Electrical connector with lock

Details Electrical connector with lock Electrical connector with lock

1999-12-30

2001-10-23

Nguyen, Khiem (Department: 2839)

Electrical connectors

Having circuit interrupting provision effected by mating or...

C439S352000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06305959

ABSTRACT:

This application relates to an electrical connector and more particularly to an electrical connector which is locked in place during use, retained during shock loads, and easily released.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Electrical connectors interconnect various electrical devices, particularly computer devices. U.S. Pat. No. 5,809,520 Edwards et al. and related patents and applications show and describe various storage devices such as disk drives. Zip™, Zip Notebook, and CLIK!™ drives are typical storage devices which are interconnected in a computer system by electrical cables which have standardized connectors.
The Universal Serial Bus follows a protocol defined in the Universal Serial Bus Specification (USB Spec). The USB Spec provides a standardized approach for peripheral interconnections with a host computer. The USB is set up in a tiered topology with a host on the top tier and USB hubs and functions on subsequent tiers. Each USB device, whether it be a hub or a function, has associated therewith a serial interface engine (SIE) which provides an interface between the hub or function and the transceiver which transmits or receives signals across the serial line. Generally, the SIE takes care of all the USB low level protocol matters such as bit stuffing, cycle redundancy checks (CRCs), token generation, and handshaking. ATAPI is a standard for the connectors, sometimes referred to as Centronics connectors, used to interconnect the peripherals and the host computer.
The IEEE 1394-1995 standard was adopted on Dec. 12, 1995 by the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, 345 East 47
th
St., New York, N.Y. 10017-2394. A copy of that standard is available from the IEEE. The standard is widely known in the industry of digital video, particularly since IEEE-1394-1995, also known as Fire Wire™(trademark of Apple Computer, Inc., Cupertino, Calif.
95014
), has been adopted as the standard for connecting digital video cameras and other digital video devices in the consumer and professional markets. The contents of that standard are incorporated herein by reference (IEEE 1394 Specification).
It is an object of the present invention to provide a connector for such cabling systems which can be locked into place during use, retained during shock loads, and easily released by gripping the housing and pulling the connector apart.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, an electrical connector includes a base, or printed circuit board, which contains a 50 pin Centronics connector, an IEEE 1349 connector, two retention arms and other electrical components. A housing for the base has two slots in which the base is slidable for a short distance of initial movement. The two retention arms on the base lock the connector to mating members on a mating connector. As the base slides with respect to the housing during initial movement, features on the housing cam the arms outwardly to release the lock.
Further in accordance with the invention, a spring on the base is compressed when the mating connector is inserted into the connector of the present invention. The inherent frictional force of the electrical contacts hold the base in place against the compression force of the spring. The frictional force between the contacts is slightly larger than the force required to compress the spring member. When the mating connector is pulled away from the housing, the compressional force of the spring overcomes the frictional forces of the contacts.
Further in accordance with the invention, a second set of electrical contacts compatible with a mating connector having a different electrical configuration are also mounted on the base. For example, the base, or printed circuit board of the connector of the present invention contains both a 50 pin Centronics connector and an IEEE 1394 connector. When the spring on the base is fully compressed and the assembly bottoms out, the mating contacts are forced apart breaking the circuit between them. At this time, the arms are also fully extended outwardly by the cam motion of the plastic making it possible to overcome the interlock.
If a 1394 cable connector is engaged with its mating connector, the overmold on the cable causes an interference with the plastic housing thus making it difficult, if not impossible, to disengage the Centronics connector. This is desired since the 1394 connection is designed as a hot-swappable connection and the Centronics is an ATAPI connection which is not hot-swappable.
With the 1394 cable connector disengaged, the plastic can be operated by grabbing it in almost any fashion. The only requirement is that the forces applied to the plastic be along the engagement of the Centronics connector so as to disengage this connection. Once the connection is released, the spring member returns the plastic to the ‘at rest’ position where the process began.
The foregoing and other objections, features and advantages of the invention can be understood from the following more detailed description and appended claims.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4971569 (1990-11-01), Gooch et al.
patent: 5890520 (1998-09-01), Edward et al.
patent: 5993230 (1999-11-01), Gauker et al.
patent: 0624925A1 (1994-11-01), None

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