a first retention mechanism and the second plug connector includes a second retention mechanism; wherein a first distance is defined between the first tip and the first retention mechanism, a second distance is defined between the first retention mechanism and the first body, a third distance is defined between the second tip and the second retention mechanism, and a fourth distance is defined between the second retention mechanism and the second body; and wherein the first distance is equal to the third distance and the second distance is greater than the fourth distance. 
     
     
       16. The cable connector of  claim 11  wherein the cable comprises a plurality of insulated wires that connect at least some of the first plurality of contacts with at least some of the second plurality of contacts. 
     
     
       17. A cable connector comprising:
 a cable including a first end and a second end; 
 a first plug connector at the first end of the cable, wherein the first plug connector includes a first tip and a first retention mechanism configured to mate with a first receptacle connector, wherein a first distance is defined between the first tip and the first retention mechanism, and wherein a second distance is defined between the first retention mechanism and the cable; and 
 a second plug connector at the second end of the cable, wherein the second plug connector includes a second tip and a second retention mechanism configured to mate with a second receptacle connector, wherein a third distance is defined between the second tip and the second retention mechanism, and wherein a fourth distance is defined between the second retention mechanism and the cable, 
 wherein the first distance is equal to the third distance and the second distance is greater than the fourth distance. 
 
     
     
       18. The cable connector of  claim 17  wherein the first plug connector includes a first plurality of contacts and the second plug connector includes a second plurality of contacts, wherein each of the first and second pluralities of contacts conforms to the same pinout. 
     
     
       19. The cable connector of  claim 17  wherein each of the first and second plug connectors are reversible connectors that can be inserted in the first receptacle connector in either a first orientation or a second orientation rotated 180 degrees from the first orientation. 
     
     
       20. The cable connector of  claim 19  wherein the first plurality of contacts are exposed at an external surface of the first plug connector and the second plurality of contacts are exposed at an external surface of the second plug connector.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/384,049, filed Sep. 6, 2016, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates generally to electronic connectors, such as connectors that can be used to transfer data and/or power from one electronic device to another. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Many portable electronic devices include an electrical connector that enables the device to be operatively connected to another electronic device to transfer data between the devices and/or provide power to and change a battery within the portable electronic device. Such connectors are designed to particular standards and requirements regarding the size, shape, contact configuration and other criteria that are required for two corresponding connectors to mate with each other. Typically, such connector pairs include a female receptacle connector and a male plug connector that is inserted into the receptacle connector during the mating event. The plug connector and receptacle connector pairing can be part of an ecosystem of products that includes both host electronic devices and accessory devices designed to work together. For example, host electronic devices in the ecosystem that include a receptacle connector can be connected to accessory electronic devices from the eco system that includes the corresponding plug connector. 
     SUMMARY 
     In an ecosystem of electronic products, it can sometimes be beneficial for an accessory device to include the same gender connector (e.g., receptacle connector) as the host device. As one example, a host device and an accessory device might both include the same type of receptacle connector (i.e., receptacle connectors that are mechanically and electrically compatible with the same plug connector) that enables each device to be charged by the same charging cable. That is, the plug connector of the charging cable can be inserted within and operatively mated with the receptacle connector of either the host device or the accessory device to provide power to the mated device. 
     To minimize the number of connectors included within an accessory device, it can also be beneficial if the accessory device can be connected to the host device by a cable that electrically connects the receptacle connector on the host to the receptacle connector on the accessory instead of requiring such a cable to be mated with a second, different connector on the accessory device. As one particular example, it can be beneficial for both a smart phone and a pair of headphones in a particular ecosystem of products to include a receptacle connector that allows a single charging cable to provide power to either the smart phone or the headphones. It can also be beneficial for the ecosystem to include a cable that enables the headphones to be directly connected to the smart phone via the receptacle connectors in each device so that audio signals from the smart phone can be output to and played on the headphones. For example, even if the headphones are wireless headphones, there may be environments in which a wireless connection is undesirable or even prohibited, such as on airplanes. A cable that connects between receptacle connectors of such electronic devices can include two plug connectors at opposing ends of the cable, one of which would be inserted into the smart phone receptacle connector and one of which would be inserted into the headphone receptacle connector. The presence of such a cable in the ecosystem could give rise to an impression that the cable could also be used to transfer data, power or other useful signals from one host device to another host device (e.g., between two smart phones or between a smart phone and a tablet computer) even though the host devices in the ecosystem might not support such functionality. Thus, if not properly designed, such a cable in such an ecosystem could lead to user frustration. 
     Some embodiments of the disclosure pertain to a receptacle connector that can be included in an accessory device that has essentially the same shape and pinout as the standard receptacle connector of the host device in a given ecosystem of products but that has an insertion cavity that is shorter than the standard receptacle connector. Some embodiments of the disclosure also pertain to a unidirectional cable that can be operatively connected between a host device and accessory device in the ecosystem of products. The cable includes first and second plug connectors at opposite ends of a wire where the insertion plug of the second connector is shortened in length as compared to the insertion plug of the first connector. The shortened plug prevents the second connector from being fully inserted into the host device that includes a standard depth receptacle connector, and thus prevents the second connector from being operatively coupled to the host device. The shortened plug can, however, be operatively connected with an electronic device having a shortened receptacle connector according to embodiments of the disclosure. 
     In this manner, a connector cable according some embodiments of the disclosure can be used to transfer data (e.g., audio data) between a host device having a standard depth receptacle connector and an accessory device having a shortened receptacle connector as long as the cable is connected such that the shortened plug connector is mated with the shortened receptacle connector and the standard plug connector is mated with the standard receptacle connector. The cable cannot, however, be used to electrically connect two devices that each have standard depth receptacle connectors (e.g., two host devices) as the shortened plug connector cannot be operatively connected to the receptacle connector of either such device. 
     In some embodiments, the receptacle connectors on the host and accessory devices can include retention mechanisms that latch with retention mechanisms on a plug connector. In such embodiments, the length of the second plug connector of the cable can be sufficiently short that the second plug connector does not engage with the retention mechanism of the standard host receptacle connector during a mating event and thus provides a user no mechanical feedback and will simply fall out of the receptacle if moved. The first plug connector, on the other hand, can be operatively connected to, and provide mechanical feedback when mated with, either the shortened receptacle connector or the standard receptacle connector. 
     In some embodiments an electrical cable connector is provided. The cable connector can include a cable having a first end and a second end; a first plug connector at the first end of the cable, the first plug connector including a first body, a first insertion end extending away from the first body to a first connector tip and a first plurality of contacts, the first insertion end and the first plurality of contacts sized and positioned to be mated with and mechanically and electrically compatible with a first receptacle connector; and a second plug connector at the second end of the cable, the second plug connector including a second body, a second insertion end extending away from the second body to a second connector tip and a second plurality of contacts, the second insertion end and second plurality of contacts configured to be mated with and mechanically and electrically compatible with the first receptacle connector. The first insertion end can have a first length from the first connector tip to the first body and the second insertion end can have a second length from the second connector tip to the second body, the second length being shorter than the first length such that the first insertion end and first plurality of contacts are configured to be mated with and mechanically and electrically compatible with a second receptacle connector having an insertion cavity that is deeper than an insertion cavity of the first receptacle connector while the second insertion end and second plurality of contacts are mechanically incompatible with the second receptacle connector. 
     In some embodiments, a cable connector according to the disclosure includes a cable having a first end and a second end; a first plug connector at the first end of the cable, the first plug connector including a first body, a first insertion end extending away from the first body to a first connector tip, and a first plurality of contact; and a second plug connector at the second end of the cable, the second plug connector including a second body, a second insertion end extending away from the second body to a second connector tip, a second plurality of contacts, wherein the second insertion end and the second plurality of contacts are sized and positioned to be mated with and mechanically and electrically compatible with the first receptacle connector. The first plug connector can be operatively coupled with a first receptacle connector having a first plurality of receptacle connector contacts positioned within a first cavity at a first distance from an opening of the first cavity and the second plug connector can be operatively coupled with the first receptacle connector. The first plug connector can also be operatively coupled with a second receptacle connector having a second plurality of receptacle connector contacts positioned within a second cavity at a second distance from an opening of the second cavity, the second distance being less than the first distance, but the second plug connector cannot be operatively coupled with the second receptacle connector. 
     According to some embodiments of the disclosure a cable connector includes a cable having a first end and a second end; a first plug connector at the first end of the cable, where the first plug connector includes a first tip and a first retention mechanism configured to mate with a first receptacle connector; and a second plug connector at the second end of the cable, where the second plug connector includes a second tip and a second retention mechanism configured to mate with a second receptacle connector. A first distance can be defined between the first tip and the first retention mechanism, a second distance can be defined between the first retention mechanism and the cable, a third distance can be defined between the second tip and the second retention mechanism, and a fourth distance can be defined between the second retention mechanism and the cable such that the first distance is equal to the third distance and the second distance is greater than the fourth distance. 
     In various embodiments, the first and/or second plug connectors can be reversible connectors that can be inserted in the first receptacle connector in either a first orientation or a second orientation rotated 180 degrees from the first orientation, the first plurality of contacts can be exposed at an external surface of the first plug connector and the second plurality of contacts can be exposed at an external surface of the second plug connector, and each of the first and second pluralities of contacts can conform to the same pinout having the same contact spacing. 
     To better understand the nature and advantages of embodiments of the present disclosure, reference should be made to the following description and the accompanying figures. It is to be understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the scope of embodiments of the present disclosure. Also, as a general rule, and unless it is evident to the contrary from the description, where elements in different figures use identical reference numbers, the elements are generally either identical or at least similar in function or purpose. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a top view of an electronic media device in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of headphones in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  shows a top view of a plug connector that may be received in a host device in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 4  shows a top view of a plug connector that may be received in an accessory in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 5A  is a simplified front view of the plug connector shown in  FIG. 3  in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 5B  is a simplified front view of the plug connector shown in  FIG. 4  in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 6  depicts a top view of a connector assembly in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 7A  depicts a top view of a plug connector mated to a receptacle connector of a host device in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 7B  depicts a simplified cross-sectional view of the plug and receptacle connectors shown in  FIG. 7A ; 
         FIG. 8A  depicts a top view of a plug connector that is not mechanically compatible with a receptacle connector of a host device in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 8B  depicts a simplified cross-sectional view of the plug and receptacle connectors shown in  FIG. 8A ; 
         FIG. 9A  depicts a top view of a plug connector mated with a receptacle connector of an accessory device in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 9B  depicts a simplified cross-sectional view of the plug and receptacle connectors shown in  FIG. 9A ; and 
         FIG. 10  shows a top view of a plug connector that may be received in a host device in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to certain embodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that embodiments of the present disclosure may be practiced without some or all of these specific details. In other instances, well known details have not been described in detail in order not to unnecessarily obscure embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     As used herein, a first connector can be “operatively connected to” a second connector when the connectors are both mechanically compatible and electrically compatible with each other. A plug connector can be said to be “mechanically compatible” with a receptacle connector when the plug connector is sized and shaped such that it can be physically inserted into the receptacle connector to mate with the receptacle connector, and when mated, electrical contacts of the plug connector align with and electrically contact with corresponding contacts within the receptacle connector. Thus, mechanically compatible plug connector and receptacle connectors have pinouts that are compatible with each other such that the size, position and spacing of each contact is set so that contacts of the plug connector align with contacts of the receptacle connector enabling the respective contact pairs to be electrically coupled to each other when the connectors are mated. In general, two plug connectors that are both mechanically compatible with a given receptacle connector will have plug or insertion portions that have the same cross-sectional dimensions (width and height) and same number of contacts and same contact positioning and spacing. In some instances, however, and as described in more detail below in conjunction with  FIG. 10 , two plug connectors can be mechanically compatible with the same receptacle connector where one of the plug connectors has a subset of the contacts that are associated with the standard or normal pinout associated with that given connector standard. 
     A plug connector can be said to be “electrically compatible” with a receptacle connector when, without requiring a special adapter, data signals transmitted between the plug and receptacle connector can be decoded and acted upon by the electronic devices associated with each connector and/or power transmitted between the connectors can be used to provide power to or charge an electronic device associated with one of the connectors. 
     Reference is now made to  FIG. 1 , which depicts a front view of one particular electronic media device  100  with which embodiments of the disclosure may be used. Among other elements, device  100  includes a multipurpose button  105  as an input component, a touch screen display  110  as both an input and output component, and a speaker  115  as an output component, all of which are housed within a device housing  120 . Device  100  also includes a primary receptacle connector  125  and an audio plug receptacle  130  within device housing  120 . Each of the receptacle connectors  125  and  130  can be positioned within housing  120  such that the opening to the cavity of the receptacle connectors into which a corresponding plug connector is inserted is located at an exterior surface of the device housing  120 . In some embodiments, the cavity opens to an exterior side surface of device  100 . 
     For simplicity, various internal components, such as the control circuitry, graphics circuitry, bus, memory, storage device and other components of electronic media device  100  are not shown in  FIG. 1 . Embodiments of the disclosure disclosed herein are suitable for use with plug connectors that are configured to mate with primary receptacle connector  125  to transmit and receive data signals and/or audio signals. Additionally, in some embodiments, electronic media device  100  has only a single receptacle connector  125  that is used to physically interface and connect the device (as opposed to a wireless connection which can also be used) to other electronic devices or accessories. 
     Reference is now made to  FIG. 2 , which is a perspective view of headphones  200  with which embodiments of the disclosure may be used. Headphones  200  are one example of an accessory that can be used in conjunction with electronic media device  100  of  FIG. 1 , for example. Headphones  200  include ear pads  205   a  and  205   b.  Ear pads  205   a  and  205   b  each house a speaker (not shown) as an output component. Headphones  200  also include a receptacle connector  210 . The receptacle connector  210  is configured to receive a corresponding plug connector that may provide audio signals to headphones  200 . In some embodiments, receptacle connector  210  can have the same pinout as primary receptacle connector  125  of  FIG. 1  but may have a different depth than receptacle connector  125 . For example, the distance between the contacts within receptacle connector  210  and the connector opening at the exterior of device  200  may be less than the distance between the contacts within receptacle connector  125  and the connector opening at the exterior of device  100  as described in more detail below. 
     For simplicity, various internal components, such as the control circuitry and other components are not shown in  FIG. 2 . Embodiments of the disclosure disclosed herein are suitable for use with plug connectors that are configured to mate with receptacle connector  210  to transmit and receive audio signals. Receptacle connector  210  may be used to physically interface and connect the accessory (as opposed to a wireless connection which can also be used) to host devices providing audio signals to headphones  200  and/or to provide electrical power to headphones  200  to operate the headphones or charge an internal battery (not shown). Although shown and described as headphones  200 , it is contemplated that any accessory may include an integrated receptacle connector  210  that may be used to physically interface and connect the accessory to a host device. For example, in other audio-based accessory embodiments, an accessory may include speakers, sound bars, and the like. In some embodiments, a wired audio-only receptacle connector  210  for audio-based accessories (e.g., headphones  200 ) may be useful for situations in which wireless transmissions are undesirable or prohibited, such as on an airplane. 
     Reference is now made to  FIG. 3 , which depicts a top view of a plug connector  300  that may be received in a host device, such as device  100  of  FIG. 1 . As shown, plug connector  300  may have eight electrical contact pins  305 ( 1 )- 305 ( 8 ) spaced apart in a single row in contact region  310  according to an embodiment of the disclosure. Similarly, eight electrical contact pins may be correspondingly spaced apart in a single row in a contact region on the bottom of the plug connector  300  (not shown). As used herein, the electrical contact pins may be referred to interchangeably as “contacts”. In some embodiments, however, one or more electrical contacts may be added or omitted on either side of plug connector  300  as discussed below with respect to  FIG. 10 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , plug connector  300  includes a body  315  and an insertion end  320  that extends longitudinally away from body  315  in a direction parallel to the length of the plug connector  300 . A cable may be attached to body  315  at an end opposite of insertion end  320 , as described further herein. 
     Insertion end  320  is sized to be inserted into a corresponding receptacle connector of a host device during a mating event. When insertion end  320  is inserted into a corresponding receptacle connector, body  315  abuts a housing of the receptacle connector or host device that the receptacle connector is incorporated in. In some embodiments, insertion end  320  is between 5-10 mm wide (W 1 ), between 1-3 mm thick and has a length (L 1 ) or an insertion depth (the distance from the connector tip  325  of the insertion end  320  to the body  315 ) of between 5-15 mm. Also in some embodiments, insertion end  320  has a length L 1  that is greater than its width W 1  which is greater than its thickness. In other embodiments, the length L 1  and width W 1  of insertion end  320  are within 1.0 mm of each other. In one particular embodiment, insertion end  320  is between 6-7 mm wide (W 1 ), 1-2 mm thick and has an insertion depth (L 1 ) of between 6-8 mm. 
     Insertion end  320  may further be sized and shaped to be inserted into a receptacle connector of an accessory device during a mating event. In embodiments in which the receptacle connector of the accessory device has an insertion cavity that is shallower than the insertion cavity of that of a host device, body  315  and a portion of the insertion end  320  may protrude from the housing of the receptacle connector or accessory device that the receptacle connector is incorporated in. Nevertheless, the electrical contact pins  305 ( 1 )- 305 ( 8 ) of the insertion end  320  may make electrical contact with and be electrically compatible with the shallower insertion cavity of the accessory device, as described further herein. 
     In some embodiments the structure and shape of insertion end  320  is defined by a ground ring  330  that can be made from stainless steel or another hard conductive material. In some embodiments ground ring  330  can include a flange portion or spine  350  (shown in  FIG. 7B ). Plug connector  300  can include retention mechanisms  335   a,    335   b  formed as curved pockets in the side of ground ring  330  that, in some embodiments, do not extend to the upper surface or lower surface of tab  320 . Within body  315  is a printed circuit board (PCB) that extends into ground ring  330  between contact region  310  and a corresponding contact region on the bottom of tab  320  (not shown) towards the distal tip of connector  300 . One or more integrated circuits (ICs), such as Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) chips can be operatively coupled to the PCB to provide information regarding connector  300  and any accessory or device that plug connector  300  is part of and/or to perform specific functions, such as authentication, identification, contact configuration and current or power regulation. 
     As an example, in one embodiment, an ID module is embodied within an IC operatively coupled to the contacts of plug connector  300 . The ID module can be programmed with identification and configuration information about the connector and/or its associated accessory that can be communicated to a host device during a mating event. As another example, an authentication module programmed to perform an authentication routine, for example a public key encryption routine, with circuitry on the host device can be embodied within an IC operatively coupled to the plug connector  300 . The ID module and authentication module can be embodied within the same IC or within different ICs. As still another example, in embodiments where plug connector  300  is part of a charging accessory, a current regulator can be embodied within one of the ICs. The current regulator can be operatively coupled to contacts that are ab le to deliver power to charge a battery in the host device and regulate current delivered over those contacts to ensure a constant current regardless of input voltage and even when the input voltage varies in a transitory manner. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , eight external contacts  305 ( 1 )- 305 ( 8 ) are spaced apart along a single row in contact region  310 . In some embodiments connector  300  is reversible and each contact in contact region  310  is electrically connected to a corresponding contact in a contact region on the opposite side of the connector  300  (not shown) that can be identical in size, shape and contact spacing to contact region  310 . Contacts  305 ( 1 )- 305 ( 8 ) can be used to carry a wide variety of signals including digital signals and analog signals as well as power and ground as previously discussed. In some embodiments, contacts  305 ( 1 )- 305 ( 8 ) includes at least one electrical contact pin configured to transmit audio signals and at least one electrical contact pin configured to transmit data. For example, contact  305 ( 1 ) may correspond to ground; contacts  305 ( 2 ) and  305 ( 3 ) may correspond to a first pair of data contacts (e.g., D+ and D− contacts); contact  305 ( 4 ) may correspond to an accessory identification contact; contact  305 ( 5 ) may correspond to main power; contacts  305 ( 6 ) and  305 ( 7 ) may correspond to a second pair of data contacts; and contact  305 ( 8 ) may correspond to accessory power. Some or all of these contacts may remain unused. In some embodiments, contacts  305 ( 1 )- 305 ( 8 ) are dimensioned and spaced apart in accordance with the pinout of a lightning connector developed by Apple Inc. 
     In one embodiment, and as shown in  FIG. 3 , each contact  305 ( 1 )- 305 ( 8 ) has an elongated upper contact surface. In some embodiments, the overall width of each contact is less than 1.0 mm at the surface, and in some embodiments, the width is between 0.75 mm and 0.25 mm. In some embodiments, a length of each contact  305 ( 1 )- 305 ( 8 ) is at least 3 times as long at the surface than its width, and in other embodiments, a length of each contact  305 ( 1 )- 305 ( 8 ) is at least 5 times as long at the surface than its width. Although shown and described as having eight contacts  305 ( 1 )- 305 ( 8 ), it is contemplated that any number of contacts may be included in contact region  310  and embodiments of the disclosure are not limited to any particular contact configuration. In other words, one or more of contacts  305 ( 1 )- 305 ( 8 ) may be omitted, or one or more additional contacts may be added or the contacts may be spaced apart differently than what is shown in  FIG. 3 . In addition, the contacts may conform to the same pinout standard as shown in  FIG. 3  but one or more of contacts  305 ( 1 )- 305 ( 8 ) may be omitted as discussed below with respect to  FIG. 10 . 
     Reference is now made to  FIG. 4 , which depicts a top view of a plug connector  400  that may be incorporated within an accessory, such as headphones  200  of  FIG. 2 . Plug connector  400  can be similar or identical to plug connector  300  in many aspects as evident by a comparison between the two figures. Additionally, and for convenience, elements in  FIG. 4  that are similar to elements in  FIG. 3  use the same tens and ones digits and only differ in the hundreds digit. Thus, as an example, the contacts and retention features of connector  400  (referenced as contacts  405 ( 1 )- 405 ( 8 ) and retention features  435   a,    435   b,  respectively) can be similar or identical to the contacts and retention features of connector  300   400  (referenced as contacts  305 ( 1 )- 305 ( 8 ) and retention features  335   a,    335   b,  respectively). Additionally, insertion end  420  of connector  400  can have the same width (W 1 ) and thickness as the insertion end  320  of connector  300  such that the cross-sectional views of the two insertion ends look similar or identical as shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B , which are front plan views of connectors  300  and  400 , respectively. Having essentially the same insertion end cross-section enables connector  300  and  400  to be inserted into the same receptacle connector. 
     One manner in which connector  400  differs from connector  300 , however, is in the length of the insertion end of each connector. As evident by a comparison between  FIGS. 3 and 4 , insertion end  420  is shorter than insertion end  320  (i.e., L 2  is less than L 1 ). As discussed in detail below, the shortened connector  400  cannot be operatively coupled to receptacle connectors (e.g., receptacle connector  125 ) that have an insertion cavity sized to accept a connector having a longer insertion end, such as connector  300 . Instead, a mechanical stop (e.g., body  415 ) on the shortened plug connector prevents insertion end  420  from being inserted into the cavity of the standard length receptacle connector at a depth at which the contacts of connector  400  reach and come into physical contact with the receptacle connector contacts. The converse is not true, however, as both the longer connector  300  and the shorter connector  400  can be operatively coupled to receptacle connectors (e.g., receptacle connector  210 ) that have an insertion cavity sized to accept a connector having the shorter insertion end, such as connector  400 . 
     Reference is now made to  FIG. 6 , which depicts a top view of a male-to-male cable connector  600  (i.e., an electrical connector that can connector two devices having appropriate receptacle connectors together such that the devices can exchange data or other signals) according to some embodiments of the disclosure. Cable connector  600  includes first and second male plug connectors  300  and  400  at opposite ends of a cable  650  where the insertion plug of connector  400  is shortened in length as compared to the insertion plug of connector  300 . For example, plug connector  300  has a length sufficient to mate with a receptacle connector of a host device (e.g., connector  125  in host device  100  of  FIG. 1 ) while plug connector  400  has a length that enables connector  400  to mate with a receptacle connector of an accessory (e.g., connector  210  of headphones  200  of  FIG. 2 ) but not with a receptacle connector of a host device (e.g., connector  125  in host device  100 ). 
     Cable  650  may be of any suitable length for transmitting signals between plug connector  300  and plug connector  400 . Cable  650  may include multiple insulated wires interconnecting corresponding contacts of plug connector  300  to contacts of plug connector  400 . For example, contact 1 of plug connector  300  may be operatively connected to contact 1 of plug connector  400 , contact 2 of plug connector  300  may be operatively connected to contact 2 of plug connector  400 , contact 3 of plug connector  300  may be operatively connected to contact 3 of plug connector  400 , etc. Cable  650  may further include one or more ground wires soldered to ground rings of plug connector  300  and plug connector  400  to provide a ground signal. 
     In some embodiments, cable connector  600  may be unidirectional since there is only one way in which the cable connector can be operatively coupled between a host device  100  and an accessory device  200 . Specifically, the different lengths of connectors  300  and  400  allow cable connector  600  to be operatively coupled to transfer data (e.g., audio data) and/or power between a host device having a standard depth receptacle connector and an accessory device having a shortened receptacle connector as long as the cable connector is connected such that shortened depth plug connector  400  is mated with the shortened receptacle connector of the accessory device and the standard length plug connector  300  is mated with the standard depth receptacle connector  400 . Cable connector  600  cannot, however, be used to electrically connect two devices that each have standard depth receptacle connectors (e.g., two host devices having receptacle connectors  125 ) as the shortened plug connector  400  cannot be operatively connected to the standard depth receptacle connector of either such device. 
     Since the physical layout of the pinout of standard length plug connector  300  and shortened plug connector  400  can be substantially the same or even identical, some users may erroneously believe that it is possible to transfer data, power, or other useful signals between two host devices (e.g., between two iPhones) by connecting one of the plug connectors  300 ,  400  to a first host device and connecting the other of the plug connectors to a second host device. The host devices, however, may not be designed to allow for such. By using different lengths for plug connector  300  and plug connector  400 , cable connector  600  is not capable of electrically connecting two host devices together. That is, the shortened connector  400  cannot be operatively coupled to receptacle connectors that have an insertion cavity sized to accept a connector having a longer insertion end, such as connector  300 . Instead, the body  315  of connector  400  contacts and abuts the housing of the device in which the receptacle connector is included preventing the contacts of connector  400  from mating with the contacts of the receptacle connector. 
     Furthermore, in some embodiments, receptacle connectors  125 ,  210  on the host and accessory devices can include retention mechanisms that latch with retention mechanisms on a plug connector. In such embodiments, the length of the shortened plug connector  400  of cable connector  600  can be sufficiently short that the retention mechanism of plug connector  400  does not engage with the retention mechanism of the standard host receptacle connector during a mating event and thus provides a user no mechanical feedback of a mating event and will simply fall out of the receptacle if moved. The standard length plug connector  300 , on the other hand, can be operatively connected to, and provide mechanical feedback via its retention mechanism, when mated with, either the shortened receptacle connector  210  or the standard receptacle connector  125 . 
     The unidirectional nature of cable connector  600  is further described below with respect to  FIGS. 7-9 . As part of the description, reference is first made to  FIG. 7A , which is a simplified illustration of plug connector  300  from cable connector  600  operatively coupled to a receptacle connector  700  of a host device according to some embodiments of the disclosure, and  FIG. 7B , which is a simplified cross-sectional view of connectors  300  and  700  shown in  FIG. 7A . Receptacle connector  700  can be representative of, for example, connector  125  of host device  100 . In  FIGS. 7A and 7B , plug connector  300  is fully inserted into the receptacle connector  700  of the host device. The receptacle connector  700  has interior dimensions defining an insertion cavity that are similar to the exterior dimensions of insertion end  320  of plug connector  300 . Thus, insertion end  320  is fully surrounded by the interior dimensions of the receptacle connector  700  of the host device. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7A , when insertion end  320  of plug connector  300  is fully inserted in receptacle connector  700  of the host device, retention mechanisms (not visible in  FIG. 7A ) of plug connector  300  are engaged by retention latches  705   a,    705   b  to hold insertion end  320  in place within receptacle connector  700 , and the electrical contacts of insertion end  320  are fully aligned with the electrical contacts of receptacle connector  700 . In other words, the electrical contacts of insertion end  320  and the corresponding electrical contacts of receptacle connector  700  (e.g., contact  712 ( 2 ) shown in  FIG. 7B ) are all centered about axis  715 , establishing electrical contact between corresponding contacts of plug connector  300  and contacts of receptacle connector  700  of the host device. Thus, the insertion end  320  of plug connector  300  are properly mated with and mechanically and electrically compatible with the receptacle connector  700 . Additionally, when insertion end  320  is fully inserted into the receptacle connector  700 , body  315  abuts a housing  710  of the receptacle connector. 
     The shortened plug connector  400  cannot be operatively coupled to receptacle connector  700 , however. Instead, the shortened insertion end  420  prevents connector  400  from being fully inserted into a host device that includes a standard depth receptacle connector, such as connector  700 . For example, reference is now made to  FIG. 8A , which depicts a top view of a shortened plug connector  400  that has been inserted into a standard depth receptacle connector  700  of a host device according to some embodiments of the disclosure, and  FIG. 8B , which is a simplified cross-sectional view of connectors  400  and  700  shown in  FIG. 8A . As described above, plug connector  400  is intended to be mated to an accessory having a shallower receptacle connector. Thus, when plug connector  400  is inserted into the receptacle connector  700  of the host device the greater interior length dimension of connector  700  prevents connector  400  from being operatively coupled to connector  700 . Instead, as shown in  FIGS. 8A and 8B , body  415  (although in other embodiments other types of mechanical stops can be employed instead) abuts a housing  710  of the receptacle connector limiting the depth at which connector  400  can be inserted within receptacle connector  700 . And, at its fully inserted depth, electrical contacts  405 ( 1 )- 405 ( 8 ) of connector  400  are not aligned with the corresponding electrical contacts of receptacle connector  700 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 8B , contact  405 ( 2 ) of connector  400  is not in physical or electrical contact with contact  712 ( 2 ) of connector  700 . Thus, electrical signals cannot be passed between the contacts of plug connector  400  and the contacts of receptacle connector  700 . The shorter length of plug connector  400  also prevents the retention mechanisms (not shown in  FIG. 8A or 8B ) of plug connector  400  from engaging with retention latches  705   a,    705   b  preventing connector  400  from being held in place within receptacle connector  700 . Thus, as shown in  FIGS. 8A and 8B , plug connector  400  is not mechanically compatible with the receptacle connector  700 . 
     As discussed above, some accessory devices can include a receptacle connector that has a shallower cavity in which to receive the plug connector than connector  700 . An example of such a connector is shown in  FIGS. 9A and 9B  where  FIG. 9A  depicts a top view of a standard length plug connector  300  mated to a receptacle connector  900  of an accessory according to some embodiments of the disclosure and  FIG. 9B  is a simplified cross-sectional view of connectors  400  and  700  shown in  FIG. 8A . Receptacle connector  900  may be a shallow receptacle connector (i.e., a receptacle connector configured for mating with the plug connector  400 ) that can be mated with (and is mechanically and electrically compatible with) both plug connector  300  and plug connector  400 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 9A and 9B , plug connector  300  has been fully inserted into and operatively coupled with receptacle connector  900 . The receptacle connector  900  has interior dimensions defining an insertion cavity  902  that are similar to the exterior dimensions of insertion end  420  of plug connector  400 , but that is then shallower than the length of insertion end  320  of plug connector  300 . Thus, when plug connector  300  is mated with receptacle connector  900 , the insertion end  320  protrudes from the receptacle connector  900  as shown in  FIGS. 9A, 9B  such that body  315  is spaced apart from housing  910  of the receptacle connector, which can be at an exterior surface of the accessory that connector  900  is formed within, by a distance X. 
     When the two connectors are mated, the electrical contacts of connector  300  are fully aligned with the electrical contacts of receptacle connector  900 . In other words, the electrical contacts  305 ( 1 )- 305 ( 8 ) carried by insertion end  320  and the corresponding electrical contacts of receptacle connector  900  all have contact surfaces aligned along axis  915  enabling physical and electrical contact between corresponding contacts of plug connector  300  and contacts of receptacle connector  900  of the accessory. For example, as shown in  FIG. 9B , contact  305 ( 2 ) of connector  300  is in electrical contact with contact  912 ( 2 ) of connector  900 . Thus, connector  300  is mechanically and electrically compatible with receptacle connector  900 . 
     While not shown in the figures, when plug connector  400  is mated with receptacle connector  900 , body  415  of connector abuts housing  910  of the receptacle connector in a manner similar to that shown in  FIG. 7B  where body  315  abuts a housing  710  of receptacle connector  700 . Additionally, when plug connector  400  and receptacle connector  900  are mated, contacts  405 ( 1 )- 405 ( 8 ) align with corresponding contacts of receptacle connector  900  just as contacts  305 ( 1 )- 305 ( 8 ) align with corresponding contacts of receptacle connector  700 , and the retention mechanisms of plug connector  300  are engaged by retention latches  905   a,    905   b  of receptacle connector  900  to hold connector  400  in place within the receptacle connector. 
     In some instances, the connection of a standard length plug connector  300  to a shortened receptacle connector  900  may be improper. In such an example, it would be evident to a user inserting the plug connector  300  into the shallow receptacle connector that the two connectors have different physical characteristics. For example, if plug connector  300  is 1 mm in length longer than the insertion cavity of the receptacle connector  900 , then plug connector  300  would protrude from the insertion cavity by 1 mm, and the body of the plug connector  300  would not abut the housing of the shallow receptacle connector. Although the contacts may make electrical contact, mating plug connector  300  with receptacle connector  900  may cause an error. For example, an error may occur if a user attempts to use plug connector  300  to transfer data from a host device to receptacle connector  900 , which may not support data transfer. 
     As mentioned above, in some embodiments a plug connector can be operatively coupled to (i.e., is mechanically and electrically compatible with) a receptacle connector even though the two connectors have a different number of contacts. As one example,  FIG. 10  depicts a plug connector  1000  that has five contacts  1005 ( 1 ),  1005 ( 2 ),  1005 ( 3 ),  1005 ( 4 ) and  1005 ( 8 ) that are spaced apart along a single row in contact region  1010 . In some embodiments connector  1000  is reversible and each contact in contact region  1010  is electrically connected to a corresponding contact in a contact region on the opposite side of the connector  1000  (not shown). Contacts  1005 ( 1 )- 1005 ( 8 ) can conform to the same pinout requirements (e.g., contact spacing, size and signal type) as contacts  305 ( 1 )- 305 ( 8 ) discussed above with respect to  FIG. 3  or contacts  405 ( 1 )- 405 ( 8 ) discussed above with respect to  FIG. 4  with the primary difference between connector  1000  and the other connectors being that connector  1000  does not include contacts at contact positions 5, 6 or 7. For example, the device that connector  1000  is part of may not need to those pins for operation. In other embodiments, contacts at different positions can be excluded from the pinout in contact region  1010 . Thus, plug connector  1000  can be operatively coupled to either receptacle connector  700  or receptacle connector  900  the same as plug connector  300 . 
     The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, used specific nomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the described embodiments. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the specific details are not required in order to practice the described embodiments. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of the specific embodiments described herein are presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not taught to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the precise forms disclosed. For example, it is contemplated that a USB connector may additionally or alternatively be implemented in conjunction with any or all of the above connectors or connector assemblies. In addition, it is contemplated that the audio-only connectors described herein may alternatively be data-only or power-only connectors. Further, also shown and described with respect to a certain type of plug connector (e.g., an Apple® lightning connector), it is contemplated that embodiments of the disclosure may be implemented with respect to any type of plug connector. As another example, it is contemplated that the “host device” and “accessory device” described herein may be swapped, may pertain to other devices, may pertain to the same device, and/or may pertain to different devices. It will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. 
     Also, while a number of specific embodiments are disclosed with specific features, a person of skill in the art may recognize instances where the features of one embodiments can be combined with the features of another embodiment. For example, some specific embodiments of the disclosure set forth above are illustrated with pockets as retention features. A person of skill in the art may appreciate that any other retention features may be used instead of or in addition to the pockets. Also, those skilled in the art may recognize, or be able to ascertain, many equivalents to the specific embodiments of the disclosure described herein. Such equivalents are intended to be encompassed by the following claims.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20170824
Publication Date: 20190205
Grant Date: 20190205
Priority Date: 20160906
Inventors: Soohoo, Eric T.
BOYD, ROBERT A.
WAGMAN, Daniel C.
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "H01R13/405", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R29/00", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R24/20", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/6658", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R12/7076", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R2107/00", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R24/62", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R24/62", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R12/75", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R12/724", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R24/28", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R2107/00", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R2107/00", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R29/00", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R24/62", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R24/20", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/6658", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/405", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R12/7076", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R12/75", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R24/28", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R12/724", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 61281396