PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-9825410-B2
Application Number: US-201615260271-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: High-speed connector system

Abstract:
Connector receptacles, examples of which comprise a housing having a first plurality of slots in a top side and a second plurality of slots in a bottom side, a top row of contacts positioned in the first plurality of slots in the housing, a bottom row of contacts positioned in the second plurality of slots in the housing, a top shell portion over the top of the housing, the top shell portion comprising first and second electromagnetic contacts extending from a front of the top shell and passing through openings in the top side of the housing, and a bottom shell portion under the bottom of the housing, the bottom shell portion comprising third and fourth electromagnetic contacts extending from a front of the bottom shell and passing through openings in the bottom side of the housing.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electronic device comprising:
 a connector receptacle comprising:
 a housing having a first plurality of slots and a first opening in a top side and a second plurality of slots and a second opening in a bottom side; 
 a first plurality of contacts at least partially surrounded by a first contact housing portion, the first plurality of contacts positioned in the first plurality of slots in the housing; 
 a second plurality of contacts at least partially surrounded by a second contact housing portion, the second plurality of contacts positioned in the second plurality of slots in the housing, wherein the first plurality of contacts form a top row of contacts to receive signals for a universal-serial-bus (USB) 3.0 interface and the second plurality of contacts form a bottom row of contacts to receive signals for a universal-serial-bus (USB) 2.0 interface; 
 a top shell portion over the top side of the housing, the top shell portion comprising a first electromagnetic contact extending from a front of the top shell portion and passing through the first opening in the top side of the housing; and 
 a bottom shell portion under the bottom side of the housing, the bottom shell portion comprising a second electromagnetic contact extending from a front of the bottom shell portion and passing through the second opening in the bottom side of the housing; 
 
 a plurality of switches coupled to the top row of contacts; and 
 a plurality of multiplexers coupled to the bottom row of contacts. 
 
     
     
       2. The electronic device of  claim 1 , further comprising a mounting surface where the connector receptacle is attached to the mounting surface and a device enclosure for the electronic device. 
     
     
       3. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the top shell portion is formed using a deep-drawn process. 
     
     
       4. The electronic device of  claim 1 , further comprising a U-shaped bracket having contacting portions at each end, wherein contacting portions of the U-shaped bracket are located in side openings in the housing. 
     
     
       5. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein when USB 2.0 signals are present, the plurality of switches are open. 
     
     
       6. The electronic device of  claim 5 , further comprising a first power supply to provide power when USB 2.0 signals are present and a second power supply to provide power when USB 3.0 signals are present. 
     
     
       7. The electronic device of  claim 6 , wherein the multiplexers are configured to selectively reverse an order of signals received on the bottom row of contacts. 
     
     
       8. The electronic device of  claim 7 , further comprising a USB 3.0 controller coupled to the plurality of switches. 
     
     
       9. The electronic device of  claim 7 , further comprising a USB 3.0 controller, wherein the plurality of switches are coupled between the top row of contacts and the USB 3.0 controller. 
     
     
       10. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the housing further comprises a third opening in the top side and a fourth opening in the bottom side, the top shell portion further comprises a third electromagnetic contact extending from a front of the top shell portion and passing through the third opening in the top side of the housing, and the bottom shell portion further comprises a fourth electromagnetic contact extending from a front of the bottom shell portion and passing through the fourth opening in the bottom side of the housing. 
     
     
       11. The electronic device of  claim 10 , wherein the first, second, third, and fourth electromagnetic contacts are folded back at least 180 degrees. 
     
     
       12. An electronic device comprising:
 a connector receptacle comprising:
 a housing having a first plurality of slots in a top side and a second plurality of slots in a bottom side; 
 a top row of contacts positioned in the first plurality of slots in the housing; 
 a bottom row of contacts positioned in the second plurality of slots in the housing, where the top row of contacts receives signals for a universal-serial-bus (USB) 3.0 interface and the bottom row of contacts receives signals for a universal-serial-bus (USB) 2.0 interface; 
 a top shell portion over the top side of the housing, the top shell portion comprising first and second electromagnetic contacts extending from a front of the top shell portion and passing through corresponding openings in the top side of the housing; and 
 a bottom shell portion under the bottom side of the housing, the bottom shell portion comprising third and fourth electromagnetic contacts extending from a front of the bottom shell portion and passing through corresponding openings in the bottom side of the housing; 
 
 a plurality of switches coupled to the top row of contacts; and 
 a plurality of multiplexers coupled to the bottom row of contacts. 
 
     
     
       13. The electronic device of  claim 12 , wherein the first, second, third, and fourth electromagnetic contacts are folded back approximately 180 degrees. 
     
     
       14. The electronic device of  claim 12 , wherein when USB 2.0 signals are present, the plurality of switches are open. 
     
     
       15. The electronic device of  claim 12 , further comprising a first power supply to provide power when USB 2.0 signals are present and a second power supply to provide power when USB 3.0 signals are present. 
     
     
       16. The electronic device of  claim 12 , wherein the multiplexers are configured to selectively reverse an order of signals received on the bottom row of contacts. 
     
     
       17. The electronic device of  claim 12 , further comprising a USB 3.0 controller, wherein the plurality of switches are coupled between the top row of contacts and the USB 3.0 controller. 
     
     
       18. The electronic device of  claim 12 , further comprising a mounting surface where the connector receptacle is attached to the mounting surface and a device enclosure for the electronic device.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application Nos. 62/215,573, filed Sep. 8, 2015, and 62/254,145, filed Nov. 11, 2015, which are incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The number and types of electronic devices available to consumers have increased tremendously the past few years, and this increase shows no signs of abating. Devices such as portable computing devices, tablet, desktop, and all-in-one computers, cell, smart, and media phones, storage devices, portable media players, navigation systems, monitors and other devices have become ubiquitous. 
     These devices often receive and provide power and data using various cable assemblies. These cable assemblies may include connector inserts, or plugs, on one or more ends of a cable. The connector inserts may plug into connector receptacles on electronic devices, thereby forming one or more conductive paths for signals and power. 
     The connector receptacles may be formed of housings that typically at least partially surround and provide mechanical support for contacts. These contacts may be arranged to mate with corresponding contacts on the connector inserts to form portions of electrical paths between devices. These connector receptacles may be attached or otherwise fixed to device enclosures that surround an electronic device. These enclosures may be highly stylized for both aesthetic and functional reasons. For example, portions of the device enclosures may be sloped, curved, or have other non-orthogonal shapes. These enclosures may also be thin or narrow. 
     The curvature or size of these enclosures may make it difficult to fit a connector receptacle to the enclosure. Moreover, a resulting connector receptacle may be difficult to assemble. It may also be difficult to achieve high speeds with such connector receptacles. 
     The connector inserts may include contacts to mate with corresponding contacts on the connector receptacles. It may also be difficult to achieve high speeds with connector inserts. 
     Thus, what is needed are connector receptacles that may have a desired form factor to fit in a stylized device enclosure. It may also be desirable that these connector receptacles and corresponding connector inserts are also capable of high-speed performance. It may also be desirable to have circuitry associated with the connector inserts and connector receptacles that support these high speeds. 
     SUMMARY 
     Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention may provide connector receptacles that may have a desired form factor to fit in a stylized device enclosure. These stylized connector receptacles and corresponding connector inserts may also be capable of high-speed performance. Embodiments of the present invention may also provide circuitry for these connector inserts and connector receptacles that support these high speeds. 
     An illustrative embodiment of the present invention may provide a connector receptacle for use in enclosures that may be highly stylized for either or both aesthetic and functional reasons. This connector receptacle may include a housing having a top cover or shell portion having a raised portion to accept a connector insert. The top shell portion may taper to a lower portion where the connector receptacle may narrow to allow for the placement of other components in the electronic device. The connector receptacle may further include a housing having a lower row of contacts and an upper row of contacts. The upper row may include a step-down portion that allows the top shell portion to taper to a lower portion. 
     Another illustrative embodiment of the present invention may provide a connector receptacle that is capable of high-speeds. The top row of contacts may be held together using a first housing portion and the bottom row of contacts may be held together using a second housing portion. The first housing portion and the second housing portion may be secured to the housing using various interlocking features. These housing portions may secure the contacts in place relative to the housing. This arrangement may stand in contrast to convention connector receptacles where barbs are inserted into a housing to secure contacts in place relative to the housing. These barbs may form high-frequency stubs that may degrade signal integrity. By omitting these barbs, the performance of the connector receptacle at high frequency may be improved. Also, the top row of contacts may include a step-down portion as described above. This step down portion may include a step that transitions over a length of the contact in order to avoid sharp corners, which again may degrade signal integrity. By omitting these sharp corners, the performance of the connector receptacle at high frequency may be further improved. 
     Another illustrative embodiment of the present invention may provide a connector receptacle that is readily manufactured. The top shell portion may be joined to a bottom shell portion. The top shell portion and the bottom shell portion may each include electromagnetic interference (EMI) contacts extending from a front edge of the respective shell portion. These EMI contacts may make electrical contact with a shell or housing on a corresponding connector insert when the connector insert is inserted into the connector receptacle. 
     Another illustrative embodiment of the present invention may provide a connector insert that may be capable of high-speed performance. The form-factor of this connector insert may be the same or similar as a Lightning™ connector. In convention connector inserts, the pin-to-pin or contact-to-contact capacitance may reduce signal line impedance at high frequencies. This reduction in impedance may attenuate high-frequency components of signals being conveyed through the connector insert. The loss of these high-frequency components may slow edges of the signals and may degrade signal performance. Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention may provide connector inserts having a reduced contact-to-contact capacitance. 
     The contact geometries in a connector insert may be difficult to change. For example, the spacing between contacts may be difficult to increase since that would increase the width of the connector insert and the corresponding connector receptacle. A length of a contact may need to have a certain length to provide a sufficient wiping force during insertion and extraction. Also, the length and width may be fixed due to a specification in order to maintain interoperability. Instead of changing these geometries, an illustrative embodiment of the present invention may provide a connector insert having a lower dielectric constant for the material between contacts. This lower dielectric constant may reduce the contact-to-contact capacitance and improve the impedance of the signal contacts at high frequencies. 
     In an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, an air gap may be provided between adjacent contacts. This air gap may have a dielectric constant of approximately 1.0. In other embodiments of the present invention, an optional polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) gasket or tape layer may be placed between contacts. This PTFE layer may have a dielectric constant of approximately 2.0, which again may reduce the contact-to-contact capacitance and improve impedance of the signal contacts at high frequencies. 
     In an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, the air gap may be provided by a molded contact puck. A top molded contact puck may be placed on a top surface of a printed circuit board in a top side opening of a housing for the connector insert. The contact puck may have passages for contacts. The molded contact puck may have a rib that contacts a top surface of a printed circuit board and seals an air gap between adjacent contacts. The contacts and molded contact puck may be over-molded. The over-mold may be blocked by the rib such that the air gap is maintained. This process may be the same for a bottom molded contact puck. 
     Another illustrative embodiment of the present invention may provide circuitry for a connector receptacle. In general, the connector receptacle may include a top row of contacts for a universal serial bus 3.0 (USB 3.0) interface and the bottom row of contacts for a USB 2.0 interface. Circuitry for USB 3.0 signals may be connected to the top row of contacts and circuitry for USB 2.0 signals may be connected to the bottom row of contacts. When a connection to a USB 3.0 device is made, USB 3.0 signals may be present on the top row of the contacts and the bottom row of contacts may be used for the USB 2.0 signals that are part of a USB 3.0 interface. When a connection to a USB 2.0 device is made, USB 2.0 signals may be present on both the top row of the contacts and the bottom row of the contacts. The USB 2.0 interface may be a lightning or other type of interface. Accordingly, the connector receptacle may have a physical form factor that is similar to a lightning connector receptacle and may accept lightning connector inserts. When a USB 3.0 device is connected, a dongle that receives a USB 3.0 connector insert and provides a connector insert having a lightning form factor may be used. The dongle may include a plurality of multiplexers, an ID chip, and an authentication chip, which may be combined with the ID chip, the multiplexers, or both. In other embodiments of the invention, one or more of these circuits may be included in an accessory device. The accessory device may include a connection supporting USB 3.0 but having the lightning form factor. 
     In general, lightning connector inserts have the same contacts on a top side of a tongue as on a bottom side of the tongue. Since USB 2.0 signals may be present on the top row of contacts when a USB 2.0 connection is made, the USB 2.0 signals may be provided to the USB 3.0 circuits. This may cause the USB 2.0 signals to be routed an extra distance, which may create stubs in the signal path that may degrade high-frequency performance. Accordingly, a plurality of switches may be provided near the top row of contacts. These switches may open thereby disconnecting the top row of contacts from the USB 3.0 circuits when USB 2.0 signals are being received to improve signal integrity of the USB 2.0 signals. When the switches are closed for USB 3.0 signals, the top row of contacts may be connected to a USB 3.0 controller. When a connector insert is removed from the connector receptacle, the removal may be detected and the switches may open, thereby protecting the USB 3.0 controller from transients on the top row of connector receptacle contacts. 
     This connector receptacle may be able to connect to and power either USB 2.0 or USB 3.0 accessories. Accordingly, an illustrative embodiment of the present invention may provide power circuitry such that power may be provided to either USB 2.0 or USB 3.0 accessories. In these and other embodiments of the present invention, a first power source may provide power to a USB 2.0 accessory. When power for a USB 3.0 accessory is needed, a second power source may replace or may be added to the first power source. In these and other embodiments of the present invention, power may also be received at the connector receptacle. In these and other embodiments of the present invention, power may be received at a first contact and provided at a second contact at the same time. 
     In these and other embodiments of the present invention, a connector insert that may be plugged into this connector receptacle may be rotatable. Since the connector insert that plugs into this connector receptacle is rotatable, the cable may include circuitry to ensure that USB 3.0 signals are always received at the top row of contacts in the connector receptacle and that USB 2.0 signals are always received at the top and bottom rows of contacts in the connector receptacle. 
     A plurality of multiplexers may be connected in the device to the bottom row of contacts of the connector receptacle. A controller circuit or other circuitry associated with the multiplexers may communicate with controllers in the cable insert that plugs into this connector receptacle. A top row controller may be associated with a top row of contacts in the connector insert and a bottom row controller may be associated with a bottom row of contacts in the connector insert. When a USB 3.0 device is connected and the bottom row controller in the connector insert is able to communicate with the multiplexer controller, the bottom row controller determines that the connector insert is inserted into the connector receptacle in a straight or non-rotated configuration, that is, the connector insert is not rotated. When a USB 3.0 device is connected and the top row controller in the connector insert is able to communicate with the multiplexer controller, the top row controller determines that the connector insert is inserted into the connector receptacle in a rotated configuration. The top row controller may then instruct a crossbar in the connector insert to flip and mirror the signal connections to the contacts of the connector insert. This effectively rotates the connector insert and places the USB 3.0 signals on the top row of contacts of the connector receptacle and the USB 2.0 signals on the bottom row of contacts of the connector receptacle. 
     When a USB 2.0 device, such as a lightning device, is connected, the top and bottom signal contacts in the connector insert may be shorted together in one of at least two patterns. The USB 2.0 or lightning signals may then be received on both the top row and bottom row of contacts in the connector receptacle. The switches connected to the top row of contacts may open. The multiplexer controller circuit may either pass the USB 2.0 or lightning signals through unchanged if the connector insert is not rotated, or may reorder the USB 2.0 or lightning signals received on the bottom row of contacts of the connector receptacle if the connector insert is rotated. 
     In various embodiments of the present invention, the components of the connector receptacles and connector inserts may be formed in various ways of various materials. For example, contacts and other conductive portions may be formed by stamping, metal-injection molding, machining, micro-machining, 3-D printing, or other manufacturing process. The conductive portions may be formed of stainless steel, steel, copper, copper titanium, phosphor bronze, or other material or combination of materials. They may be plated or coated with nickel, gold, or other material. The nonconductive portions, such as the receptacle housings, contact pucks, and other portions, may be formed using injection or other molding, 3-D printing, machining, or other manufacturing process. The nonconductive portions may be formed of silicon or silicone, Mylar, Mylar tape, rubber, hard rubber, plastic, nylon, elastomers, liquid-crystal polymers (LCPs), ceramics, or other nonconductive material or combination of materials. 
     Embodiments of the present invention may provide connector receptacles and connector inserts that may be located in, and may connect to, various types of devices, such as portable computing devices, tablet computers, desktop computers, laptops, all-in-one computers, wearable computing devices, cell phones, smart phones, media phones, storage devices, keyboards, covers, cases, portable media players, navigation systems, monitors, power supplies, adapters, remote control devices, chargers, and other devices. These connector receptacles and connector inserts may provide pathways for signals that are compliant with various standards such as Universal Serial Bus (USB), High-Definition Multimedia Interface® (HDMI), Digital Visual Interface (DVI), Ethernet, DisplayPort, Thunderbolt™, Lightning, Joint Test Action Group (JTAG), test-access-port (TAP), Directed Automated Random Testing (DART), universal asynchronous receiver/transmitters (UARTs), clock signals, power signals, and other types of standard, non-standard, and proprietary interfaces and combinations thereof that have been developed, are being developed, or will be developed in the future. In various embodiments of the present invention, these interconnect paths provided by these connector receptacles and connector inserts may be used to convey power, ground, signals, test points, and other voltage, current, data, or other information. 
     Various embodiments of the present invention may incorporate one or more of these and the other features described herein. A better understanding of the nature and advantages of the present invention may be gained by reference to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an electronic system according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a portion of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is under side view of the connector receptacle of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a rear view of the connector receptacle of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates an exploded view of the connector receptacle of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a connector insert according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  illustrates an exploded view of a connector insert according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a close-up view of an exploded portion of a connector insert according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a close-up view of a contact puck according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  illustrates a bottom side view of a contact puck according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 12  illustrates bottom and side views of a molded contact puck supporting a number of contacts according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 13  illustrates a connector insert according to an embodiment of the present invention before and after an over-mold procedure has taken place; 
         FIG. 14  illustrates a side view of a connector insert according to an embodiment of the present invention before and after an over-mold procedure; 
         FIG. 15  illustrates another contact puck according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 16  illustrates connector receptacle circuitry according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 17  illustrates the names of contacts that may be used for a receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 18  illustrates circuitry for a dongle that may provide signals of a USB 3.0 interface onto a connector insert having a lightning connector insert form factor according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 19  illustrates the dongle of  FIG. 18  inserted into a connector receptacle in a non-rotated position according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 20  illustrates the dongle of  FIG. 18  inserted into a connector receptacle in a rotated position according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 21  illustrates a lightning connector insert that may be inserted into a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 22  illustrates the connector insert of  FIG. 21  inserted into a connector receptacle in a non-rotated position according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 23  illustrates the operation of multiplexers in a connector receptacle circuit according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 24  illustrates the connector insert of  FIG. 21  inserted into a connector receptacle in a rotated position according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 25  illustrates the operation of multiplexers in a connector receptacle circuit according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 26  illustrates another lightning connector insert that may be inserted into a connector receptacle according to embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG. 27  illustrates the connector insert of  FIG. 26  inserted into a connector receptacle in a non-rotated position according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 28  illustrates the operation of multiplexers in a connector receptacle circuit according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 29  illustrates the connector insert of  FIG. 26  inserted into a connector receptacle in a rotated position according to an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 30  illustrates the operation of multiplexers in a connector receptacle circuit according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an electronic system according to an embodiment of the present invention. This figure, as with the other included figures, is shown for illustrative purposes and does not limit either the possible embodiments of the present invention or the claims. 
     In this example, host device  110  may be connected to accessory device  120  in order to share data, power, or both. Specifically, connector receptacle  112  on host device  110  may be electrically connected to connector receptacle  122  on accessory device  120 . Connector receptacle  112  on host device  110  may be electrically connected to connector receptacle  122  on accessory device  120  via cable  130  and connector inserts  132  and  134 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a portion of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention. This figure illustrates connector receptacle  112  in a housing or enclosure  296  for an electronic device. The electronic device may be an electronic device such as host  110  or accessory  120  in  FIG. 1 . The receptacle may be a receptacle such as receptacle  112  in host  110  or receptacle  122  in accessory  120  in  FIG. 1 . 
     Connector receptacle  112  may be in device enclosure  296 . An opening (not shown) of connector receptacle  112  may be available at a front of enclosure  296 . A corresponding connector insert may be inserted into the opening of connector receptacle  112 . Connector receptacle  112  may include a top shell portion  210 . Top shell portion  210  may have a tapered portion leading to a raised surface  219 . Raised surface  219  may provide a wider opening for a connector insert while the narrower remaining portion of connector receptacle  112  may provide space for a second electronic component. This second electronic component may be a transceiver, a processor, a user actuated interface such as a button, or other electrical component. 
     Connector receptacle  112  may be attached to mounting surface  290 . Front screws  292  may secure top shell portion  210  to mounting surface  290 . Rear screws  294  may pass through the top shell portion  210  and mounting surface  290 , and be threaded into standoffs attached to device enclosure  296 . This may secure receptacle  112  and mounting surface  290  to device enclosure  296 . Mounting surface  290  may further be glued to an inside surface of device enclosure  296 . Conductive foam (not shown) or other pliant and conductive pieces may be located between mounting surface  290  and the second component. The second component may include a shield or other conductive structure to attach to the conductive foam. The shield or other conductive structure for the second component may be grounded directly or indirectly to device enclosure  296 . 
     When a connector insert is inserted into connector receptacle  112 , it may be desirable to form a ground path between top shell portion  210  and a conductive housing or shell of the connector insert. Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention may provide EMI contacts  212  that may extend from a front of top shell portion  210 . EMI contacts  212  may fit in openings  244  in a housing for connector receptacle  112 . When a connector insert is inserted into connector receptacle  112 , EMI contacts  212  may electrically connect to a shell or housing of the connector insert. In these in other embodiments of the present invention, a similar configuration for a bottom shell portion (not shown) may be employed. Further details of connector receptacle  112  are shown in the following figures. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention. Connector receptacle  112  may include top shell portion  210  and bottom shell portion  280 . Top shell portion  210  and bottom shell portion  280  may be spot or laser welded together at points  510 . Connector receptacle  112  may include opening  310  which may accept a corresponding connector insert. Contacts  260  may be accessible at front opening  310 . EMI contacts  212  may extend from a front of top shell portion  210 . Top shell portion  210  may include openings  214  for accepting fasteners  294  as shown in  FIG. 2 . Top shell portion  210  and bottom shell portion  280  may include openings  217  for accepting fasteners  292  as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 4  is under side view of the connector receptacle of  FIG. 3 . Again, connector receptacle  112  may include a top shell portion  210  and a bottom shell portion  280 . Portions of contacts  260  and  230  may be exposed at an underside of connector receptacle  112 . These contacts may terminate in surface mount contacting portions as shown. In other embodiments of the present invention, contacts  230  and  260  may terminate in through-hole contacting portions, or they may terminate in a mix of surface-mount and through-hole contacting portions. Top shell portion  210  may include tabs  218 . Tabs  218  may be inserted into corresponding openings in a printed circuit board or other appropriate substrate. These tabs may be soldered to ground in this way. Top shell portion  210  may be electrically connected to a latch (shown below) by spot or laser welding at points  410 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a rear view of the connector receptacle of  FIG. 3 . As before, top shell portion  210  may have a tapered portion leading to raised portion  219 . EMI contacts  212  may extend from a front of top shell portion  210 . Top shell portion  210  may include tabs  218 . Surface mount contact portions of contacts  230  may emerge from an underside of connector receptacle  112 . Top shell portion  210  and bottom shell portion  280  may be connected together by spot or laser welding at points  510 . Top shell portion  210  and a latch may be connected by spot or laser welding at points  410 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates an exploded view of the connector receptacle of  FIG. 3 . Top shell portion  210  may have a tapered portion leading to a raised portion  219 . EMI contacts  212  may emerge from a front portion of top shell portion  210 . Top shell portion  210  may include openings  214  and  217  for accepting fasteners which may secure her connector receptacle  112  to a device enclosure as shown in  FIG. 2 . Top shell portion  210  may be formed by printing, machining, by using a deep drawn process, by stamping, or by other techniques. Housing  240  may include a number of top slots  242  and a number of bottom slots (not shown.) Contacts  230  may be at least partially surrounded by housing portion  232 , while contacts  260  and  264  may be at least partially surrounded by housing portion  262 . Contacts  230  may be placed in slots  242  in housing  240 . Contacts  260  may be inserted into slots (not shown) in a bottom of housing  240 . Housing portions  232  and  262  and housing  240  may include interlocking features which may secure the three housing portions together. Latch  250  may be inserted in a rear of housing  240 . Latch  250  may include contacting portions  252  that may be located in side openings (not shown) of housing  240  for mating with sides of a connector insert when the connector insert is inserted into this connector receptacle. Bottom shell portion  280  may be attached to top shell portion  210  as described above. Bottom shell portion  280  may include extensions  284  having openings  286  to align to openings  217  in top shell portion  210 . EMI contacts  282  may emerge from a front portion of bottom shell portion  280 . Insulating layers  220  and  270  may isolate contacts  230  and  260  from top shell portion  210  and bottom shell portion  280  respectively. Insulating layers  220  and  270  may be tape, such as Kapton tape or other type of tape or insulating material such that contacts  230  and  260  do not electrically contact top shell portion  210  or bottom shell portion  280  during device use. 
     Again, top shell portion  210  may include a tapered portion leading to raised portion  219 . Raised portion  219  may provide a sufficiently wide opening to receive a corresponding connector insert. By having a narrower, rear portion, space may be made available for a second component. This step down may require a similar step down in the shape of contacts  230 . However, it may be undesirable to have sharp corners on contacts  230 . Such sharp corners may be generate EMI and the degrade signal quality. Accordingly, contacts  230  may have a relatively smooth curvature to them leading to a step down corresponding to the step down in top shell portion  210 . 
     Moreover, contacts  230  and  260  may not need to include barbs or other features, which may often be used to facilitate insertion of the contacts into housing  240 . Instead, housing portions  232  and  262  may be used to secure contacts  230  and  260  to housing  240 . Housing portions  232  and  262  may include interlocking features that may secure housing portions  232  and  262  to housing  240 . 
     Again, EMI contacts  212  and  282  may be formed as part of top shield  210  and bottom shield  280 , respectively. These EMI contacts  212  and  282  may pass through openings  244  in housing  240  and may contact a shell or shield of a connector insert when the connector insert is inserted into connector receptacle  112 . This may simplify the manufacture of EMI contacts  212  and  282  and improve the manufacturability of connector receptacle  112 . 
     The shape of contacts  230  and the presence of EMI contacts  212  and  282  may improve high-frequency performance of connector receptacle  112 . Other techniques may be used to improve the high-frequency performance of connector inserts, such as connector insert  132 , which may be inserted into connector receptacle  112 . Examples are shown in the following figures. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a connector insert according to an embodiment of the present invention. The form-factor of this connector insert may be the same or similar as a Lightning connector. Connector insert  132  may include a printed circuit board  710  located in housing  720 . Housing  720  may be conductive. A number of components  712  may be located on printed circuit board  710 . Components  712  may be over-molded to form one or more structures  714 . Contacts  730  may be located in a top side opening in housing  720 . Contacts  730  may be located in a nonconductive over-mold portion  740 . Side retention features  722  may be located on sides of housing  720 . 
     It may be desirable to reduce the contact-to-contact capacitance between contacts  730  in order to improve the high-frequency performance of connector insert  132 . If the contact-to-contact capacitance is excessive, the capacitance may provide a reduced impedance at high frequencies. Accordingly, high-frequency components of signals being conveyed on contacts  730  may be attenuated. This attenuation of frequency signal components may degrade the integrity of signals using connector insert  132 . 
     Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention may reduce the contact-to-contact capacitance between contacts  730 . An embodiment of the present invention may achieve this by providing an air gap between adjacent contacts  730 . This air gap may have a dielectric constant of 1.0, which may lead to a reduced contact-to-contact capacitance. In other embodiments of the present invention, an optional layer, such as a PTFE layer having a dielectric constant of 2.0 may be used to reduce the contact-to-contact capacitance. In various embodiments of the present invention, the PTFE layer may be impregnated with air to further reduce its dielectric constant. An exploded view of such a connector insert is shown in the following figure. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates an exploded view of a connector insert according to an embodiment of the present invention. Connector insert  132  may include a printed circuit board  710  having a number of printed contacts  716 . Printed contacts and  16  may electrically connect to contacts in a top side opening of housing  720 . Printed circuit board  710  may further include printed contacts  712 . Printed contacts  712  may electrically connect to conductors in a cable, such as cable  130 , an adapter, or a dongle. Printed circuit board  710  may further include components  714 , which may be over-molded or potted for protection against moisture. A standoff  872  having prongs  874  may be soldered to pads  870  on printed circuit board  710 . Standoff  872  may assist in positioning the printed circuit board  710  in housing  720  and may electrically connect housing  720  to a ground connection for printed circuit board  710 . 
     Molded contact puck  810  may be placed in a top side opening and housing  720  such that it is located on a top surface of printed circuit board  710 . An optional PTFE layer  840  having openings  842  may be positioned between contact puck  810  and printed circuit board  710 . Contacts  730  (as shown in  FIG. 7 ) may be formed of top contact portions  830  and bottom contact portions  832 . Bottom contact portion  832  may include opening  833  and bottom contacting portion  834 . Bottom contacting portions  834  may be soldered to contact pads  716  on printed circuit board  710 . Contact puck  810  may provide air gaps between portions of top contact portion  830  or bottom contact portion  832 , or both. In a specific embodiment of the present invention, air gaps may be formed between bottom contacting portions  834 . 
       FIG. 9  is a close-up view of an exploded portion of a connector insert according to an embodiment of the present invention. Again, molded contact puck  810  may support a number of contacts  730 . An optional PTFE layer  840  having openings  842  may be included or omitted in various embodiments of the present invention. Printed circuit boards  710  may support standoff  872  and printed contacts  716 . Printed contacts  716  may be soldered to bottom contacting portions (not shown) of contacts  730 . Molded contact puck  810  may provide air gaps between bottom portions of contacts  730 . 
       FIG. 10  illustrates a close-up view of a contact puck according to an embodiment of the present invention. Contact puck  810  may support a number of contacts  730 . 
       FIG. 11  illustrates a bottom side view of a contact puck according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this example, contact puck  810  may include bottom contacting portions  834  for a number of contacts. An air gap  1110  may be provided between bottom contacting portions  834 . Cross supports  812  may be located between contacts  834 . Again, these air gaps may reduce the dielectric constant between adjacent contacts thereby reducing the contact-to-contact capacitance. This reduction in contact-to-contact capacitance may help to increase signal path impedance through the connector insert  132  thereby improving signal quality and integrity. 
       FIG. 12  illustrates bottom and side views of a molded contact puck supporting a number of contacts according to an embodiment of the present invention. Contact puck  810  may support a number of contacts having a top contact portion  830  and a bottom contact portion  832 , the bottom contact portion  832  having a bottom contacting portion  834 . Air gaps  1110  may be located between bottom contacting portions  334 . A rib  820  may be placed around bottom contacting portion  334 . Rib  820  may be a crush rib that may form a dam to block the ingress of over-mold  740  during an over-mold procedure. An example is shown in the following figures. 
       FIG. 13  illustrates a connector insert according to an embodiment of the present invention before and after an over-mold procedure has taken place. Connector insert  132  may include housing  720  having a top side opening for contact puck  810 . Contact puck  810  may support a number of contacts  730 . 
       FIG. 14  illustrates a side view of a connector insert according to an embodiment of the present invention before and after an over-mold procedure. Contact puck  810  may be in contact with a surface of printed circuit board  710 . Rib  820  may be adjacent to printed circuit board  710 . Each contact  730  may include a top contact portion  830  and a bottom contact portion  832 . Bottom contact portion  832  may include bottom contacting portion  834 . Bottom contacting portions  834  may be soldered to printed circuit board at solder areas  1410 . 
     After overmold  740  is applied, rib  820  may act as a dam blocking the flow of over-mold  740  into air gaps  1110 . 
     Various embodiments of the present invention may utilize different contact pucks. An example is shown in the following figure. 
       FIG. 15  illustrates another contact puck according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this example, contact puck  1510  may include a castellated pattern  1520  in place of rib  820 . 
     In various embodiments of the present invention, connector receptacle  112  and connector insert  132  may be capable of carrying signals for various types of communication interfaces. In a specific embodiment of the present invention, connector receptacle  112  and connector insert  132  may be cable of conveying either USB 2.0 or USB 3.0 signals. The USB 2.0 signals may be part of an interface, such as a lightning interface, or some of all of the USB 2.0 signals may be used as part of the USB 3.0 interface, since a USB 3.0 interface includes USB 2.0 signals. An example of circuitry that may be used with such a connector receptacle is shown in the following figure. 
       FIG. 16  illustrates connector receptacle circuitry according to an embodiment of the present invention. This circuitry may be located in an electronic device such as host  110 . In general, connector receptacle  112  may include a top row of contacts  1610  for a USB 3.0 interface, while a bottom row of contacts  1620  may include contacts for a USB 2.0 interface. The USB2 interface may be an interface such as Lightning or other interface. Some or all of the USB 2.0 contacts may be part of the USB 3.0 interface, along with the top row of contacts  1610 . 
     When a USB 3.0 signals are received, contacts  1610  may provide the signals to switches  1630 . Switches  1630  may be closed, thereby connecting contacts  1610  to USB controller  1640 . USB controller  1640  may communicate with core logic  1660 . Various ones of the contacts  1620  may provide USB 2.0 signals to multiplexers  1650 , which may pass them to core logic  1660 . 
     When a connector insert that has been providing USB 3.0 signals is removed, it may be desirable to disconnect or open switches  1630  in order to protect the USB controller  1640  from transient voltages that may occur on contacts  1610  of connector receptacle  112 . Accordingly, glue logic  1690  may detect that a connection to a ground contact on the connector receptacle has been broken, and may open the switches  1630  in response. The ground contact may be a regular ground contact on a top of the connector receptacle (as it is inserted into the connector receptacle  112 ), or it may be a side ground contact on a side of the connector insert. 
     When USB 2.0 or lightning signals are received on contacts  1620  they may be received on contacts  1610  as well. This may be done to support the use of lightning connectors, in which the contacts in a top row contacts in a connector insert are electrically connected to contacts in a bottom row of contacts in the connector insert in one of at least two patterns. Accordingly, the USB 2.0 or lightning signals may be connected to switches  1630 . In this state, switches  1630  may be open, thereby preventing the signals from reaching USB controller  1640 . This may be of particular importance where switches  1630  may be relatively close to connector receptacle  112 , while USB controller  1640  may be remote. By shortening the traces connected to contacts  1610 , the effects of the transmission line stubs that are otherwise formed by the traces to the switches  1630  may be minimized. USB 2.0 signals on contacts  1620  may be provided to multiplexing circuit  1650 . Multiplexing circuit  1650  may provide the USB 2.0 or lightning signals on output lines  1652  to core logic  1660  or other circuitry. 
     Connector receptacle  112  may be able to connect to and power either USB 2.0 or USB 3.0 accessories. Accordingly, a power circuitry  1670  may be included such that power may be provided to USB 2.0 accessories. When power for a USB 3.0 accessory is needed, second power source  1680  may replace or be added to the first power source  1670 . In these and other embodiments of the present invention, power may be received by connector receptacle  112 . In these and other embodiments of the present invention, power may be received at a first contact and power may be provided by a second contact of connector receptacle  112  at the same time. 
     Connector receptacle  112  may have a form factor that is physically compatible with a lightning connector. That is, a lightning connector may be inserted into connector receptacle  112  and used to deliver lightning signals, which include USB 2.0 signals, to the illustrated circuitry. Since lightning includes at least two types of connector inserts which may be inserted into connector receptacle  112 , connector receptacle  112  may be able to accept two types of lightning connector inserts. Connector receptacle  112  may also be able to accept a type of USB 3.0 connector. This USB 3.0 connector may be non-standard. A dongle or adapter may be provided to adapt a USB 3.0 form factor to one compatible with connector receptacle  112 . Accordingly, in various embodiments of the present invention, connector receptacle  112  may be able to accept at least three types of connector inserts, including two lightning connector inserts and a USB 3.0 connector insert, which may be part of a dongle adapter. In other embodiments of the present invention, instead of a dongle, an accessory may include a cable adapter or have a connection that may mate with connector receptacle  112 . 
     In various embodiments of the present invention, a connector insert that may mate with connector receptacle  112  may be rotatable. That is, the connector insert, such as connector insert  132 , may be plugged into connector receptacle  112  in either of two orientations that are  180  degrees rotated relative to each other. When combined with the above three types of connector inserts that may be inserted into connector receptacle  112 , there are at least six configurations of inputs that may be received by connector receptacle  112 . These are shown in the following figures. 
       FIG. 17  illustrates the names of contacts that may be used for a receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention. These names may be used for connector receptacle  112  or other connector according to embodiments of the present invention. A top row of contacts  1610  may begin with an accessory interface contact ACCPWR. In various embodiments of the present invention, this contact may actually be a no-connect in connector receptacle  112 . The following contacts may be the positive and negative terminals of a high-speed USB 3.0 signal pair, DP 1 PT and DP 1 NT. A power contact, PIN, over which power may be received from an accessory, and a second accessory contact, ACCIDT, may follow. High-speed USB 3.0 contacts DP 2 NT and DP 2 PT may be next, followed by a ground contact (GND). 
     A bottom row of contacts  1620  may begin with ground, which may be followed by the positive and negative terminals, DP 1 PB and DP 1 NB, of a USB 2.0 signal. A first accessory contact ACCIDB may be next, followed by a contact for receiving power from accessory, PIN. Terminals of a UART signal pair, DP 2 NB and DP 2 PB, may be next, and the row may end with a second accessory contact ACCPWR. 
     Again, in various embodiment of the present invention, signals for a USB 3.0 interface may be provided on a connector insert that is inserted into connector receptacle  112 . Since connector receptacle  112  may be arranged to accept connector inserts with a lightning connector form factor, embodiments of the present invention may provide a dongle to adapt a USB 3.0 connector to a connector having a lightning connector form factor. An example of such a dongle is shown in the following figures. 
       FIG. 18  illustrates circuitry for a dongle that may provide signals of a USB 3.0 interface onto a connector insert having a lightning connector insert form factor according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this example, the dongle may have a first port  1830  for pathways for high-speed USB 3.0 signals, as well as a USB 2.0 signal pair and a UART signal pair. First port  1830  may be a USB 3.0 type connector. These signals may couple through multiplexers to one of two contacts of the connector insert, where the connector insert has the form factor of a lightning connector. The connector insert may include a top row of contacts  1810  and a bottom row of contacts  1820 . 
     The top row of contacts  1810  may include may begin with an accessory interface contact ACCPWR. The following contacts may be the positive and negative terminals of a high-speed USB 3.0 contact pair, DP 1 PT and DP 1 NT. A power contact, PIN, over which power may be received from an accessory, and a second accessory contact, ACCIDT, may follow. High-speed USB 3.0 contacts DP 2 NT and DP 2 PT may be next, followed by a ground contact. 
     A bottom row of contacts  1620  may begin with ground, which may be followed by the positive and negative terminals, DP 1 PB and DP 1 NB, for a USB 2.0 signal. A first accessory contact ACCIDB may be next, followed by a contact for receiving power from accessory, PIN. Terminals of a UART signal pair, DP 2 NB and DP 2 PB, may be next, and the row may end with a second accessory contact ACCPWR. 
     Again, this connector insert may be inserted into connector receptacle  112  as shown in  FIG. 17  in either of two orientations that are separated by 180 degrees. Accordingly, each signal at port  1830  may be multiplexed to one of two contacts that are located  180  degrees apart on the connector insert. For example, signal DP 1 PT of port  1830  received by MUX  1  may be connected to contact DP 1 PT in the top row of contacts  1810  when MUX  1  is in a pass-through mode, or signal DP 1 PT may be connected to contact DP 2 PB in the bottom row of contacts  1820  when MUX  1  is in a cross mode. Similarly, signal DP 2 PB may be connected to contact DP 1 PT in the top row of contacts  1810  when MUX  1  is in the cross mode, or signal DP 2 PB may be connected to contact DP 2 PB in the bottom row of contacts  1820  when MUX  1  is in the pass-through mode. The same operation may be true for MUX  2 , MUX  3 , and MUX  4 , and their respective signals. 
     In various embodiments of the present invention, signals DP 2 PB and DP 2 NB may not be USB 3.0 signals, but may instead be UART signals that are used to convey authentication information from an accessory or other dongle circuitry that is not shown here. 
     The multiplexers MUX  1 , MUX  2 , MUX  3 , and MUX  4  may be under control of a top ID chip, where the top ID chip is connected to contact ACCIDT. Specifically, when this connector insert is inserted into connector receptacle  112  in a non-rotated position, the top ID chip is disconnected. The top ID chip may detect this disconnection and set multiplexers MUX  1 , MUX  2 , MUX  3 , and MUX  4  into the pass-through mode. In this configuration, the bottom ID chip, which is connected to contact ACCIDB, may communicate with circuitry associated with the multiplexer  1650 , as shown in  FIG. 16 . The bottom ID chip may inform circuitry associated with multiplexer  1650  that a USB 3.0 connector insert has been inserted into connector receptacle  112 . From the fact that a USB 3.0 connector has been inserted, circuitry associated with multiplexers  1650  may determine that no multiplexing of the received signals is needed. An example is shown in the following figure. 
       FIG. 19  illustrates the dongle of  FIG. 18  inserted into a connector receptacle in a non-rotated position according to an embodiment of the present invention. Again, in this configuration, the top ID chip may be disconnected. Due to this disconnection, the top ID chip may instruct the dongle multiplexers to not cross the data signals, but instead to pass them in the pass-through mode. A bottom ID chip may be connected to multiplexers  1650  in  FIG. 16 . Circuitry associated with multiplexers  1650  in  FIG. 16  may receive identification data from the dongle or accessory via the ACCIDB contact. In this configuration, power may either be provided to the dongle or accessory, or power may be received from the dongle or accessory. Specifically, power may be provided to the dongle or accessory via the ACCPWR contacts, which may be connected together inside the connector insert. Alternatively, power may be received from the dongle or accessory via the PIN contacts, which may be connected to each other in the connector insert. 
     When this connector inserts is inserted into connector receptacle  112  in a rotated position, the bottom ID chip may be disconnected. The top ID chip may communicate with circuitry associated with multiplexers  1650 , as shown in  FIG. 16 . The top ID chip may then instruct multiplexers MUX  1 , MUX  2 , MUX  3 , and MUX  4  to enter the cross mode. An example is shown in the following figure. 
       FIG. 20  illustrates the USB 3.0 dongle of  FIG. 18  inserted into a connector receptacle in a rotated position according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this configuration, the top ID chip may be connected to multiplexers  1650 , as shown in  FIG. 16 . Due to this connection, it may instruct the dongle multiplexers to cross the data signals, that is it may instruct the multiplexers in the dongle to operate in the cross mode. The bottom ID chip may be disconnected. Circuitry associated with multiplexers  1650  in  FIG. 16  may receive identification information from the dongle or accessory via the ACCIDB contact from the top ID chip. In this configuration, power may either be provided to the dongle or accessory, or power may be received from the dongle or accessory. Specifically, power may be provided to the dongle or accessory via the ACCPWR contacts, which may be connected together inside the connector insert. Alternatively, power may be received from the dongle or accessory via the PIN contacts, which may be connected to each other in the connector insert. 
     The multiplexers MUX  1 , MUX  2 , MUX  3 , and MUX  4 , the ID chip, and an authentication chip, which may be combined on one or more chips, may be located in the dongle, the accessory, or a combination thereof. The ID chip may identify the dongle or the accessory, or both. The authentication chip may authenticate the dongle or the accessory, or both. 
     Again, in various embodiment of the present invention, connector receptacle  112  in  FIG. 16  may be able to accept lightning connector inserts. An example of one such insert is shown in the following figure. 
       FIG. 21  illustrates a lightning connector insert that may be inserted into a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention. This connector insert may include a top row of contacts  2110  and a bottom row of contacts  2120 . The top row of contacts  2110  may include and accessory identification contact ACCIDT, which may be connected to an identification chip. This contact may be followed by contacts for a USB differential pair DP 1 P and DP 1 N. The top row of contacts may next include a contact PIN, which may be used to receive power from an accessory, and a contact ACCPWR, which may be used to provide power to accessory. Contacts for a UART signal, DP 2 N and DP 2 P, maybe next, followed by a ground contact. 
     The bottom row of contacts  2120  may include a ground contact, followed by the USB signal pins, which may be connected in a connector insert to corresponding USB signal pins in the top row of contacts  2120 . An accessory identification contact ACCIDB may also contact the ID chip. The contact PIN, which may be used to receive power from accessory, may follow. UART signal contacts, which may be connected in a connector insert to UART contacts DP 2 N and DP 2 P in the top row of contacts  2110  may be next, followed by an accessory power contact ACCPWR which may be used to provide power to an accessory. 
     Again, this connector insert may be inserted in to the connector receptacle  112  of  FIG. 16  in either a rotated or a non-rotated position. Examples are shown in the following figures. 
       FIG. 22  illustrates the connector insert of  FIG. 21  inserted into a connector receptacle in a non-rotated position according to an embodiment of the present invention. When a connection is detected, ID data may be received from an accessory via the accessory contact ACCIDB. As before, power may be provided to the accessory via the ACCPWR contacts, which may be connected together inside the connector insert. Alternatively, power may be received from the accessory via the PIN contacts, which may be connected to each other inside the connector insert. 
       FIG. 23  illustrates the operation of multiplexers in a connector receptacle circuit according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown, three multiplexers, MUX  1 , MUX  2 , and MUX  3  (collectively multiplexers  1650 ), may be used to reorder signals on the bottom row  1620  of contacts in connector receptacle  112 . When the connector insert is not rotated, as in  FIG. 22  above, the multiplexers MUX  1 , MUX  2 , and MUX  3  may each be placed in a pass-through mode and the outputs  1652  are not reordered. In this way, the multiplexers  1650  do not reorder the signals on contacts  1620  when they are provided by a non-rotated connector insert, as shown in  FIG. 22 . 
       FIG. 24  illustrates the connector insert of  FIG. 21  inserted into a connector receptacle in a rotated position according to an embodiment of the present invention. When a connection is detected, circuitry associated with the multiplexers  1650  in  FIG. 16  may attempt to read accessory identification information on contact ACCIDB. However, with the reversed connection, ACCIDB may be a power connection. After failing to read accessory identification information on the ACCIDB contact, circuitry associated with multiplexers  1650  may attempt to read identification information on the ACCPWR contact. Once the ID data is read, multiplexers  1650  may determine that the connector insert is inserted in a rotated orientation. From this, multiplexers  1650  may determine a configuration that is needed to correct for the rotation of the connector insert. 
     More specifically, in  FIG. 22 , a bottom row of contacts  2120  in the connector insert provides signals to corresponding contacts in a bottom row of contacts  1620  of a connector receptacle  112 . The order of these signals is different than in  FIG. 24 , where the top row of contacts  2120  on the connector insert provides signals to contacts  1620  in the connector receptacle  112 . Accordingly, multiplexers  1650 , as shown in  FIG. 16 , may rearrange the signals as provided in  FIG. 24  to match the signals as provided in  FIG. 22 . In this way, signals may be received by core circuitry  1660  in the same order whichever way the lightning connector insert is inserted into connector receptacle  112 . An example of the operation of multiplexers  1650  of  FIG. 16  is shown in the following figure. 
       FIG. 25  illustrates the operation of multiplexers in a connector receptacle circuit according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown, three multiplexers, MUX  1 , MUX  2 , and MUX  3  (collectively multiplexers  1650 ), may be used to reorder signals on the bottom row  1620  of contacts in connector receptacle  112 . When signals are provided by a rotated connector insert as shown in  FIG. 24 , the multiplexers MUX  1 , MUX  2 , and MUX  3  may each be placed in a cross mode as shown to reorder these signals and provide outputs  1652  at the output of multiplexers  1650 . Again, when the connector insert is not rotated, as in  FIG. 22 , the multiplexers  1650  may each be placed in a pass-through mode and the outputs  1652  are not reordered. In this figure, multiplexers  1650  may reorder the signals on contacts  1620  when the connector insert is rotated, as shown in  FIG. 24 , to match the signals as they are provided by a non-rotated connector insert, as shown in  FIG. 22 . 
     Again, embodiments of the present invention may be able to accept a second type of lightning connector insert. This type of connector insert may be referred to as a symmetrical connector insert. In this configuration, signal pins may remain in the same positions whether a connector insert is inserted in a rotated or a non-rotated position. An example of such a connector insert is shown in the following figure. 
       FIG. 26  illustrates another lightning connector insert that may be inserted into a connector receptacle according to embodiments of the present invention. This connector insert may include a top row of contacts  2510  and a bottom row of contacts  2520 . The top row of contacts  2110  may include an accessory identification contact ACCIDT, which may be connected to an identification chip. This contact may be followed by contacts for a USB differential pair DP 1 P and DP 1 N. The top row of contacts may next include a contact PIN, which may be used to receive power from an accessory, and a contact ACCPWR, which may be used to provide power to accessory. Contacts for a UART signal, DP 2 N and DP 2 P, maybe next, followed by a ground contact. The data contacts DP 1 P and DP 1 N, as well as DP 2 N and DP 2 P, may be connected in the connector insert to symmetrically placed contacts on a bottom row of contacts  2520 . The ACCPWR and PIN contacts may also be connected. An ACCIDB contact in the bottom row of contacts  2520  may also be connected to the ID chip. 
     As with the other connector inserts, this connector insert may be inserted into connector receptacle  112  in a non-rotated position or a rotated position. Examples of this are shown in the following figures. 
       FIG. 27  illustrates the connector insert of  FIG. 26  inserted into a connector receptacle in a non-rotated position according to an embodiment of the present invention. When a connection is detected, ID data may be received from the ID chip via the accessory contact ACCIDB. As before, power may be provided to the accessory via the ACCPWR contacts, which may be connected inside the connector insert. Alternatively, power may be received from the accessory via the PIN contacts, which may be connected to each other inside the connector insert. 
       FIG. 28  illustrates the operation of multiplexers in a lightning signal path according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown, three multiplexers, MUX  1 , MUX  2 , and MUX  3  (collectively multiplexers  1650 ), may be used to either pass through or reorder signals on the bottom row  1620  of contacts in connector receptacle  112  and provide them as outputs  1652 . When the connector insert is not rotated, as in  FIG. 27 , the multiplexers  1650  (MUX  1 , MUX  2 , and MUX  3 ) may each be placed in a pass-through mode and the outputs  2410  are not reordered. 
       FIG. 29  illustrates the connector insert of  FIG. 26  inserted into a connector receptacle in a rotated position according to an embodiment of the present invention. When a connection is detected, circuitry associated with multiplexers  1650  in  FIG. 16  may attempt to read accessory identification information on contact ACCIDB. However, with the reversed connection, ACCIDB may be a power connection. After failing to read accessory identification information on the ACCIDB contact, circuitry associated with multiplexers  1650  may attempt to read identification information on the ACCPWR contact. Once the ID data is read, circuitry associated with multiplexers  1650  may determine that the connector insert is inserted in a rotated orientation. From this, circuitry associated with multiplexers  1650  may determine a configuration that is needed to correct for the rotation of the connector insert. 
     More specifically, in  FIG. 27 , a bottom row of contacts  2520  in the connector insert may provide signals to corresponding contacts in a bottom row of contacts  1620  of a connector receptacle  112 . The order of these signals is different than in  FIG. 29 , where the top row of contacts  2520  on the connector insert may provide signals to contacts  1620  in the connector receptacle  112 . Accordingly, multiplexers  1650 , as shown in  FIG. 16 , may rearrange the signals as provided in  FIG. 29  to match the signals as provided in  FIG. 27 . In this way, signals may be received by core circuitry  1660  in the same order whichever way the lightning connector insert is inserted into connector receptacle  112 . An example of the operation of multiplexers  1650  of  FIG. 16  is shown in the following figure. 
       FIG. 30  illustrates the operation of multiplexers in a lightning signal path according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown, three multiplexers, MUX  1 , MUX  2 , and MUX  3  (collectively multiplexers  1650 ), may be used to reorder signals on the bottom row  1620  of contacts in connector receptacle  112  and provide them as outputs  1652 . When signals are provided by a rotated connector insert as shown in  FIG. 29 , the data multiplexers of multiplexers  1650  (MUX  1  and MUX  2 ) may be placed in the pass-through mode as shown. That is, there is no need to reorder these signals at the output of multiplexers  1650  since the data signals on the connector insert are arranged in a symmetrical manner at the connector insert. The accessory contacts ACCIDT and ACCPWR may be reordered by MUX  3  in multiplexer  1650 , which may be placed in a cross mode configuration. When the connector insert is not rotated, as in  FIG. 27 , the multiplexers  1650  MUX  1 , MUX  2 , and MUX  3  may each be placed in a pass-through mode and the outputs  2410  are not reordered. In this way, the multiplexers  1650  may reorder the signals on contacts ACCIDT and ACCPWR when the connector insert is rotated, as shown in  FIG. 29 , to match the signals as they are provided by a non-rotated connector insert, as shown in  FIG. 27 . 
     In various embodiments of the present invention, the components of the connector receptacles and connector inserts may be formed in various ways of various materials. For example, contacts and other conductive portions may be formed by stamping, metal-injection molding, machining, micro-machining, 3-D printing, or other manufacturing process. The conductive portions may be formed of stainless steel, steel, copper, copper titanium, phosphor bronze, or other material or combination of materials. They may be plated or coated with nickel, gold, or other material. The nonconductive portions, such as the receptacle housings, contact pucks, and other portions, may be formed using injection or other molding, 3-D printing, machining, or other manufacturing process. The nonconductive portions may be formed of silicon or silicone, Mylar, Mylar tape, rubber, hard rubber, plastic, nylon, elastomers, liquid-crystal polymers (LCPs), ceramics, or other nonconductive material or combination of materials. 
     Embodiments of the present invention may provide connector receptacles and connector inserts that may be located in, and may connect to, various types of devices, such as portable computing devices, tablet computers, desktop computers, laptops, all-in-one computers, wearable computing devices, cell phones, smart phones, media phones, storage devices, keyboards, covers, cases, portable media players, navigation systems, monitors, power supplies, adapters, remote control devices, chargers, and other devices. These connector receptacles and connector inserts may provide pathways for signals that are compliant with various standards such as Universal Serial Bus (USB), High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI), Digital Visual Interface (DVI), Ethernet, DisplayPort, Thunderbolt, Lightning, Joint Test Action Group (JTAG), test-access-port (TAP), Directed Automated Random Testing (DART), universal asynchronous receiver/transmitters (UARTs), clock signals, power signals, and other types of standard, non-standard, and proprietary interfaces and combinations thereof that have been developed, are being developed, or will be developed in the future. In various embodiments of the present invention, these interconnect paths provided by these connector receptacles and connector inserts may be used to convey power, ground, signals, test points, and other voltage, current, data, or other information. 
     The above description of embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form described, and many modifications and variations are possible in light of the teaching above. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Thus, it will be appreciated that the invention is intended to cover all modifications and equivalents within the scope of the following claims.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20160908
Publication Date: 20171121
Grant Date: 20171121
Priority Date: 20150908
Inventors: SCRITZKY ROBERT
RAFF JOHN
BAKAN CUNEYT
SOOHOO ERIC T.
UTTERMANN ERIK A.
QUINN PATRICK J.
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "H01R13/6477", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R24/60", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/658", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/665", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R24/62", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/405", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R12/75", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/6594", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/6582", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R31/065", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R12/714", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R27/00", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/6477", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/6594", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/6582", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/6581", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/658", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/6477", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/70", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R24/60", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R24/62", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R24/60", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/665", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R12/75", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/658", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/405", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R31/065", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R27/00", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/6594", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R12/714", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 56936556