Reduced size multi-pin female receptacle connector

• US 8,348,704 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2009
• Issued: 01/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Sloey, Jason, Lynch, S. Brian, Zadesky, Stephen Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Luebke, Renee S
• Assistant Examiner(s): TSUKERMAN, LARISA Z
• Application Number:
  US12/569,502
• Publication Number:
  US 20100087098A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,197 Days
• Field of Search: 439/607, 439/660, 439/607.01, 439638-639, 439 79- 80, 439/690
• US Class Current: 439/690
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/405 Securing in non-demountable manner, e.g. moulding, riveting
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/4538 Covers sliding or withdrawing in the direction of engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/502 composed of different pieces H01R13/514 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6471 by special arrangement of ground and signal conductors, e.g. GSGS [Ground-Signal-Ground-Signal]
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6474 by variation of conductive properties, e.g. by dimension variations
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6581 Shield structure
• 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 43/24 Assembling by moulding on contact members
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53209 Terminal or connector

Abstract

Receptacle connectors and male plug connectors having a reduced size in at least one direction can be provided. One example reduces height by not including a center contact tab or tongue, but instead places contacts on an insulator that is adjacent to a bottom portion of the receptacle. Another example may reduce width by reducing contact pitch, and may use a particular shape of contact to achieve good signal quality. Receptacle connectors and male plug connectors can also provide support for one or more new high-speed communication standards, such as USB 3.0 and DisplayPort. Methods can provide one or more standardized connector components to speed connector design and manufacture of new electronic devices such as media players, thus reducing their time to market.

Claims

1. A receptacle connector for connecting to a corresponding male plug connector, the receptacle connector comprising:

an insulator core;

a plurality of contact locations spaced apart in a single row and located on a first surface of the insulator core; and

a plurality of contacts located in at least a portion of the plurality of contact locations, wherein each contact has a first section located within the insulator core, and wherein the first section of at least one contact has sides that are substantially parallel to each other except for one or more recesses, and wherein a side of the at least one contact faces another contact,

wherein an insulating material of the insulator core fills in the one or more recesses, and wherein portions of a side of the first section before and after a recess lie in a same plane.

2. The receptacle connector of claim 1, wherein the insulator core includes:

a first chamfer at a first end of a front surface of the insulator core; and

a second chamfer at a second end of the front surface, the second end opposite the first end, wherein the chamfers provide a lateral alignment of the male plug connector with the receptacle connector.

3. The receptacle connector of claim 1, wherein the plurality of contacts include:

a plurality of signal contacts; and

a plurality of ground contacts, each ground contact separated from another ground contact by two signal contacts.

4. The receptacle connector of claim 3, wherein the number of ground contacts is nine.

5. The receptacle connector of claim 3, wherein the signal contacts include:

a first set of signal contacts for carrying USB 3.0 signals; and

a second set of signal contacts for carrying DisplayPort signals.

6. The receptacle connector of claim 1, further comprising:

a shell having a top, a bottom, a first side, a second side opposite the first side, and an opening at a front of the receptacle connector, wherein the insulator core has a bottom surface and a top surface, the top surface being the first surface of the insulator core; and

a cavity including a first region between the first surface of the insulator core and the top of the shell,

wherein the cavity of the receptacle connector is configured to receive the male plug connector, wherein each contact has a first section located within the insulator core, and

wherein the first section of a contact includes a planar top surface and a front end that bends downward from the planar top surface toward the bottom surface of the insulator core, the front end including a front edge at a top of the front end, wherein the front edge is embedded in the insulator core at a point below the top surface of the insulator core such that a portion of the insulator core is present behind a back wall of the downward-bent front end.

7. The receptacle connector of claim 6, wherein the bottom surface of the insulator core is adjacent with an inner surface of the bottom of the shell, and wherein the cavity further includes a second region between sides of the insulator core and the sides of the shell.

8. The receptacle connector of claim 1, wherein the first section of all of the contacts have sides that are substantially parallel to each other except for one or more recesses, and wherein a side of the at least one contact faces the other contacts.

9. The receptacle connector of claim 1, wherein the first section of at least one contact has one recess on each side.

10. The receptacle connector of claim 1, further comprising:

a shell having a top, a bottom, a first side, a second side opposite the first side, and an opening at a front of the receptacle connector, wherein the insulator core has a bottom surface that is opposite the first surface of the insulator core and that is adjacent with an inner surface of the bottom of the shell; and

a cavity including;

a first region between the top surface of the insulator core and the top of the shell; and

a second region between sides of the insulator core and the sides of the shell,

wherein the cavity of the receptacle connector is configured to receive the male plug connector.

11. The receptacle connector of claim 1, wherein the surfaces of the recesses are curved.

12. The receptacle connector of claim 1, wherein a slope at any point on the surface of each recess is at an angle of less than 45 degrees with respect to the plane of the side surface that the recess is on.

13. The receptacle connector of claim 1, wherein the first section of a contact includes a front end that bends downward toward the bottom surface of the insulator core, the front end including a front edge at a top of the front end, wherein the front edge is embedded in the insulator core at a point below the top surface of the insulator core.