Patent Application
20140113496
The number and types of electronic devices available to consumers have increased tremendously the past few years, and this increase shows no signs of abating. Devices such as portable computers, laptops, netbooks, tablets, desktops, all-in-one computers, storage devices, portable media players, televisions and other display devices, navigation systems, monitors and other devices have become ubiquitous.
The sizes of these devices have been shrinking over the last few years. For example, many of these devices have been getting thinner. The thickness of electronic devices such as all-in-one and laptop computers has become an important marketing concern as well as a highly visible feature to consumers.
While these devices have been getting thinner, their functionality has been increasing. For example, larger memories, WiFi and cellular interface capabilities, larger batteries for longer battery life, and others, have become common features of these devices.
These electronic devices may include various electronic components such as hard-disk drives, solid-state drives, optical drives, batteries, keyboards, trackpads, display screens, and other components. These components often need to be connected to a main-logic board or other substrate. These connections may include a connector to make electrical connections to contacts connected to the electronic component. The connectors may connect these contacts to wires, flexible circuit boards, or other conductors.
In some circumstances, the conductors may be routed such that they form a U-turn or 180 angle. But wires and such conductors can only be bent in the shape of a “U” above a certain turn radius. Below this radius, the conductors may become damaged. This limitation on how small a U-turn can be made increases the thickness of the profile of the connector, which thereby increases the space consumed by such a connector. Moreover, such conductors may be more likely to encounter device enclosures or components. During device lifetime, this contact may transmit vibrations from the enclosure or components to the connector and its electronic component, thereby reducing their lifetime.
Thus, what is needed are connectors having a slim profile and that may be used for hard-disk drives and other devices.
Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention may provide connectors having a slim profile and that may be used for hard-disk drives and other devices. An illustrative embodiment of the present invention may provide a connector that provides a route path including a 180-degree turn while maintaining a slim profile. Another illustrative embodiment of the present invention may provide a connector having a slim profile that is easily manufactured.
An illustrative embodiment of the present invention may provide terminals exiting a rear of a housing. The terminals may then be bent or angled to a substantially upright position to form a 90-degree angle in a clockwise direction. First ends of conductors may then be aligned in parallel with the terminals, and then attached to the terminals, for example, by soldering. The conductors thus connected may be directed downward such that this connection may form a 180-degree turn. The conductors may then be curved or bended over a first length to form a counterclockwise 90-degree angle. (One skilled in the art will understand that all angles are approximate.) The combination of the two 90-degree angles and the 180 degree angle form routing paths having a 180-degree turn. By bending the terminal in an upward direction before routing the conductors in a downward direction, the overall height or profile of the connector is reduced.
Another illustrative embodiment of the present invention may provide a connector having a slim profile that is easily manufactured. A housing having terminals exiting from a rear may be received. The terminals may be angled or bent in a 90-degree angle to an upright position. (One skilled in the art will understand that all positions are approximate.) First ends of conductors may then be attached, for example, by soldering, to the terminals. A first overmold portion may then be formed over the rear of the housing, the terminals, and the first ends of the conductors. The conductors may then be curved or bended over a first length to form another 90-degree angle. The conductors may be curved or bent using a bottom of the first overmold portion. A second overmold portion may then be formed over substantial portions of the first overmold and the first length of the conductors.
In various embodiments of the present invention, some of the conductors in the connector may be used to convey power supplies, while others may be used to convey signals. The housing may include openings to accept contacts from an electronic device, such as a hard-disk drive or other electronic device. The openings may include contacts, which have the terminals as tail portions.
Various portions of these connectors may be formed of various materials. For example, the housing and overmold portions may be formed of silicon or silicone, rubber, hard rubber, plastic, nylon, liquid-crystal polymers (LCPs), or other nonconductive material or materials. The contacts and terminals may be formed of stainless steel, copper, copper titanium, phosphor bronze, or other material. They may be plated or coated with nickel, gold, or other material.
While various embodiments of the present are well-suited as connectors for hard-disk drives, such as 2.5 or 3.5 inch Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) hard-disk drives, other embodiments of the present invention may be used as connectors for other devices, such as solid state drives, optical drives, batteries, keyboards, trackpads, display screens, and other components. These components may be employed in electronic devices such as portable computers, tablets, desktops, all-in-one computers, cell phones, smart phones, and media phones, storage devices, portable media players, navigation systems, monitors and other devices.
Various embodiments of the present invention may incorporate one or more of these and the other features described herein. A better understanding of the nature and advantages of the present invention may be gained by reference to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.
Housing 110 may be inserted into an opening on an electronic component. Guide posts 114 may be used during insertion to align housing 110 to the opening. Contacts emerging from the electronic component may be inserted into openings 112. The contacts on the electronic component may form electrical pathways with contacts 130, which may be in electrical contact with conductors 140.
In this example, signal paths through contacts 130 to conductors 140 may include a net 180-degree turn. This routing path may be arranged in such a way that conductors 140 emerge from connector 100 at point not far below contacts 130. This slim-profile may save space inside an electronic device housing connector 100 and the electronic component that connector 100 is connected to.
Again, with conventional connectors, conductors 140 may come into contact with a device enclosure of the electronic device or other components in the electronic device. Vibration, for example, from speakers or when the electronic device is moved, may vibrate through conductors 140 to connector 100. This may endanger connections between the connector and the electronic component in the electronic device. By providing this slim profile, conductors 140 may be routed above such enclosure or electrical component, thereby preventing this degradation due to vibration. Such an arrangement is shown in the following figure.
Again, embodiments of the present invention may provide a routing path from contacts 122 conductors 140 that provides 180-degree turn. These embodiments of the present invention may do so while providing a slim profile for connector 100. Examples of how this may be done are shown in the following figure.
Again, embodiments of the present invention may provide a route path providing 180-degree turn. In this example, the signal path exits housing 110 at terminal 310. Terminal 310 is bent in a clockwise direction to be substantially upright portion 312. The connection to first ends 340 of conductors 140 provides a 180-degree turn. Conductors 140 may then be bent or curved over a first length 410 to provide a counter clockwise 90-degree turn. The two 90-degree turns and 180-degree turn may result in a net 180-degree turn in the signal path between terminals 310 and conductors 140.
After connections between upper portions 312 of terminals 310 and first ends 340 of conductors 140 are formed, by soldering or otherwise, an overmold 120 may be used to protect and secure these connections. An example is shown in the following figure.
In various embodiments of the present invention, overmold 120 may be formed in various ways. In a specific embodiment of the present invention, overmold 120 may be formed using a two-step, or double shot, method. An example is shown in the following figure.
Accordingly, a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention may be formed in the following manner. A housing having terminals exiting from a rear may be received. The terminals may be angled or bent in a 90-degree angle to an upright position. First ends of conductors may then be attached, for example, by soldering, to the terminals. A first overmold portion may then be formed over the rear of the housing, the terminals, and the first ends of the conductors. The conductors may then be curved or bent over a first length to form another 90-degree angle. The conductors may be curved or bent using a bottom of the first overmold portion. A second overmold portion may then be formed over substantial portions of the first overmold and the first length of the conductors.
In various embodiments of the present invention, some of the conductors in the connector may be used to convey power supplies, while others may be used to convey signals. The housing may include openings to accept contacts from an electronic device, such as a hard-disk drive or other electronic device. The openings may include contacts, which have the terminals as tail portions.
Various portions of these connectors may be formed of various materials. For example, the housing and overmold portions may be formed of silicon or silicone, rubber, hard rubber, plastic, nylon, liquid-crystal polymers (LCPs), or other nonconductive material or combination of materials. The contacts and terminals may be formed of copper, copper titanium, phosphor bronze, or other material. They may be plated or coated with nickel, gold, or other material.
While various embodiments of the present are well-suited as connectors for hard-disk drives, such as 2.5 or 3.5 inch Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) hard-disk drives, other embodiments of the present invention may be used as connectors for other devices, such as solid state drives, optical drives, batteries, keyboards, trackpads, display screens, and other components. These components may be employed in electronic devices such as portable computers, tablets, desktops, all-in-one computers, cell phones, smart phones, and media phones, storage devices, portable media players, navigation systems, monitors and other devices.
The above description of embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form described, and many modifications and variations are possible in light of the teaching above. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Thus, it will be appreciated that the invention is intended to cover all modifications and equivalents within the scope of the following claims.
