Patent Application
20220102913
Computing devices include a variety of communication port receptacles that permit wired connections to other devices or that permit wired connections to peripherals. These port receptacles are typically manufactured on the motherboards of the computing devices and are specific to types of communication that the computing devices support, such as Universal Serial Bus (USB), Ethernet, etc.
Some computing devices include a substantial number of port receptacles with varying types of communication. For example, a transaction terminal (such as an Automated Teller Machine, Point-Of-Sale (POS) terminal, Self-Service Terminal (SST), etc.) includes a variety of integrated peripherals necessary for performing transactions, such as a media repository/recycler/dispenser, a scanner, a combined scanner/weigh scale, a touchscreen display, Personal Identification Number (PIN) pad, printer, card reader, keyboard, etc.
Transaction terminals are subject to a lot of user-related stress and operating-environment stress, which can cause cord connections from the peripherals to the port receptacles to come loose over time and disengage or lose stable contact with the communication pins inside the port receptacles. This can be problematic for retailers because the cord connections are usually located inside a secure housing that can only be accessed by authorized staff. Furthermore, operators of the terminals may have no idea what is wrong with the terminals when cords are disengaged, which further delays correction of the problem. Typically, the terminals are unavailable for customer or staff use while the peripheral connections are disengaged from the port receptacles. In fact, the transaction software may detect the missing peripheral connection and prohibit any transaction processing until the connection is resolved.
Moreover, available physical space within the housing of the terminals is limited, such that locating and accessing a given port receptacle can be challenging for support staff. In some cases, some existing peripherals may need to be removed or relocated to gain physical access to the appropriate cord and port receptacle.
In various embodiments, a system and apparatuses for communication port cord retention are presented.
According to an embodiment, a system for communication cord port retention is presented. The system comprises a Printed Circuit Board (PCB), a communication port receptacle of the PCB; and a port retention apparatus adapted to hook onto the PCB and over the communication port receptacle. The port retention apparatus comprises a latch to engage a tab on a connector of a cord and hold the connector within the communication port receptacle when the connecter is inserted into the communication port receptacle.
Furthermore, the various components (that are identified in the
As will be more completely discussed herein and below, the teachings provide a novel communication port retention apparatus. The apparatus affixes to an underside of a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) of a computing device and comprises an aperture that fits snuggly around an outer surface of a communication port receptacle of the PCB. A top underside of the apparatus includes a latch adapted to lock into an aperture on a top surface of a communication cord male connector, when the male connector is urged through the aperture and plugged into the communication port of the PCB through the communication port receptacle. Once plugged into the port of the PCB, the latch of the apparatus assures that the cord does not disengage its connection to the port, so movements or vibrations experienced by the PCB or cord will not jar loose the cord connection to the port receptacle. This provides superior cord connection stability and reliability.
System 100 comprises a communication port retention apparatus 200 and a computing device 300. The commuting device 300 comprising a PCB 310 and a communication port receptacle 311 affixed on the PCB 310.
As used herein and below “port receptacle” may be used synonymously and interchangeably with the term “port.” This is a female connector manufactured on the PCB for connecting a device or peripheral associated with the computing device of the PCB. Inside the port receptacle are slots that receive pins from a connector of a cord associated with the connecting device or connecting peripheral. Pins of the receptacle map to pins of the connector and permit device-to-device connections and communications of a designated type (such as USB, display port, etc.).
Apparatus 200 (as illustrated more completely in
Apparatus 200 comprises a top surface 210, a bottom surface 220, two side surfaces 230 (just one of the two side surfaces 230 visible from
Dimensions of apparatus 200 are manufactured based on dimensions of communication port receptacle 311 and a thickness of PCB 310 of computing device 300, such that aperture 260 fits snuggly around or surrounds receptacle 311 and a tongue 247 of rear surface 240 fits under PCB 310 with a portion of the PCB 310 extending through aperture 260. An underside of PCB 310 rests on top of tongue 247 and top portions of PCB 310 that are adjacent to sides of communication port receptacle 311 rests under two extending underside surfaces 243 of apparatus 200. In this manner, apparatus 200 locks or snaps onto and around both PCB 310 and the outer surface of receptacle 311. A small portion of front surface 270 extends past the outer surface of PCB 310 while remaining portions of apparatus 100 are situated adjacent to side surfaces of receptacle 311, above receptacle 311, and above a top surface of PCB 310.
Side surface 230 comprise a top-side portion 231A and a bottom-side portion 231B. A height of top-sided portion 231A is greater than a height of bottom-side portion 231B. Moreover, a thickness or depth of top-side portion 231A is greater than a thickness or depth of bottom-side portion 231B.
Rear surface 240 includes a top-rear portion 241, a first top curved portion 242, an underside surface of the top-rear portion 243, a second top curved portion 244, a bottom-rear portion 245, a bottom curved portion 246, and tongue 247.
Top-rear portion 241 comprises the first top curved portion, the underside surface of the top-rear portion 243, and second top curved portion 244. Moreover, top-rear portion 241 extends above and surrounds a first portion of sides of aperture 260 that correspond to an outer surface of receptacle 311 when apparatus 210 is clipped onto PCB 310.
Bottom-rear potion 245 comprises bottom curved portion 246 and extends below and surrounds a second portion of aperture 260 that corresponding to top and bottom surfaces of PCB 310 when apparatus 200 is clipped onto PCB 310.
Top surface 210 is a uniform thickness extending from front surface 260 to rear surface 240.
Bottom surface 220 comprises two thicknesses, a first thickness not associated with tongue 247 and corresponding to thickness of 231B and a second thickness corresponding to tongue 247 (first thickness is less than the second thickness).
In an embodiment, tongue 247 extends from front surface 270 for a length that is equal to the depth or thickness of top surface 210, for a length that is shorter than the depth or thickness of top surface 210, or for a length that is greater than the depth or thickness of top surface 210.
Top underside surface 250 extends above aperture 260 and has a depth equal to top surface 210. Inside surfaces 251 (only one surface 251 visible from the view presented in
Dimensions and shape of latch 252 correspond to a tab 412 for a male connector 410 of a cord 400 permitting latch 252 to press into an existing tab 412 and hold male connector 410 of cord 400 in place when cord pins 411 are plugged into port pins associated with communication port of receptacle 311 on PCB 310 (
Apparatus 200 comprises a first portion (210, 230, 240, 241, 242, 243, 250, and 251), a second portion (220, 245, 246), a latch 252, and an aperture 260. The aperture 260 defined by an inside surface 251 of the first portion and a top surface of the second portion. The latch 252 extends down from the inside surface into the aperture 260, and the latch 252 is adapted to push into a tab 412 on a connector 410 of a cord 400 to secure the connector 410 when the connector 410 is inserted into a communication port receptacle 311 on a PCB 310. The aperture 260 is sized to receive an outer surface of the communication port receptacle 311 and to receive a corresponding portion of the PCB 310 (the portion of the PCB 310 upon which the port receptacle 311 is located).
The apparatus 200 is a single manufactured component that is produced through injection molding or 3D printing. Moreover, the single component 200 is adapted to hook/snap into the corresponding portion of the PCB 310 and surround the outer surface of the port receptacle 311.
Apparatus 200 comprises a front surface 270, side surfaces 230, a top surface 210, a back surface 240, a bottom surface 220, an aperture 260, a tongue 247, and a latch 252. The aperture 260 is defined by the top surface 210, bottom surface 220, and side surfaces 230. Furthermore, aperture 260 is sized to receive a communication port receptacle 311 and a portion of a PCB 310 that corresponds to the port receptacle 311. The tongue 247 extends from the front surface 270 horizontally towards the back surface 240 and along the bottom surface 240. The latch 252 extends downward from top surface 210 and latch 252 is adapted to push down into a tab 412 on a connector 410 of a cord 400 when the connector 410 is inserted into port receptacle 311 to hold connector 410 within the port receptacle 311.
Apparatus 200 is adapted to be hooked/snapped onto and removed from the portion of the PCB 310 that has the port receptacle 311.
In an embodiment, latch 252 is centered on an underside 250 of top surface 210 and located adjacent to the back surface 240.
Apparatus 200 increases a force required to remove male connector 410 of cord 400 from receptacle 311. This is achieved by hooking apparatus 200 onto PCB 310 through a portion of aperture 260 with tongue 247 under PCB 310 and a topside of PCB 310 firmly wedged through the aperture 260 against two extending underside surfaces 243. When male connector 410 is inserted into receptacle 311, latch 252 pressed firmly into tab 412 causing pins 411 to stay engaged and firmly inserted into the port corresponding to receptacle 311. Once male connector 410 is inserted to receptacle 311, latch 252 engages tab 412 creating an interlock. Apparatus 200 decreases cord fallout rates of wired peripheral devices to computing device 300 and reduces poor connections that are normally associated with loose or unstable cord connections to the computing device 300.
In an embodiment, apparatus 200 is sized and dimensioned to fit over a mini USB receptacle or a USB “B” receptacle and to hook onto a corresponding PCB associated with the computing device having the receptacle.
In an embodiment, apparatus 200 is sized and dimensioned to fit over a standard USB “A” receptacle and to hook onto a corresponding PCB associated with the computing device having the receptacle. In this embodiment, apparatus 200 may include two latches 252 situated to engage two tabs associated with a male connector of a USB “A” cord.
In an embodiment, apparatus 200 is sized and dimensioned to fit over a micro USB receptacle and to hook onto a corresponding PCB associated with the computing device having the receptacle.
In an embodiment, apparatus 200 is sized and dimensioned to fit over a display port or mini display port receptacle and to hook onto a corresponding PCB associated with the computing device having the receptacle.
In an embodiment, apparatus 200 includes no latch, a single latch 252, or includes two latches. Any latch-based embodiment includes one or more latches 252 that are sized and located on apparatus 200 to correspond to the type of port that it is manufactured for so as to engage any tabs on male connectors for that type of port.
Hooking apparatus 200 onto PCB 310 and around the outer surface of receptacle 311 does not require any special tools and can be done easily by hand of any user. Once fitted, apparatus 200 does not have to be adjusted as it is self-location. That is, apparatus 200 is manufactured and sized such that it cannot be fitted incorrectly and requires no special training to install and use.
Moreover, apparatus 200 is sized during manufacture to correspond to existing PCBs and existing communication ports of a desired type, such that apparatus 200 is usable across a wide range of computing devices and their corresponding peripheral connections.
The above description is illustrative, and not restrictive. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of embodiments 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 foregoing description of the embodiments, various features are grouped together in a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting that the claimed embodiments have more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Description of the Embodiments, with each claim standing on its own as a separate exemplary embodiment.
