Low profile connector system

• US 8,353,729 B2
• Filed: 02/18/2010
• Issued: 01/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Dabov, Teo, Frazier, Cameron
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, THANH TAM T
• Application Number:
  US12/708,468
• Publication Number:
  US 20110201213A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,062 Days
• Field of Search: 439/95, 439/101, 439/188, 439/607.43, 439/668, 439/669, 439/939
• US Class Current: 439/668
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2105/00 Three poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/58 Contacts spaced along longitudinal axis of engagement

Abstract

A low profile connector system. In one set of embodiments, a low profile plug receptacle is provided that is thinner than a standard plug receptacle, thereby allowing the plug receptacle to be incorporated in small form factor (e.g., very thin) electronic devices while maintaining compatibility with standard plug connectors. In another set of embodiments, different types of custom plug connectors are provided that can improve the aesthetics of an electronic device housing the low profile plug receptacle when the custom plug connector is attached. In another set of embodiments, features are provided for preventing a plug connector from unintentionally falling out of, or coming loose from, the low profile plug receptacle and/or preventing a plug connector from rotating within the receptacle.

Claims

1. An electronic device-comprising:

a device housing that defines a shape and size of the electronic device;

a processor positioned within the device housing; and

an audio receptacle connector having an interior, longitudinal passage configured to receive a plug of a plug connector within the device housing the longitudinal passage opening to a first, partially circular opening at a first exterior surface of the device housing-and to a second, elongated opening at a second exterior surface of the device housing, wherein the second opening intersects the first opening and extends perpendicularly into the longitudinal passage, and wherein the width of the second opening is equal to the width of the first opening where the first and second openings intersect.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the width of the first opening and the width of the second opening is approximately 3.5 millimeters.

3. The electronic device-of claim 1 wherein the width of the first opening and the width of the second opening is less than 3.5 millimeters.

4. The electronic device-of claim 1 wherein the height of the first opening is less than 3.5 millimeters.

5. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein when the plug of the plug connector is inserted into the interior, longitudinal passage, the plug extends at least partially through the second opening.

6. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein a thickness of the electronic device is less than 5 millimeters.

7. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the audio receptacle connector further comprises a magnet configured to attract a ferrous attractor coupled to the plug connector, thereby holding the plug connector in place when the plug is inserted into the interior, longitudinal passage.

8. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the audio receptacle connector includes one or more cutouts along an interior surface of the longitudinal passage that are configured to receive one or more projections extending from the plug, thereby preventing the plug connector from rotating when the plug is inserted into the longitudinal passage.

9. A portable electronic device comprising:

a storage device configured to store media assets;

a processor configured to play back media assets; and

a device housing comprising;

a first side including a first, partially circular opening at an exterior surface of the housing that extends into a longitudinal passage configured to receive a plug of a 3.5 mm audio plug connector; and

a second side that shares an edge with the first side, the second side including a second, elongated opening at the exterior surface of the housing that intersects the first opening and that extends perpendicularly into the longitudinal passage,

wherein the width of the second opening is to equal the width of the first opening where the first opening meets the second opening.