Three contact barrel power connector assembly

• US 6,869,316 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2002
• Issued: 03/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP A Texas Limited Partnership
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Hinkle, Mark M., Muenzer, Christopher H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zarroli, Michael C.
• Application Number:
  US10/185,106
• Publication Number:
  US 20040002266A1
• Time in Patent Office: 999 Days
• Field of Search: 439/675, 439/63, 439/394, 439/578, 439625-626, 439/660, 385 76- 77
• US Class Current: 439/675
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2105/00 Three poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2107/00 Four or more poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/38 having concentrically or coaxially arranged contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/58 Contacts spaced along longitudinal axis of engagement

Abstract

A three contact barrel power connector assembly is provided. The power connector assembly includes both a connector plug and a connector jack. The connector plug includes an inner body and an outer body transmitting electrical current. The connector plug further includes a center body that transmits a data signal or a low power current. The connector jack includes a housing ground, a housing body, outer contacts that couple with the outer body, inner contacts that couple with the inner body, and a center contact that couples with the center body. The power connector assembly further includes insulators operable to prevent unwanted electrical contact between the connector plug and the connector jack. The connector plug is operable to couple with the connector jack independent of the orientation of the connector plug with respect to the connector jack, provide high levels of power, and effectively transmit data signals in addition to power.

Claims

1. An orientationless connector plug assembly comprising:

an outer body having an outer barrel cylindrical shape operable to transmit an electrical current;

an inner body having an inner barrel cylindrical shape and secured coaxially and in alignment with the outer body, the inner body operable to transmit an electrical current;

a center body comprising a center barrel disposed coaxially within the outer body and the inner body, the center body operable to transmit a data signal;

one or more insulators disposed coaxially with the outer body, the inner body, and the center body, the one or more insulators operable to prevent the transmission of an electrical current and a data signal between the outer body, the inner body, and the center body; and

wherein the connector plug assembly is operable to couple with a connector jack assembly independent of the orientation of the connector plug assembly in relation to the orientation of the connector jack assembly.

2. The connector plug assembly of claim 1 wherein the center body comprises a center pin.

3. The connector plug assembly of claim 1 wherein the data transmitted by the center body comprises identification information.

4. The connector plug assembly of claim 1 wherein one of the insulators comprises an insulating barrel disposed between the outer body and the inner body, the insulating barrel operable to isolate the outer body from the inner body to prevent electrical contact between the outer body and the inner body.

5. The connector plug assembly of claim 1 further comprising an overmold disposed proximate a second end of the connector jack assembly and operably coupled to an electrical cable.

6. The connector plug assembly of claim 1 further comprising the outer body, the inner body, and the center body each operably coupled to an electrical cable.

7. The connector plug assembly of claim 1 wherein the center body is further operable to transmit a low power current.

8. An orientationless connector plug assembly comprising:

an outer body having an outer barrel cylindrical shape operable to transmit an electrical current;

an inner body having an inner barrel cylindrical shape and secured coaxially and in alignment with the outer body, the inner body operable to transmit an electrical current;

a center body comprising a center barrel disposed coaxially within the outer body and the inner body, the center body operable to transmit a data signal;

one or more insulators disposed coaxially with the outer body, the inner body, and the center body, the one or more insulators operable to prevent the transmission of an electrical current and a data signal between the outer body, the inner body, and the center body;

wherein the connector plug assembly is operable to couple with a connector jack assembly independent of the orientation of the connector plug assembly in relation to the orientation of the connector jack assembly; and

wherein one of the insulators comprises an insulating center barrel disposed between the outer and inner bodies and the center barrel, the insulating center barrel operable to prevent electrical contact between the outer and inner bodies and the center barrel.

9. An orientationless connector plug assembly comprising:

an outer body having an outer barrel cylindrical shape operable to transmit an electrical current;

an inner body having an inner barrel cylindrical shape and secured coaxially and in alignment with the outer body, the inner body operable to transmit an electrical current;

a center body comprising a center barrel disposed coaxially within the outer body and the inner body, the center body operable to transmit a data signal;

one or more insulators disposed coaxially with the outer body, the inner body, and the center body, the one or more insulators operable to prevent the transmission of an electrical current and a data signal between the outer body, the inner body, and the center body; and

wherein the connector plug assembly is operable to couple with a connector jack assembly independent of the orientation of the connector plug assembly in relation to the orientation of the connector jack assembly; and

wherein one of the insulators comprises an insulating tip disposed proximate a first end of the connector plug assembly, the insulating tip operable to insulate the connector plug assembly from the connector jack assembly.

10. An orientationless connector jack assembly comprising:

a connector housing operable to provide grounding for the connector jack assembly;

a connector body disposed within the connector housing and having a shape operable for mating with a connector plug assembly, the connector body including a mating aperture and a plurality of contact apertures and operable to provide insulation;

at least one inner contact disposed in at least one of the contact apertures and extending into the mating aperture, the inner contact operable to receive and transmit an electrical current;

at least one outer contact disposed in at least one of the contact apertures and extending into the mating aperture, the outer contact protruding operable to receive and transmit an electrical current;

a center contact disposed within one of the contact apertures and extending into the mating aperture, the center contact operable to receive and transmit a data signal; and

wherein the connector jack assembly is operable to couple with the connector plug assembly independent of the orientation of the connector plug assembly.

11. The connector jack assembly of claim 10 wherein the connector body includes:

an inner cylindrical body operable to couple with an inner body of the connector plug assembly; and

a center aperture operable to receive a center pin thereby allowing the center pin to operably couple with the center contact.

12. The connector jack assembly of claim 10 wherein the center contact comprises a center contact pin operable to couple with a center barrel.

13. The connector jack assembly of claim 10 further comprising a printed circuit board including a pin connector layout and a plurality of pin connectors, the printed circuit board operably coupled to the connector jack assembly.

14. The connector jack assembly of claim 13 wherein the pin connectors include at least one center pin connector coupled to the printed circuit board and the center contact.

15. The connector jack assembly of claim 13 wherein the pin connectors include at least one outer pin connector coupled to the printed circuit board and the outer contacts.

16. The connector jack assembly of claim 13 wherein the pin connectors include at least one inner pin connector coupled to the printed circuit board and the inner contacts.

17. The connector jack assembly of claim 13 wherein the pin connectors include at least one ground pin connector coupled to the printed circuit board and the connector housing.