IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,658,797
Granted Patent B2
US 10,658,797 · App. 16/428,630 · Granted May 19, 2020

IO integration with floating connectors in a mesh

Inventors: Bartley K. Andre (Menlo Park, CA); Mahmoud R. Amini (Sunnyvale, CA); Rui Zhou (Sunnyvale, CA); James E. Harper (Paso Robles, CA); Houtan R. Farahani (San Ramon, CA); Sung-Ho Tan (San Francisco, CA); Mariel L. Lanas (Palo Alto, CA)
Assignee: Apple Inc.
H01R13/6594G06F1/182H01R13/514H01R13/6584H01R13/6587H01R13/6588H01R13/6592H01R24/60
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,658,797
App. No.
16/428,630
Granted
May 19, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

Connector receptacles and device enclosures that can provide proper grounding, improved ventilation, and an aesthetically pleasing appearance. An example can include a device enclosure including an enclosure wall and sleeves for a number of connector receptacles. Each sleeve can electrically contact a shield of a corresponding connector receptacle via a conductive structure, such as a conductive gasket, to provide a good ground path. The sleeves can be narrow at the enclosure wall for improved ventilation and an aesthetically pleasing appearance.

Claims (36)

1. An electronic device comprising:

a section of a device enclosure for the electronic device, the section of the device enclosure comprising:

an enclosure wall having an opening; and

a sleeve integrally formed with the enclosure wall, the sleeve having a front aperture aligned with the opening in the enclosure wall, the sleeve extending into the electronic device from the enclosure wall;

a board; and

a connector receptacle comprising:

a tongue located in the sleeve;

a plurality of contacts having contacting portions on the tongue and contact tails attached to the board; and

a shield around a portion of the connector receptacle and electrically connected to the sleeve.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 further comprising a compliant structure between the shield and the sleeve and forming an electrical connection.

3. The electronic device of claim 1 further comprising a conductive gasket between the shield and the sleeve and forming an electrical connection.

4. The electronic device of claim 3 wherein the sleeve is stepped such that it widens in steps away from the enclosure wall.

5. The electronic device of claim 3 wherein the sleeve progressively widens in steps away from the enclosure wall.

6. The electronic device of claim 3 wherein the sleeve has a front aperture at the opening in the enclosure wall and a rear aperture at an opposing end, the rear aperture wider than the front aperture.

7. The electronic device of claim 3 wherein the enclosure wall comprises a plurality of perforations.

8. The electronic device of claim 3 wherein the enclosure wall comprises a plurality of holes.

9. The electronic device of claim 3 wherein the enclosure wall is conductive.

10. The electronic device of claim 3 wherein a portion of the enclosure wall is conductive.

11. A computer expansion card for an electronic device, the computer expansion card comprising:

an enclosure wall having an opening; and

a sleeve integrally formed with the enclosure wall, the sleeve having a front aperture aligned with the opening in the enclosure wall, the sleeve extending into the electronic device from the enclosure wall;

a board comprising a plurality of pads along a first edge;

a connector receptacle comprising:

a tongue located in the sleeve;

a plurality of contacts having contacting portions on the tongue and contact tails attached to the board; and

a shield around a portion of the connector receptacle and electrically connected to the sleeve; and

electronic circuitry located on the board and electrically connected to a pad in the plurality of pads on the board and a contact in the plurality of contacts in the connector receptacle.

12. The card of claim 11 further comprising a conductive gasket between the shield and the sleeve and forming an electrical connection.

13. The card of claim 12 wherein the sleeve has a front aperture at the opening in the enclosure wall and a rear aperture at an opposing end, the rear aperture wider than the front aperture.

14. The card of claim 13 wherein the sleeve is stepped such that it widens in steps away from the enclosure wall.

15. The card of claim 13 wherein the enclosure wall comprises a plurality of perforations.

16. The card of claim 13 wherein the enclosure wall comprises a plurality of holes.

17. The card of claim 16 wherein the enclosure wall is conductive.

18. The card of claim 12 wherein the electronic circuitry comprises a graphics processor.

19. The card of claim 12 wherein the electronic circuitry comprises networking circuitry.

20. The card of claim 12 wherein the enclosure wall and sleeve are conductive.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 30, 2019
From: ANDRE, BARTLEY K.; AMINI, MAHMOUD R.; ZHOU, RUI; HARPER, JAMES E.; FARAHANI, HOUTAN R.; TAN, SUNG-HO; LANAS, MARIEL L.
To: APPLE INC.
Reel/Frame 049908/0653 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62736360 · Sep 25, 2018
Related Publication 20200099174A1 · Mar 26, 2020
Cited By (3)
US 12,374,832 US 12,640,514 US 12,658,633