PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-8317542-B2
Application Number: US-89443710-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: High-speed card connector

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.

Claims:
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 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 a bottom of 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, the shield holding the card in place when the card is inserted into the connector. 
 
     
     
       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 forms an electrical connection with a contact on the top of the card. 
     
     
       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 contacts, each having:
 a first portion extending away from the front surface of the 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 contacts extends beyond a front of the 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, each having:
 a first portion extending away from the front surface of the 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 contacts extends beyond a front of the 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:
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 using 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. 
     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; and 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a bottom 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. 
     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, 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 , contacts  120 , and shields  130 , 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: 20100930
Publication Date: 20121127
Grant Date: 20121127
Priority Date: 20100930
Inventors: ABRAHAM EUAN
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "H05K5/13", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R12/73", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/6582", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K5/0217", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R12/73", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1662", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "Y10T29/49002", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/187", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R12/7082", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1658", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "Y10T29/49002", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "F16B41/005", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1684", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1616", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R12/721", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/6582", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R12/721", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R12/7082", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "F16B35/06", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/181", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 44800259