Male plug connector

• US 8,078,224 B2
• Filed: 11/03/2009
• Issued: 12/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Fadell, Anthony M., Zadesky, Stephen Paul, Filson, John Benjamin
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, Brandon
• Application Number:
  US12/611,890
• Publication Number:
  US 20100087099A1
• Time in Patent Office: 770 Days
• Field of Search: 455/557, 455/556.1, 455/90.3, 710/64, 710/72, 710300-303, 439/218, 439/638, 439/639, 439/660, 439/49
• US Class Current: 455/557
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/00 Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72442 for playing music files
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2205/021 Aspects relating to docking-station type assemblies to obtain an acoustical effect, e.g. the type of connection to external loudspeakers or housings, frequency improvement

Abstract

A male plug connector for connecting to a corresponding receptacle connector of a media player. In one embodiment the connector comprises a housing designed to accommodate a plurality of contacts spaced apart in a single row of contact locations that are sequentially numbered from a first end to a second end. The contact locations include first, second and third ground contact locations designated for ground, the first ground contact location at the first end, the second ground contact location at the second end, and the third ground contact location between the first end and the second end; a first group of digital contact locations designated for one or more digital signals including USB contact locations interleaved with contact locations designated for non-USB digital signals, the first group of digital contact locations being disposed between the first ground contact location and the third ground contact location; and a second group of analog contact locations designated for one or more analog signals including at least one audio signal, the second group of analog contact locations being disposed between the third ground contact location and the second ground contact location.

Claims

1. A male plug connector for connecting to a corresponding receptacle connector of a media player, the male plug connector comprising:

a housing designed to accommodate 30 contacts spaced apart in a single row of sequentially numbered contact locations, wherein the sequentially numbered contact locations include;

digital contact locations 3 to 9 designated for digital signals including Firewire contact locations 3, 5, 7 and 9 designated for Firewire signals interleaved with Universal Serial Bus (USB) contact locations 4, 6 and 8 designated for USB signals;

an accessory identify contact location 10 designated for an accessory identify signal that has an associated electrical pull down to notify the media player of an accessory identification;

power contact locations 11 and 12 designated for carrying a power signal;

analog contact locations 25 to 28 designated for analog signals including audio contact locations 25, 26, 27, and 28 designated for audio signals, wherein, analog contact locations 25 to 28 are spaced apart from digital contact locations 3 to 9; and

ground contact locations 1, 16 and 30.

2. The male plug connector of claim 1 wherein the sequentially numbered contact locations further include additional ground contact locations 2, 15 and 29 designated for ground.

3. The male plug connector of claim 1 further comprising:

Firewire contacts disposed at contact locations 3, 5, 7 and 9 and appropriated for carrying the Firewire signals;

USB contacts disposed at contact locations 4, 6 and 8 appropriated for carrying the USB signals;

an accessory identify contact disposed at contact location 10 and appropriated for carrying the accessory identify signal;

power contacts disposed at locations 11 and 12 and appropriated for carrying the power signal;

audio contacts disposed at contact locations 25, 26, 27, and 28 and appropriated for carrying the audio signals; and

ground contacts disposed at contact locations 1 and 30 and appropriated for ground, wherein at least a subset of the contacts can be active when the male plug connector is connected to the corresponding receptacle connector of the media player.

4. The male plug connector of claim 3 wherein the housing is made of plastic;

wherein the contacts are made of an electrically conductive material, are disposed in a corresponding one of the sequentially numbered contact locations for the 30 contacts, and are recessed inside the housing in an off-center position; and

wherein at least one contact is made of a copper alloy.

5. The male plug connector of claim 1 wherein the housing further comprises a latch that engages and disengages and is configured to provide a locking mechanism when the plug connector mates with the corresponding receptacle connector of the media player.

6. A male plug connector for connecting to a corresponding receptacle connector of a media player, the male plug connector comprising:

a housing designed to accommodate 30 contacts spaced apart in a single row of sequentially numbered contact locations, wherein the sequentially numbered contact locations include;

digital contact locations 3 to 9 designated for digital signals including Universal Serial Bus (USB) contact locations designated for USB differential data signals interleaved with contact locations designated for digital signals other than USB differential data signals;

analog contact locations 27 and 28 designated for one or more analog signals including at least one audio signal;

ground contact locations 1 and 30 designated for ground; and

a ground contact location at least one of contact locations 15 or 16 also designated for ground;

wherein, analog contact locations 27 and 28 are spaced apart from and separated from digital contact locations 3 to 9 by at least one of ground contact locations 15 or 16.

7. The male plug connector of claim 6 wherein the sequentially numbered contact locations further include ground contact locations 2 and 29 and the other contact locations 15 or 16 designated for ground.

8. The male plug connector of claim 6 further comprising:

digital contacts disposed at contact locations 4, 6, and 8 and appropriated for carrying the USB signals; and

analog contacts disposed at contact locations 27 and 28 and appropriated for carrying the analog signals; and

ground contacts disposed at contact locations 1 and 30 and appropriated for ground, wherein at least a subset of the plurality of contacts can be active when the plug connector is connected to the corresponding receptacle connector of the media player.

9. The male plug connector of claim 6 further comprising power contacts appropriated to carry power and located at locations 11 and 12.

10. The male plug connector of claim 6 wherein the sequentially numbered contact locations further include an accessory identify contact location 10 designated for an accessory identify signal that has an associated electrical pull down function to notify the media player of an accessory identification, and serial protocol contact locations 18 and 19 designated for serial protocol signals.

11. The male plug connector of claim 6 wherein the sequentially numbered contact locations further include:

an accessory power contact location 13 designated for an accessory power signal that can receive power from the media player; and

an accessory detect contact location 20 designated for an accessory detect signal.

12. The male plug connector of claim 6 wherein the housing is made of plastic;

wherein the contacts are made of an electrically conductive material, are disposed in a corresponding one of the sequentially numbered contact locations for the 30 contacts, and are recessed inside the housing in an off-center position; and

wherein at least one contact is made of a copper alloy.

13. The male plug connector of claim 6 wherein the housing further comprises a latch that engages and disengages and is configured to provide a locking mechanism when the plug connector mates with the corresponding receptacle connector of the media player.

14. The male plug connector of claim 13 wherein the latch comprises a spring.

15. A male plug connector for connecting to a corresponding receptacle connector of a media player, the male plug connector comprising:

a housing designed to accommodate a plurality of contacts spaced apart in a single row of contact locations, wherein the contact locations are sequentially numbered from a first end to a second end, the contact locations including;

first, second and third ground contact locations designated for ground, the first ground contact location at the first end, the second ground contact location at the second end, and the third ground contact location between the first end and the second end;

a first group of digital contact locations designated for one or more digital signals including contact locations designated for Universal Serial Bus (USB) differential data signals interleaved with a contact location designated for another digital signal other than a USB differential data signal, the first group of digital contact locations being disposed between the first ground contact location and the third ground contact location, and a second group of analog contact locations designated for one or more analog signals including at least one audio signal, the second group of analog contact locations being disposed between the third ground contact location and the second ground contact location so that the first group of digital contact locations is spaced apart from and separated from the second group of analog contact locations by the third ground contact location.

16. The male plug connector of claim 15 wherein the plurality of contact locations comprises at least 30 contact locations, and wherein the first ground contact location is at contact location 1, the second ground contact location is at contact location 30, and the third ground contact location is at either contact location 15 or 16.

17. The male plug connector of claim 16 wherein the first group of digital contact locations comprises locations 3 to 9, and wherein the second group of analog contact locations comprises locations 27 and 28.

18. The male plug connector of claim 17 wherein the first group of digital contact locations includes locations 3, 5, 7 and 9 designated for Firewire signals.

19. The male plug connector of claim 17 wherein the first group of digital contact locations includes locations 4, 6, and 8 designated for USB signals.

20. The male plug connector of claim 17 further comprising a plurality of contacts made of electrically conductive material disposed at the plurality of contact locations, respectively, wherein at least a subset of the plurality of contacts can be active when the plug connector is connected to the corresponding receptacle connector of the media player.

21. The male plug connector of claim 15 further comprising one or more power contacts made of electrically conductive material disposed in one or more of contact locations 8, 11 or 12, and additional ground contact locations 2, the other at 15 or 16 and 29 designated for ground.

22. The male plug connector of claim 15 wherein the contact locations further include an accessory identify contact location 10 designated for an accessory identify signal that has an associated electrical pull down function to notify the media player of an accessory identification, and serial protocol contact locations 18 and 19 designated for serial protocol signals.

23. The male plug connector of claim 15 wherein the contact locations further include:

an accessory power contact location 13 designated for an accessory power signal that can receive power from the media player; and

an accessory detect contact location 20 designated for an accessory detect signal.

24. The male plug connector of claim 15 wherein the housing is made of plastic;

wherein the contacts are made of an electrically conductive material, are disposed in a corresponding one of the sequentially numbered contact locations, and are recessed inside the housing in an off-center position; and

wherein at least one contact is made of a copper alloy.

25. The male plug connector of claim 15 wherein the housing further comprises a latch that engages and disengages and is configured to provide a locking mechanism when the plug connector mates with the corresponding receptacle connector of the media player.

26. The male plug connector of claim 15 wherein the contact locations designated for USB signals include a location designated for a USB D+ signal and a location designated for a USB D−

signal.

27. The male plug connector of claim 26 wherein the contact location designated for another digital signal between the contact locations designated for USB signals is designated for a Firewire signal.

28. The male plug connector of claim 15 wherein the contact locations further include fourth, fifth and sixth contact locations designated for ground.

29. The male plug connector of claim 28 wherein the contact locations further include first and second power contact locations designated for charger power and an accessory power contact location designated for accessory power.

30. The male plug connector of claim 29 wherein the first and second power contact locations are dedicated for carrying power at a first power level and the accessory power contact location is designated for carrying power at a second power level lower than the first power level.

31. A male plug connector for connecting to a corresponding receptacle connector of a media player, the male plug connector comprising:

a housing designed to accommodate 30 contacts spaced apart in a single row of sequentially numbered contact locations, wherein the sequentially numbered contact locations include;

digital contact locations 3 to 8 designated for digital signals including a Universal Serial Bus (USB) contact location designated for a USB data signal and a USB contact location designated for a USB power signal, wherein a contact location designated for a digital signal other than a USB data signal is located between the USB data signal and the USB power signal;

analog contact locations 27 and 28 designated for one or more analog signals including at least one audio signal;

first and second ground contact locations 1 and 30 designated for ground; and

a third ground contact location at least one of contact locations 15 or 16 also designated for ground;

wherein, analog contact locations 27 and 28 are spaced apart from and separated from digital contact locations 3 to 9 by the third ground contact locations.

32. The male plug connector of claim 31 wherein the contact locations further include a fourth ground contact location at the other of locations 15 or 16 and a fifth ground contact location at location 2.

33. A male plug connector for connecting to a corresponding receptacle connector of a media player, the male plug connector comprising:

a housing designed to accommodate 30 contacts spaced apart spaced apart in a single row of sequentially numbered contact locations, the sequentially numbered contact locations include;

first, second and third ground contact locations designated for ground, the first ground contact location being disposed at contact location 1, the second ground contact location being disposed at contact location 30 and the third ground contact location being disposed at one of contact locations 15 or 16 between contact locations 1 and 30;

a group of digital contact locations designated for one or more digital signals including universal serial bus (USB) signals, the group of digital contact locations being disposed between the first and third ground contact locations;

a group of analog contact locations designated for one or more analog signals including an audio left signal and an audio right signal, the group of analog contact locations being disposed between the second and third ground contact locations; and

a group of power contact locations designated for one or more power signals including USB power, accessory power and charger input power, the group of power contact locations being disposed between the first and third ground contact locations.

34. The docking station of claim 33 wherein the sequentially numbered contact locations further include fourth and fifth ground contact locations designated for ground, the fourth ground contact location being disposed at contact location 2 and the fifth ground contact location being disposed adjacent to the third ground contact location at the other of contact locations 15 or 16.

35. The docking station of claim 34 wherein the group of analog contact locations includes an audio out left contact location at contact location 27 and an audio out right contact location at contact location 28.

36. The docking station of claim 34 wherein contact location 8 is designated for a USB power signal.

37. The docking station of claim 34 wherein the contact locations further include an accessory identify contact location designated for an accessory identify signal that has an associated electrical pull down function to notify the media player of an accessory identification, the accessory identify contact location being located between the first and third ground contact locations.

38. The docking station of claim 34 wherein the contact locations further include an accessory detect contact location designated for an accessory detect signal.

39. The docking station of claim 34 wherein the contact locations further include first and second serial protocol contact locations designated for serial protocol signals.