Electronic connector
AssigneeMicrosoft Technology Licensing, LLC
InventorsIvan Andrew McCracken, Duane Martin Evans, Brett Tomky
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electronic connector includes a base, a tapered extension protruding from the base, and a nose forming a terminal end of the tapered extension. The tapered extension includes first and second connection faces tapering toward each other from the base to the nose symmetrically about a first symmetry plane. The tapered extension further includes first and second flank surfaces that form respective opposing sides of the tapered extension between the first and second connection faces. The first and second flank surfaces may taper toward each other from the base to the nose symmetrically about a second symmetry plane. The tapered extension further includes power and ground electrical contacts located along the first and second connection faces.
Claims20
An electronic connector, comprising:
- a base;
- a tapered extension protruding from the base, the tapered extension including:
- a nose forming a terminal end of the tapered extension,
- a first connection face,
- a second connection face, the first connection face and the second connection face tapering toward each other from the base to the nose symmetrically about a first symmetry plane,
- a first flank surface, and
- a second flank surface, the first flank surface and the second flank surface forming respective opposing sides of the tapered extension between the first connection face and the second connection face, and tapering toward each other from the base to the nose symmetrically about a second symmetry plane that is orthogonal to the first symmetry plane;
- a first power electrical contact and a first ground electrical contact located along the first connection face proximate to the first flank surface;
- a second power electrical contact and a second ground electrical contact located along the first connection face proximate to the second flank surface;
- a third power electrical contact and a third ground electrical contact located along the second connection face proximate to the first flank surface;
- and
- a fourth power electrical contact and a fourth ground electrical contact located along the second connection face proximate to the second flank surface.
A docking station, comprising:
- a docking base;
- a tapered extension protruding from the docking base, the tapered extension including:
- a nose forming a terminal end of the tapered extension,
- a first connection face,
- a second connection face, the first connection face and the second connection face tapering toward each other from the base to the nose symmetrically about a first symmetry plane,
- a first flank surface, and
- a second flank surface, the first flank surface and the second flank surface forming respective opposing sides of the tapered extension between the first connection face and the second connection face, and tapering toward each other from the base to the nose symmetrically about a second symmetry plane that is orthogonal to the first symmetry plane;
- a first power electrical contact and a first ground electrical contact located along the first connection face proximate to the first flank surface;
- a second power electrical contact and a second ground electrical contact located along the first connection face proximate to the second flank surface;
- a third power electrical contact and a third ground electrical contact located along the second connection face proximate to the first flank surface;
- and
- a fourth power electrical contact and a fourth ground electrical contact located along the second connection face proximate to the second flank surface.
An electronic accessory device, comprising:
- a base;
- a tapered extension protruding from the base, the tapered extension including:
- a nose forming a terminal end of the tapered extension,
- a first connection face,
- a second connection face, the first connection face and the second connection face tapering toward each other from the base to the nose symmetrically about a first symmetry plane,
- a first flank surface, and
- a second flank surface, the first flank surface and the second flank surface forming respective opposing sides of the tapered extension between the first connection face and the second connection face, and tapering toward each other from the base to the nose symmetrically about a second symmetry plane that is orthogonal to the first symmetry plane;
- a first power electrical contact and a first ground electrical contact located along the first connection face proximate to the first flank surface;
- a second power electrical contact and a second ground electrical contact located along the first connection face proximate to the second flank surface;
- a third power electrical contact and a third ground electrical contact located along the second connection face proximate to the first flank surface;
- and
- a fourth power electrical contact and a fourth ground electrical contact located along the second connection face proximate to the second flank surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.