Reversible universal serial bus (USB) connector
AssigneeSanDisk IL Ltd.
InventorMordechai Teicher
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A reversible receptacle for coupling with a USB A-type standard connector, including a first set of four electrical contact regions and a second set of four electrical contact regions, the contact regions configured such that in a first coupling orientation of the reversible receptacle with the standard plug, only the first set of electrical contact regions is mechanically connected with the contacts of the standard plug and in a second coupling orientation of the reversible receptacle with the standard plug, only the second set of electrical contact regions is mechanically connected with the contacts of the standard plug. Also provided are corresponding reversible USB appliances based upon the aforementioned reversible receptacles.
Claims20
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 sleeve, configured for cooperating with the electrically conducting shield;
- a tongue arrangement centrally disposed in said sleeve, said tongue arrangement including a first set of four electrical contact regions on a first side of said tongue arrangement and a second set of four electrical contact regions on a second side of said tongue arrangement, said tongue arrangement being configured such that:
- (a) in a first coupling orientation of the reversible connector with the standard connector, said tongue arrangement is moved in a first direction by the standard connector and said first set of electrical contact regions is mechanically connected with the set of electrical contacts of the standard connector;
- and
- (b) in a second coupling orientation of the reversible connector with the standard connector, said tongue arrangement is moved in a second direction by the standard connector and said second set of electrical contact regions is mechanically connected with the set of electrical contacts of the standard connector;
- and
- a centering mechanism, separate from said sleeve, configured for maintaining said tongue arrangement centrally within said sleeve prior to said tongue arrangement and the standard connector making contact.
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 sleeve, configured for cooperating with the electrically conducting shield;
- a tongue arrangement centrally disposed in said sleeve, said tongue arrangement including a first set of four electrical contact regions on a first side of said tongue arrangement and a second set of four electrical contact regions on a second side of said tongue arrangement, said tongue arrangement being configured such that:
- (a) in a first coupling orientation of the reversible connector with the standard connector, said tongue arrangement is moved in a first direction by the standard connector and said first set of electrical contact regions is mechanically connected with the set of electrical contacts of the standard connector;
- and
- (b) in a second coupling orientation of the reversible connector with the standard connector, said tongue arrangement is moved in a second direction by the standard connector and said second set of electrical contact regions is mechanically connected with the set of electrical contacts of the standard connector;
- and
- a centering mechanism configured for maintaining said tongue arrangement centrally within said sleeve prior to said tongue arrangement and the standard connector making contact, wherein said centering mechanism is further configured such that initial contact of said centering mechanism with the standard connector releases said centering mechanism, thereby allowing movement of said tongue arrangement.
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 sleeve, configured for cooperating with the electrically conducting shield;
- a tongue arrangement centrally disposed in said sleeve, said tongue arrangement including a first set of four electrical contact regions on a first side of said tongue arrangement and a second set of four electrical contact regions on a second side of said tongue arrangement, said tongue arrangement being configured such that:
- (a) in a first coupling orientation of the reversible connector with the standard connector, said first set of electrical contact regions is mechanically connected with the set of electrical contacts of the standard connector;
- and
- (b) in a second coupling orientation of the reversible connector with the standard connector, said second set of electrical contact regions is mechanically connected with the set of electrical contacts of the standard connector;
- and
- a movable centering mechanism configured for maintaining said tongue arrangement centrally within said sleeve prior to said tongue arrangement and the standard connector making contact.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.