# US 7,160,125 B1 · Reversible universal serial bus (USB) device and connector

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- Number: US 7,160,125 B1
- Document ID: US7160125B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 11/477,441
- Filed: 2006-06-30
- Published: 2007-01-11
- Granted: 2007-01-09
- Earliest claimed: 2004-08-02
- Assignees: Msystems Ltd.
- Inventors: Mordechai Teicher
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7160125B1

## CPC

- H01R 27/00: Coupling parts adapted for co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts ({for dissimilar contact members H01R13/35}; supported only by co-operation with a counterpart H01R31/00; with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/90)
- H01R 13/6469: on substrates
- H01R 13/6591: Specific features or arrangements of connection of shield to conductive members
- H01R 29/00: Coupling parts for selective co-operation with a counterpart in different ways to establish different circuits, e.g. for voltage selection, for series-parallel selection, {programmable connectors}
- H01R 31/065: {with built-in electric apparatus}
- H01R 13/08: Resiliently-mounted rigid pins or blades
- H01R 13/26: Pin or blade contacts for sliding co-operation on one side only {(for modular jack type connectors H01R24/62)}
- H01R 2201/06: for computer periphery
- Y10S 439/954: Special orientation of electrical connector
- H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS

## Abstract

A reversible connector for coupling with a USB A-type standard connector, including a first set of four electrical contacts deployed on a first slidingly retractable block and a second set of four electrical contacts deployed on a second slidingly retractable block, the contacts configured such that in a first coupling orientation of the reversible connector with the standard connector, the second block retracts so that only the first set of electrical contacts is mechanically connected with the contacts of the standard connector and in a second coupling orientation of the reversible connector with the standard connector, the first block retracts so that only the second set of electrical contacts is mechanically connected with the contacts of the standard connector.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A reversible connector for coupling with a USB A-type standard connector, the standard connector having a hollow section, a fixed set of four electrical contacts disposed on one side of the hollow section and an electrically conducting shield disposed on three sides of the hollow section, the reversible connector comprising:
(a) a first block having a first set of four electrical contacts deployed for mechanical connection to the set of electrical contacts of the standard connector when the reversible connector is in a first coupling orientation relative to the standard connector;
(b) a second block having a second set of four electrical contacts deployed for mechanical connection to the set of electrical contacts of the standard connector when the reversible connector is in a second coupling orientation relative to the standard connector;
wherein said first and second blocks are slidably mounted adjacent to each other and configured for independently sliding between an operative position and a retracted position such that, when the reversible connector is engaged with the standard connector in the first coupling orientation, said second block slides to said retracted position and said first block assumes said operative position for insertion into the hollow section of the standard connector, and when the reversible connector is engaged with the standard connector in the second coupling orientation, said first block slides to said retracted position and said second block assumes said operative position for insertion into the hollow section of the standard connector.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The reversible connector of claim 1, wherein the reversible connector is a plug and the standard connector is a USB A-type receptacle.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The reversible connector of claim 1, wherein the reversible connector is a receptacle and the standard connector is a USB A-type plug.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The reversible connector of claim 1, further comprising a conductive sleeve, wherein said first and second blocks are slidingly mounted within said sleeve.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The connector of claim 1, further comprising a restoring arrangement configured for restoring said blocks to said operative position.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The connector of claim 5, wherein said restoring arrangement includes two helical springs, said blocks having a width and a thickness, each of said helical springs having an outside diameter greater than said thickness.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The connector of claim 1, wherein each of said blocks include a plurality of grooves, said first set of electrical contacts and said second set of electrical contacts being recessed in said grooves.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The connector of claim 1, further comprising a housing having a set of electrical terminals disposed therein, said set of electrical terminals and said first set of electrical contacts being configured such that:
(a) said set of electrical terminals makes electrical contact with said first set of electrical contacts when said first block is in said operative position; and
(b) said set of electrical terminals is electrically isolated from said first set of electrical contacts when said first block is in said retracted position.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The connector of claim 1, further comprising a contact raising arrangement configured for:
(a) raising said first set of contacts away from said first block in said first coupling orientation, so that said first set of contacts makes mechanical contact with the set of electrical contacts of the standard connector; and
(b) raising said second set of contacts away from said second block in said second coupling orientation, so that said second set of contacts makes mechanical contact with the set of electrical contacts of the standard connector.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The connector of claim 9, further comprising a first lever arrangement and a second lever arrangement, said first lever arrangement being mechanically connected to said first set of contacts, said second lever arrangement being mechanically connected to said second set of contacts, said first lever arrangement and said second lever arrangement being configured to raise said first set of contacts and said second set of contacts, respectively, in response to actuation by the standard connector.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The connector of claim 10, wherein said first block has at least one groove therein configured to accommodate at least part of said first lever arrangement during relative movement of said first block and said second block, and wherein said second block has at least one groove therein configured to accommodate at least part of said second lever arrangement during relative movement of said first block and said second block.

### Claim 12

A reversible plug for coupling with a USB A-type standard receptacle, the standard receptacle having a hollow section, a fixed set of four electrical contacts disposed on one side of the hollow section and an electrically conducting shield disposed on three sides of the hollow section, the reversible plug comprising:
(a) a first block having a first set of four electrical contacts deployed for mechanical connection to the set of electrical contacts of the standard receptacle when the reversible plug is in a first coupling orientation relative to the standard receptacle;
(b) a second block having a second set of four electrical contacts deployed for mechanical connection to the set of electrical contacts of the standard receptacle when the reversible plug is in a second coupling orientation relative to the standard receptacle;
wherein said first and second blocks are slidably mounted adjacent to each other and configured for independently sliding between an operative position and a retracted position such that, when the reversible plug is engaged with the standard receptacle in the first coupling orientation, said second block slides to said retracted position and said first block assumes said operative position for insertion into the hollow section of the standard receptacle, and when the reversible plug is engaged with the standard receptacle in the second coupling orientation, said first block slides to said retracted position and said second block assumes said operative position for insertion into the hollow section of the standard receptacle.

### Claim 13

A reversible receptacle for coupling with a USB A-type standard plug, the standard plug having a hollow section, a fixed set of four electrical contacts disposed on one side of the hollow section and an electrically conducting shield disposed on three sides of the hollow section, the reversible receptacle comprising:
(a) a first block having a first set of four electrical contacts deployed for mechanical connection to the set of electrical contacts of the standard plug when the reversible receptacle is in a first coupling orientation relative to the standard plug;
(b) a second block having a second set of four electrical contacts deployed for mechanical connection to the set of electrical contacts of the standard plug when the reversible receptacle is in a second coupling orientation relative to the standard plug;
wherein said first and second blocks are slidably mounted adjacent to each other and configured for independently sliding between an operative position and a retracted position such that, when the reversible receptacle is engaged with the standard plug in the first coupling orientation, said second block slides to said retracted position and said first block assumes said operative position for insertion into the hollow section of the standard plug, and when the reversible receptacle is engaged with the standard plug in the second coupling orientation, said first block slides to said retracted position and said second block assumes said operative position for insertion into the hollow section of the standard plug.