Electronic device with integral connectors

• US 7,390,197 B2
• Filed: 07/17/2002
• Issued: 06/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: OQO Incorporated (Audiotone Incorporated)
• Inventors: Merz, Nicholas G. L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Leon, Edwin A.
• Application Number:
  US10/197,378
• Publication Number:
  US 20040014336A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,169 Days
• Field of Search: 439/76.1, 439/446, 439607-610, 439/55, 439/676, 439/79, 361/737, 361/740, 361/741, 361/747, 361/756, 361/759, 361/742
• US Class Current: 439/76.1
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/721 cooperating directly with the edge of the rigid printed circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/659 with plural ports for distinct connectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6658 on printed circuit board H01R13/6666 - H01R13/6691 take precedence
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 27/02 for simultaneous co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/117 Pads along the edge of rigid circuit boards, e.g. for pluggable connectors
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/09145 Edge details
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10325 Sockets, i.e. female type connectors comprising metallic connector elements integrated in, or bonded to a common dielectric support

Abstract

An electronic device having one or more integral connectors is disclosed. The connector includes an electromagnetically-shielded cavity defined by an outer shell integrally formed in the housing and having a cross-sectional profile of a plug to which the connector may mate. The connector also includes a tongue integrally formed in and extending from a component (such as a printed circuit board) of the electronic device and protruding into the cavity. The tongue may have one or more electrical contacts on one or both sides. The connector may also include one or more snap features for retaining a mated plug at a predetermined force. The connectors may conform to one or more connector standards, such as the Universal Serial Bus (USB) standard and/or the IEEE 1394 (FireWire®) standard. Devices incorporating such integral connectors may be smaller and manufactured less expensively than devices having conventional, non-integral, connectors.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a printed circuit board comprising a tongue integrally formed in one piece with and extending from the printed circuit board, the tongue comprising an electrical contact;

a housing fully enclosing the printed circuit board, the housing comprising;

a connector comprising;

a cavity defined by an outer shell, the outer shell comprising a surface molded in one piece with the housing, the surface facing an interior of the cavity, the cavity having a cross-sectional profile of a plug to which the connector may mate; and

the tongue, wherein the tongue protrudes into a region of the cavity.

2. The connector of claim 1, wherein properties of the cavity and the tongue comply with requirements of the Universal Serial Bus standard.

3. The connector of claim 1, wherein properties of the cavity and the tongue comply with requirements of the IEEE 1394 standard.

4. The connector of claim 1, wherein the outer shell comprises an electromagnetically-shielded portion of the housing.

5. The connector of claim 4, wherein the outer shell comprises plastic lined with an electromagnetic shielding substrate.

6. The connector of claim 1, further comprising:

mechanical retention means for retaining the plug at a predetermined force.

7. The connector of claim 6, wherein the mechanical retention means comprises at least one snap feature within the cavity and coupled to the outer shell to retain the plug at a predetermined force.

8. A electronic device comprising:

a printed circuit board comprising a tongue integrally formed in one piece with and extending from the printed circuit board;

a housing fully enclosing the printed circuit board, the housing comprising;

a connector comprising;

a cavity defined by an electromagnetically-shielded outer shell, the outer shell comprising a surface molded in one piece with the housing, the surface facing an interior of the cavity, the cavity having a cross-sectional profile of a plug to which the connector may mate; and

the tongue, wherein the tongue protrudes into a region of the cavity, the tongue comprising means for forming an electrical connection between the plug and the connector.

9. The connector of claim 8, further comprising:

mechanical retention means for retaining the plug at a predetermined force.

10. The connector of claim 8, wherein the mechanical retention means comprises at least one snap feature within the cavity and coupled to the outer shell to retain the plug at a predetermined force.

11. The connector of claim 8, wherein properties of the cavity and the tongue comply with requirements of the Universal Serial Bus standard.

12. The connector of claim 8, wherein properties of the cavity and the tongue comply with requirements of the IEEE 1394 standard.