Universal serial bus connector

• US 20070004280A1
• Filed: 01/30/2006
• Published: 01/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Sun, Zheng-Heng
• Granted Patent: US 7,204,723 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/594
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/514 composed as a modular blocks or assembly, i.e. composed of co-operating parts provided with contact members or holding contact members between them
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/06 Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/94

Abstract

A Universal Serial Bus (USB) connector includes a main body, a plug with four signal pins, a plug module, and a cable. The plug is formed in the plug module. The plug module is mounted to the main body. The cable is linked to the main body and electronically connected to the signal pins of the plug. It is simple and economical to replace any components of the USB connector expediently.

Claims

1. A Universal Serial Bus (USB) connector comprising:

a main body;

a plug module detachably mounted to the main body;

a plug comprising a plurality of signal pins, the plug formed in the plug module; and

a cable linking to the main body and electronically connected to the signal pins of the plug.

2. The USB connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main body comprises a notch with a plurality of signal pads, and the plug module comprises a jut with a plurality of signal pads, the plug module is mounted to the main body via the jut of the plug module mating with the notch of the main body, the signal pads of the notch are respectively connected with the signal pads of the jut.

3. The USB connector as claimed in claim 2, wherein the notch and the jut are dove-tail shape.

4. The USB connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plug module is locked with the main body by an engaging means.

5. The USB connector as claimed in claim 4, wherein the engaging means comprises a pair of knobs at two opposite sides of the jut, and a pair of holes at two opposite sides of the notch.

6. The USB connector as claimed in claim 4, wherein the engaging means comprises a hook on the plug module, and an aperture in the main body.

7. A Universal Serial Bus (USB) connector comprising:

a main body connected with a cable; and

a replacable plug module detachably and slidably mounted to the main body, the plug module comprising a plug formed therein, and a plurality of signal pads formed thereon to be electronically connected to the cable.

8. The USB connector as claimed in claim 7, wherein the main body is L-shaped and comprises a recess for receiving the plug module.

9. The USB connector as claimed in claim 8, wherein a dove-tail notch is defined in a bottom of the recess, and a dove-tail jut is formed on a bottom surface of the plug module for slidably received in the notch.

10. The USB connector as claimed in claim 9, wherein a plurality of signal pads is formed on a bottom of the notch to be electronically connected to the signal pads of the plug module, and the cable is electronically connected to the signal pads of notch.

11. The USB connector as claimed in claim 9, wherein the plug module is locked with the main body via a pair of knobs at two opposite sides of the jut and a pair of holes at two opposite sides of the notch.

12. The USB connector as claimed in claim 9, wherein the plug module is locked with the main body via a hook on the plug module and an aperture in the main body.

13. A connector assembly comprising:

a main body of said connector assembly comprising a connective means for further electrical connection therewith; and

a physically separable module removably attachable to said main body, and defining a connective interface thereof to be capable of electrically interconnecting with other interfaces, said module capable of establishing at least one electrical connection between said module and said main body so as to electrically connect said interface to said connective means when said module is physically attached to said main body, and disabling said at least one electrical connection when said module is physically removed away from said main body.

14. The connector assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein said connective means is a cable mechanically and electrically connectable to said main body.

15. The connector assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein said connective interface is defined by means of a Universal Serial Bus (USB) plug integrally formed with said module.

16. The connector assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein said at least one electrical connection is established by physical engagement of a pair of signal pads, one of said pair of signal pads is formed on said module and the other of said pair of signal pads is formed on said main body.