PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-9537263-B2
Application Number: US-201414543711-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Connector receptacle having a shield

Abstract:
Connector systems may include a connector receptacle and connector plug or insert. The connector receptacle may include a tongue. A first plurality of contacts may be formed on a top surface of the tongue. A first ground pad may be located on a top surface of tongue, and a shield may be formed around the tongue. The connector insert may include a housing and a conductive shield around the housing behind a leading edge of the connector insert. A front edge of the shield may be folded into an opening at the leading edge. In other examples, the receptacle shield may include one or more fingers. These fingers may contact the connector insert shield to form a ground path. One or more of these fingers may engage openings in the insert shield to provide a retention force between the connector insert and receptacle.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electronic device comprising:
 a receptacle comprising: 
 a tongue; 
 a first plurality of contacts formed on a top surface of the tongue, each of the first plurality of contacts having a contacting portion to electrically connect to a corresponding contact in a connector insert; 
 a first ground pad located on a top surface of the tongue; 
 a shield formed around the tongue; and 
 a bracket around a portion of the tongue and arranged to support the shield, where the first ground pad is located between the contacting portions of the first plurality of contacts and the bracket. 
 
     
     
       2. The electronic device of  claim 1  wherein the first ground pad is a ground pad in a first plurality of ground pads on the top surface of the tongue. 
     
     
       3. The electronic device of  claim 2  further comprising:
 a second ground pad formed on a bottom surface of the tongue. 
 
     
     
       4. The electronic device of  claim 3  further comprising:
 a second plurality of contacts formed on the bottom surface of the tongue. 
 
     
     
       5. The electronic device of  claim 4  wherein the tongue has notches in each of a left and right side to engage a spring in the connector insert when the connector insert is mated to the connector receptacle. 
     
     
       6. The electronic device of  claim 3  wherein the second ground pad is one of a second plurality of ground pads on the bottom of the tongue. 
     
     
       7. A connector insert comprising:
 a housing; 
 a conductive shield around the housing behind a leading edge of the connector insert, the shield having a front edge split to form multiple ground contacts, the multiple ground contacts folded approximately 180 degrees into an opening at the leading edge, the multiple ground contacts comprising first ground contacts extending a first depth into the opening at the leading edge and between second ground contacts extending a second depth into the opening at the leading edge, the second depth greater than the first depth; 
 a top row of contacts; and 
 a bottom row of contacts. 
 
     
     
       8. The connector insert of  claim 7  wherein the housing is plastic. 
     
     
       9. The connector insert of  claim 7  wherein the shield is formed of steel. 
     
     
       10. The connector insert of  claim 7  wherein the folded front edge of the shield is arranged to engage ground contacts on a top side and bottom side of a tongue of a connector receptacle. 
     
     
       11. The connector insert of  claim 7  further comprising a second housing to support the shield, the second housing behind the shield. 
     
     
       12. The connector insert of  claim 11  wherein the first ground contacts are positioned such that undesirable connections to contacts in a connector receptacle are not formed when the connector insert is inserted into the connector receptacle. 
     
     
       13. A connector receptacle comprising:
 a tongue; 
 a first plurality of contacts formed on a top surface of the tongue, each of the first plurality of contacts having a contacting portion to electrically connect to a corresponding contact in a connector insert; 
 a first ground pad located on a top surface of tongue; 
 a shield formed around the tongue, the shield having a first finger on a first side, the first finger to engage a first opening in a connector insert shield to provide a retention force between the connector insert and the connector receptacle; and 
 a bracket around a portion of the tongue and arranged to support the shield, where the first ground pad is located between the contacting portions of the first plurality of contacts and the bracket. 
 
     
     
       14. The connector receptacle of  claim 13  wherein the tongue has notches in each of a left and right side to engage a spring in a connector insert when the connector insert is mated to the connector receptacle. 
     
     
       15. The connector receptacle of  claim 14  wherein the bracket and shield are formed as separate pieces. 
     
     
       16. The connector receptacle of  claim 13  wherein the bracket and shield are formed as a single piece. 
     
     
       17. The connector receptacle of  claim 13  wherein the shield includes a second finger for contacting the connector insert shield. 
     
     
       18. The connector receptacle of  claim 13  wherein the shield includes a plurality of fingers for contacting the connector insert shield. 
     
     
       19. The connector receptacle of  claim 13  wherein the shield further comprises a second finger on a second side, the second finger to engage a second opening in the connector insert shield.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/905,279, filed Nov. 17, 2013, 61/918,599, filed Dec. 19, 2013, 61/922,853, filed Jan. 1, 2014, 61/926,391, filed Jan. 12, 2014, 61/927,468, filed Jan. 14, 2014, 61/929,967, filed Jan. 21, 2014, and 62/003,012, filed May 26, 2014, which are incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The amount of data transferred between electronic devices has grown tremendously the last several years. Large amounts of audio, streaming video, text, and other types of data content are now regularly transferred among desktop and portable computers, media devices, handheld media devices, displays, storage devices, and other types of electronic devices. Power may be transferred with this data, or power may be transferred separately. 
     Power and data may be conveyed over cables that may include wire conductors, fiber optic cables, or some combination of these or other conductors. Cable assemblies may include a connector insert at each end of a cable, though other cable assemblies may be connected or tethered to an electronic device in a dedicated manner. The connector inserts may be inserted into receptacles in the communicating electronic devices to provide pathways for power and data. 
     These receptacles may be highly visible along a side of a device and may consume internal space inside the device. Accordingly, it may be desirable to provide receptacles having a reduced profile and size, as well as a pleasant appearance. Also, the data rates through these connector receptacles may be quite high. To provide these high data rates, it may be desirable that the connector receptacles have a high signal integrity and low insertion loss. 
     These connector inserts may be inserted into a device receptacle once or more each day for multiple years. It may be desirable that these connector inserts and receptacles are reliable and do not break or wear down prematurely, since such failures may lead to user dissatisfaction with both the cable assembly and the electronic devices that they connect to. 
     Electronic devices may be sold in the millions, with an attendant number of cable assemblies and their connector inserts sold alongside. With such volumes, any reduction or simplification in the manufacturing may become significant. For such reasons, it may be desirable that these connector inserts and receptacles are readily manufactured. 
     Thus, what is needed are connector inserts and receptacles that have an attractive appearance, a low profile, a high signal integrity and low insertion loss, are reliable, and are readily manufactured. 
     SUMMARY 
     Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention may provide connector inserts, receptacles, and other structures that have an attractive appearance, a low profile, a high signal integrity and low insertion loss, are reliable, and are readily manufactured. 
     An illustrative embodiment of the present invention may provide attractive devices by providing a connector receptacle having a reduced complexity and a resulting simplified appearance. This reduced complexity may also improve device manufacturability and reliably, and improve durability as well. 
     An illustrative embodiment of the present invention may provide devices having a low profile by employing a tongue formed having contacts that may be printed, plated, or otherwise formed on a surface of the tongue. This may provide a thin tongue, thereby helping to reduce the profile of the connector. Also, this configuration may remove the need for conventional spring-type signal contacts that may increase a profile or height of a receptacle. The removal of these spring type signal contacts may also improve the reliability and durability of these connectors. Specifically, connector inserts or other items won&#39;t get caught on these spring type contacts, thereby damaging the receptacle and device. Instead, embodiments of the present invention may include these signal contacts in the connector insert or plug. This way, if a signal contact is damaged, only a cable may need to be replaced and the device itself may not be damaged. 
     Another embodiment of the present invention may provide connector systems having good shielding. In one example, a receptacle may have a shield around a tongue to mate with a shield on a connector insert. Specifically, the insert shield may fit inside and connect to the receptacle shield. Contacts on the insert shield may form electrical connections with contacts on the tongue. 
     In other embodiments of the present invention, a shield on a connector insert may contact a shield in a receptacle in different ways. For example, one or more fingers may be stamped in a shield that is formed or placed around a tongue of a connector receptacle. A shield around a connector insert may be inserted into a receptacle shield and may contact the fingers in the receptacle shield thereby forming a ground connection. One or more cutouts or openings in the connector insert shield may accept an end of a receptacle shield finger to provide a retention force. In still other embodiments of the present invention, one or more fingers may be formed in a connector insert shield and contact or fit in cutouts or openings in the receptacle shield. In other embodiments, a combination of openings and fingers on the connector insert shield and the receptacle shield may be used. 
     An illustrative embodiment of the present invention may provide connector receptacles having good retention properties. For example, a connector receptacle tongue may include notches on each of a left and right side, where the notches accept ground contacts on a connector insert when the connector insert is inserted into the connector receptacle. In other embodiments of the present invention, one or more fingers may be formed in a shield around the tongue of a receptacle. These fingers may pass along an outside edge of the shield during insertion. Contact points on the fingers may fit in openings along a side of the connector insert shield. 
     Connector receptacle tongues may be mated to device enclosure housings in different ways in different embodiments of the present invention. For example, a bracket may be placed around the tongue, where the bracket has an opening for attaching to a device enclosure or other structure. 
     Another illustrative embodiment of the present invention may provide connector inserts to mate with these connector receptacles. One specific embodiment may provide a connector insert having a grounded metallic shield for shielding, isolation, and retention purposes. The shield may have a leading edge, where the leading edge is folded back into an opening at a front of the insert. The folded portion may contact one or more ground pads on a tongue of the receptacle. The insert shield may contact a receptacle shield around the tongue. The folded portion of the insert shield may contact ground pads on the tongue. The connections from pads on a tongue to an insert shield to a receptacle shield may form a Faraday cage around contacts on the tongue. 
     In various embodiments of the present invention, a folded leading edge of the insert shield may engage the contacts on the receptacle tongue during insertion. To avoid shorting power contacts to ground, the contacts formed by the leading edge may be spaced such that they do not encounter the power contacts, or make other undesirable connections to other pins, during insertion. 
     Another embodiment of the present invention may include ground contacts near a front opening of the insert shield. These ground contacts may replace or supplement the ground contacts formed by folding the leading edges of the insert shield described above. These ground contacts may be a separate piece formed separately from the shield and from the signal, power, and other ground contacts in the connector insert. In a specific embodiment, these ground contacts may have a sufficient length to provide enough force along a lever arm such that the ground contacts may form a good electrical connection with ground pads on receptacle tongues. This length may also help prevent permanent deformation of the ground contacts. The ground contacts may be placed above the signal, power, and other ground contacts (referred to simply as signal contacts) in the connector insert. This positioning may allow the ground contacts to have sufficient length while also consuming a minimal amount of space and not significantly increasing a length or thickness of the connector inserts. 
     To reduce the capacitance between the ground contacts and the signal contacts below the ground contacts, the ground contacts may have openings, where the openings are placed above the signal contacts. This reduced capacitance may increase the impedance of the signal contacts thereby improving signal quality. Tape may be placed over the signal pins to prevent inadvertent connections to the ground contacts and to the connector insert shield. Ground or other appropriate contacts on a tongue in a connector receptacle may be located where they engage the ground contacts in the connector insert during insertion of the connector insert. That is, the ground contacts may be arranged so that they do not contact power contacts during insertion. This may help to avoid damage to circuitry connected to either the connector receptacle or the connector insert during insertion. Examples of such ground contacts or pieces can be found in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/543,717, filed Nov. 17, 2014, titled GROUND CONTACTS FOR REDUCED-LENGTH CONNECTOR INSERTS, which is incorporated by reference. 
     Other embodiments of the present invention may provide other features for increasing the impedance of signal contacts in order to improve signal integrity in order to allow high data rates. For example, various embodiments of the present invention may include ground planes between rows of contacts in a connector in order to shield or electrically isolate signals in the different rows from each other. Also, a grounded shield may surround these rows of contacts. The ground plane and shield may increase capacitance to the signal contacts, thereby lowering the impedance at the contacts and degrading signal integrity. Accordingly, in order to improve signal integrity, embodiments of the present invention may thin or reduce thicknesses of one or more of the shield, ground plane, or contacts in order to increase the distances between the structures. This increase in distance may increase the impedance at the contacts. 
     In other embodiments of the present invention, the shape of a signal contact when it is in a deflected or inserted stage may be optimized. For example, a contact may be contoured to be at a maximum distance from the ground plane and shield over its length in order to increase impedance at the contact. In a specific embodiment of the present invention where the ground plane and shield are substantially flat, the signal contacts may be substantially flat as well, and where either or both the ground plane and shield are curved, the signal contacts may be substantially curved as well. 
     In this embodiment of the present invention, the signal contacts of a connector insert may be designed to be substantially flat when the connector insert is inserted into a connector receptacle. This design may also include a desired normal force to be applied to a contact on a connector receptacle by a connector insert signal contact. From this design, the shape of the connector insert signal contacts when the connector insert is not inserted in a connector receptacle may be determined. That is, from knowing the shape of a connector insert signal contact in a deflected state and the desired normal force to be made during a connection, the shape of a connector insert signal contact in a non-deflected state may be determined. The connector insert signal contacts may be manufactured using the determined non-deflected state information. This stands in contrast to typical design procedures that design a contact beginning with the non-deflected state. Further details may be found in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/543,803, filed Nov. 17, 2014, titled Connector Insert Assembly, which is incorporated by reference. 
     In these and other embodiments of the present invention where a leading edge of a connector insert shield is not folded back to form ground contacts, a leading edge of the connector insert may be a plastic tip. This plastic tip may be a front portion of a housing in the connector insert. Embodiments of the present invention may provide features to prevent light gaps from occurring between the plastic tip and shield. One illustrative embodiment of the present invention may provide a step or ledge on the plastic tip to block light from passing between the plastic tip and the shield. In other embodiments of the present invention, a force may be exerted on the shield acting to keep the shield adjacent to, or in proximity of, the plastic tip. This force may be applied at a rear of the shield by one or more arms having ramped surfaces, where the arms are pushed in an outward direction and the ramps are arranged to apply a force to the shield. Further details may be found in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/543,803, filed Nov. 17, 2014, titled Connector Insert Assembly, which is incorporated by reference. 
     In various embodiments of the present invention, contacts, shields, and other conductive portions of connector inserts and receptacles 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 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, rubber, hard rubber, plastic, nylon, liquid-crystal polymers (LCPs), or other nonconductive material or combination of materials. The printed circuit boards used may be formed of FR-4, BT or other material. Printed circuit boards may be replaced by other substrates, such as flexible circuit boards, in many embodiments of the present invention. 
     Embodiments of the present invention may provide connector inserts and 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 inserts and receptacles may provide pathways for signals that are compliant with various standards such as one of the Universal Serial Bus (USB) standards, such as USB-C, 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. Other embodiments of the present invention may provide connector inserts and receptacles that may be used to provide a reduced set of functions for one or more of these standards. In various embodiments of the present invention, these interconnect paths provided by these connector inserts and 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 connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a connector receptacle according to embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a simplified view of a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a connector insert according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a connector receptacle according to embodiments the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates an underside oblique view of the connector receptacle of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a front view of the connector receptacle of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a side view of a connector receptacle of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a top cross-section view of the connector receptacle of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  illustrates a front view of the connector receptacle of  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 12  illustrates a side view of a connector receptacle of  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 13  illustrates a top view of the connector receptacle of  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 14  illustrates a cut away view of the connector receptacle of  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 15  illustrates initial acts that may be used in manufacturing connector receptacles according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 16  illustrates following acts that may be used in the manufacturing connector receptacles according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 17  illustrates following acts that may be used in manufacturing connector receptacles according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 18  illustrates following acts that may be used in manufacturing connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 19  illustrates a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 20  illustrates another connector receptacle according to an embodiment present invention; 
         FIG. 21  illustrates a front view of the connect receptacle of  FIG. 20 ; 
         FIG. 22  illustrates another connector insert according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 23  illustrates a front view of the connector insert of  FIG. 22 ; 
         FIG. 24  illustrates a top view of the connector insert of  FIG. 22 ; 
         FIG. 25  illustrates a top cross-section view of the connector insert of  FIG. 22 ; 
         FIG. 26  illustrates a side cut away view of a connector insert of  FIG. 22 ; 
         FIG. 27  illustrates a connector insert according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 28  illustrates a top view of a connector insert of  FIG. 27 ; 
         FIG. 29  illustrates a side view of a connector insert of  FIG. 27 ; 
         FIG. 30  illustrates a front view of the connector insert of  FIG. 27 ; 
         FIG. 31  illustrates a top view of the connector insert of  FIG. 27 ; 
         FIG. 32  illustrates initial acts in manufacturing of a connector insert according to embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 33  illustrates following acts that may be used during the manufacture of connector insert according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 34  illustrates following acts that may be used during the manufacture of connector insert according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 35  illustrates a connector insert according to an embodiment of the present invention that has been inserted into a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 36  illustrates a cutaway view showing the mating of a connector insert and a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 37  illustrates an oblique view showing the mating of a connector insert in a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 38  illustrates a ground contact piece according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 39  illustrates a close-up view of a ground piece according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 40  illustrates another connector insert inserted into a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 41  illustrates a side view of a connector system according to an embodiment of the present invention 
         FIG. 42  illustrates a side view of connector system according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 43  illustrates a side view of a portion of a connector system according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 44  illustrates a top view of a connector system according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 45  illustrates a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 46  illustrates a connector insert according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 47  illustrates a connector receptacle according to an embodiment present invention; 
         FIG. 48  illustrates a front view of the connector receptacle of  FIG. 47 ; 
         FIG. 49  illustrates another front view of a connector receptacle of  FIG. 47 ; 
         FIG. 50  illustrates a side view of a connector receptacle in  FIG. 47 ; 
         FIG. 51  illustrates another connector plug or insert according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 52  illustrates a portion of a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 53  illustrates a side view of the connector receptacle of  FIG. 52 ; 
         FIG. 54  illustrates a rear view of the connector receptacle of  FIG. 52 ; 
         FIG. 55  is a pinout for a connector receptacle according to embodiments the present invention; 
         FIG. 56  is another pinout for a connector receptacle according to embodiments the present invention; 
         FIG. 57  illustrates a mapping of pins for various types of interfaces to pins of a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 58  illustrates another mapping of pins for various types of interfaces to pins of a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 59  is another pinout for a connector receptacle according to embodiments the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention. This figure, as with the other included figures, is shown for illustrative purposes and does not limit either the possible embodiments of the present invention or the claims. Also, while only one surface of the tongue is shown in this in the other included figures, a second surface of the tongue may be identical or similar to the illustrated top surface and may include identical or similar features and structures. 
     This connector receptacle may be located in opening  110  of enclosure  100 . Device enclosure  100  may be an enclosure for a portable computing device, tablet, desktop computer, laptop, all-in-one computer, cell phone, smart phone, media phone, storage device, portable media player, navigation system, monitors, power supply, adapter, and charger, or other device. The connector receptacle may include a shield  120  surrounding tongue  130 . Tongue  130  may support contacts  140  in an isolation area  150 . Ground contacts  160  and  170  may also be located on tongue  130 . Notches  135  may be located on left and right sides of tongue  130 . These notches may act as retention features by accepting ground contacts in a connector insert. A rear  180  of a connector receptacle may be formed by a bracket, which may be seen more clearly in the following figure. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a connector receptacle according to embodiment of the present invention. Again, tongue  130  may be located inside shield  120 . Bracket  180  may be formed around a part of tongue  130 . Bracket  180  may include openings  220  for accepting fasteners so that the connector receptacle may be secured to device enclosure  100  or other appropriate structure. Bracket  180  may also form a rear of the connector receptacle opening. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a simplified view of a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention. The connector receptacle may be located in device enclosure  100 . The receptacle may include a shield around tongue  130 . 
     Embodiments of the present invention may also provide connector inserts to mate with these connector receptacles. An example is shown in the following figure. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a connector insert according to an embodiment of the present invention. This connector insert may include a shield  420 . This shield may be located around insert housing  410 . Insert housing  410  may be formed of plastic or other nonconducting material. A leading edge of shield  420  may be folded back into an opening of the connector insert to form one or more contacts  430 . These contacts may be split to improve contact to ground pads on a tongue in the connector receptacle. 
     During insertion, contacts  430  may otherwise form undesirable electrical connections with pads or contacts  140  on tongue  130  in the connector receptacle. Accordingly, contacts  430  may be separated by spaces  432  such that undesirable connections to power and other pins are not created during insertion. 
     The connector insert may further include fingers  450  and a housing  440  to enclose circuitry and a printed circuit board. Housing  440  may further provide a structure to be handled by a user during insertion and extraction. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a connector receptacle according to another embodiment of the present invention. This connector receptacle may include tongue  530  surrounded by shield  510 . Shield  510  may have an opening  520 , which may accept a connector insert. Tongue  530  may include cutouts  535  for grounding and retention features. Tongue  530  may further include contacts  540 , which may be located on a top and bottom of tongue  530 . Tongue  530  may be supported by housing or bracket  550 . Shield  510  may include a number of tabs  580  on lower shield portion  570 , which may be soldered into openings on a printed circuit board for shielding and mechanical stability. Tongue  530  may be chamfered along one or more edges  532  both for cosmetic reasons and to facilitate insertion of a connector insert. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates an underside oblique view of the connector receptacle of  FIG. 5 . Again, tongue  530  may be located in opening  520  of shield  510 . Tongue  530  may support a number of contacts  540 . Contacts  540  may connect to contact tails  542  and  543 . Contact tails  542  and  543  may connect to contacts or traces on a printed circuit board or other appropriate substrate. Contact tails  542  and  543  may be surface mount, through-hole, or other types of contacts. Contact tails  542  and  543  may be supported by housing  550 . 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a front view of the connector receptacle of  FIG. 5 . Again, tongue  530  may be supported by housing or bracket  550 . Tongue  530  may be surrounded by shield  510 . Tabs  580  may connect to lower shield portion  570  and may be soldered into an opening in a printed circuit board for grounding and mechanical stability. Contact tails  542  may emerge from a bottom side of the receptacle. Contact tails  542  may connect to one or more contacts  540  on tongue  530 . In this example, contact tails  542  may be surface mount contacts, though in other embodiments of the present invention, contact tails  542  may be through-hole or other types of contacts. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a side view of a connector receptacle of  FIG. 5 . Shield  510  may be supported by lower shield piece  570 . Lower shield piece  570  may include one or more tabs  580  to form ground connections to a printed circuit board or other appropriate substrate. Contacts  542  and  543  may be in electrical contact with contacts  540  on tongue  530 . Contacts  542  and  543  may be surface mount contacts that may be soldered to contacts and traces on a printed circuit board. 
       FIG. 9  is a top cross-section view of the connector receptacle of  FIG. 5 . Again tongue  530  may be located in shield  510 . Notches  535  may be located in sides of tongue  530 . The sides of tongue  530  may be metallized such that notches  535  may act in conjunction with features on a connector insert for retention and isolation purposes. Contacts  540  may be surrounded by an isolation area  544 . Region  589  may be a metallized area for grounding. Regions  545  and  588  may be ground contacts. Specifically, regions  545  may connect to ground contacts in a connector insert. Regions  545  may be ground contacts and may be electrically connected to grounds that may be around and over notches  535 . A connector insert may have a shield portion to make contact with ground pad  588 . 
     In various embodiments of the present invention, notches  535  may be formed differently. For example, these notches may be formed as a general narrow and of a tongue behind a wider, front portion. Also, ground contacts, such as ground contacts  588 , may be formed in various ways. For example, ground contacts  588  may be replaced by one or more metallic ground pieces. An example of such a connector receptacle is shown in the following figure. 
       FIG. 10  illustrates a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention. This figure illustrates a connector receptacle having a shield  1010 . Shield  1010  may have an opening  1020 , in which is located tongue  1030 . Tongue  1030  may support a number of contacts  1040 . Tongue  1030  may have a narrow portion  1035  behind a leading, front portion. 
     Tongue  1030  may also support ground contacts  1060 . Ground contacts  1060  may be formed from one or more metallic pieces. Ground contacts  1060  may connect to ground contacts near an opening of a connector insert when the connector insert is inserted into this connector receptacle. 
       FIG. 11  illustrates a front view of the connector receptacle of  FIG. 10 . Again, this connector receptacle may include tongue  1030  surrounded by shield  1010 . Tongue  1030  may support a number of contacts  1040 . Contacts  1040  may be connected to contact tail portions  1042 . Contact tail portions may connect to contacts or traces on a printed circuit board. Contact tail portions  1042  may be surface mount or through hole type contacts. 
       FIG. 12  illustrates a side view of a connector receptacle of  FIG. 10 . Again, tongue  1030  may be surrounded by shield  1010 . Tongue  1030  may support a number of contacts  1040  on its top and bottom. Ground contacts  1060  may also be included on tongue  1030 . 
       FIG. 13  illustrates a top view of the connector receptacle of  FIG. 10 . Again, this connector receptacle may include tongue  1030  inside of shield  1010 . Tongue  1030  may support a number of contacts  1040  in an isolation area  1044 . Side portions  1046  of notches  1035  may be plated to form ground connections with features in a connector insert. Ground contacts  1045  may be electrically connected to side portions  1046 . Ground contacts  1060  may also be located on tongue  1030 . 
       FIG. 14  illustrates a cut away view of the connector receptacle of  FIG. 10 . Again, this connector receptacle may include tongue  1030  located inside of shield  1010 . Notch  1035  may be metallized and formed to electrically connect to contacts  1045 . Tongue  1030  may further support contacts  1040  in isolated area  1044 . 
     These connector receptacles may be formed in various ways using various techniques. One example is shown in the following figures. 
       FIG. 15  illustrates initial acts that may be used in manufacturing connector receptacles according to an embodiment of the present invention. A number of contacts may be formed, including contacts  1040  and ground contacts  1045 . An insert or injection molded piece may be formed around a mid-portion of these contacts, resulting in structure  1510 . Bottom ground contacts  1061  may be placed on structure  1510 , resulting in structure  1520 . 
       FIG. 16  illustrates following acts that may be used in the manufacturing connector receptacles according to an embodiment of the present invention. A second group of contacts, including contacts  1041  and  1046  may be formed. Again, insert or injection molding may be used to form a plastic housing around a mid-section of these contacts, resulting in structure  1610 . A top of ground contact  1060  may be added, resulting in structure  1620 . 
       FIG. 17  illustrates following acts that may be used in manufacturing connector stamped and formed. A plastic or nonconductive piece  1720  may be added to a front of mid-piece  1710 . Piece  1720  may form a front edge of a tongue of a connector receptacle, and may provide isolation between pins located on the tongue. 
     Previously formed pieces  1620  and  1520  may be placed above and below mid-piece  1720 , resulting in connector receptacle tongue  1740 . 
       FIG. 18  illustrates following acts that may be used in manufacturing connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention. Connector receptacle tongue  1740  may be inserted into shield  1800 , resulting in connector receptacle  1810 . 
     In various embodiments of the present invention, ground piece  1060  may be formed in different ways. For example, the ground piece  1060  may be angled such that it may connect directly to shield  1010 , for example by laser or spot welding. An example is shown in the following figure. 
       FIG. 19  illustrates a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this example, ground piece  1610  has been replaced with ground piece  1910 . Ground piece  1910  may include flat surface  1920 . Flat surface  1920  may form a ground connection with a shield at a front end of a connector insert. Finger  1930  may further improve this electrical connection between ground piece  1910  and a shield or other ground contacts in a connector insert. Ground piece  1910  may be angled to include top portion  1940 . Top portion  1940  may be soldered or spot welded to shield  1010  around the connector receptacle. 
       FIG. 20  illustrates another connector receptacle according to an embodiment present invention. Again, shield  2010  may surround a tongue  2030  supporting a number of contacts  2040 . Ground piece  2060  may be included. Ground piece  2060  may include a front horizontal surface  2062 . Front horizontal surface  2062  may form an electrical connection with a ground contacts near a front of a connector insert when the connector insert is inserted into this connector receptacle. Ground piece  2060  may further include a vertical portion  2064 . Vertical portion  2064  may optionally form an electrical connection with a front of a shield on a connector insert. Ground piece  2060  may further include back horizontal piece  2066 . Back horizontal piece  2066  may be connected to shield  2010  at points  2012  by spot or laser welding, or other appropriate method. 
     The arrangement of ground piece  2060  may provide a high degree of shielding for signals conveyed by contacts  2040 . Specifically, ground contacts near a front of a connector insert may form an electrical connection with front horizontal piece  2062 . A front of a shield around the connector insert may form an electrical connection with vertical portion  2064 . An outside of the shield around the connector insert may form an electrical connection with shield  2010  of the receptacle. Shield  2010  may be electrically connected to back horizontal piece  2066  via connection points  2012 . 
       FIG. 21  illustrates a front view of the connect receptacle of  FIG. 20 . Again, tongue  2030  may be surrounded by shield  2010 . Tongue  2030  may support a number of contacts  2040 . In vertical portion  2064  of ground piece  2060  may be contacted by a front portion of a shield of a connector insert in the connector insert is inserted into this connector receptacle. 
       FIG. 22  illustrates another connector plug or insert according to an embodiment of the present invention. This connector insert may include a shield  2220 . This shield may be located around insert housing  2210 . Insert housing  2210  may be form of plastic or other nonconducting material. A leading edge of shield  2220  may be folded back into an opening of the connector insert to form one or more contacts  2230  and  2232 . These contacts may be split to improve contact to ground pads or other ground structures on a connector receptacle. 
     Again, during insertion, contacts  2230  may form undesirable electrical connections with pads or contacts on a tongue of a connector receptacle. Accordingly, contacts  2230  may be separated by smaller contacts  2232  such that undesirable connections to power contacts or other contacts are not created during insertion. The connector insert may further include housing  2240  to include circuitry and a printed circuit board. Housing  2240  may be serrated to be more easily handled by a user during insertion and extraction. The connector insert may further include contacts  2230  form electrical connections with contacts on a tongue of the connector receptacle. 
       FIG. 23  illustrates a front view of the connector insert of  FIG. 22 . Again, a leading edge of shield  2220  may be folded back into an opening of the connector insert to form contacts  2230  and  2232 . Contacts  2232  may be lower profile to avoid undesirable electrical connections during insertion. Side ground contacts  2290  for shielding and retention may fit in notches in a tongue in a receptacle. 
       FIG. 24  illustrates a top view of the connector insert of  FIG. 22 . Again, this connector insert may include shield  2220  and housing  2240 . Cable  2250  may include one or more conductors to connect to circuitry in housing  2240  and contacts in the connector insert and to shield  2220 . Strain relief  2242  may improve durability of a connector insert at the interface between housing  2240  and cable  2250 . As before, housing  2240  and strain relief  2242  may be serrated for improved handling by a user during insertion and extraction. 
       FIG. 25  illustrates a top cross-section view of the connector insert of  FIG. 22 . This connector insert may include contacts  2253  at each end for contacting ground contacts in a connector receptacle, such as one of the connector receptacles shown herein. This connector insert may further include contacts  2250  for forming electrical connections with contacts in a connector receptacle. Shield  2220  may be folded back around housing  2210  at a front opening to form contacts  2230  and  2232 . Side ground contacts  2290  may be included and may include contacting portions  2292 . Contact portions  2292  may fit in notches in sides of a tongue in a connector receptacle. Ground structures  2295  and housing  2240  may be included. 
       FIG. 26  illustrates a side cut away view of a connector insert of  FIG. 22 . Contacts  2250  may be located in housing  2210 . Shield  2220  may be folded back to form contacts  2230 . Contacts  2230  may include contacting portions  2237 . Contacting portion  2237  may form an electrical connection with pads on a tongue in a connector receptacle. As before, housing  2240  may be included. 
     In various embodiments of the present invention, ground contacts  2230  may be formed in various ways. For example, instead of folding back a front edge of shield, ground contacts may be attached to an inside of a shield. Examples are shown in the following figures. 
       FIG. 27  illustrates a connector insert according to an embodiment of the present invention. This connector insert may include a shield  2710 . Shield  2710  may be around ground contacts  2730 , contacts  2740 , and side ground contacts  2790 . Housing  2760  may be formed around a printed circuit board. Various circuits or components may be located on a printed circuit board. Housing  2760  may also provide a structure that may be held by a user during insertion and extraction of this connector insert into and out of a corresponding connector receptacle during use. Conductors in cable  2770  may be connected to contacts  2730 ,  2740 ,  2790 , or shield  2710 , and one or more circuits inside housing  2760 . Strain relief  2762  may protect an end of cable  2770 . 
       FIG. 28  illustrates a top view of the connector insert of  FIG. 27 . This connector insert may include shield  2710 , housing  2760 , strain relief  2762 , and cable  2770 . 
       FIG. 29  illustrates a side view of a connector insert of  FIG. 27 . Connector insert may include shield  2710 , housing  2760 , strain relief  2762 , and cable  2770 . 
       FIG. 30  illustrates a front view of the connector insert a  FIG. 27 . Again, shield  2710  may extend from a front of housing  2760 . Ground contacts  2730 , side ground contacts  2790 , and contacts  2740  may be located inside of shield  2710 . 
       FIG. 31  illustrates a top view of a connector insert a  FIG. 27 . Again, this connector insert may include a shield  2710 . A number of contacts  2740  may be located inside of shield  2710 . Ground contacts  2730  and side ground contacts  2790  may also be located inside of shield  2710 . Side ground contacts  2790  may include contacting portions  2793 . 
     Contacts  2740  may form electrical connections with contacts  1040  when this connector insert is inserted into the connector receptacle of  FIG. 13 . Similarly, side ground contacts  2790  may form electrical connections with plated latch areas  1045  on sides of tongue  1030  in the connector receptacle of  FIG. 13 . Side ground contacts  2790  may also fit in notches  1035 , thereby providing retention in preventing accidental extraction of a connector insert from the sector receptacle of  FIG. 13 . Also, ground contacts  2730  may form electrical connections with ground contact  1060  in the connector receptacle of  FIG. 13 . 
     These connector inserts may be formed in various ways using various techniques consistent with various embodiments of the present invention. One specific embodiment of the present invention may employ the following acts. 
       FIG. 32  illustrates initial acts in a manufacturing of a connector insert according to embodiment of the present invention. A number of contacts  2740  may be formed. A mid-piece  3210  may be formed. An injection or insert molding may be formed around a mid-portion of contacts  2740  and the piece  3210  in order to form unit  3220 . A housing portion  3230  may be insert or injection molded. Piece  3220  may be inserted into housing  3230 . Side ground contacts  2790  may be inserted into sides of housing  3230 , resulting in connector insert piece  3240 . 
       FIG. 33  illustrates following acts may be used during the manufacture of connector insert according to an embodiment of the present invention. A piece of tape or other isolating piece  3310  may be placed over openings in housing  2790 , resulting in structure  3320 . Ground contact pieces  3330 , including ground contacts  2730 , may be inserted into piece  3320 , resulting in connector insert piece  3340 . 
       FIG. 34  illustrates following acts that may be used during the manufacture of connector insert according to an embodiment of the present invention. Connector insert piece  3340  may be inserted into shield  2710 , resulting in connector insert front and  3410 . A printed circuit board  3420  may be attached to a rear of connector insert front piece  3410 , resulting in connector insert piece  3430 . Conductors in a cable may be attached to pads on printed board  3420 , and a strain relief and housing may be attached or formed, resulting in connector insert  3440 . 
       FIG. 35  illustrates a connector insert according to embodiments of the present invention that is been inserted into a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, connector insert  3440  has been inserted into connector receptacle  1810 . 
       FIG. 36  is a cutaway view showing the mating of a connector insert and a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this example, connector insert  3440  has been inserted into connector receptacle  1810 . Shield  2710  on connector insert  3440  may be inserted inside and may form an electrical connection with shield  1010  of receptacle  1810 . Ground contact  2730  may be in electrical contact and attached to shield  2710 . Ground contact  2730  may form electrical connections with ground contact  1060 . This may form a ground path for shielding and EMI isolation. Contacts  2740  may form electrical connections with contacts  1040  on tongue  1030  of connector receptacle  1810 . A central ground piece may be placed in tongue  1030  midway between contacts  1040  as shown. 
     When connector insert  3440  is inserted into connector receptacle  1810 , contacts  2740  may deflect sufficiently to electrically contact shield  2710 . To prevent this, isolation piece  3310  may be used. Isolation piece  3310  may be Kapton tape, foam, or other nonconductive material. This or similar techniques may be employed in the other examples shown herein and in other embodiments of the present invention. 
       FIG. 37  is an oblique view showing the mating of a connector insert in a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention. Again, in this example, connector insert  3440  has been inserted into connector receptacle  1810 . Shield  2710  on connector insert  3440  may be inserted inside and may form an electrical connection with shield  1010  of receptacle  1810 . Ground contact  2730  may be in electrical contact and attached to shield  2710 . Ground contact  2730  may form electrical connections with ground contact  1060  or  1910 , as shown in  FIG. 19 . This may form a ground path for shielding and EMI isolation. Contacts  2740  may form electrical connections with contacts  1040  on tongue  1030  of connector receptacle  1810 . 
     Again, in this example, various ground paths are present. Ground contacts  2730  at a front end of a connector insert may mate to with ground contacts  1060  on a tongue  1030  of a connector receptacle. Also, a shield  2710  on the connector insert may form electrical connection with a shield  1010  of a connector receptacle. 
     In other embodiments of the present invention, the first of these ground paths maybe removed, and reliance may be placed on the second for grounding and EMI isolation. In these situations, one or more fingers may be included on either connector shield to improve connection reliability. 
     In various embodiments of the present invention, ground contacts  2730  may be formed in various ways. An example is shown in the following figures. 
       FIG. 38  illustrates a ground contact piece according to an embodiment of the present invention. Ground contact piece  3210  may include a number of ground contacts  3230 . Ground contact piece  3210  may reside in housing  3240  in a connector insert. 
     Again, it may be desirable that the inclusion of these ground contacts does not significantly lengthen or increase the thickness of these connector inserts. However, it may be desirable to have a long lever arm such that a strong force may be applied by the ground contacts to corresponding ground contacts on a top of a connector receptacle tongue. In order to keep the added length short while having a long lever arm, ground contact piece  3810  may be placed over signal contacts  3850 . Placing ground contact piece  3810  over signal contacts  3850  allows ground contact piece  3810  to provide a long lever arm while only lengthening the connector insert by an amount needed for the actual ground contacts  3830 . The long lever arm provided by ground contact piece  3810  may help to prevent deformation of the ground contacts during the life of the connector insert and may allow a strong contacting force to be applied by ground contacts  3830  to the corresponding contacts on a connector receptacle tongue. 
     Ground contact piece  3810  may include opening  3860 . Opening  3860  may help to reduce the capacitance between signal pins  3850  and ground contact piece  3860 , thereby improving the impedance at signal contacts  3850 . A piece of tape (not shown) may be used to electrically isolate contacts  3850  from shield  3840 . Ground contacts  3830  may be arranged such that during the insertion of this connector insert into a connector receptacle, ground contacts  3830  do not cause damage to circuits connected to or associated with the connector insert or connector receptacle when they engage contacts on a tongue in the connector receptacle. 
     As before, it may be desirable to provide an electrical connection between ground contacts  3830  and a shield on the connector insert or plug. Accordingly, a ground contact piece in the above and other examples may include touch points or fingers. An example is shown in the following figure. 
       FIG. 39  illustrates a close-up view of a ground piece according to an embodiment of the present invention. Ground piece  3810  again may include a number of ground contacts  3830 . Ground contacts  3830  may form electrical connections with ground pad, contacts, or other structures in a connector receptacle. For example, ground contacts  3830  may form electrical connections with a ground pad or piece on a tongue in a connector receptacle, or other appropriate ground pieces or pads. 
     Ground piece  3810  may further include one or more fingers  3820 . Fingers  3820  may form an electrical connection to a shield, such a shield  2710  around a connector insert. 
     In other embodiments of the present invention, it may be desirable to provide additional touch points between a ground piece and a connector insert shield. Examples of such ground pieces can be found in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/543,717, filed Nov. 17, 2014, titled GROUND CONTACTS FOR REDUCED-LENGTH CONNECTOR INSERTS, which is incorporated by reference. 
       FIG. 40  illustrates another connector insert inserted into a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this example, connector insert  3840  may be inserted into connector receptacle  1900 . Connector insert  3840  may be the same or similar to the connector insert shown in  FIG. 38 . Connector receptacle  2000  may be the same or similar to the connector receptacle shown in  FIG. 20 . 
     This connector system, as with the other included connector systems may perform at least three functions. The first is to convey signals from a connector insert to a connector receptacle. These signals may include power, ground, and data signals, such as audio and video signals. A second is to shield these signals while they are being transferred. This may prevent or reduce the corruption of the signals during transfer. A third is to provide a retention force such that the connector insert is not inadvertently removed from the connector receptacle. Such accidental extractions may be particularly undesirable during transfer of large files. 
     Signals may be transferred using pins  3860  in the connector insert  3840 , which may mate with contacts  2040  in receptacle for  2000 . 
     These signals may be shielded in a number of ways. For example, shield  3860  of connector insert  3840  may electrically connect to ground piece  3810  at finger  3820 . Ground contacts  3830  at a front of a connector insert may contact a horizontal (or vertical) portion of ground piece  2060 . Ground piece  2060  may electrically connect to connector receptacle shield  2010  via connection points  2012 . Shield  2010  of connector receptacle  2000  may electrically connect to shield  3860  on connector insert  3840 . 
     Retention may be provided by side ground contacts  3870  engaging notches  2035  on tongue  2030 . Specifically, side ground contacts  3870  may include contacting portion  3871 , which may engage notches  2035  on sides of tongue  2030 . Notches  2035  may be plated and connected to ground, thereby forming another ground path with side ground contacts  3870 . 
     In various embodiments of the present invention, varying amounts of retention force may be desired. Accordingly, side ground contacts  3870  may be pre-biased such that they spring back to fit into notches  2035  during insertion. The strength and thickness of side ground contacts  3870  may also be adjusted to provide different retention forces for different applications. In some embodiments of the present invention, for example some docking stations, it may be desirable to provide zero retention force, in which case side ground contacts  3870  may be omitted. 
     This connector system, as with the other connector systems shown here, may provide a rotatable connector that may be inserted and either of at least two orientations, which may be 180 degrees apart. This connector system may be free or substantially free of moving parts to improve robustness and reliability. This may also reduce the amount of wear and marring that may occur after usage. Moreover, the shielding provided may allow for transfer of signals and highly isolated manner. 
       FIG. 41  illustrates a side view of a connector system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Again, contacts  3850  and a connector insert may mate with contacts  2040  in a connector receptacle. Ground piece  3810  may form an electrical connection between shield  3860  of a connector insert and ground piece  2060  of a connector receptacle. Ground piece  2060  may further contacts shield  2010  on the receptacle, which may in turn contact shield  3860  of the connector insert. Contacts  2040  in the connector receptacle may emerge from the connector receptacle as contact tails  2042  and  2043 . These contact tails may connect to traces or pads on a printed circuit board or other appropriate substrate. 
       FIG. 42  illustrates a side view of connector system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Again, contacts  3850  in a connector insert may convey signals by contacting contacts  2040  in a connector receptacle. The connector receptacle may be mounted on a printed circuit board or other appropriate substrate  4200  in electronic device housing or enclosure  4810 . Again, shield  4010  of a connector insert may be attached to or otherwise electrically connected to ground piece  3210 . Ground piece  3210  may make an electrical connection to ground piece  2060  in a connector receptacle. Ground piece  2060  may electrically connect to shield  2010  of the connector receptacle. Shield  2010  of the connector receptacle may electrically connect to shield  3860  of the connector insert. 
     In various embodiments of the present invention, a tongue, such as tongue  2030 , may have a thicker portion, shown here as thicker portion  2031 . A thicker portion may increase tongue strength and may provide sufficient strength while allowing a front portion of tongue  2030  to be relatively thin. 
     During insertion of the connector insert into the connector receptacle, contacts  3850  may deflect when they reach tongue  2030 . An opening may be provided in the housing in the connector insert to allow this deflection. Without more, contacts  3850  may electrically contact shield  3860  during insertion. Accordingly, isolation tape  4012  may be included to electrically isolate contacts  4040  from shield  3860  during insertion. Isolation tape  4012  may be tape such as Kapton tape, or it may be foam or other insulating or nonconductive material. 
       FIG. 43  illustrates a side view of a portion of a connector system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Again, contacts  3850  in a connector insert may form an electrical connection with contact  2040  on tongue  2030  in a connector receptacle. 
       FIG. 44  illustrates a top view of a connector system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, side ground contacts  3870  may include contacting portions,  3871  which may engage notch  2035  on tongue  2030 . 
       FIG. 45  illustrates a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention. Shield  4510  may include fingers  4588 . Fingers  4588  may form an electrical connection with a shield of a connector insert when a connector insert is inserted into this connector receptacle. Tongue  4530  may be located inside shield  4510 , and may support a number of contacts  4540 . 
       FIG. 46  illustrates a connector insert according to an embodiment of the present invention. A shield  4610  may extend from a front of housing  4660 . Contacts  4640  and side ground contacts  4690  may be located inside of shield  4610 . Shield  4610  may form electrical connections with fingers  4588  on the connector receptacle of  FIG. 45 . 
     In various embodiments of the present invention, contacts at an opening of the connector insert, such as contacts  430  and  2230 , may form electrical connections with one or more ground pads on a connector receptacle tongue. Also, the connector insert shield may electrically contact receptacle shield  510 . This arrangement may form an electrical shield around contacts in the connector insert and connector receptacle. In other embodiments of the present invention, this shielding may be done in other ways. For example, one or more fingers may be located on either the receptacle shield or connector insert shield. These fingers may make electrical contact with the corresponding shield of the other connector. One or more of these fingers may also fit in or engage an opening on the corresponding shield to provide a retention force between the connector insert and connector receptacle. Specifically, during insertion, the insert shield may fit inside the receptacle shield. Fingers on the receptacle shield may pass along an outside of the insert shield. Contact portions of the fingers may fit in openings in a side of the connector insert shield. An example is shown in the following figures. 
       FIG. 47  illustrates a connector receptacle according to an embodiment present invention. This connector receptacle may include a tongue  4730  supporting a number of contacts  4740  on a top and bottom side. Shield  4710  may surround the tongue. Lower shield portion  4770  may support the tongue and provide one or more tabs  4780 , which may fit in openings in a printed circuit board or other property substrate. Contact tail portions  4742  may electrically connect to contacts  4740  on tongue  4730 . 
     Shield  4710  may include one or more fingers  4790 . Fingers  4790  may be stamped from shield  4710 . Fingers  4790  may include contact portions  4792 . Contact portions  4792  may engage with a shield of a connector insert when the connector insert is inserted into the connector receptacle. Contact portions  4792  on one or more fingers  4790  may engage or fit in openings in the connector insert shield. Again, while in this example, fingers  4790  are located in shield  4710  of a connector receptacle, in other embodiments of the present invention, these fingers may be located on a connector insert, or both the connector insert and connector receptacle. Corresponding openings may be similarly located on either or both the connector receptacle or connector insert. 
       FIG. 48  illustrates a front view of the connector receptacle of  FIG. 47 . As before, receptacle shield  4710  may be formed around tongue  4730 . Tongue  4730  may support one or more contacts  4740 . Shield  4710  may include one or more fingers  4790  having contacting portions  4792 . Shield  4710  may be supported by housing or brackets  4750  and lower shield portion  4770 . Lower shield portion  4770  may include one or more tabs  4780 , as before. 
       FIG. 49  illustrates a front view of a connector receptacle of  FIG. 47 . Again, tongue  4730  may be supported by housing or bracket  4750 . Housing or bracket  4750  and tongue  4730  may be at least partially surrounded by shield  4710 . 
       FIG. 50  illustrates a side view of a connector receptacle in  FIG. 50 . Again, finger  4790  may include contact portion  4792 . Shield  4710  may be mechanically supported by lower shield portion  4770 . 
       FIG. 51  illustrates another connector insert according to an embodiment of the present invention. This connector insert may include shield  5110 . Shield  5110  may include opening  5112 . Shield  5110  may be formed around insert housing  5120 . This connector insert may further include housing portion  5140  which may be formed around circuitry in a printed circuit board. Housing  5140  may be serrated to improve user handling. When this connector insert is inserted into the connector receptacle of  FIG. 47 , contact portion  4792  of spring finger  4790  may slide along an outside of shield  5110  and fit in or engage opening  5112 . 
     Again, embodiments of the present invention may provide connector receptacles inserts that may convey signals compatible with one or more interface standards or protocols. In some circumstances, it may be desirable to provide connector inserts in receptacles that may be compatible with a reduced number of interfaces standards. For example, it may be desirable to provide a connector receptacle that may accept one of the connector inserts shown above, even though the connector receptacle may only be compatible with a reduced number of interface standards. An example is shown below. 
       FIG. 52  illustrates a portion of a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention. This connector receptacle may be compatible with only one or more USB interface standards, such as USB1, USB2, or USB3. This in turn may enable the connector receptacle to include a reduced number of pins  5240 , thereby simplifying its construction. The supply construction may also result in a reduced size. Also, since USB is relatively low-speed signaling, this connector receptacle may not require a shield around tongue  5230 , but instead may employ a much smaller shield  5210 . This smaller shield may provide a smaller connector receptacle assembly that may consume a reduced amount of space inside a device. In various embodiments of the present invention, since a large shield is not used, a surface of an opening in enclosure itself may be used as a ground path, or other contacts or structures may be placed in the opening. 
     This connector receptacle may include tongue  5230  having side notches  5235 . Side notches  5235  may create retention features. Ground contacts  5245  may include a top surface for accepting a signal contact in a connector insert, and side ground areas for forming an electrical connection with a side ground contact in connector receptacle. Tongue  5230  may include plastic molded isolation area  5244  for supporting contacts  5240  and  5245 . Contact tails  5243  may connect to contacts  5240 . Contact tails  5243  may be surface mount contacts, through-hole contacts, or other types of contacts. Shield tabs  5240  and contact tails  5243  may electrically connect to holes or pads on a printed circuit board or other appropriate substrate. 
       FIG. 53  illustrates a side view of the connector receptacle of  FIG. 52 . Again, since this connector receptacle is dedicated for USB interfaces, a reduced size shield  5210  may be employed. Tabs  5280  may connect shield  5210  to ground traces or contacts on a printed circuit board. Tongue  5230  may support number of contacts, including ground contacts  5245 . Tongue  5230  may be formed of plastic piece  5244  supporting contacts  5245  and  5240 . 
       FIG. 54  illustrates a rear view of the connector receptacle of  FIG. 52 . Again, a reduced size shield  5210  may be employed since this connector receptacle may be arranged to convey only lower speed USB signals. Ground tabs  5280  may electrically connect shield  5210  to a ground on a printed circuit board. Contact tails  5241  may electrically connect ground contacts  5240  to a printed circuit board or other appropriate substrate, while contact tails  5243  may electrically connect contacts  5245  to printed circuit board or other appropriate substrate. 
     Again, embodiments of the present invention may provide connector receptacles having very thin tongues. When an insert is extracted, spring type signal contacts in a top row of the insert may engage spring type signal contacts in a bottom row of the insert. To prevent this from causing damage, power pins in one row may be arranged such that they are not aligned with ground pins in the other row. A pinout providing this is shown in the following figure. 
       FIG. 55  illustrates a pinout for a connector receptacle according to embodiments the present invention. This pinout may support a universal connector that may provide and receive signals for more than one standard or proprietary interface. In this example, P may be power, G may be ground, RX and TX may be differential signal lines, while the LS lines are control lines. 
       FIG. 56  illustrates a pinout for another connector receptacle according to embodiments the present invention. This pinout may support a universal connector that may provide and receive signals for more than one standard or proprietary interface. In this example, G may be ground, HVP may be power, the HS pins may carry differential signal pairs, USB may convey USB signals, while RFU and C signals are control or other similar signals. 
       FIG. 57  illustrates a mapping of pins for various types of interfaces to pins of a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this example, mappings for DisplayPort and HDMI, for receiving and transmitting (sink and source), power chargers, and USB interfaces are shown. 
       FIG. 58  illustrates another pinout according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 59  illustrates another mapping of pins for various types of interfaces to pins of a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention. These mappings show that embodiments of the present invention may provide connector receptacles and inserts that may convey power, ground, and data, including audio and video information. These connectors and receptacles may be flippable or rotatable. That is, embodiments of the present invention may provide a connector system where a connector insert may be inserted in either of two orientations 180 degrees apart into a connector receptacle. 
     In various embodiments of the present invention, contacts and other conductive portions of connector inserts and receptacles 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 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, rubber, hard rubber, plastic, nylon, liquid-crystal polymers (LCPs), or other nonconductive material or combination of materials. The printed circuit boards used may be formed of FR-4, BT or other material. Printed circuit boards may be replaced by other substrates, such as flexible circuit boards, in many embodiments of the present invention. 
     Embodiments of the present invention may provide connector inserts and 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 inserts and receptacles may provide pathways for signals that are compliant with various standards such as one of the Universal Serial Bus (USB) standards including USB-C, 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. Other embodiments of the present invention may provide connector inserts and receptacles that may be used to provide a reduced set of functions for one or more of these standards. In various embodiments of the present invention, these interconnect paths provided by these connector inserts and 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: 20141117
Publication Date: 20170103
Grant Date: 20170103
Priority Date: 20131117
Inventors: GAO ZHENG
AMINI MAHMOUD R.
NG NATHAN N.
KIM MIN CHUL
ABRAHAM COLIN
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "H01R24/60", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/6581", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/73", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R2107/00", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/627", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/6591", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/6597", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/6582", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R24/60", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/73", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/73", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/6597", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/6597", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/6591", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/6582", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/6582", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/6581", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/627", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R2107/00", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R24/60", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/6273", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/6582", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R2107/00", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/6581", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/6591", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/627", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R24/60", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/73", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/6597", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 52463113