Patent Grant
7585176
1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to electrical connectors. More particularly, the present invention relates to extended electrical connectors which increases pin density of the typical high-density D-SUB connectors.
2. Description of Related Art
A conventional D-Sub electrical connector comprises an insulative housing having a D-shaped mating portion and a plurality of terminals received in the housing. A metal shell often surrounds a substantial portion of the housing to protect at least the mating portions of the contacts from RF (Radio Frequency) and EMI (Electro Magnetic Interference) as well as to protect the surrounding from interference radiating from the connector, itself.
Conventionally, a high-density D-SUB connector of the typical type is ruled to have 15 terminals, such as 15 contacts of the high-density D-SUB female connector or 15 pins of the high-density D-SUB male connector. However, the limited terminal number of the high-density D-SUB connector sometimes is still not enough to transmit various kinds of signals provided for different functions in addition to video displaying. Moreover, each terminal of the high-density D-SUB connector, corresponding to in its position, has been defined to transmit signals of a fixed function according to the D-SUB connector standard. It is complicated and difficult to compress other signals into the signals of which the functions are well defined and limited by the terminal positions.
Hence, it is desirable to have an extended electrical connector to overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, an electrical female connector comprises an insulative housing and a plurality of contacts. The insulative housing comprises a base portion, a mating portion and a plurality of passageways. The base portion has a rear terminating face. The mating portion extends from the base portion. Two opposite sides of the mating portion are not parallel and have different lengths. The passageways extend through the rear terminating face and the mating portion. The contacts are received in the passageways, respectively, and the contacts are adapted for electrically connecting a complementary connector.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, an electrical male connector comprises a substrate and a plurality of pins. The pins are mounted on the substrate, and a number of the pins is greater than 15 and a position arrangement of fifteen pins is the same as that of a 15-pin high-density D-SUB male connector.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, an electrical connector comprises a group of first electrical terminals and at least one second electrical terminal. The group of first electrical terminals is arranged in three rows, and the first electrical terminals in one of the three rows are separate from each other in a first pitch. The second electrical terminal is separate from an outmost first electrical terminal in the group of first electrical terminals in a second pitch.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, a cable comprises a transmitting line, a set of computer connectors and a combination connector. The set of computer connectors connects between the computer and the transmitting line. The combination connector connects between the KVM switch and the transmitting line to transmit keyboard signals, mouse signals, and video signals. The combination connector comprises a substrate and a plurality of pins mounted on the substrate. The number of the pins is greater than 15, and the position arrangement of fifteen of the pins is the same as that of a 15-pin high-density D-SUB male connector.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are examples, and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:
Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.
In this embodiment, the number of the passageways 124 is 18. However, the number of the passageways 124 can be 16 or 17 in order to meet the requirements of different applications according to other embodiments of the present invention. In some examples, the design illustrated here may increase the pin density and provide a pin density that is higher than a typical 15-pin high-density D-SUB connector. Moreover, the passageways 124 are arranged in three parallel rows, and the position arrangement of fifteen of the passageways 124a (solid circle) is the same as that of the 15-pin high-density D-SUB female connector. That is, the fifteen passageways 124a can respectively correspond to the fifteen passageways of the 15-pin high-density D-SUB female connector.
The rest of the passageways 124 excluding the fifteen passageways 124a, i.e. the passageways (dash circle) 124b1, 124b2 and 124b3, are disposed in an extending region of the mating portion 122 compared with a mating portion of the 15-pin high-density D-SUB female connector. Referring to
In addition, the contacts 104 shown in
In other words, the electrical terminals (e.g. the contacts 104) of the electrical female connector 100 may be divided into two or more groups. Referring to
The contacts 104 received in the passageways 124a, which include fifteen contacts 104 in this example, belong to the group of first contacts, which are arranged in three rows. In one example, the group of second contacts 104 received in the passageways 124b1 to 124b3 may include the right-most contacts 104 received in the passageway 124b2 in the first row and the passageway 124b3 in the third row, respectively, and the left-most contact 104 received in the passageway 124b1 in the second row.
The first contacts, each of which is received in one of the passageways 124a in the three rows, may be separated from each other with approximately the same pitch (first pitch) d1, which may be approximately 2.29 mm in one example. The second contact, each of which is received in the passageways 124b1 to 124b3, may be separated from the closest first contact received in the passageway 124a with a smaller pitch (second pitch) d2, which may be approximately 2.07 mm in one example. In this example, the second pitch d2 is smaller than the first pitch d1. However, depending on the application, the second pitch d2 can be equal to or larger than the first pitch d1.
In this embodiment, the number of the pins 324 is 18. However, the number of the pins 324 can be 16 or 17 in order to meet the requirements of different applications according to other embodiments of the present invention. Moreover, the pins 324 are arranged in three parallel rows, and the position arrangement of fifteen of the pins 324a (solid circle) is the same as that of the 15-pin high-density D-SUB male connector. That is, the fifteen pins 324a can respectively correspond to the fifteen pins of the 15-pin high-density D-SUB male connector.
The rest of the pins 324 excluding the fifteen pins 324a, i.e. the pins (dash circle) 324b1 to 324b3, are disposed in an extending region compared with the 15-pin high-density D-SUB male connector. Referring to
In addition, the pins 324a in the same position arrangement of the 15-pin high-density D-SUB male connector are provided to transmit video signals; and the rest of the pins 324, i.e. the pins 324b1 to 324b3, can be provided to transmit audio signals, keyboard signals, mouse signals or other digital signals. However, in practice, persons skilled in the art can arbitrarily assign the pins 324 to transmit the video signals, audio signals, keyboard signals, mouse signals or other digital signals, not limited by the embodiment as described above.
In other words, the electrical terminals (e.g. the pins 324) of the electrical male connector 300 may be divided into two or more groups. Referring to
Each of the first pins 324a in the three rows may be separated from each other with approximately the same pitch (first pitch) d1, which may be approximately 2.29 mm in one example. Each of the second pins 324b1 to 324b3 may be separated from the closest first pin 324a with a smaller pitch (second pitch) d2, which may be approximately 2.07 mm in one example. In this example, the second pitch d2 is smaller than the first pitch d1. However, depending on the application, the second pitch d2 can be equal to or larger than the first pitch d1. The shield 306 surrounding the group of first pins 324a and the group of the second pins 324b1 to 324b3 may have a dimension (i.e. in its length×width) of approximately 8.36 mm×17.15 mm.
In this embodiment, the number of the passageways 424 is 17. However, the number of the passageways 424 can be 16 in order to meet the requirements of different applications according to other embodiments of the present invention. In some examples, the design illustrated here may increase the pin density and provide a pin density that is higher than a typical 15-pin high-density D-SUB connector. Moreover, the passageways 424 are arranged in three parallel rows, and the position arrangement of fifteen of the passageways 424a (solid circle) is the same as that of the 15-pin high-density D-SUB female connector. That is, the fifteen passageways 424a can respectively correspond to the fifteen passageways of the 15-pin high-density D-SUB female connector.
The rest of the passageways 424 excluding the fifteen passageways 424a, i.e. the passageways (dash circle) 424b1 and 424b2, are disposed in an extending region of the mating portion 422 compared with a mating portion of the 15-pin high-density D-SUB female connector. The passageways 424b1 and 424b2 are disposed in the position where the passageways of the 15-pin high-density D-SUB female connector have never occupied.
In addition, the contacts in the same position arrangement of the 15-pin high-density D-SUB female connector, which are received in the passageways 424a, are provided to transmit video signals; and the rest of the contacts, which are received in the passageways 424b1 and 424b2, can be provided to transmit audio signals, keyboard signals, mouse signals or other digital signals.
In other words, the electrical terminals (e.g. the contacts) of the electrical female connector 400 may be divided into two or more groups. Referring to
The contacts received in the passageways 424a, which include fifteen contacts in this example, belong to the group of first contacts, which are arranged in three rows. In one example, the group of second contacts received in the passageways 424b1 and 424b2 may include the right-most contact received in the passageway 424b2 in the first row, and the left-most contact received in the passageway 424b1 in the second row.
The first contacts, each of which is received in one of the passageways 424a in the three rows, may be separated from each other with approximately the same pitch (first pitch) d1, which may be approximately 2.29 mm in one example. The second contact, each of which is received in the passageways 424b1 and 424b2, may be separated from the closest first contact received in the passageway 424a with a smaller pitch (second pitch) d2, which may be approximately 2.07 mm in one example. In this example, the second pitch d2 is smaller than the first pitch d1. However, depending on the application, the second pitch d2 can be equal to or larger than the first pitch d1.
In this embodiment, the number of the pins 524 is 17. However, the number of the pins 524 can be 16 in order to meet the requirements of different applications according to other embodiments of the present invention. Moreover, the pins 524 are arranged in three parallel rows, and the position arrangement of fifteen of the pins 524a (solid circle) is the same as that of the 15-pin high-density D-SUB male connector. That is, the fifteen pins 524a can respectively correspond to the fifteen pins of the 15-pin high-density D-SUB male connector.
The rest of the pins 524 excluding the fifteen pins 524a, i.e. the pins (dash circle) 524b1 and 524b2, are disposed in an extending region compared with the 15-pin high-density D-SUB male connector. The pins 524b1 and 524b3 are disposed in the position where the pins of the 15-pin high-density D-SUB male connector have never occupied.
In addition, the pins 524a in the same position arrangement of the 15-pin high-density D-SUB male connector are provided to transmit video signals; and the rest of the pins 524, i.e. the pins 524b1 and 524b2, can be provided to transmit audio signals, keyboard signals, mouse signals or other digital signals.
In other words, the electrical terminals (e.g. the pins 524) of the electrical male connector 500 may be divided into two or more groups. Referring to
Each of the first pins 524a in the three rows may be separated from each other with approximately the same pitch (first pitch) d1, which may be approximately 2.29 mm in one example. Each of the second pins 524b1 and 524b2 may be separated from the closest first pin 524a with a smaller pitch (second pitch) d2, which may be approximately 2.07 mm in one example. In this example, the second pitch d2 is smaller than the first pitch d1. However, depending on the application, the second pitch d2 can be equal to or larger than the first pitch d1. The shield 506 surrounding the group of first pins 524a and the group of the second pins 524b1 and 524b2 may have a dimension (i.e. in its length×width) of approximately 8.36 mm×17.15 mm.
The set of computer connectors 604a includes a USB connector 614 and a monitor connector 624. The monitor connector 624 can be a typical connector for coupling a monitor, such as a VGA HDB15 connector or other suitable monitor connector. The USB connector 614 can be a typical USB connector, such as a type A USB connector or other suitable USB connector. When the cable 600a receives the mouse and keyboard PS/2 signals from the KVM switch via the transmitting line 602, a signal converting device (not illustrated) integrated in one of the transmitting line 602, the combination connector 606 and the set of the computer connectors 604a may convert the mouse and keyboard PS/2 signals into USB signals for the computer coupled to the set of the computer connectors 604a. In this embodiment, the USB connector 614 may convert the mouse and keyboard PS/2 signals into USB signals for the computer coupled thereto. The monitor connector 624 transmits the video signals to the KVM switch via the transmitting line 602.
The set of computer connectors 604b includes a speaker connector 634 and a microphone connector 644 in addition to the USB connector 614 and the monitor connector 624 as described above. The speaker connector 634 can transmit audio signals for a speaker, and the microphone connector 644 can transmit audio signals for a microphone, such as provided from an audio interface configured on the computer.
The set of computer connectors 604c includes at least one PS/2 connector, such as a keyboard PS/2 connector 654a and a mouse PS/2 connector 654b, and the monitor connector 624 as described above. When the cable 600c receives the mouse and keyboard USB signals from the KVM switch via the transmitting line 602, a signal converting device (not illustrated) integrated in one of the transmitting line 602, the combination connector 606 and the set of the computer connectors 604c may convert the mouse and keyboard USB signals into PS/2 signals for the computer coupled to the set of the computer connectors 604c. In this embodiment, the PS/2 connectors 654a, 654b may convert the mouse and keyboard USB signals into PS/2 signals for the computer coupled thereto. It is to be understood that the keyboard PS/2 connector 654a and the mouse PS/2 connector 654b may be configured to arrange in one side of the monitor connector 624.
More particularly, the signal converting device may have a compact size, for example, constructed by a semiconductor chip. Therefore, the signal converting device can be configured in any place of the cable 600a or 600c to convert the signals. That is, the signal converting device can be integrated in the set of computer connectors, or the combination connector, or the transmitting line, thus not increasing the appearance dimensions and volume thereof.
In this embodiment, the number of the pins 724 is 18. However, the number of the pins 724 can be 16 or 17 in order to meet the requirements of different applications according to other embodiments of the present invention. The pins 724 may be divided into two or more groups. Referring to
Each of the first pins 724a, which are arranged in three rows, may be separated from each other with approximately the same pitch (first pitch) d1, which may be approximately 2.29 mm in one example. Each of the second pins 724b1 to 724b3 may be separated from the closest first pin 724a with a smaller pitch (second pitch) d2, which may be approximately 2.07 mm in one example. In this example, the second pitch d2 is smaller than the first pitch d1. However, depending on the application, the second pitch d2 can be equal to or larger than the first pitch d1. The shield 706 surrounding the group of first pins 724a and the group of the second pins 724b1 to 724b3 may have a dimension (i.e. in its length×width) of approximately 8.36 mm×17.15 mm.
In conclusion, the electrical connectors provided by the above embodiments, the electrical female connector or the electrical male connector, can provide more terminals to transmit various kinds of signals provided for different functions in addition to video displaying, thus increasing the extensibility and flexibility of the D-SUB connector.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present invention cover modifications and variations of this invention provided they fall within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.
The present Application for Patent is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 10/813,066, filed Mar. 31, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,281,067.
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| Number | Date | Country | |
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 10813066 | Mar 2004 | US |
| Child | 11808329 | US |
