Patent Application
20070077811
The present invention relates generally to a connector specifically to a connector that includes both data and power signal.
Connectors are utilized extensively on devices that need both data and power transfer. Typically on devices the transfer of data and power is accomplished by the use of two separate connectors; that is, there is a connector for the power and a separate connector for the data transfer and neither connector is related to the other. In many devices that have docking stations such as an iPod or the like, there is a single unified connector that allows for the transfer of both power and data to the device.
However, in a typical laptop computer, a user is presented with one cable for power and another cable or set of cables for data transfer. If a docking station is utilized, however, it is desirable to provide a unified connector. Typically, when using a docking station, it can be difficult to get the two connectors to be discretely aligned.
There are a variety of issues between the two connectors that affect this alignment. For example, there are two issues between the two connectors that can affect alignment. One is the problem of accurate horizontal alignment between the connectors. In addition, there are alignment issues related to the features of the computer to be assembled, the computer and the printed circuit board, which typically would need to be addressed to provide correct alignment.
Accordingly, what is needed is a single unified connector for both data and power that from the user perspective could present a separate cable and when used as a docking station would allow for alignment without requiring the precise tolerances based on the device it is being connected with (such as a laptop computer). Such a unified connector should be easy to implement, cost-effective, and should be adaptable to existing environments. The present invention addresses such a need.
An integrated connector in accordance with the present invention is disclosed which can be connected to two separate data and power plugs or to one integrated data and power plug. Although the connector visually appears to the end user as two distinct ports (data and DC power), it is a single, unified connector from the system's perspective. This design facilitates precise mechanical alignment when a single integrated plug, with both data and DC power, is interfaced with the connector. However, since the single integrated connector presents two ports to the user, it also allows the individual interfaces to be utilized with their own respective plug.
The present invention relates generally to a connector and more specifically to a connector that includes both data and power signals. The following description is presented to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention and is provided in the context of a patent application and its requirements. Various modifications to the preferred embodiments and the generic principles and features described herein will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features described herein.
A single integrated connector in accordance with the present invention is disclosed which can be connected to two separate data and power plugs or to one integrated data and power plug. Although the connector visually appears to the end user as two distinct ports (data and DC power), it is a single, unified connector from the system's perspective. This design facilitates precise mechanical alignment when a single integrated plug, with both data and DC power, is interfaced with the connector. However, since the single integrated connector presents two ports to the user, it also allows the individual interfaces to be utilized with their own respective plug.
To describe the features of the present invention in more detail, refer now to the following discussion in conjunction with the accompanying figures.
DC Power: 12 V@4 Ampere
Table 1 shows the I/O specifications for the type of signal being transferred, port quantity, pin count, and total pin count.
As can be seen in Table 1, a variety of combinations of ports and pins can be used for data transfer and power transfer, depending upon the requirements of the devices being connected via the connector. One should understand, however, that a connector system in accordance with the present invention is not limited to these pins or combination of pins. One of ordinary skill in the art readily recognizes various pins and their combination could be utilized and their use would be within the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Accordingly, what is provided is a connector which incorporates the standard functionality of a data and signal connector in a single connector. In so doing, a system is provided which is more versatile and can be utilized in a more robust way than previous connector systems. The single connector in accordance with the present invention also overcomes alignment issues typically encountered when multiple connectors are utilized.
One should readily recognize that although the present invention has been described in conjunction with a particular type of connector, this system could be used within a variety of environments and they would be within the spirit and scope of the present invention.
For example,
Although the present invention has been described in accordance with the embodiments shown, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that there could be variations to the embodiments and those variations would be within the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, many modifications may be made by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
