WO2013071512A1

WO2013071512A1 - Dual-port connector

Info

Publication number: WO2013071512A1
Application number: PCT/CN2011/082430
Authority: WO
Inventors: Chung Ling Loke; Zhimin QUIN
Original assignee: Amphenol Corporation
Priority date: 2011-11-18
Filing date: 2011-11-18
Publication date: 2013-05-23

Abstract

A dual-port electrical connector (100) includes a housing (110) which includes a first port (112) and a second port (114) configured to receive a first mating connector and a second mating connector, respectively, the first mating connector and the second mating connector being different from one another. The first port includes a first terminal portion with a plurality of first contacts (128), each of the first contacts having an interface end (130) and an opposite tail end (132). The second port includes a second terminal portion with a plurality of second contacts (134), each of the second contacts having an interface end (136) and an opposite tail end (138). The tail ends of the first and second contacts extend from a rear end of the housing opposite an insertion opening (116) thereof, the tail ends of the first contacts being longer than the tails ends of the second contacts such that the tail ends of the first contacts are offset from the tail ends of the second contacts.

Description

DUAL PORT CONNECTOR

Field of the Invention

[OOOl] The present invention relates a dual port electrical connector that may be used in mobile communication terminal applications. More specifically, the dual port connector is adapted to accommodate two different types of mating connectors, such as a universal serial bus (USB) device and an input/output device.

Background of the Invention

[0002] Typically, mobile communication terminals include a number of connecting ports to accommodate various devices, such as MP3 players, cameras, storage mediums, and the like. Consequently, separate connecting modules for the various connecting ports are needed for each different type of communication device. An example of a prior art connector module for a mobile communication terminal includes U.S. Patent No. 7,713,093 to Kim, the subject matter of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

Summary of the Invention

[0003] Accordingly, the present invention provides a dual port electrical connector that comprises a housing that includes first and second ports configured to receive first and second mating connectors, respectively. The first and second mating connectors are preferably different from one another. The first port includes a first terminal portion with a plurality of first contacts. Each of the first contacts has an interface end and an opposite tail end. The second port includes a second terminal portion with a plurality of second contacts. Each of the second contacts has an interface end and an opposite tail end, wherein the tail ends of the first and second contacts extend from a rear end of the housing opposite an insertion opening thereof. The tail ends of the first contacts are longer than the tails ends of the second contacts such that the tail ends of the first contacts are offset from the tail ends of the second contacts.

[0004] Other objects, advantages and salient features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0005] A more complete appreciation of the invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0006] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dual port electrical connector in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0007] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the electrical connector illustrated in FIG. 1;

[0008] FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the electrical connector illustrated in FIG. l ;

[0009] FIG 4. is a partial bottom perspective view of the electrical connector illustrated in FIG. 1;

[0010] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the electrical connector illustrated in FIG. 1, showing a USB mating connector being inserted into the electrical connector; and

[0011] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the electrical connector illustrated in FIG. 1, showing the connector coupled with the USB. Detailed Description of the Invention

[0012] Referring to FIGS. 1-6, the dual port electrical connector 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention generally includes a housing 110 that has first and second ports 112 and 114 for receiving first and second mating connectors, respectively. The ports 112 and 114 are adapted to receive different types of mating connectors, such that only one connector 100 is needed for connecting to either type of mating connector. Thus, the first and second mating connectors are preferably different types of connectors. For example, the first mating connector is preferably a USB (FIG. 5) and the second mating connector is preferably any input/output device (not shown). The housing 110 includes an insertion opening 116 for receiving the mating connectors. Opposite the insertion opening 116 is a rear end 118 of the housing 110, as best seen in FIG. 3. The housing 110 and ports 112 and 114 are configured to receive one of the two mating connectors at a time. Also, the ports 112 and 114 are configured such that only the respective corresponding mating connector can be received in the port, thereby avoiding connection of the wrong mating connector with the wrong port.

[0013] The first and second ports 112 and 114 of the housing 110 include first and second terminal support portions 120 and 122 (FIG. 2), respectively. The first and second terminal support portions 120 and 122 are received in an outer conductive shell 124. The terminal support portions 120 and 122 may be coupled to the shell 124 in any known manner. The second terminal support portion 122 is preferably received in the back of the first terminal support portion 120, as best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4. An optional strength member 126 may be coupled to the outer surface of the shell 124 to provide mechanical support to the housing 110, particularly in the transverse direction of the housing 110. The strength member 126 may be attached to the shell 124 in any known manner, such as by laser welding. As seen in FIG. 3, a back portion of the strength member 126 is also coupled to the first terminal support portion 120.

[0014] The first terminal support portion 120 holds an array of first contacts 128 configured to mate with corresponding contacts 502 of the first mating connector or USB 500, as seen in FIG. 6. The first contacts 128 may be insert molded in the first terminal support portion 120. Each contact 128 includes an interface end 130 that couples to the corresponding contact 502 of the USB connector and an opposite tail end 132 (FIG. 3). In particular, the bottom surface of the contact's interface end 130 engages the top surface of the USB contact 502, as seen in FIG. 6, resulting in an electrical connection therebetween.

[0015] The second terminal support portion 122 holds an array of second contacts 134, as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 6. Each contact 134 has an interface end 136 for coupling to a corresponding contact (not shown) of the second mating connector, such as an input/output device and an opposite tail end 138. The two opposite end contacts of the array of second contacts 134 may be ground contacts. The bottom surface of each contact's interface end 136 is adapted to engage the top surface of the corresponding contact of the second mating connector for electrical coupling therebetween.

[0016] The shell 124 substantially surrounds the first and second terminal support portions 120 and 122 and includes legs 140 and a rear wall 142, as seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. The tails ends 132 of the first contacts 128 and the tails ends 138 of the second contacts 134 extend out of the rear end 118 of the housing 110 past the shell rear wall 142, as seen in FIGS. 3 and 4. The tail ends 132 of the first contacts 128 are longer than the tail ends 138 of the second contacts 134. Therefore the first contacts' tail ends 132 are offset from and not in the same line as the second contacts' tail ends 138, as seen in FIG. 3. [0017] While a particular embodiment has been chosen to illustrate the invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A dual port electrical connector, comprising:

a housing including first and second ports configured to receive first and second mating connectors, respectively, the first and second mating connectors being different from one another,

said first port including a first terminal portion with a plurality of first contacts, each of said first contacts having an interface end and an opposite tail end,

said second port including a second terminal portion with a plurality of second contacts, each of said second contacts having an interface end and an opposite tail end, wherein said tail ends of said first and second contacts extend from a rear end of said housing opposite an insertion opening thereof, said tail ends of said first contacts being longer than said tails ends of said second contacts such that said tail ends of said first contacts are offset from said tail ends of said second contacts.

2. A dual port electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein

said grounding member extends substantially around said outer surface of said second end of said connector body.

3. A dual port electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein

said second terminal portion is shorter than said first terminal portion such that said first terminal portion extends closer to said interface opening of said housing than said second terminal portion.

4. A dual port electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein

said second terminal portion is located below said first terminal portion.

5. A dual port electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein

said housing includes an outer conductive shell that receives said first and second terminal portions.

6. A dual port electrical connector according to claim 5, further comprising a strength member coupled to said shell and said first terminal portion.

7. A dual port electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein

said second contacts includes ground contacts at opposite ends of said second terminal portion.

8. A dual port electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein

said first contacts are universal serial bus connecting contacts; and said second contact are input/output device connecting contacts.

9. A dual port electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein

said first mating connector is a universal serial bus connector; and said second mating connector is an input/output device.