DUAL CONNECTOR HAVING GROUND PLANES IN TONGUES

• US 20150214674A1
• Filed: 03/02/2015
• Published: 07/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Simmel, George Marc, Gao, Zheng
• Granted Patent: US 9,871,327 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/659 with plural ports for distinct connectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6594 the shield being mounted on a PCB and connected to conductive members
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6597 the conductive member being a contact of the connector
• 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 receptacle assemblies that may be simple to manufacture, provide multiple receptacles, and provide a good ground contact path. One example may provide a connector receptacle assembly formed of a housing having a tongue that may include openings on one or more sides for contacts as well as openings on its sides for ground contacts. Another example may provide a connector receptacle assembly having at least two tongues, where each tongue may be aligned with a corresponding opening in a device enclosure. Another example may provide a connector receptacle assembly having a tongue with a center ground contact, where the center ground contact may be located between the top row and the bottom row of contacts. Another example may provide a connector receptacle assembly having a titanium-copper center ground contact.

Claims

1. A connector receptacle assembly comprising:

a housing having a first tongue and a second tongue, each tongue comprising;

a top row of contacts along a top side of the tongue;

a bottom row of contacts; and

a center contact having a body portion and a first side protrusion and a second side protrusion, wherein the first side protrusion and the second side protrusion extend through corresponding openings in sides of the tongue; and

a shell at least partially surrounding a top, sides, and back of the housing, wherein the center contact electrically contacts the shell.

2. The connector receptacle assembly of claim 1 wherein the center contact is formed of titanium-copper.

3. The connector receptacle assembly of claim 2 wherein the shell is formed of stainless steel.

4. The connector receptacle assembly of claim 3 wherein a first tab is bent on the shell such that contact with a second tab on the center contact is maintained.

5. The connector receptacle assembly of claim 3 wherein the shell comprises a plurality of fingers for contacting a device enclosure.

6. The connector receptacle assembly of claim 3 wherein the housing is formed of a nonconductive material.

7. The connector receptacle assembly of claim 6 wherein the housing is plastic.

8. The connector receptacle of claim 6 further comprising a first bridging piece contacting the center contact in the first tongue, the center contact in the second tongue, and the shell.

9. The connector receptacle assembly of claim 6 wherein the top row of contacts and the bottom row of contacts are arranged to carry signals for DisplayPort.

10. The connector receptacle assembly of claim 6 wherein the top row of contacts and the bottom row of contacts are arranged to carry signals for Thunderbolt.

11. A connector receptacle assembly comprising:

a housing having a tongue, the tongue comprising;

a top row of contacts along a top side of the tongue;

a bottom row of contacts; and

a center contact having a body portion and a first side protrusion and a second side protrusion, wherein the first side protrusion and the second side protrusion extend through corresponding openings in sides of the tongue; and

a shell at least partially surrounding a top, sides, and back of the housing, wherein the center contact electrically contacts the shell.

12. The connector receptacle assembly of claim 11 wherein the center contact is formed of titanium-copper.

13. The connector receptacle assembly of claim 12 wherein the shell is formed of stainless steel.

14. The connector receptacle assembly of claim 13 wherein a first tab is bent on the shell such that contact with a second tab on the center contact is maintained.

15. The connector receptacle assembly of claim 13 wherein the housing is formed of a nonconductive material.

16. The connector receptacle assembly of claim 15 wherein the housing is plastic.

17. The connector receptacle assembly of claim 15 wherein the top row of contacts and the bottom row of contacts are arranged to carry signals for DisplayPort.

18. The connector receptacle assembly of claim 15 wherein the top row of contacts and the bottom row of contacts are arranged to carry signals for Thunderbolt.

19. An electronic device comprising:

an enclosure; and

a connector receptacle, the connector receptacle comprising;

an opening in the enclosure for the electronic device;

a ground contact in the opening in the electronic device;

a printed circuit board;

a connector receptacle assembly having a tongue, the connector receptacle assembly fixed to the printed circuit board, the tongue aligned with the opening in the enclosure for the electronic device;

the connector receptacle assembly comprising;

a housing having a tongue, the tongue comprising;

a top row of contacts along a top side of the tongue;

a bottom row of contacts; and

a center contact having a body portion and a first side protrusion and a second side protrusion, wherein the first side protrusion and the second side protrusion extend through corresponding openings in sides of the tongue; and

a shell at least partially surrounding a top, sides, and back of the housing, wherein the center contact electrically contacts the shell.

20. The connector receptacle assembly of claim 19 wherein the center contact is formed of titanium-copper.