Durable reduced-size power adapters
Power adapters and other electronic devices that are durable and can provide a large amount of power while having a small form factor. An example can provide a durable power adapter by providing a connector receptacle having a reinforced tongue. The tongue of the connector receptacle can be reinforced by having a center plate with one or more vertical portions that can be at least approximately at a right angle to a lateral portion of the center plate. This and other examples can provide a large amount of power while having a small form factor by providing a space efficient transformer having thermal dissipation components. This and other examples can provide a small form-factor by including a series of chokes formed as a module and including a variety of types of wires.
1 . A connector comprising:
a housing; and
a tongue comprising:
a center plate extending through the housing to a front edge of the tongue and laterally through the tongue and having a top surface and a bottom surface, the center plate comprising a vertical portion, the vertical portion extending orthogonally from the top surface and above the top surface of the center plate, wherein the vertical portion is absent below the bottom surface of the center plate;
a first plurality of contacts having contacting surfaces extending towards the front edge of the tongue and over the top surface of the center plate, the first plurality of contacts supported by the housing;
a first sub-housing supporting the first plurality of contacts;
a second plurality of contacts having contacting surfaces extending towards the front edge of the tongue and below the bottom surface of the center plate, the second plurality of contacts supported by the housing; and
a second sub-housing supporting the second plurality of contacts.
2 . The connector of claim 1 further comprising an extension portion extending from the vertical portion, where the extension portion extends around and is attached to the front edge of the tongue.
3 . The connector of claim 2 wherein the extension portion forms a side ground contact on the tongue.
4 . The connector of claim 3 wherein the vertical portion is formed by deep drawing.
5 . The connector of claim 4 wherein the first plurality of contacts comprises a first ground contact, the first ground contact having a first portion including a contacting surface extending towards the front edge of the tongue and having a second portion folded below the first portion, the first ground contact having a connection plate extending parallel to the front edge of the tongue from the second portion, the connection plate attached to the center plate.
6 . The connector of claim 5 further comprising:
a top shield forming a ground plate on a top of the tongue and having an extension attached to a tab at a side edge of the center plate; and
a bottom shield forming a ground plate on a bottom of the tongue and having an extension attached to the tab at the side edge of the center plate.
7 . The connector of claim 1 wherein the connector is a connector receptacle.
8 . A connector comprising:
a housing; and
a tongue comprising:
a center plate extending through the housing to a front edge of the tongue and laterally through the tongue and having a top surface and a bottom surface, the center plate comprising a vertical portion, the vertical portion extending orthogonally from the top surface above the top surface of the center plate and below the bottom surface of the center plate;
a first plurality of contacts having contacting surfaces extending towards the front edge of the tongue and over the top surface of the center plate, the first plurality of contacts supported by the housing;
a first sub-housing supporting the first plurality of contacts;
a second plurality of contacts having contacting surfaces extending towards the front edge of the tongue and below the bottom surface of the center plate, the second plurality of contacts supported by the housing; and
a second sub-housing supporting the second plurality of contacts.
9 . An electronic device comprising:
a connector according claim 8 to provide a power supply voltage; and
a transformer used in generating the power supply voltage, the transformer comprising:
a printed circuit board having a plurality of layers;
a wire formed as a first coil on a top surface of the printed circuit board and a second coil on a bottom of the printed circuit board, the first coil and the second coil forming a first winding; and
a second winding formed of metalized patterns on layers of the printed circuit board.
10 . The electronic device of claim 9 wherein the first winding is a primary winding and the second winding is a secondary winding.
11 . The electronic device of claim 10 wherein the printed circuit board includes an annular portion having a central opening, the printed circuit board further including a first notch in the central opening, wherein the wire is routed through the first notch from the first coil to the second coil.
12 . An electronic device comprising:
a connector according claim 8 to provide a power supply voltage; and
a choke module used in generating the power supply voltage, the choke module comprising:
a first low-frequency choke;
a second high-frequency choke; and
a housing to support the first low-frequency choke and the second high-frequency choke.
13 . The electronic device of claim 12 wherein the first low-frequency choke comprises a rectangular core formed by either two U-shape or two C-shape cores, a first wire wound on a first leg of the rectangular core, and a second wire wound on a second leg of the rectangular core, and wherein the second high-frequency choke comprises a toroidal core, a first wire, and a second wire, the first and second wires wound adjacent to each other and around the rectangular core.
14 . The connector of claim 8 further comprising an extension portion extending from the vertical portion, where the extension portion extends around and is attached to the front edge of the tongue.
15 . The connector of claim 14 wherein the extension portion forms a side ground contact on the tongue.
16 . The connector of claim 15 wherein the vertical portion is formed by deep drawing.
17 . The connector of claim 16 wherein the first plurality of contacts comprises a first ground contact, the first ground contact having a first portion including a contacting surface extending towards the front edge of the tongue and having a second portion folded below the first portion, the first ground contact having a connection plate extending parallel to the front edge of the tongue from the second portion, the connection plate attached to the center plate.
18 . The connector of claim 17 further comprising:
a top shield forming a ground plate on a top of the tongue and having an extension attached to a tab at a side edge of the center plate; and
a bottom shield forming a ground plate on a bottom of the tongue and having an extension attached to the tab at the side edge of the center plate.
19 . A connector comprising:
a housing; and
a tongue comprising:
a center plate extending through the housing to a front edge of the tongue and laterally through the tongue and having a top surface and a bottom surface;
a side portion attached to the center plate and extending along sides and front edge of the center plate, the side portion extending orthogonally to the center plate and above the top surface of the center plate and below the bottom surface of the center plate;
a first plurality of contacts having contacting surfaces extending towards the front edge of the tongue and over the top surface of the center plate, the first plurality of contacts supported by the housing;
a first sub-housing supporting the first plurality of contacts;
a second plurality of contacts having contacting surfaces extending towards the front edge of the tongue and below the bottom surface of the center plate, the second plurality of contacts supported by the housing; and
a second sub-housing supporting the second plurality of contacts.
20 . The connector of claim 19 wherein the side portion forms a side ground contact on the tongue.