Patent Application
20220231460
Universal Serial Bus (USB) is a standard that establishes specifications for cables and connectors and protocols for connection, communication, and power supply between computing devices and/or peripheral devices. USB cables, which include a plug to insert into a USB receptacle, can be a plurality of different types having different uses and capabilities including, for instance USB-A, USB-B, USB-C, mini-USB, micro-USB, and USB-3 types.
USB cables are used to transfer data and charge devices, among other uses. Different USB connector types provide different functions and speeds and may not be compatible with one another. USB connectors can be used to transfer data across interfaces that make up shared boundaries between components of a computing device or system. These interfaces can include hardware and/or software, and in some examples can allow for high-speed transfer of data via the USB connector and a corresponding USB receptacle. As used herein, a computing device can be a mechanical or electrical device that transmits or modifies energy to perform or assist in the performance of human tasks. Examples include personal computers, laptops, tablets, smartphones, mobile devices, digital notebooks, printing devices, and gaming consoles, among others.
A USB type C (USB-C) connector system includes a plug having a rotationally symmetrical connector and a receptacle to receive the connector. For example, a connection can be made in a right-side-up or right-side-down orientation. USB-C connections systems can be used to connect both hosts and devices. USB-C connector systems utilize a point-contact connection (e.g., 24-pin connector) for transfer of data and/or energy transfer.
Examples of the present disclosure allow for a more secure and reliable connection as compared to other USB-C connection systems. For instance, some examples include a 2-part connection, including a plug portion having a rectangular shape with a locator slot and a receptacle portion to receive the plug and having a locator tab to fit in the location slot while retaining the same interior features of current USB-C connections. In some examples, the rectangular shape of both the plug and the receptacle allows for surface-to-surface contacts, which together with point contacts, resulting in a more snug and secure connection, improved alignment, and improved retention force. The rectangular shape may allow for more accurate manufacturing (e.g., stamping) of the USB plug and receptacle. Such examples of the present disclosure reduce shifting and other movements (e.g., lateral movement of the USB plug) resulting in reduced errors in the associated data stream. In some examples of the present disclosure the receptacle may be backwards compatible such that the receptacle can receive an older or different version of the plug (e.g., non-rectangular-shaped, no locator slot, etc.).
The figures herein follow a numbering convention in which the first digit or digits correspond to the drawing figure number and the remaining digits identify an element or component in the drawing. Similar elements or components between different figures may be identified by the use of similar digits. For example, 104 may reference element “04” in
Elements shown in the various figures herein can be added, exchanged, and/or eliminated so as to provide a number of additional examples of the present disclosure. In addition, the proportion and the relative scale of the elements provided in the figures are intended to illustrate the examples of the present disclosure and should not be taken in a limiting sense.
In some examples, the USB plug 102 includes an additional locater slot (not illustrated in
When the system 100 is assembled such that the USB plug 102 is fully inserted into the USB receptacle 104 and the flexible locator tab 106 is mated with the locator slot 108, surface-to-surface contacts are present between the USB receptacle 104 and the USB plug 102. For instance, an inner side surface 107 of the USB receptacle 104 can have a surface-to-surface contact with outer side surface 105 of the USB plug 102 when the system 100 is assembled. In some examples, top surface 101 of the USB plug 102 can have a surface-to-surface contact with an inner top surface 103 of the USB receptacle 104. Similar, an inner side surface opposite the surface 107 and a lower inner surface opposite the surface 103 of the USB receptacle 104 can have surface-to-surface contacts with an outer side surface opposite the surface 105 and an outer bottom surface opposite the surface 101 of the USB plug 102, respectively. The surface-to-surface contacts can reduce shifting of the connection and can reduce or prevent transfer and communication issues as compared to connectors having point contact connections, but no surface-to-surface contacts.
In some examples, the USB receptacle 104 is rectangular shaped and the USB plug 102 is rectangular shaped. For instance, the portion of the USB plug 102 inserted in the USB receptacle 104 and the USB receptacle 104 may have a smaller radius and more squared-off shape as compared to other USB systems. For instance, a different USB-C connector may have rounded edges that do not allow for surface-to-surface contacts like the rectangular shapes of the USB receptacle 104 and the USB plug of the present disclosure.
In some instances, the USB receptacle 104 may be backwards compatible with a different USB plug. For instance, in an example in which the USB receptacle 104 is a USB-C receptacle, it may receive a different USB-C plug. Put another way, the USB-C receptacle 104 can be rectangular-shaped while the different USB-C plug has rounded edges. In such an example, the flexible locator tab 106 on the USB receptacle 104 can create a snugger fit between the USB receptacle 104 and a different USB plug as compared to a fit between a different USB receptacle and a different USB plug.
To make the USB receptacle 104 backwards compatible with a different USB plug, the inner contacts of the USB receptacle 104 and the USB plug 102 may be the same as different USB receptacles and plugs. For instance, in an example in which the USB receptacle 104 is a USB-C receptacle, the inner contacts may be the same as those in a different USB-C receptacle. Similar, in an example in which the USB plug 102 is a USB-C plug, the inner contacts may be the same as those in a different USB-C plug.
The first locator slot 308-1 can mate with the locator tab 306 responsive to insertion of the USB plug 302 into the USB receptacle 304 in a first orientation (e.g., first side 312 up, also referred to as “right-side up”). The second locator slot 308-2 can mate with the locator tab 306 responsive to insertion of the USB plug 302 into the USB receptacle 304 in a second orientation (e.g., second side 312 up, also referred to as “upside down”). This can allow for insertion of the USB plug 302 into the USB receptacle in different orientations while retaining the surface-to-surface contacts and the secure fit of the locator slot 308 mated with the locator tab 306.
For instance, the surface-to-surface contacts remain whether the first side 312 of the USB plug is up or the second side 314 of the USB plug 302 is up. For instance, in the first example (e.g., first side 312 up), top outer surface 311 of the USB plug 302 has surface-to-surface contact with top inner surface 303 of the USB receptacle 304, and outer side surface 313 of the USB plug 302 has surface-to-surface contact with inner side surface 307 of the USB receptacle. In the same example, surface 301 of the USB plug 302 (which in this example would be an outer bottom surface opposite surface 311) has surface-to-surface contact with a bottom inner surface of the USB receptacle 304, while surface 305 of the USB plug 302 (which in this example would be an outer side surface opposite surface 313) has surface-to-surface contact with an inner side surface opposite the inner side surface 307 of the USB receptacle 304.
In the second example (e.g., second side 314 up), top outer surface 301 of the USB plug 302 has surface-to-surface contact with top inner surface 303 of the USB receptacle 304, and outer side surface 305 of the USB plug 302 has surface-to-surface contact with inner side surface 307 of the USB receptacle. In the same example, surface 311 of the USB plug 302 (which in this example would be an outer bottom surface opposite surface 301) has surface-to-surface contact with a bottom inner surface of the USB receptacle 304, while surface 313 of the USB plug 302 (which in this example would be an outer side surface opposite surface 305) has surface-to-surface contact with an inner side surface opposite the inner side surface 307 of the USB receptacle 304.
In the foregoing detailed description of the present disclosure, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration how examples of the disclosure can be practiced. These examples are described in sufficient detail to enable those of ordinary skill in the art to practice the examples of this disclosure, and it is to be understood that other examples can be utilized and that process, electrical, and/or structural changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US2019/050743 | 9/12/2019 | WO | 00 |
