Grounding a docking station with a host device using grounding layers of multilayer printed circuit boards

• US 8,414,312 B2
• Filed: 08/18/2011
• Issued: 04/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wistron Corporation
• Original Assignee: Wistron Corporation
• Inventors: Su, Tsung-Jen, Li, Yu-Jen, Hung, Chin-Chung
• Primary Examiner(s): Prasad, Chandrika
• Application Number:
  US13/213,067
• Publication Number:
  US 20120071013A1
• Time in Patent Office: 600 Days
• Field of Search: 439/188, 439/108, 439/181, 439/88, 439/92, 439/289
• US Class Current: 439/108
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/648 Protective earth or shield arrangements on coupling devices , e.g. anti-static shielding coaxially arranged shields H01R24/38
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/06 for computer periphery

Abstract

A connector structure includes a first connector installed on a host device. The first connector includes a first base, a first terminal set installed on the first base, and a first grounding component installed on the first base. The connector structure further includes a second connector installed on a docking station for connecting with the first connector. The second connector includes a second base, a second terminal set installed on the second base for contacting with the first terminal set so as to transmit signals between the host device and the docking station with the first terminal set when the host device is docked in the docking station, and a second grounding component installed on the second base for contacting with the first grounding component so as to ground with the first grounding component when the host device is docked in the docking station.

Claims

1. A connector structure comprising:

a first connector installed on a host device, the first connector comprising;

a first base;

a first terminal set installed on the first base, the first terminal set comprising a first grounding terminal electrically connected to a grounding end of the host device;

a first grounding component installed on the first base, the first grounding component being a plate-shaped structure made of metal material for engaging with the first base; and

a first multilayer printed circuit board installed on the first base, a grounding layer of the first multilayer printed circuit board being grounded with the first grounding terminal and electrically connected to the first grounding component; and

a second connector installed on a docking station for connecting with the first connector, the second connector comprising;

a second base;

a second terminal set installed on the second base for contacting with the first terminal set so as to transmit signals between the host device and the docking station with the first terminal set when the host device is docked in the docking station, the second terminal set comprising a second grounding terminal electrically connected to a grounding end of the docking station;

a second grounding component installed on the second base for contacting with the first grounding component so as to ground with the first grounding component when the host device is docked in the docking station, the second grounding component comprising a plurality of metal clip structures protruding out of the second base for abutting against the first grounding component; and

a second multilayer printed circuit board installed on the second base, a grounding layer of the second multilayer printed circuit board being grounded with the second grounding terminal and electrically connected to the second grounding component.

2. The connector structure of claim 1, wherein the second terminal set is a pogo pin set.

3. The connector structure of claim 1, wherein at least one positioning hole is formed on the first base and at least one positioning post is formed on the second base for inserting inside the positioning hole of the first base so as to fix the first connector with the second connector.

4. A computer system comprising:

a docking station comprising a grounding end;

a host device docked in the docking station in a detachable manner, the host device comprising a grounding end; and

a connector structure for transmitting signals between the docking station and the host device, the connector structure comprising;

a first connector installed on the host device, the first connector comprising;

a first base;

a first terminal set installed on the first base, the first terminal set comprising a first grounding terminal electrically connected to the grounding end of the host device;

a first grounding component installed on the first base, the first grounding component being a plate-shaped structure made of metal material for engaging with the first base; and

a first multilayer printed circuit board installed on the first base, a grounding layer of the first multilayer printed circuit board being grounded with the first grounding terminal and electrically connected to the first grounding component and

a second connector installed on the docking station for connecting with the first connector, the second connector comprising;

a second base;

a second terminal set installed on the second base for contacting with the first terminal set so as to transmit signals between the host device and the docking station with the first terminal set when the host device is docked in the docking station, the second terminal set comprising a second grounding terminal electrically connected to the grounding end of the docking station;

a second grounding component installed on the second base for contacting with the first grounding component so as to ground with the first grounding component when the host device is docked in the docking station, the second grounding component comprising a plurality of metal clip structures protruding out of the second base for abutting against the first grounding component[[.]]; and

a second multilayer printed circuit board installed on the second base, a grounding layer of the second multilayer printed circuit board being grounded with the second grounding terminal and electrically connected to the second grounding component.

5. The computer system of claim 4, wherein the second terminal set is a pogo pin set.

6. The computer system of claim 4, wherein at least one positioning hole is formed on the first base and at least one positioning post is formed on the second base for inserting inside the positioning hole of the first base so as to fix the first connector with the second connector.