Durable connector receptacles

• US 9,991,640 B2
• Filed: 04/09/2015
• Issued: 06/05/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Tziviskos, George, Lee, Jae Hwang, Amini, Mahmoud R., Hack, Paul J., Gao, Zheng, Zhou, Rui
• Primary Examiner(s): Riyami, Abdullah
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kratt, Justin
• Application Number:
  US14/683,134
• Publication Number:
  US 20150295362A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,153 Days
• Field of Search: 439660, 4396074, 43960735, 43960736, 439676
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/71 for rigid printing circuits or like structures
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/724 containing contact members forming a right angle
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/405 Securing in non-demountable manner, e.g. moulding, riveting
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/504 different pieces being moulded, cemented, welded, e.g. ultrasonic, or swaged together
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6466 on substrates, e.g. printed circuit boards [PCB]
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6581 Shield structure
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6582 with resilient means for engaging mating connector
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6585 Shielding material individually surrounding or interposed between mutually spaced contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6587 for mounting on PCBs
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6593 the shield being composed of different pieces
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6594 the shield being mounted on a PCB and connected to conductive members
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6596 the conductive member being a metal grounding panel
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2107/00 Four or more poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/00 Two-part coupling devices, or either of their cooperating parts, characterised by their overall structure contact members H01R13/02; securing contact members in or to a base or case or insulating of contact members H01R13/40; bases or cases H01R13/46; means for supporting coupling part when not engaged H01R13/60; means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts or for holding them in engagement H01R13/62; means for preventing, inhibiting or avoiding incorrect coupling H01R13/64
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/30 with additional earth or shield contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/60 Contacts spaced along planar side wall transverse to longitudinal axis of engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/62 Sliding engagements with one side only, e.g. modular jack coupling devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/64 for high frequency, e.g. RJ 45
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/78 with additional earth or shield contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/0221 Laser welding H01R43/0228 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/24 : Assembling by moulding on contact members

Abstract

Connector receptacles that are able to withstand insertion and other forces, are reliable, and are easy to manufacture. In various examples, the connector receptacle tongue or other portions may be reinforced such that they may withstand the insertion forces exerted through a connector insert.

Claims

1. A connector receptacle comprising:

a tongue having a top and a bottom, the tongue comprising;

a metallic piece, the metallic piece comprising;

side portions to form sides of the tongue, the sides between the top and bottom of the tongue;

a front cross-brace between and joining the side portions and near a front of the tongue; and

a first rear cross-brace on the top of the tongue and a second rear cross-brace on the bottom of the tongue and below the first rear cross-brace, the first rear cross-brace and the second rear cross-brace near a rear of the tongue and joining the side portions, wherein the first and second rear cross-braces are formed with the side portions and the front cross-brace as a single piece;

a nonconductive insert portion in the metallic piece and around the front cross-brace; and

a plurality of signal contacts on the nonconductive insert portion, the signal contacts having contacting portions between the first and second rear cross-braces and the front of the tongue.

2. The connector receptacle of claim 1 wherein outside, top, and bottom surfaces of the side portions of the metallic piece are exposed.

3. The connector receptacle of claim 2 further comprising a molding over the nonconductive insert portion and front cross-brace.

4. The connector receptacle of claim 1 wherein inner sides of the side portions each have a groove and the nonconductive insert portion is arranged to slide along the groves when the nonconductive insert portion is inserted into the metallic piece during assembly.

5. The connector receptacle of claim 1 wherein the metallic piece is formed using metal-injection molding.

6. The connector receptacle of claim 1 further comprising a first ground contact on the top of the tongue and contacting the first rear cross-brace and a second ground contact on the bottom of the tongue and contacting the second rear cross-brace.

7. The connector receptacle of claim 6 wherein the nonconductive insert portion is formed of injection-molded plastic.

8. The connector receptacle of claim 6 wherein the plurality of signal contacts comprises a first set of signal contacts between the first ground contact and the front of the tongue and a second set of signal contacts between the second ground contact and the front of the tongue.

9. The connector receptacle of claim 8 wherein the side portions are notched to engage a side ground contact on a connector insert when the connector insert is inserted into the connector receptacle.

10. The connector receptacle of claim 1 further comprising a central ground plane in a center of the tongue.

11. A connector receptacle comprising:

a connecting portion;

a tongue extending from the connecting portion and comprising;

a metallic piece, the metallic piece comprising;

side portions extending from the connecting portion to form sides of the tongue; and

a cross-brace between the side portions; and

a first ground contact on a top of the tongue and a second ground contact on a bottom of the tongue, the first ground contact and the second ground contact extending from the connecting portion;

a nonconductive insert portion in the metallic piece;

a plurality of signal contacts on the nonconductive insert portion, the signal contacts having contacting portions between the first and second ground contacts and a front of the tongue; and

a molding over the nonconductive insert portion and the cross-brace.

12. The connector receptacle of claim 11 wherein the top and outside surfaces of the side portions of the metallic piece are exposed to form additional ground contacts on a top and bottom of the tongue.

13. The connector receptacle of claim 12 wherein the side portions and the cross-brace of the metallic piece formed as a single piece.

14. The connector receptacle of claim 11 wherein inner sides of the side portions each have a groove and the nonconductive insert portion is arranged to slide along the groves when the nonconductive insert portion is inserted into the metallic piece during assembly.

15. The connector receptacle of claim 14 wherein the metallic piece is formed using metal-injection molding.

16. The connector receptacle of claim 11 wherein the molding is formed of injection-molded plastic.

17. The connector receptacle of claim 16 further comprising a central ground plane in a center of the tongue.

18. A connector receptacle comprising:

a tongue comprising;

a metallic piece, the metallic piece comprising;

side portions forming side ground contacts along sides the tongue;

a front cross-brace along a front of the tongue and joining the side portions; and

a first rear cross-brace on a top of the tongue and a second rear cross-brace on a bottom of the tongue and below the first rear cross-brace, the first rear cross-brace and the second rear cross-brace near a rear of the tongue and joining the side portions, wherein the first and second rear cross-braces are formed with the side portions and the front cross-brace as a single piece;

a nonconductive insert portion in the metallic piece;

a plurality of signal contacts on a top and a bottom of the nonconductive insert portion;

a first ground contact on a rear portion of the top of the tongue; and

a second ground contact on a rear portion of the bottom of the tongue.

19. The connector receptacle of claim 18 further comprising a molding over the nonconductive insert portion and the front cross-brace.

20. The connector receptacle of claim 18 further comprising a central ground plane in a center of the tongue.