Low-profile plug with cam and flexible circuit board

• US 9,357,654 B2
• Filed: 03/03/2014
• Issued: 05/31/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Ng, Nathan, Yuan, Paul, Kim, Min Chul
• Primary Examiner(s): Riyami, Abdullah
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, THANG H
• Application Number:
  US14/195,823
• Publication Number:
  US 20150249297A1
• Time in Patent Office: 820 Days
• Field of Search: 439/492, 439/496, 439/483, 439/484, 439/67
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/62 Sliding engagements with one side only, e.g. modular jack coupling devices
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/189 characterised by the use of a flexible or folded printed circuit H05K3/326 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/056 Folded around rigid support or component
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10189 Non-printed connector
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/303 Surface mounted components, e.g. affixing before soldering, aligning means, spacing means H05K3/32 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4913 Assembling to base an electrical component, e.g., capacitor, etc.

Abstract

A cable assembly including a connector insert to fit in a connector receptacle in an electronic device, where a back surface of the connector insert is substantially flush with an outside of an enclosure for the electronic device. One example may provide a cable assembly that includes a connector insert formed by wrapping a flexible circuit board at least partially around a housing. The flexible circuit board may be routed against an underside of the electronic device such that it does not obstruct a user, consume space in a display area, or have an undesirable appearance.

Claims

1. A connector insert comprising:

a housing having a first recess;

a flexible circuit board at least partially wrapped around the housing;

an integrated circuit coupled to the flexible circuit board and located in the first recess; and

a plurality of contacts formed on the flexible circuit board and arranged to mate with a plurality of contacts in a receptacle of an electronic device.

2. The connector insert of claim 1 wherein the housing is metallic.

3. The connector insert of claim 1 wherein the plurality of contacts are located on a first end portion of the flexible circuit board, the housing further has a second recess, and the first end portion of the flexible circuit board is located in the second recess.

4. The connector insert of claim 1 further comprising a pull tab attached to the flexible circuit board.

5. The connector insert of claim 1 further comprising a pull tab attached to the connector insert.

6. A connector insert comprising:

a housing having a first recess and a second recess;

a flexible circuit board at least partially wrapped around the housing;

a component attached to the flexible circuit board and located in the first recess; and

a plurality of contacts located on a first end portion of the flexible circuit board and arranged to mate with a plurality of contacts in a receptacle of an electronic device, wherein the first end portion of the flexible circuit board is located in the second recess.

7. The connector insert of claim 6 wherein the component attached to the flexible circuit board comprises an integrated circuit.

8. The connector insert of claim 6 further comprising a pull tab attached to the flexible circuit board.

9. A method of manufacturing a connector insert comprising:

forming a plurality of contacts on a first side at a first end portion of a flexible circuit board, the plurality of contacts arranged to mate with a plurality of contacts in a receptacle of an electronic device;

attaching a first component to a second side of a flexible circuit board;

aligning a housing over the first component such that the first component fits in a first recess of the housing;

at least partially wrapping the flexible circuit board around the housing; and

fitting the first end portion of the flexible circuit board in a second recess in the housing.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

attaching a pull tab to the first side of the flexible circuit board.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the housing is metallic.

12. A cable assembly including a connector insert arranged to have a low-profile when inserted into an electronic device, the cable assembly comprising:

a housing having a first recess, the housing formed to fit in a receptacle in the electronic device and having a back surface arranged to be substantially flush with an outside surface of an enclosure for the electronic device;

a flexible cable at least partially wrapped around the housing; and

a plurality of contacts formed on a first end portion of the flexible cable and arranged to mate with a plurality of contacts in the receptacle, the first end portion located in the first receptacle.

13. The cable assembly of claim 12 wherein the housing is metallic.

14. The cable assembly of claim 12 wherein the housing comprises a second recess, and wherein an integrated circuit is attached to the flexible cable and is located in the first recess.

15. The cable assembly of claim 12 further comprising a pull tab attached to the flexible cable.

16. The cable assembly of claim 12 further comprising a pull tab attached to the connector insert.

17. The cable assembly of claim 12 wherein the flexible cable is a flexible circuit board.

18. A cable assembly including a connector insert arranged to have a low-profile when inserted into an electronic device, the cable assembly comprising:

a housing having a first recess, the housing formed to fit in a receptacle in the electronic device and having a back surface arranged to be substantially flush with an outside surface of an enclosure for the electronic device;

a flexible circuit board at least partially wrapped around the housing;

an integrated circuit attached to the flexible circuit board and located in the first recess; and

a plurality of contacts formed on the flexible circuit board and arranged to mate with a plurality of contacts in the receptacle.

19. The cable assembly of claim 18 wherein the plurality of contacts are located on a first end portion of the flexible circuit board.

20. The cable assembly of claim 19 wherein the housing includes a second recess and the first end portion of the flexible circuit board is located in the second recess.

21. The cable assembly of claim 20 further comprising a pull tab attached to the flexible circuit board.