Printed circuit board mounted cable apparatus and methods thereof

• US 10,446,959 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2017
• Issued: 10/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC (Seagate Technology Holdings Plc)
• Original Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC (Seagate Technology Holdings Plc)
• Inventors: Groom, Timothy, Davis, David Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Hyeon, Hae Moon
• Application Number:
  US15/799,071
• Publication Number:
  US 20190131729A1
• Time in Patent Office: 714 Days
• Field of Search: 439660, 43960707, 439567, 439571
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/7064 Press fitting
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/7082 Coupling device supported only by cooperation with PCB
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/716 Coupling device provided on the PCB
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/518 for holding or embracing several coupling parts, e.g. frames
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/00 Casings, cabinets or drawers for electric apparatus

Abstract

A system, apparatus, and method including a cable apparatus that is configured to be physically coupled to a printed circuit board. The cable apparatus includes a cable connector including at least one prong configured to be coupled within an aperture of the printed circuit board and an opening configured to receive an additional connector. The cable apparatus also includes a plurality of flexible cables coupled to the cable connector. Connecting portions of each of the plurality of flexible cables positioned within the opening of the receiving housing and configured to be operably coupled to the additional connector. The at least one prong does not transmit a signal into the printed circuit board and is configured to be press-fit within the aperture of the printed circuit board.

Claims

1. A cable apparatus configured to be physically coupled to a printed circuit board, the cable apparatus comprising:

a cable connector comprising an attachment apparatus and a receiving housing, the attachment apparatus comprising at least one prong configured to be coupled within an aperture of the printed circuit board, the receiving housing defining an opening configured to receive an additional connector; and

a plurality of flexible cables coupled to the cable connector, each of the plurality of flexible cables extending from an end portion comprising a connecting portion, the connecting portions positioned within the opening of the receiving housing and configured to be operably coupled to a corresponding connecting portion of the additional connector received by the opening of the receiving housing.

2. The cable apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one prong of the attachment apparatus does not transmit a signal.

3. The cable apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one prong is configured to be press-fit within the aperture of the printed circuit board.

4. The cable apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of flexible cables extend into the receiving housing along a longitudinal axis, wherein the at least one prong extends from the attachment apparatus perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

5. The cable apparatus of claim 1, wherein the attachment apparatus extends between a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein the first end portion is closer to the receiving housing than the second end portion, wherein a length of the attachment apparatus measured between the first end portion and the second end portion is less than or equal to 50 mm.

6. The cable apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of flexible cables are bundled together.

7. The cable apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of flexible cables extend along the attachment apparatus between a first end portion and a second end portion of the attachment apparatus.

8. The cable apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of flexible cables are optical cables.

9. The cable connector of claim 1, further comprising a stiffener structure configured to guide the plurality of flexible cables such that each of the plurality of flexible cables maintains position relative to one another between the cable connector and the stiffener structure.

10. A system comprising:

a printed circuit board defines a top surface, an opposing bottom surface, and an edge surface extending between the top and bottom surfaces, the printed circuit board further defining an aperture extending into the top surface of the printed circuit board;

a cable connector comprising at least one prong configured to be coupled within the aperture of the printed circuit board, the cable connector further comprising an attachment apparatus and a receiving housing, the receiving housing defining an opening configured to receive an additional connector, at least a portion of the attachment apparatus is positioned within the receiving housing; and

a plurality of flexible cables coupled to the cable connector, each of the plurality of flexible cables extending from an end portion comprising a connecting portion, the connecting portions positioned within the opening of the receiving housing and configured to be operably coupled to the additional connector received by the opening of the receiving housing.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the printed circuit board defines a notch extending into the printed circuit board from the edge surface of the printed circuit board, at least a portion of the cable connector is positioned within the notch such that the plurality of flexible cables are positioned proximate the top surface of the printed circuit board.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the aperture of the printed circuit board is electrically plated.

13. The system of claim 10, further comprising a data storage device, wherein the plurality of flexible cables are operably connected to the data storage device opposite the end portion of the plurality of flexible cables.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the at least one prong is configured to be press-fit within the aperture of the printed circuit board.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the at least one prong does not transmit a signal.

16. A method comprising:

coupling a plurality of flexible cables to an attachment apparatus between a first end portion and a second end portion of the attachment apparatus, the attachment apparatus comprising opposing attachment edges extending between the first and second end portions and at least one prong extending from one of the opposing attachment edges, each of the plurality of flexible cables extending from an end portion comprising a connecting portion;

coupling the attachment apparatus to a receiving housing, the receiving housing defining an opening and coupled to the attachment apparatus such that the connecting portions are positioned within the opening, the opening of the receiving housing configured to receive an additional connector to operably couple the additional connector and the plurality of flexible cables; and

coupling the attachment apparatus within an aperture of a printed circuit board.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising operably coupling the additional connector and the connecting portion of the plurality of flexible cables through the opening of the receiving housing.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein coupling the attachment apparatus within the aperture of the printed circuit board comprises press fitting at least one prong of the attachment apparatus into the aperture of the printed circuit board.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the at least one prong of the attachment apparatus does not transmit a signal to the printed circuit board.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising transmitting a signal between the plurality of flexible cables and the additional connector.