PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-9496665-B2
Application Number: US-201414480571-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Connector receptacle with side ground contacts

Abstract:
Connector receptacles having a contoured form factor that allows their use in stylized enclosures. These receptacles may also be contoured to avoid circuitry internal to the device enclosure. The contoured form factor may also simplify the assembly of the connector receptacle.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electrical connector receptacle comprising:
 a plurality of contacts, each contact including:
 a beam portion; and 
 a mechanical stabilizing portion substantially orthogonal to the beam portion; 
 
 a housing having a front opening and a top opening, the top opening allowing access to a plurality of slots in the housing, where the mechanical stabilizing portion of each of the plurality of contacts is inserted in a corresponding one of the plurality of slots; 
 a cap at least substantially covering the top opening in the housing; 
 a gasket between the cap and the housing; and 
 a latch piece including a left arm and a right arm, the right arm of the latch piece located in a right rear opening in the housing and the left arm of the latch piece located in a left rear opening in the housing, the left arm and the right arm joined by a back piece, the left arm and the right arm terminating in side contacts located on sides of the front opening of the housing; and 
 a seal behind the latch piece covering the right rear opening and the left rear opening. 
 
     
     
       2. The connector receptacle of  claim 1  wherein the seal and the gasket are formed of Mylar. 
     
     
       3. The connector receptacle of  claim 1  wherein each contact further comprises a surface mount contact portion substantially in line with the beam portion. 
     
     
       4. The connector receptacle of  claim 3  further comprising a bottom shield portion, the bottom shield portion comprising a rear portion folded upward to cover a rear of the connector receptacle. 
     
     
       5. The connector receptacle of  claim 4  wherein the seal is between the latch piece and the rear portion of the bottom shield portion. 
     
     
       6. The connector receptacle of  5  further comprising a top shield portion over the cap. 
     
     
       7. The connector receptacle of  claim 6  wherein the cap includes a raised portion to fit in an opening in the top shield portion. 
     
     
       8. The connector receptacle of  claim 7  wherein the top shield portion includes a plurality of tabs angled to fit in notches in a top of the housing. 
     
     
       9. An electrical connector receptacle comprising:
 a plurality of contacts, each of the plurality of contacts including:
 a beam portion; and 
 a mechanical stabilizing portion substantially orthogonal to the beam portion; 
 
 a housing having a front opening and a bottom opening, the bottom opening allowing access to a plurality of slots in the housing, where the mechanical stabilizing portion of each of the plurality of contacts is inserted in a corresponding one of the plurality of slots; 
 a cap at least substantially covering the bottom opening in the housing; 
 a latch piece including a left arm and a right arm, the left arm and the right arm joined by a back piece, the left arm and the right arm terminating in side contacts located on sides of the front opening of the housing, wherein the right arm of the latch piece is inserted in a right rear opening in the housing and the left arm of the latch piece is inserted in a left rear opening in the housing; and 
 a seal behind the latch piece covering the right rear opening. 
 
     
     
       10. The connector receptacle of  claim 9  wherein each contact further comprises a surface mount contact portion substantially in line with the beam portion. 
     
     
       11. The connector receptacle of  claim 9  wherein the seal further covers the left rear opening. 
     
     
       12. The connector receptacle of  claim 11  further comprising a top shield portion, the top shield portion comprising a rear portion folded downward to cover a rear of the connector receptacle. 
     
     
       13. The connector receptacle of  12  further comprising a bottom shield portion under the cap. 
     
     
       14. The connector receptacle of  claim 13  wherein the top shield portion includes a plurality of tabs angled to fit in openings in a printed circuit board. 
     
     
       15. The connector receptacle of  claim 14  wherein the bottom shield portion includes a plurality of tabs angled to fit in notches in a bottom of the housing. 
     
     
       16. The connector receptacle of  claim 15  wherein the back piece of the latch piece includes openings to accept tabs on a rear of the housing.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/629,477, filed Sep. 27, 2012, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/607,439, filed Sep. 7, 2012, which claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/597,133, filed Feb. 9, 2012, 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 or plugs to form portions of electrical paths between devices. The connector receptacles may further include features to help to provide an initial resistance to the insertion of a connector insert. Features to provide retention to prevent inadvertent removal of a connector insert may also be included. 
     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. 
     Also, these connector receptacles consume space inside the electronic device. This consumed space may mean that the device may become larger, some functionality may be lost, or that some tradeoff may have to be made. These losses may be mitigated by further contouring or reducing the size of the connector receptacle. 
     Thus, what is needed are connector receptacles that are contoured or reduced in size to fit in these stylized enclosures, avoid internal circuitry, provide a desired level of retention for a connector insert, and are relatively easy to assemble. 
     SUMMARY 
     Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention may provide connector receptacles having a contoured or reduced size form factor that allows use in stylized enclosures. These receptacles may also be contoured or reduced in size to avoid circuitry internal to the device enclosure. The contoured or reduced size form factor may also simplify the assembly of the connector receptacle. These connector receptacles may also include a latch piece to provide insertion resistance and retention features. This latch may provide both resistance to the insertion of a connector inserts and to prevent their inadvertent or accidental removal. 
     An illustrative embodiment of the present invention may provide a connector receptacle that may be contoured or reduced in size to fit in a curved device enclosure. To enable this fit, the connector receptacle may have an opening on a bottom of a housing. This opening may allow the insertion of contacts into place in the housing during assembly, thereby simplifying the assembly of the connector receptacle. 
     An illustrative embodiment of the present invention may provide a connector receptacle having a housing. The housing may have a front opening to accept a connector insert. The housing may have a bottom opening. The housing may further have first and second fastener openings, into which fasteners may be placed to fix the connector receptacle to a device enclosure. The housing may be plastic or other nonconductive material. 
     During assembly, contacts may be inserted into the housing through an opening in a bottom of the housing. These contacts may include a beam portion. The beam portion may be that part of a contact that is arranged to form an electrical connection with a corresponding contact on a connector insert when the connector insert is inserted into the connector receptacle. The contacts may further include a surface mount contact substantially in line with the beam portion, where the surface mount contacts are arranged to be soldered to a flexible circuit board, printed circuit board, or other appropriate substrate. The contacts may each further include a mechanical stabilizing portion substantially orthogonal to the beam portion. The mechanical stabilizing portion may be inserted into slots in the housing during assembly. 
     To protect these contacts after assembly, a piece of tape or other cover may be placed over at least a portion of the opening in the bottom of the housing. 
     The connector receptacle may further include a latch or ground piece. The latch or ground piece may include contacts at each end, which are joined by a back piece. The contacts may be placed in the housing through a back opening such that ground contacts on sides of a connector insert are in electrical contact with the contacts. 
     The contacts on the latch or ground piece may further provide retention features for the receptacle. The retention features may provide a resistance to the insertion of a connector insert into the connector receptacle. The retention features may further provide a holding force to help keep the connector insert in place and reduce or prevent the inadvertent removal of the connector insert. However, during assembly, the contacts on the ground piece may be spread apart. This may also occur during insertion of a connector inserts. This spreading may reduce the retention force provided by the ground piece contacts, which may also lead to a reduced reliability for the ground contacts. To reduce this loss in retention the ground piece may be annealed. To provide a further reduction in loss, the ground piece may further be hardened, though the annealing step may be omitted. In other embodiments of the present invention, one or more annealing, hardening, and other processing steps may be used. 
     The connector receptacle may further include a bracket. The bracket may include a first fastener opening and a second fastener opening. The first fastener opening may align with the first fastener opening in the housing, while the second fastener opening may align with the second fastener opening in the housing. Again, fasteners may be placed in the fastener openings in order to attach or fix the connector receptacle to a device enclosure. The bracket may include tabs arranged to fit in cutouts on the housing to secure the bracket to the housing. Either or both the ground piece or bracket may include tabs, which may be soldered to ground paths on a flexible circuit board, printed circuit board, or other appropriate substrate, though one or more of these tabs may be included on the ground piece or other portion of the connector receptacle. The contacts, latch or ground piece, ground contacts, shield, and bracket may be formed of plastic, metal, ceramic, or other materials. For example, they may be formed of stainless steel, such as stainless steel (304), stainless steel (301), or low carbon steel (1010), titanium, brass, gold-plated brass, or other appropriate material. 
     Another illustrative embodiment of the present invention provides a method of assembling a connector receptacle. This method may include receiving a housing. The housing may be contoured to fit in a stylized enclosure. The housing may have a front opening, a bottom opening, and a back opening. Contacts may be placed into the housing through the bottom opening. The contacts may include beam, surface mount, and mechanical stabilizing portions. The mechanical stabilizing portions may be inserted into slots in the housing. A first piece of tape may be placed over the bottom opening in the housing. In other embodiments of the present invention, a shield portion, or plastic portion, may be used in place of the tape. 
     A latch or ground piece including ground contacts may be inserted into the back opening of the housing. A tab on the housing may fit in a notch in the ground piece to hold the ground piece in place. A second piece of tape, which may be two-sided, may be placed over a back portion of the ground piece. A bracket may be fixed to the housing and held in place by the second piece of tape. The bracket may include tabs that fit into cutouts in the housing to hold the bracket in place. Fasteners may be placed through fastener openings in the housing and bracket to attach the connector receptacle to a device enclosure. These enclosures may be enclosures for 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. 
     Other embodiments of the present invention may provide connector receptacles having additional structures for waterproofing or to increase water resistance. In various embodiments of the present invention, connector receptacles may include seals or plugs may be used to prevent or limit the ingress of water or other fluids or liquids into an electronic device. 
     Another illustrative embodiment of the present invention may provide a connector receptacle. This connector receptacle may include a plurality of contacts, each contact including a beam portion and a mechanical stabilizing portion substantially orthogonal to the beam portion. The connector receptacle may further include a housing having a front opening and a top opening allowing access to a number of slots in the housing, where the mechanical stabilizing portion of each of the plurality of contacts is inserted in a slot. A cap may at least substantially cover the top opening in the housing. A gasket may be placed between the cap and the housing. The receptacle may also include a latch piece including a left arm and a right arm, the left arm and the right arm joined by a back piece, the left arm and the right arm terminating in side contacts located on sides of the front opening of the housing. The left arm and the right arm may be inserted in right and left openings in a rear of the housing. A seal, such as a piece of Mylar or Mylar tape, may cover the right and left openings in a rear of the housing. Instead of a seal, other embodiments of the present invention may employ plugs to seal right and left openings in a rear of the housing. 
     In various embodiments of the present invention, the components of the connector receptacles 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, seals, gaskets, 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 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, portable media players, navigation systems, monitors, power supplies, adapters, remote control devices, chargers, and other devices. These connector receptacles 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 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 a rear oblique view of a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a front view of a connector receptacle according to embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates front and rear oblique views of a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates an exploded view of a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a top view of a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a side view of a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a cutaway side view of a connector receptacle according to embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a bottom view of a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  illustrates front and back oblique views of another connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  illustrates an exploded view of another connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  illustrates front and rear oblique views of a ground piece according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 12  illustrates front and back oblique views of another connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 13  illustrates a side view of a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 14  illustrates top, front, and side views of a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 15  illustrates front and back oblique views of another connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 16  illustrates a side view of a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 17  illustrates top, front, and side views of a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 18  illustrates front and back oblique views of another connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 19  illustrates a side view of a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 20  illustrates top, front, and side views of a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 21  illustrates various components of a connector receptacle according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 22  illustrates an underside oblique view of a connector receptacle according to embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 23  illustrates another underside oblique view of a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 24  illustrates cutaway side views of a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 25  illustrates a back side of a connector receptacle according to embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG. 26  illustrates an exploded view of a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 27  illustrates a bottom view of a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 28  illustrates an exploded view of a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 29  illustrates a top view of a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 30  illustrates a bottom view of a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a rear oblique view of a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention. This figure, as with the other included figures, is shown for illustrative purposes only and does not limit either the possible embodiments of the present invention or the claims. 
     Connector receptacle  100  may include a number of contacts  110  and  115  located in housing  120 . Contacts  110  and  115  may convey power, ground, signals, bias voltages, polarity detect signals, or other types of signals or voltages. Ground piece  130  may be inserted into a rear opening in housing  120 . Bracket  150  may cover a rear portion of ground piece  130  and housing  120 . Tabs  154  may be inserted in a flexible circuit board, printed circuit board, or other substrate. Contacts  110  and  115  may connect to the same or different flexible circuit board, printed circuit board, or other substrate. Fastener openings  122  in housing  120  and  152  in bracket  150  may be used to hold fasteners. These fasteners may secure connector receptacle  100  to a device enclosure, or other structure that is in turn attached to the device enclosure. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a front view of a connector receptacle according to embodiment of the present invention. Connector receptacle  100  may include a front opening  124  to accept a connector insert. Contacts in the connector insert may form electrical connections with contacts  110  and  115  in connector receptacle  100 . Ground contacts on sides of the connector insert may contact ground contacts  132 , which may be formed as ends of ground piece  130 . As before, tabs  154  and contacts  110  and  115  may connect to a flexible circuit board, printed circuit board, or other appropriate substrate. Fastener opening  122  may be used to hold a fastener, which may secure receptacle  100  to a device enclosure, or structure that is fixed or otherwise attached to a device enclosure. 
     In this embodiment, as will be shown in further detail below, a front of connector receptacle  110  may be sloped. This sloping may be configured to fit in a curved portion of a device enclosure. To save space, the bottom portion may further be open. To protect contacts  110  and  115 , tape or cover  160  may be used to cover this opening after assembly of connector receptacle  100 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates front and rear oblique views of a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention. Connector receptacle  100  may include housing  120  having a front opening  124 . Front opening  124  may allow access to contacts  110  and  115 , as well as side ground contacts  132 , by a connector insert. Again, bracket  150  may include tabs  154  and fastener openings  152 . 
     Again, this receptacle may be contoured to fit a curvature or other shape of a device enclosure. In this specific embodiment of the present invention, front surface  127  is curved, as shown. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates an exploded view of a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention. This exploded view includes a solder guard  170 , which may be used to protect contacts  110  and  115  during assembly, particularly when connector receptacle  100  is attached to a flexible circuit board, printed circuit board, or other appropriate substrate. 
     This connector receptacle may include a housing  120 . Housing  120  may include a front opening  124  to accept a connector insert. Housing  120  may further include fastener openings  122  and cutouts  126 . Cutouts  126  may be used to accept a tab  156  on bracket  150 . Housing  120  may further include tab  128 , which may be notched to fit in notch  134  in latch or ground piece  130 . This may assist in holding latch or ground piece  130  in place during assembly. 
     Contacts  110  and  115  may be inserted into housing  120  via an opening on a bottom side (not shown). Specifically, mechanical stabilization portions  117  may be inserted into slots in housing  120 . To protect contacts  110  and  115 , a cover or tape portion  160  may be used to cover the bottom side opening in housing  120 . 
     Latch or ground piece  130  may include side ground contacts  132  and dimples or protrusion  134 . Ground contacts  132  may be inserted into housing  120  during assembly. 
     Bracket  150  may be attached to the back of connector receptacle  100 . To facilitate this, a tape piece  140  may be used. Tape piece  140  may be two-sided tape. Tape piece  140  may include openings  144 , which may be aligned with protrusions  134 . Protrusions  134  may be spot or laser-welded to brackets  150  during assembly. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a top view of a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention. Again, connector receptacle  100  may include housing  120  around contacts  110  and  115 . Ground piece  130  and bracket  150  may be located near a back of the connector receptacle. Tab or rib  128  may be used to hold latch or ground piece  130  in place during assembly. Tape portion  140  may be used to hold bracket  150  in place during assembly. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a side view of a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention. Again, connector receptacle  100  may include housing  120  having a back portion partially covered by bracket  150 . Bracket  150  may include tabs  154  and  156 . Tab  156  may insert into a cutout (not shown) in housing  120  to secure bracket  150  to housing  120 . Connector receptacle  100  may include a front opening  124  to accept the connector insert. 
     Again, connector inserts according to embodiments of the present invention may be contoured to fit device enclosures. Accordingly, a front portion  127  of connector receptacle  100  may be curved. This curvature may match or fit in a curvature of a device enclosure. 
     Also, this connector receptacle may be arranged to avoid circuitry internal to the device. Accordingly, curved surface  129  may be shaped such that connector receptacle  100  avoids such internal circuitry. 
     To save space and allow front surface  127  to be curved in this way, embodiments the present invention may provide an opening on a bottom of housing  120 . This is shown in the following figure. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a cutaway side view of a connector receptacle according to embodiment of the present invention. As can be seen, housing  120  may have an opening in its bottom. Cover or tape piece  160  may be used to cover this opening after contacts  110  have been inserted into housing  120 . This cover may be used to protect contacts  110 . 
     During assembly, contacts  110  may be inserted into housing  120  via this opening. Specifically, mechanical stabilization portion  117  may fit into slots  127  in housing  120 . Once the contacts are in place, tape or cover  160  may be attached. Connector  100  may include front opening  124  for accepting a connector insert. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a bottom view of a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention. Connector receptacle  100  may include housing  120  having a front side opening  124  to accept a connector insert. Connector receptacle  100  may include contacts  110  and  115 . As before, tape or cover  160  may cover a bottom opening in housing  120 . Bracket  150  may fit over a back of connector receptacle  100 . 
     In this specific embodiment of the present invention, curved surfaces  127  and  129  are contoured to fit in device enclosure and avoid internal circuitry. Other embodiments of the present invention may provide connector receptacles having other contours. An example is shown in the following figure. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates front and back oblique views of another connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention. Connector receptacle  900  may include housing  920  having fastener openings  922  and a front side opening  924  for accepting a connector insert. Connector receptacle  900  may include side ground contacts  932  and bottom or signal contacts  910  and  915 . Connector receptacle  900  may further include bracket  950 , which may have fastener openings  952 . 
       FIG. 10  illustrates an exploded view of another connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention. Connector receptacle  900  may include housing  920  having fastener openings  922  and a front side opening  924  to accept a connector insert. Latch or ground piece  930  may be least partially inserted in a back opening of housing  920 . Side ground contacts  932  may be placed inside housing  920 . Tape portion  940  may fit over a back of latch or ground piece  930 . Specifically, openings  944  may align with protrusions  934 . Bracket  950  may be placed over a rear portion of ground piece  930  and housing  920 . Protrusions  934  may be laser or spot-welded to bracket  950  to secure bracket  950  in place. 
     The contacts, ground pieces, ground contacts, brackets, and other components in this and the other included examples, and in other embodiments of the present invention, may be formed of plastic, metal, ceramic, or other materials. For example, they may be formed of stainless steel, such as stainless steel (304), stainless steel (301), or low carbon steel (1010), titanium, brass, gold-plated brass, or other appropriate material. 
     As before, contacts  910  and  915  may be inserted into housing  920  through an opening in bottom of housing  920 . Specifically, mechanical stabilization portions  917  may be inserted into slots in housing  920 . Once these contacts are in place, tape or cover  960  may be used to cover this opening and protect contacts  910  and  915 . 
     Again, latch or ground piece  930  (or  130  or the other ground pieces included below) may have contacts  932  spread apart during assembly, and again during insertion of connector inserts. This may permanently work the ground contacts  932  apart, reducing ground contact reliability and reducing retention force. The latch or ground piece  930  is shown in more detail in the following figure. 
       FIG. 11  illustrates front and rear oblique views of latch or ground piece  930  according to an embodiment of the present invention. Again, the distance W1 between contacts  932  of latch or ground piece  930  may increase due to stresses from assembly and insertion of connector inserts. This increase in W1 may lead to reduced retention force and reduced ground contact reliability. 
     To mitigate, reduce, or eliminate this increase, latch or ground piece  930  (and  130 ) may undergo various processing steps. For example, latch or ground piece  930  may be annealed. After annealing, latch or ground piece  930  may further be hardened. In other embodiments of the present invention, the annealing step may be omitted, while in other embodiments of the present invention, one or more annealing, hardening, and other processing steps may be used. Latch or ground piece  930  (or  130  or the other ground pieces included below) may be formed of stainless steel, such as stainless steel (304), stainless steel (301), or low carbon steel (1010), titanium, brass, gold-plated brass, or other appropriate material. 
     Other embodiments of the present invention may employ different connector receptacles. Some examples are shown in the following figures. 
       FIG. 12  illustrates front and back oblique views of another connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention. Connector receptacle  1200  may include housing  1220  having an opening  1224  for accepting a connector insert. Connector receptacle  1200  may include side ground contacts  1232  and signal or bottom contacts  1210  and  1215 . Connector receptacle  1200  may further include shield  1255 . Bracket  1250  may be laser or spot-welded to shield  1255 . Bracket  1250  may include openings  1252 . Openings  1252  may accept fasteners which may attach connector receptacle  1200  to a device enclosure or other structure. Tabs  1254  may be used to fix connector receptacle  1200  to a main logic board, device enclosure, or other structure. 
       FIG. 13  illustrates a side view of a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention. Again, connector receptacle  1200  may include housing  1220  around contacts  1210  and  1232 . Shield  1255  may be placed at least partially around housing  1220 . Shield  1255  may cover the bottom side opening to protect contacts  1210 . Shield  1255  may be insulated from contacts  1210  by insulative layer  1257 . Bracket  1250  may be attached to shield  1255 . Tabs  1254  may extend from shield  1250 . 
       FIG. 14  illustrates top, front, and side views of a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention. Again, connector receptacle  1200  may include a front side opening  1224  and housing  1220  which may provide access to side ground contacts  1232  and bottom contacts  1210  and  1215 . Housing  1220  may be at least partially encased by shield  1255 . Bracket  1250  may attach to shield  1255 . Tab  1254  may extend from shield  1250 . Bracket  1250  may include openings  1252 , which may accept fasteners to secure connector receptacle  1200  to a device enclosure or other structure. 
     In this example, contacts  1210  and  1215  may be inserted through a bottom opening in housing  1220 . A latch including side ground contacts  1232  may be inserted into housing  1220 . Tape or insulation  1257  may be applied. Shield  1255  may be fixed around housing  1220 . Bracket  1250  may be soldered or spot-welded to shield  1255 . 
       FIG. 15  illustrates front and back oblique views of another connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention. Connector receptacle  1500  may include housing  1520  having an opening  1524  for accepting a connector insert. Connector receptacle  1500  may include side ground contacts  1532  and signal or bottom contacts  1510  and  1515 . Connector receptacle  1500  may further include shield  1555 . Bracket  1550  may be laser or spot-welded to shield  1555 . Bracket  1550  may include openings  1552 . Openings  1552  may accept fasteners which may attach connector receptacle  1500  to a device enclosure or other structure. 
       FIG. 16  illustrates a side view of a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention. Again, connector receptacle  1500  may include housing  1520  around contacts  1510  and  1532 . Shield  1555  may be placed at least partially around housing  1520 . Shield  1555  may cover the bottom side opening to protect contacts  1510  (and  1515 ). Shield  1555  may be insulated from contacts  1510  by insulative layer  1557 . Bracket  1550  may be attached to shield  1555 . 
       FIG. 17  illustrates top, front, and side views of a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention. Again, connector receptacle  1500  may include a front side opening  1524  and housing  1520  which may provide access to side ground contacts  1532  and bottom contacts  1510  and  1515 . Housing  1520  may be at least partially encased by shield  1555 . Bracket  1550  may attach to shield  1555 . Bracket  1550  may include openings  1552 , which may accept fasteners to secure connector receptacle  1500  to a device enclosure or other structure. 
     In this example, contacts  1510  and  1515  may be inserted through a bottom opening in housing  1520 . A latch including side ground contacts  1532  may be inserted into housing  1520 . Tape or insulation  1557  may be applied. Shield  1555  may be fixed around housing  1520 . Bracket  1550  may be soldered or spot-welded to shield  1555 . 
       FIG. 18  illustrates front and back oblique views of another connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention. Connector receptacle  1800  may include housing  1820  having an opening  1824  for accepting a connector insert. Connector receptacle  1800  may include side ground contacts  1832  and signal or bottom contacts  1810  and  1815 . Connector receptacle  1800  may further include shield  1855 . Bracket  1850  may include openings  1852 . Housing  1820  may include openings  1822  and shield  1855  may include openings  1857 . Openings  1852 ,  1822 , and  1857  may accept fasteners which may attach connector receptacle  1800  to a device enclosure or other structure. 
       FIG. 19  illustrates a side view of a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention. Again, connector receptacle  1800  may include housing  1820  around contacts  1810  (and  1815 ) and  1832 . Shield  1855  may be placed along a rear of housing  1820 . Tape portion  1860  may cover the bottom side opening to protect contacts  1810  (and  1815 ). 
       FIG. 20  illustrates top, front, and side views of a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention. Again, connector receptacle  1800  may include a front side opening  1824  and housing  1820  which may provide access to side ground contacts  1832  and bottom contacts  1810  and  1815 . A rear portion of housing  1820  may be at least partially covered by shield  1855 . Bracket  1850  may include openings  1852 , housing  1820  may include openings  1822 , and shield  1855  may include openings  1857 , which may accept fasteners to secure connector receptacle  1800  to a device enclosure or other structure. 
     In this example, contacts  1810  and  1815  may be inserted through a bottom opening in housing  1820 . A latch including side ground contacts  1832  may be inserted into housing  1820 . Tape or insulation  1860  may be applied to protect contacts  1810  and  1815 . Shield  1855  may be fixed around a rear portion of housing  1820 . Bracket  1850  may be attached to housing  1820 . 
     Again, embodiments of the present invention may provide connector receptacles that are readily assembled. A connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention that may minimize assembly processes is shown in the following figure. 
       FIG. 21  illustrates various components of a connector receptacle according to another embodiment of the present invention. Housing  2120  may have opening  2122 . Housing  2120  may be injection molded or formed in another appropriate manner. Housing  2120  may be formed of plastic, nylon, or other nonconductive material. Opening  2122  may accept a fastener to mount housing  2122  a printed circuit board, flexible circuit board, device enclosure, or other appropriate substrate. 
     Latch or ground piece  2130  may include arms  2132  joined by back piece  2136 . Latch or ground piece  2130  may include plugs  2134 . Plugs  2134  may be formed of plastic or other material and insert molded onto latch  2130  arms  2132 . Arms  2132  may form side ground contacts, as above. Latch or ground piece  2130  may be formed as the latch ground pieces above, such as latch or ground piece  930  in  FIG. 11 . 
     Contacts  2110  and  2115  may include raised portions  2117  and surface mount portions  2119 . Contacts  2110  and  2115  may be formed of stainless steel, such as stainless steel (304), stainless steel (301), or low carbon steel (1010), titanium, brass, gold-plated brass, or other appropriate material. 
     Contact tray  2170  may include raised portion  2172  and notches  2174 . Contact tray  2170  may be injection molded or formed using another appropriate method. Contact tray  2170  may be formed of plastic, nylon, or other nonconductive material. 
     Frame  2180  may include interlocking portions  2182  and tabs  2184 . Frame  2180  may be insert molded, or formed in another appropriate manner. For example, frame  2180  may be insert molded in place between contact tray  2170  and housing  2180 , as shown below. Frame  2180  may be formed of plastic, nylon, or other material. 
     During assembly, latch  2130  may be inserted into housing  2120  through opening (not shown) in a back of housing  2120 . Tab  2137  may be fit into a corresponding notch or cutout (not shown) in housing  2120 . In other embodiments of the present invention, latch  2130  may be inserted through other openings, such as an opening in a bottom of housing  2120 , or through an opening in a bottom-rear portion of housing  2120 . 
     Contacts  2110  and  2115  may be placed in contact tray  2170 . Using contact tray  2170  may provide a support mechanism for contacts  2110  and  2115  that may improve the contact&#39;s co-planarity, that is, it may improve the alignment of contacts  2110  and  2115  to each other. Contact tray  2170  may be inserted or fit into a bottom opening in housing  2120 . 
     Various embodiments of the present invention may provide connector receptacles having a robust water seal. In a specific embodiment of the present invention, this may be accomplished by insert molding a frame between contact tray  2170  and housing  2120  to secure contact tray  2170  in place. The resulting frame  2180  may seal ingress paths between housing  2120  and contact tray  2170 . Frame  2180  may also be used to close openings in a backside or elsewhere on housing  2120 . For example, an opening used to allow the insertion of latch or ground piece  2130  may be closed or sealed by frame  2180 . This seal may also be more secure than adhesives. Frame  2180  may also secure contacts  2110  and  2115  to housing  2120  by being formed around, or at least partially around, at least a portion of contacts  2110  and  2115 . In one embodiment of the present invention, a raised portion  2186  of frame  2180  may be at least partially formed around raised portions  2117  of contacts  2110  and  2115 . 
     In other embodiments of the present invention, frame  2180  may be placed between contact tray  2170  and housing  2120  to secure contact tray  2170  in place. This may be done by placing interlocking portions  2182  into corresponding interlocking portions in a back of housing  2120 , and replacing tabs  2184  in notches  2174  in contact tray  2170 . Additionally, other interlocking features, adhesives, or other methods may be used to secure Frame  2180  in place. A shield, such as shield  1855  in  FIG. 18 , may be placed around a portion of housing  2120 . 
       FIG. 22  illustrates an underside oblique view of a connector receptacle according to embodiment of the present invention. This view illustrates interlocking features  2127  on a back of housing  2120 . Surface mount portions of contacts  2110  and  2115  are exposed. These surface mount portions may be soldered or otherwise joined to traces on a printed circuit board, flexible circuit board, or other appropriate substrate. In this figure, contact tray  2170  may be fit into an opening in a bottom of housing  2120 . Again, housing  2120  may include openings  2122  to accept fasteners. 
       FIG. 23  illustrates another underside oblique view of a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, frame  2180  has been insert molded or otherwise fit between contact tray  2170  and housing  2120  to secure contact tray  2170  in place. Again, in embodiments of the present invention, frame  2180  may be molded in place between contact tray  2170  and housing  2120 . For example, frame  2180  may be insert molded between contact tray  2170  and housing  2120 . Frame  2180  may also be insert molded to cover a back opening of the receptacle, and to hold contacts  2110  and  2115  in place. This, in turn, may form a highly water resistant connector receptacle. This may help prevent water present at an outside of a device from entering the device through the connector receptacle. 
       FIG. 24  illustrates cutaway side views of a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this example, contacts  2110  and  2115  may reside on contact tray  2170  inside housing  2120 . Contacts  2110  and  2115  may include pre-biased cantilevered beams to form electrical connections with contacts on a connector insert. 
       FIG. 25  illustrates a back side of a connector receptacle according to embodiments of the present invention. This view illustrates interlocking portions  2182  on frame  2180  fitting into corresponding interlocking cutouts  2127  on housing  2120 . Again, an opening used to insert latch or ground piece  2130  in housing  2120  may be sealed or covered by frame  2180 . 
     Again, embodiments of the present invention may provide connector receptacles that employ seals, gaskets, O-rings, plugs, or other structures to limit or prevent the ingress of water or other fluids or liquids into electronic devices that house the connector receptacles. These seals, gaskets, O-rings, plugs, and other structures may reduce leakage between portions of connector receptacles, they may cover or block openings, or they may block fluid ingress in other ways. Examples are shown in the following figures. 
       FIG. 26  illustrates an exploded view of a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention. This connector receptacle may include a number of contacts  2610 . Contacts  2610  may include beam portions  2615  having contacting portions  2616  to mate with contacts on a connector insert when the connector insert is inserted into the connector receptacle. Contacts  2610  may also include mechanical stabilizing portions  2617  and surface mount contacting portions  2619 . 
     Contacts  2610  may be inserted into slots  2629  in housing  2620 . Housing  2620  may also include openings  2622  for accepting fasteners. Latch piece  2630  may include arms  2632  that may terminate in side ground contacts  2633 . Arms  2632  may be joined by back piece  2636 . Back piece  2636  may include tabs  2639  and openings  2637 . Arms  2632  may be inserted into openings  2624  in a rear of housing  2620 . Openings  2624  may extend to openings in a front opening of the connector receptacle such that ground contacts  2633  may be exposed in those openings and may make contact with ground on sides of a connector insert when the connector insert is inserted in the connector receptacle. Tabs  2627  on a rear of housing  2620  may fit in openings  2637  on latch piece  2630 . 
     Cap or tray  2670  may fit over contacts  2610  to cover an opening in a top side of housing  2620 . Cap or tray  2670  may include raised surface  2672 , which may fit in opening  2654  in top shield portion  2650 . Cap or tray  2670  may further include raised portions  2676  to assist in securing contacts  2610  in place. Top shield portion  2650  may include tabs  2656 , which may fit in openings  2626  in housing  2620 . A bottom shield portion  2640  may include a rear portion  2648  angled upwards to cover a rear of a connector receptacle. Rear portion  2648  may include tabs  2649 , which may be inserted into a printed circuit board, flexible circuit board, or other circuit board or appropriate substrate. Tabs  2646  may be inserted into openings in a bottom of housing  2620 . A bottom shield portion  2640  may include openings  2642  to align with openings  2622  in housing  2620 . Bottom shield portion  2640  may also include openings  2644  to align with openings  2652  in top shield portion  2650 . Fasteners may be inserted through these openings to secure these portions of this connector receptacle to each other, to secure the connector receptacle in place in an electronic device, or both. 
     In this embodiment of the present invention, additional waterproofing structures may be added. For example, seal, O-ring, or gasket  2680  may be placed between cap or tray  2670  and housing  2620  to prevent leakage between these portions of the receptacle. Cutouts or notches  2682  may align with tabs  2674  on cap or tray  2670  to align the seal in place. Seal, O-ring, or gasket  2680  may be formed of Mylar, Mylar tape, silicone, double-sided tape, or other appropriate material. 
     This connector receptacle may also include seal  2690 . Seal  2690  may cover rear openings  2624  in housing  2620 . This seal  2690  may block the leakage path through front side openings in a front  2621  of housing  2622  to rear openings  2624  in housing  2622 , where the front side openings may allow access to side ground contacts  2633 . Seal  2690  may be formed of Mylar, Mylar tape, silicone, double-sided tape, or other appropriate material. Seal  2690  may include wide portions  2694  to cover openings  2624 . Seal  2690  may further include openings  2699  to align with tabs  2639  on back piece  2636  of latch piece  2630 . 
       FIG. 27  illustrates a bottom view of a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention. Cap or tray  2670  may include raised portion  2672  to fit in an opening in top shield portion  2650 . Surface mount contact portions  2619  may be available at a rear of a connector receptacle. Seal or Mylar piece  2690  may cover a rear of housing  2620  and may be located between housing  2620  and a rear portion  2648  of bottom shield portion  2640 . Rear portion  2648  may include tabs  2649 , which may be inserted into openings in a circuit board. This connector receptacle may include a front opening  2621  for accepting a connector insert. Openings  2622  and  2652  may be used to accept fasteners to hold the various portions of the connector receptacle together, to secure her a connector receptacle in place in a device enclosure, or both. 
     Instead of seal  2690 , other embodiments of the present invention may block openings  2624  with a plug or other structure. An example is shown in the following figure. 
       FIG. 28  illustrates an exploded view of a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention. This connector receptacle may include a number of contacts  2810 . Contacts  2810  may include beam portions  2815  terminating in contact portions  2816 . Contact portions  2816  may mate with contacts on a connector insert when the connector insert is inserted into this connector receptacle. Contacts  2810  may also include mechanical stabilizing portions  2817  and rear surface mount portions  2819 . Contacts  2810  may be joined together by a molded portion  2813 . 
     Contacts  2810  may be inserted into an opening in the bottom of housing  2820 . A cap or tray  2870  may be placed to cover the bottom opening in housing  2820 . Cap or tray  2870  may include slots  2874  for contacts  2810 , and tabs  2876  which may fit into notches in housing  2820 . Cap or tray  2870  may also include raised portions  2872  to help support mechanical stabilizing portions  2817  on contacts  2810 . 
     This connector receptacle may also include a latch  2830 . Latch  2830  may include side arms  2832 , which may terminate in side ground contacts  2833 . Arms  2832  may be joined by back piece  2836 , which may include openings  2837 . Openings  2837  may accept tabs  2826  on a rear portion of housing  2820 . Side ground contacts  2833  may be exposed at side openings in the front opening  2821  of housing  2820 . Housing  2820  may further include openings  2822  to accept fasteners as before. 
     This connector receptacle may include top shield portion  2850  and bottom shield portion  2840 . Bottom shield portion  2840  may include openings  2842  and tabs  2844 . Tabs  2844  may fit in openings in a bottom of housing  2820 . Similarly, top shield portion  350  may include tabs  2856 , which may fit into openings  2826  in housing  2820 . Top shield portion  2850  may include a rear portion  2857 , which may be folded downward to cover a rear of housing  2820 . The rear portion  2857  of top shield portion  2850  may include tabs  2854 . Tabs  2854  may be inserted into openings in a printed circuit board, flexible circuit board, or other circuit board or other appropriate substrate. Top shield portion  2850  may include openings  2852  and  2858  to accept fasteners. 
     In this embodiment of the present invention, a seal, O-ring, or gasket (not shown) may be placed between cap or tray  2870  and housing  2820 , as shown above. Plugs  2890  may be inserted into openings  2824  to block the water or other fluid ingress path from the front side openings for contacts  2833 . That is, openings  2824  may extend to openings in a front opening of the connector receptacle such that ground contacts  2833  may be exposed in those openings and may make contact with ground on sides of a connector insert when the connector insert is inserted in the connector receptacle. This may form an ingress path that may be blocked by plugs  2890 . These plugs  2890  may be formed of plastic, silicone, or other material. Plugs  2890  may be located between that piece  2836  and rear portion  2857  of top shield portion  2850 . Plugs  2890  may be press fit into housing  2820 . 
       FIG. 29  illustrates a top view of a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention. Housing  2820  may be partially covered on a top side by top shield portion  2850 . Top shield portion  2850  may include a rear portion  2857  folded downward to cover a rear of housing  2820 . Tabs  2854  and surface mount contacts  2819  may be attached or connected to a circuit board. Plugs  2890  may cover rear openings in housing  2820  to prevent or limit fluid ingress into the electronic device housing this connector receptacle. Openings  2852  and  2822  may accept fasteners to secure these portions of the connector receptacle goal together, to secure the connector receptacle to a device enclosure, or both. 
       FIG. 30  illustrates a bottom view of connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention. Cap or tray  2870  may be located in an opening in housing  2820 . A bottom shield portion  2840  may be used to help secure cap or tray  2870  in place. Tabs  2844  on a partial portion  2840  may be inserted into openings  2828  in housing  2820 . As before, tabs  2854  and surface mount contact portions  2819  may be available to be connected to be circuit board or other appropriate substrate. Openings  2842  and  2822  may accept fasteners, as before. 
     Embodiments of the present invention may provide connector receptacles that are configured to accept various connector inserts. Some embodiments of the present invention may provide a connector receptacle that is configured to accept connector inserts in at least two orientations. That is, they may accept connector inserts having a first or right-side-up orientation and a second or up-side-down orientation. Examples of these connector inserts, and their pinouts, can be found in U.S. provisional application Nos. 61/565,372, filed Nov. 30, 2011, titled Dual Orientation Electronic Connector with External Contacts, and 61/694,423; filed Aug. 29, 2012, titled Dual Orientation Electronic Connector, which are incorporated by reference. With these embodiments of the present invention, circuitry may be included in the device and associated with the connector receptacle to adjust for the orientation of a connector insert. This circuitry is described further in U.S. provisional application No. 61/565,463, filed Nov. 30, 2011, titled Techniques for Configuring Contacts of a Connector, which is incorporated by reference. 
     In various embodiments of the present invention, the components of the connector receptacles 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, seals, gaskets, 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 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, portable media players, navigation systems, monitors, power supplies, adapters, remote control devices, chargers, and other devices. These connector receptacles 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 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: 20140908
Publication Date: 20161115
Grant Date: 20161115
Priority Date: 20120209
Inventors: DO TRENT K.
SLOEY JASON S.
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "H01R4/64", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R2107/00", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R12/724", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/5202", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/6581", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/5202", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R24/62", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R2107/00", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R12/724", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R4/64", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R24/62", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/6581", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/5202", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R12/724", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R2107/00", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R24/62", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/6581", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R4/64", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 53173749