Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/404,975 filed on Apr. 14, 2006. The disclosure of the above application is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to electrical connectors and ports, and more particularly to universal serial bus (USB) connectors and ports. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art. 
         [0004]    Most computers sold today include one or more Universal Serial Bus (USB) connectors. The USB connectors allow users to connect mice, printers, jump drives, microphones, USB cables, headsets, and other devices to the computer quickly and easily. The computers typically run an operating system (OS) that supports the USB to allow easy installation. As compared to other ways of connecting devices to the computer (including parallel ports, serial ports and custom cards installed inside the computer&#39;s case), the USB devices are relatively simple. If the USB device is a new device, the OS auto-detects the USB device and may initiate a dialog with the user to locate a driver for the USB device. If the USB device has already been installed, the computer activates the USB device. 
         [0005]    A USB cable typically includes two wires for power (typically 5V (volts) and ground) and a twisted pair of wires to carry data. The USB cable may also be shielded. Low-power devices (such as mice and/or other devices) can draw their power directly from the USB connection. High-power devices (such as printers and/or other devices) have power supplies and draw minimal power from the USB connection. USB devices are hot-swappable, which means that they can be plugged and unplugged at any time. 
         [0006]    The host computer powers up, queries all of the USB devices connected to the bus and assigns an address to each USB device. This process is called enumeration—USB devices are also enumerated when they are connected to the bus. The host computer determines the type of data transfer that the USB device employs. Devices such as mice or keyboards, which send relatively small amounts of data, tend to use an interrupt mode. Devices such as printers, which receive data in large packets, tend to use a bulk transfer mode. Data is sent to the printer in blocks and verified. Streaming devices (such as speakers) use an isochronous mode. Data streams between the device and the host in real-time without error correction. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    A universal serial bus (USB) connector comprises an insulating substrate including a first side and a second side. First, second, third and fourth conductors are arranged adjacent to each other on the first side of the insulating substrate and have a port side and a second side. First, second, third and fourth conductors are arranged adjacent to each other on the second side of the insulating substrate and have a port side and a second side. 
         [0008]    In other features, the first conductor on the first side is adjacent to the fourth conductor on the second side, the second conductor on the first side is adjacent to the third conductor on the second side, the third conductor on the first side is adjacent to the second conductor on the second side, and the fourth conductor on the first side is adjacent to the first conductor on the second side. 
         [0009]    In other features, the first conductors on the first and second sides are connected by the first connecting conductor, the second conductors on the first and second sides are connected by the second connecting conductor, the third conductors on the first and second sides are connected by the third connecting conductor, and the fourth conductors on the first and second sides are connected by the fourth connecting conductor. 
         [0010]    In other features, the port side ends of the first conductors are tapered. The insulating substrate includes a printed circuit board. The first, second, third and fourth conductors include traces formed on first and second sides of the printed circuit board. The first, second, third and fourth connecting conductors include vias arranged in the printed circuit board. A housing includes a connector that receives the insulating substrate. 
         [0011]    A system comprises the USB connector and further comprises a hard disk drive connected to the second ends of the first, second, third and fourth conductors. 
         [0012]    A USB cable comprises the USB connector and further comprises first, second, third and fourth wires that are connected to the first, second, third and fourth conductors. 
         [0013]    A system comprises the USB connector and further comprises a circuit connected to the second ends of the first, second, third and fourth conductors. 
         [0014]    Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be understood that the description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
     
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way. 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  is a first top perspective view of an exemplary USB connector according to the present disclosure; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a second top perspective view of an exemplary USB connector according to the present disclosure; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a partial top perspective view of an exemplary USB connector without a housing according to the present disclosure; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a partial bottom perspective view of an exemplary USB connector without a housing according to the present disclosure; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is a USB cable-side, partial end perspective view of an exemplary USB connector according to the present disclosure; 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a computer-side, partial end perspective view of an exemplary USB connector according to the present disclosure; 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an exemplary USB connector according to the present disclosure connected in a first orientation to a computer; 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an exemplary USB connector according to the present disclosure connected in a second orientation to a computer; 
           [0024]      FIG. 9  is a plan view of an exemplary PCB-based USB connector according to the present disclosure; 
           [0025]      FIG. 10  is a perspective bottom view of an exemplary PCB-based USB connector according to the present disclosure; 
           [0026]      FIG. 11  is a perspective top view of an exemplary PCB-based USB connector according to the present disclosure; 
           [0027]      FIG. 12  is a top plan view of an exemplary PCB-based USB connector according to the present disclosure; 
           [0028]      FIG. 13  is a bottom plan view of an exemplary PCB-based USB connector according to the present disclosure; 
           [0029]      FIG. 14  is a bottom perspective view of the PCB-based USB connector attached to a computer in a first orientation; 
           [0030]      FIG. 15  is a top perspective view of the PCB-based USB connector attached to a computer in a second orientation; 
           [0031]      FIG. 16  is a functional block diagram of a device with a reversible USB port according to the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0032]    The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features. 
         [0033]    Conventional USB connectors must be connected to USB ports in a particular orientation. In other words, the USB connectors cannot be rotated 180 degrees and connected in a second orientation. If a user attempts to connect the USB connector in the wrong orientation, the USB connector will not fit and the USB device will not work. If the user does not know that the USB connector needs to be connected in a particular orientation, the user may use increased insertion pressure, which may damage the USB port and/or the USB connector. Alternately, the user may think that the USB connector is the wrong type of connector. 
         [0034]    A USB connector according to the present disclosure remedies the shortcomings of conventional USB connectors by allowing connection in both first and second orientations. The second orientation is rotated 180 degrees relative to the first orientation. As a result, users can connect the USB connector more quickly while avoiding damage to the USB port and/or USB connector. 
         [0035]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1-4 , an exemplary USB connector  10  according to the present disclosure is shown. A USB connector  10  includes a housing  12  having a device or cable-side  14  and a computer port side  16 . The USB connector  10  further includes an insulating substrate  24 . A plurality of conductors  28 - 1 A,  28 - 2 A,  28 - 3 A, and  28 - 4 A (collectively conductors  28 A) are arranged in a spaced relationship on a first side  25  of the insulating substrate  24 . The conductor  28 - 1 A is located adjacent to conductor  28 - 2 A. The conductor  28 - 2 A is located adjacent to conductor  28 - 3 A. The conductor  28 - 3 A is located adjacent to conductor  28 - 4 A. 
         [0036]    A plurality of conductors  28 - 1 B,  28 - 2 B,  28 - 3 B, and  28 - 4 B (collectively conductors  28 B) are located in a spaced relationship on a second side  26  of the insulating substrate  24  as best seen in  FIG. 4 . The conductor  28 - 1 B is located adjacent to conductor  28 - 2 B. The conductor  28 - 1 B is located adjacent to conductor  28 - 2 B. The conductor  28 - 2 B is located adjacent to conductor  28 - 3 B. The conductor  28 - 3 B is located adjacent to conductor  28 - 4 B. 
         [0037]    The conductor  28 - 1 A on the first side  25  is located adjacent to the conductor  28 - 4 B located on the opposite side  26 . The conductor  28 - 2 A on the first side  25  is located adjacent to the conductor  28 - 3 B located on the opposite side  26 . The conductor  28 - 3 A on the first side  25  is located adjacent to the conductor  28 - 2 B located on the opposite side  26 . The conductor  28 - 4 A on the first side  25  is located adjacent to the conductor  28 - 1 B located on the opposite side  26 . 
         [0038]    The conductor  28 - 1 A on the first side  25  is connected by conductor  28 - 1 C to the conductor  28 - 1 B located on the opposite side  26 . The conductor  28 - 2 A on the first side  25  is connected by conductor  28 - 2 C to the conductor  28 - 2 B located on the opposite side  26 . The conductor  28 - 3 A on the first side  25  is connected by conductor  28 - 3 C to the conductor  28 - 3 B located on the opposite side  26 . The conductor  28 - 4 A on the first side  25  is connected by conductor  28 - 4 C to the conductor  28 - 4 B located on the opposite side  26 . 
         [0039]    Ends of the conductors  28 A and  28 B on the computer port-side  16  may include a tapered end  30 A to facilitate connection to the computer USB port. The conductors  28 - 1 C,  28 - 2 C,  28 - 3 C, and  28 - 4 C (collectively conductors  28 C) may pass through the insulating substrate  24 . Ends of the conductors  28 A and  28 B are connected to wires in the USB cable (not shown) by conductors  34 - 1 ,  34 - 2 ,  34 - 3  and  34 - 4  (collectively conductors  34 ). The conductors  34  may be “L”-shaped and extend upwardly and parallel to conductors  28 A and/or  28 B. One of the conductors  34  may be connected to supply voltage, another conductor  34  may be connected to ground or another reference potential, another conductor  34  may be connected to one wire of the twisted pair or wires and another conductor  34  may be connected to the other wire of the twisted pair of wires. 
         [0040]    Referring now to  FIGS. 3-6 , the conductor  28 - 4 C has a first “L”-shaped section  40  and a second “L”-shaped section  42  that are connected by a middle section  43  that passes through the insulating material  24 . The conductor  28 - 1 C has a first “L”-shaped section  44  and a second “L”-shaped section  46  that are connected by a middle section  45  that passes through the insulating material  24 . The conductor  28 - 2 C has a first “L”-shaped section  50  and a second “L”-shaped section  52  that are connected by a middle section  51  that passes through the insulating material  24 . The conductor  28 - 3 C has a first “L”-shaped section  60  and a second “L”-shaped section  62  that are connected by a middle section  61  that passes through the insulating material  24 . 
         [0041]    Referring now to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the USB connector  10  is shown connected to a cable  100  and to a computer port  102  in a first orientation. A side  101 A of the housing  20  is labeled for reference purposes. The computer port  102  provides conductors  104 - 1 ,  104 - 2 ,  104 - 3  and  104 - 4  that mate with conductors  28 - 1 A,  28 - 2 A,  28 - 3 A and  28 - 4 A. Conductors  28 - 1 B,  28 - 2 B,  28 - 3 B and  28 - 4 B are not in direct physical contact with the conductors  104 . 
         [0042]    In  FIG. 8 , the USB connector  10  is shown connected to the cable  100  and to the computer port  102  in a second orientation, which is rotated 180 degrees relative to the first orientation. A side  101 B of the housing  20 , which is opposite to the side  101 A, is labeled for reference purposes. The computer port  102  provides conductors  104 - 1 ,  104 - 2 ,  104 - 3  and  104 - 4  that mate with (directly physically contact) conductors  28 - 1 B,  28 - 2 B,  28 - 3 B and  28 - 4 B. Conductors  28 - 1 A,  28 - 2 A,  28 - 3 A and  28 - 4 A are not in direct physical contact with the conductors  104 . In both cases, the conductor  34  is associated with the conductor  28 A or  28 B via the conductors  28 C. As a result, the wires in the cable  100  are always connected to the correct input of the computer port. 
         [0043]    Referring now to  FIGS. 9-13 , a PCB-based USB connector according to the present disclosure is shown. The USB connector  110  includes a housing  112  that defines a slot  114  for receiving a printed circuit board  120 . Other mechanical attachment methods may be used to support the printed circuit board  120  within the housing  112 . A first surface  122  of the printed circuit board  120  includes traces  128 - 1 A,  128 - 2 A,  128 - 3 A, and  128 - 4 A. A second surface  132  of the printed circuit board  120  includes traces  128 - 1 B,  128 - 2 B,  128 - 3 B, and  128 - 4 B. In this exemplary implementation, a circuit  140  such as an integrated circuit including memory, a hard disk drive or any other circuit is connected to ends  142  of the conductors  128 . Opposite ends  144  of the conductors  128  are connected to a computer port. However, a USB cable and/or any other type of device may be connected. 
         [0044]    Referring now to  FIGS. 14-15 , the USB connector  110  is shown connected to a computer port  150  in first and second orientations. 
         [0045]    Referring now to  FIG. 16 , a standard USB connector  300  can be connected to a reversible USB Port  308  of a device  304 . The USB Port  308  can be constructed in a manner similar to the USB connectors described above. 
         [0046]    As can be appreciated from the foregoing, the USB connector according to the present disclosure simplifies the connection of a USB device or USB cable to a computer port. While a computer port is shown, the USB connector can be connected to any computing device with a USB port in either the first or second orientation while maintaining the proper orientation of the connections relative to the port of the computing device.

Technology Category: 5