Adapter for an electronic assembly

• US 7,946,890 B1
• Filed: 02/19/2010
• Issued: 05/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sonion A/S
• Original Assignee: Sonion A/S
• Inventors: Bondo, Martin, Pedersen, Gerner Kurt Soelberg
• Primary Examiner(s): NASRI, JAVAID H
• Application Number:
  US12/708,641
• Time in Patent Office: 459 Days
• Field of Search: 439/638
• US Class Current: 439/638
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6275 Latching arms not integral with the housing H01R13/6276, H01R13/6277, H01R13/6278 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/065 with built-in electric apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/0216 BTE hearing aids having a receiver in the ear mould
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/61 Aspects relating to mechanical or electronic switches or control elements, e.g. functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/556 External connectors, e.g. plugs or modules H04R25/607 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/603 of mechanical or electronic switches or control elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/607 of earhooks

Abstract

An assembly having a first element that provides a signal that is received by a second element. The assembly includes a signal guide/transporter transporting the signal from the first to the second element and including a first and second connector/plug connected to the first and second elements, respectively. The assembly further includes an adapter for transmitting information to the first element and a third and fourth connector/plug. The third connector/plug is coupled to the first connector/plug to receive the signal, and the fourth connector/plug is coupled to the second connector/plug to transmit the signal received by the third connector/plug to the second connector/plug. The third and first connectors/plugs are adapted to forward the information transmitted by the adapter to the first element.

Claims

1. An assembly comprising:

a first and a second element, the first element comprising means for providing a signal, and the second element comprises means for receiving the signal,

a signal guide/transporter adapted to transport the signal from the first element to the second element, the signal guide/transporter comprising a first and a second connector/plug each having first means for transporting the signal from the first connector/plug to the second connector/plug, the first and second connectors/plugs being adapted to disengageably engage so as to be able to transmit the signal, the first connector/plug being connected to the first element and the second connector/plug being connected to the second element,

an adapter for transmitting information to the signal providing means, the adapter comprising a third and fourth connector/plug, the third connector/plug being adapted to disengageably engage the first connector/plug so as to receive the signal, the fourth connector/plug being adapted to disengageably engage the second connector/plug so as to transmit the signal received by the third connector/plug to the second connector/plug, the third and first connectors/plugs additionally being adapted to forward the information to the signal providing means,

wherein the first and third connectors/plugs comprise additional conductors relative to the second and fourth connectors/plugs, the conductors being adapted to transport the information from the adapter to the signal providing means.

2. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the signal providing means is adapted to alter a mode of operation on the basis of information received.

3. A method of operating the assembly of claim 1, wherein the signal providing means outputs a signal which is transported, via the first, second, third and fourth connectors/plugs and the signal guide/transporter to the receiving means, while, simultaneously, information is transmitted to the signal providing means via the first and third connectors/plugs, subsequent to which the signal providing means alters a mode of operation based on information received.

4. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein:

the first connector/plug has first signal guides provided in or at first positions in a cross section along a predetermined plane of the first connector/plug,

the second connector/plug has second signal guides provided in or at the first positions in a cross section along a predetermined plane of the second connector/plug,

the assembly further comprising connecting elements interconnecting the first signal guides with the second signal guides, and a communication path comprising one or more third signal guides,

wherein the first plug further comprises at least part of the third signal guides positioned in second positions in the predetermined plane of the first connector/plug.

5. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the conductors include electrical conductors, optical conductors, or acoustical conductors.

6. An assembly comprising a first element comprising a signal generator detachably connectable to a second element comprising a signal receiver, wherein

the first element comprises a first connector member comprising a number of first signal guiding elements positioned in predetermined positions and being connected to the signal generator,

the second element comprises a second connector member having a number of second signal guiding elements being connected to the signal receiver and being adapted to detachably attach to the first connector member so that at least part of the first signal guiding elements engage at least part of the second signal guiding elements,

the assembly further comprising an adapter having:

a third connector member having a number of third signal guiding elements and being adapted to detachably attach to the first connector member so that at least part of the first signal guiding elements engage at least part of the third signal guiding elements,

a fourth connector member, having a number of fourth signal guiding elements and being adapted to detachably attach to the second connector member so that at least part of the fourth signal guiding elements engage at least part of the second signal guiding elements,

one or more fifth signal guiding elements adapted to guide a signal from the at least part of the third signal guiding elements to the at least part of the fourth signal guiding elements,

a communication input/output adapted to receive and/or output a communication signal, and

communication guiding elements adapted to guide the communication signal between the input/output and one or more of the third signal guiding elements,

wherein one or more of the first signal guiding elements are adapted to guide the communication signal to the signal generator, and wherein the number of first signal guiding elements is larger than the number of second signal guiding elements.

7. The assembly according to claim 6, wherein:

the first connector member has first signal guides provided in or at first positions in a cross section along a predetermined plane of the first connector member,

the second connector member has second signal guides provided in or at the first positions in a cross section along a predetermined plane of the second connector member,

the assembly further comprising connecting elements interconnecting the first signal guides with the second signal guides, and a communication path comprising one or more third signal guides,

wherein the first connector member further comprises at least part of the third signal guides positioned in second positions in the predetermined plane of the first connector member.

8. The assembly according to claim 6, wherein the first signal guiding elements include electrical conductors, optical conductors, or acoustical conductors.