Compliant mount for connector

• US 9,160,124 B2
• Filed: 09/07/2012
• Issued: 10/13/2015
• 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): VU, HIEN D
• Application Number:
  US13/607,598
• Publication Number:
  US 20140073191A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,131 Days
• Field of Search: 439/248, 439/929, 361/679.41
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 compliant connector adapter for connecting a portable electronic device with an other electronic device, the adapter connector configured to enable data and power transmission between the electronic devices, the adapter connector comprising:

a first end connector and second end connector, the first end connector having a plurality of electrical contacts to enable data and power transmission therethrough and being configured to enable said data and power transmissions to pass between the portable electronic device and the second end connector, the first end connector further configured for removable mating engagement with the portable electronic device, and the second end connector having a plurality of electrical contacts arranged to enable data and power transmission therethrough and being configured to enable said data and power transmissions to pass between the other electronic device and the first end connector thereby enabling said data and power transmissions to pass between portable electronic device and the other electronic device, the second end connector further configured for removable mating engagement with the other electronic device, and

a compliant mount body coupling the first end connector and second end connector so as to support the first end connector when the second end connector is matingly engaged with the other electronic device, wherein the compliant mount body comprises one or more springs or torsion bars configured to resist bending or torsional force applied through the first or second end connector and the compliant mount body is sufficiently flexible to allow relative movement of the first end connector relative to the second end connector.

2. The compliant connector adapter of claim 1, wherein the compliant mount body has enough rigidity to support the portable device when the second end connector is matingly engaged with the other electronic device and the first end connector is matingly engaged with the portable device.

3. The compliant connector adapter of claim 1, wherein the other electronic device comprises a docking station and the adapter has a length sufficient to extend the first end connector above a docking well of the docking station in which the second end connector is disposed when matingly engaged with the docking station so as to allow coupling of a portable device with the docking station, wherein the docking well is of insufficient size to receive the portable device.

4. The compliant connector adapter of claim 1, wherein the plurality of electrical contacts of the first end connector are arranged in a first configuration and the plurality of electrical contacts of the second end connector are arranged in a second different from the first configuration.

5. The compliant connector adapter of claim 4, wherein the first configuration comprises an eight-pin connector and wherein the second configuration comprises a 30-pin connector.

6. The compliant connector adapter of claim 1, wherein the first end connector comprises a connector tab insertable into a corresponding connector receptacle of the portable electronic device, and wherein the second end connector comprises a connector receptacle configured to matingly receive a corresponding connector tab protruding from the other electronic device.

7. The compliant connector adapter of claim 1, wherein the compliant mount body has one or more springs.

8. The compliant connector adapter of claim 7, wherein the one or more springs are configured to resist bending or torsional movement between the first and second end connector until a pre-determined load is exceeded after which the one or more springs allow increased bending or torsional movement between the first and second end connectors.

9. The compliant connector adapter of claim 7, wherein the compliant mount has one or more torsion bars extending between the first and second end connectors.

10. The compliant connector adapter of claim 1, wherein the compliant mount comprises an elongate cylindrical member extending laterally outward from a base portion of the first end connector, wherein the elongate cylindrical member is rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the elongate cylindrical member such that the first connector pivots about the longitudinal axis when the elongate cylindrical member is rotated.

11. The compliant connector adapter of claim 10, wherein the elongate cylindrical member is configured to provide translation and/or rotational movement in one or more other directions than a direction of rotation about the longitudinal axis.

12. The compliant connector adapter of claim 10, wherein the elongate cylindrical member is coupled with a helical spring.

13. The compliant connector adapter of claim 12, wherein the helical spring is configured so that the elongate cylindrical member is biased toward an upright position of the first connector.

14. The compliant connector adapter of claim 13, wherein the helical spring is configured so that the helical spring provides increased resistance to movement of the elongate cylindrical member when the first connector is moved away from the upright position.

15. A compliant connector adapter for connecting a portable electronic device with an other electronic device, the adapter connector configured to enable data and power transmission between the electronic devices, the adapter connector comprising:

a first end connector and second end connector, the first end connector having a plurality of electrical contacts to enable data and power transmission therethrough and being configured to enable said data and power transmissions to pass between the portable electronic device and the second end connector, the first end connector further configured for removable mating engagement with the portable electronic device, and the second end connector having a plurality of electrical contacts arranged to enable data and power transmission therethrough and being configured to enable said data and power transmissions to pass between the other electronic device and the first end connector thereby enabling said data and power transmissions to pass between portable electronic device and the other electronic device, the second end connector further configured for removable mating engagement with the other electronic device, and

a compliant mount body coupling the first end connector and second end connector so as to support the first end connector when the second end connector is matingly engaged with the other electronic device, wherein the compliant mount body is sufficiently flexible to allow relative movement of the first end connector relative to the second end connector, wherein the compliant mount body comprises an elongate tube rotatable about an axis substantially perpendicular to an insertion axis of the first end connector to allow a compliant bending movement and a helical spring coupled to the elongate tube that limits the compliant bending movement.