PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-11594849-B2
Application Number: US-202217577325-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Integrated high frequency connector

Abstract:
High-speed connectors that save space in an electronic device, are simple to connect, and are readily manufactured. One example can provide a high-speed connector having high-speed connections. The high-speed connections can be integrated with low-speed connections in a board-to-board structure to save space in an electronic device. An example can provide high-speed connections that are simple to connect. The board-to-board structure can include a board-to-board plug, where each high-speed connection includes a high-speed contact having a lateral portion. The lateral portion can include right-angle tabs to guide a central conductor of a coaxial cable. The central conductor of each coaxial cable can be soldered to a corresponding lateral portion. Ground contacts for the board-to-board plug can include crimping portions to connect to an outer shield of each coaxial cable. These high-speed connectors can be readily manufactured by utilizing stamped contacts and molded housings.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A high-speed connector comprising:
 a board-to-board receptacle comprising: 
 a housing including a recess forming a raised central portion and a raised outer portion; 
 a first plurality of low-speed contacts in the recess on a first edge of the raised central portion and a first edge of the raised outer portion; 
 a second plurality of low-speed contacts in the recess and on a second edge of the raised central portion and a second edge of the raised outer portion; 
 a plurality of high-speed contacts in the recess and on the first edge of the raised central portion and the first edge of the raised outer portion; and 
 a plurality of ground contacts in the recess and on the first edge of the raised central portion and the first edge of the raised outer portion; and 
 a board-to-board plug comprising: 
 a housing including a raised outer portion around a recess, where the raised outer portion is arranged to fit in the recess of the board-to-board receptacle and the recess is arranged to accept the raised central portion of the board-to-board receptacle; 
 a first plurality of low-speed contacts on a first side of the raised outer portion; 
 a second plurality of low-speed contacts on a second side of the raised outer portion; 
 a plurality of high-speed contacts on the first side of the raised outer portion; and 
 a plurality of ground contacts on the first side of the raised outer portion. 
 
     
     
       2. The high-speed connector of  claim 1  wherein each of the plurality of high-speed contacts of the board-to-board plug comprises a lateral portion extending from the first side of the raised outer portion to under the second side of the raised outer portion. 
     
     
       3. The high-speed connector of  claim 2  wherein each of the plurality of high-speed contacts of the board-to-board plug further comprises two right-angled tabs on the lateral portion. 
     
     
       4. The high-speed connector of  claim 3  wherein for each of the plurality of high-speed contacts of the board-to-board plug, the right-angled tabs position a central conductor of a coaxial cable onto the lateral portion. 
     
     
       5. The high-speed connector of  claim 4  wherein each of the plurality of ground contacts of the board-to-board plug further comprises a crimping portion to be crimped to a ground shield of the coaxial cable. 
     
     
       6. The high-speed connector of  claim 5  wherein each of the plurality of ground contacts of the board-to-board plug further comprises and end portion to form a ground connection at an end of the board-to-board plug. 
     
     
       7. The high-speed connector of  claim 6  wherein the board-to-board receptacle further comprises a first ground connection at a first end and a second ground connection at a second end, each to form a ground path with a corresponding ground connection on the board-to-board plug. 
     
     
       8. A high-speed connector comprising:
 a board-to-board receptacle comprising: 
 a housing including a recess forming a first raised central portion, a second raised portion, a third raised portion, and a raised outer portion; 
 a first plurality of low-speed contacts in the recess on a first edge of the first raised central portion and a first edge of the raised outer portion; 
 a second plurality of low-speed contacts in the recess and on a second edge of the first raised central portion and a second edge of the raised outer portion; 
 a first high-speed contact on the second raised portion; 
 a second high-speed contact on the third raised portion; and 
 a plurality of ground contacts in the recess and on the first raised central portion; and 
 a board-to-board plug comprising: 
 a housing including a raised outer portion around a first recess, a second recess, and a third recess, where the raised outer portion is arranged to fit in the recess of the board-to-board receptacle, the first recess is arranged to accept the first raised central portion of the board-to-board receptacle, the second recess is arranged to accept the second raised portion of the board-to-board receptacle, and the third recess is arranged to accept the third raised portion of the board-to-board receptacle; 
 a first plurality of low-speed contacts on a first side of the raised outer portion; 
 a second plurality of low-speed contacts on a second side of the raised outer portion; 
 a first high-speed contact in the second recess; 
 a second high-speed contact in the third recess; and 
 a plurality of ground contacts in the first recess. 
 
     
     
       9. The high-speed connector of  claim 8  wherein the plurality of ground contacts in the recess and on the first raised central portion of the board-to-board receptacle comprises a first ground contact in the recess and between the first high-speed contact and the first raised central portion and a second ground contact in the recess and between the second high-speed contact and the first raised central portion. 
     
     
       10. The high-speed connector of  claim 9  wherein the plurality of ground contacts in the recess and on the first raised central portion of the board-to-board receptacle further comprises a third ground contact on three sides of the recess and around the first high-speed contact, and a fourth ground contact on three sides of the recess and around the second high-speed contact. 
     
     
       11. The high-speed connector of  claim 8  wherein the plurality of ground contacts in the recess and on the first raised central portion of the board-to-board receptacle shields the first high-speed contact and the second high-speed contact. 
     
     
       12. The high-speed connector of  claim 8  wherein the low-speed contacts, high-speed contacts, and ground contacts are formed by stamping. 
     
     
       13. The high-speed connector of  claim 12  wherein the housing for the board-to-board receptacle is insert molded around the low-speed contacts, high-speed contacts, and ground contacts. 
     
     
       14. The high-speed connector of  claim 13  wherein the housing for the board-to-board plug is insert molded around the low-speed contacts and high-speed contacts, and the ground contacts are inserted into the housing. 
     
     
       15. A high-speed connector comprising:
 a board-to-board receptacle comprising: 
 a housing including a recess forming a first raised central portion, a second plurality of raised portions, a third plurality of raised portions, and a raised outer portion; 
 a first plurality of high-speed contacts, each in the recess on a first side of the first raised central portion and on a corresponding one of the plurality of second raised portions; 
 a second plurality of high-speed contacts, each in the recess on a second side of the first raised central portion and on a corresponding one of the plurality of third raised portions; 
 a first plurality of ground contacts in the recess, each between adjacent contacts in the first plurality of high-speed contacts; and 
 a second plurality of ground contacts in the recess, each between adjacent contacts in the second plurality of high-speed contacts; and 
 a board-to-board plug comprising: 
 a housing including a first central recess, a second plurality of recesses on a first side of the first central recess, and a third plurality of recesses on a second side of the first central recess, where the first central recess is arranged to accept the first raised central portion of the board-to-board receptacle, the second plurality of recesses are arranged to accept a corresponding one of the plurality of second raised portions, and the third plurality of recess are arranged to accept a corresponding one of the third plurality of raised portions; 
 a first plurality of high-speed contacts each in a corresponding one of the second plurality of recesses; 
 a second plurality of high-speed contacts each in a corresponding one of the third plurality of recesses; 
 a first plurality of ground contacts, each between adjacent contacts in the first plurality of high-speed contacts; and 
 a second plurality of ground contacts, each between adjacent contacts in the second plurality of high-speed contacts. 
 
     
     
       16. The high-speed connector of  claim 15  wherein the housing for the board-to-board plug further comprises:
 a fourth plurality of recesses, each between adjacent ones of the second plurality of recesses; and 
 a fifth plurality of recesses, each between adjacent ones of the third plurality of recesses. 
 
     
     
       17. The high-speed connector of  claim 16  wherein in the board-to-board plug, each of the first plurality of ground contacts are located in a corresponding one of the fourth plurality of recesses and each of the second plurality of ground contacts are located in a corresponding one of the fifth plurality of recesses. 
     
     
       18. The high-speed connector of  claim 17  wherein the board-to-board plug further comprises a first shield having openings for the second plurality of recesses and the fourth plurality of recesses and a second shield having openings for the third plurality of recesses and the fifth plurality of recesses. 
     
     
       19. The high-speed connector of  claim 18  wherein the board-to-board receptacle further comprises a plurality of shield portions on the raised outer portion. 
     
     
       20. The high-speed connector of  claim 18  wherein the board-to-board receptacle further comprises:
 a fourth plurality of raised portions, each to support one of the first plurality of ground contacts; and 
 a fifth plurality of raised portions, each to support one of the second plurality of ground contacts.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/585,421, filed Sep. 27, 2019, which is incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The number of types of electronic devices that are commercially available has increased tremendously the past few years and the rate of introduction of new devices shows no signs of abating. Devices such as tablet, laptop, desktop, and all-in-one computers, cell phones, storage devices, wearable-computing devices, portable media players, navigation systems, monitors, adapters, and others, have become ubiquitous. 
     The functionality of these devices has likewise greatly increased. This has led to increased complexity inside these electronic devices. An electronic device can now include one or more processors, radios, displays, and other components. At the same time, the demand for smaller and thinner devices continues unabated. As a result, space inside electronic devices is at a premium and saving it is a constant priority. 
     The inclusion of some of these circuits, such as the radios, can necessitate the use of high speed data lines from one internal component to another. High-speed connector structures, such as coaxial cables, can be used. Coaxial connectors can include a shielded conductor terminating at each end in a connector insert or plug. Signals can then be conveyed from a first receptacle on a first board, through a coaxial cable to a second receptacle, which can be located on the first or a second board. 
     But these connectors can consume a large amount of board space. That is, each receptacle has a footprint of its own that can consume area on a board. Also, each coaxial receptacle might need a certain amount of space between itself and other coaxial receptacles and devices. 
     Connections can be made using these connectors during device assembly. If a connection is difficult to form, it can slow the assembly process, increase costs, and increase the amount of rework that might need to be done. For this reason, it can be desirable for the connection to be simple to make. 
     Also, some of these electronic devices can be manufactured in very high volumes. To meet demand for these products, it can be desirable that these connectors be readily manufactured. 
     Thus, what is needed are high-speed connectors that save space in an electronic device, are simple to connect, and are readily manufactured. 
     SUMMARY 
     Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention can provide high-speed connectors that save space in an electronic device, are simple to connect, and are readily manufactured. An illustrative embodiment of the present invention can provide a high-speed connector having high-speed connections for a coaxial cable, a shielded trace on a board, or other high-speed interconnect structure. The high-speed connections can be integrated with low-speed contacts in a board-to-board structure to save space in an electronic device. These and other embodiments of the present invention can provide high-speed connections that are simple to connect. The board-to-board structure can include a board-to-board plug, where each high-speed connection includes a high-speed contact having a lateral portion. The lateral portion can include right-angle tabs to guide or position a central conductor of a coaxial cable. The central conductor of each coaxial cable can be soldered to a corresponding lateral portion. Ground contacts for the board-to-board plug can include crimping portions to connect to an outer shield of each coaxial cable. These and other embodiments of the present invention can provide high-speed connections that are readily manufactured by relying on stamped contacts and molded housings. 
     In these and other embodiments of the present invention, the high-speed contacts can be shielded by ground structures on the high-speed connector. These ground structures can be laterally around or can surround the high speed contacts on one, two, three, four, or more sides. This shielding can protect signals on the high-speed contacts from coupling by noise and other signals, and can protect other signals from coupling from signals on the high-speed contacts. The ground structures can include ground contacts that can be located adjacent to high-speed signal contacts, as well as ground shields that can be located around a perimeter and other locations on the high-speed connector. 
     In these and other embodiments of the present invention, connections to high-speed contacts can be made via high-speed signal traces on a board, such as a printed circuit board or flexible circuit board. The high-speed signal traces can be shielded by ground or other low-impedance lines on two or more sides. The high-speed traces can connect to a high-speed contact in either a plug or receptacle of the high-speed connector. The shielding ground lines can connect to ground contacts and ground shields that can laterally be positioned around or can surround the high-speed contact. 
     In these and other embodiments of the present invention, one or more low-speed contacts can be replaced with one or more larger power or other contacts. In these and other embodiments of the present invention the low-speed contacts can be omitted and the high-speed connector can include an array of high-speed contacts. 
     While embodiments of the present invention are well-suited to providing high-speed connectors that include connections for coaxial cables, other embodiments of the present invention can provide high-speed connectors that can include connections for one or more other types of cables, such as twin-axial, twisted pair, shielded twisted pair, fiber optic, single conductor, or other types of cables and combinations of these and coaxial cables. 
     In these and other embodiments of the present invention, contacts, ground contacts, ground shields, and other conductive portions of a high-speed connector can be formed by stamping, metal-injection molding, machining, micro-machining, 3-D printing, or other manufacturing process. The conductive portions can be formed of stainless steel, steel, copper, copper titanium, phosphor bronze, or other material or combination of materials. They can be plated or coated with nickel, gold, or other material. The nonconductive portions can be formed using injection or other molding, 3-D printing, machining, or other manufacturing process. The nonconductive portions can be formed of silicon or silicone, rubber, hard rubber, plastic, nylon, liquid-crystal polymers (LCPs), or other nonconductive material or combination of materials. 
     These and other embodiments of the present invention can provide high-speed connectors that can be located in various types of devices, such as portable computing devices, tablet computers, desktop computers, laptops, all-in-one computers, cell phones, wearable-computing devices, storage devices, portable media players, navigation systems, monitors, power supplies, adapters, remote control devices, audio devices, chargers, and other devices. These high-speed connectors can provide pathways for signals that are compliant with various standards such as Universal Serial Bus (USB), a High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI), Digital Visual Interface (DVI), power, Ethernet, DisplayPort, Thunderbolt, Lightning and other types of standard and non-standard interfaces that have been developed, are being developed, or will be developed in the future. 
     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 a high-speed connector according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS.  2 A and  2 B  illustrates portions of the board-to-board plug of  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  3    illustrates the board-to-board plug of  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  4    illustrates the board-to-board plug of  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  5    illustrates an underside of the high-speed connector of  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  6    illustrates another high-speed connector according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS.  7 A and  7 B  illustrate the board-to-board receptacle of  FIG.  6   ; 
         FIGS.  8 A and  8 B  illustrate the board-to-board plug of  FIG.  6   ; 
         FIG.  9    illustrates a bottom view of the high-speed connector of  FIG.  6   ; 
         FIGS.  10 - 13    illustrates a cross-section views of the high-speed connector of  FIG.  9   ; 
         FIG.  14    illustrates an underside of another high-speed connector that is a variation on the high-speed connector of  FIG.  9   ; 
         FIG.  15    illustrates another high-speed connector according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS.  16 A and  16 B  illustrate the board-to-board receptacle of  FIG.  15   ; 
         FIGS.  17 A and  17 B  illustrate the board-to-board plug of  FIG.  15   ; 
         FIG.  18    illustrates an underside of the high-speed connector of  FIG.  15   ; 
         FIG.  19    illustrates a close-up view of a ground contact for the board-to-board plug of  FIG.  15   ; 
         FIGS.  20 - 22    illustrates cross-section views of the high-speed connector of  FIG.  18   ; and 
         FIG.  23    illustrates another high-speed connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG.  1    illustrates a high-speed connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. This high-speed connector can include board-to-board receptacle  200  and board-to-board plug  100 . 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. 
     Board-to-board receptacle  200  can be located on board  202  and board-to-board plug  100  can be located on board  102 . Boards  202  and  102  can be printed circuit boards, flexible circuit boards, or other appropriate substrate. Board-to-board plug  100  can include connections for one or more coaxial cables  190 . A center conductor  192  of coaxial cable  190  can connect to high-speed contacts  160 . High-speed contacts  160  can be shielded by ground contacts  170  and ground shields  176 . This shielding can protect signals conveyed by the coaxial cables  190  from interference by other signals. This shielding can also protect other signals from interference by signals conveyed by coaxial cables  190 . 
     Coaxial cables  190  can be fixed to board-to-board plug  100  by crimping portions  174 . Crimping portions  174  can be tightened around coaxial cable  190  to hold coaxial cable  190  in place. Crimping portions  174  can also physically and electrically connect to a shielding  194  or braided layer of coaxial cable  190 . Center conductors  192  of coaxial cables  190  can be shielded by ground shields  180  and can connect to high-speed contacts  160 . High-speed contacts  160  can be supported by housing  110 . Housing  110  can include a central recess  112  surrounded by raised outer portion  130 . Raised outer portion  130  can include a first edge  132  and a second edge  134 . Ground contacts  170  and ground shields  176  can shield high-speed contacts  160 . Low-speed contacts  140  can be located on first edge  132 , while low-speed contacts  150  can be located on second edge  134 . 
     Board-to-board receptacle  200  can include housing  210  having a recess  212  surrounding a raised central portion  220  and a raised outer portion  230 . Board-to-board receptacle  200  can include ground shields  290  that can physically and electrically connect to ground shields  176  on board-to-board plug  100 . High-speed contacts  260  can be located in recess  212 , on a first edge  222  of raised central portion  220 , and a first edge  232  of the raised outer portion  230 . Ground contacts  270  can be located in recess  212 , on the first edge  222  of raised central portion  220 , and the first edge  232  of the raised outer portion  230 . Low-speed contacts  240  can be located in recess  212 , on the first edge  222  of raised central portion  220 , and the first edge  232  of the raised outer portion  230 . Low-speed contacts  250  can be located in recess  212 , on a second edge  224  of raised central portion  220 , and a second edge  234  of the raised outer portion  230 . 
     When board-to-board plug  100  and board-to-board receptacle  200  are mated, raised central portion  220  can fit in central recess  112 , raised outer portion  130  can fit in recesses  212 , ground contacts  170  can connect to ground contacts  270 , ground shields  176  can connect to ground shields  290 , low-speed contacts  240  and  250  can connect to corresponding low-speed contacts  140  and  150 , and high-speed contacts  260  can connect to high-speed contacts  160 . 
     In these and other embodiments of the present invention, some or all of the conductive structures, such as the ground shields and various contacts, can be formed by stamping or other process. The housings, such as plug housing  110  and receptacle housing  210 , can be insert molded around one or more of these conductive structures. Some or all of the remaining contacts and ground portions can be stamped and then fit to either plug housing  110  or receptacle housing  210 . An example is shown in the following figure. 
       FIGS.  2 A and  2 B  illustrate the board-to-board plug of  FIG.  1   . In  FIG.  2 A , ground contacts  170 , ground shields  176 , tabs  178 , and crimping portions  174  can be formed and stamped as a single piece. Low-speed contacts  140  and  150  can be stamped. High-speed contacts  160  can also be stamped and can include a lateral support portion  163  having tabs  165  at an end. Tabs  165  can provide mechanical support and alignment for center conductors  192  of coaxial cables  190  (shown in  FIG.  1   .) Housing  110  can be molded. Housing  110  can include coaxial cable connection structures  138 . As shown in  FIG.  2 B , tabs  178  of ground contacts  170  can provide shielding around a portion of coaxial cable connection structures  138  of board-to-board plug  100 . 
       FIG.  3    illustrates the board-to-board plug of  FIG.  1   . In this example, coaxial cables  190  (shown in  FIG.  1   ) have not yet been connected to board-to-board plug  100  on board  102 . 
       FIG.  4    illustrates the board-to-board plug of  FIG.  1   . In this example, coaxial cables  190  have been connected to board-to-board plug  100  on board  102 . Ground shields  180  can be placed over coaxial cable connection structures  138 . Ground shields  180  can be laser or spot welded to tabs  178 . 
       FIG.  5    illustrates an underside of the high-speed connector of  FIG.  1   . In this example, board-to-board plug  100  can be inserted into board-to-board receptacle  200 . Surface-mount contacting portions  141  and  151  for low-speed contacts  140  and  150  (shown in  FIG.  1   ) can be exposed such that they can be soldered or otherwise connected to corresponding contacts on board  102  (shown in  FIG.  1   .) Coaxial cables  190  can be received by crimping portions  174  of ground contacts  170 . Ground contacts  170  can include surface mount contacting portions  171 . Ground shields  290  of board-to-board receptacle  200  can connect to ground shields  176  (shown in  FIG.  1   ) of board-to-board plug  100 . Surface-mount contacting portions  161  of high-speed contacts  160  (shown in  FIG.  1   ) can be exposed such that they can be soldered or otherwise connected to corresponding contacts on board  102 . 
       FIG.  6    illustrates another high-speed connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. This high-speed connector can include board-to-board receptacle  400  and board-to-board plug  300 . Board-to-board plug  300  can be located on board  302 , while board-to-board receptacle  400  can be located on board  402 . Board  302  and board  402  can be printed circuit boards, flexible circuit boards or other appropriate substrates. 
     Instead of receiving signals on coaxial cables, board-to-board plug  300  can convey high-speed signals on traces (not shown) on board  302 . These traces can be shielded by ground or other low-impedance lines (not shown) on either side in order to reduce coupling between the high-speed signals conveyed by the traces and other signals. The traces can terminate at high-speed contacts  360  in board-to-board plug  300 . 
     Similarly, instead of receiving signals on coaxial cables, board-to-board receptacle  400  can convey high-speed signals on traces (not shown) on board  402 . These traces can be shielded by ground or other low-impedance lines (not shown) on either side in order to reduce coupling between the high-speed signals conveyed by the traces and other signals. The traces can terminate at high-speed contacts  460  in board-to-board receptacle  400 . 
     Board-to-board plug  300  can include housing  310 . Housing  310  can include central recess  312  surrounded by raised outer portion  330 . Housing  310  can also include recesses  314 . High-speed contacts  360  can be located in recesses  314 . Low-speed contacts  340  can be located on a first side  332  of raised outer portion  330 . Low-speed contacts  350  can be located on a second side  334  of raised outer portion  330 . Ground shields  380  can latterly surround high-speed contacts  360  on four sides, though grounds shields in this and other embodiments can surround high-speed contacts on fewer or more than four sides. 
     Board-to-board receptacle  400  can include recess  412  around raised central portion  420  and raised portions  462 . Recess  412  can be surrounded by raised outer portion  430 . High-speed contacts  460  can be located on raised portions  462 . Low-speed contacts  440  can be located in recess  412 , on a first edge  422  of raised central portion  420 , and a first edge  432  of raised outer portion  430 . Low-speed contacts  450  can be located in recess  412 , on a second edge  424  of raised central portion  420 , and a second edge  434  of raised outer portion  430 . Ground contacts  470  can be located on raised central portion  420 . 
     When board-to-board plug  300  and board-to-board receptacle  400  are mated, raised central portion  420  can fit in central recess  312 , raised portions  462  can fit in recesses  314 , ground contacts  470  can connect to inside surface  382  of ground shields  380 , ground shields  480  can connect to ground shields  380 , low-speed contacts  440  and  450  can connect to corresponding low-speed contacts  340  and  350 , and high-speed contacts  460  can connect to high-speed contacts  360 . 
       FIGS.  7 A and  7 B  illustrate the board-to-board receptacle of  FIG.  6   . In  FIG.  7 A , housing  410  can include recess  412  around raised central portion  420  and raised portions  462 . High-speed contacts  460 , low-speed contacts  440 , and low-speed contacts  450  can be stamped. Ground shields  480  and ground contacts  470  can also be included. As shown in  FIG.  7 B , high-speed contacts  460  can be located on raised portions  462  in recess  412  in housing  410 . 
       FIGS.  8 A and  8 B  illustrate the board-to-board plug of  FIG.  6   . As shown in  FIG.  8 A , this board-to-board plug can include housing  310 , high-speed contacts  360 , and low-speed contacts  340  and  350 . Ground shields  380  can surround high-speed contacts  360  on four lateral sides for shielding and isolation. As shown in  FIG.  8 B , low-speed contacts  340  can be located on a first side  332  of raised outer portion  330 , while low-speed contacts  350  can be on a second side  334  of raised outer portion  330 . Raised outer portion  330  can be defined by central recess  312 . High-speed contacts  360  can be located in recesses  314  in housing  310 . 
       FIG.  9    illustrates a bottom view of the high-speed connector of  FIG.  6   . In this example, surface-mount contacting portions  341  of low-speed contacts  340  (shown in  FIG.  6   ), surface-mount contacting portions  351  of low-speed contacts  350  (shown in  FIG.  6   ), and surface-mount contacting portions  361  of high-speed contacts  360  (shown in  FIG.  6   ) can be located on a bottom surface of housing  310  and can be soldered or otherwise connected to a trace on board  302  (shown in  FIG.  6   .) Ground shield  380  of board-to-board plug  300  can connect to ground shield  480  on housing  410  of board-to-board receptacle  400 . Ground shield  380  can also include inside surface  382 . 
       FIG.  10    illustrates a cross-section view of the high-speed connector of  FIG.  9    along cutline AA. This shows a cross section of housing  310  of board-to-board plug  300  and housing  410  of board-to-board receptacle  400 . Again, ground shields  380  can electrically connect to ground shields  480 . High-speed contact  460  can electrically connect to high-speed contact  360  at contacting point  364 . A length of high-speed contacts  360  and high-speed contacts  460  beyond contacting point  364  can be limited. For example, section  464  can have a limited length. This limited length can help to reduce spurious frequency complements associated with high-speed contacts  360  and high-speed contacts  460 . 
       FIG.  11    illustrates a cross-section view of the high-speed connector of  FIG.  9    along cutline BB. Again, ground shields  380  can be supported by housing  310 , while ground shields  480  can be supported by housing  410 . Protrusion  383  on ground shield  380  can mate with notch  485  on ground shields  480 . 
       FIG.  12    illustrates a cross-section view of the high-speed connector of  FIG.  9    along cutline CC. Again, ground shields  380  can be supported by housing  310 , while ground shields  480  can be supported by housing  410 . Protrusion  383  on ground shield  380  can mate with notch  485  on ground shields  480 . 
       FIG.  13    illustrates a cross-section view of the high-speed connector of  FIG.  9    along cutline DD. Again, ground shields  380  can be supported by housing  310 , while ground shields  480  can be supported by housing  410 . Protrusion  385  on ground shield  380  can mate with notch  485  on ground shields  480 . High-speed contacts  360  and  460  can also be traversed. Ground contact  470  can connect to inside surface  382  of ground shield  380  at location  474 . 
       FIG.  14    illustrates an underside of another high-speed connector that is a variation on the high-speed connector of  FIG.  9   . In this example, low-speed contacts  350  can be replaced by a single contact  350 . This single contact  350  can be a power supply or other type of contact. 
     In these and other embodiments of the present invention, a larger number of high-speed contacts might be needed in a high-speed connector. These high-speed connectors might or might not include a number of low-speed contacts. An example is shown in the following figure. 
       FIG.  15    illustrates another high-speed connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. This high-speed connector can include board-to-board plug  500  and board-to-board receptacle  600 . Board-to-board plug  500  can be located on board  502 , while board-to-board receptacle  600  can be located on board  602 . Board  502  and board  602  can be printed circuit boards, flexible circuit boards or other appropriate substrates. 
     Board-to-board plug  500  can include housing  510 . Housing  510  can include central recess  512 . A first row of high-speed contacts  540  can each be located in a recess  514  in housing  510 . A second row of high-speed contacts  550  can each be located in a recess  514  in housing  510 . Ground shields  580  can provide shielding for high-speed contacts  540  and high-speed contacts  550 . Ground contacts  570  can be located in recesses  572  in housing  510 . 
     Board-to-board receptacle  600  can include housing  610 . Housing  610  can include recess  612  defining a raised central portion  620 . Raised central portion  620  can fit in central recess  512  in board-to-board plug  500 . High-speed contacts  640  and high-speed contacts  650  can be located on raised portions  652 . Ground contacts  670  can be located in raised portions  672 . Ground shields  680  can be located on raised outer portion  630 . 
     When board-to-board plug  500  is mated with board-to-board receptacle  600 , raised central portion  620  can fit in central recess  512 , raised portions  662  can fit in recesses  514 , raised portions  672  can fit in recesses  572 , high-speed contacts  640  can connect to high-speed contacts  540 , high-speed contacts  650  can connect to high-speed contacts  550 , ground contacts  670  can connect to ground contacts  570 , and ground shields  680  can connect to ground shields  580 . 
     As before, board-to-board plug  500  can convey high-speed signals on traces (not shown) on board  52 . These traces can be shielded by ground or other low-impedance lines (not shown) on either side in order to reduce coupling between the high-speed signals conveyed by the traces and other signals. The traces can terminate at high-speed contacts  540  and  550  in board-to-board plug  500 . 
     Similarly, instead of receiving signals on coaxial cables, board-to-board receptacle  600  can convey high-speed signals on traces (not shown) on board  602 . These traces can be shielded by ground or other low-impedance lines (not shown) on either side in order to reduce coupling between the high-speed signals conveyed by the traces and other signals. The traces can terminate at high-speed contacts  460  in board-to-board receptacle  400 . 
       FIGS.  16 A and  16 B  illustrate the board-to-board receptacle of  FIG.  15   . In  FIG.  16 A , housing  610  can include a recess  612  defining a raised central portion  620 . High-speed contacts  640  and  650  and ground shields  680  can be stamped, as can ground contacts  670 . As shown in  FIG.  16 B , high-speed contacts  640  and high-speed contacts  650  can be located on raised portions  652 . Ground shield  680  can be located on raised outer portion  630  of housing  610 . Raised portion  672  can accept ground contacts  670 , shown in  FIG.  16 A . 
       FIGS.  17 A and  17 B  illustrate the board-to-board plug of  FIG.  15   . In  FIG.  17 A , high-speed contacts  540  and high-speed contacts  550  can be located in recesses  514  of housing  510 . Ground contacts  570  can be located in recesses  572  in housing  510 . Housing  510  can also include a central recess  512 . Ground shields  580  can include openings  582  and  584  for access to recesses  514  and  572 . Ground shields  580  can also include tabs  587 , which can be inserted into housing  510 . Again, high-speed contacts  540  and high-speed contacts  550  can be located in recesses  514  in housing  510 , as shown in  FIG.  17 B . 
       FIG.  18    illustrates an underside of the high-speed connector of  FIG.  15   . Housing  510  can be located in housing  610 , ground contacts  570 , surface-mount contacting portions  541  of high-speed contacts  540 , and surface-mount contacting portions  551  of high-speed contacts  550  (all shown in  FIG.  15   ) can be located at a bottom surface of housing  510  and can be soldered or otherwise connected to corresponding contacts on board  502  (shown in  FIG.  15   .) Tabs  587  of ground shields  580  can be exposed on a bottom surface of housing  510  and can be connected contacts on board  502  (shown in  FIG.  15   .) 
       FIG.  19    illustrates a close-up view of a ground contact for a board-to-board plug according to an embodiment of the present invention. Ground contact  570  can include contacting arms  573  for engaging ground contacts  670  in board-to-board receptacle  600  (shown in  FIG.  15   .) Ground contacts  570  can also include a base portion  577  supporting barbs  579 . Barbs  579  can be inserted into housing  510  of board-to-board plug  500  (shown in  FIG.  15   .) 
       FIG.  20    illustrates a cross-section view of the high-speed connector of  FIG.  18    along cutline AA. This shows a cross section of housing  510  of board-to-board plug  500  and housing  610  of board-to-board receptacle  600 . Again, ground shields  580  can electrically connect to ground shields  680 . Protrusion  585  on ground shield  580  can mate with notch  685  on ground shields  680 . High-speed contact  650  can electrically connect to high-speed contact  550  at contacting point  552 . A length of high-speed contacts  550  and high-speed contacts  650  beyond contacting point  552  can be limited. For example, section  653  can have a limited length. This limited length can help to reduce spurious frequency complements associated with high-speed contacts  640  and  650  and high-speed contacts  550  and  560 . 
       FIG.  21    illustrates a cross-section view of the high-speed connector of  FIG.  18    along cutline BB. This shows a cross section of housing  510  of board-to-board plug  500  and housing  610  of board-to-board receptacle  600 . Ground contacts  670 , ground shields  580 , and ground shields  680  are also shown. 
       FIG.  22    illustrates a cross-section view of the high-speed connector of  FIG.  18    along cutline CC. This shows a cross section of housing  510  of board-to-board plug  500  and housing  610  of board-to-board receptacle  600 . Ground shields  680  can connect to ground shields  580 . Contacting arms  573  can connect to ground contacts  670 . High-speed contacts  540  and high-speed contacts  640  are also shown. 
       FIG.  23    illustrates a high-speed connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. This high-speed connector can include board-to-board receptacle  800  and board-to-board plug  700 . Board-to-board receptacle  800  can be located on board  802  and board-to-board plug  700  can be located on board  702 . Boards  802  and  702  can be printed circuit boards, flexible circuit boards, or other appropriate substrate. Board-to-board plug  700  can include connections for one or more coaxial cables  790 . A center conductor  792  of coaxial cable  790  can connect to high-speed contacts  760 . High-speed contacts  760  can be shielded by ground contacts  770  and ground shields  776 . This shielding can protect signals conveyed by the coaxial cables  790  from interference by other signals. This shielding can also protect other signals from interference by signals conveyed by coaxial cables  790 . 
     Coaxial cables  790  can be fixed to board-to-board plug  700  by crimping portions  774 . Crimping portions  774  can be tightened around coaxial cable  790  to hold coaxial cable  790  in place. Crimping portions  774  can also physically and electrically connect to a shielding  794  or braided layer of coaxial cable  790 . Center conductors  792  of coaxial cables  790  can be shielded by ground shields  780  and can connect to high-speed contacts  760 . High-speed contacts  760  can be supported by housing  710 . Housing  710  can include a central recess  712  surrounded by raised outer portion  730 . Raised outer portion  730  can include a first edge  732  and a second edge  734 . Ground contacts  770  and ground shields  776  can shield high-speed contacts  760 . 
     Board-to-board receptacle  800  can include housing  810  having a recess  812  surrounding a raised central portion  820  and a raised outer portion  830 . Board-to-board receptacle  800  can include ground shields  890  that can physically and electrically connect to ground shields  776  on board-to-board plug  700 . High-speed contacts  860  can be located in recess  812 , on a first edge  822  of raised central portion  820 , and a first edge  832  of the raised outer portion  830 . Ground contacts  870  can be located in recess  812 , on the first edge  822  of raised central portion  820 , and the first edge  832  of the raised outer portion  830 . 
     When board-to-board plug  700  and board-to-board receptacle  800  are mated, raised central portion  820  can fit in central recess  712 , raised outer portion  730  can fit in recesses  812 , ground contacts  770  can connect to ground contacts  870 , ground shields  776  can connect to ground shields  890 , and high-speed contacts  860  can connect to high-speed contacts  760 . 
     Many of the structures in board-to-board plug  700  and board-to-board receptacle  800  can be the same or similar as structures in the other examples, such as the example in  FIG.  1   . Housing  710  can be the same or similar to housing  110 . High-speed contacts  760  can be the same or similar to high-speed contacts  160 . Ground contacts  770  can be the same or similar to ground contacts  170 . Ground shields  776  can be the same or similar to ground shields  176 . Ground shields  780  can be the same or similar to ground shields  180 . Housing  810  can be the same or similar to housing  210 . High-speed contacts  860  can be the same or similar to high-speed contacts  260 . Ground contacts  870  can be the same or similar to ground contacts  270 . Ground shields  890  can be the same or similar to ground shields  290 . 
     In these and other embodiments of the present invention, some or all of the conductive structures, such as the ground shields and various contacts, can be formed by stamping or other process. The housings, such as plug housing  710  and receptacle housing  810 , can be insert molded around one or more of these conductive structures. Some or all of the remaining contacts and ground portions can be stamped and then fit to either plug housing  710  or receptacle housing  810 . 
     While embodiments of the present invention are well-suited to providing high-speed connections for coaxial cables, these and other embodiments of the present invention can provide high-speed connectors that include board-to-board plugs and receptacles for one or more other types of cables, such as twin-axial, twisted pair, shielded twisted pair, fiber optic, single conductor, or other types of cables and combinations of these and coaxial cables. 
     In various embodiments of the present invention, contacts, ground contacts, ground shields, and other conductive portions of a high-speed connector can be formed by stamping, metal-injection molding, machining, micro-machining, 3-D printing, or other manufacturing process. The conductive portions can be formed of stainless steel, steel, copper, copper titanium, phosphor bronze, or other material or combination of materials. They can be plated or coated with nickel, gold, or other material. The nonconductive portions can be formed using injection or other molding, 3-D printing, machining, or other manufacturing process. The nonconductive portions can be formed of silicon or silicone, rubber, hard rubber, plastic, nylon, liquid-crystal polymers (LCPs), or other nonconductive material or combination of materials. 
     Embodiments of the present invention can provide high-speed connectors that can be located in various types of devices, such as portable computing devices, tablet computers, desktop computers, laptops, all-in-one computers, cell phones, wearable-computing devices, storage devices, portable media players, navigation systems, monitors, power supplies, adapters, remote control devices, chargers, and other devices. These high-speed connectors can provide pathways for signals that are compliant with various standards such as Universal Serial Bus (USB), a High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI), Digital Visual Interface (DVI), power, Ethernet, DisplayPort, Thunderbolt, Lightning and other types of standard and non-standard interfaces 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: 20220117
Publication Date: 20230228
Grant Date: 20230228
Priority Date: 20190927
Inventors: SLOEY, JASON S.
Kamei, Ibuki
OGILVIE, TIMOTHY B.
WAGMAN, Daniel C.
JOL, ERIC S.
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "H01R13/6585", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R12/52", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R24/50", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R12/73", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R12/732", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/405", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R12/78", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/6585", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R12/716", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R9/0518", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/20", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R24/50", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R12/79", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R12/52", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R12/732", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R24/50", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/6585", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 75161443