Information handling system multi-purpose connector guide pin structure
View Patent ↗A USB Type C connector port adapts to support docking solutions with enhanced power transfer features, including increased power transfer levels supported through a guide pin and connector interface, rapid power transfer configuration changes by applying pre-negotiated power settings, external battery charge and discharge at an information handling system with improved efficiency accomplished by transitioning voltage between native and boosted levels responsive to information handling system load, and robust connector port coupling in a cavity of a connector shell.
1. An information handling system comprising:
a housing;
a motherboard disposed in the housing;
a processor disposed on the motherboard and operable to execute instructions that process information;
a memory disposed on the motherboard and interfaced with the processor, the memory operable to store the instructions and information;
a connector shell coupled directly to one side of the motherboard and having a connector shell cavity sized to accept a connector port; and
the connector port disposed in the connector shell cavity and electrically interfaced with the motherboard through the connector shell, the connector port having data and power pins to interface data and power with the motherboard, the connector port passing the data and power to the motherboard through a conductive tape,
conductive pads disposed at an outer surface of the connector shell; and
conductive pads disposed at the motherboard;
wherein the conductive pads of the connector shell and the conductive pads of the motherboard align to communicate signals between the conductive shell and the motherboard,
a signal intermediary disposed in the connector shell cavity and having conductive
elements aligned to transfer signals between the connector port and the conductive pads of the connector shell; and
a release actuator disposed in the connector shell and operable to separate the connector port from the signal intermediary to remove the connector port from the connector shell.
2. The information handling system of claim 1 further comprising the conductive tape disposed between the connector shell and the conductive pads of the motherboard, the conductive tape laterally restricting electrical signals.
3. The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the connector port comprises a Type-C USB connector port.
4. The information handling system of claim 1 further comprising: a guide connector shell disposed proximate the connector shell cavity and sized to accept a guide pin; and a guide connectors disposed in the guide connector shell and operable to accept power from the guide pin inserted in the guide connector shell.
5. The information handling system of claim 4 further comprising: a cable terminating with a connector sized to fit in the connector port, the connector providing data and power interfaces; the guide pin disposed proximate to the connector, the guide pin engaging the guide connector shell to align the connector and connector port.
6. The information handling system of claim 5 further comprising: a controller disposed in the housing and interfaced with the connector port to coordinate the data and power transfers; wherein the controller is further operable to coordinate power transfer from the guide pin to a guide connector disposed in the guide connector shell.
7. The system of claim 6 wherein the controller is further operable to pre-negotiate power settings for power transfer through both the connector port and the guide pin connector and to selectively enable power transfer through the connector port or the guide pin connector using the pre-negotiated power settings.
8. A method for interfacing a connector port to a circuit board, the method comprising:
coupling a connector shell to one side of the circuit board, the connector shell having a cavity;
electrically interfacing the circuit board through the connector shell to a signal interface in the cavity; and
removably coupling a connector port in the connector shell, the connector port having pins to communicate data and power with a cable connector, the connector port coupled in the connector shell to establish the electrical signal communication between the signal interface of the connector shell and the pins of the connector port, the connector port communicating with the circuit board by sending electrical signal communications through a conductive tape,
wherein electrically interfacing the circuit board through the connector shell to the signal interface in the cavity further comprises: aligning conductor pads disposed on the connector shell with conductor pads disposed on the circuit board; and
aligning the conductor pads of the connector shell and the conductor pads of the circuit board into electrical contact by coupling a the connector shell to the circuit board,
activating a release actuator to decouple the connector port from the connector shell; removing the connector port from the connector shell; and inserting a replacement connector port into the cavity of the connector shell.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein the connector port comprises a USB port, the method further comprising:
coupling a USB connector to the USB port;
communicating power and data from the USB connector to the USB port; and
communicating the power and data from the USB port through the signal interface and the connector shell to the circuit board.
10. The method of claim 8 further comprising:
disposing the conductive tape between the connector shell and circuit board; and passing the electrical signal communication between the connector shell and the circuit board through the conductive tape.
11. The method of claim 8 wherein electrically interfacing the circuit board through the connector shell to the signal interface in the cavity further comprises: coupling a dive board in the cavity, the dive board interfacing with a connector port inserted in the cavity; and interfacing the dive board with the conductor pads of the connector shell.
12. The method of claim 8 further comprising:
disposing a guide connection shell in the connector shell proximate but external to the connection shell cavity; and
interfacing a guide pin connector disposed in the connection shell with the circuit board, the guide pin connector operable to accept power transferred from a guide pin inserted in the guide connection shell to the circuit board.
13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:
pre-negotiating power settings to transfer power from an external power source to the circuit board through both the connector port and the guide pin connector; and
selectively applying the pre-negotiated power settings to transfer power through a selected of the connector port and the guide pin connector.
14. A system for coupling a connector port to a circuit board, the system comprising:
a connector shell forming a connector shell cavity sized to accept the connector port and having a bottom surface that couples to one surface of the circuit board; plural connector pads disposed on the bottom surface of the connector shell to align with connector pads of the circuit board, the connector pads of the circuit board providing an electrical signal path from an interior of the cavity to the bottom surface of the connector shell; and
the connector port passing the data and power to the motherboard through a conductive tape,
a signal intermediary coupled in the connector shell cavity and aligned to electrically interface the plural connector pads with connector port pins within the interior of the connector shell cavity,
a release activator integrated with the connector shell and operable to interact with the connector port disposed in the connector shell cavity to disengage the connector port; and a USB connector port disposed in the connector shell cavity and engaged with the release activator,
a guide connection shell integrated with the connection shell outside of the cavity to accept a guide pin that aligns a connector with the connector port.