PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-11349249-B2
Application Number: US-201916585471-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Circular connector in integrated in hinge

Abstract:
Connector receptacles that can provide a high signal quality or signal integrity to allow high-speed data transfers, can be reliably manufactured, can be durable and have good wear performance, and can be positioned in nonstandard locations in an electronic device. One example can provide connector receptacles that can provide a high signal quality or signal integrity by utilizing a comprehensive grounding scheme. These connector receptacles can be located in a hinge of an electronic device.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A connector receptacle comprising:
 a tongue comprising a center plate; 
 a first plurality of signal contacts on a top side of the tongue; 
 a first plurality of ground contacts on the top side of the tongue, wherein each ground contact includes a first portion extending from a housing to a first end near a front edge of the tongue, each ground contact folded along a line parallel to the front edge of the tongue such that a second portion of the ground contact extends towards the housing under the first portion of the ground contact, the ground contact further comprising a connecting plate attached to the second portion of the ground contact and extending from the second portion of the ground contact in a direction parallel to the front edge of the tongue; and 
 a ground pad, the ground pad including side tabs and a back plate, the back plate having an opening for a fastener to electrically connect the back plate to an end cap, wherein the side tabs are positioned to physically and electrically contact the end cap, 
 wherein each connecting plate in the first plurality of ground contacts is attached to the center plate. 
 
     
     
       2. The connector receptacle of  claim 1  wherein the connector receptacle is a universal serial bus type-C connector receptacle. 
     
     
       3. The connector receptacle of  claim 2  wherein each connecting plate of the first plurality of ground contacts is attached to a top surface of the center plate. 
     
     
       4. The connector receptacle of  claim 3  wherein the connecting plate for each ground contact is laser welded to the center plate. 
     
     
       5. The connector receptacle of  claim 4  further comprising:
 a second plurality of signal contacts on a bottom side of the tongue; and 
 a second plurality of ground contacts on the bottom side of the tongue, wherein each ground contact includes a first portion extending from the housing to a first end near a front edge of the tongue, each ground contact folded such that a second portion of the ground contact extends towards the housing over the first portion of the ground contact, the ground contact further comprising a connecting plate attached to the second portion of the ground contact and extending from the second portion of the ground contact in a direction parallel to the front edge of the tongue, 
 wherein each connecting plate in the second plurality of ground contacts is attached to the center plate. 
 
     
     
       6. The connector receptacle of  claim 5  further comprising an overmold formed over the front edge of each of the first plurality of ground contacts, the front edge of each of the second plurality of ground contacts, the connecting plate of each of the first plurality of ground contacts, the connecting plate of each of the second plurality of ground contacts, and the center plate. 
     
     
       7. The connector receptacle of  claim 6  wherein each of the first plurality of signal contacts comprises a leading edge near a front edge of the tongue, and wherein the overmold is further formed over the leading edges of the first plurality of signal contacts and the second plurality of signal contacts. 
     
     
       8. The connector receptacle of  claim 7  wherein the housing has a circular profile to fit in a circular opening in a hinge of an electronic device. 
     
     
       9. An electronic device comprising:
 a base; 
 a lid; 
 a cylindrical hinge attached to the base and the lid such that the lid can rotate about the cylindrical hinge and move relative to the base; 
 an end cap located in a circular opening in an end of the cylindrical hinge, the end cap electrically connected to the cylindrical hinge; and 
 a connector receptacle located in the circular opening in the end of the cylindrical hinge, wherein the connector receptacle comprises: 
 a tongue comprising a center plate; 
 a first plurality of signal contacts on a top side of the tongue; and 
 a ground pad on the top side of the tongue, the ground pad terminating in a side tab on a side of the connector receptacle, the side tab physically and electrically contacting the end cap, wherein the ground pad is electrically connected to the cylindrical hinge through the side tab and the end cap. 
 
     
     
       10. The electronic device of  claim 9  further comprising a first plurality of ground contacts, wherein each of the first plurality of ground contacts includes a first portion extending from a housing towards a front edge of the tongue and is folded such that a second portion of the ground contact extends towards the housing under the first portion of the ground contact, the ground contact further comprising a connecting plate attached to the second portion of the ground contact and extending from the second portion of the ground contact in a direction parallel to the front edge of the tongue. 
     
     
       11. The electronic device of  claim 10  further comprising an overmold portion formed over the second portion of each of the first plurality of ground contacts, the connecting plate of each of the first plurality of ground contacts, and the center plate. 
     
     
       12. The electronic device of  claim 9  wherein the end cap is electrically connected to the cylindrical hinge through a conductive gasket. 
     
     
       13. The electronic device of  claim 12  wherein the ground pad comprises a back plate adjacent to a housing, wherein the housing is attached to the end cap by a fastener, and wherein the ground pad is further electrically connected to the cylindrical hinge through the back plate, the fastener, the end cap, and the conductive gasket. 
     
     
       14. The electronic device of  claim 13  wherein the end cap comprises a connector tunnel to provide access to the tongue of the connector receptacle. 
     
     
       15. An electronic device comprising:
 a bottom support; 
 an upright support; 
 a hinge attached to the bottom support and the upright support such that the upright support can rotate about the hinge and move relative to the bottom support; 
 a connector receptacle located in an opening in an end of the hinge; 
 an end cap located in the opening the end of the hinge and attached to the connector receptacle by a plurality of fasteners; and 
 a ground pad, the ground pad including side tabs and a back plate, the back plate having an opening for a fastener in the plurality of fasteners, wherein the ground pad is electrically connected to the end cap through the side tabs, and the ground pad is further electrically connected to the end cap through the fastener and back plate. 
 
     
     
       16. The electronic device of  claim 15  wherein the connector receptacle is a universal serial bus type-C connector receptacle. 
     
     
       17. The electronic device of  claim 15  wherein the hinge is cylindrical. 
     
     
       18. The electronic device of  claim 15  wherein the opening in the end of the hinge is circular. 
     
     
       19. The electronic device of  claim 15  wherein the end cap is electrically connected to the hinge through a conductive gasket.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Power and data can be provided from one electronic device to another over cables that can include one or more wires, fiber optic cables, or other conductors. Connector inserts can be located at each end of these cables and can be inserted into connector receptacles in the communicating or power transferring electronic devices. 
     Given the large amounts of data that can be transferred among connected devices, it can be desirable that these connector receptacles be capable of supporting high data rates. That is, it can be desirable that these connector receptacles provide a high signal quality or signal integrity to allow high-speed data transfers between electronic devices. 
     Some of these electronic devices become tremendously popular. As a result, electronic devices having these connector receptacles can be sold in very large quantities. Therefore, it can be desirable that these connector receptacles be readily manufactured. 
     Users can connect and disconnect these connector inserts and connector receptacles many times during a devices&#39; lifetime. On occasion, a wrong connector insert can be inserted a connector receptacle. That is, a connector insert of a first type of connector system can be inserted into a connector receptacle of a second type of connector system. It this connector receptacle breaks or shows signs of wear prematurely, it can reduce user satisfaction and reflect poorly on the device. 
     These connector receptacles can be located along a side or edge of an electronic device. But some devices can be very thin to a point where it can be difficult to find a location for a connector receptacle. Therefore, it can be desirable that these connector receptacles be able to be positioned in nonstandard locations in an electronic device. 
     Thus, what is needed are connector receptacles that can provide a high signal quality or signal integrity to allow high speed data transfers, can be reliably manufactured, can be durable and have good wear performance, and can be positioned in nonstandard locations in an electronic device. 
     SUMMARY 
     Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention can provide connector receptacles that can provide a high signal quality or signal integrity to allow high-speed data transfers, can be reliably manufactured, can be durable and have good wear performance, and can be positioned in nonstandard locations in an electronic device. 
     These and other embodiments of the present invention can provide connector receptacles that can provide a high signal quality or signal integrity by utilizing a comprehensive grounding scheme. The connector receptacle assembly can include robust ground connections. For example, a tongue of the connector receptacle can include a grounded center plate. The tongue can support ground contacts that extend from a housing towards a front edge of the tongue. The ground contacts can be folded back underneath themselves near the front edge of the tongue. The ground contacts can terminate in connecting plates. The connecting plates can be soldered, spot or laser welded, or otherwise attached to the center plate. This can provide a good ground path between the ground contacts and the center plate. The tongue of the connector receptacle can also support ground pads on its top and bottom sides. These ground pads can connect to the center plate for further improvement in grounding. 
     These connector receptacles can also be well-grounded to their electronic devices. For example, the connector receptacle assembly can be mated with an endcap, where the endcap provides a connector tunnel or opening for a corresponding connector insert to enter when the corresponding connector insert is mated with the connector receptacle. The ground pads can be connected to, or be formed with, a backplate behind a portion of the housing. The ground pads can also be connected to, or formed along with, side tabs on a side of the housing, or the side tabs can be extensions of the center plate. The backplate and housing can include openings for fasteners. The fasteners can be inserted through the openings in the backplate and housing and into the endcap, thereby grounding the backplate to the endcap. The side tabs can also connect to the endcap thereby providing another ground path. The endcap can be grounded to a portion of a device enclosure, such as a portion of a hinge, using a gasket formed of conductive fabric over foam or other ground connection. The endcap can be held in place using a conductive or nonconductive adhesive, such as a conductive pressure-sensitive adhesive, a conductive temperature-sensitive or heat-activated adhesive, or other adhesive layer. 
     These connector receptacles can also be well-grounded with corresponding connector inserts when the connector receptacles are mated with the corresponding connector inserts. For example, a shield of the connector insert can connect to the connector tunnel of the endcap. Side ground contacts in the connector insert can contact side ground contacts on sides of the connector receptacle tongue. The side ground contacts on sides of the connector receptacle tongue can be located in notches in the tongue and can be formed by edges of the center plate. Front ground contacts in the connector insert can mate with the ground pads on the tongue of the connector receptacle, and ground contacts in the connector insert can connect to ground contacts on the tongue of the connector receptacle. 
     These and other embodiments can provide connector receptacles that can be readily manufactured. For example, a connector receptacle consistent with an embodiment of the present invention can be manufactured using primarily stamping and injection molding steps. 
     These and other embodiments can provide connector receptacles that can be durable and have good wear performance. On occasion, a user can plug a connector insert for a first type of connector system into a connector receptacle of a second type of connector system. These inadvertent insertions can damage a portion of a connector receptacle. Such damage can reduce a functionality of an electronic device housing the connector receptacle. One type of damage that can occur can be the lifting of a pin from a housing or a tongue of the connector receptacle. This lifting can cause the pin to be damaged by being pushed back into the connector receptacle. 
     Accordingly, these and other embodiments of the present invention can provide connector receptacle tongues where leading edges of contacts on the tongue are covered with an overmold. In these and other embodiments of the present invention, the leading edges of the tongue contacts can be angled towards the tongue. Some or all of the tongue can be covered with an overmold. The overmold can be located over the leading edges of the tongue contacts. This can prevent the contacts from being separated from the tongue and damaged when a connector insert for a first type of connector system is inserted into a connector receptacle for a second type of connector system. 
     These and other embodiments can provide connector receptacles that can be located in nonstandard locations in an electronic device. For example, some devices, such as keyboards or portable computing devices, can be very thin and might not be able to support a connector receptacle on a side of the device. Accordingly, these and other embodiments can provide connector receptacles that can be located in a hinge of an electronic device. In this example, the endcap and the housing for the connector receptacle can have a circular profile or cross-section. The connector tunnel of the endcap can provide access to a tongue of the connector receptacle assembly at an end of a cylindrical hinge near a side of the device. The connector receptacle assembly can be attached to the endcap using fasteners and the endcap can be attached to an inside surface of the hinge using a conductive or nonconductive adhesive, such as a conductive pressure-sensitive adhesive, a conductive temperature-sensitive or heat-activated adhesive, or other adhesive layer. The hinge can connect to a top portion and a bottom portion, where the top portion can rotate about the hinge and move relative to the bottom portion. The bottom portion can be a base, a bottom support, a bottom portion of a stand, a base of a stand, lower portion, foundation, pedestal, or other portion of an electronic device. The top portion can be a lid, a top support, a top portion of a stand, an upright portion, upright portion of a stand, an upright support, an upper portion, upper piece, upper support, or other portion of an electronic device. 
     In these and other embodiments of the present invention, various components can be located in either of both of the bottom portion (base) and top portion (lid) of an electronic device housing a connector receptacle. For example, either or both the bottom portion and the top portion can house or support various electronic components, circuits, or electronic devices. These electronic components, circuits, or electronic devices can connect to, and can be powered by, the connector receptacle. For example, electronic components, circuits, or electronic devices can be located in either or both the bottom portion or top portion and can include a keyboard, connectors, battery, touchpad, trackpad, display, touchscreen, user input devices, user input controls, or other electronic components or combination thereof. Either or both the top portion and bottom portion can also or instead include one or more magnets, support structures, or recesses for supporting or holding one or more electronic components, circuits, or electronic devices such as cell phones, tablet computers, handheld computing devices, or other devices or combination thereof. Either or both the top portion and bottom portion can also or instead include one or more connectors in or near the one or more magnets, support structures, or recesses or elsewhere for connecting to these electronic components, circuits, or electronic devices. These one or more connectors can be connected to a connector receptacle connection. This connection can provide pathways for power and data between the connector receptacle and electronic components, circuits, or electronic devices. Where these electronic components, circuits, or electronic devices includes a battery, power can be provided from the battery to an external device via the connector receptacle. Where these electronic components, circuits, or electronic devices includes a battery, charging power can be received by the battery from an external source via the connector receptacle. 
     While embodiments of the present invention can be useful in Universal Serial Bus (USB) Type-C connector receptacles, these and other embodiments of the present invention can be used as connector receptacles in other types of connector systems. For example, they can be used in a charging USB-Type-C connector where some or all of the high-speed data contacts are omitted. 
     In these and other embodiments of the present invention, the center plate, ground pads, contacts, ground contacts, backplate, side tabs, endcap, and other conductive portions of the connector receptacle can be formed by stamping, metal-injection molding, machining, micro-machining, 3-D printing, forging, lathing, coining, deep drawing, or other manufacturing process. 
     In these and other embodiments of the present invention, the center plate, ground pads, contacts, ground contacts, backplate, side tabs, endcap, and other conductive portions of the connector receptacle can be formed of stainless steel, steel, copper, copper titanium, palladium nickel, phosphor bronze, or other material or combination of materials. The center plate, ground pads, contacts, ground contacts, backplate, side tabs, and endcap can be plated or coated with nickel, bright nickel, gold, or other material. 
     In these and other embodiments of the present invention, the housings and other nonconductive portions and other structures of the connector receptacle can be formed using injection or other molding, 3-D printing, machining, or other manufacturing process. 
     In these and other embodiments of the present invention, the housings and other nonconductive portions and other structures of the connector receptacle can be formed of silicon or silicone, rubber, hard rubber, plastic, nylon or other thermoplastic, polymers, such as liquid-crystal polymers (LCPs), ceramics, or other nonconductive material or combination of materials. 
     These and other embodiments of the present invention can provide connector receptacles that can be located in, and can connect to, various types of devices, such as portable computing devices, tablet computers, desktop computers, laptops, all-in-one computers, keyboards, wearable computing devices, cell phones, smart phones, media phones, storage devices, portable media players, navigation systems, monitors, power supplies, video delivery systems, adapters, remote control devices, chargers, and other devices. These connector receptacles can provide interconnect pathways for signals that are compliant or compatible with various standards such as one of the USB standards including USB Type-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 can provide connector receptacles that can 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 receptacles can be used to convey power, ground, signals, test points, and other voltage, current, data, or other information. 
     Various embodiments of the present invention can incorporate one or more of these and the other features described herein. A better understanding of the nature and advantages of the present invention can be gained by reference to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a connector receptacle assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a partially exploded view of a connector receptacle assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a partial view of a connector receptacle assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a close-up view of a portion of a connector receptacle assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a partially exploded view of a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an electronic device 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. 
     Electronic device  100  can include a bottom portion or base  110  and a top portion or lid  120 . Base  110  and lid  120  can be joined by hinge  130 . Lid  120  can rotate about hinge  130 , thereby moving relative to base  110 . Both lid  120  and base  110  can be narrow or thin and it can be difficult to position a connector receptacle along their sides. Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention can provide a connector receptacle  140  that can be positioned in hinge  130 . This connector receptacle  140  can have a circular (as shown) profile or cross-section, or it can have other shapes. 
     Connector receptacle  140  can include an endcap  150  that can be located at an end of hinge  130 . Endcap  150  can be fixed to an inside surface of hinge  130  using a conductive or nonconductive adhesive, such as a conductive pressure-sensitive adhesive, a conductive temperature-sensitive or heat-activated adhesive, or other adhesive layer (not shown.) Endcap  150  can be grounded to hinge  130  through electromagnetic interference (EMI) gasket  158 . Endcap  150  can include a connector tunnel  152  that provides access to tongue  210  of a connector receptacle assembly  200  (shown further in  FIG. 2 .) Connector tunnel  152  can allow access to tongue  210  by a corresponding connector insert (not shown) when in the connector insert is mated with connector receptacle  140 . Endcap  150  can be attached to connector receptacle assembly  200  using fasteners  620  (shown in  FIG. 6 .) Endcap  150  can help to provide protection for connector receptacle assembly  200  when electronic device  100  is dropped, when a cable having a connector insert inserted in connector receptacle  140  is pulled on, and at other times. 
     Base  110  of electronic device  100  can house or support various electronic components, circuits, or electronic devices  112 . These electronic components, circuits, or electronic devices  112  can connect to, and can be powered by, connector receptacle  140 . For example, electronic components, circuits, or electronic devices  112  in base  110  can include a keyboard, connectors, battery, touchpad, trackpad, display, touchscreen, user input devices, user input controls, or other electronic components or combination thereof. Base  110  can also or instead include one or more magnets, support structures, or recesses  115  for supporting or holding one or more electronic components, circuits, or electronic devices  112  such as cell phones, tablet computers, handheld computing devices, or other devices or combination thereof. Base  110  can also include one or more connectors  113  in or near the one or more magnets, support structures, or recesses  115  or elsewhere for connecting to these electronic components, circuits, or electronic devices  112 . These one or more connectors  113  can be connected to connector receptacle  140  via connection  114 . Connection  114  can provide pathways for power and data between connector receptacle  140  and electronic components, circuits, or electronic devices  112  either directly or via connector  113 . Where electronic components, circuits, or electronic devices  112  includes a battery, power can be provided from the battery to an external device via connector receptacle  140 . Where electronic components, circuits, or electronic devices  112  includes a battery, charging power can be received by the battery from an external source via connector receptacle  140 . 
     Lid  120  of electronic device  100  can house or support various electronic components, circuits, or electronic devices  122 . These electronic components, circuits, or electronic devices  122  can connect to, and can be powered by, connector receptacle  140 . For example, electronic components, circuits, or electronic devices  122  in lid  120  can include a keyboard, connectors, battery, touchpad, trackpad, display, touchscreen, user input devices, user input controls, or other electronic components or combination thereof. Lid  120  can also or instead include one or more magnets, support structures, or recesses  125  for supporting or holding one or more electronic components, circuits, or electronic devices  122  such as cell phones, tablet computers, handheld computing devices, or other devices or combination thereof. Lid  120  can also include one or more connectors  123  in or near the one or more magnets, support structures, or recesses  125  or elsewhere for connecting to these electronic components, circuits, or electronic devices  122 . These one or more connectors  123  can be connected to connector receptacle  140  via connection  124 . Connection  124  can provide pathways for power and data between connector receptacle  140  and electronic components, circuits, or electronic devices  122 , either directly or via connectors  123 . Where electronic components, circuits, or electronic devices  122  includes a battery, power can be provided from the battery to an external device via connector receptacle  140 . Where electronic components, circuits, or electronic devices  122  includes a battery, charging power can be received by the battery from an external source via connector receptacle  140 . 
     As one example, connector receptacle assembly  200  can be connected to connector  123  in lid  120  via connection  124 . Connection  124  can include a number of conductors (not shown) that are connected between contacts  222  and ground contacts  224  in connector receptacle assembly  200  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) and contacts (not shown) in connector  123 . Connector  123  can be connected to electronic components, circuits, or electronic devices  122 , such as a tablet computer, attached to lid  120  (for example by magnets.) In this way, power and data received at connector receptacle  140  can be provided to the tablet computer. 
     As another example, connector receptacle assembly  200  can be connected to electronic components, circuits, or electronic devices  122  in base  110  via connection  114 . Connection  114  can include a number of conductors (not shown) that are connected between contacts  222  and ground contacts  224  in connector receptacle assembly  200  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) and electronic components, circuits, or electronic devices  122 . Connection  114  can be connected to electronic components, circuits, or electronic devices  112 , such as a keyboard, in or attached to base  110 . In this way, power and data (such as firmware updates) received at connector receptacle  140  can be provided to the keyboard. 
     In these and other embodiments of the present invention, base  110  can be a bottom portion, a bottom support, a bottom portion of a stand, a base of a stand, lower portion, foundation, pedestal, or other portion of an electronic device. In these and other embodiments of the present invention, lid  120  can be a top portion, a top support, a top portion of a stand, an upright portion, upright portion of a stand, an upright support, an upper portion, upper piece, upper support, or other portion of an electronic device. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a connector receptacle assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. Connector receptacle assembly  200  can include housing  240  supporting tongue  210 . Tongue  210  can include front edge  211 . Tongue  210  can support a number of contacts  222  on its top and bottom sides. Contacts  222  can extend from housing  240  towards front edge  211  of tongue  210 . Tongue  210  can also support ground contacts  224  on its top and bottom sides. Ground contacts  224  can extend from housing  240  towards front edge  211  of tongue  210 . Side ground contacts  214  can be located in notches  212  on sides of tongue  210 . Side ground contacts  214  can be formed by edges of center plate  216 , which can be located in a center of tongue  210 . Overmold  260  can cover leading edges of contacts  222  and ground contacts  224 , as well as a front edge  211  of tongue  210 . Overmold  260  can be formed as a double-shot molding over a portion of tongue  210 . 
     Ground pads  244  can be located top and bottom sides of tongue  210 . Ground pads  244  can connect to, or be formed with, side tabs  218  on sides of housing  240 , or side tabs  218  can be formed as extensions of center plate  216 . Backplate  245  can be attached to ground pads  244 , ground contacts  224 , center plate  216 , and side tabs  218 . Backplate  245  and housing  240  can include openings  242 . Housing  240  can also support alignment feature  246 . Contacts  222  and ground contacts  224  on a top of tongue  210  can be supported by housing  250 . Contacts  222  and ground contacts  224  (not shown) on a bottom of tongue  210  can be supported by housing  230 . Housing  240  and housing  230  can fit together as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     Connector receptacle  140  can be well-grounded to its electronic device. For example, fasteners  620  (shown in  FIG. 6 ), such as screws, bolts, or other fasteners, can be inserted through openings  242  into a backside of endcap  150  (shown in  FIG. 6 .) This can allow fasteners  620  to connect endcap  150  to backplate  245 . Alignment feature  246  can fit in a recess in the backside of endcap  150 , thereby aligning connector receptacle assembly  200  to endcap  150 . An inside surface of endcap  150  can engage side tabs  218 , thereby providing an additional ground path. Endcap  150  can be electrically connected to hinge  130  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) by one or more sections of conductive fabric covered foam, shown in  FIG. 1  as EMI gasket  158 , or other grounding structure. 
     EMI gasket  158  can be formed of a compliant material that is at least partially covered by a conductive layer. The compliant material can be foam or foam rubber, such as silicon rubber open cell foam, silicon rubber, polyurethane foam, or other compressible material. The conductive layer can be a conductive film, such as tin-plated polyimide film, a conductive fabric, or other conductive layer. In these and other embodiments of the present invention, EMI gasket  158  can be formed of conductive foam. EMI gasket  158  can be attached to endcap  150  or other connector receptacle portions using a conductive adhesive, such as a conductive pressure-sensitive adhesive, a conductive temperature-sensitive or heat-activated adhesive, or other adhesive layer. 
     Connector receptacle  140  can also be well-grounded to a corresponding connector insert when the corresponding connector insert is mated with connector receptacle  140 . For example, a shield of the corresponding connector insert (not shown) can physically and electrically connect to connector tunnel  152  in endcap  150 . Side ground contacts in the connector insert can physically and electrically connect to side ground contacts  214  on tongue  210 . Front ground contacts in the connector insert can physically and electrically connect to ground pads  244  on top and bottom sides of tongue  210 . Ground contacts in the connector insert can physically and electrically connect to ground contacts  224  on top and bottom sides of tongue  210 . 
     Connector receptacle assembly  200  can also be internally well-grounded. This is shown further in the following figures. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a partially exploded view of a connector receptacle assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. Connector receptacle assembly  200  can include housing  240 . Housing  240  can support a center plate  216 . Center plate  216  can include contacting areas  217 . Housing  240  can also support ground pads  244 . Ground pads  244  can also be connected to, or formed as a piece, with side tabs  218 , or side tabs  218  can be formed as extensions of center plate  216 . Center plate  216  and ground pads  244  can connect to, or be formed with, backplate  245 . Openings  242  can provide a passage for fasteners  620  (shown in  FIG. 6 ) through housing  240  and backplate  245 . These fasteners  620  can then connect backplate  245  to endcap  150 . 
     Contacts  222  and ground contacts  224  on a top side of tongue  210  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) can be supported by front portion  251  of housing  250 . Housing  250  can be insert molded around contacts  222  and  224 . Ground contacts  224  can extend from housings  240  and  250  and can be folded back on itself as folded portion  226 . Connecting plate  225  can extend from folded portion  226 . During assembly, connecting plate  225  can be soldered, spot or laser welded, or otherwise fixed to contacting areas  217  of center plate  216 . 
     Notch  252  of housing  250  can accept tab  232  on housing  230 . Notches  234  on housing  230  can accept tabs (not shown) on an underside of housing  250 . Tab  236  on housing  230  can fit in notch  256  on housing  250 . Tab  238  on housing  230  can fit in a notch (not shown) on the underside of housing  250 . Contacts  222  and ground contacts  224  (not shown) on a bottom side of tongue  210  can be supported by front portion  231  of housing  230 . Contacts  222  and ground contacts  224  can terminate in through-hole contact portions  227 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a partial view of a connector receptacle assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown, housing  250  can be attached to housing  230  and front portions  251  and  231  (shown in  FIG. 3 ) of housing  250  and housing  230  have been fit through openings in housing  240  between center plate  216  and ground pads  244 , thereby substantially forming connector receptacle assembly  200 . Connecting plates  225  have been fixed to contacting areas  217  of center plate  216 . Contacts  222  can include a front-tapered portion  223  near a front edge  211  of tongue  210 . 
     On occasion, a user can insert an incompatible connector insert into connector receptacle  140  (shown in  FIG. 1 .) This incompatible connector insert can encounter and provide force against tongue  210 . Without more, some of the contacts  222  and ground contacts  224  can be pushed back and away from tongue  210 , thereby damaging connector receptacle assembly  200 . Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention can provide overmold  260  (shown in  FIG. 2 .) This overmold  260  can protect front edges of ground contacts  224  such as folded portion  226  and connecting plates  225 . Overmold  260  can also protect front-tapered portion  223  of contacts  222 . This can help to prevent contacts  222  and ground contacts  224  from being separated from tongue  210  during an inadvertent insertion of an incompatible connector insert into connector receptacle  140 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a close-up view of a portion of a connector receptacle assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this example, ground contact  224  can terminate in folded portion  226 . Connecting plate  225  can extend at a right angle from folded portion  226 . Connecting plate  225  can be soldered, spot, or laser welded to contacting area  217  of center plate  216 . 
     These and other embodiments of the present invention can provide connector receptacles that can provide a high signal quality or signal integrity by utilizing a comprehensive grounding scheme. This is shown further in the following figure. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a partially exploded view of a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention. Connector receptacle assembly  200  can include robust ground connections. For example, tongue  210  of connector receptacle  140  can include a grounded center plate  216  (shown in  FIG. 3 .) Tongue  210  can support ground contacts  224  that extend from housing  240  towards a front edge  211  of tongue  210 . Ground contacts  224  can be folded back underneath themselves to form folded portions  226  (shown in  FIG. 5 ) near front edge  211  of tongue  210 . Ground contacts  224  can terminate in connecting plates  225  (shown in  FIG. 5 .) Connecting plates  225  can be soldered, spot or laser welded, or otherwise attached to center plate  216 . This can provide a good ground path between ground contacts  224  and center plate  216 . Tongue  210  of connector receptacle  140  can also support ground pads  244  on its top and bottom sides. These ground pads  244  can be attached to, or formed with, shielding  610 . Shielding  610  can be spot or laser welded to center plate  216  at points  612  for further improvement in grounding. Ground pads  244  can be formed with, or attached to, shielding  610  and backplate  245 . Shielding  610  can also be formed with, or attached to, side tabs  218 , or side tabs  218  can be extensions of center plate  216 . More specifically, there can be a ground pad  244  attached to, or formed along with, shielding  610  and backplate  245  on a top and bottom side of tongue  210 . Shielding  610  on the top and bottom of tongue  210  can be spot or laser welded to center plate  216  at points  612 . Side tabs  218  can be extensions of center plate  216  or they can be formed from shielding  610 . 
     These connector receptacles  140  can also be well-grounded to their electronic devices, such as electronic device  100  (shown in  FIG. 1 .) For example, connector receptacle assembly  200  can be mated with endcap  150 , where endcap  150  provides an opening or connector tunnel  152  for a corresponding connector insert (not shown) to enter when the corresponding connector insert is mated with connector receptacle  140 . Ground pads  244  can be connected to, or be formed with, backplate  245  behind a portion of housing  240 . Ground pads  244  can also be connected to, or formed along with, side tabs  218  on a side of housing  240 . Backplate  245  and housing  240  can include openings  242  for fasteners  620 . Fasteners  620  can be inserted through openings  242  in backplate  245  and housing  240  and into endcap  150  (in holes near location  157 ), thereby grounding endcap  150  to backplate  245 . Side tabs  218  can also connect to endcap  150  (near points  159 ) thereby providing another ground path. Endcap  150  can be grounded to a portion of a device enclosure, such as an inside surface  632  of hinge tube  630 , using EMI gasket  158 . EMI gasket  158  can be formed of conductive fabric over foam or other ground connection. Endcap  150  can be held in place in hinge tube  630  (which can be a portion of hinge  130  shown in  FIG. 1 ) using a conductive or nonconductive adhesive, such as a conductive pressure-sensitive adhesive, a conductive temperature-sensitive or heat-activated adhesive, or other adhesive layer (not shown.) 
     These connector receptacles  140  can also be well-grounded with corresponding connector inserts (not shown) when the connector receptacles  140  are mated with the corresponding connector inserts. For example, a shield (not shown) of the connector insert can connect to connector tunnel  152  of endcap  150 . Side ground contacts in the connector insert can contact side ground contacts  214  on sides of connector receptacle tongue  210 . The side ground contacts  214  on sides of the connector receptacle tongue can be formed by edges of center plate  216 . Front ground contacts (not shown) in the connector insert can mate with ground pads  244  on tongue  210  of connector receptacle  140 , and ground contacts (not shown) in the connector insert can connect to ground contacts  224  on tongue  210  of connector receptacle  140 . 
     While embodiments of the present invention can be useful as USB Type-C connector receptacles, these and other embodiments of the present invention can be used as connector receptacles in other types of connector systems. For example, they can be used in a charging USB-Type-C connector where some or all of the high-speed data contacts are omitted. The examples here illustrate a USB Type-C connector receptacle where contacts for high-speed differential signals have been omitted. In these and other embodiments of the present invention, the contacts for the high-speed differential signals can be included. In these and other embodiments of the present invention, other contacts can be included or omitted. 
     In these and other embodiments of the present invention, center plate  216 , ground pads  244 , contacts  222 , ground contacts  224 , backplate  245 , side tabs  218 , endcap  150 , and other conductive portions of connector receptacle  140  can be formed by stamping, metal-injection molding, machining, micro-machining, 3-D printing, forging, lathing, coining, deep drawing, or other manufacturing process. 
     In these and other embodiments of the present invention, center plate  216 , ground pads  244 , contacts  222 , ground contacts  224 , backplate  245 , side tabs  218 , endcap  150 , and other conductive portions of connector receptacle  140  can be formed of stainless steel, steel, copper, copper titanium, palladium nickel, phosphor bronze, or other material or combination of materials. Center plate  216 , ground pads  244 , contacts  222 , ground contacts  224 , backplate  245 , side tabs  218 , endcap  150 , and other conductive portions of connector receptacle  140  can be plated or coated with nickel, bright nickel, gold, or other material. 
     In these and other embodiments of the present invention, housing  230 , housing  240 , housing  250 , and other nonconductive portions and other structures of connector receptacle  140  can be formed using injection or other molding, 3-D printing, machining, or other manufacturing process. 
     In these and other embodiments of the present invention, housing  230 , housing  240 , housing  250 , and other nonconductive portions and other structures of connector receptacle  140 , can be formed of silicon or silicone, rubber, hard rubber, plastic, nylon or other thermoplastic, polymers, such as liquid-crystal polymers (LCPs), ceramics, or other nonconductive material or combination of materials. 
     Embodiments of the present invention can provide connector receptacles that can be located in, and can 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, video delivery systems, adapters, remote control devices, chargers, and other devices. These connector receptacles can provide interconnect pathways for signals that are compliant or compatible with various standards such as one of the Universal Serial Bus (USB) standards including USB Type-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 can provide connector receptacles that can 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 receptacles can 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: 20190927
Publication Date: 20220531
Grant Date: 20220531
Priority Date: 20190927
Inventors: PANSARE, NIKHIL S.
AMINI, MAHMOUD R.
Sekerak, II, John J.
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "G06F1/189", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/6581", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/405", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R24/60", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R4/02", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R2201/06", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/6585", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/405", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1616", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/266", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1681", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/5213", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1616", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/502", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R2107/00", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R24/60", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R2107/00", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R2201/06", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/502", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1616", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/6581", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/5213", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/405", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 75162481