CONNECTOR RECEPTACLE HAVING A SHIELD

• US 20150171562A1
• Filed: 11/17/2014
• Published: 06/18/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Gao, Zheng, Amini, Mahmoud R., Ng, Nathan N., Kim, Min Chul, Abraham, Colin
• Granted Patent: US 9,537,263 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/627 Snap or like fastening
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6273 comprising two latching arms
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6581 Shield structure
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6582 with resilient means for engaging mating connector
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6591 Specific features or arrangements of connection of shield to conductive members
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6597 the conductive member being a contact of the connector
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/73 Means for mounting coupling parts to apparatus or structures, e.g. to a wall
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2107/00 Four or more poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/60 Contacts spaced along planar side wall transverse to longitudinal axis of engagement

Abstract

Connector systems may include a connector receptacle and connector plug or insert. The connector receptacle may include a tongue. A first plurality of contacts may be formed on a top surface of the tongue. A first ground pad may be located on a top surface of tongue, and a shield may be formed around the tongue. The connector insert may include a housing and a conductive shield around the housing behind a leading edge of the connector insert. A front edge of the shield may be folded into an opening at the leading edge. In other examples, the receptacle shield may include one or more fingers. These fingers may contact the connector insert shield to form a ground path. One or more of these fingers may engage openings in the insert shield to provide a retention force between the connector insert and receptacle.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a receptacle comprising;

a tongue;

a first plurality of contacts formed on a top surface of the tongue;

a first ground pad located on a top surface of the tongue;

a shield formed around the tongue; and

a bracket around a portion of the tongue and arranged to support the shield.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the first ground pad is a ground pad in a first plurality of ground pads on the top surface of the tongue.

3. The electronic device of claim 2 further comprising:

a second ground pad formed on a bottom surface of the tongue.

4. The electronic device of claim 3 further comprising:

a second plurality of contacts formed on a bottom surface of the tongue.

5. The electronic device of claim 4 wherein the tongue has notches in each of a left and right side to engage a spring in a connector insert when the connector insert is mated to the connector receptacle.

6. The electronic device of claim 3 wherein the second ground pad is one of a second plurality of ground pads on a bottom of the tongue.

7. A connector insert comprising:

a housing;

a conductive shield around the housing behind a leading edge of the connector insert, the shield having a front edge folded into an opening at the leading edge;

a top row of contacts; and

a bottom row of contacts.

8. The connector insert of claim 7 wherein the housing is plastic.

9. The connector insert of claim 7 wherein the shield is conductive.

10. The connector insert of claim 9 wherein the shield is formed of steel.

11. The connector insert of claim 7 wherein the folded front edge of the shield is arranged to engage ground contacts on a top and bottom sides of a tongue of the connector receptacle.

12. The connector insert of claim 7 wherein the folded front edge of the shield is split.

13. The connector insert of claim 7 further comprising a second housing to support the shield, the second housing behind the shield.

14. The connector insert of claim 13 wherein the folded front edge of the shield has openings such that undesirable connections to contacts in a connector receptacle are not formed when the connector insert is inserted into the connector receptacle.

15. A connector receptacle comprising:

a tongue;

a first plurality of contacts formed on a top surface of the tongue;

a first ground pad located on a top surface of tongue;

a shield formed around the tongue, the shield having a first finger on a first side, the first finger to engage a first opening in a connector insert shield to provide a retention force between the connector insert and the connector receptacle; and

a bracket around a portion of the tongue and arranged to support the shield.

16. The connector receptacle of claim 15 wherein the tongue has notches in each of a left and right side to engage a spring in a connector insert when the connector insert is mated to the connector receptacle.

17. The connector receptacle of claim 16 wherein the bracket and shield are formed as separate pieces.

18. The connector receptacle of claim 15 wherein the bracket and shield are formed as a single piece.

19. The connector receptacle of claim 15 wherein the shield includes a finger for contacting a shield around a connector insert.

20. The connector receptacle of claim 15 wherein the shield includes a plurality of fingers for contacting a shield around a connector insert.

21. The connector receptacle of claim 15 wherein the shield further comprises a second finger on a second side, the second finger to engage a second opening in the connector insert shield.