Dock with compliant connector mount

• US 9,261,919 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2014
• Issued: 02/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Webb, Michael J., Colahan, Ian P., Thompson, Paul J.
• Primary Examiner(s): GUSHI, ROSS N
• Application Number:
  US14/251,523
• Publication Number:
  US 20140307383A1
• Time in Patent Office: 676 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 11/12 incorporating flexible connections, e.g. leaf springs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1683 for the transmission of signal or power between the different housings, e.g. details of wired or wireless communication, passage of cabling
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/58 Means for relieving strain on wire connection, e.g. cord grip , for avoiding loosening of connections between wires and terminals within a coupling device terminating a cable for flat or ribbon cables H01R12/771
• 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 33/975 Holders with resilient means for protecting apparatus against vibrations or shocks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0274 for an electrical connector module
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers

Abstract

Docking stations having a connector with a compliant mount to provide improved durability and flexibility are provided herein. The compliant mount may couple a connector to a base of a docking station and may include at least a first and second flexure disposed there between. The first and second flexure may be configured to have flexural movement in along transverse direction so that, in combination, the flexural movement pivots the connector about a virtual pivot point a distance away from the flexures. The first and second flexures may be configured to project the virtual pivot point to a location on the connector where the connector protrudes from an opening in a docking housing, thereby minimizing the clearance required between the connector and docking housing, while providing controlled movement of the connector relative the dock.

Claims

1. A docking station for a portable electronic device, the docking station comprising:

a base;

a connector movably coupled with the base; and

a compliant mount coupling the connector to the base, the compliant mount being configured to support the connector in a mounting position for mounting of the portable electronic device on the connector,

wherein the compliant mount is configured with one or more flexures between the base and connector such that a combination of movements, including flexural movement of the one or more flexures, moves the connector about a pivot point projected a distance away from a point of flexure of the one or more flexures,

wherein the one or more flexures comprise a first and second flexure, wherein the first flexure flexes along a first flexure axis and the second flexure flexes along a second flexure axis, the first and second flexure axes being transverse to one another such that a normal axis of the first flexure axis intersects a normal axis of the second flexure axis at or near the projected pivot point.

2. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the combination of movements include any of a sliding, translation, flexure, and rotational movement.

3. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the one or more flexures comprise a first flexure and a second flexure extending parallel to and spaced apart from each other.

4. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the compliant mount is configured so that the projected pivot point is located at or near where the connector couples to the compliant mount.

5. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the base includes an outer shell having an opening through which the connector protrudes, and wherein the compliant mount is configured so that the projected pivot point is located on the connector at or near where the connector protrudes through the opening.

6. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the one or more flexures comprises a first flexure and a second flexure, wherein the connector is coupled to the compliant mount between the first and second flexures.

7. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the one or more flexures comprises a first flexure and a second flexure, wherein the first and second flexures are disposed between where the compliant mount couples to the base and where the compliant mount couples to the connector.

8. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the projected pivot point is within a range of locations near where the connector attaches to the compliant mount and moves within the range of locations during displacing movement of the connector provided by the compliant mount.

9. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the one or more flexures are defined within one integral piece.

10. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the compliant mount is configured to support the connector in the mounting position when in a non-displaced state such that the one or more flexures provide a biasing force towards the mounting position that increases with flexural displacement of the one or more flexures.

11. The docking station of claim 10, wherein the connector is configured to receive and electrically couple to a receptacle connector of the portable electronic device, the station further comprising electronic circuitry electronically coupled with a plurality of contacts of the connector, wherein the compliant mount further includes a flexible circuit that electrically couples the moveable connector with the electronic circuitry.

12. The docking station of claim 10, wherein the one or more flexures are configured with sufficient flexibility to allow a desired angular displacement of the connector from the mounting position when a displacing force is applied to the connector.

13. A docking station for a portable electronic device, the docking station comprising:

a base;

a connector movably coupled with the base; and

a compliant mount coupling the connector to the base, the compliant mount being configured to support the connector in a mounting position for mounting of the portable electronic device on the connector,

wherein the compliant mount is configured with one or more flexures between the base and connector such that a combination of movements, including flexural movement of the one or more flexures, moves the connector about a pivot point projected a distance away from a point of flexure of the one or more flexures,

wherein at least one flexure of the one or more flexures comprises undulating segments that undulate along an axis substantially parallel to a pivotal axis of the projected pivot point.

14. The docking station of claim 13, wherein the undulating segments comprise a series of S-shaped or sinusoidal curves.

15. The docking station of claim 13, wherein the one or more flexures are defined within one integral piece.

16. A docking station for a portable electronic device, the docking station comprising:

a base;

a connector movably coupled with the base; and

a compliant mount coupling the connector to the base, the compliant mount being configured to support the connector in a mounting position for mounting of the portable electronic device on the connector,

wherein the compliant mount is configured with one or more flexures between the base and connector such that a combination of movements, including flexural movement of the one or more flexures, moves the connector about a pivot point projected a distance away from a point of flexure of the one or more flexures,

wherein the one or more flexures comprise multiple cantilevers connected in series.

17. The docking station of claim 16, wherein the one or more flexures are defined within one integral piece.

18. A docking station for a portable electronic device, the docking station comprising:

a base;

a connector movably coupled with the base; and

a compliant mount coupling the connector to the base, the compliant mount being configured to support the connector in a mounting position for mounting of the portable electronic device on the connector,

wherein the compliant mount is configured with one or more flexures between the base and connector such that a combination of movements, including flexural movement of the one or more flexures, moves the connector about a pivot point projected a distance away from a point of flexure of the one or more flexures,

wherein at least one flexure of the one or more flexures comprises a series of beams extending between where the compliant mount is coupled to the connector and where the compliant mount is coupled with the base.

19. The docking station of claim 18, wherein the one or more flexures are defined within one integral piece.

20. A docking station for a portable electronic device, the docking station comprising:

a base;

a connector movably coupled with the base; and

a compliant mount coupling the connector to the base, the compliant mount being configured to support the connector in a mounting position for mounting of the portable electronic device on the connector,

wherein the compliant mount is configured with one or more flexures between the base and connector such that a combination of movements, including flexural movement of the one or more flexures, moves the connector about a pivot point projected a distance away from a point of flexure of the one or more flexures,

wherein the one or more flexures are configured with sufficient stiffness to inhibit angular displacement of the connector beyond a maximum angle within a range of about 10 to 45 degrees.

21. The docking station of claim 20, wherein the one or more flexures are configured with sufficient elasticity so as to resiliently return the connector to the mounting position when a displacing force applied to the connector is removed.

22. A docking station for a portable electronic device, the docking station comprising:

a base;

a connector movably coupled with the base; and

a compliant mount coupling the connector to the base, the compliant mount being configured to support the connector in a mounting position for mounting of the portable electronic device on the connector,

wherein the compliant mount is configured with one or more flexures between the base and connector such that a combination of movements, including flexural movement of the one or more flexures, moves the connector about a pivot point projected a distance away from a point of flexure of the one or more flexures, wherein the projected pivot point is at a substantially fixed location relative to the base.