Electronic connector having flexible region
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An electronic connector, the electronic connector being configured for removable insertion into an electronic receptacle, comprising:
- a housing; and
a plug extending from the housing,the plug including;
(a) a flexible region formed of a flexible material and (b) a rigid region, wherein the flexible region comprises a flexible beam and the rigid region comprises a contact carrier, wherein the flexible beam extends between the housing and the contact carrier, wherein the contact carrier comprises a plurality of platforms separated by a plurality of recesses that are recessed with respect to the platforms, wherein the flexible material at least partially fills the recesses, and wherein the flexible region is configured to provide flexing of the plug up to an angle of at least +/−
10 degrees from a natural state.
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Abstract
An electronic connector includes a housing and a plug extending from the housing. The plug includes at least one flexible region that provides flexing of the plug. In some example embodiments, the plug also includes at least one rigid region. The plug has at least one interconnect. Each interconnect includes a lead and a contact. The contacts are exposed on an exterior surface of the plug, such exposure being provided so as to enable electrical coupling between the plug and an electronic receptacle into which the plug may be removably inserted.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. An electronic connector, the electronic connector being configured for removable insertion into an electronic receptacle, comprising:
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a housing; and a plug extending from the housing, the plug including;
(a) a flexible region formed of a flexible material and (b) a rigid region, wherein the flexible region comprises a flexible beam and the rigid region comprises a contact carrier, wherein the flexible beam extends between the housing and the contact carrier, wherein the contact carrier comprises a plurality of platforms separated by a plurality of recesses that are recessed with respect to the platforms, wherein the flexible material at least partially fills the recesses, and wherein the flexible region is configured to provide flexing of the plug up to an angle of at least +/−
10 degrees from a natural state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An electronic device comprising:
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a housing; a printed circuit board at least partially within the housing; a plurality of leads in communication with the printed circuit board and extending from the housing; and a connector comprising; a plug connected to the housing and extending from the housing and having a plurality of exposed contacts connected to the leads, wherein the plug is configured for insertion into a receptacle to place the contacts in communication with the receptacle and enable electronic communication between the plug and the receptacle; wherein the plug comprises a flexible region and a rigid region, wherein the flexible region comprises a flexible beam and the rigid region comprises a contact carrier, wherein the flexible beam extends between the housing and the contact carrier, wherein the contact carrier comprises a plurality of platforms separated by a plurality of recesses that are recessed with respect to the platforms, wherein the plurality of exposed contacts are supported by the plurality of platforms, wherein the flexible material at least partially fills the recesses, and wherein the flexible region is configured to provide flexing of the plug up to an angle of at least +/−
10 degrees from a natural state. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for manufacturing an electronic connector comprising:
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assembling a housing, a plurality of conductive members, and a contact carrier, such that the conductive members extend from the housing and are engaged with the contact carrier; molding a flexible polymer material around the conductive members and the contact carrier to connect the contact carrier to the housing and to form a plug extending from the housing, the plug comprising a flexible region including the flexible polymer material and a rigid region including the contact carrier, wherein the flexible region comprises a flexible beam, wherein the flexible beam extends between the housing and the contact carrier, wherein the contact carrier comprises a plurality of platforms separated by a plurality of recesses that are recessed with respect to the platforms, wherein the flexible polymer material at least partially fills the recesses, wherein the flexible region is configured to provide flexing of the plug up to an angle of at least +/−
10 degrees from a natural state;wherein the conductive members have;
(a) exposed portions forming contacts on an outer surface of the plug that are supported by the plurality of platforms of the contact carrier and (b) embedded portions forming leads extending from the contacts to the housing through the flexible polymer material, and wherein the plug is configured for insertion into a receptacle to place the contacts in communication with the receptacle and enable electronic coupling between the plug and the receptacle. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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Specification