Connector system

• US 20060154530A1
• Filed: 01/07/2005
• Published: 07/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Zadesky, Stephen, Novotney, Donald J., Hankey, Evans
• Application Number:
  US11/031,301
• Publication Number:
  US 20060154530A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/660
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2107/00 Four or more poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/62 Sliding engagements with one side only, e.g. modular jack coupling devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 27/00 Coupling parts adapted for co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts for dissimilar contact members H01R13/35; supported only by co-operation with a counterpart H01R31/00; with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/90

Abstract

A connector is disclosed. The connector comprises a plurality of universal serial bus (USB) pins, and a plurality of pins for additional functionality, wherein the connector can engage a conventional USB connector or a connector that also utilizes the plurality of pins. Accordingly, in the present invention, a male and female connectors are provided that include additional pins within the connector that provide for additional functionality. This is accomplished utilizing the standard interface of the USB connector but adding additional pins around that interface to provide this functionality.

Claims

1. A connector comprising:

a plurality of universal serial bus (USB) pins; and

a plurality of pins for additional functionality, wherein the connector can engage a conventional USB connector or a connector that also utilizes the plurality of pins.

2. The connector of claim 1 wherein the plurality of USB pins comprises a reference voltage pin, a ground pin and two data pins.

3. The connector of claim 1 wherein the plurality of pins comprises:

an audio left pin;

an audio right pin; and

an audio return pin.

4. The connector of claim 3 wherein the plurality of pins further comprises a serial data in pin and a serial data out pin.

5. The connector of claim 3 wherein the connector comprises a female connector.

6. The connector of claim 5 wherein the plurality of pins and the plurality of USB pins are spring-loaded.

7. A connector comprising:

four universal serial bus (USB) pins, wherein the four USB pins comprise a reference voltage pin, a ground pin and two data pins; and

five pins for additional functionality;

the five pins comprising a serial data in pin;

a serial data out pin;

an audio left pin;

an audio right pin; and

an audio return pin, wherein the connector can engage with a conventional USB connector or a connector that also utilizes the five pins.

8. The connector of claim 7 wherein the connector comprises a male connector.

9. The connector of claim 7 wherein the connector comprises a female conductor.

10. The connector of claim 7 wherein the four USB pins and five pins for additional functionality are spring-loaded.

11. A female connector comprising:

a plurality of spring-loaded universal serial bus (USB) pins; and

at least one spring-loaded pin for additional functionality, wherein the female connector can engage a conventional male USB connector, or a male connector that also utilizes the at least one pin.

12. The connector of claim 11 wherein the plurality of USB pins comprises a power pin, a ground pin and two data pins.

13. The connector of claim 11 wherein the at least one spring-loaded pin is selected from one of the following:

an audio signal pin, a video signal pin, a serial data pin.

14. A male connector comprising:

a circuit board including a plurality of universal serial bus circuit traces; and

a at least one trace for additional functionality, wherein the male connector can engage a conventional female USB connector, or a female connector that also utilizes the at least one trace.

15. The female connector of claim 14 wherein the plurality of USB circuit traces comprises a power trace, a ground trace and two data traces.

16. The male connector of claim 14 wherein the plurality of pins comprises:

a serial data in trace;

a serial data out trace;

an audio left trace;

an audio right trace; and

an audio ground trace.

17. A female connector comprising:

four universal serial bus (USB) pins, wherein the four USB pins comprise a reference voltage pin, a ground pin and two data pins; and

five pins for additional functionality;

the five pins comprising a serial data in pin;

a serial data out pin;

an audio left pin;

an audio right pin; and

an audio return pin, wherein the connector can engage with a conventional male USB connector or a male connector that also utilizes the five pins.

18. A male connector comprising:

a circuit board including four universal serial bus (USB) circuit traces, wherein the four USB traces comprise a power trace, a ground trace and two data traces; and

five traces for additional functionality;

the five traces comprising a serial data in trace;

a serial data out trace;

an audio left trace;

an audio right trace; and

an audio return pin, wherein the connector can engage with a conventional USB female connector or a connector that also utilizes the five traces.

19. A connector comprising:

a plurality of standard interface pins; and

a plurality of pins for additional functionality, wherein the connector can engage a conventional connector in accordance with the standard interface or a connector that utilizes the plurality of pins.

20. The connector of claim 19 wherein the standard interface comprises the universal serial bus interface.

21. A female connector comprising:

a housing;

a plate coupled to the housing;

a plurality of springloaded universal serial bus (USB) pins coupled to the plate; and

a plurality of springloaded pins for additional functionality, the plurality of pins being placed in between the plurality of USB pins such that the USB pins can engage a conventional USB connector and such that the connector can engage with a connector that utilizes the plurality of pins to allow for the use of a connector with additional functionality.

22. A female connector comprising:

a housing;

a plate coupled to the housing;

four springloaded universal serial bus (USB) pins coupled to the plate, wherein the four USB pins comprise a power pin, a ground pin and two data pins; and

five springloaded pins for additional functionality, the five pins comprising a serial data in pin;

a serial data out pin;

an audio left pin;

an audio right pin; and

an audio ground pin, the five springloaded pins being placed in between the four USB pins such that the four USB pins can engage a conventional USB connector and such that the connector can engage a connector that utilizes the five springloaded pins to allow for use with a connector with additional functionality.

23. A male connector comprising:

a housing;

a circuit board coupled to the housing;

a plurality of universal serial bus (USB) circuit traces coupled to the circuit board;

a plurality of circuit traces for additional functionality, the plurality of circuit traces being placed in between the plurality of USB circuit traces such that the USB circuit traces can engage a conventional USB connector and such that the connector can engage a connector that utilizes the plurality of circuit traces to allow for the use with a connector with additional functionality.

24. A male connector comprising:

a housing;

a circuit board coupled to the housing;

four universal serial bus (USB) circuit traces coupled to the circuit board, and five circuit traces coupled to the circuit board for additional functionality, wherein the four USB traces comprise a power trace, a ground trace and two data traces; and

wherein the five traces comprising a serial data in trace;

a serial data out trace;

an audio left trace;

an audio right trace; and

an audio ground trace, the five circuit traces being placed in between the four USB circuit traces such that the four USB circuit traces can engage a conventional USB connector and such that the connector can engage a connector that utilizes the five circuit traces to allow for use with a connector with additional functionality.

25. A female connector comprising:

a housing;

a plate coupled to the housing;

four springloaded universal serial bus (USB) pins coupled to the plate; and

five springloaded pins for additional functionality, wherein the four USB pins and the five pins for additional functionality are in the following configuration;

pin 1 comprises a 5V USB reference signal pin;

pin 2 comprises a Data−

USB pin;

pin 3 comprises a Data+USB pin;

pin 4 comprises a USB ground pin;

pin 5 comprises a serial data to device pin;

pin 6 comprises a serial data from device pin;

pin 7 comprises an audio common pin;

pin 8 comprises an audio left pin; and

pin 9 comprises an audio right pin.

26. A male connector comprising:

a housing;

a circuit board coupled to the housing;

four universal serial bus traces; and

five circuit traces for additional functionality, wherein the four USB traces and the five traces for additional functionality are in the following configuration;

trace 1 comprises a 5V USB reference signal trace;

trace 2 comprises a Data−

USB trace;

trace 3 comprises a Data+USB trace;

trace 4 comprises a USB ground trace;

trace 5 comprises a serial data to device trace;

trace 6 comprises a serial data from device trace;

trace 7 comprises an audio common trace;

trace 8 comprises an audio left trace; and

trace 9 comprises an audio right trace.

27. A cable system comprising:

a cable including a plurality of USB wires and extra wires for additional functionality; and

two connectors which are coupled to each end of the cable, each of the two connectors comprising a plurality of universal serial bus (USB) pins; and

a plurality of pins for additional functionality, wherein each of the connectors can engage a conventional USB connector or a connector that also utilizes the plurality of pins.

28. A system comprising:

a first device;

a second device; and

a connector system for coupling the first device to the second device, the connector system including at least one female connector and at least one male connector, wherein the at least one male connector comprises a housing;

a circuit board coupled to the housing;

a plurality of universal serial bus (USB) circuit traces coupled to the circuit board;

a plurality of circuit traces for additional functionality, the plurality of circuit traces being placed in between the plurality of USB circuit traces such that the USB circuit traces can engage a conventional USB connector and such that the connector can engage a connector that utilizes the plurality of circuit traces to allow for the use with a connector with additional functionality; and

the at least one female connector comprises a housing;

a plate coupled to the housing;

a plurality of springloaded universal serial bus (USB) pins coupled to the plate; and

a plurality of springloaded pins for additional functionality, the plurality of pins being placed in between the plurality of USB pins such that the USB pins can engage a conventional USB connector and such that the connector can engage with a connector that utilizes the plurality of pins to allow for the use of a connector with additional functionality.

29. An apparatus comprising:

a device; and

a connector coupled to the device, the connector comprising a plurality of spring-loaded universal serial bus (USB) pins; and

at least one spring-loaded pin for additional functionality, wherein the female connector can engage a conventional male USB connector, or a male connector that also utilizes the at least one pin.

30. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein the devices comprise any of a speaker set, remote control device;

and a display device.

31. An apparatus comprising:

a device; and

a connector coupled to the device, the connector comprising four universal serial bus (USB) pins, wherein the four USB pins comprise a reference voltage pin, a ground pin and two data pins; and

five pins for additional functionality;

the five pins comprising a serial data in pin;

a serial data out pin;

an audio left pin;

an audio right pin; and

an audio return pin, wherein the connector can engage with a conventional male USB connector or a male connector that also utilizes the five pins.

32. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the devices comprise any of a speaker set, remote control device;

and a display device.

33. An apparatus comprising:

a device; and

a connector coupled to the device, the connector comprising a plate coupled to the housing;

a plurality of springloaded universal serial bus (USB) pins coupled to the plate; and

a plurality of springloaded pins for additional functionality, the plurality of pins being placed in between the plurality of USB pins such that the USB pins can engage a conventional USB connector and such that the connector can engage with a connector that utilizes the plurality of pins to allow for the use of a connector with additional functionality.

34. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein the devices comprise any of a speaker set, remote control device;

and a display device.

35. An apparatus comprising:

a device; and

a connector coupled to the device, the connector comprising a housing;

a plate coupled to the housing;

four springloaded universal serial bus (USB) pins coupled to the plate, wherein the four USB pins comprise a power pin, a ground pin and two data pins; and

five springloaded pins for additional functionality, the five pins comprising a serial data in pin;

a serial data out pin;

an audio left pin;

an audio right pin; and

an audio ground pin, the five springloaded pins being placed in between the four USB pins such that the four USB pins can engage a conventional USB connector and such that the connector can engage a connector that utilizes the five springloaded pins to allow for use with a connector with additional functionality.

36. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein the devices comprise any of a speaker set, remote control device;

and a display device.

37. An apparatus comprising:

a device; and

a connector coupled to the device, the connector comprising a plate coupled to the housing;

four springloaded universal serial bus (USB) pins coupled to the plate; and

five springloaded pins for additional functionality, wherein the four USB pins and the five pins for additional functionality are in the following configuration;

pin 1 comprises a 5V USB reference signal pin;

pin 2 comprises a Data−

USB pin;

pin 3 comprises a Data+USB pin;

pin 4 comprises a USB ground pin;

pin 5 comprises a serial data to device pin;

pin 6 comprises a serial data from device pin;

pin 7 comprises an audio common pin;

pin 8 comprises an audio left pin; and

pin 9 comprises an audio right pin.

38. The apparatus of claim 37 wherein the devices comprise any of a speaker set, remote control device;

and a display device.