Female receptacle connector

• US 8,165,634 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2011
• Issued: 04/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Fadell, Anthony M., Zedesky, Stephen Paul, Filson, John Benjamin
• Primary Examiner(s): MILLER, BRANDON J
• Application Number:
  US13/042,272
• Publication Number:
  US 20110151724A1
• Time in Patent Office: 414 Days
• Field of Search: 439/218, 439/638, 439/660, 710/64, 710/72, 710/300, 455/557, 455/90.3, 455/556.1, 455/559
• 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 media player system is disclosed. One aspect of the media player system pertains to a docking station that allows a media player to communicate with other media devices. Another aspect of the media player system pertains to a hand held music player that includes a transmitter for transmitting information over a wireless connection. Yet another aspect of the media player system pertains to a connector that includes a housing and a plurality of spatially separated contacts mounted within the housing. A first set of contacts are directed at a first functionality and a second set of contacts are directed at a second functionality that is different than the first functionality.

Claims

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

a housing designed to accommodate thirty contacts within the housing spaced apart in sequentially numbered contact locations,

wherein the sequentially numbered contact locations include;

first, second and third ground contact locations 2, 16 and 29, respectively, designated for ground, a USB power contact location designated for a USB power signal, first and second digital USB contact locations designated for USB differential data signals interleaved around a contact location designated for another digital signal other than a USB differential data signal, analog contact locations designated for left and right audio out signals, a fourth ground contact location designated for ground between contact locations 2 and 16, wherein the analog contact locations are separated from the first and second digital USB contact locations by the fourth ground contact location and wherein the first and second digital USB contact locations are located between the first ground contact location and the fourth ground contact location.

2. The female receptacle connector set forth in claim 1 wherein the sequentially numbered contact locations further include fifth and sixth ground contact locations.

3. The female receptacle connector set forth in claim 1 wherein the sequentially numbered contact locations further include an accessory power contact location designated for an accessory power out signal provided at a first power level, and first and second power contact locations designated to receive power at a second power level that is higher than the first power level.

4. The female receptacle connector set forth in claim 3 wherein the first power level is 3.3 volts.

5. The female receptacle connector set forth in claim 1 wherein the sequentially numbered contact locations further include a contact location 20 for a signal that can be used to detect if an accessory is connected to the receptacle connector.

6. The female receptacle connector set forth in claim 1 wherein the contact location for another digital signal between the first and second digital USB contact locations is a Firewire contact location for a Firewire data signal.

7. The female receptacle connector set forth in claim 1 wherein the thirty sequential contact locations are spaced apart along a single row.

8. A female receptacle connector for connecting to a corresponding male plug connector, the female receptacle connector comprising:

a housing designed to accommodate thirty contacts within the housing spaced apart in one or more rows of contact locations 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 contact location 2 near the first end of the connector, the second ground contact location at contact location 29 near the second end of the connector, and the third ground contact location between the first and second ground contact locations;

a first group of digital contact locations including first and second USB contact locations designated for USB differential data signals and a contact location designated for a digital signal other than a USB differential data signal at a contact location between the first and second USB contact locations, the first group of digital contact locations located 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 left and right audio out signals, the second group of analog contact locations located between the second ground contact location and the third ground contact location.

9. The female receptacle connector set forth in claim 8 wherein the sequentially numbered contact locations further include first and second serial communication contact locations designated for transmitting and receiving digital signals between an accessory device using a serial protocol and located between the second ground contact location and the third ground contact location.

10. The female receptacle connector set forth in claim 8 wherein the sequentially numbered contact locations further include an accessory identify contact location.

11. The female receptacle connector set forth in claim 8 wherein the sequentially numbered contact locations further include fifth and sixth ground contact locations.

12. The female receptacle connector set forth in claim 11 wherein the sequentially numbered contact locations further include an accessory power contact location to provide power out at a first power level, and first and second power contact locations to receive power in at a second power level that is higher than the first power level.

13. The female receptacle connector set forth in claim 12 wherein the first power level is 3.3 volts.

14. The female receptacle connector set forth in claim 12 wherein the contact location for another digital signal between the first and second digital USB contact locations is a Firewire contact location designated for a Firewire data signal.

15. The female receptacle connector set forth in claim 8 wherein the thirty sequential contact locations are spaced apart along a single row.

16. A female receptacle connector for connecting to a corresponding male plug connector, the female receptacle connector comprising:

a housing designed to accommodate thirty contacts within the housing spaced apart in one or more rows of contact locations 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 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.

17. The female receptacle connector set forth in claim 16 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 second ground contact location at the other of contact locations 15 or 16.

18. The female receptacle connector set forth in claim 16 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.

19. The female receptacle connector set forth in claim 18 wherein contact location 8 is designated for a USB power signal.

20. The female receptacle connector set forth in claim 16 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.

21. The female receptacle connector set forth in claim 20 wherein the contact locations further include an accessory detect contact location designated for an accessory detect signal.

22. The female receptacle connector set forth in claim 16 wherein the contact locations further include first and second serial protocol contact locations designated for serial protocol signals.