Multi-stage multi-pole connector

A method of electrically interfacing a connector with an electronic device, comprising:

• providing a single axis multi-pole connector including:
• a hollow base plug portion formed of a series of discrete conductive contacts electrically isolated from one another;
• and
• a hollow tip plug portion formed of a series of discrete conductive contacts electrically isolated from one another, wherein the tip plug portion extends axially from the base plug portion and has a smaller outside diameter along the entire axial length of the tip plug portion than the average outside diameter along the axial length of the base plug portion;
• providing a receptacle with a series of conductive terminals, the receptacle having a first chamber section with a diameter at least as large as the largest outside diameter at any location along the axial length of the tip plug portion;
• providing an electronic device with a series of conductive lines electrically coupled with the conductive terminals of the receptacle;
• and
• releasably securing the connector with the receptacle such that the conductive contacts of at least one of the base plug portion and the tip plug portion of the connector electrically couple with the conductive terminals of the receptacle to form an electronic signal pathway from the connector to the electronic device.

A method of conveying electronic signals through a connector to an electronic device, comprising:

• providing a single axis multi-pole connector including:
• a hollow base plug portion formed of a series of discrete conductive contacts electrically isolated from one another;
• and
• a hollow tip plug portion formed of a series of discrete conductive contacts electrically isolated from one another, wherein the tip plug portion extends axially from the base plug portion and has a smaller outside diameter along the entire axial length of the tip plug portion than the average outside diameter along the axial length of the base plug portion;
• providing a receptacle with a series of conductive terminals, the receptacle having a first chamber section with a diameter at least as large as the largest outside diameter at any location along the axial length of the tip plug portion;
• providing an electronic device with a series of conductive lines electrically coupled with the conductive terminals of the receptacle;
• releasably securing the connector with the receptacle such that the conductive contacts of at least one of the base plug portion and the tip plug portion of the connector electrically couple with the conductive terminals of the receptacle to form a signal pathway;
• and
• transporting electronic signals across the signal pathway, wherein the electronic signals are formed as a series of dedicated channels, each channel associated with one conductive contact of one of the series of conductive contacts of the base plug portion or the series of contacts of the tip plug portion.

A single axis, multi-pole connector configured for delivering a plurality of discrete electrical signals to a receptacle of an electronic device, comprising:

• a hollow base plug portion formed as an insulative body;
• a hollow tip plug portion formed of a series of discrete conductive contacts electrically isolated from one another, wherein the tip plug portion extends axially from the base plug portion and has a smaller outside diameter along the entire axial length of the tip plug portion than the average outside diameter along the axial length of the base plug portion;
• and
• a series of conductive lines extending within the base plug portion and the tip plug portion and electrically coupled with each conductive contact of the tip plug portion for transporting discrete electrical signals to the conductive contacts of the tip plug portion.