Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110281450 | Miniature Electrical Connectors - A miniature electrical connector comprising a floating and vertically orientable spring contact within but not physically secured to an electrically-conductive connector block of a female connector wherein the spring contact and connector block are designed such that the spring contact is vertically oriented and outwardly expanded when a male connector is inserted into the female connector to provide a conductive path between a male contact of the male connector and the connector block of the female connector. | 11-17-2011 |
20120270424 | EDGE CONNECTOR FOR SHIELDED ADAPTER - Electrical connections that provide a highly manufacturable, well-shielded path from a cable to a printed circuit board. One example provides a path that includes a card and a connector. Conductors in a cable may be attached to a card. The card may be shielded with a ground plane on one or more sides and edges. The card may insert into a connector that may be attached to a printed circuit board. The connector may include a shield that may have a top portion that forms electrical contact with a ground plane on a top of a card inserted in the connector. The connector may have an opening for accepting the card that is defined by the top portion of the shield and a plurality of rows of contacts. The rows of contacts may include an outer row of ground contacts, and an inner row of signal contacts. | 10-25-2012 |
20120270448 | USB CONNECTOR HAVING VERTICAL TO HORIZONTAL CONVERSION CONTACTS - Connector receptacles that provide a right-angle translation, may be readily manufactured, and may have an aesthetically pleasing appearance. One example may provide a connector receptacle having contacts that provide a right-angle translation. Another example may provide a connector receptacle having an aesthetically pleasing appearance. By inserting an injection molded housing into an over-mold, the interior of a connector may appear to be formed from a single piece of plastic or other material. | 10-25-2012 |
20130231008 | EDGE CONNECTOR FOR SHIELDED ADAPTER - Electrical connections that provide a highly manufacturable, well-shielded path from a cable to a printed circuit board. One example provides a path that includes a card and a connector. Conductors in a cable may be attached to a card. The card may be shielded with a ground plane on one or more sides and edges. The card may insert into a connector that may be attached to a printed circuit board. The connector may include a shield that may have a top portion that forms electrical contact with a ground plane on a top of a card inserted in the connector. The connector may have an opening for accepting the card that is defined by the top portion of the shield and a plurality of rows of contacts. The rows of contacts may include an outer row of ground contacts, and an inner row of signal contacts. | 09-05-2013 |
20130244494 | CONNECTOR RECEPTACLE HAVING SPLIT CONTACTS - Connector receptacles that are simple to assemble, provide good shielding, and consume a reduced or limited amount of space inside a device enclosure. To simplify assembly, these receptacles may include a subassembly that is inserted into a hollow tongue. The subassembly may include a first number of contacts that are insert molded in a first overmold, as well as a second number of contacts that may be inserted into a second overmold. To improve ground shielding, one or more ground contacts at a front of the receptacle may be split to provide shielding in a back of the receptacle. The tongue may further include ground contacts on its sides and top. The contacts may terminate in through-hole portions to reduce the space consumed by the receptacle. | 09-19-2013 |
20130329324 | ESD PATH FOR CONNECTOR RECEPTACLE - Circuits, methods, and apparatus that may provide a separation between a signal ground and an enclosure ground such that EMI and ESD circuits are not bypassed. One example may provide a connector receptacle having fingers for contacting a device enclosure, where the fingers are not directly electrically connected to a shell of the connector receptacle. These fingers may be isolated from the shell along a top-side by an electrically insulating layer. These fingers may be further insulated from the shell along a back side by a nonconductive piece or portion of a housing. | 12-12-2013 |
20140273654 | CONTACT-SUPPORT MECHANISM FOR INCREASED RETENTION FORCE - Circuits, methods, and apparatus that may provide audio jacks capable of providing a sufficient retention force to avoid some inadvertent extractions of an audio plug. Examples may also provide audio jacks that may be readily assembled. Other examples may provide other types of connectors. These audio jacks or other connectors may provide contact structures having one or more contacts, each having a contact support to increase contact retention force. Different materials may be used to form the contacts and the contact supports. In this way, contacts may be formed using a highly conductive material, while the contact supports may be formed of a material having good spring characteristics. While such a contact may not be able to provide an adequate retention force on its own, the use of a contact support may sufficiently increase the retention force to prevent accidental extractions of an audio plug or other connector. | 09-18-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120045912 | Multi-Contact Connector System - A connector system for Behind-The-Ear (BTE) hearing devices provides a means to detachably connect a variety of accessories to a sound processor, including batteries, earhooks, telecoils, auxiliary microphones, FM receivers, and input jacks for miscellaneous devices. The present invention provides an efficient and economical sealing connection, eliminating the introduction of sweat, body fluid and other contaminants into the connection area, which otherwise would result in corrosion and eventually disable the connected device. A wiping contact formed by a configuration of cam contacts and a flex circuit with a configuration of corresponding contacts is combined with a rotational engagement mechanism to create a vibration-resistant high contact density connector that is moisture proof when engaged. | 02-23-2012 |
20130010992 | WATERPROOF ACOUSTIC ELEMENT ENCLOSURES AND APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME - A waterproof enclosure for a cochlear implant system or other hearing assistance device includes an outer housing, an inner support in the interior of the outer housing, an acoustic element supported by the inner support, and water-impermeable polymeric protective membrane sealing the interior of the outer housing against water ingress. A hearing device such as a cochlear implant sound processor, a headpiece, an earhook, or a hearing aid comprises an outer housing, an inner support in the interior of the outer housing, a microphone supported by the inner support, and a water- impermeable polymeric protective membrane sealing the interior of the outer housing against water ingress. A method for waterproofing an acoustic element comprises molding an outer support having a water-impermeable polymeric protective membrane; inserting an acoustic element into an inner support; anchoring the acoustic element to the inner support; inserting the inner support into the outer support; and anchoring the inner support to the outer support. | 01-10-2013 |
20140268598 | Electronic Device Having Connector With Integrated Shielding - An electronic device may have a housing in which electrical components on a printed circuit board are mounted. A connector may be mounted to the edge of the printed circuit board using solder. The connector may have a threaded portion that protrudes through the housing. A threadless portion of the connector may be aligned with the housing. The connector may have a metal body member covered with a metal shell. The metal shell may have a portion that covers the electrical components and serves as an electromagnetic interference shield for the electrical components. The connector may have a threaded barrel. The threaded barrel may have a threaded outer portion with a diameter that is larger than a threaded inner portion. The threadless portion of the connector may lie between the threaded outer and inner portions. | 09-18-2014 |
20150023538 | WATERPROOF ACOUSTIC ELEMENT ENCLOSURES AND APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME - A waterproof enclosure for a cochlear implant system or other hearing assistance device includes an outer housing, an inner support in the interior of the outer housing, an acoustic element supported by the inner support, and water-impermeable polymeric protective membrane sealing the interior of the outer housing against water ingress. A hearing device such as a cochlear implant sound processor, a headpiece, an earhook, or a hearing aid comprises an outer housing, an inner support in the interior of the outer housing, a microphone supported by the inner support, and a water-impermeable polymeric protective membrane sealing the interior of the outer housing against water ingress. A method for waterproofing an acoustic element comprises molding an outer support having a water-impermeable polymeric protective membrane; inserting an acoustic element into an inner support; anchoring the acoustic element to the inner support; inserting the inner support into the outer support; and anchoring the inner support to the outer support. | 01-22-2015 |