Dual orientation connector with external contacts

An electrical connector comprising:

• a cable having first and second ends;
• a USB male connector coupled to the first end of the cable;
• a second male connector coupled to the second end of the cable, the second male plug connector including a body and a connector tab extending away from the body, the connector tab having first and second opposing sides, third and fourth opposing sides each extending between the first and second sides, an electrically conductive cap covering a distal end of the connector tab, and a plurality of external electrical contacts carried by and exposed at an external surface of the connector tab, the plurality of external contacts including a first plurality of external contacts positioned on the first side in a first contact region and a second plurality of external contacts positioned on the second side in a second contact region, wherein the connector tab is shaped to have 180 degree symmetry so that the connector tab can be inserted into and operatively coupled to a corresponding receptacle connector in either of two orientations;
• circuitry configured to, in response to a mating event in which the second male connector is inserted into a corresponding receptacle connector, receive a signal from the receptacle connector and send a reply signal as part of a handshaking algorithm;
• and
• power circuitry, coupled between the USB male connector and the second male connector to deliver power received at the USB male connector to one or more contacts in the plurality of external contacts.

An electrical connector comprising:

• a cable having first and second ends;
• a USB male connector coupled to the first end of the cable;
• a second male connector coupled to the second end of the cable, the second male connector including a body and a connector tab extending away from the body, the connector tab having first and second opposing sides, third and fourth opposing sides each extending between the first and second sides, an electrically conductive cap covering a distal end of the connector tab and having a first leg that extends along the third side of the connector tab toward the body and a second leg that extends along the fourth side of the connector tab towards the body, and a plurality of external electrical contacts carried by the connector tab between the first and second legs of the electrically conductive cap, the plurality of external contacts including a first plurality of contacts formed on the first side and a second plurality of contacts formed on the second side, wherein the connector tab is shaped to have 180 degree symmetry so that the connector tab can be inserted into and operatively coupled to a corresponding receptacle connector in either of two orientations, and wherein the second male connector further comprises a first recess formed in the electrically conductive cap on the third side near the distal end of the connector tab and a second recess formed in the electrically conductive cap on the fourth side opposite the first recess, each of the first and second recesses being adapted to operatively engaged with a retention mechanism in a corresponding receptacle connector;
• circuitry configured to, in response to a mating event in which the second male connector is inserted into a corresponding receptacle connector, receive a signal from the receptacle connector and send a reply signal as part of a handshaking algorithm;
• and
• power circuitry, coupled between the USB male connector and the second male connector to deliver power received at the USB male connector to one or more contacts in the plurality of external contacts.