Patent Application
20110124216
The present disclosure is generally related to digital multimedia cables that secure to corresponding digital multimedia receptacles mounted in an electronic device.
A digital multimedia cable, such as a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI) cable (HDMI and the HDMI logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of HDMI Licensing, LLC), may be used to connect two electronic devices together to allow for the transfer of video content, audio content, and other information between the electronic devices. A digital multimedia connector at an end of the digital multimedia cable may include a grip and an insertable connector. The insertable connector may be positioned in a complementary digital multimedia receptacle to establish an electrical connection. The insertable connector may tightly fit in the digital multimedia receptacle to inhibit undesired removal of the connector from the digital multimedia receptacle. In addition, the insertable connector, or the digital multimedia receptacle, may include one or more spring tabs that extend into recesses in the digital multimedia receptacle, or the connector, to form an interference fit to provide additional retention of the insertable connector in the digital multimedia receptacle. For some uses of digital multimedia cables, the weight of a wiring cord of the digital multimedia cable or external forces applied to the wiring cord, may apply force to the digital multimedia connector that acts to remove the insertable connector from the digital multimedia receptacle. The force applied to the digital multimedia connector may degrade or break the electrical connection established by the digital multimedia connector. When the digital multimedia cable is a conduit that passes media content from a media content provider to a customer device, a degraded electrical connection or a break in the electrical connection may result in a service call where a technician travels to a customer residence and reestablishes a good electrical connection between the digital multimedia cable and customer premises equipment (e.g., a set-top box device). Such service calls may result in customer dissatisfaction and adds expense for a service provider.
Specific embodiments are shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described herein in detail. The drawings may not be to scale.
In a particular embodiment, a multimedia cable includes a grip at a first end of the multimedia cable, where the grip includes a first release. An insertable connector at the first end of the multimedia cable may include a first retainer and at least one electrical connection contact. Pushing the first release inwardly toward a central axis of the multimedia cable may cause the first retainer to move inwardly toward the central axis of the multimedia cable via a first retainer arm.
In a particular embodiment, a multimedia cable includes a grip at a first end of the multimedia cable, where the grip includes a first release. An insertable connector at the first end of the multimedia cable may include a first retainer and at least one electrical connection contact, where pushing the first release inwardly toward a central axis of the multimedia cable causes the first retainer to move outwardly away from the central axis of the multimedia cable via a first retainer arm.
In a particular embodiment, an electronic device includes a body and a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI) receptacle coupled to the body, where the HDMI receptacle is configured to receive an insertable connector.
The first digital multimedia connector 12 may include a retainer 22 and a release 24. The first digital multimedia connector 12 may include retainers 22 and releases 24 on each side of the first digital multimedia connector 12. The retainers 22 may be external to the insertable connector 20 with no portion of the retainers 22 passing through the insertable connector 20. The retainer 22 and the release 24 are shown in
The retainer 22 may engage a portion of the digital multimedia receptacle or a portion of the electronic device to inhibit removal of the digital multimedia cable 10 from the digital multimedia receptacle when the insertable connector 20 is positioned in the digital multimedia receptacle. The release 24 may reduce a bias force applied to the retainer 22 that serves to secure the digital multimedia connector 12 to the digital multimedia receptacle. Reducing the bias force facilitates separation of the digital multimedia connector 12 from the digital multimedia receptacle. In the embodiment depicted in
In a particular embodiment, the retainers 22 may be adjacent and external to the insertable connector 20. The retainers 22 may be positioned adjacent to side surfaces of the insertable connector 20. The engaging surfaces of the retainers 22 may engage surfaces defined by recesses or openings in the portion of the digital multimedia receptacle that the insertable connector 20 is placed in. The release 24 may be a slide or a cam that moves the retainers 22 away from the insertable connector 20 to allow the digital multimedia connector 12 to be separated from the electronic device. Other release systems that facilitate release of the digital multimedia cable 10 from the digital multimedia receptacle may also be implemented.
In the embodiment depicted in
The digital multimedia connector 12 may be inserted into the digital multimedia receptacle by a user. The user may grasp the grip 18 of the digital multimedia connector 12 and press the releases 24. The user may guide the insertable connector 12 into the digital multimedia receptacle. When the digital multimedia connector 12 is positioned in the digital multimedia receptacle, the user may stop pressing the releases 24. After the user has stopped pressing the releases 24, the user may test that the retainers 22 secure the digital multimedia connector 12 to the digital multimedia receptacle by applying a removal force to the grip 18. The user may reinsert the digital multimedia connector 12 into the digital multimedia receptacle when the digital multimedia connector 12 begins to separate from the digital multimedia receptacle due to the applied removal force. The user may release the grip 18 when the applied removal force does not result in the digital multimedia connector 12 separating from the digital multimedia receptacle. When a user desires to disconnect the connector 12 from the receptacle, the digital multimedia connector 12 may be removed from the digital multimedia receptacle by grasping the grip 18, pressing the releases 24, and applying a removal force to separate the digital multimedia connector 12 from the digital multimedia receptacle. Thus, the digital multimedia connector 12 may be selectively secured to the receptacle or released from the receptacle.
The first digital multimedia connector 12 may include a retainer 22 and a release 24. The retainer 22 is shown adjacent to a top surface of the insertable connector 20. The release 24 is shown in a top surface of the grip 18. A second retainer 22 may be located adjacent to a bottom surface of the insertable connector 20. A second release 24 may be located in a bottom surface of the grip 18. The retainers 22 may be external to the insertable connector 20 with no portion of the retainers 22 passing through the insertable connector 20.
The release 24 may be a slide. Moving the release 24 may extend or retract a sleeve or cam. The sleeve or cam may apply a bias force to the retainers 22. The grip 18 may include indicia. The indicia may indicate whether the first digital multimedia connector 12 is in a locked or unlocked position. When the first digital multimedia connector 12 is in a locked position (as depicted in
The ports may include or may be connected to the one or more digital multimedia receptacles 28. The one or more digital multimedia receptacles 28 may be coupled to the body 30 by screws, snap connects, soldering, adhesive, other connectors, or combinations thereof. The cover 32 may be positioned adjacent to the ports. The cover 32 may inhibit material from entering into the electronic device 26 adjacent to the ports. The cover 32 may include an opening having a width that is greater than a height for each digital multimedia receptacle 28. The cover 32 may include one or more passages 34 in sides of the opening corresponding to the height of the opening. The passages 34 may accommodate retainers of a digital multimedia connector (e.g., the digital multimedia connector 12 of
As shown in the enlarged portion of
As shown in the enlarged portion of
Portions of the digital multimedia receptacle 28 are represented in cross section in
A portion of the cover 32 of the electronic device 26 is shown in cross section to show an opening 50 in the cover 32 in which the digital multimedia receptacle 28 is positioned. When a user inserts the insertable connector 20 into the digital multimedia receptacle 28, the user inserts the insertable connector 20 through the opening 50 and into the housing 36 of the digital multimedia receptacle 28. The retainers 22 of the digital multimedia connector 12 may be in the insertable connector 20. Positioning the retainers 22 in the insertable connector 20 may allow the opening 50 in the cover 32 to conform to the shape of the digital multimedia receptacle 28 without the need to accommodate external retainers (e.g., the retainer 22 depicted in
Electrical contacts 52 of the digital multimedia connector 12 may pass into the insertable connector 20. When the insertable connector 20 is positioned in the housing 36 of the digital multimedia receptacle 28, the electrical contacts 52 may touch or make contract with corresponding electrical contacts 38 of the digital multimedia receptacle 28 to electrically couple the digital multimedia connector 12 to the digital multimedia receptacle 28. The electrical contacts 38 may be mounted on a mount 40 that extends into the housing 36. The housing 36, the electrical contacts 38, and the mount 40 are also shown in
The retainers 22 of the digital multimedia connector 12 may be coupled to the retainer arms 42, which are coupled to the releases 24. The releases 24 may be in contact with one or more bias members 54. The bias members 54 may be elastomers, coil springs, or other mechanisms that apply outward directed forces to the releases 24. The forces applied by the bias members 54 to the releases 24 may act through the retainer arms 42 to move the retainers 22 through the openings 44 in the insertable connector 20. When inserting the digital multimedia connector 12 into the digital multimedia receptacle 28, the user may press the releases 24 inwards to allow the retainers 22 to pass into the housing 36 of the digital multimedia receptacle 28. Once the retainers 22 are in the housing 36 of the digital multimedia receptacle 28, the user may stop pressing the releases 24. The user may insert the insertable connector 20 into the housing 36 until openings 44 in the insertable connector 20 align with the openings 46 in the housing 36. When the openings 44 are aligned with the openings 46, the forces applied by the bias members 54 to the retainers 22 position portions of the retainers 22 in the openings 46 in the housing 36. The portions of the retainers 22 positioned in the openings 46 are sufficient to form an interference fit between the portions of the retainers 22 and surfaces 48 of the housing 36 defined by the openings 46. The interference fit inhibits unintentional removal of the digital multimedia connector 12 from the digital multimedia receptacle 28. When the retainers 22 are positioned in the openings 46 in the digital multimedia receptacle 28, a force applied to the digital multimedia connector 12 to remove the digital multimedia connector 12 from the digital multimedia receptacle 28 may be resisted by the interaction of the retainers 22 with the surfaces 48 of the housing 36 defined by the openings 46. When removal of the digital multimedia connector 12 from the digital multimedia receptacle 28 is desired, the releases 24 may be pressed to withdraw the portions of the retainers 22 from the openings 46 in the digital multimedia receptacle 28 to permit the digital multimedia connector 12 to be withdrawn from the digital multimedia receptacle 28.
Electrical contacts 52 of the digital multimedia connector 12 may pass into the insertable connector 20. When the insertable connector 20 is positioned in the housing 36 of the digital multimedia receptacle 28, the electrical contacts 52 may touch or contact corresponding electrical contacts 38 of the digital multimedia receptacle 28 to electrically couple the digital multimedia connector 12 to the digital multimedia receptacle 28. The electrical contacts 38 may be placed on a mount 40 that extends into the housing 36. The housing 36, the electrical contacts 38, and the mount 40 are also shown in
The retainers 22 of the digital multimedia connector 12 may be coupled to retainer arms 42, which are coupled to the releases 24. The releases 24 may be in contact with one or more bias members 54. The bias members 54 may be elastomers, coil springs, or other mechanisms that apply outward directed forces to the releases 24. The forces applied by the bias members 54 to the releases 24 may act through the retainer arms 42 to move the retainers 22 away from the insertable connector 20. When inserting the digital multimedia connector 12 into the digital multimedia receptacle 28, the user may press the releases 24 inwards to allow the retainers 22 to pass into the openings 34 in the cover 32 of the electronic device 26. The retainers 22 may include slanted surfaces to facilitate insertion of the digital multimedia connector 12 into the digital multimedia receptacle 28. When the digital multimedia connector 12 is fully inserted in the digital multimedia receptacle 28, the retainers 22 may engage supports 56. The supports 56 may be extensions from the digital multimedia receptacle 28 that are offset from the housing 36, may be mounted to the body 30 of the electronic device 26, may be portions of the cover 32, or may be a combination thereof. When the retainers 22 engage the supports 56, removal of the digital multimedia connector 12 from the digital multimedia receptacle 28 may be inhibited or at least resisted unless the releases 24 are pressed to reduce the bias force applied to the retainers 22 by the bias members 54 through the retainer arms 42.
In a particular embodiment, the retainers 22 may engage recesses or openings in the housing 36 so that the support 56 becomes part of the housing 36. The release 24 on a right side of the digital multimedia connector 12 may control the retainer 22 on the left side of the digital multimedia connector 12, and the release 24 on a left side of the digital multimedia connector 12 may control the retainer 22 on the right side of the digital multimedia connector 12. Pressing the releases may move the retainers outwards so that the engaging surfaces of the releases do not interfere with the housing and allow the digital multimedia connector 12 to be removed from the digital multimedia receptacle 28.
Retainers of a digital multimedia connector that secure a digital multimedia connector of a digital multimedia cable to a digital multimedia receptacle may be able to withstand both inadvertent forces applied to the digital multimedia connector and the weight of the digital multimedia cable to inhibit undesired separation of the digital multimedia connector from the digital multimedia receptacle. The use of the digital multimedia cable having at least one digital multimedia connector that secures to the corresponding digital multimedia receptacle may improve electrical performance of electronic devices coupled by the digital multimedia cable and may improve picture quality of video media transferred through the digital multimedia cable due to the improved electrical performance. The use of the digital multimedia cable having at least one digital multimedia connector that secures to a corresponding digital multimedia receptacle may result in fewer subscriber complaints and may obviate the need and expense of service calls to reconnect a poorly connected digital multimedia cable.
The illustrations of the embodiments described herein are intended to provide a general understanding of the structure of the various embodiments. The illustrations are not intended to serve as a complete description of all of the elements and features of apparatus and systems that utilize the structures or methods described herein. Many other embodiments may be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the disclosure. Other embodiments may be utilized and derived from the disclosure, such that structural and logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, the disclosure and the figures are to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive.
One or more embodiments of the disclosure may be referred to herein, individually and/or collectively, by the term “invention” merely for convenience and without intending to voluntarily limit the scope of this application to any particular invention or inventive concept. Moreover, although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it should be appreciated that any subsequent arrangement designed to achieve the same or similar purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to cover any and all subsequent adaptations or variations of various embodiments.
The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, various features may be grouped together or described in a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter may be directed to less than all of the features of any of the disclosed embodiments. Thus, the following claims are incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as defining separately claimed subject matter.
The above-disclosed subject matter is to be considered illustrative, and not restrictive, and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications, enhancements, and other embodiments, which fall within the scope of the present invention. Thus, to the maximum extent allowed by law, the scope of the present invention is to be determined by the broadest permissible interpretation of the following claims and their equivalents, and shall not be restricted or limited by the foregoing detailed description.
This application is a continuation patent application of, and claims priority from, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/622,690, filed on Nov. 20, 2009 and entitled “DIGITAL MULTIMEDIA CONNECTORS THAT SECURE TO CORRESPONDING DIGITAL MULTIMEDIA RECEPTACLES,” which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 12622690 | Nov 2009 | US |
| Child | 12888743 | US |
