PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-9077096-B2
Application Number: US-201213492908-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Connector receptacle shell that forms a ground contact

Abstract:
Connector receptacles that are simple to assemble, provide a good ground contact path, avoid marring of both inserts and receptacles, and can be arranged to fit in a device enclosure. These receptacles may include a subassembly that is inserted into a hollow tongue. The subassembly may include a first number of contacts that are insert molded in a housing, as well as a second number of contacts. The tongue may further include ground contacts on its sides and top. The tongue may cover edges of at least some contacts to prevent marring of both the connector receptacle and connector insert. The shell of the connector receptacle may be formed around a portion of the connector receptacle to assist in fitting the receptacle in a device enclosure.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A connector receptacle comprising:
 a housing having a tongue; 
 a plurality of contacts residing on the tongue; 
 a first shell portion at least partially surrounding a bottom of the housing; 
 a ground contact formed from a front portion of the first shell portion and located under the tongue, the ground contact having a width greater than the width of the tongue, the ground contact having a front sloping portion, the front sloping portion sloping from a front bottom of the connector receptacle upwards to a back of the connector receptacle, the front sloping portion terminating at a ridge; and 
 a first bottom piece contact formed separately from the first shell portion and attached to the front shell portion and under the ground contact and first shell portion. 
 
     
     
       2. The connector receptacle of  claim 1  wherein the ridge may contact a shell of a connector insert when the connector insert is inserted into connector receptacle. 
     
     
       3. The connector receptacle of  claim 1  wherein the ground contact is split into multiple portions. 
     
     
       4. The connector receptacle of  claim 1  wherein the ground contact is split into multiple portions. 
     
     
       5. The connector receptacle of  claim 1  further comprising a second bottom ground contact under the connector receptacle. 
     
     
       6. The connector receptacle of  claim 5  further comprising a first insulator under a bottom of the first bottom ground contact and a second insulator under a bottom of the second bottom ground contact. 
     
     
       7. The connector receptacle of  claim 1  wherein the front sloping portion is substantially flat. 
     
     
       8. The connector receptacle of  claim 7  wherein the ground contact further comprises a front piece providing a flat surface parallel to a front opening of the connector receptacle and a back sloping portion from the ridge to the remainder of the first shell. 
     
     
       9. The connector receptacle of  claim 1  wherein the ground contact is split into three portions, and wherein a center portion may be arranged to fit in a pocket in a shell of a connector insert when the connector insert is inserted into connector receptacle. 
     
     
       10. The connector receptacle of  claim 9  wherein the front sloping portion may have a downward-tapered bottom edge. 
     
     
       11. The connector receptacle of  claim 9  wherein separations between the three portions of the ground contact are narrow compared to the width of each of the three portions of the ground contact. 
     
     
       12. A connector receptacle comprising:
 a housing having a tongue; 
 a plurality of contacts residing on the tongue; 
 a first shell portion at least partially surrounding a bottom of the housing; and 
 a ground contact formed from a front portion of the first shell portion and located under the tongue, the ground contact having a width greater than the width of the tongue, the ground contact having a front sloping portion, the front sloping portion sloping from a front bottom of the connector receptacle upwards to a back of the connector receptacle, the front sloping portion terminating at a ridge, and a back sloping portion sloping from the ridge to the remainder of the first shell. 
 
     
     
       13. The connector receptacle of  claim 12  further comprising a first bottom piece contact formed separately from the first shell portion and attached to the front shell portion and under the ground contact and first shell portion. 
     
     
       14. The connector receptacle of  claim 12  wherein the ridge may contact a shell of a connector insert when the connector insert is inserted into connector receptacle. 
     
     
       15. The connector receptacle of  claim 12  wherein the ground contact is split into multiple portions. 
     
     
       16. The connector receptacle of  claim 12  wherein the ground contact is split into three portions, and wherein a center portion may be arranged to fit in a pocket in a shell of a connector insert when the connector insert is inserted into connector receptacle. 
     
     
       17. The connector receptacle of  claim 12  wherein the front sloping portion may have a downward-tapered bottom edge. 
     
     
       18. The connector receptacle of  claim 12  wherein the housing includes a front opening and the ground contact extends at least substantially across a bottom the front opening. 
     
     
       19. The connector receptacle of  claim 12  wherein the front sloping portion is substantially flat. 
     
     
       20. The connector receptacle of  claim 19  wherein the ground contact further comprises a front piece providing a flat surface parallel to a front opening of the connector receptacle. 
     
     
       21. A connector receptacle comprising:
 a connector receptacle housing, the connector receptacle housing having a tongue, the tongue being substantially hollow; 
 a subassembly located in the hollow tongue, the subassembly comprising:
 a first plurality of contacts; 
 an insert molded housing around at least a portion of the first plurality of contacts; and 
 a second plurality of contacts attached to the insert molded housing; 
 
 a first side ground contact aligned with a first side opening on a first side of the tongue; 
 a second side ground contact aligned with a second side opening on a second side of the tongue, 
 a first shell portion at least partially surrounding a bottom of the housing; and 
 a ground contact formed from a front portion of the first shell portion and located under the tongue, the ground contact having a width greater than the width of the tongue, the ground contact having a front sloping portion, the front sloping portion sloping from a front bottom of the connector receptacle upwards to a back of the connector receptacle, the front sloping portion terminating at a ridge, and a back sloping portion sloping from the ridge to the remainder of the first shell. 
 
     
     
       22. The connector receptacle of  claim 21  wherein the subassembly is formed as a single structure inserted in the hollow tongue. 
     
     
       23. The connector receptacle of  claim 21  wherein the second plurality of contacts are each inserted into a separate opening in the insert molded housing. 
     
     
       24. The connector receptacle of  claim 21  wherein the first and second ground contacts are formed separately. 
     
     
       25. The connector receptacle of  claim 21  wherein the housing includes a front opening and the ground contact extends at least substantially across a bottom the front opening. 
     
     
       26. The connector receptacle of  claim 21  further comprising a first bottom piece contact formed separately from the first shell portion and attached to the front shell portion and under the ground contact and first shell portion. 
     
     
       27. The connector receptacle of  claim 26  wherein the ground contact further comprises a front piece providing a flat surface parallel to a front opening of the connector receptacle. 
     
     
       28. The connector receptacle of  claim 21  wherein the tongue comprises a first plurality of openings on a bottom side of the tongue to provide access to the first plurality of contacts and a second plurality of openings on a bottom side of the tongue to provide access to the second plurality of contacts. 
     
     
       29. The connector receptacle of  claim 28  wherein the first plurality of openings are between the second plurality of openings and a front of the tongue. 
     
     
       30. The connector receptacle of  claim 29  wherein the first plurality of openings are arranged such that edges of the first plurality of contacts are not exposed. 
     
     
       31. The connector receptacle of  claim 29  wherein the first plurality of openings are arranged such that edges of the first plurality of contacts are covered by the tongue. 
     
     
       32. The connector receptacle of  claim 29  further comprising:
 a third ground contact aligned with a first top opening on a top of the tongue; and 
 a fourth ground contact aligned with a second top opening on the top of the tongue. 
 
     
     
       33. The connector receptacle of  claim 29  wherein the connector receptacle is a Universal Serial Bus 3 compatible connector receptacle. 
     
     
       34. The connector receptacle of  claim 29  further comprising a shell, the shell around a bottom and sides of the connector receptacle. 
     
     
       35. The connector receptacle of  claim 34  wherein the shell is substantially absent from a top of the connector receptacle. 
     
     
       36. The connector receptacle of  claim 34  further comprising a top piece, the top piece covering a back top portion of the connector receptacle.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/457,476, filed Apr. 26, 2012, which is 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, a number of contacts. These contacts may be arranged to mate with corresponding contacts on the connector inserts or plugs to form portions of electrical paths between devices. 
     The numbers of these receptacles that are manufactured for some electronic devices can be very large. Accordingly, it may be desirable to provide connector receptacles that are simple to assemble and manufacture. 
     As a further complication, the data rates of some signals conveyed by these connector receptacles have increased over time. To be able to handle these signals, it may be desirable that the connector receptacles do not degrade signal quality significantly. An important aspect of providing good signal quality is to provide a good ground path and shielding for the connector receptacle and corresponding connector insert. Accordingly, it may be desirable to provide connector receptacles that provide a good ground path. It may also be desirable to provide connector receptacles that may avoid marring during use, and are arranged to fit in a device enclosure. 
     Thus, what is needed are connector receptacles that are simple to assemble, provide a good ground contact path, avoid marring of both inserts and receptacles, and can be arranged to fit in a device enclosure. 
     SUMMARY 
     Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention may provide connector receptacles that are simple to assemble, provide a good ground contact path, avoid marring of both inserts and receptacles, and can be arranged to fit in a device enclosure. 
     An illustrative embodiment of the present invention may simplify assembly by providing a connector receptacle having a number of contacts in a subassembly. The subassembly may include a first number of contacts that are insert-molded in a subassembly housing. A second number of contacts may be added to the subassembly. The subassembly may be inserted into a hollow tongue portion of the connector receptacle. The hollow tongue may protect portions of the first and second numbers of contacts. 
     Another illustrative embodiment of the present invention may improve signal quality by providing a connector receptacle having a good ground connection. In various embodiments of the present invention, ground contacts may be located on a tongue of the connector receptacle. In a specific embodiment of the present invention, ground contacts may be located on sides of a tongue. Various numbers of contacts may be further included on a top of the tongue as well. 
     Another illustrative embodiment of the present invention may provide a connector receptacle that avoids marring of both the connector receptacle and connector insert. A specific embodiment of the present invention accomplishes this by inert molding at least some contacts such that no sharp edges are exposed or come into contact with a connector insert during insertion. 
     Another illustrative embodiment of the present invention may provide a connector receptacle that is arranged to fit in a device enclosure. In a specific embodiment of the present invention, a shell may be formed around a portion of a connector receptacle, such as the sides and bottom, while being substantially absent from its top. In this embodiment, a partial top piece may be included. The partial top piece may be connected to the shell and include fingers for contacting a portion of a device enclosure. 
     Embodiments of the present invention may be used to improve various connector receptacles, such as those compatible with the various Universal Serial Bus interfaces and standards, including USB, USB2, and USB3, as well as High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI), Digital Visual Interface (DVI), power, Ethernet, DisplayPort, Thunderbolt, and other types of interfaces and standards. These connector receptacles may be utilized in many types of 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. 
     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 portion of an electronic system according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an oblique front view of a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates another front oblique view of a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a top oblique view of a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a subassembly for a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a rear view of a subassembly for a connector receptacle according to embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a rear view of a connector receptacle housing according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a cutaway view of a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  illustrates another cutaway view of a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  illustrates another connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  illustrates an underside view of the connector receptacle of  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 12  illustrates a subassembly according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 13  illustrates another view of the subassembly of  FIG. 12 ; 
         FIG. 14  illustrates an assembly of a subassembly according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 15  illustrates an attachment of top contacts to a subassembly according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 16  illustrates the insertion of a subassembly into a tongue of a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 17  illustrates the attachment of a through-hole guide piece to a connector receptacle portion according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 18  illustrates the insertion of side ground contacts into a hollow tongue of a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 19  illustrates the attachment of a shell to a connector receptacle portion according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 20  illustrates an attachment of a bottom piece to a connector receptacle portion according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 21  illustrates an attachment of a top piece to a connector receptacle portion according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 22  illustrates another subassembly according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 23  illustrates a connector receptacle having one or more insulating pieces to electrically isolate a connector receptacle ground from a device enclosure according to an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 24  illustrates another view of a connector receptacle having one or more insulating pieces to electrically isolate a connector receptacle ground from a device enclosure according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a portion of 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. 
     This figure shows a portion of an electronic device having connector receptacle  100  located in device housing  180 . Connector receptacle  100  may include tongue  120  having openings  130  for a first number of contacts  140 . Tongue  120  may further include other openings for other contacts, including ground contacts that are not shown in this figure. 
     Again, it may be desirable that connector receptacle  100  does not become marred after repeated insertions of a connector insert. Also, may be desirable that connector receptacle  100  does not mar the connector insert. Accordingly, connector receptacle  100  may include tongue  120  that is configured to not become marred, and to not mar a connector insert. For example, openings  130  in tongue  120  may be such that edges of the first number of contacts  140  are not exposed. This prevents the first number of contacts  140  from marring a connector insert, or from getting caught, or snagged by, and damaged by a connector insert. 
     Device housing  180  may be representative of many types of 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. 
     To improve signal quality in connector receptacle  100 , it may be desirable that connector receptacle  100  include robust ground paths. Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention may provide a connector receptacle having ground contacts in tongue  120 . An example is shown in the following figure. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates an oblique front view of a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention. Connector receptacle  100  may include receptacle housing  100 , which may in turn include tongue  120 . Tongue  120  may have two side openings for side ground contacts  210 , and two top openings for top ground contacts  220 . In other embodiments of the present invention, other numbers of contacts, and contacts in other positions, may be utilized. Connector receptacle  100  may further include ground contacts  230  in a bottom of receptacle housing  110 . These various ground contacts may provide ground paths as well as retention features, that is, features that may hold a connector insert in place, for connector receptacle  100 . 
     Again, it may be desirable that connector receptacles be configured to fit in specific device enclosures. It may also be desirable to provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance to a user. Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention may provide a connector receptacle having a housing that does not substantially have a top portion. Instead, the top portion of the connector receptacle may be formed by a portion of the device enclosure. This arrangement may also provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance. 
     Accordingly, housing  110  of connector receptacle  100  has sides, a bottom, and a back, but does not substantially have a top. Similarly, shell  240  covers connector receptacle  100  along its bottom, rear, and sides, but does not cover its top. Top piece  250  may be included along a back portion of the top and electrically connected to shell  240 . Top piece  250  may include one or more fingers  252  for electrically contacting a device enclosure, or other structure inside the device enclosure. Shield  240  may include one or more tabs  242 , which may be soldered, or otherwise fixed or connected to, a flexible circuit board, printed circuit board, or other appropriate substrate. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates another front oblique view of a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention. As before, tongue  120  may include openings  130  for a first number of contacts  140 . Tongue  120  may further include a second number of openings  160  for a second number of contacts  150 . In this example, the first number of contacts  140  may be between the second number of contacts  150  and a front of tongue  120 . As before, shield  240  may include a number of tabs  242 , which may be soldered or otherwise electrically connected to a flexible circuit board, printed circuit board, or other appropriate substrate. 
     In this specific example, connector receptacle  100  may be a USB3 compatible connector receptacle. In other embodiments of the present invention, other types of connector receptacles may be improved by the incorporation of embodiments of the present invention. These may include the other USB standards, as well as High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI), Digital Visual Interface (DVI), power, Ethernet, DisplayPort, Thunderbolt, and other types of interfaces and standards. 
     Also in this example, a first a number of contacts  140  may be contacts added for USB3 compatibility, while a second number of contacts  160  may be legacy USB contacts. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a top oblique view of a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention. Again, tongue  120  may include one or more openings on its sides for ground contacts  210 , and openings in its top for ground contacts  220 . Contacts  220  may be connected by crosspiece  222 . Crosspiece  222  may be grounded by being spot or laser welded to top piece  250 . 
     Housing  110  may include openings along its bottom for ground contacts  230 . Shield  240  may surround connector receptacle  100  along its bottom and sides. Top piece  250  may include fingers  252 , which may contact a device enclosure, or other structure inside, or otherwise associated with, a device enclosure. 
     Again, during the production of a popular device, many of these connector receptacles may be manufactured. Accordingly, it may be desirable that connector receptacles according to embodiments of the present invention be readily manufactured, that is, it may be desirable that they are easily assembled. Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention may provide connector receptacles that include a subassembly that may be inserted into hollow tongue  120 . An example of such a subassembly is shown in the following figure. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a subassembly for a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention. This subassembly may include a first number of contacts  140  and a second number of contacts  150  joined together by housing  510 . In a specific embodiment of the present invention, a first number of contacts  140  are insert molded into housing  510 . That is, first contacts  140  are held in place, and housing  510  is formed around portions of these contacts. Second contacts  150  are then inserted into housing  510 . For example, portions  152  of contacts  150  may be pushed into housing  510 . Once in place, flanges  154  may expand and hold contacts  150  in place in housing  510 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a rear view of a subassembly for a connector receptacle according to embodiments of the present invention. Again, this subassembly may include a first number of contacts  140  and a second number of contacts  150  that are held together by housing  510 . 
     During assembly, subassembly  500  may be inserted into a back of housing  110 . This may allow subassembly  500  to slide into location inside of hollow tongue  120  in housing  110 . 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a rear view of a connector receptacle housing according to an embodiment of the present invention. Housing  110  may include a rear opening  710 . This opening may allow access to the inside of the hollow tongue  120 . Openings  130  and  160  in hollow tongue  120  may provide access to the first number of contacts and second number of contacts, respectively. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a cutaway view of a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention. Side contact  210  may connect to a rear of shell  240  via portion  212 . Top contacts  220  may be joined via piece  222  as a single unit. Piece  222 , may be, as was shown in  FIG. 4 , spot or laser welded to top piece  250 . Ground contacts  230  may be joined by piece  232 . Piece  232  may be laser or spot welded to shield  240 . Shield  240  may include tabs  242 , which again may electrically connect to ground connections in a flexible circuit board, printed circuit board, or other appropriate substrate. Shield  240  may electrically connect to top piece  250 . Top piece  252  may include fingers  252  which form electrical connections with a device enclosure, or other structure is inside the device enclosure. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates another cutaway view of a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention. As before, side contacts  210  may connect to a rear of shield  240  via portion  212 . Top ground contacts  220  may join together though piece  222 , which may electrically connect to top piece  250 . Bottom ground contacts  230  may join together via piece  232  and be laser or spot welded to shell  240  at point  234 . Top piece  250  may electrically connect to shell  240 . Shield  240  may be grounded through tabs  242 . Top piece  250  may be grounded through fingers  252 . 
     Again, embodiments of the present invention may provide connector receptacles having good ground connections to improve signal quality. Another example is shown in the following figure. 
       FIG. 10  illustrates another connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention. Connector receptacle  1000  may include housing  1110  having tongue  1120 . Side ground contacts  1210  and top contacts  1220  may be used to form ground connections. In this specific example, four top contacts  1220  are shown, though in other embodiments of the present invention, other numbers of top contacts may be used. Top contacts  1220  and side contacts  1210  may provide ground paths, as well as retention force to keep a connector insert in place when it is inserted into connector receptacle  1000 . 
     As before, connector receptacle  1000  may be arranged to fit in a device enclosure. In a specific embodiment of the present invention, the device enclosure may be relatively thin. For this reason, it may be desirable to make connector receptacle  1000  correspondingly thin. Accordingly, connector receptacle  1000  may include housing  1110  that may form sides and a bottom of connector receptacle  1000 , while connector receptacle  1000  may be substantially without a top. Shield  1240  may similarly be located on sides and a bottom of connector receptacle  1000 . Bottom side contacts  1242  may contact a shell of a connector insert when is inserted into connector receptacle  1000 . Bottom piece contacts  1021  may be used for mechanical support and to contact a device enclosure, printed circuit board, flexible circuit board, or other appropriate substrate. This connection may also be grounded. Top piece  1250  may cover a portion of a top of connector receptacle  1000 . Top piece  1250  may include fingers  1252  and tabs  1254 . Fingers  1252  may contact a device enclosure or other structure associated with device enclosure. In other embodiments, Fingers  1252  may contact other structures that may or may not be associated or connected to the device enclosure. Tabs  1254  may be used for mechanical support, and may connect to grounds in a flexible circuit board, printed circuit board, or other appropriate substrate. 
     Accordingly, connector receptacle may be well supported mechanically and well grounded. Again, fingers  1252  may contact a device enclosure, or structure associated or not associated or connected to the device enclosure. Bottom piece contacts  1021  may contact a device enclosure, flexible circuit board, or printed circuit board. These physical connections on the top and bottom of connector receptacle  1000  may ensure that connector receptacle  1000  is mechanically secure in the device housing. Also, either or both of these contacts may be grounded to improve signal quality. 
       FIG. 11  illustrates an underside view of the connector receptacle of  FIG. 10 . Connector receptacle  1000  may include tongue  1120  and housing  1110 . Tongue  1120  may include openings  1130  and  1150  for contacts  1140  and  1160 , respectively. Shield  1240  may include bottom side contacts  1242 . Bottom piece  1020  may be attached to shell  1240 . Bottom piece  1020  may include bottom piece contacts  1021 . 
     As can be seen, this embodiment of the present invention provides excellent grounding. Specifically, side ground contacts  1210  and top ground contacts  1220  on tongue  1120  may contact an inside of a shell of a connector insert when it is inserted into connector receptacle  1000 . Bottom contacts  1242  may contact an outside of the connector insert shell. Bottom piece contacts  1021 , fingers  1252 , and tabs  1254 , may be connected to ground on a device enclosure, flexible circuit board, printed circuit board, or other appropriate substrates. 
     Again, embodiments of the present invention may simplify assembly by providing a subassembly that may be inserted into a hollow tongue. An example of such a subassembly is shown in the following figures. 
       FIG. 12  illustrates a subassembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. This subassembly may include housing  1510 . Housing  1510  may provide support for a first number of contacts  1140 , and a second number of contacts  1150 . 
       FIG. 13  illustrates another view of the subassembly of  FIG. 12 . Again, housing  1510  may provide support for a first a number of contacts  1140  and a second number of contacts  1150 . The first number of contacts  1140  may have first through-hole contacting portions  1142 , while the second number of contacts  1150  may have second through-hole contacting portions  1152 . 
     Again, embodiments of the present invention may provide a connector that may be relatively simple to assemble. An example of the assembly one such connector is shown in the following figures. 
       FIG. 14  illustrates an assembly of a subassembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. Housing  1510  may be formed around a first number of contacts having through-hole contacting portions  1142 . Housing  1510  may be formed using injection molding or other appropriate technique. A second number of contacts  1150  may be inserted into openings  1512  in housing  1510 . Flanges  1154  may contract during insertion, and then expand once inside openings  1512  to hold the second number of contacts  1150  in place. Once the second number of contacts  1150  are in place, through-hole contacting portions  1142  may be bent in a downward direction, as shown. 
     Again, using injection molding around the first number of contacts may protect edges of the contacts from being exposed and marring a connector insert during insertion and extraction. 
       FIG. 15  illustrates an attachment of top contacts to a subassembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, top contacts  1220  may be provided. Top contacts  1220  may be joined by crosspiece  1222 , which may be attached to bent portion  1224 . Crosspiece  1222  may include openings  1226 . Openings  1226  may be arranged to accept posts  1512  on housing  1510 . 
       FIG. 16  illustrates the insertion of a subassembly into a tongue of a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, subassembly housing  1510  and top side contacts  1220  may be inserted into tongue  1120  of housing  1110 . Contacts  1220  may be aligned to fit in openings  1121  in tongue  1120 . 
       FIG. 17  illustrates the attachment of a through-hole guide piece to a connector receptacle portion according to an embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, through-hole guide piece  1710  may include openings  1712  for accepting through-hole contacting portions  1142 . Through-hole guide piece  1710  may further include notch  1714  for aligning to and mating with bent portion  1124 . 
       FIG. 18  illustrates the insertion of side ground contacts into a hollow tongue of a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, side ground contacts  1210  may be inserted into openings  1810  in housing  1110 . Tabs  1211  may align with a back portion of housing  1110 . 
       FIG. 19  illustrates the attachment of a shell to a connector receptacle portion according to an embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, shell  1240  may be attached to housing  1110 . Opening  1942  on shell  1240  may align with protrusion  1944  on housing  1110 , while notch  1946  on shell  1240  may align with protrusion  1948  on housing  1110 . Posts  1988  may be inserted into corresponding openings in a main-logic board or other appropriate substrate for mechanical stability. 
       FIG. 20  illustrates an attachment of a bottom piece to a connector receptacle portion according to an embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, tabs  2012  on bottom piece  1020  may fit in openings  2014  of housing  1110 . Bottom piece  1020  may include tabs  2016 . Tabs  2016  may be connected to ground of a flexible circuit board, printed circuit board, or other appropriate substrate. Bottom piece  1020  may further include bottom piece contacts  1021 . Top piece  1250  may be spot or laser welded, or otherwise fixed to, shell  1240  and tabs  1211 . 
       FIG. 21  illustrates an attachment of a top piece to a connector receptacle portion according to an embodiment of the present invention. Openings  2110  in top piece  1250  may align with protrusions  2112  on housing  1240 . Fingers  1252  may contact a device enclosure or other structure associated with a device enclosure. In other embodiments, Finger  1252  may contact other structures that may or may not be associated with or connected to the device enclosure. Tabs  1254  may be connected to a ground on a flexible circuit board, printed circuit board, or other appropriate substrate. 
       FIG. 22  illustrates another subassembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. Subassembly  2200  may be used as subassembly  1200  in  FIG. 12 , or as other subassemblies in other embodiments of the present invention. This subassembly may include housing  2210 . Housing  2210  may provide support for a first number of contacts  2240 , and a second number of contacts  2250 . Contacts  2250  may have an added bend just behind the point of electrical contact at  2251 . Contacts  2250  may further include a stiffening gusset  2252  down the primary axis. The bend at point  2251  and stiffening gusset  2252  may aid in the connection to USB inserts where contact pads are flush with plastic or other material that is supporting the contacts. 
     Bottom piece contacts  1021  may rest on a frame, device enclosure, main-logic board, or other appropriate substrate. Ground contacts  1242  may contact a shield or shell  2399  of a connector insert  2398 . Noise may be present on this shield or shell  2399 , either from noise on the ground line itself, or from signals on conductors in the connector insert  2398 . For example, noisy signals may be conveyed over a cable connected to the connector insert  2398 . This noise may couple to the shell or shield  2399  of the connector insert  2398 . This noise may then couple to ground contact  1242 . 
     Since bottom piece contacts  1021  may be directly connected to ground contacts  1242 , noise on ground contacts  1242  may couple to the device enclosure. This noise may then couple to other circuits housed in the device enclosure. Accordingly, in various embodiments of the present invention, bottom piece contacts  1021  may be insulated to keep noise at ground contacts  1242  from coupling onto the device enclosure. An example is shown in the following figure. 
       FIG. 23  illustrates a connector receptacle having one or more insulating pieces to electrically isolate a connector receptacle ground from a device enclosure according to an embodiment of the present invention. As before, connector receptacle  1000  may include housing  1110 , tongue  1120 , topside ground contacts  1220 , shell  1240 , and top piece  1250 . 
     Connector receptacle  1000  may further include ground contact  1242  and bottom piece contacts  1021 . Again, without more, noise on a connector insert may couple to ground contact  1242 , to bottom piece contacts  1021 , to the device enclosure. Noise on the device enclosure may then couple to other circuits in the device enclosure. For example, this noise may couple to an antenna for a wireless transceiver, or other electronic circuitry. 
     Accordingly, connector receptacle  1000  may further include insulators  2310 . Insulators  2310  may include cross piece  2312  and end pieces  2314  that fit over ends or corners of bottom piece ground contacts  1021 . These pieces may be made of a nonconductive material, such as rubber, nylon, plastic, or liquid crystal polymers (LCPs) that effectively increase the impedance between bottom piece contacts  1021  and the device enclosure. 
     Again, connector receptacle  1000  may include ground contacts  1242 . Ground contacts  1242  may be used in place of ground contacts such as dimpled ground contacts or bottom ground contacts  230  in  FIG. 2 . Specifically, ground contacts, such as dimpled contacts or bottom ground contacts  230  in  FIG. 2 , may be arranged to fit in a pocket  2397  in a shield  2399  of a connector insert  2398 . This arrangement may provide a retention force for the connector insert. However, a bottom ground contact  230  may lose contact with a shield  2399  of the connector insert  2398 , for example, if it resides in a center of the pocket on the shield of the connector insert  2398 . This loss of a ground connection may lead to an increase in ground noise, with a resulting interference with proper signal transmission through the connector. Moreover, bottom ground contact  230  may provide a sharp point. This sharp point may mar or cut a groove in the plug or connector insert  2398  over time. Also, bottom ground contact  230  may provide only a single contact point to ground between connector receptacle  1000  and connector insert  2398 . 
     Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention may employ ground contacts  1242 . Ground contacts  1242  may be split into different numbers of contact portions. In this example, ground contact  1242  is split into five sections. By splitting ground contact  1242  in this way, several points along ground contact  1242  may make contact with a shield of a connector insert. Also, ground contact portions  1242 A and  1242 B may be arranged to fit in openings or pockets in the connector insert shield, thereby providing a retention force. The sections of ground contact  1242  may be split by very fine separations to provide an attractive appearance for the connector receptacle. Ground contact  1242  may provide a smoother edge for a connector insert in order to help avoid marring of the connector insert. Ground contact  1242  may be connected to a first shell portion or ground feature  1240 . 
     Ground contact  1242  may be located under tongue  1120 . Ground contact  1242  may have a front sloping portion  2322 , where the front sloping portion  2322  slopes from a front bottom of the connector receptacle  1000  upwards to a back of the connector receptacle  1000 . The front sloping portion  2322  may form a ridge  2326  that may contact a shield of a connector insert when the connector insert is inserted into connector receptacle  1000 . The front sloping portion  2324  may have a downward, tapered bottom edge  2324 . This downward, tapered bottom edge  2324  may help to prevent the ground contact  1242  from becoming snagged and damaged when the connector insert is inserted into connector receptacle  1000 . 
       FIG. 24  illustrates another connector receptacle having one or more insulating pieces to electrically isolate a connector receptacle ground from a device enclosure according to an embodiment of the present invention. Again, connector receptacle  1000  includes a shell  1240 , top piece  1250 , and contacts  1140  and  1160 . Bottom ground pieces  1021  may connect to shell  1240  via bottom piece  1020 . Insulator  2310  may electrically isolate grounds of connector receptacle  1000  from a device enclosure housing connector receptacle  1000 . 
     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: 20120610
Publication Date: 20150707
Grant Date: 20150707
Priority Date: 20120426
Inventors: SIMMEL GEORGE MARC
GAO ZHENG
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "Y10T29/49004", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/6583", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R24/62", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/502", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/6275", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/6583", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R24/62", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/6583", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/6275", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/502", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/502", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "Y10T29/49004", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/658", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R2107/00", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R43/20", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R24/64", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "Y10T29/49004", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/6275", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R24/62", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 48183041