Portable electronic device connector

• US 9,742,085 B2
• Filed: 09/19/2016
• Issued: 08/22/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Tulloch, Brandon B., Cameron, Gordon C., Danby, John, Heresztyn, Amaury J., Kalyanasundaram, Nagarajan
• Primary Examiner(s): LEON MUNOZ, EDWIN A
• Application Number:
  US15/269,876
• Publication Number:
  US 20170085020A1
• Time in Patent Office: 337 Days
• Field of Search: 368282, 368 10, 368204, 368281, 368 37, 439 37, 439345, 439660, 343718
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 1/005 with embedded cable or connector
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 17/06 Electric connectors, e.g. conductive elastomers
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/777 Coupling parts carrying pins, blades or analogous contacts H01R12/78, H01R12/79 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6205 Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/621 Bolt, set screw or screw clamp
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/62905 comprising a camming member H01R13/62933 and H01R13/641 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/639 Additional means for holding or locking coupling parts together, after engagement, e.g. separate keylock, retainer strap
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/20 for testing or measuring purposes
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/06 Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/94

Abstract

In various embodiments, an affixing structure of a connector is configured to attach to an affixing structure interface of a portable electronic device that is configured to also couple to an attachment member. A connector plug including conductors coupled to an electrical conduit is coupled to the affixing structure. The conductors are configured to electrically connect to one or more electric components of the portable electronic device and the electrical conduit is configured to electrically connect to one or more diagnostic devices. In some embodiments, an attachment member may include one or more electronic components and spring pins or other conductors connectible to a wearable device. The attachment member additionally includes a connector operable to connect the wearable device to another electronic device.

Claims

1. An electronic band for a wearable device, the electronic band comprising:

a first band segment including a first affixing structure configured to couple the first band segment to the wearable device when inserted into a first channel of the wearable device, a first electronic component comprising a battery, and a first electrical connector coupled to the first electronic component and having a plurality of contact pins at least some of which are electrically connected to the first electronic component;

wherein the first electrical connector electrically connects the first electronic component of the first band segment to a second electronic component positioned within the wearable device when the first affixing structure is inserted into the first channel.

2. The electronic band of claim 1 wherein the first band segment further includes a second connector electrically coupled to the first electronic component.

3. The electronic band of claim 2 wherein the first band segment has first and second ends with the first affixing structure coupled to the first band segment at the first end and the second connector positioned near the second end.

4. The electronic band of claim 1 wherein the first band segment further comprises a processing unit and a memory.

5. The electronic band of claim 1 wherein the plurality of contact pins are centered along a width of the affixing structure.

6. The electronic band of claim 5 wherein the plurality of pins consists of six pins spaced apart from each other and arranged along a single row.

7. The electronic band of claim 5 wherein each of the plurality of contact pins is a spring loaded pin.

8. The electronic band of claim 1 further comprising a second band segment including a second affixing structure configured to couple the second band segment to the wearable device when inserted into a second channel of the wearable device, and a clasp that couples the first band segment to the second band segment.

9. The electronic band of claim 8 wherein the first affixing structure is a first lug and the second affixing structure is a second lug.

10. The electronic band of claim 9 wherein each of the first and second lugs includes a watch interfacing end, a band interfacing end, first and second arms that extend from the watch interfacing end towards the band interfacing end, and a pin that extends between the first and second arms at the band interfacing end.

11. An electronic band for a wearable device, the electronic band comprising:

a first band segment including a first lug configured to couple the first band segment to a wearable device when inserted into a first channel of the wearable device, a first flexible strap coupled to the first lug, a battery positioned within the first strap, a first electrical connector coupled to the battery, and a second electrical connector coupled to the battery, wherein the first electrical connector includes a pin block centered along a width of the first lug and a plurality of contact pins centered along a width of the pin block; and

a second band segment including a second lug configured to couple the second band segment to the wearable device when inserted into a second channel of the wearable device and a second flexible strap coupled to the second lug;

wherein the first electrical connector electrically connects the battery of the first band segment to an electronic component of the wearable device when the first lug is inserted into the first channel.

12. The electronic band of claim 11 wherein each of the first lug and the second lug includes a watch interfacing end, a strap interfacing end, first and second arms that extend from the watch interfacing end towards the strap interfacing end, and a pin that extends between the first and second arms at the strap interfacing end.

13. The electronic band of claim 12 wherein the first band segment has first and second ends with the first lug coupled to the first band segment at the first end and the electrical second connector positioned away from the first end towards the second end.

14. The electronic band of claim 11 wherein each of the plurality of contact pins is a moveable pin that can be retracted at least partially into the first lug and extended out of the first lug.

15. The electronic band of claim 14 wherein the pin block is moveable with the plurality of contact pins and can be retracted into the first lug and extended out of the first lug.

16. The electronic band of claim 11 further comprising a clasp that couples the first band segment to the second band segment.

17. The electronic band of claim 11 wherein the second connector is configured to accept electrical power from another connector to charge the battery.

18. An electronic band for a wearable device, the electronic band comprising:

a first band segment including a first affixing structure configured to couple the first band segment to a wearable device, a first flexible strap coupled to the first affixing structure, a battery positioned within the first flexible strap, a first electrical connector coupled to the battery, and a second electrical connector coupled to the battery, wherein the first electrical connector includes a plurality of contact pins centered along a width of the first affixing structure, wherein each of the contact pins is moveable between a retracted position in which the contact pin is at least partially retracted within the first affixing structure and an extended position in which the contact pin extends away from the first affixing structure; and

a second band segment including a second affixing structure configured to couple the second band segment to the wearable device when inserted into a second channel of the wearable device and a second flexible strap coupled to the second affixing structure;

wherein the first electrical connector electrically connects the battery of the first band segment to an electronic component of the wearable device when the first affixing structure is coupled to the wearable device and the plurality of contact pints are in the extended position.

19. The electronic band of claim 18 wherein, when in the retracted position, the plurality of pins are fully retracted within the first affixing structure.

20. The electronic band of claim 19 wherein each of the first and second affixing structures comprises a lug.