IP Library Granted Patent US 9,989,990
Granted Patent B2
US 9,989,990 · App. 14/971,274 · Granted Jun 5, 2018

Connector with staggered electrical pins

Inventors: Gary B. Kotzur (Austin, TX); Marcelo Saraiva (Austin, TX); Bernard Strmiska (Rounch Rock, TX)
Assignee: Dell Prodcuts L.P.
G06F1/16G06F1/185H01R12/716
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,989,990
App. No.
14/971,274
Granted
Jun 5, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

A receptacle connector may include a housing for housing a first pin and a second pin. The first pin may be of a first length and configured to be coupled to a first corresponding pin of an information handling resource received by the receptacle connector, the first pin comprising two contact bumps for maintaining electrical contact with the first corresponding pin. The second pin may be of a second length and configured to be coupled to a second corresponding pin of the information handling resource. The second length may be substantially shorter than the first length such that when the information handling resource is inserted into the receptacle connector, the first corresponding pin engages with the first pin before the second corresponding pin engages with the second pin. The second pin may comprise one contact bump for maintaining electrical contact with the second corresponding pin.

Claims (38)

1. A receptacle connector, comprising:

a housing;

a first pin of a first length disposed in the housing and configured to be coupled to a first corresponding pin of an information handling resource receivable by the receptacle connector, wherein the information handling resource conforms to an M.2 physical connector standard that does not include hot-plugging, and wherein the first pin of the receptacle connector comprises two contact bumps for maintaining electrical contact with the first corresponding pin of the information handling resource; and

a second pin of a second length disposed in the housing and configured to be coupled to a second corresponding pin of the information handling resource, wherein:

the second length is substantially shorter than the first length such that when the information handling resource is inserted into the receptacle connector, the first corresponding pin of the information handling resource is configured to engage with the first pin of the receptacle connector before the second corresponding pin of the information handling resource engages with the second pin of the receptacle connector, such that the information handling resource is capable of being safely hot-plugged into the receptacle connector; and

the second pin of the receptacle connector comprises one contact bump for maintaining electrical contact with the second corresponding pin of the information handling resource.

2. The receptacle connector of claim 1 , further comprising a third pin of a third length disposed in the housing and configured to be coupled to a third corresponding pin of the information handling resource, wherein the third length is substantially shorter than the second length such that when the information handling resource is inserted into the receptacle connector, the second corresponding pin engages with the second pin before the third corresponding pin engages with the third pin.

3. The receptacle connector of claim 2 , wherein when the information handling resource is inserted into the receptacle connector while the receptacle connector is in a powered-on state, the first corresponding pin is configured to become electrically active before the second corresponding pin, and the second corresponding pin becomes electrically active before the third corresponding pin.

4. The receptacle connector of claim 1 , wherein when the information handling resource is inserted into the receptacle connector while the receptacle connector is in a powered-on state, the first corresponding pin is configured to become electrically active before the second corresponding pin.

5. The receptacle connector of claim 1 , wherein the first pin comprises a ground pin and the second pin comprises a pin other than a ground pin.

6. The receptacle connector of claim 1 , wherein the second pin comprises exactly one contact bump for maintaining electrical contact with the second corresponding pin.

7. The receptacle connector of claim 1 , the first pin configured such that when a second contact bump of the two contact bumps engages with the first corresponding pin, a first contact bump of the two contact bumps is suspended so as to avoid contact of the first pin to portions of the information handling resource other than the first corresponding pin.

8. An information handling system comprising:

a processor; and

a receptacle connector communicatively coupled to the processor, the receptacle connector comprising:

a housing;

a first pin of a first length disposed in the housing and configured to be coupled to a first corresponding pin of an information handling resource receivable by the receptacle connector, wherein the information handling resource conforms to an M.2 physical connector standard that does not include hot-plugging, and wherein the first pin of the receptacle connector comprises two contact bumps for maintaining electrical contact with the first corresponding pin of the information handling resource; and

a second pin of a second length disposed in the housing and configured to be coupled to a second corresponding pin of the information handling resource, wherein:

the second length is substantially shorter than the first length such that when the information handling resource is inserted into the receptacle connector, the first corresponding pin of the information handling resource is configured to engage with the first pin of the receptacle connector before the second corresponding pin of the information handling resource engages with the second pin of the receptacle connector, such that the information handling resource is capable of being safely hot-plugged into the receptacle connector; and

the second pin of the receptacle connector comprises one contact bump for maintaining electrical contact with the second corresponding pin of the information handling resource.

9. The information handing system of claim 8 , wherein the receptacle connector further comprises a third pin of a third length disposed in the housing and configured to be coupled to a third corresponding pin of the information handling resource, wherein the third length is substantially shorter than the second length such that when the information handling resource is inserted into the receptacle connector, the second corresponding pin is configured to engage with the second pin before the third corresponding pin engages with the third pin.

10. The information handling system of claim 9 , wherein when the information handling resource is inserted into the receptacle connector while the receptacle connector is in a powered-on state, the first corresponding pin is configured to become electrically active before the second corresponding pin, and the second corresponding pin becomes active before the third corresponding pin.

11. The information handling system of claim 8 , wherein when the information handling resource is inserted into the receptacle connector while the receptacle connector is in a powered-on state, the first corresponding pin is configured to become electrically active before the second corresponding pin.

12. The information handling system of claim 8 , wherein the first pin comprises a ground pin and the second pin comprises a pin other than a ground pin.

13. The information handling system of claim 8 , wherein the information handling resource is a storage device.

14. The information handling system of claim 8 , the first pin configured such that when a second contact bump of the two contact bumps engages with the first corresponding pin, a first contact bump of the two contact bumps is suspended so as to avoid contact of the first pin to portions of the information handling resource other than the first corresponding pin.

15. A method for engaging an information handling resource with a receptacle connector, comprising:

engaging a first pin of a first length disposed in a housing of the receptacle connector with a first corresponding pin of the information handling resource, wherein the information handling resource conforms to an M.2 physical connector standard that does not include hot-plugging, and wherein the first pin of the receptacle connector comprises two contact bumps for maintaining electrical contact with the first corresponding pin of the information handling resource; and

after engaging the first pin with the first corresponding pin, engaging a second pin of a second length disposed in the housing with a second corresponding pin of the information handling resource, wherein:

the second length is substantially shorter than the first length;

the second pin of the receptacle connector comprises one contact bump for maintaining electrical contact with the second corresponding pin of the information handling resource; and

the receptacle connector is in a powered-on state during the engaging the first pin and the engaging the second pin, such that the information handling resource is safely hot-plugged into the receptacle connector.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising after engaging the second pin with the second corresponding pin, engaging a third pin of a third length disposed in the housing with a third corresponding pin of the information handling resource, wherein the third length is substantially shorter than the second length.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein when the information handling resource is inserted into the receptacle connector, the first corresponding pin becomes electrically active before the second corresponding pin, and the second corresponding pin becomes electrically active before the third corresponding pin.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein when the information handling resource is inserted into the receptacle connector, the first corresponding pin becomes electrically active before the second corresponding pin.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the first pin comprises a ground pin and the second pin comprises a pin other than a ground pin.

20. The method of claim 15 , wherein the information handling resource is a storage device.

21. The method of claim 15 , the first pin configured such that when a second contact bump of the two contact bumps engages with the first corresponding pin, a first contact bump of the two contact bumps is suspended so as to avoid contact of the first pin to portions of the information handling resource other than the first corresponding pin.

Assignments (15)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (053546/0001) Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 071642/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (045455/0001) Recorded May 20, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061753/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (040136/0001) Recorded Apr 26, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061324/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 3, 2021
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL, L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 058216/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 22, 2020
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053546/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 21, 2019
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 049452/0223 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040134/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040136/0001 →
RELEASE OF REEL 037848 FRAME 0001 (TL) Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040028/0152 →
RELEASE OF REEL 037848 FRAME 0210 (NOTE) Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040031/0725 →
RELEASE OF REEL 037847 FRAME 0843 (ABL) Recorded Sep 13, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040017/0366 →
SUPPLEMENT TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (ABL) Recorded Feb 18, 2016
From: DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 037847/0843 →
SUPPLEMENT TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (NOTES) Recorded Feb 18, 2016
From: DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 037848/0210 →
SUPPLEMENT TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (TERM LOAN) Recorded Feb 18, 2016
From: DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 037848/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 16, 2015
From: KOTZUR, GARY B.; SARAIVA, MARCELO; STRMISKA, BERNARD
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 037307/0178 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62093760 · Dec 18, 2014
Related Publication 20160181741A1 · Jun 23, 2016