Electrical connectors – With supporting means for coupling part – Supporting plural – independent coupling parts
Reexamination Certificate
2001-07-06
2004-12-28
Paumen, Gary (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
With supporting means for coupling part
Supporting plural, independent coupling parts
C439S079000, C439S607070
Reexamination Certificate
active
06835091
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electrical connectors and, more particularly, to a universal serial bus electrical connector.
2. Brief Description of Prior Developments
Universal serial bus (USB) electrical connectors are well known in the art. There also exists in the art a form of USB electrical connector system which includes power contacts on the plug and in the receptacle. One such USB and power electrical connector system is sold by FCI USA, Inc. under the part numbers 742394 for the receptacle and 74233 for the plug. U.S. Pat. No. 5,637,015 discloses a USB connector having shielding and two areas vertically aligned for receiving two USB connectors. However, the receptacle disclosed in this patent is not adapted to have USB+power electrical plugs connected to it.
There is a desire to provide a USB+power electrical receptacle which can receive more than one USB+power electrical plug. However, there is also a desire to keep USB electrical receptacles and plugs relatively small. This can be extremely beneficial in a relatively small component such as a laptop computer, or an electrical or electronic device where space for mounting USB plugs is limited. There is also a desire to ensure that the electrical power supplied through power contacts in a multi-plug receiving receptacle does not cause false electrical signals in the associated signal contacts or conductors in the receptacle or mating plugs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, an electrical connector is provided comprising electrical signal contacts and power contacts; and a housing. The housing has the electrical contacts connected thereto. The housing includes at least two vertically offset electrical plug receiving areas. The signal contacts extend into the receiving areas in a universal serial bus (USB) electrical conductor location configuration. The power contacts also extend into the receiving areas, but in an opposite direction from the signal contacts.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a universal serial bus (USB) electrical connector is provided comprising a housing and electrical contacts. The housing forms a plurality of USB plug receiving areas. The electrical contacts include signal contacts and power contacts. The electrical signal contacts are connected to the housing, and extend into the receiving areas, arranged for operably electrically connecting to the USB plugs inserted into the USB plug receiving areas. The electrical power contacts are connected to the housing and extending into the receiving areas. The housing has a section between two of the receiving areas. The power contacts extend from the section in opposite directions into the two receiving areas.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, an electrical connector is provided comprising a housing having two plug receiving areas vertically offset relative to each other; and electrical contacts connected to the housing and extending into the two plug receiving areas. The contacts comprise signal contacts and power contacts. The power contacts extend into the two receiving areas and the signal contacts extend into the two receiving areas. The signal and power contacts which extend into a first one of the receiving areas are arranged in an array which is substantially a mirror image of the signal and power contacts in a second one of the receiving areas.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a universal serial bus (USB) electrical connector receptacle for receiving a plurality of USB electrical connector plugs is provided. The receptacle comprises a housing having at least one plug receiving area; and electrical contacts connected to the housing. The contacts comprise signal contacts and power contacts. The at least one plug receiving area is sized and shaped to receive the plurality of USB plugs with signal contact supporting decks of two of the plugs being located vertically offset relative to each other and power contact supporting sections of the two plugs being at least partially laterally adjacent each other.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, an electrical connector is provided comprising a housing having at least one plug receiving area; and electrical contacts connected to the housing. The contacts comprise signal contacts and power contacts. The at least one plug receiving area comprises a first receiving area section sized and shaped to receive a first electrical plug having a signal contact supporting deck and a power contact section; and a second receiving area section sized and shaped to receive a second electrical plug having a signal contact supporting deck and a power contact section. At least one of the first and second receiving area sections is sized and shaped to alternatively receive a third electrical plug having a signal contact supporting deck, but not having a power contact section.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a universal serial bus (USB) electrical connector plug is provided comprising a signal contact supporting deck; electrical signal conductors directly stationarily attached to a first side of the supporting deck; and electrical power conductors directly stationarily attached to an opposite second side of the supporting deck. The supporting deck is sized and shaped to be inserted into a supporting deck receiving aperture of a USB electrical connector receptacle. The electrical signal conductors are aligned in a USB contact array configuration.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5295843 (1994-03-01), Davis et al.
patent: 5637015 (1997-06-01), Tan et al.
patent: 5685739 (1997-11-01), Davis et al.
patent: 5772453 (1998-06-01), Tan et al.
patent: 5938473 (1999-08-01), Nishio et al.
patent: 5954523 (1999-09-01), Babcock
patent: 6007379 (1999-12-01), Michaelis et al.
patent: 6027375 (2000-02-01), Wu
patent: 6053773 (2000-04-01), Wu
patent: 6089879 (2000-07-01), Babcock
patent: 6108198 (2000-08-01), Lin
patent: 6155872 (2000-12-01), Wu
patent: 6159039 (2000-12-01), Wu
patent: 6162089 (2000-12-01), Costello et al.
patent: 6165014 (2000-12-01), Kao et al.
patent: 6166892 (2000-12-01), Wu
patent: 6168468 (2001-01-01), Zhu et al.
patent: 6183292 (2001-02-01), Chen et al.
patent: 6183300 (2001-02-01), Belopolsky et al.
patent: 6217378 (2001-04-01), Wu
patent: 6238244 (2001-05-01), Yang
patent: 6273757 (2001-08-01), David et al.
patent: 6296521 (2001-10-01), Chang et al.
patent: 6346009 (2002-02-01), Lin
1. Berg Electronics, drawings for USB + Power Receptacle Assembly, 3 sheets.
2. Berg Electronics, drawings for USB + Poer Plug Kit Assembly, 3 sheets.
MacMullin Robert E.
Oleynick Gary J.
FCI Americas Technology Inc.
Harrington & Smith ,LLP
Leon Edwin A.
Paumen Gary
LandOfFree
Universal serial bus electrical connector does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Universal serial bus electrical connector, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Universal serial bus electrical connector will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3306279