LOW PROFILE CONNECTOR SYSTEM

• US 20110201213A1
• Filed: 02/18/2010
• Published: 08/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Dabov, Teo, Frazier, Cameron
• Granted Patent: US 8,353,729 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/39
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2105/00 Three poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/58 Contacts spaced along longitudinal axis of engagement

Abstract

A low profile connector system. In one set of embodiments, a low profile plug receptacle is provided that is thinner than a standard plug receptacle, thereby allowing the plug receptacle to be incorporated in small form factor (e.g., very thin) electronic devices while maintaining compatibility with standard plug connectors. In another set of embodiments, different types of custom plug connectors are provided that can improve the aesthetics of an electronic device housing the low profile plug receptacle when the custom plug connector is attached. In another set of embodiments, features are provided for preventing a plug connector from unintentionally falling out of, or coming loose from, the low profile plug receptacle and/or preventing a plug connector from rotating within the receptacle.

Claims

1. A plug receptacle comprising:

an interior, longitudinal passage configured to receive a plug of a plug connector; and

a receptacle housing comprising;

a front side including a first, partially circular opening that extends into the longitudinal passage; and

a top side including a second, elongated opening that intersects the first opening and that extends perpendicularly into the longitudinal passage,

wherein the width of the second opening is equal to the width of the first opening.

2. The plug receptacle of claim 1 wherein the plug receptacle is an audio plug receptacle.

3. The plug receptacle of claim 1 wherein the width of the first opening and the width of the second opening is approximately 3.5 millimeters.

4. The plug receptacle of claim 1 wherein the width of the first opening and the width of the second opening is less than 3.5 millimeters.

5. The plug receptacle of claim 1 wherein the height of the first opening is less than 3.5 millimeters.

6. The plug receptacle of claim 1 wherein when the plug of the plug receptacle is inserted into the interior, longitudinal passage, the plug extends at least partially through the second opening.

7. The plug receptacle of claim 1 wherein the plug receptacle is housed in an electronic device, and wherein a thickness of the electronic device is less than 5 millimeters.

8. The plug receptacle of claim 1 wherein the plug receptacle further comprises a magnet configured to attract a ferrous attractor coupled to the plug connector, thereby holding the plug connector in place when the plug is inserted into the interior, longitudinal passage.

9. The plug receptacle of claim 1 wherein the plug receptacle includes one or more cutouts along an interior surface of the longitudinal passage that are configured to receive one or more projections extending from the plug, thereby preventing the plug connector from rotating when the plug is inserted into the longitudinal passage.

10. A portable electronic device comprising:

a storage device configured to store media assets;

a processor configured to play back media assets; and

a device housing comprising;

a first side including a first, partially circular opening that extends into a longitudinal passage configured to receive a plug of a 3.5 mm audio plug connector; and

a second side that shares an edge with the first side, the second side including a second, elongated opening that intersects the first opening and that extends perpendicularly into the longitudinal passage,

wherein the width of the second opening is to equal to the width of the first opening.

11. A plug connector comprising:

a connector body;

a plug adapted for insertion into a longitudinal passage of a plug receptacle, wherein the plug receptacle has at least a first side and a second side, wherein the first side includes a first opening that extends into the longitudinal passage, and wherein the second side includes a second opening that extends perpendicularly into the longitudinal passage; and

a cap configured to at least partially cover the second opening when the plug is inserted into the longitudinal passage.

12. The plug connector of claim 11 wherein the plug connector is an audio plug connector.

13. The plug connector of claim 11 wherein a diameter of the plug is approximately 3.5 millimeters.

14. The plug connector of claim 11 wherein the cap is coupled with the connector body or the plug.

15. The plug connector of claim 11 wherein the plug receptacle is housed in an electronic device, and wherein an outer surface of the cap is configured to be substantially similar in appearance to an outer surface of the electronic device.

16. The plug connector of claim 11 wherein the plug is cylindrical in shape, and wherein when the plug is inserted into the longitudinal passage, the plug extends at least partially through the second opening.

17. The plug connector of claim 11 wherein the plug is partially cylindrical in shape, and wherein the plug can inserted into the longitudinal passage in an orientation where the plug does not extend through the second opening.

18. The plug connector of claim 17 wherein the plug receptacle is housed in an electronic device, wherein the second opening extends through an outer wall of the electronic device, and wherein when the plug is inserted into the longitudinal passage, the cap is configured to be flush with the outer wall of the electronic device across the second opening.

19. The plug connector of claim 11 wherein the plug connector further comprises a ferrous attractor configured to be attracted by a magnet coupled to the plug receptacle, thereby holding the plug connector in place when the plug is inserted into the longitudinal passage.

20. A plug connector comprising:

a connector body; and

a plug adapted for insertion into a longitudinal passage of a plug receptacle, wherein the plug receptacle has at least a first side and a second side, wherein the first side includes a first opening that extends into the longitudinal passage, wherein the second side includes a second opening that extends perpendicularly into the longitudinal passage, and

wherein the plug is shaped such that the plug can inserted into the longitudinal passage in an orientation where the plug does not extend through the second opening.

21. The plug connector of claim 20 wherein the plug connector is an audio plug connector.

22. The plug connector of claim 20 wherein the plug is partially cylindrical in shape.

23. The plug connector of claim 22 wherein, the plug has a cross-sectional width of approximately 3.5 millimeters.

24. The plug connector of claim 20 wherein when the plug is inserted into the longitudinal passage, an outer surface of the plug is configured to be flush with the second side.

25. The plug connector of claim 20 wherein the plug connector further includes one or more projections extending from the plug that are configured to fit into one or more matching cutouts along an interior surface of the longitudinal passage, thereby preventing the plug from rotating when the plug is inserted into the longitudinal passage.