Dual style connector for handheld computer

• US 6,283,777 B1
• Filed: 05/26/1999
• Issued: 09/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Boyle, Dennis J., Canova, Francis J., Han, Amy A., Twiss, Robert G., Neist, Traci A., Francavilla, Madeleine L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sircus, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Son V.
• Application Number:
  US09/318,886
• Time in Patent Office: 832 Days
• Field of Search: 439/218, 439/217, 439/222, 439/223, 439/660, 439/929, 361/686, 361/683, 361/726, 361/740, 361/66
• US Class Current: 439/218
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2107/00 Four or more poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/62 Sliding engagements with one side only, e.g. modular jack coupling devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 27/00 Coupling parts adapted for co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts for dissimilar contact members H01R13/35; supported only by co-operation with a counterpart H01R31/00; with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/90

Abstract

Embodiments of this invention provide for a versatile connector that is capable of receiving any one of two types of connectors. The connector is preferably positioned on a bottom edge of a handheld computer to receive either pogo style or wiping style connectors. As a result, the connector enables the handheld computer to connect with accessory devices that use either style connectors. In particular, the handheld computer can connect with communication cradles using wiping style connectors, or smaller accessory devices that use pogo style connectors.

Claims

1. A handheld computer, comprising:

a housing having a front face, a back face, a top surface and a bottom surface; and

an electrical connector positioned on a portion of the back face and on a portion of the bottom surface, the connector having a plurality of conductive elements, each of the conductive elements including a first portion positioned on the bottom surface and a second portion extending from the first portion and positioned on the back face, first portions of the conductive elements being oriented to mate with first contacts of a first style connector positioned to oppose the bottom surface, and second portions of the conductive elements aligned to mate with second contacts of a second style connector positioned adjacent to the back face of the handheld computer; and

an insulative structure including a plurality of insulative extensions, each of the insulative extensions positioned between a pair of adjacent conductive elements in the plurality of conductive elements to extend a first surface between the first portions of each of the pair of adjacent conductive elements, and a second surface between second portions of each of the pair of adjacent conductive elements, the insulative structure further including a pair of apertures for coupling to the first style connector, the pair of apertures being positioned to laterally oppose one another across the plurality of conductive elements, each of the apertures being adapted to receive and secure to a spring-biased coupling of the first style connector so that each of the first contacts mates with each corresponding first portion of he plurality of conductive elements.

2. The handheld computer of claim 1, wherein the first portion and the second portion of each conductive element are orthogonal to each other.

3. The handheld computer of claim 1, wherein the first portion of each conductive element is adapted to mate with a pogo-style connector, and the second portion of each conductive element is adapted to mate with a wiping-style connector.

4. The handheld computer of claim 1, wherein the first portion of each conductive element is parallel to at least a portion of the bottom surface of the handheld computer, and wherein the second portion of each conductive element is parallel to at least a portion of the back face for the handheld computer.

5. The handheld computer of claim 4, wherein the first portion and the second portion of each conductive element are planar in shape.

6. The handheld computer of claim 4, wherein the first portion of each conductive element is contoured.

7. The handheld computer of claim 1, further comprising a processor retained within the housing.

8. The handheld computer of claim 7, further comprising a display and a plurality of input buttons for interacting with a user of the handheld computer.