# US 2022/0045461 A1 · Electronic Apparatus

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- Number: US 2022/0045461 A1
- Document ID: US20220045461A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/387,040
- Filed: 2021-07-28
- Published: 2022-02-10
- Earliest claimed: 2020-08-04
- Assignees: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
- Applicants: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
- Inventors: Minoru SHINBA; Yoshiaki TAMURA
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20220045461A1

## CPC

- H01R 13/645: by exchangeable elements on case or base
- H01R 13/6456: {comprising keying elements at different positions along the periphery of the connector}
- H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS

## Abstract

An internal unit of an electronic apparatus includes a receptacle to be inserted and removed successfully in any of two specific directions, and a controller circuit electrically connected to the receptacle. A cable includes a connector corresponding to the receptacle. When connecting the connector to the receptacle in one direction of the two specific directions without detecting the connection direction of the connector to the receptacle, the controller circuit successfully performs transmission of at least one of the signal and the power between the plurality of internal units. When connecting the connector to the receptacle in another direction of the two specific directions, the controller circuit does not successfully perform the transmission. The connector includes a connection direction restrictor that allows connection to the receptacle in the one direction and prohibits connection to the receptacle in the other direction.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An electronic apparatus comprising:
a plurality of internal units; and
a cable for connecting the plurality of internal units,
the internal unit including a receptacle to be inserted and removed successfully in any of two specific directions, and a controller circuit electrically connected to the receptacle,
the cable including a connector corresponding to the receptacle,
wherein, when connecting the connector to the receptacle in one direction of the two specific directions without detecting a connection direction of the connector with respect to the receptacle, the controller circuit successfully performs transmission of at least one of a signal and a power between the plurality of internal units, and when connecting the connector to the receptacle in an other direction of the two specific directions, the controller circuit does not successfully perform the transmission, and
wherein the connector includes a connection direction restrictor that allows connection to the receptacle in the one direction and prohibits connection to the receptacle in the other direction.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the connection direction restrictor is a protrusion provided on the connector, and
the protrusion, by interfering with the internal unit or a structure of the electronic apparatus when connecting the connector to the receptacle in the other direction, prohibits the connection to the receptacle in the other direction, and does not interfere with the internal unit or the structure of the electronic apparatus when connecting the connector to the receptacle in the one direction.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the connection direction restrictor is a protrusion provided on the connector, and
the protrusion, by interfering with a circuit board of the internal unit when connecting the connector to the receptacle in the other direction, prohibits the connection to the receptacle in the other direction, and does not interfere with the circuit board of the internal unit when connecting the connector to the receptacle in the one direction.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The electronic apparatus according to claim 3, wherein
the circuit board includes a recess, and
the receptacle is provided in a position in the circuit board such that, the protrusion is placed in the recess when connecting the connector to the receptacle in the one direction, and the protrusion interferes with an end portion of the circuit board when connecting the connector to the receptacle in the other direction.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The electronic apparatus according to claim 3, wherein
the receptacle is provided in a position in the circuit board such that, when connecting the connector to the receptacle in the one direction, the protrusion is placed outside a corner portion of the circuit board as viewed from the receptacle, and when connecting the connector to the receptacle in the other direction, the protrusion interferes with an end portion of the circuit board.