DUAL ORIENTATION CONNECTOR WITH EXTERNAL CONTACTS AND CONDUCTIVE FRAME
First Claim
1. A dual orientation plug connector comprising:
- a 180 degree symmetrical connector tab adapted to be inserted into a receptacle connector during a mating event, the connector tab having width, height and length dimensions and comprising a frame that defines a shape of the connector tab, the frame having first and second opposing sides extending in the width and length dimensions, and third and fourth opposing sides extending between the first and second sides in the height and length dimensions, the first side including a first opening and the second side including a second opening directly opposite the first opening;
a first contact region formed in the first opening of the frame, the first contact region including a first plurality of external contacts and dielectric material between each adjacent contact in the first plurality of contacts and between each contact in the first plurality of contacts and the frame; and
a second contact region formed in the second opening of the metal frame, the second contact region including a second plurality of external contacts and dielectric material between each adjacent contact in the first plurality of contacts and between each contact in the first plurality of contacts and the frame, wherein at least one individual contact in the first plurality of contacts is electrically coupled to an individual contact in the second plurality of contacts.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A dual orientation connector having a connector tab with first and second major opposing sides and a plurality of electrical contacts carried by the connector tab. The plurality of contacts includes a first set of external contacts formed at the first major side and a second set of external contacts formed at the second major side. Each individual contact in the first plurality of contacts is electrically connected within the tab or body to a corresponding contact in the second plurality of contacts. In some embodiments contacts in the first and second pluralities of contacts that are directly opposite each other are coupled together. In some other embodiments, contacts in the first and second pluralities of contacts that are in a cater cornered relationship with each other are coupled together. The first plurality of contacts are symmetrically spaced with the second plurality of contacts and the connector tab is shaped to have 180 degree symmetry so that it can be inserted and operatively coupled to a corresponding receptacle connector in either of two insertion orientations.
141 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A dual orientation plug connector comprising:
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a 180 degree symmetrical connector tab adapted to be inserted into a receptacle connector during a mating event, the connector tab having width, height and length dimensions and comprising a frame that defines a shape of the connector tab, the frame having first and second opposing sides extending in the width and length dimensions, and third and fourth opposing sides extending between the first and second sides in the height and length dimensions, the first side including a first opening and the second side including a second opening directly opposite the first opening; a first contact region formed in the first opening of the frame, the first contact region including a first plurality of external contacts and dielectric material between each adjacent contact in the first plurality of contacts and between each contact in the first plurality of contacts and the frame; and a second contact region formed in the second opening of the metal frame, the second contact region including a second plurality of external contacts and dielectric material between each adjacent contact in the first plurality of contacts and between each contact in the first plurality of contacts and the frame, wherein at least one individual contact in the first plurality of contacts is electrically coupled to an individual contact in the second plurality of contacts. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A dual orientation plug connector comprising:
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a body; a 180 degree symmetrical connector tab coupled to and extending longitudinally away from the body, the connector tab having width, height and length dimensions and comprising an electrically conductive frame that defines a shape of the connector tab, the electrically conductive frame having first and second opposing sides extending in the width and length dimensions, and third and fourth opposing sides extending between the first and second sides in the height and length dimensions, and a tip extending in the width and height dimensions at a distal end of the frame between the first and second opposing exterior surfaces and between the third and fourth opposing exterior surfaces, wherein the first side of the frame includes a first opening and the second side of the frame includes a second opening directly opposite the first opening; a first contact region formed in the first opening of the electrically conductive frame, the first contact region including a first plurality of external contacts spaced apart along a single row and dielectric material filled in between each adjacent contact in the first plurality of contacts and between each contact in the first plurality of contacts and the electrically conductive frame; a second contact region formed in the second opening of the electrically conductive frame, the second contact region including a second plurality of external contacts spaced apart along a single row and dielectric material filled in between each adjacent contact in the first plurality of contacts and between each contact in the first plurality of contacts and the electrically conductive frame, wherein each individual contact in the first plurality of contacts is electrically connected to an individual contact in the second plurality of contacts, and each individual contact in the first plurality of contacts is positioned directly opposite an individual contact in the second plurality of contacts; and first and second retention features formed on the third and fourth sides of the electrically conductive frame, respectively, the first and second retention features adapted to engage with retention features of a corresponding receptacle connector. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A dual orientation plug connector comprising:
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a body; a 180 degree symmetrical connector tab coupled to and extending longitudinally away from the body, the connector tab having width, height and length dimensions and comprising a metal frame that defines a shape of the connector tab, the electrically conductive frame having first and second opposing sides extending in the width and length dimensions, and third and fourth opposing sides extending between the first and second sides in the height and length dimensions, and a tip extending in the width and height dimensions at a distal end of the frame between the first and second opposing exterior surfaces and between the third and fourth opposing exterior surfaces, wherein the first side of the frame includes a first opening and the second side of the frame includes a second opening directly opposite the first opening; a first contact region formed in the first opening of the electrically conductive frame, the first contact region comprising a first set of eight external contacts spaced apart along a single row in sequentially numbered contact locations and dielectric material filled in between each adjacent contact in the first set of contacts and between each contact in the first set of contacts and the electrically conductive frame, the first set of contacts including a first pair of data contacts at contact locations 2 and 3, a second pair of data contacts at contact locations 6 and 7, and a first power contact positioned between the first and second pairs of data contacts; a second contact region formed in the second opening of the electrically conductive frame, the second contact region including a second set of eight external contacts and dielectric material filled in between each adjacent contact in the first set of contacts and between each contact in the first set of contacts and the electrically conductive frame; wherein each contact in the second set of eight external contacts is positioned directly opposite an individual contact in the first set of eight external contacts;
the data contact at contact location 2 is electrically coupled to a data contact in the second set of contacts positioned directly opposite location 2;
the data contact at contact location 3 is electrically coupled to a data contact in the second set of contacts positioned directly opposite location 3;
the data contact at contact location 6 is electrically coupled to a data contact in the second set of contacts positioned directly opposite location 6;
the data contact at contact location 7 is electrically coupled to a data contact in the second set of contacts positioned directly opposite location 7; and
the first power contact is electrically coupled to a power contact in the second set of contacts positioned directly opposite one of contact locations 4 or 5. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification