CONNECTOR AND SYSTEM FOR CONNECTORS

• US 20110081790A1
• Filed: 10/02/2009
• Published: 04/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: KUDRNA, Paul John, FINNEY, Benjamin Michael, THRIEN, Markus
• Granted Patent: US 8,029,300 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/55
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6658 on printed circuit board H01R13/6666 - H01R13/6691 take precedence

Abstract

A connector and a system for connectors of a mobile device wherein the connector is angled, that is, wherein the connector includes an external interface for receiving an external connection and an internal interface configured for connection to a printed circuit board, wherein the internal interface is connected to the external interface and the internal interface is at a predetermined angle with respect to the external interface. In a mobile device, the external interface is at an angle to a main printed circuit board of the mobile device.

Claims

1. A connector for a mobile device, the connector comprising:

an external interface for receiving an external connection; and

an internal interface configured for connection to a printed circuit board;

wherein the internal interface is connected to the external interface and the internal interface is at a predetermined angle with respect to the external interface.

2. A connector according to claim 1, wherein the connector comprises a removable card connector and the external interface comprises a card slot.

3. A connector according to claim 1, wherein the connector comprises a USB connector and the external interface comprises a USB port.

4. A connector according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined angle is measured between a plane perpendicular to the external interface and a plane parallel to the internal interface and is between approximately 5 and 85 degrees.

5. A connector according to claim 4, wherein the predetermined angle is between approximately 15 and 30 degrees.

6. A connector according to claim 1, wherein the external interface is provided by a conventional connector and the internal interface is provided by a daughter printed circuit board connected to the conventional connector.

7. A mobile device comprising a main printed circuit board and a connector for receiving an external connection, the connector comprising:

an external interface for receiving the external connection; and

an internal interface configured for connection to the main printed circuit board,

wherein the internal interface is connected to the external interface and the external interface is at a predetermined angle with respect to the main printed circuit board.

8. A mobile device according to claim 7, wherein the predetermined angle is measured between a plane perpendicular to the external interface and a plane parallel to the main printed circuit board and the predetermined angle is between approximately 5 and 85 degrees.

9. A mobile device according to claim 8, wherein the predetermined angle is between approximately 15 and 30 degrees.

10. A mobile device according to claim 7, wherein the external interface is provided by a conventional connector and the internal interface is provided by a daughter board connected to the conventional connector.

11. A mobile device according to claim 7, wherein the mobile device further comprises a battery door and wherein the external interface is covered by the battery door when the battery door is in a closed position.

12. A mobile device according to claim 11, wherein the external interface is accessible via the battery door without removing a battery from the mobile device.

13. A mobile device according to claim 11, wherein the external interface is accessible via the battery door by partially opening the battery door.

14. A mobile device according to claim 7, wherein the connector is positioned on the main printed circuit board such that the external interface of the connector is provided parallel to an exterior wall of the mobile device.

15. A mobile device according to claim 7, wherein the mobile device further comprises a battery compartment and wherein the connector is configured such that, and the predetermined angle is selected such that, a normal distance from the main printed circuit board to a furthest extent of the connector is about the same as the normal distance from the main printed circuit board to a furthest extent of the battery compartment.

16. A mobile device according to claim 7, wherein the mobile device further comprises a battery compartment and wherein the connector comprises a card connector for receiving a removable card, the card connector configured such that, and the predetermined angle is selected such that, a normal distance from the main printed circuit board to a furthest extent of the removable card is about the same as the normal distance from the main printed circuit board to a furthest extent of the battery compartment.

17. A system for a connector for a mobile device, the system comprising:

a connector comprising;

an external interface for receiving an external connection; and

an internal interface configured for connection to a printed circuit board of the mobile device;

wherein the internal interface is connected to the external interface and the internal interface is at a predetermined angle with respect to the external interface;

a battery compartment; and

a battery cover configured to cover the external interface of the connector and the battery compartment, the cover configured such that moving the cover to a first position provides access to the external interface of the connector and moving the cover to a second position provides access to both the external interface and the battery.

18. A system according to claim 17, wherein the connector comprises a card connector for receiving a removable card, the card connector configured such that, and the predetermined angle is selected such that, a normal distance from the printed circuit board to a furthest extent of the removable card, when inserted, is about the same as the normal distance from the printed circuit board to a furthest extent of the battery compartment.

19. A system according to claim 17, wherein the predetermined angle is measured between a plane perpendicular to the external interface and a plane parallel to the printed circuit board and the predetermined angle is between approximately 5 and 85 degrees.

20. A system according to claim 18, wherein the predetermined angle is between approximately 15 and 30 degrees.