Versatile connector for mobile telephone

• US 20060014563A1
• Filed: 07/14/2004
• Published: 01/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mobitek Communication Corp
• Original Assignee: Mobitek Communication Corp
• Inventors: Cheng, Nai-Sheng
• Granted Patent: US 7,144,262 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/557
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0254 comprising one or a plurality of mechanically detachable modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0264 for a camera module assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0274 for an electrical connector module
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60

Abstract

A connector for easily connecting a peripheral to a mobile telephone that allows the peripheral to be oriented in at least two directions. The connector comprises a phone-side connector attached to a mobile telephone and a peripheral-side connector attached to the peripheral. The phone-side connector comprises a plurality of contacts which are duplicated adjacent to the contacts but in a reverse order. The peripheral-side connector also comprises a plurality of mating contacts which are duplicated adjacent to the contacts but in a reverse order. In this way, the phone-side connector and the peripheral-side connector can properly mate regardless of the orientation, either facing towards or away from the mobile phone user.

Claims

1. A connector for connecting two electronic devices comprising;

a first connector comprising;

a plurality of first contacts; and

a duplicate set of first contacts arranged in parallel and in a reverse order with the plurality of first contacts; and

a second connector comprising;

a plurality of second connector contacts;

wherein the plurality of second connector contacts mate with the plurality of first contacts in a first orientation, and the plurality of second connector contacts mate with the duplicate set of first contacts in a second orientation.

2. The connector for connecting two electronic devices of claim 1, wherein the first contacts comprise a power contact, a ground contact, a clock signal contact, and at least one data contact.

3. The connector for connecting two electronic devices of claim 1, further comprising a means for determining the orientation of the second connector.

4. The connector for connecting two electronic devices of claim 1, further comprising a means for ensuring the plurality of second connector contacts do not mate with the duplicate set of first contacts in a first orientation, and the plurality of second connector contacts do not mate with the plurality of first contacts in a second orientation.

5. The connector for connecting two electronic devices of claim 1, wherein the first connector is female and the second connector is male.

6. The connector for connecting two electronic devices of claim 1, wherein the first connector is attached to a mobile telephone and the second connector is attached to a peripheral.

7. A connector for providing multiple orientations of a connected object comprising:

a first connector comprising;

a plurality of first contacts; and

a plurality of second contacts; and

a second connector comprising;

a plurality of third contacts;

wherein the plurality of third contacts mate with the plurality of first contacts in a first orientation, and the plurality of third contacts mate with the plurality of second contacts in a second orientation.

8. The connector for providing multiple orientations of a connected object of claim 7, wherein the first contacts comprise a power contact, a ground contact, a clock signal contact, and at least one data contact.

9. The connector for providing multiple orientations of a connected object of claim 7, wherein the second contacts are arranged in parallel with the first contacts but in a reverse order.

10. The connector for providing multiple orientations of a connected object of claim 7, further comprising a means for determining the orientation of the second connector.

11. The connector for providing multiple orientations of a connected object of claim 7, further comprising a means for ensuring the plurality of third contacts do not mate with the plurality of second contacts in a first orientation, and the plurality of third contacts do not mate with the plurality of first contacts in a second orientation.

12. The connector for providing multiple orientations of a connected object of claim 7, wherein the first connector is female and the second connector is male.

13. The connector for providing multiple orientations of a connected object of claim 7, wherein the first connector is attached to a mobile telephone and the second connector is attached to a peripheral.

14. A connector for connecting a peripheral to a mobile telephone comprising:

a first connector of a first gender comprising;

a first connector clock signal contact;

a duplicate first connector clock signal contact;

a first connector ground contact;

a duplicate first connector ground contact;

a first connector power contact;

a duplicate first connector power contact;

at least one first connector data contact; and

at least one duplicate first connector data contact; and

a second connector of a second gender comprising;

a second connector clock signal contact;

a duplicate second connector clock signal contact;

a second connector ground contact;

a duplicate second connector contact;

a second connector power contact;

a duplicate second connector power contact;

at least one second connector data contact; and

at least one duplicate second connector data contact.

15. The connector for connecting a peripheral to a mobile telephone of claim 14, wherein the first gender is female and the second gender is male.

16. The connector for connecting a peripheral to a mobile telephone of claim 14, wherein the first connector is attached to the mobile telephone and the second connector is attached to the peripheral.

17. The connector for connecting a peripheral to a mobile telephone of claim 14, wherein the duplicate contacts are arranged in parallel to the other contacts on the same connector.

18. The connector for connecting a peripheral to a mobile telephone of claim 14, wherein the duplicate contacts are arranged in reverse order to the other contacts on the same connector.

19. The connector for connecting a peripheral to a mobile telephone of claim 14, further comprising a means for determining the orientation of the second connector.

20. The connector for connecting a peripheral to a mobile telephone of claim 14, further comprising:

a first connector first orientation contact;

a first connector second orientation contact; and

a second connector position contact;

whereby the second position contact mates with the first connector first orientation contact when the second connector is in a first orientation; and

whereby the second position contact mates with the first connector second orientation contact when the second connector is in a second orientation.