Compliant mount for connector

• US 8,535,102 B1
• Filed: 12/19/2012
• Issued: 09/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Colahan, Ian P., Thompson, Paul J., Webb, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): GUSHI, ROSS N
• Application Number:
  US13/720,880
• Time in Patent Office: 272 Days
• Field of Search: 439/638, 439/5, 439/592, 439/593, 439/640, 439/929
• US Class Current: 439/638
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6315 allowing relative movement between coupling parts, e.g. floating connection for coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, H01R12/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/06 Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/94

Abstract

A compliant mount for use in a connector or connection adapter is disclosed. The compliant mount may be used in a connection between a portable electronic device and another electronic device, such as a docking station. A compliant mount connector adapter may include a first end connector engageable with a portable device and a second end connector engageable with another device, the first and second end connectors coupled with a compliant mount allowing movement of the first end connector engaged with the portable device relative to the second end connector when engaged within the other electronic device. The compliant mount may include any or all of: elastomers, springs, torsion bars, elastomers, rigid members or housing, ball and socket joints, resilient bendable members, and dongles to allow for controlled resistance to bending or torsional forces applied to the portable device when connected to the other electronic device with the connector adapter.

Claims

1. A connector adapter for connecting a first electronic device with a second electronic device, the connector adapter configured to enable data and power transmission between the electronic devices, the connector adapter comprising:

a plug connector configured for removable mating engagement within a connector of the first electronic device, the plug connector having a base portion and an insertable tab that extends away from the base, the insertable tab having a plurality of external contacts formed thereon to enable data and power transmission through the plug connector;

a receptacle connector configured for removable mating engagement with a connector of the second electronic device, the receptacle connector having a plurality of interior contacts to enable data and power transmission through the receptacle connector;

an adapter body through which the plug connector and receptacle connector are connected by circuitry within the adapter body configured to enable data and power transmissions between the plug connector and the receptacle connector; and

a compliant mount within the adapter body, the compliant mount operatively coupled to the plug connector to allow movement of the plug connector relative to the receptacle connector, the compliant mount including a front elastomer that surrounds a base portion of the tab and abuts a laterally extended portion of the plug connector and an inner elastomer disposed between the receptacle connector and the front elastomer, wherein the front elastomer has a first hardness and the inner elastomer has a second hardness less than the first hardness such that a majority of compliant movement within the compliant mount in response to bending forces applied on the plug connector occurs within the inner elastomer.

2. The connector adapter of claim 1 wherein the insertable tab extends distally away from the base along a longitudinal axis and the front elastomer is configured to slide over the first insertable tab and abut against a distal facing surface of the laterally extending portion.

3. The connector adapter of claim 1 wherein the laterally extending portion of the plug connector extends laterally from the longitudinal axis in opposite directions and the inner elastomer substantially circumscribes the laterally extended portion when received therein.

4. The connector adapter of claim 3 wherein the inner elastomer comprises a distally opening cavity dimensioned to fittingly receive the laterally extending portion of the plug connector.

5. The connector adapter of claim 4 wherein the laterally extending portion has a cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis that is an elongate shape.

6. The connector adapter of claim 5 further comprising:

a second shield slidable over a printed circuit board component of the receptacle connector to shield the printed circuit board component from electromagnetic interference.

7. The connector adapter of claim 6 wherein the second shield is dimensioned to interface with and abut against the inner elastomer.

8. The connector adapter of claim 7 wherein the first shield extends at least partially over the second shield.

9. The connector adapter of claim 4 wherein the elongate shape is an ellipsoid with pointed ends.

10. The connector adapter of claim 1 further comprising:

a first shield at least partially surrounding a printed circuit board component of the plug connector that shields the plug connector from electromagnetic interference, the first shield comprising a thin bendable metallic layer extending at least partially surrounding the inner elastomer.

11. The connector adapter of claim 10 wherein the first shield is adhesively bonded to the inner elastomer.

12. The connector adapter of claim 10 wherein the first shield substantially surrounds the inner elastomer and is disposed between the inner elastomer and the front elastomer.

13. The connector adapter of claim 1 further comprising:

a rigid outer housing disposed about the compliant mount that provides increased rigidity and limits compliant movement of the compliant mount.

14. The connector adapter of claim 13 wherein the rigid outer housing comprises a hard shell substantially circumscribing the compliant mount.

15. The connector adapter of claim 13 wherein the first configuration comprises an eight-pin connector and wherein the second configuration comprises a 30-pin connector.

16. The connector adapter of claim 1 further comprising:

one or more rigid shim plates extending alongside the inner elastomer between the inner elastomer and the rigid housing that further increase rigidity and limit compliant movement of the compliant mount.

17. The connector adapter of claim 16 wherein the one or more rigid shim plates are disposed between the rigid housing and a first shield applied over the inner elastomer.

18. The connector adapter of claim 16 wherein the one or more shim plates include at least two shim plates on opposite sides of the inner elastomer.

19. The connector adapter of claim 16 wherein the adapter body has a length sufficient to extend the plug connector above a docking well of the docking station in which the receptacle connector is disposed when matingly engaged with the docking station to allow coupling of a portable device with the docking station when the docking well is of insufficient size to receive the portable device.

20. The connector adapter of claim 16 wherein the shore hardness of the front elastomer is between 10% and 100% greater than that of the inner elastomer.

21. The connector adapter of claim 1 wherein the first electronic device is a portable electronic device and the second electronic device comprises an adapter or docking station.

22. The connector adapter of claim 1 wherein the plurality of electrical contacts of the plug connector are arranged in a first configuration and the plurality of electrical contacts of the receptacle connector are arranged in a second configuration different from the first configuration.

23. The connector adapter of claim 1 wherein the front and inner elastomers each have a shore hardness between 27 D and 72 D.

24. The connector adapter of claim 1 wherein the front elastomer includes a substantially flat portion that abuts against the inner elastomer or a shield disposed thereon and a collar portion that circumscribes the base portion of the insertable tab.

25. The connector adapter of claim 1 wherein the inner elastomer is substantially rectangular and includes an axial passageway therethrough, the axial passageway being adapted to fittingly receive the laterally extended portion of the connector plug.

26. The connector adapter of claim 1 wherein one or both of the front and inner elastomer includes a portion having one or more voids that provide increased flexibility at or adjacent the portion.

27. The connector adapter of claim 1 wherein the inner elastomer comprises a plurality of bendable wires that provide increased rigidity and control over compliant movement therethrough.

28. A compliant mount for use in connecting two electronic devices so as to allow relative movement between a first and second electronic device when connected, the compliant mount comprising:

a housing;

a first and second connector of differing type coupled to the housing and configured for removable mating engagement with corresponding connectors of the first and second electronic devices, respectively, to enable data and power transmission between the first and second electronic devices when connected, each of the first and second connectors having a plurality of electrical contacts;

a front elastomer adjacent the first connector, the front elastomer having a first hardness;

an inner elastomer disposed within the housing between the front elastomer and the second connector, the inner elastomer having a second hardness;

wherein the front elastomer and inner elastomer, in combination, provide sufficient flexibility in response to a force applied to the first connector to accommodate compliant movement of the first connector relative to the second connector within a desired range of movement along one or more axes and further provide sufficient rigidity to support the first connector and inhibit compliant movement of the first connector relative to the second connector outside the desired range of movement which is within an angular displacement of 90 degrees from a mounted plane along which the first connector extends, wherein the second hardness is less than the first hardness so that a majority of compliant movement occurs within the inner elastomer.

29. The connector adapter of claim 28 wherein the desired range of movement is within an angular displacement of about 45 degrees from the mounted plane along which the first connector extends.

30. A connector adapter for connecting a first electronic device with a second electronic device, the connector adapter configured to enable data and power transmission between the electronic devices, the connector adapter comprising:

a first end connector and second end connector,

the first end connector including a plurality of electrical contacts disposed in a first insertable tab to enable data and power transmission therethrough and being configured to enable said data and power transmissions to pass between the first electronic device and the second end connector, the first insertable tab configured for removable mating engagement within a connector receptacle of the first electronic device, and

the second connector including a plurality of electrical contacts arranged within a connector receptacle in the connector adapter to enable data and power transmission therethrough and being configured to enable said data and power transmissions to pass between the second electronic device and the first end connector, the second end connector further configured for removable mating engagement with a second insertable tab of the second electronic device, thereby enabling said data and power transmissions to pass between first electronic device and the second electronic device when the connector adapter is matingly engage with each of the first and second electronic devices; and

an adapter body through which the first end connector and second end connector are connected, wherein the adapter body includes;

a compliant mount, the compliant mount being sufficiently flexible to allow relative movement of the first end connector relative to the second end connector and sufficiently rigid to support the first end connector when the second end connector is matingly engaged with the second electronic device,

wherein the compliant mount includes a front elastomer surrounding a base portion of the first insertable tab and an inner elastomer disposed between the second end connector and the front elastomer, the front elastomer has a hardness greater than that of the inner elastomer so that a majority of the compliant movement occurs within the inner elastomer.