Connector with ESD Protection

Abstract

A Universal Serial Bus flash memory unit having an electrically conductive housing includes a spring that provides an electrically conductive, low-resistance pathway between the housing and the metal shell of the Universal Serial Bus connector so that electrostatic charge can directly discharge from the housing to the metal shell instead of discharging through electronic components within the housing.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a removable flash memory unit having a retractable USB connector according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a cross sectional view of the removable flash memory unit of FIG. 1 including a slidable PCB to which the connector is mounted.

FIG. 3A shows a cross section of the removable flash memory unit of FIG. 1 from the side, with the connector in the retracted position, including an electrically conductive spring extending from the connector.

FIG. 3B shows a cross section of the removable flash memory unit of FIG. 3A with the connector in the extended position.

FIG. 4A shows the metal shell of the USB connector of FIG. 1 including two springs.

FIG. 4B shows a side view of the metal shell of FIG. 4A.

FIG. 4C shows a top-down view of the metal shell of FIG. 4C.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows an example of a removable flash memory unit (flash drive) 100 that has a retractable USB connector 103 extending from a housing 101. Housing 101 is made of a conductive metal in the present example (for example, a Copper alloy or steel). Housing 101 consists of a metal top lid and a metal bottom lid joined together. Other configurations are also possible and a housing may be considered to be conductive even where it includes some insulating components. An opening in housing 101 allows connector 103 to extend from housing 101 so that it can plug into a receptacle. Suitable receptacles according to the USB standard are generally provided on personal computers and other devices.

FIG. 2 shows a cross sectional view of removable flash memory unit 100 along the X-Y plane of FIG. 1. USB connector 103 is mounted to a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) 205 at one end. Also mounted to PCB 205 are a controller 202 and a memory 201. Controller 202 and memory 201 form a memory system in the present example. In some cases additional components may be mounted to PCB 205 as part of a memory system. USB connector 103 is connected to controller 202 by electrical conductors (not shown) and controller 202 and flash memory 201 are also connected. FIG. 2 shows a volume 207 within housing 101 into which PCB 205 may slide. When PCB 205 slides back to occupy volume 207, connector 103 slides with it so that connector 103 retracts into housing 101.

FIG. 3A shows a vertical cross section (along a plane perpendicular to the x-axis of FIG. 1) of a portion of removable flash memory unit 100. Unlike FIGS. 1 and 2, FIG. 3A shows connector 103 in a retracted position within housing 101. FIG. 3A shows a spring 310 extending from connector 103 to contact housing 101. Spring 310 is formed of a conductive metal in this example so that an electrically conductive pathway is formed between connector 103 and housing 101, this electrically conductive pathway providing desirable ESD protection. In other examples, a conductive spring may have a different configuration, for example extending from the bottom or sides of a connector, or extending from the housing. In the present example, spring 310 contacts housing 101 when connector 103 is in the retracted position, though in other examples a spring may only make contact with a housing when in the extended position.

FIG. 3B shows a portion of flash memory unit 100 in the same view as FIG. 3A, but with connector 103 in the extended position where it protrudes from housing 101. Spring 310 is shown contacting housing 101 along edge 320. As connector 103 slides forward, spring 310 may be depressed by edge 320 and deformed. Spring 310 deforms elastically so that when connector 103 is returned to its retracted state, spring 310 returns to its previous position. As spring 310 deforms it presses against edge 320 to form a low-resistance, metal-to-metal contact with housing 101. Thus, in the extended position, connector 103 is connected to housing 101 by an electrically conductive, low-resistance pathway. Also, in the retracted position and at all positions between extended and retracted positions, spring 310 maintains a connection between connector 103 and housing 101. This provides a pathway for electrostatic discharge that has a lower resistance than a pathway through electronic components within housing 101. Any static charge that may have built up on housing 101 is discharged directly from housing 101 to connector 103 when connector 103 is inserted in a receptacle. When flash memory unit 100 is in use, with connector 103 in a receptacle, the metal shell of connector 103 is connected to chassis ground. Thus, if a person who has an electrostatic charge on their body touches housing 101, the electrostatic charge discharges from housing 101 to connector 103 without passing through electronic components within housing 101. Spring 310 provides an alternative route for electrostatic discharge so that instead of discharging through components within housing 101, current passes directly to connector 103 by a low-resistance pathway. In the present example, spring 310 maintains an electrically conductive, low-resistance pathway at all times, when connector 103 is in the extended position, in the retracted position and at all intermediate positions.

In the example illustrated, connector 103 is mounted to PCB 205 so that connector 103 is not separately movable from PCB 205. However, in other embodiments, USB connector may be moved independently of some or all the components of the memory system and may not always be mounted to a PCB. The present invention is not limited to connectors that are mounted to a PCB.

A spring may be provided on either housing 101 or on connector 103. Alternatively, an additional structure may be added that includes a spring to provide a conductive pathway. For a USB connector, the metal shell of the connector generally provides a pathway to ground when the connector is connected to a receptacle. This metal shell is generally formed of a sheet of metal that wraps around a central opening that contains pins for data transmission. In the present example, spring 310 is formed integrally with the metal shell of connector 103. That is, spring 310 is formed from the same metal sheet that forms the metal shell of connector 103.

FIG. 4A shows metal shell 430 of connector 103 prior to installation in housing 101. FIG. 4A shows spring 310 and spring 432 extending from metal shell 430 (spring 432 is not visible in earlier figures). Spring 310 and spring 432 both serve the same purpose. Different numbers of springs may be used in different examples. In some cases, one spring may be sufficient while in other cases, two, three or more springs may be used. Springs may be located on any side of metal shell 430. FIG. 4A shows spring 310 formed from metal shell 430. Spring 310 is a strip of metal from metal shell 430 that is elongated longitudinally (along the Y-direction of FIG. 1). Spring 310 remains attached to the remainder of metal shell 430 at one end. The other end is bent up from metal shell 430 so that it extends above the upper surface of metal shell 430. Thus, even where an opening in a housing provides clearance for a standard sized connector, spring 310 extends sufficiently to bridge the gap and maintain an electrically conductive pathway. Spring 310 deforms elastically so that it maintains good contact with housing 101 throughout repeated operation, and does not interfere with movement of connector 103. A spring may be formed in any suitable shape and may be straight or curved. Forming a spring integrally with a metal shell of a connector provides a simple, reliable structure that creates an electrically conductive, low-resistance pathway between the connector and the housing.

FIG. 4B shows a side view of metal shell 430. Spring 310 is shown extending 0.75 mm above the upper surface of metal shell 430. This extends sufficiently to bridge the gap between metal shell 430 and housing 101. However, a spring may be formed to extend a different amount for a different housing and the dimensions of the present figures are exemplary only.

FIG. 4C shows a top-down view of metal shell 430. Springs 310, 432 are shown extending longitudinally 6.75 millimeters and having a width of 1.0 millimeter. Other dimensions may also be used. For example, a single spring having a width of more than one millimeter (1 mm) may also be used and may provide sufficiently low resistance.

In other examples, similar springs may be added to connectors other than USB connectors to provide good connection to a housing or other conductive component which moves with respect to the connector. Examples include connectors provided in various types of memory card and other electronic devices. The present invention is not limited to USB connectors but may also be used with connectors according to different standards. For example, FireWire connectors may be similarly provided with springs where appropriate.

Although the various aspects of the present invention have been described with respect to exemplary embodiments and variations thereof, it will be understood that the invention is entitled to protection within the full scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A Universal Serial Bus nonvolatile memory unit comprising: a nonvolatile memory system including an array of flash memory cells;an electrically conductive housing that encloses the nonvolatile flash memory system; anda Universal Serial Bus connector that is connected to the nonvolatile memory system, the Universal Serial Bus connector being movable with respect to the conductive housing between a retracted position and an extended position, a conductive spring extending between the Universal Serial Bus connector and the conductive housing to form an electrically conductive pathway between the Universal Serial Bus connector and the conductive housing.

2. The memory unit of claim 1 wherein the spring is integral with the USB connector.

3. The memory unit of claim 2 wherein the spring is formed from a portion of a metal shell of the USB connector.

4. The memory unit of claim 1 wherein the spring forms the electrically conductive pathway between the conductive housing and the connector when the connector is in the extended position, in the retracted position and at all positions between the extended position and the retracted position.

5. The memory unit of claim 1 wherein the nonvolatile memory system is formed on a printed circuit board.

6. The memory unit of claim 5 wherein the connector is mounted to the printed circuit board, the printed circuit board being movable with the connector.

7. The memory unit of claim 1 further comprising at least one additional conductive spring extending between the Universal Serial Bus connector and the conductive housing to form at least one additional electrically conductive pathway between the Universal Serial Bus connector and the conductive housing when the Universal Serial Bus is in the extended position.

8. A removable nonvolatile memory unit comprising: an array of nonvolatile memory cells on a semiconductor substrate;an electrically conducive housing that extends about the semiconductor substrate;connector in communication with the array of nonvolatile memory cells, the connector retracting into the housing in a first position and extending from the housing in a second position;a spring forming an electrically conductive pathway, the electrically conductive pathway electrically connecting the housing and a portion of the connector.

9. The removable nonvolatile memory unit of claim 8 wherein the connector is a Universal Serial Bus connector.

10. The removable nonvolatile memory unit of claim 9 wherein the portion of the connector is a metal shell and the spring is integral with the metal shell.

11. The removable nonvolatile memory unit of claim 1 wherein the array of nonvolatile memory cells form a flash memory array.

12. The removable nonvolatile memory unit of claim 1 wherein the semiconductor substrate and the connector are mounted to a printed circuit board.