PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-7540788-B2
Application Number: US-65033007-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Backward compatible connector system

Abstract:
Various embodiments of connectors and connector assemblies provide modified structural features to meet evolving industrial design requirements while maintaining backward compatibility. In one embodiment, alignment posts on the two sides of a plug connector are substantially removed and the remaining connector shell reshaped so as to preserve alignment capability. Other pre-existing features such as alignment grooves and some or all springy raised tabs can be eliminated resulting in a more compact and monolithic structure for the connector without impacting functionality or backward compatibility. In another embodiment, a trim ring is molded to the base of the connector to form an integrated unit. The integrated unit results in a reduced size of the connector when it is incorporated into other devices such as a docking station. In yet another embodiment, a printed circuit board is integrated into the boot of a connector assembly to act as an intermediate connection mechanism between the cable wires and the connector pins. Other functionality such as identification circuitry or electrostatic discharge protection circuitry can be incorporated on to the integrated printed circuit board.

Claims:
1. A plug connector for use in a connector system having a receptacle connector, the receptacle connector having alignment projections projecting toward an interior of a box shaped housing of the receptacle connector, the plug connector comprising:
 a body having a bottom plate with a width W, a top plate with a width W′ that is smaller than W, a first side plate and a second side plate each having a step to accommodate the width differential between the top and bottom plates, wherein the first and second side plates are smaller relative to the top and bottom plate providing a substantially flat body; and 
 an array of electrodes extending in the direction of the depth of the body and being positionally secured by insulating material to an interior surface of the bottom plate of the body leaving an insertion cavity in the interior of the body between the array of electrodes and the top plate, 
 wherein the steps in the first and second side plates are aligned with the alignment projections of the receptacle connector to guide insertion of the plug connector into the receptacle connector housing. 
 
     
     
       2. The plug connector of  claim 1  further comprising a shell that is made of a single sheet of conductive material wrapped around the plug connector. 
     
     
       3. The plug connector of  claim 1  wherein the steps on each side plate of the plug connector have curved edges. 
     
     
       4. The plug connector of  claim 1  wherein the array of electrodes can have up to 30 pins. 
     
     
       5. The plug connector of  claim 1  further comprising an integrated trim ring molded to a base of the plug connector. 
     
     
       6. The plug connector of  claim 5  wherein the trim ring is made of high temperature resilient material such as glass reinforced nylon. 
     
     
       7. The plug connector of  claim 5  wherein the plug connector with the integrated trim ring is disposed on a printed circuit board at a predetermined angle from the vertical axis. 
     
     
       8. The plug connector of  claim 7  wherein the predetermined angle is approximately 10 degrees from the vertical axis. 
     
     
       9. A cable connector assembly including the plug connector of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a cable housing a plurality of wires; 
 a boot connecting a first end of the cable to the plug connector, wherein electrical coupling between the plurality of wires inside the cable and the array of electrodes inside the plug connector is made via a printed circuit board integrated into the boot; and 
 a resistor disposed on the printed circuit board and electrically coupled to a predetermined electrode of the plug connector. 
 
     
     
       10. The cable connector assembly of  claim 9  wherein the printed circuit board comprises a plurality of solder pads adapted to receive a corresponding plurality of wires from the cable. 
     
     
       11. The cable connector assembly of  claim 10  wherein the printed circuit board further comprises a plurality of conductive traces electrically coupling the plurality of solder pads to a corresponding plurality of contacts for the array of electrodes. 
     
     
       12. The cable connector assembly of  claim 9  further comprising one or more electronic components placed on the printed circuit board and configured to perform one or more predetermined functions. 
     
     
       13. The cable connector assembly of  claim 9  wherein the resistor disposed on the printed circuit board identifies a type of the cable connector. 
     
     
       14. The cable connector assembly of  claim 12  wherein electrostatic discharge protection circuitry is disposed on the printed circuit board and is electrically coupled to one or more predetermined electrodes of the plug connector. 
     
     
       15. The cable connector assembly of  claim 9  wherein the second end of the cable is coupled to a universal serial bus connector. 
     
     
       16. The cable connector assembly of  claim 13  wherein the resistor is coupled between two predetermined electrodes. 
     
     
       17. The cable connector assembly of  claim 16  wherein the array of electrodes comprises at least 30 pins disposed in a row and wherein the resistor is coupled between electrode number 15 and a ground electrode. 
     
     
       18. The cable connector assembly of  claim 9  wherein the plurality of wires comprises four wires for universal serial bus (USB) connection. 
     
     
       19. The cable connector assembly of  claim 9  wherein the cable comprises one or more mesh braids configured to provide electrical shielding. 
     
     
       20. The cable connector assembly of  claim 9  wherein the printed circuit board is in the shape of a bracket with its opening adapted to receive the cable. 
     
     
       21. The cable connector assembly of  claim 12  wherein EMI containment means are disposed on the printed circuit board. 
     
     
       22. The cable connector assembly of  claim 9  wherein the cable comprises a Ferrite wrap adapted to increase EMI absorption.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is related to U.S. Pat. No. 6,776,660, titled “Connector,” and commonly-assigned patent application Ser. No. 10/833,689, titled “Connector Interface System for Multi-Communication Device,” filed Apr. 27, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,441,062, and Ser. No. 10/423,490, titled “Media Player System,” filed Apr. 25, 2003, all three of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates in general to connectors for electronic systems. More particularly, the invention relates to various implementations of and methods of manufacture for connector systems that connect portable or handheld devices to other electronic devices. 
     The last half decade has witnessed a rapid proliferation of handheld consumer electronic devices such as mobile phones, digital media players, personal digital assistants and the like. The connector technology that enables electrical interconnection between these devices and other electronic systems such as host computers, accessories and power supplies, has evolved to meet the various requirements of these systems from electrical specifications and interface protocols to form factor. A good example of a highly versatile connector system can be found in the 30-pin connector platform various aspects of which are described in the above-referenced issued patent and pending patent applications. A vast array of electronic devices has been developed incorporating the 30-pin connector platform as the primary means for providing electrical interconnectivity. As the industry evolves, subsequent generations of devices for new and old applications rely on backward compatibility of the connector platform in order to interface and operate with existing devices. On the other hand, the ever present demand for reducing the size of electronic devices or otherwise modifying their structure for other industrial design considerations, particularly in the handheld consumer electronics market, often requires a redesign of many aspects of the device including the connectors. There is therefore a need for improved connector systems that meet the challenges presented by these competing demands. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     Various embodiments of the present invention provide improved connector systems with more compact and monolithic design while maintaining backward compatibility. In one embodiment, alignment posts on the two sides of a plug connector are substantially removed and the remaining connector shell reshaped so as to preserve alignment capability. The reshaped connector includes, in one embodiment, a shell that is made of a single sheet of conductive material wrapped around the connector forming a single seam. Other pre-existing features such as alignment grooves and some or all springy raised tabs can be eliminated resulting in a more compact and monolithic structure for the connector without impacting functionality or backward compatibility. In another embodiment, a trim ring is molded to the base of the connector to form an integrated unit with the connector. The integrated unit can result in reduced size for the connector when it is incorporated into other devices such as a docking station. In yet another embodiment, a printed circuit board is integrated into the boot of a connector assembly to act as an intermediate connection mechanism between the cable wires and the connector pins. Other functionality such as identification circuitry or electrostatic discharge protection circuitry can be incorporated on to the integrated printed circuit board. 
     Accordingly, in one embodiment, the present invention provides a plug connector for use in a connector system having a receptacle connector, the receptacle connector having alignment projections projecting toward an interior of a box shaped housing of the receptacle connector, the plug connector including: a body having a bottom plate with a width W, a top plate with a width W′ that is smaller than W, a first side plate and a second side plate each having a step to accommodate the width differential between the top and bottom plates, wherein the first and second side plates are smaller relative to the top and bottom plates providing a substantially flat body; and an array of electrodes extending in the direction of the depth of the body and being positionally secured by insulating material to an interior surface of the bottom plate of the body leaving an insertion cavity in the interior of the body between the array of electrodes and the top plate, wherein the steps in the first and second side plates are aligned with the alignment projections of the receptacle connector to guide insertion of the plug connector into the receptacle connector housing. The plug connector further includes a shell that is made of a single sheet of conductive material wrapped around the body. 
     In another embodiment, the plug connector further includes an integrated trim ring molded to a base of the plug connector. In a specific embodiment the integrated trim ring is made of glass reinforced nylon. In a further embodiment, the number of barbs that hold in place an electrode inside the plug connector is reduced. 
     In yet another embodiment, the invention integrates a printed circuit board inside the boot of a cable connector assembly. In this embodiment, wires from the cable electrically couple to the connector electrodes via the printed circuit board. In a specific embodiment the printed circuit board further includes additional functionality such as an identification circuit or an electrostatic discharge protection circuit. 
     These and other features of the modified connector yield a more compact and monolithic connector assembly that remains compatible with previously existing mating connectors. The following detailed description and the accompanying drawings provide a better understanding of the nature and advantages of the connector system of the present invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates isometric views of a plug connector and a receptacle connector and the manner of connecting the connectors; 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B  illustrate simplified top view and cross-sectional view, respectively, of an existing plug connector; 
         FIG. 3  is a table identifying an example of pin designations for the connector; 
         FIG. 4  provides a frontal cross-sectional view of a modified yet backward compatible plug connector according to one embodiment of the invention; 
         FIGS. 5A and 5B  show isometric views of the front and back of a modified yet backward compatible plug connector according to one embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 6  provides a perspective view of a subset of components of an existing docking system; 
         FIGS. 7A and 7B  show a connector with a protective ring placed over its base and a side view of the same as placed on a printed circuit board, respectively; 
         FIGS. 8A and 8B  provide isometric views of the back and the front, respectively, of an integrated connector plus protective ring according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 9A and 9B  illustrate side views of an integrated connector plus protective ring and the shape of a modified pin, respectively, according to another embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIGS. 10A and 10B  show an embodiment of a connector assembly with a printed circuit board integrated into the boot of the connector, and the fully assembled connector, respectively. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a connector system  100  that is currently in use by a vast array of electronic devices including handheld media players such as the iPod™ and a host of accessories developed for such handheld media players. Connector system  100  includes a plug connector  101  that is insertable into a receptacle connector  102 . The connectors are designed such that when in mating position, an array of pins  110  housed in plug connector  101  are in contact with a corresponding array of pins  104  housed in receptacle connector  102 . To properly align the two arrays of pins during the insertion process, receptacle connector  102  includes a pair of projections  108 A and  108 B that project from its outer shell inwardly. In one embodiment, projections  108 A and  108 B are formed by cutting the top plate of the connector shell in an angled C (or bracket) shape and bending the resulting tongue pieces toward the interior of the plug housing. Plug connector  101  in turn includes a corresponding pair of grooves or slits  114 A and  114 B that when brought into contact with receptacle connector  102 , engage projections  108 A and  108 B and help guide the insertion process. 
     In some embodiments, plug connector  101  includes a shell or chassis with a top plate and a bottom plate made of conductive material to reduce electromagnetic interference (EMI) when the connectors carry electrical signals. Plug connector  101  further includes raised springy tabs  116 A and  116 B that increase compressive action between the two mating connectors for more secure engagement and to further improve EMI containment. In other embodiments, plug connector  101  also includes a latching mechanism such as springy retention pins  118  on either side of the plug connector body. When inserted into receptacle connector  102 , retention pins  118  are first pushed in and then released once inside the body of the receptacle connector to latch the two connectors. 
       FIGS. 2A and 2B  provide exemplary top and cross-sectional views, respectively, of plug connector  101 . In the embodiment depicted, plug connector  101  includes alignment posts  122 A and  122 B on sides of the connector housing. In this embodiment, top plate  120  as well as tabs  116 A and  116 B are made of conductive material such as metal while alignment posts  122 A and  122 B are made of non-conductive material such as plastic resin. The frontal cross-sectional view of plug connector  101  in  FIG. 2B  shows array of pins  110  that are affixed to the inside wall of the lower plate of the connector housing in a bed of dielectric material, leaving a cavity  124  in the remaining portion of the connector interior. In one embodiment the bed of dielectric material can accommodate 30 pins. An exemplary pin designation for the 30 pins plus two chassis ground tabs or pins as used in the iPod™ media player is shown in  FIG. 3 . While the dielectric bed may accommodate 30 pins, the actual number of conductive pins included in the dielectric bed can vary depending on the application. Also, the number of chassis pins can be fewer or more than the two listed in  FIG. 3 . In one example, as many as six chassis pins provide the grounding for the connector shell as well as the mechanism to physically fasten the connector by soldering them to a board.  FIG. 2B  also shows a pair of springy raised tabs  116  on each side of the connector housing. This particular connector  101  is about 21.30 mm wide when measured from the outer edges of alignment posts  118  and about 19.2 mm wide when excluding alignment posts  122 . Other structural and electrical details of illustrative embodiments for the connector system  100  are provided in the above-referenced U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,776,660 and 7,441,062, and pending patent application Ser. No. 10/423,490, all three of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     As mentioned above, connector system  100  has provided an interconnection platform that has been widely employed by a vast array of electronic devices. Connector system  100  interconnects handheld media players with other electronic devices including host computers and accessory devices such as dock stations, many different types of cable connectors, battery chargers and power adapters, Hi-Fi sound systems and RF systems, and camera connectors, among many other types of devices. As the consumer electronics industry evolves, changing industrial design considerations and the demand for further miniaturization require modifications to the structure and design of the connectors. The challenge is therefore to meet the evolving industrial design requirements while maintaining compatibility with existing devices. In one embodiment, the present invention modifies the structural design of plug connector  100  to achieve a more compact and monolithic structure without impacting functionality or compatibility with exiting receptacle connectors. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , there is shown a connector  400  according to one embodiment of the present invention. Connector  400  is more compact compared to plug connector  101  yet it is functionally equivalent and structurally compatible with connector system  100 . A number of structural modifications have allowed connector  400  to be more compact yet backward compatible. Among these are the elimination of alignment posts  118 . This has resulted in two advantageous features. First, the total width W of the connector has been reduced from about 21.30 mm to about 19.2 mm. Second, the elimination of the alignment posts allows for the option of building the connector shell  402  from a single sheet that wraps around the entire connector housing. In one embodiment, the single sheet forming the connector shell is made of conductive material such as metal further improving the connector&#39;s EMI containment. 
     Second, instead of grooves or slits ( 114  in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ), a step  404  has been formed at each of the side plates of shell  402  as shown in  FIG. 4 . This results in an upper plate (as depicted in  FIG. 4 ) having a width W′ of about 17.35 mm which is smaller than the width W of the lower plate which is about 19.2 mm. The dimensions of the plates and those of the resulting steps  404 A and  404 B are designed to frictionally fit engagement projections  108  of receptacle connector  102  when connector  400  is inserted into receptacle connector  102 . The angles and radius of curvature for steps  404  are designed to facilitate manufacturability of shell  402  as a single sheet of conductive material. In the example shown, each of the three edges resulting from the step on each side has a curved contour as opposed to sharp angles. 
       FIGS. 5A and 5B  show isometric views of the front and back of connector  400  according to this embodiment of the invention. As shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B , shell  402  is made of a single sheet of material that wraps around the connector coming to a seam  406 . In this embodiment, connector  400  includes springy tabs  408 A and  408 B on one plate and not the other of shell  402  of the connector. It is to be understood that the provision of tabs  408  can vary from two or more on each side to none at all. The combination of these modifications yields a connector structure that is more compact and monolithic yet is still compatible with previously existing connector system  100 . 
     As explained above, the plug connector has numerous applications from cables to dock stations. According to another embodiment of the invention, further miniaturization of the connector assembly is achieved when connector  400  is part of a dock station.  FIG. 6  provides a perspective view of a subset of components of a docking system  600 . A connector such as plug connector  101  ( FIG. 1 ) is mounted on a top surface of printed circuit board (PCB)  602  while a receptacle connector such as receptacle connector  102  ( FIG. 1 ) is attached to the side of PCB  602 . Before fully assembling docking system  600 , a protective ring  604  that is typically made of plastic, is inserted around the base of connector  101 .  FIG. 7A  illustrates an isometric view of the combined connector  101  and plastic trim ring  604 , while  FIG. 7B  provides a side view of the same. As shown both in  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7B , the connector/ring assembly is typically tilted at an angle, in this example, of about 15 degrees from the vertical axis. This angle results in the device that is being docked in system  600  to be tilted to provide a better viewing angle to the user. Also noted in  FIG. 7B  is the total thickness of the resulting base structure of the assembly which in this case is about 3.9 mm.  FIG. 7B  also shows pin  606  that extends out from under the base and onto the PCB. 
     According to one embodiment of the invention, instead of using a separate plastic trim ring that is inserted around the base of the connector, a smaller trim ring is molded to the connector base to form an integrated unit.  FIGS. 8A and 8B  show isometric views of the back and front of a connector assembly  800  with an integrated trim ring  802 .  FIG. 8B  illustrates the opening in trim ring  802  through which pins  804  can be accessed. The soldering process that electrically connects pins  804  to conductive traces on the PCB exposes connector assembly  800  to high temperatures. Trim ring  802  is therefore preferably made of material that can withstand higher temperatures, such as glass reinforced nylon and the like. 
     Connector assembly  800  with integrated trim ring  802  has appreciably reduced thickness and can therefore sit lower in the dock base.  FIG. 9A  notes the reduction in the base thickness for an illustrative embodiment wherein the thickness of the base is reduced to about 1.42 mm. While  FIGS. 8A and 8B  show the use of the more compact connector design ( 400  in  FIGS. 4 and 5 ) as part of connector assembly  800 , previously existing connectors can also benefit from the molded trim ring design. It should be noted that in some applications it may be desirable to have a gap between the bottom of the device being docked and the dock surface around the connector. For example, a handheld electronic device may have an integrated sound system, such as a microphone and speakers, with openings that are located at the base of the device in proximity to the connector that mates with the dock connector. The acoustic requirements of such a device may dictate that there be a gap between the bottom of the device and the dock surface when the device is docked. For such applications, the overall height of connector assembly  800  may be adjusted to create the desired gap to improve acoustic performance of the device. 
     In another embodiment, connector assembly  800  uses pins ( 804  in  FIG. 8B ) that are smaller in size.  FIG. 9B  shows the shape of an exemplary pin  900 . Pin  900  is both shorter in height and has fewer barbs, in this example one barb,  902 . The pins used in existing connectors such as plug connector  101  ( FIG. 1 ) are typically designed with multiple barbs and are taller. The barbs are generally added to the pin structure to add to the retention force when they are housed inside the connector. The reduced size of the overall connector structure allows connector assembly  800  to employ pins  900  that are shorter and have fewer barbs. In one embodiment, connector assembly  800  is designed to sit on the PCB of the docking system at a reduced angle as compared to that shown in  FIG. 7B . According to this embodiment, the angle of connector assembly is reduced to about 10 degrees from the vertical axis. The reduced angle reduces the likelihood of tipping when a media player device is inserted into the dock station and therefore allows for a smaller footprint for the docking station. Exemplary docking systems wherein connector assembly  800  and its various features can be employed are described in greater detail in commonly-assigned patent application Ser. No. 11/212,302, titled “Docking Station for Handheld Electronic Devices,” filed on Aug. 24, 2005, as well as patent application Ser. No. 10/423,490, titled “Media Player System,” filed Apr. 25, 2003, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
     In yet another embodiment, the invention provides an improved cable connector assembly that integrates a PCB inside the connector boot. Referring to  FIG. 10A , there is shown one end of a cable  1002  connecting to a cable connector assembly  1000 . Cable connector assembly  1000  includes a connector  1004  that is attached to cable  1002  via a boot section  1006 . Boot  1006  is typically made of material such as plastic and is provided to protect the wiring that electrically interconnects connector  1004  to wires inside cable  1002 , and to provide a handle for the user. Instead of directly soldering the wires inside cable  1002  to the pins from connector  1004 , the invention according to this embodiment, uses a PCB as an intermediary connection mechanism between the cable and the connector. The PCB is housed inside boot  1006  of cable connector assembly  1000 . The connector  1004  as shown in  FIG. 10A  is of the type shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  (plug connector  101 ). It is to be understood that this embodiment of the invention works equally as well with the modified connector such as those described in connection with  FIGS. 4 and 5 . 
       FIG. 10B  illustrates the internal construction of cable connector assembly  1000  according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. Insulated wires  1008  extend outside cable  1002  near the point of contact between cable  1002  and connector  1004 . It is to be understood that while in this example only four wires  1008  are shown, the number of wires can vary depending on the application for the cable connector. For example, when the other end of the cable connects to a universal serial bus (USB) connector the cable would carry four wires. In the embodiment shown in addition to the four wires  1008  cable  1002  also includes a braid  1010  that is split extending out from the cable end. Braids  1010  are preferably in the form of mesh braid and provide shielding for ground and other conductive components of the connector. The assembly further includes a PCB  1012  that is attached to connector  1004  by, for example, solder mechanism. PCB  1012  includes solder pads  1014  where wires  1008  land and make electrical connection thereto. Conductive traces on PCB  1012  (not shown) connect pads  1014  to appropriate pins in connector  1004  via contacts  1016 . PCB  1012  as depicted in the example shown in  FIG. 10B  has the shape of an angled C (or a bracket), or if viewed along with cable  1002 , it is in the shape of the hat of the letter T. Other shapes for PCB  1012  are possible. 
     Directly connecting cable wires to connector pins requires a higher degree of precision when multiple cable wires are connected to multiple closely spaced connector pins. An advantage of integrating PCB  1012  in boot  1006  of cable connector assembly  1000  is the intermediate connection made via PCB  1012  relaxes those requirements. Another advantage of the cable connector assembly according to this embodiment of the invention is that the inclusion of PCB  1012  allows the manufacturer to incorporate other functionality such as electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuitry, cable identification circuitry or EMI containment provisions onto the PCB. 
     In one embodiment, PCB  1012  further includes a cable identification circuit that allows the device to which the cable is connected, to identify the type of cable. According to this embodiment, PCB  1012  includes a resistive element  1018  that is connected between two predetermined pins of connector  1004 . In one example, resistor  1018  is connected between pins  10  and  15  of connector  1004 , where pin  10  is an “Accessory Identify” input pin and pin  15  is a digital ground pin, according to the pin assignment table shown in  FIG. 3 . When cable connector assembly  1000  is inserted into an electronic device such as a portable media player or a mobile telephone, the device will be able to identify the type of cable by detecting the presence or absence of resistor  1018 . As mentioned above, other functionality can be incorporated on to the integrated PCB depending on the application requirements. For example, cable  1002  itself may be wrapped in Ferrite which increases EMI absorption and further improves the cable RF performance. This aspect of the connector cable assembly is described in greater detail in co-pending and commonly-assigned patent application Ser. No. 11/649,656, titled “Cable with Noise Suppression,” filed Jan. 3, 2007, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,342,172, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     Various embodiments for improved connectors and connector assemblies according to the present invention have been described. While these inventions have been described in the context of the above specific embodiments, many modifications and variations are possible. The above description is therefore for illustrative purposes and is not intended to be limiting. For example, references to various types of materials such as metal or glass reinforced nylon and the like are for illustrative purpose and other similar alternatives fall within the scope of the present invention. Also, references to top or bottom, or front and back of the various structures described above are relative and are used interchangeably depending on the point of reference. Similarly, dimensions and sizes provided throughout the above description are for illustrative purposes only and the inventive concepts described herein can be applied to structures with different dimensions. Accordingly, the scope and breadth of the present invention should not be limited by the specific embodiments described above and should instead be determined by the following claims and their full extend of equivalents.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20070105
Publication Date: 20090602
Grant Date: 20090602
Priority Date: 20070105
Inventors: MURPHY R. SEAN
CROOIJMANS WIM
HOWARTH RICHARD
STRINGER CHRISTOPHER
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "H01R13/74", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R12/7076", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/64", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/6658", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/504", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R12/716", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R12/7076", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/6658", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R12/716", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/504", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/74", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/64", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 39226873