Dual connector having ground planes in tongues

• US 9,871,327 B2
• Filed: 03/02/2015
• Issued: 01/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Simmel, George Marc, Gao, Zheng
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, HIEN D
• Application Number:
  US14/636,021
• Publication Number:
  US 20150214674A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,051 Days
• Field of Search: 439660, 43960735, 4396074, 439108
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/659 with plural ports for distinct connectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6594 the shield being mounted on a PCB and connected to conductive members
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6597 the conductive member being a contact of the connector
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2107/00 Four or more poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/60 Contacts spaced along planar side wall transverse to longitudinal axis of engagement

Abstract

Connector receptacle assemblies that may be simple to manufacture, provide multiple receptacles, and provide a good ground contact path. One example may provide a connector receptacle assembly formed of a housing having a tongue that may include openings on one or more sides for contacts as well as openings on its sides for ground contacts. Another example may provide a connector receptacle assembly having at least two tongues, where each tongue may be aligned with a corresponding opening in a device enclosure. Another example may provide a connector receptacle assembly having a tongue with a center ground contact, where the center ground contact may be located between the top row and the bottom row of contacts. Another example may provide a connector receptacle assembly having a titanium-copper center ground contact.

Claims

1. A connector receptacle assembly comprising:

a housing having a longitudinal axis and a first tongue and a second tongue, each of the first and second tongues extending side-by-side and extending in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, the first tongue and the second tongue each comprising;

a top row of contacts positioned along a top side of the tongue;

a bottom row of contacts positioned along a bottom side of the tongue; and

a center around contact positioned in a center of the tongue and between the top row of contacts and the bottom row of contacts, the center ground contact comprising a center portion, a first side contact extending away from and parallel to the center portion, the first side contact extending through a first opening in a first side of the tongue, and a second side contact extending away from and parallel to the center portion, the second side contact extending through a second opening in a second side of the tongue.

2. The connector receptacle assembly of claim 1 wherein the center ground contact is formed of titanium-copper.

3. The connector receptacle assembly of claim 2 further comprising a shell at least partially surrounding a top, sides, and back of the housing, wherein the shell is formed of stainless steel.

4. The connector receptacle assembly of claim 3 wherein the housing is formed of a nonconductive material.

5. The connector receptacle assembly of claim 4 wherein the housing is plastic.

6. The connector receptacle assembly of claim 4 wherein the top row of contacts and the bottom row of contacts are arranged to carry signals for DisplayPort.

7. The connector receptacle assembly of claim 4 wherein the top row of contacts and the bottom row of contacts are arranged to carry signals for Thunderbolt.

8. A connector receptacle assembly comprising:

a housing having a first tongue and a second tongue, the first tongue and the second tongue each comprising;

a top row of contacts positioned along a top side of the tongue;

a first housing portion molded around a portion of each contact in the top row of contacts;

a bottom row of contacts positioned along a bottom side of the tongue;

a second housing molded portion around a portion of each contact in the bottom row of contacts; and

a center around contact positioned in a center of the tongue and between the top row of contacts and the bottom row of contacts, the center around contact comprising a center portion, a first side contact extending away from and parallel to the center portion, the first side contact extending through a first opening in a first side of the tongue, and a second side contact extending away from and parallel to center portion, the second side contact extending through a second opening in a second side of the tongue; and

a shell at least partially surrounding a top, sides, and back of the housing.

9. The connector receptacle assembly of claim 8 wherein the center ground contact is formed of titanium-copper.

10. The connector receptacle assembly of claim 9 wherein the shell is formed of stainless steel.

11. The connector receptacle assembly of claim 10 wherein the housing is formed of a nonconductive material.

12. The connector receptacle assembly of claim 11 wherein the housing is plastic.

13. The connector receptacle assembly of claim 11 wherein the top row of contacts and the bottom row of contacts are arranged to carry signals for DisplayPort.

14. The connector receptacle assembly of claim 11 wherein the top row of contacts and the bottom row of contacts are arranged to carry signals for Thunderbolt.

15. A connector receptacle assembly comprising:

a housing having a first tongue and a second tongue, the first tongue and the second tongue each comprising;

a first subassembly having a first subassembly housing molded around a portion of each contact in a top row of contacts, the top row of contacts positioned along a top side of the tongue;

a second subassembly having a second subassembly housing molded around a portion of each contact in a bottom row of contacts, the bottom row of contacts positioned along a bottom side of the tongue; and

a center ground contact positioned in a center of the tongue and between the top row of contacts and the bottom row of contacts, the center ground contact comprising a center portion, a first side contact at extending away from and parallel to the center portion, the first side contact extending through a first opening in a first side of the tongue, and a second side contact at extending away from and parallel to the center portion, the second side contact extending through a second opening in a second side of the tongue, wherein the first side contact, the second side contact, and the center portion of the center ground contact are a single piece; and

a shell at least partially surrounding a top, sides, and back of the housing.

16. The connector receptacle assembly of claim 15 wherein the center ground contact is formed of titanium-copper.

17. The connector receptacle assembly of claim 16 wherein the shell is formed of stainless steel.

18. The connector receptacle assembly of claim 17 wherein the housing is formed of a nonconductive material.

19. The connector receptacle assembly of claim 17 wherein the housing is plastic.

20. The connector receptacle assembly of claim 19 wherein the top row of contacts and the bottom row of contacts are arranged to carry signals for Thunderbolt.