Connectors to connect modules to electronic devices

• US 7,422,486 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2006
• Issued: 09/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Harris Global Communications, Inc. (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc. (ITT, Inc.)
• Inventors: Poorman, Ed, Leeuw, Dan, Hoff, Greg M.
• Primary Examiner(s): TA, THO DAC
• Application Number:
  US11/617,786
• Publication Number:
  US 20080076292A1
• Time in Patent Office: 620 Days
• Field of Search: 439/579, 439/598, 439/608, 439/639, 439/651, 439/655, 439/660, 439/677, 439/680, 439/681, 439/682, 439/692, 439/578
• US Class Current: 439/660
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/385 for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/023 Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making

Abstract

A connector is provided that facilitates an electrical connection between an electronic device and another device. The connector includes a base, a hollow sheath extending from the base, and a plurality of electrical connecting elements disposed and extending longitudinally within the sheath. The plurality of electrical connecting elements includes a first set of electrical connecting elements and a second set of electrical connecting elements, where the electrical connecting elements of the second set have a transverse cross-sectional dimension that is greater than the transverse cross-sectional dimension of electrical connecting elements of the first set.

Claims

1. A connector for electrically connecting an electronic device to another device, the connector comprising:

a base plate;

a hollow sheath extending from the base plate; and

a plurality of electrical connecting elements disposed within and extending in a longitudinal direction of the sheath, wherein the plurality of electrical connecting elements includes a first set of electrical connecting elements and a second set of electrical connecting elements, the electrical connecting elements of the second set having a transverse cross-sectional dimension that is greater than the transverse cross-sectional dimension of electrical connecting elements of the first set;

wherein the base plate includes a front surface with an annular recess defined within the front surface and extending around the sheath such that a portion of the sheath extends into the front surface of the base plate.

2. The connector of claim 1, wherein the first set includes more electrical connecting elements than the second set of electrical connecting elements.

3. The connector of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second sets includes at least six electrical connecting elements that are arranged in a hexagonal pattern with respect to each other within the sheath.

4. The connector of claim 1, wherein the first set includes twelve electrical connecting elements, and the second set includes seven connecting elements.

5. The connector of claim 1, further comprising:

rear electrical connecting elements that extend from a rear surface of the base plate, wherein each rear electrical connecting element is electrically coupled to a corresponding electrical connecting element of the first or second set within the connector, and the rear connecting elements are configured to be electrically coupled to electrical contact elements of a device to which the connector is attached.

6. The connector of claim 1, wherein the first and second sets of electrical connecting elements facilitate the transmission of analog signals, digital signals, and electrical power between a first electronic unit to which the connector is attached and a second electronic unit that connects with the first electronic unit via the connector.

7. The connector of claim 1, wherein the sheath and the base plate are connected such that the base plate is not movable with respect to the sheath.

8. The connector of claim 1, wherein the sheath and the base plate are formed as a single, integral unit.

9. The connector of claim 1, wherein the annular recess, sheath and electrical connecting elements of the connector are suitably dimensioned so as to facilitate mating and electrical connection with a second connector such that a portion of a sheath of the second connector is received within the annular recess and electrical connecting elements disposed within the sheath of the second connector mate and electrically engage with corresponding electrical connecting elements of the connector.

10. The connector of claim 9, wherein the sheath of the connector includes a key member configured to align and engage with a corresponding key member disposed on the sheath of the second connector.

11. The connector of claim 1, wherein the electrical connecting elements of the first and second sets comprise electrical contact pins that are configured to mate with corresponding sockets of the second connector.

12. An expansion module configured to connect with a communication device via the connector of claim 11, to facilitate the transmission of at least one of analog signals, digital signals, and electrical power between the communication device and the expansion module.

13. The expansion module of claim 12, wherein the connector is disposed on a mounting plate near an end of the expansion module.

14. A connector for electrically connecting an electronic device to another device, the connector comprising:

a base;

a hollow sheath extending from the base; and

a plurality of electrical connecting elements disposed within and extending in a longitudinal direction of the sheath, wherein the plurality of electrical connecting elements includes a first set of electrical connecting elements and a second set of electrical connecting elements, the electrical connecting elements of the second set having a transverse cross-sectional dimension that is greater than the transverse cross-sectional dimension of electrical connecting elements of the first set;

wherein the electrical connecting elements of the first and second sets comprise sockets formed within a material disposed within and separated from the sheath such that a gap is defined between the material and the sheath, and the sockets are configured to mate with corresponding contact pins of a second connector.

15. The connector of claim 14, wherein the number and alignment of sockets of the first and second sets within the sheath facilitates connection of the connector with at least two different types of connectors including at least one of a different arrangement of contact pins and a different number of contact pins.

16. The connector of claim 14, wherein the sheath and the base plate are connected such that the base plate is not movable with respect to the sheath.

17. The connector of claim 14, wherein the material in which the sockets are formed comprises a single structure.

18. The connector of claim 14, wherein the gap comprises an annular recess defined between the material and the sheath, and the annular recess is suitably dimensioned to receive a portion of a sheath of the second connector that contains the corresponding contact pins.

19. The connector of claim 18, wherein the sheath of the connector includes a key member configured to align and engage with a corresponding key member disposed on the sheath of the second connector.

20. A communication device configured to connect with an expansion module, via the connector of claim 14, to facilitate the transmission of at least one of analog signals, digital signals, and electrical power between the communication device and the expansion module.

21. The communication device of claim 20, wherein the connector is disposed at an end of the communication device.

22. A method of connecting a first connector with a second connector, wherein the first connector comprises a base plate and a sheath extending from the base plate, the sheath of the first connector including a first set of contact pins and a second set of contact pins disposed within and extending in a longitudinal dimension of the sheath, the second set of contact pins having a transverse cross-sectional dimension that is greater than a transverse cross-sectional dimension of the contact pins of the first set, and the second connector comprises a base plate and a sheath extending from the base plate, the sheath of the second connector including a first set of sockets and a second set of sockets disposed within and extending in a longitudinal dimension of the sheath, the second set of sockets having a transverse cross-sectional dimension that is greater than a transverse cross-sectional dimension of the sockets of the first set, the method comprising:

mating the first connector with the second connector such that each contact pin is received within and is electrically coupled with a corresponding socket;

wherein, upon mating of the first connector with the second connector, a portion of the sheath of the first connector is received within an annular recess defined between an arrangement of the sockets and internal wall surface portions of the sheath of the second connector, and a portion of the sheath of the second connector is received within an annular recess defined in the base plate of the first connector.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

prior to mating of the first and second connectors, aligning a first key member of the first connector with a second key member of the second connector such that the first and second key members mate with each other upon mating of the first and second connectors.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the first connector connects with an electronic unit and the second connector connects with a communication device, and the method further comprises:

after mating of the first connector with the second connector, transmitting at least one of analog signals, digital signals and electrical power between the communication device and the electronic unit.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the base and sheath of the first connector are not movable with respect to each other.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the sheath and the base plate of the first connector are formed as a single, integral unit.