Connectors designed for ease of use

• US 20080164934A1
• Filed: 06/28/2007
• Published: 07/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Sanford, Emery A., Hankey, M. Evans, Prest, Christopher D., De Iuliis, Daniele, Russell-Clark, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 9,118,990 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 327/407
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/2428 using meander springs
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6205 Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/64 Means for preventing incorrect coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7039 the coupling part with coding means activating the switch to establish different circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 29/00 Coupling parts for selective co-operation with a counterpart in different ways to establish different circuits, e.g. for voltage selection, for series-parallel selection, programmable connectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/26 for engaging or disengaging the two parts of a coupling device structural association with two-part coupling device H01R13/629
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0262 for a battery compartment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0274 for an electrical connector module
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0277 for a printed circuit board assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/05 specially adapted for use on head, throat or breast
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6058 involving the use of a headset accessory device connected to the portable telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1016 Earpieces of the intra-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1058 Manufacture or assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/033 Headphones for stereophonic communication details thereof, e.g. relating to batteries, cables or control elements H04R1/10
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Headset connector systems and headset engaging connector systems are provided. Headset connector systems can include two or more headset connector contact regions. Headset engaging connector systems can include two or more headset engaging contact regions to provide at least one of power and data. The headset connector system or the headset engaging connector system can include switching circuitry electrically coupled to the respective contact regions. The switching circuitry can be operative to determine an interface orientation between the headset connector contact regions and the headset engaging contact regions. The switching circuitry can also be operative to selectively route received signals based on the determined interface orientation. At least a portion of the headset connector system or the headset engaging connector system can be magnetically attractive.

Claims

1. A headset connector system for interfacing with a headset engaging connector including at least two headset engaging contact regions to provide at least one of power and data, the headset connector system comprising:

a plurality of headset connector contact regions disposed within a face of a mating surface and operative to engage the at least two headset engaging contact regions; and

switching circuitry electrically coupled to the headset connector contact regions, wherein the switching circuitry is operative to;

determine an interface orientation between the headset connector contact regions and the at least two headset engaging contact regions; and

selectively route signals received on the headset connector contact regions based on the determined interface orientation.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more magnetic elements for magnetically attracting the headset engaging connector.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the one or more magnetic elements are disposed between the plurality of headset connector contact regions.

4. The system of claim 2, the one or more magnetic elements are constructed from a ferromagnetic or rare-earth magnet material.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the headset connector contact regions include four of such regions, a first pair of regions is operative to receive power, and a second pair of regions is operative to receive data.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein each region of the first pair of regions has a different polarity.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the switching circuitry is operative to detect a polarity arrangement of the first pair.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein each region of the second pair of regions has a different polarity.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the switching circuitry is operative to detect a polarity arrangement of the second pair.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the switching circuitry comprises power polarity switching circuitry.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the switching circuitry comprises data polarity switching circuitry.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the face of the mating service is magnetic to attract the headset engaging connector.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the determined interface orientation indicates a polarity arrangement of the at least two headset engaging contact regions.

14. A method for interfacing a headset connector system including a plurality of headset connector contact regions with a headset engaging connector including at least two headset engaging contact regions, the method comprising:

interfacing the at least two headset engaging contact regions with at least two of the headset connector contact regions;

determining an interface orientation of the at least two headset engaging contact regions interfacing with the headset connector system; and

selectively electrically coupling the at least two headset engaging contact regions to predetermined pathways based on the determined interface orientation.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the interfacing comprises magnetically attracting the headset engaging connector to the headset connector system.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the at least two headset engaging contact regions conduct dual polarity power signals.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the at least two headset engaging contact regions conduct dual polarity data signals.

18. A headset engaging connector system for interfacing with a headset connector including at least two headset connector contact regions, the headset engaging connector system comprising:

a housing, at least a portion of the housing being magnetically attractive;

at least two headset engaging contact regions biased to protrude from the housing and operative to interface with the at least two headset connector contact regions; and

electronic circuitry electrically coupled to the at least two headset engaging contact regions.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the at least two headset engaging contact regions provide dual polarity power signals.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the at least two headset engaging contact regions provide dual polarity data signals.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein the at least two headset engaging contact regions are biased by a spring member.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein the housing is a non-symmetrical housing constructed to receive the headset connector in only one interface orientation.

23. The system of claim 18, wherein the housing is a symmetrical housing constructed to receive the headset connector in one of at least two interface orientations.

24. The system of claim 18, wherein the magnetically attractive portion of the housing magnetically attracts and secures the headset connector to the housing.

25. The system of claim 18, wherein the electronic circuitry is operative to:

determine an interface orientation between the at least two headset engaging contact regions and the at least two headset connector contact regions; and

selectively route signals to the at least two headset engaging contact regions based on the determined interface orientation.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the determined interface orientation indicates a polarity arrangement of the at least two headset connector contact regions.

27. A method for interfacing a headset engaging connector system including at least two headset engaging contact regions with a headset connector including at least two headset connector contact regions, the method comprising:

receiving the headset connector oriented in at least one interface orientation;

determining the polarity arrangement of the at least two headset connector contact regions; and

selectively routing signals to the at least two headset engaging contact regions based on the determined polarity arrangement.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising magnetically securing the received headset connector system.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the receiving comprises receiving the headset engaging connector system oriented in one of at least two interface orientations.

30. The method of claim 27, further comprising transmitting power from the headset engaging connector system to the headset connector system.

31. The method of claim 27, further comprising transmitting data from the headset engaging connector system to the headset connector system.

32. The method of claim 27, further comprising transmitting data from the headset connector system to the headset engaging connector system.