Headset connector

• US 9,287,657 B2
• Filed: 03/19/2013
• Issued: 03/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Sanford, Emery A., Prest, Christopher D., Lim, Way Chet, Hankey, M. Evans
• Primary Examiner(s): Trinh, Hoa B
• Application Number:
  US13/847,103
• Publication Number:
  US 20130217246A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,092 Days
• Field of Search: 381/38, 381/371, 381/370, 381/374, 381/376, 381/378, 381/379, 381/380, 381/382, 381328-329, 381/74, 381/384
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B21C 23/18 by impact extrusion
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/001 Combinations of extrusion moulding with other shaping operations
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/09 Articles with cross-sections having partially or fully enclosed cavities, e.g. pipes or channels
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6205 Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00304 Overcurrent protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00308 Overvoltage protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/05 specially adapted for use on head, throat or breast
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6058 involving the use of a headset accessory device connected to the portable telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1016 Earpieces of the intra-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1025 Accumulators or arrangements for charging secondary cells per se H01M10/00; charging in general H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/107 Monophonic and stereophonic headphones with microphone for two-way hands free communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/33 Aspects relating to adaptation of the battery voltage, e.g. its regulation, increase or decrease
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/51 Aspects of antennas or their circuitry in or for hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/09 Applications of special connectors, e.g. USB, XLR, in loudspeakers, microphones or headphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/008 Visual indication of individual signal levels visual indication of stereophonic sound image H04S7/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/033 Headphones for stereophonic communication details thereof, e.g. relating to batteries, cables or control elements H04R1/10
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Headset assemblies and headset connectors are provided. Headset connectors can include a magnetic mating face and a plurality of electrical contacts disposed within the mating face. Engaging assemblies and engaging connectors are also provided. The engaging connectors can include a housing having a mating side, a magnetic array structure, and a plurality of spring biased contact members. The magnetic array structure can be fixed within the housing and house a plurality of spring biased contact members. The spring biased contact members can include tips that extend out of the mating side. The tips can electrically couple with electrical contacts in a headset connector.

Claims

1. An engaging connector assembly comprising:

a housing having a mating face;

a magnetic array structure fixed within the housing and configured to magnetically couple the engaging connector assembly to a corresponding connector; and

a plurality of spring biased contact members arranged within the magnetic array structure, the plurality of spring biased contact members including tips that extend out of the mating face.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of spring biased contact members are electrically connected to a circuit board.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the magnetic array comprises a plurality of magnetic regions.

4. The assembly of claim 3, wherein the plurality of magnetic regions protrude from the mating face.

5. The assembly of claim 3, wherein the plurality of magnetic regions are flush with the mating face.

6. The assembly of claim 3, wherein the plurality of regions comprises three of such regions.

7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the contact tips have a width of about 0.5 millimeters.

8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the distance between the centerlines of any two immediately adjacent contact tips is about 1.97 millimeters.

9. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the distance between the centerlines of any two immediately adjacent contact tips ranges between 1.75 and 2.25 millimeters, 1.85 and 2.15 millimeters, 1.9 and 2.1 millimeters, or 1.95 and 2.05 millimeters.

10. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of spring biased contact members comprises four contact members.

11. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the distance between the center lines of the two outermost contact tips is about 5.1 millimeters.

12. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the distance between the center lines of the two outermost contact tips ranges between 4.7 and 5.4 millimeters, 4.8 and 5.3 millimeters, 5.9 and 5.2 millimeters, 4.95 and 5.15 millimeters.

13. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the housing has a height of about 5.1 millimeters.

14. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the housing has a height ranging between 4.9 and 5.3 millimeters, 5.0 and 5.2 millimeters, or 4.95 and 5.15 millimeters.

15. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the mating face has a height of about 3.43 millimeters.

16. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the mating face has a height ranging between 3.2 and 3.7 millimeters, 3.3 and 3.6 millimeters, or 3.35 and 3.55 millimeters.

17. The assembly of claim 1, wherein angle between a plane of the mating face and a center plane passing lengthwise through the housing ranges between 10 and 80 degrees, 20 and 70 degrees, 30 and 60 degrees, 35 and 65 degrees, or 40 and 50 degrees.

18. The assembly of claim 1, wherein an angle between a plane of the mating face and a center plane passing lengthwise through the housing is about 60 degrees.

19. The assembly of claim 1, the magnetic array structure comprising:

a first magnetic component; and

a second magnetic component separated from the first magnetic component by a gap;

wherein at least a portion of a particular spring biased contact member is disposed within the gap.

20. The assembly of claim 1, the magnetic array structure comprising three spaced-apart magnetic components disposed along a direction, wherein the plurality of spring biased contact members comprises:

a first spring biased contact member set in a gap between a first and a second magnetic component; and

a second spring biased contact member set in a gap between the second and a third magnetic component.

21. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the magnetic array structure includes a permanent magnet.