Headset connector

• US 20080165982A1
• Filed: 06/28/2007
• Published: 07/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Sanford, Emery A., Hankey, M. Evans, Prest, Christopher D., Lim, Way Chet
• Granted Patent: US 8,401,219 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/74
• CPC Class Codes: B21C 23/18 by impact extrusion
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/001 Combinations of extrusion moulding with other shaping operations
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/09 Articles with cross-sections having partially or fully enclosed cavities, e.g. pipes or channels
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6205 Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00304 Overcurrent protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00308 Overvoltage protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• 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: H04R 1/1016 Earpieces of the intra-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1025 Accumulators or arrangements for charging secondary cells per se H01M10/00; charging in general H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/107 Monophonic and stereophonic headphones with microphone for two-way hands free communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/33 Aspects relating to adaptation of the battery voltage, e.g. its regulation, increase or decrease
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/51 Aspects of antennas or their circuitry in or for hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/09 Applications of special connectors, e.g. USB, XLR, in loudspeakers, microphones or headphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/008 Visual indication of individual signal levels visual indication of stereophonic sound image H04S7/40
• 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 assemblies and headset connectors are provided. Headset connectors can include a magnetic mating face and a plurality of electrical contacts disposed within the mating face. Engaging assemblies and engaging connectors are also provided. The engaging connectors can include a housing having a mating side, a magnetic array structure, and a plurality of spring biased contact members. The magnetic array structure can be fixed within the housing and house a plurality of spring biased contact members. The spring biased contact members can include tips that extend out of the mating side. The tips can electrically couple with electrical contacts in a headset connector.

Claims

1. A headset comprising:

a tube housing; and

a magnetic connector fixed within the tube housing, the magnetic connector comprising;

a mating face; and

a plurality of electrical contacts disposed within the mating face.

2. The headset of claim 1, wherein:

the mating face is positioned within the tube housing a predetermined distance from a plane defined by an end of the tube housing.

3. The headset of claim 2, wherein the predetermined distance ranges between 0.25 and 0.3 millimeters.

4. The headset of claim 1, wherein the plurality of electrical contacts are flush with the mating face.

5. The headset of claim 1, wherein the plurality of electrical contacts are oval shaped.

6. The headset of claim 1, wherein the plurality of electrical contacts are constructed from a magnetized material.

7. The headset of claim 1, wherein the tube housing has a height of about 5 millimeters or has a height that ranges between 4.7 and 5.3 millimeters, 4.8 and 5.2 millimeters, 4.9 and 5.1 millimeters, or 4.95 and 5.05 millimeters.

8. The headset of claim 1, wherein the tube housing has a cavity having a height of about 4 millimeters or having a height ranging between 3.7 and 4.3 millimeters, 3.8 and 4.2 millimeters, 3.9 and 4.1 millimeters, or 3.95 and 4.05 millimeters.

9. The headset of claim 1, wherein the mating face has a height of about 3.3 millimeters or has a height ranging between 3.0 and 3.6 millimeters, 3.1 and 3.5 millimeters, 3.2 and 3.4 millimeters, or 3.25 and 3.35 millimeters.

10. The headset of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of electrical contacts has a width of about 0.7 millimeters or a width ranging between 0.5 and 0.9 millimeters, 0.6 and 0.8 millimeters, or 0.65 and 0.75 millimeters, and height of about 1.5 millimeters or a height ranging between 1.0 and 2.0 millimeters.

11. The headset of claim 1, wherein the distance between the vertical centerlines of any two immediately adjacent electrical contacts is about 2 millimeters or ranges between 1.75 and 2.25 millimeters.

12. The headset of claim 1, wherein an angle between the mating face and a lengthwise plane passing through the tube is about 65 degrees or ranges between 10 and 80 degrees.

13. The headset of claim 1, wherein the magnetic connector comprises:

a connector plate in which the electrical contacts are housed; and

an insulating ring disposed around each electrical contact.

14. The headset of claim 13, wherein the ring has a width of about 0.2 millimeters or has a width ranging between 0.12 and 0.3 millimeters.

15. The headset of claim 1, wherein the tube housing has width of about 12.3 millimeters, or has a width ranging between 10 and 14 millimeters.

16. The headset of claim 1, wherein the tube housing includes an internal cavity that has a width of about 11.1 millimeters or has a width ranging between 7 and 13 millimeters.

17. The headset of claim 1, wherein the mating face has a width of about 10.3 millimeters or has a width ranging between 5 and 11 millimeters.

18. The headset of claim 1, further comprising a circuit board electrically coupled to the magnetic connector.

19. The headset of claim 1, wherein the electrical contacts are at least partially gold plated.

20. An engaging connector assembly comprising:

a housing having a mating side;

a magnetic array structure fixed within the housing and constructed to house a plurality of spring biased contact members; and

a plurality of spring biased contact members housed within the magnetic array structure, the spring biased contact members including tips that extend out of the mating side.

21. The assembly of claim 20, wherein the plurality of spring biased contact members are electrically connected to a circuit board.

22. The assembly of claim 20, wherein the magnetic array comprises a plurality of magnetic regions.

23. The assembly of claim 22, wherein the plurality of magnetic regions protrude from the mating side.

24. The assembly of claim 22, wherein the plurality of magnetic regions are flush with the mating side.

25. The assembly of claim 22, wherein the plurality of regions comprises three of such regions.

26. The assembly of claim 20, wherein each of the contact tips have a width of about 0.5 millimeters.

27. The assembly of claim 20, wherein the distance between the centerlines of any two immediately adjacent contact tips is about 1.97 millimeters.

28. The assembly of claim 20, wherein the distance between the centerlines of any two immediately adjacent contact tips ranges between 1.75 and 2.25 millimeters, 1.85 and 2.15 millimeters, 1.9 and 2.1 millimeters, or 1.95 and 2.05 millimeters.

29. The assembly of claim 20, wherein the plurality of spring biased contact members comprises four contact members.

30. The assembly of claim 29, wherein the distance between the center lines of the two outermost contact tips is about 5.1 millimeters.

31. The assembly of claim 29, wherein the distance between the center lines of the two outermost contact tips ranges between 4.7 and 5.4 millimeters, 4.8 and 5.3 millimeters, 5.9 and 5.2 millimeters, 4.95 and 5.15 millimeters.

32. The assembly of claim 20, wherein the housing has a height of about 5.1 millimeters.

33. The assembly of claim 20, wherein the housing has a height ranging between 4.9 and 5.3 millimeters, 5.0 and 5.2 millimeters, or 4.95 and 5.15 millimeters.

34. The assembly of claim 20, wherein the mating side has a height of about 3.43 millimeters.

35. The assembly of claim 20, wherein the mating side has a height ranging between 3.2 and 3.7 millimeters, 3.3 and 3.6 millimeters, or 3.35 and 3.55 millimeters.

36. The assembly of claim 20, wherein angle between a plane of the mating side and a center plane passing lengthwise through the housing ranges between 10 and 80 degrees, 20 and 70 degrees, 30 and 60 degrees, 35 and 65 degrees, or 40 and 50 degrees.

37. The assembly of claim 36, wherein the angle is about 60 degrees.

38. A connector comprising:

at least one magnetic component;

a mating face proximal to the at least one magnetic component;

at least two contacts disposed in the mating face; and

circuitry that is electrically coupled to the at least two contacts, wherein the mating face is angled with respect to a plane passing lengthwise through the connector.

39. The connector of claim 38, wherein:

the at least one magnetic component comprises a plurality of magnetic components; and

each of the at least two contacts are disposed in the gaps between the plurality of magnetic components.

40. The connector of claim 38, wherein the at least one magnetic component is recessed below the outer surface of the mating face.

41. The connector of claim 38, wherein the at least one magnetic component extends to an outer surface of the mating face.

42. The connector of claim 38, wherein the at least two contacts are biased to extend to a distance of about 0.7 millimeters from the mating face.

43. The connector of claim 38, wherein the distance between the centerlines of any two immediately adjacent contacts is about 1.97 millimeters.

44. The connector of claim 38, wherein each of the at least two contacts has a width of about 0.5 millimeters.

45. The connector of claim 38, wherein the at least two contacts comprises four contacts.

46. The connector of claim 38, wherein each contact includes a spring mechanism.

47. A connector comprising:

at least one triangle shaped magnetic component; and

at least one contact disposed adjacent to the at least one triangle shaped magnetic component.

48. The connector of claim 47, further comprising circuitry that is electrically coupled to the at least one contact.

49. The connector of claim 47, wherein the at least one contact includes a tip that extends beyond a crest of the at least one triangle shaped magnetic component.

50. A system comprising:

a headset connector comprising at least one electrical contact housed within a connector plate having an angled headset mating surface;

an engagement connector comprising at least one spring biased connector member having a tip portion that is electrically coupled to the at least one electrical contact when the angled headset mating surface is in close proximity to an angled engagement connector mating surface.

51. A system comprising:

a headset assembly comprising;

a magnetic connector having an angled mating face, the connector comprising a plurality of electrical contacts disposed within the angled mating face; and

a headset engaging assembly comprising;

a magnetic component comprising at least one angled surface;

at least one spring biased contact member, each member including a tip that extends beyond the at least one angled surface.

52. The system of claim 51, wherein the angled mating face and the at least one angled surface are complementary to each other.

53. The system of claim 51, wherein each tip connects to one of the plurality of electrical contacts.

54. The system of claim 51, wherein the headset assembly is magnetically coupled to the headset engaging assembly.