Patent Grant
8357009
The subject matter described and/or illustrated herein relates generally to receptacle connectors, and more particularly, to receptacle connectors that are mounted on printed circuits.
Electrical connectors that communicate multimedia signals can include connectors such as High-Definition Multimedia Interface (“HDMI”) connectors. HDMI connectors communicate data, especially multimedia data such as audiovisual signals, for example. Some HDMI connectors include receptacles that receive the plug of another HDMI connector therein. HDMI plug connectors sometimes terminate HDMI cables, but may alternatively be incorporated into a docking station or other electronic device. HDMI receptacle connectors are often mounted along an interface of an electronic device. The HDMI receptacle connectors may be included in a variety of electronic devices such as computers, digital video recorders, set top boxes, and televisions, for example.
Existing HDMI receptacle connectors are mounted on printed circuits (sometimes referred to as “circuit boards”) having one or more sides that include circuit elements thereon, such as electrical contacts, electrical traces, electrical vias, and/or the like. The receptacle connectors include shells that define the receptacle of the connector into which the plug of the HDMI connector is inserted. The receptacle connectors are mounted on the printed circuit such that the length of the shell, and thus the length of the receptacle, extends over and along a side of the printed circuit having circuit elements thereon. But, mounting the shells over and along a side of the printed circuit is an inefficient use of the limited space of the interface of the electronic device. For example, the shells of the receptacle connectors occupy space over the side of the printed circuit, which increases an overall size of the receptacle connector and the printed circuit. The increased size of the receptacle connector and the printed circuit is an inefficient use of the limited space of the interface of the electronic device that may limit the overall number of connectors that can be located along the interface, for example. Moreover, some of the connectors located along the interface may need to be staggered relative to each other to accommodate the desired number of connectors, which may be aesthetically displeasing.
In one embodiment, a receptacle connector is provided for mounting on a printed circuit having opposite sides and an edge surface intersecting the sides. The connector includes a shell having a mount configured to be mounted on at least one of the sides of the printed circuit. The shell includes a receptacle for receiving a mating connector therein. A housing extends at least partially within the receptacle of the shell. An electrical contact is held by the housing. The electrical contact includes a mounting segment configured to be mounted on the printed circuit. The electrical contact includes a transition segment that extends outwardly from the mounting segment and projects beyond the edge surface of the printed circuit when the electrical contact is mounted on the printed circuit. The electrical contact includes a mating segment that extends outwardly from the transition segment and within the receptacle of the shell. The mating segment includes a mating surface that extends a length that is aligned with a plane that intersects the edge surface of the printed circuit when the electrical contact is mounted on the printed circuit.
In another embodiment, a receptacle connector assembly includes a printed circuit having opposite sides and an edge surface intersecting the sides, and a shell mounted on at least one of the sides of the printed circuit. The shell includes a receptacle for receiving a mating connector therein. A housing extends at least partially within the receptacle of the shell. An electrical contact is held by the housing. The electrical contact includes a mounting segment mounted on the printed circuit. The electrical contact includes a transition segment that extends outwardly from the mounting segment and projects beyond the edge surface of the printed circuit. The electrical contact includes a mating segment that extends outwardly from the transition segment and within the receptacle of the shell. The mating segment includes a mating surface that extends a length that is aligned with a plane that intersects the edge surface of the printed circuit.
The receptacle connector 10 includes a shell 20, a dielectric housing 22, and one or more electrical contacts 24 held by the housing 22. In the exemplary embodiment, the shell 20 is an electrically conductive shield. Alternatively, the shell 20 is at least partially dielectric. The shell 20 defines the receptacle 14. When the plug 16 of the mating connector 18 is received within the receptacle 14, mating contacts (not shown) of the mating connector 18 engage mating segments 26 of the electrical contacts 24 to electrically connect the receptacle connector 10 to the mating connector 18. As will be described below, the mating segments 26 of the electrical contacts 24 include mating surfaces 28 that extend a length that is aligned with a plane 30 (
The shell 20 includes a mount 34 and a receptacle segment 36 extending outwardly from the mount 34. In the exemplary embodiment, the receptacle segment 36 includes opposite upper and lower walls 38 and 40, respectively, and opposite side walls 42 and 44. Interiors surfaces of the walls 38, 40, 42, and 44 define the receptacle 14 and provide the receptacle 14 with an exemplary generally rectangular cross-sectional shape. Although shown and described herein as having the generally rectangular shape, the receptacle segment 36 of the shell 20 may have any number of walls that define a receptacle 14 that includes any shape, such as, but not limited to, a generally circular shape, a generally triangular shape, an oval shape, a square shape, and/or the like.
The receptacle connector 10 is mounted to the panel 46 such that the receptacle 14 is aligned with an opening 52 that extends through the panel 46. The opening 52 provides access to the receptacle 14 of the receptacle connector 10. The mating connector 18 is matable with the receptacle connector 10 through the opening 52 within the panel 46. Specifically, the plug 16 of the mating connector 18 can be inserted into the receptacle 14 of the receptacle connector 10 through the opening 52 within the panel 46.
The panel 46 may form a portion of a larger system of which the receptacle connector 10 and the printed circuit 12 are components thereof, such as, but not limited to, a computer, a machine, a server, and/or the like. The panel 46 may form any portion of the larger system, such as, but not limited to, a housing, rack, support structure, wall, and/or the like of the larger system. In some embodiments, the panel 46 forms a portion of and/or is a component of a connection interface of the larger system. Alternatively, the panel 46 may be a stand-alone panel that does not form a portion of a larger system.
The substrate 54 may be a flexible substrate or a rigid substrate. The substrate 54 may be fabricated from and/or include any material(s), such as, but not limited to, ceramic, epoxy-glass, polyimide (such as, but not limited to, Kapton® and/or the like), organic material, plastic, polymer, and/or the like. In some embodiments, the substrate 54 is a rigid substrate fabricated from epoxy-glass, such that the base printed circuit 12 is what is sometimes referred to as a “circuit board”. In the exemplary embodiment, the substrate 54 includes only a single layer. Alternatively, the substrate 54 may include any number of layers greater than one layer. For example, the substrate 54 may include two exterior layers that each defines one of the sides 56 and 58, with one or more interior layers sandwiched between the exterior layers. Each interior layer of the substrate 54 may include electrical circuit elements 68 extending thereon and/or therethrough. Electrical circuit elements 68 of interior layers of the substrate 54 may electrically connect some or all of the electrical circuit elements 68 on the side 56 with one or more corresponding electrical circuit elements 68 on the side 58, and/or vice versa. In addition or alternatively, electrical circuit elements 68 of interior layers of the substrate 54 may electrically connect some or all of the electrical circuit elements 68 of the side 56 and/or the side 58 to any other location on or within the substrate 54 (such as, but not limited to, any location on any layer, including the same layer, of the substrate 54).
Any pattern of the electrical circuit elements 68 of the printed circuit 12 shown and/or described herein is meant as exemplary only. The electrical circuit elements 68 may be arranged in any other patterns than that which is shown and/or described herein. For example, the electrical circuit elements 68 may have any other spacing, or pitch, relative to each other than what is shown and/or described herein.
Although not shown, the substrate 54 may include one or more electrical components (not shown). Each of the electrical components may be active or passive. Examples of active electrical components include, but are not limited to, processors, amplifiers, and/or the like. Examples of passive electrical components include, but are not limited to, resistors, capacitors, inductors, diodes, and/or the like. Each of the electrical components may be electrically connected to one or more of the electrical circuit elements 68.
In the exemplary embodiment, the housing 22 includes a base 72 and a contact support segment 74 that extends outwardly from the base 72 and into the receptacle 14 (
The arms 76 optionally include alignment posts (not shown) that are received within openings (not shown) within the substrate 54 of the printed circuit 12 to position the housing 22 relative to the substrate 54. Optionally, the arms 76 are directly mechanically connected to the substrate 54, such as, but not limited to, using an adhesive, the alignment posts, one or more latch members, a press (or interference) fit, a snap-fit, one or more fasteners, and/or the like. In addition or alternative to the direct mechanical connection between the arms 76 and the substrate 54, engagement between the shell 20 and the contact support segment 74 of the housing 22 may hold the arms 76 on the side 56 of the printed circuit 12. Although two are shown, the housing base 72 may include any number of the arms 76. Moreover, in some embodiments, the base 72 includes one or more arms that mount on the side 58 of the printed circuit 12. In some alternative embodiments, the housing 22 does not include the base 72. Specifically, alternatively the housing 22 is not mounted on either of the sides 56 or 58 of the printed circuit 12. In other words, the housing 22 alternatively does not include any portions that extend over and along either of the sides 56 or 58 of the printed circuit 12.
The contact support segment 74 includes a support block 82, a tongue 84 extending outwardly from the support block 82, and optional support extensions 86 extending outwardly from the support block 82. The support block 82 includes a shoulder 87 that optionally abuts the edge surface 60 of the printed circuit 12 when the housing base 72 is mounted on the printed circuit 12. The support block 82 includes a plurality of openings 88 that receive portions of the transition segments 90 of the electrical contacts 24 therein. Specifically, each of the transition segments 90 extends from the contact mounting area 78 into and through a corresponding one of the openings 88. When the housing 22 is held by the shell 20, the support block 82 extends within the receptacle 14 of the shell 20. Extension of the support block 82 within the receptacle 14 can be seen in
The tongue 84 extends outwardly from the contact support block 82 in a direction generally away from the printed circuit 12. When the housing 22 is held by the shell 20, the tongue 84 extends within the receptacle 14 of the shell 20. Extension of the tongue 84 within the receptacle 14 can be seen in
Similar to the tongue 84, the support extensions 86 extend outwardly from the contact support block 82 generally away from the printed circuit 12. Each support extension 86 extends outwardly from the contact support block 82 to a free end 102. The support extensions 86 are configured to engage the shell 20 to facilitate holding the housing 22 within the receptacle 14 of the shell 20 and/or to facilitate supporting the shell 20 when the plug 16 (
Similar to the upper electrical contact 24a, the lower electrical contact 24b includes a mounting segment 80b, a transition segment 90b, and a mating segment 26b. In the exemplary embodiment, the mounting segment 80b includes an end 108b of the lower electrical contact 24b. Alternatively, the mounting segment 80b may define a portion of the lower electrical contact 24b that does not include the end 108b. The transition segment 90b extends outwardly from the mounting segment 80b and includes bends 110b, 112b, and 114b in the exemplary embodiment. The mating segment 26b extends outwardly from the transition segment 90b and includes a mating surface 28b. The mating segment 26b includes an end 116b of the lower electrical contact 24b that is opposite the end 108b, but alternatively the mating segment 26b may define a portion of the lower electrical contact 24b that does not include the end 116b. When the receptacle connector 10 is mated with the mating connector 18, the mating surface 28b engages a corresponding mating contact of the mating connector 18 to electrically connect the connectors 10 and 18 together.
As can be seen in
The mount 34 of the shell 20 is mounted on and electrically connected to the printed circuit 12. The mount 34 is engaged with and electrically connected to a corresponding electrical circuit element 68 of the printed circuit 12. In the exemplary embodiment, the electrical circuit element 68 engaged with the mount 34 of the shell 20 is an electrical via and the mount 34 includes a post 124 that is received within the electrical vias. But, the mount 34 may additionally or alternatively engage and electrically connect to the corresponding electrical circuit element(s) 68 using a surface mount configuration (such as, but not limited to, using a surface mount pad (not shown) and/or the like).
When the shell 20 is mounted on the printed circuit 12, the receptacle segment 36 extends outwardly from the mount 34 and over the edge surface 60 of the printed circuit 12. Similarly, the contact support segment 74 extends outwardly from the base 72 (
When the electrical contacts 24 are mounted on the printed circuit 12 and held by the housing 22, the transition segments 90 of the electrical contacts 24 extend outwardly from the mounting segments 80 and project beyond the edge surface 60 of the printed circuit 12. Each of the mating segments 26 of the electrical contacts 24 extends outwardly from the corresponding transition segment 90 such that the mating surface 28 thereof extends a length that is aligned with a plane 30 (not shown in
The embodiments described and/or illustrated herein may provide a receptacle connector that is more efficiently mounted on printed circuit that at least some known receptacle connectors. The embodiments described and/or illustrated herein may provide a receptacle connector and printed circuit having a reduced overall size relative to at least some known receptacle connectors and printed circuits. The embodiments described and/or illustrated herein may provide an interface of an electronic device having more connectors than at least some known interfaces. The embodiments described and/or illustrated herein may provide an interface of an electronic device that has one or more connectors aligned in a line and/or is more aesthetically pleasing than at least some known interfaces. The embodiments described and/or illustrated herein may provide electrical contacts that are less difficult and/or less expensive to fabricate than at least some known electrical contacts. The embodiments described and/or illustrated herein may provide electrical contacts that can be fabricated from the same sheet of material. The embodiments described and/or illustrated herein may provide electrical contacts that can be assembled at the same time. The embodiments described and/or illustrated herein may provide electrical contacts with mating surfaces that can be more easily covered, and/or cost less to cover, with one or more precious metals and/or other materials than at least some known electrical contacts.
It is to be understood that the above description and the figures are intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. For example, the above-described and/or illustrated embodiments (and/or aspects thereof) may be used in combination with each other. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the subject matter described and/or illustrated herein without departing from its scope. Dimensions, types of materials, orientations of the various components (including the terms “upper”, “lower”, “vertical”, and “lateral”), and the number and positions of the various components described herein are intended to define parameters of certain embodiments, and are by no means limiting and are merely exemplary embodiments. Many other embodiments and modifications within the spirit and scope of the claims will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description and the figures. The scope of the subject matter described and/or illustrated herein should, therefore, be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. In the appended claims, the terms “including” and “in which” are used as the plain-English equivalents of the respective terms “comprising” and “wherein.” Moreover, in the following claims, the terms “first,” “second,” and “third,” etc. are used merely as labels, and are not intended to impose numerical requirements on their objects. Further, the limitations of the following claims are not written in means—plus-function format and are not intended to be interpreted based on 35 U.S.C. §112, sixth paragraph, unless and until such claim limitations expressly use the phrase “means for” followed by a statement of function void of further structure.
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20120040538 A1 | Feb 2012 | US |
