PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-9742096-B2
Application Number: US-201514870970-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Protective structures for connector contacts

Abstract:
Connector receptacles having protective structures for connector contacts. One example may provide a connector receptacle having one or more contacts that are reinforced with a protective piece around a portion of the contact. Another example may provide a connector receptacle having two or more contacts reinforced with adjacent protective pieces to provide additional protective reinforcement. Another example may provide a connector receptacle having two or more contacts reinforced with interlocking protective pieces. These protective pieces may protect contacts in a connector receptacle from damage when a device, module, or connector insert is inserted into the connector receptacle at an oblique angle, when a device, module, or insert is stressed while in the receptacle, or when a device, module, or insert is removed from the receptacle at an oblique angle.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A connector receptacle comprising:
 a first contact; 
 a first piece around a portion of the first contact such that a contacting portion of the first contact is exposed; 
 a second contact; and 
 a second piece around a portion of the second contact such that a contacting portion of the second contact is exposed, 
 wherein a tab on the first piece fits in a slot in the second piece such that the first piece and the second piece are interlocking. 
 
     
     
       2. The connector receptacle of  claim 1  wherein the first contact is conductive and the first piece is nonconductive. 
     
     
       3. The connector receptacle of  claim 2  wherein the first piece is formed of plastic. 
     
     
       4. The connector receptacle of  claim 1  wherein the tab on the first piece extends lengthwise along a length of the first contact and the slot in the second piece extends lengthwise along a length of the second contact. 
     
     
       5. The connector receptacle of  claim 4  wherein the first piece and the second piece are located in a single opening in an opening in a bottom surface of a housing for the connector receptacle. 
     
     
       6. The connector receptacle of  claim 1  wherein the connector receptacle is a receptacle for a secure digital card. 
     
     
       7. The connector receptacle of  claim 1  wherein the connector receptacle is a receptacle for a secure digital ultra-high-speed II card. 
     
     
       8. A connector receptacle comprising:
 a first contact; 
 a first piece around a portion of the first contact such that a contacting portion of the first contact is exposed; 
 a second contact; and 
 a second piece around a portion of the second contact such that a contacting portion of the second contact is exposed, 
 wherein the first piece and the second piece are adjacent to each other and a tab on the first piece fits in a slot in the second piece such that the first piece and the second piece are interlocking. 
 
     
     
       9. The connector receptacle of  claim 8  wherein the first piece and the second piece are interlocking. 
     
     
       10. The connector receptacle of  claim 9  wherein the tab on the first piece extends lengthwise along a length of the first contact and the slot in the second piece extends lengthwise along a length of the second contact. 
     
     
       11. The connector receptacle of  claim 10  wherein the first piece and the second piece are located in a single opening in an opening in a bottom surface of a housing for the connector receptacle. 
     
     
       12. The connector receptacle of  claim 8  wherein the first piece and the second piece are plastic. 
     
     
       13. The connector receptacle of  claim 8  wherein the connector receptacle is a receptacle for a secure digital card. 
     
     
       14. The connector receptacle of  claim 8  wherein the connector receptacle is a receptacle for a secure digital ultra-high-speed II card. 
     
     
       15. A connector receptacle comprising:
 a housing having a plurality of openings in a bottom surface; 
 a first contact; 
 a first piece around a portion of the first contact such that a contacting portion of the first contact is exposed; 
 a second contact; and 
 a second piece around a portion of the second contact such that a contacting portion of the second contact is exposed, 
 wherein a tab on the first piece fits in a slot in the second piece such that the first piece and the second piece are interlocking, and 
 wherein the first piece and the second piece are located in a single opening in an opening in the bottom surface of the housing. 
 
     
     
       16. The connector receptacle of  claim 15  wherein the first piece and the second piece are adjacent. 
     
     
       17. The connector receptacle of  claim 16  wherein the first piece and the second piece are interlocking. 
     
     
       18. The connector receptacle of  claim 15  wherein the tab on the first piece extends lengthwise along a length of the first contact and the slot in the second piece extends lengthwise along a length of the second contact. 
     
     
       19. The connector receptacle of  claim 15  wherein the connector receptacle is a receptacle for a secure digital card. 
     
     
       20. The connector receptacle of  claim 15  wherein the connector receptacle is a receptacle for a secure digital ultra-high-speed II card.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a nonprovisional of and claims priority to U.S. patent provisional application No. 62/057,948, filed Sep. 30, 2014, which is incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The number and types of electronic devices available to consumers have increased tremendously the past few years, and this increase shows no signs of abating. Electronic devices, such as portable media players, storage devices, tablets, netbooks, laptops, desktops, all-in-one computers, wearable computing devices, cell, media, and smart phones, televisions, monitors, and other display devices, navigation systems, and other devices have become ubiquitous. 
     These electronic devices may include one or more connector receptacles, which may often appear as a cavity on a side of an electronic device. These receptacle cavities may be arranged to receive a second electronic device or a connection to a second electronic device. For example, they may be arranged to receive a device such a memory or circuit module device. These devices may include cards such as Secure Digital cards, memory sticks, compact flash, wireless transceivers, and other types of cards and modules. The receptacle cavity may also be arranged to receive a connector insert, which may be connected to a cable, a docking station, or other electronic component. 
     These devices have become smaller and slimmer with each succeeding generation. At the same time, they have been designed to include ever-increasing levels of functionality. The trend for the foreseeable future is to pack more features into increasingly smaller devices. As a result, many parts of these devices, such as casings, power supplies, and circuits have become smaller. It may be desirable to further reduce the size of other components as well. For example, it may be desirable to reduce the size of these connector receptacles. Space saved by providing a reduced size connector receptacle may be used to shrink the size of the electronic device, it may be used to increase functionality, or both. 
     The connector receptacle may include a number of contacts to mate with contacts on these devices or inserts. These electrical connections pathways may form paths for power and data. When a connector receptacle is made smaller, its contacts may become smaller as well. These smaller contacts may be increasingly vulnerable to damage. 
     Thus, what is needed are connector receptacles having protective structures for connector contacts. 
     SUMMARY 
     Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention provide connector receptacles having protective structures for connector contacts. An illustrative embodiment of the present invention may provide a connector receptacle having one or more contacts that are reinforced with protective nonconductive pieces around a portion of one or more contacts. The protective pieces may have an opening for contacting portions of the contacts such that electrical connections may be made between the contacts and contacts on a device, module, or connector insert. The reinforcing protective pieces may protect contacts in a connector receptacle from damage when a device, module, or connector insert is inserted into the connector receptacle at an oblique angle, when a device, module, or insert is stressed while in the receptacle, or when the device, module, or connector insert is removed from the receptacle at an oblique angle. 
     Another illustrative embodiment of the present invention may provide a connector receptacle having two or more contacts, where each contact is reinforced with a protective nonconductive piece around a portion of the contact. These protective pieces may be adjacent to each other to provide additional protective reinforcement. These adjacent pieces may protect contacts in a connector receptacle from damage. 
     Another illustrative embodiment of the present invention may provide a connector receptacle having two or more contacts, where each contact is reinforced with a protective nonconductive piece around a portion of the contact. These protective pieces may interlock with each other to provide additional protective reinforcement. These interlocking pieces may protect contacts in a connector receptacle from damage. 
     In various embodiments of the present invention, the protective pieces may interlock in various ways. For example, a first piece may have a lengthwise tab. This tab may fit in a lengthwise slot in a second piece. This interlocking arrangement may allow some relative movement between the pieces and therefore their contacts. This may help in ensuring that the contacts in the receptacle are sufficiently planar to make contact with corresponding contacts on a device, module, or connector inset. 
     Another illustrative embodiment of the present invention may provide a connector receptacle having two or more contacts, where the two or more contacts are reinforced with a protective nonconductive piece around portions of both of the contacts. This protective piece may be adjacent or interlocking with other similar pieces to provide additional protective reinforcement. These pieces may protect contacts in a connector receptacle from damage. 
     Another illustrative embodiment of the present invention may provide a connector receptacle having a housing having a bottom surface. The bottom surface may have one or more openings. These various reinforcing protective pieces may be located in the openings in the bottom surface of the housing to provide additional reinforcement and protection. 
     In various embodiments of the present invention, the components of the receptacles may be formed in various ways of various materials. For example, contacts or pins and other conductive portions of the 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, such as the protective pieces, the receptacle housings 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, 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 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 and power for cards or other modules, such as Secure Digital cards, Secure Digital High Capacity cards, Secure Digital Extended Capacity cards, Secure Digital Ultra-High-Capacity I cards, Secure Digital Ultra-High-Capacity II cards, memory sticks, compact flash cards, communication modules, and other devices and modules that have been developed, are being developed, or will be developed in the future. 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. 
     Various embodiments of the present invention may incorporate one or more of these and the other features described herein. A better understanding of the nature and advantages of the present invention may be gained by reference to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an electronic device that may be improved by the incorporation of embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a closer view of protective pieces and contacts according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates another view of protective pieces and contacts according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a partial cutaway view of protective pieces and contacts according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a close-up view of a protective piece and a contact according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a close-up view of a protective piece and a contact according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  illustrates an assembly of two protective pieces according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  illustrates an exploded view of a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  illustrates protective pieces and contacts according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  illustrates protective pieces and contacts according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 12  illustrates an oblique view of a card and connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 13-15  illustrate the insertion of a card into a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an electronic device  100  that may be improved by the incorporation of embodiments of the present invention. In this particular example, electronic device  100  may be a monitor or an all-in-one computer. Other types of electronic devices, such as portable media players, storage devices, tablets, netbooks, laptops, desktops, wearable computing devices, cell, media, and smart phones, televisions, and other display devices, navigation systems, and other types of devices may also be improved by the incorporation of embodiments of the present invention. 
     In this example, memory card  110  may be inserted into connector receptacle  120  located in the housing of electronic device  100 . In a specific embodiment of the present invention, connector receptacle  120  may be arranged to receive a Secure Digital memory card  110 . In other embodiments of the present invention, connector receptacle  120  may be configured to receive other types of memory cards or electronic devices, modules, or connections to other electronic devices, such as a cable or docking station insert. These and other devices may be referred to collectively as devices, modules, and inserts. 
     Again, it may be desirable to reduce the space consumed by connector receptacle  120 . By shrinking the space consumed by connector receptacle  120 , electronic device  100  may be made smaller, may include additional functionality, or both. 
     In various embodiments of the present invention, the space consumed by connector receptacle  120  may be reduced by reducing its depth. But reducing the depth of connector receptacle  120  may lead to at least three potential vulnerabilities. The first is that when memory card  110  is inserted into a shallow-depth connector receptacle  120 , more of the memory card  110  is exposed outside of the housing of electronic device  100 . This leaves memory card  110  vulnerable to being inadvertently hit or struck by other equipment or users. 
     The second of the vulnerabilities is that a user may incorrectly insert memory card  110 . For example, a user may incorrectly insert memory card  110  at an oblique angle relative to the connector receptacle  120 . Because connector receptacle  120  is shallow, contacts in connector receptacle  120  may be relatively close to the surface of the housing of electronic device  100 . When a user inserts memory card  110  improperly, a corner or edge of memory card  110  may strike one or more contacts at an angle, thereby possibly causing damage. The third vulnerability may occur when a user may incorrectly extract memory card  110  at an oblique angle relative to the connector receptacle  120 . 
     Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention may provide connector receptacles having one or more contacts that are reinforced with a protective nonconductive piece around a portion of each contact. An example is shown in the following figure. 
       FIG. 2  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. 
     Again, it may be desirable to reduce a size of connector receptacle  120 . One way to reduce size may be to move contacts  130  closer to a front opening in the connector receptacle. However, this placement may make contacts  130  particularly susceptible to damage. This may be particularly true where contacts  130  are of a small size to form electrical connections with small contacts on a device, module, or connector insert. Damage may occur during an insertion of a device, module, or connector insert into connector receptacle  120 . For example, the device, module, or connector insert may be inserted at an oblique angle thereby damaging one or more contacts  130 . Damage may also occur after insertion if a device, module, or connector insert is struck or subjected to stress. Damage may also occur during extraction if a device, module, or connector insert is extracted at an oblique angle. 
     Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention may provide reinforcing protective pieces  140 . Protective pieces  140  may be formed at least around a portion of contacts  130 . Protective pieces  140  for two or more contacts  130  may be adjacent to each other. This proximity may provide further reinforcement and protection for contacts  130 . Protective pieces  140  for two or more contacts  130  may be interlocking with each other. This interlocking may provide further protection for contacts  130 . The interlocking pieces may have some freedom of movement an up and down or Z. direction. This may allow contacting portions of contacts  130  to be sufficiently planarized such that they may form electrical connections with corresponding contacts on a device, module, or connector insert. 
     Receptacle  120  may also include housing  150 . Housing  150  may include openings  154 . Protective pieces  140  for two or more contacts may be located in an opening  154  in a bottom surface of housing  150 . Again, this location may provide additional reinforcement and protection for contacts  130 . Housing  150  may include posts  152 , which may be placed in openings a printed circuit board or other appropriate substrate in electronic device  100 . Shield  160  may substantially surround housing  150 . Shield  160  may include tabs  162  that may form ground connections with ground traces or planes in a printed circuit board or other appropriate substrate in electronic device  100 . Connector receptacle  120  may further include additional contacts  170 . Additional contacts  170  may be arranged in a row behind contacts  130 . Additional contacts  170  may be protected from damage by the presence of contacts  130  and protective pieces  140 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a closer view of protective pieces and contacts according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this example, protective pieces  140  may include a first piece  310  and a second piece  320 . In this example, piece  310  and  320  may be interlocking Pieces  310  and  320  may be formed around at least a portion of contacts  130 . Contacting portions  132  may be exposed at a top of plastic pieces  310  and  320 . Contacting portions  132  may form electrical connections with contacts on a device, module, or insert when it is inserted into the connector receptacle. 
     Contacts  130  may include barbs  134 . Burbs  134  may be set in housing  150  in receptacle  120 . Barbs  134  may be nested in a staggered manner as shown in this and the other examples. Through-hole contacting portions  136  may be provided at the ends of contacts  130 . Through-hole contacting portions  136  may form electrical connections with traces on a printed circuit board or other appropriate substrate in electronic device  100 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates another view of protective pieces and contacts according to an embodiment of the present invention. Again, protective pieces  140  may include interlocking pieces  310  and  320 . Contacts  130  may include contacting portions  132 , which may be exposed at a top of protective pieces  140 . The interlocking pieces  310  and  320  may be able to move a small amount relative to each other. This may ensure that contacting portions  132  are sufficiently planarized such that each contacting portion  132  forms electrical connections with contacts on a device, module, or connector insert that is inserted in receptacle  120 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a partial cutaway view of protective pieces and contacts according to an embodiment of the present invention. This cutaway view illustrates the interlocking nature of interlocking pieces  310  and  320 . Specifically, a lengthwise tab  322  on protective piece  320  may fit in a lengthwise slot  312  in protective piece  310 . These interlocking features may provide reinforcement to further protect contacts  130  from damage due to either and oblique insertion or extraction of a device, module, or connector insert into or out of a receptacle, or a stress placed on a device, module, or connector insert once it is in the receptacle. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a close-up view of a protective piece and a contact according to an embodiment of the present invention. Again, protective piece  310  may include a lengthwise notch  312 . Protective piece  310  may be formed around at least a portion of contact  130 . A contacting portion  132  of contact  130  may be exposed at a top of protective piece  310  such that contacting portion  32  may form electrical connections with contacts on a device, module, or connector insert when the device, module, or connector insert is inserted in connector receptacle  120 . 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a close-up view of a protective piece and a contact according to an embodiment of the present invention. Again, protective piece  320  may include a lengthwise tab  322 . Protective piece  320  may be formed around at least a portion of contact  130 . A contacting portion  132  of contact  130  may be exposed a top of protective piece  320  such that contacting portion  320  may form an electrical connection with a contact on a device, module, or connector insert. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates an assembly of two protective pieces according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this example, tab  422  on protective piece  320  may be inserted into notch  312  in protective piece  310 . Insertion may be complete when face  810  mates with face  820 . 
       FIG. 9  illustrates an exploded view of a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention. Connector receptacle  120  may include a housing  150 . Housing  150  may include a number of openings  154  in a bottom surface. Contacts  130  and protective pieces  310  and  320  may be located in housing  150  such that protective pieces  310  and  320  reside in openings  154 . In this example, two sets of protective pieces  310  and  320  may reside in each opening  154 . Openings  154  may also provide space for protective pieces  310  and  320  and contacts  130  to deflect during an insertion of a device, module, or insert. Downward facing barbs  134  on contacts  130  may be inserted into corresponding slots or openings in a top surface of a bottom of housing  150 . That is, these barbs may be inserted in a top surface of a bottom of housing  150 . A second row of contacts  170  may also be inserted into housing  150 . Contacts  170  may have upright barbs  172  to fit in a bottom side of the bottom of housing  150 . Detect contacts  920  and  930  may also be located in housing  150 . Side contacts  910  may be placed in openings  156  in sides of housing  150 . Side contacts  910  may help to hold a Secure Data or other card in place when it is inserted into receptacle  120 . Receptacle  120  may further include shield  160 . Shield  160  may include tabs  164  for holding side ground contacts  910  in place. Shield  160  may further include tab  162 , which may be inserted into an opening in a printed circuit board or other appropriate substrate. Plastic pieces  912  may be used to hold side ground contacts  910  in place. 
     In other embodiments of the present invention, other types of protective pieces may be used. For example, instead of two interlocking pieces around two contacts, a single protective piece may be formed around two contacts. An example is shown in the following figure. 
       FIG. 10  illustrates protective pieces and contacts according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this example, a protective piece  1010  may be formed around portions of two or more contacts  130 . As before, contacts  130  may include barbs  134 . Barbs  134  may be nested as shown. This nesting may allow contacts  130  to be securely inserted in a connector receptacle housing while consuming a minimal amount of area. 
     In other embodiments of the present invention, a protective piece may be formed around each contact. These contacts may be adjacent to each other for additional protection and reinforcement. An example is shown in the following figure. 
       FIG. 11  illustrates protective pieces and contacts according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this example, protective pieces  1100  may be formed around at least a portion of contacts  130 . As in the other examples, a contacting portion  132  may be exposed above these protective pieces  1100  such that the contacting portions  132  may form electrical connections with contacts on a device, module, or connector insert. 
     In other embodiments of the present invention, instead of protecting contacts with a protective piece, contacts may be located out of a path of insertion for a card until a card is inserted or nearly inserted into a receptacle. This may help protect contacts in a connector receptacle when a device, module, or connector insert is inserted or extracted from a connector receptacle. An example is shown in the following figure. 
       FIG. 12  illustrates an oblique view of a card and connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this example, card  1200  is being inserted into connector receptacle  1220 . Connector receptacle  1220  may include a number of contacts  1230 . Contacts  1230  may be out of a path of insertion of card  1200 . When card  1200  reaches housing portion  1240  at a back side of connector receptacle  1220 , housing portion  1240  may rotate, thereby bringing contacts  1230  into contact with contacts on an underside of card  1200 . This is shown further in the following figures. 
       FIG. 13-15  illustrate the insertion of a card into a 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. Again, receptacle  1220  may include an insertion path  1310  for a card. Receptacle  1220  may include a main housing portion  1250  and a rear housing portion  1240 . Rear housing portion  440  may rotate around the location  1242 . When a card is not inserted into insertion path  1310 , contacts  1230  including contacting portions  1232  may remain out of the insertion path  1310 , and are thereby protected from an oblique insertion. In various embodiments of the present invention, a spring or other force may be used to maintain contacts  1230  out of card path  1310  when a card is not inserted fully or nearly fully in connector receptacle  1220 . In  FIG. 14 , card  1200  is being inserted into insertion path  1310  in housing  1220 . In  FIG. 15 , card  1200  has been inserted into receptacle  1220 . Rear housing portion  1240  has rotated around location  1242  such that contacting portions  1232  of contacts  1230  are brought into contact with corresponding contacts on a bottom side of card  1200 . Similarly, contacting portions  1272  of contacts  1270  are also brought into electrical contact with contacts on an underside of card  1200 . 
     In various embodiments of the present invention, the components of the receptacles may be formed in various ways of various materials. For example, contacts or pins and other conductive portions of the 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, such as the protective pieces, receptacle housings 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, 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 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 and power for cards or other modules, such as Secure Digital cards, Secure Digital High Capacity cards, Secure Digital Extended Capacity cards, Secure Digital Ultra-High-Capacity I cards, Secure Digital Ultra-High-Capacity II cards, memory sticks, compact flash cards, communication modules, and other devices and modules that have been developed, are being developed, or will be developed in the future. 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. 
     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: 20150930
Publication Date: 20170822
Grant Date: 20170822
Priority Date: 20140930
Inventors: LEE JAE HWANG
GAO ZHENG
BERGVALL DANIEL A.
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "H01R13/506", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/514", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/627", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/514", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/506", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/627", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 55585452