Connector insert having a cable crimp portion with protrusions and a receptacle having a label in the front

• US 9,660,376 B2
• Filed: 05/18/2015
• Issued: 05/23/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Ligtenberg, Chris, Pong, Joshua J., Gao, Zheng, Andre, Bartley K., Kim, Min Chul, DiFonzo, John, Hamel, Bradley J., Springer, Greg, Narajowski, Dave, Monsef, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Prasad, Chandrika
• Application Number:
  US14/714,348
• Publication Number:
  US 20150357751A1
• Time in Patent Office: 736 Days
• Field of Search: 439 38- 40, 439 45, 439129, 439700, 439824, 439939
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/57 surface mounting terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/508 assembled by a separate clip or spring
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5808 formed by a metallic element crimped around the cable H01R4/185 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/582 the cable being clamped between assembled parts of the housing
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6205 Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6471 by special arrangement of ground and signal conductors, e.g. GSGS [Ground-Signal-Ground-Signal]
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/658 High frequency shielding arrangements, e.g. against EMI [Electro-Magnetic Interference] or EMP [Electro-Magnetic Pulse] coaxial coupling devices specially adapted for high frequency H01R24/40; for flat or ribbon cable connectors H01R12/774; for coaxial cable H01R9/05
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6592 the conductive member being a shielded cable
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/665 with built-in electronic circuit H01R13/70, H01R13/719 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6658 on printed circuit board H01R13/6666 - H01R13/6691 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7172 Conduits for light transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7175 Light emitting diodes (LEDs)
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/18 by crimping H01R4/01, H01R4/2495 take precedence; for coaxial cables H01R9/0518
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/048 Crimping apparatus or processes H01R43/042 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/205 with a panel or printed circuit board
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49204 Contact or terminal manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4922 with molding of insulation

Abstract

A magnetic connector system having a durable and reliable construction and a reduced height while maintaining sufficient holding strength. A connector insert may utilize a crimping piece to crimp a braiding of a cable. The crimping piece may be fixed to an attraction plate and a board in the insert for mechanical reliability. Retention clips may be used to fix a shell to the attraction plate. A connector receptacle may employ a magnetically conductive label to improve holding strength.

Claims

1. A connector insert comprising:

an insulative housing having a number of passages;

a plurality of contacts, each having tail portions and located in a corresponding passage in the insulative housing;

a printed circuit board having a first plurality of circuit board contacts along a front edge, each soldered to a tail portion of a corresponding contact in the plurality of contacts;

an attraction plate having an opening to allow access to the plurality of contacts;

a crimping portion crimped over an end of a cable and having a plurality of protrusions, wherein the plurality of protrusions are attached to a back of the attraction plate and the crimping portion is soldered to a printed circuit board contact at a rear of the printed circuit board;

a plurality of retention clips on sides of the attraction plate; and

a shell having a cutout portion to accept the retention clips.

2. The connector insert of claim 1 further comprising:

a first light-emitting diode attached to the printed circuit board; and

a light pipe attached to the printed circuit board, wherein the light pipe is angled to pass above the first light-emitting diode, and further angled to pass light to an opening in the shell.

3. The connector insert of claim 2 further comprising:

a second light-emitting diode attached to the printed circuit board, wherein the light pipe is angled to pass above the first light-emitting diode and the second light-emitting diode.

4. The connector insert of claim 1 wherein the crimping portion further comprises a plurality of fingers, wherein the plurality of fingers extend in a first direction along a length of the cable and are soldered to contacts at a rear of the printed circuit board.

5. The connector insert of claim 4 wherein the plurality of protrusions extend along a second direction orthogonal to the first direction.

6. The connector insert of claim 1 further comprising:

a strain relief partially covered by the shell, and extending behind the shell and around the cable.

7. The connector insert of claim 1 wherein the crimping portion further comprises a plurality of fingers, wherein the plurality of fingers are attached to the printed circuit board.

8. The connector insert of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of contacts are spring biased.

9. The connector insert of claim 1 wherein a rear edge of the printed circuit board has a U-shaped cutout, the rear edge of the printed circuit board further having first and second printed circuit board contacts on facing sides of the U-shaped cutout and a third printed circuit board contact between the first and second printed circuit board contacts, wherein the crimping portion is soldered to the first and second printed circuit board contacts.

10. The connector insert of claim 9 wherein a central conductor of the cable is soldered to the third printed circuit board contact.

11. A connector insert comprising:

a printed circuit board having a front edge comprising a first plurality of printed circuit board contacts and a rear edge having a U-shaped cutout, the rear edge having first and second printed circuit board contacts on facing sides of the U-shaped cutout and a third printed circuit board contact between the first and second printed circuit board contacts;

an attraction plate;

an insulative housing partly located in the attraction plate and having a number of passages;

a plurality of contacts, each having tail portions and located in a corresponding passage in the insulative housing, the tail portions soldered to corresponding printed circuit board contacts in the first plurality of printed circuit board contacts at the front edge of the printed circuit board;

a crimping portion around an end of a cable and having protrusions extending on each of two sides of the crimping portion, the protrusions attached to a back of the attraction plate, the crimping portion soldered to the first and second printed circuit board contacts; and

a shell around the printed circuit board and rear of the attraction plate.

12. The connector insert of claim 11 wherein a central conductor of the cable is soldered to the third printed circuit board contact.

13. The connector insert of claim 12 further comprising:

a strain relief having a wide portion inside the shell and extending behind the shell and around the cable.

14. The connector insert of claim 13 further comprising:

a first light-emitting diode attached to the printed circuit board; and

a light pipe attached to the printed circuit board, wherein the light pipe is angled to pass above the first light-emitting diode, and further angled to pass light to an opening in the shell.

16. The connector insert of claim 11 wherein the crimping portion further comprises a plurality of fingers, wherein the plurality of fingers extend in a first direction along a length of the cable and are soldered to contacts at a rear of the printed circuit board, wherein the plurality of protrusions extend along a second direction orthogonal to the first direction.

17. The connector insert of claim 11 wherein the plurality of contacts are spring biased.

15. The connector insert of 14 further comprising:

a second light-emitting diode attached to the printed circuit board, wherein the light pipe is angled to pass above the first light-emitting diode and the second light-emitting diode.

18. A connector receptacle comprising:

a plurality of contacts, each having a ninety degree bend;

a first housing having first passages for a plurality of contacts, the first passages oriented in a mating direction of the connector receptacle;

a second housing behind the first housing and having second passages for the plurality of contacts, the second passages oriented in a direction orthogonal to the mating direction of the connector receptacle;

a plurality of magnets, the plurality of magnets positioned around the first housing and in front of the second housing;

a shield around magnets and second housing; and

a label over the plurality of magnets, wherein the label is formed of a magnetically conductive material, the label having an opening, a front portion of the first housing extending in front of the label.

19. The connector receptacle of claim 18 wherein the plurality of magnets comprises four magnets, two in each of two rows, and arranged to have alternating polarities in and between rows.

20. The connector receptacle of claim 18 wherein the second housing includes a tab to be inserted in a notch in a device enclosure.

21. The connector receptacle of claim 18 wherein the plurality of magnets comprises three magnets arranged to have alternating polarities, wherein a middle magnet includes a passage for the first housing.

22. The connector receptacle of claim 18 wherein the label is attached to the shield.