USB connector and USB device

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DESCRIPTION

USB connector and USB device.

Field of the invention

The invention relates to the field of communications and, in particular, to a USB connector (Universal Serial BusBus Universal Serial) and to a USB device.

Background of the invention

With the rapid development of communication technology, USB products play an increasingly important role in people's lives and work. Conventional USB products generally use special USB connectors. A special USB connector is provided at one front end of USB products, and these USB products connect to a USB port through the USB connector.

During the implementation of the present invention the invention has found that, with respect to the USB products currently available on the market, its USB port is longitudinally connected with the USB body. Therefore, the length of the USB ports increases the length of the USB body, which makes USB products longer. As a result, such USB products are not easy to transport, nor do they live up to people's standards for exquisiteness and compactness.

US 2004/0048494 A1 describes an electrical adapter including a first electrical connector unit and a second electrical connector unit electrically coupled to the first electrical connector unit. The USB connector for connection to a USB female comprises metal pins (set of terminals 62), a connection line (flexible conductive unit 20), a substrate (intrinsic to a USB connector unit 61) and a rotating shaft assembly, in where one end of the metal pins connects with one end of the connection line, the metal pins are formed on a surface of the substrate (intrinsic to the USB connector unit 61), The connecting line is fixed to the surface of the substrate and said rotary shaft assembly includes a rotary shaft (pivot shaft 413) and a rotary shaft sleeve (pivot hole 314), and the rotary shaft is arranged in the sleeve of said rotating shaft and is capable of rotating relative to the rotating shaft sleeve.

Summary of the invention

The present invention provides a USB connector and a USB device. The USB connector has a reduced thickness, thus reducing the thickness of the USB device.

The present invention provides a USB connector for connection to a USB female, comprising metal pins, a connection line, a substrate, and a rotating shaft assembly. One end of the metal pins connects to one end of the connection line. The metal pins are formed on one surface of the substrate. The connecting line and the rotating shaft assembly are attached to the surface of the substrate.

The present invention also provides a USB device comprising a USB connector, a housing and a PCB (Printed Circuit Board), where:

the USB connector comprises metal pins, a connection line, a substrate and a rotating shaft assembly, one end of the metal pins connects with one end of the connection line, the metal pins are formed on a surface of the substrate, the connecting line is attached to the surface of the substrate, the rotating shaft assembly is attached to the surface of the substrate; and the USB connector is installed at one end of the housing by means of the rotating shaft assembly;

the PCB board is arranged inside the cavity of the housing and one end of the PCB is connected with another end of the connection line; and a receptacle for accommodating the USB connector is disposed on a surface of the housing.

According to the USB connector and the USB device of the present invention, the metal pins are formed on the surface of the substrate to ensure the connection strength of said metal pins. Since the size of the USB connector depends mainly on the substrate, and as long as the thickness satisfies the requirement of inserting the USB connector into the USB socket, the thickness of the USB connector and furthermore the thickness of the USB device are reduced without compromising the performance. from the USB connector. Compared with conventional USB products, the thickness of the USB device according to the present invention has been greatly reduced such that the USB device is smaller and easier to transport. It not only satisfies people's requirement for compact and exquisite electronic products, but also improves the practical nature and aesthetics of the USB device.

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Brief description of the drawings

Figure 1 is a schematic exploded view of a USB connector according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2a is a first structural schematic view of the USB connector according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2b is a second structural diagram of the USB connector according to the first embodiment of the invention;

Figure 3 is an exploded diagram of a rotary shaft assembly shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a structural diagram of the rotary shaft assembly shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5a is a first partially exploded schematic view of a USB device according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 5b is a second partially exploded schematic view of the USB device according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 6 is a first structural schematic view of the USB device according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 7 is a second structural schematic view of the USB device according to the second embodiment of the present invention; Y

Figure 8 is a schematic view of the USB connector in use in the USB device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed description of the preferred embodiments

The present invention is detailed below.

In the first embodiment, as shown in figure 1, a USB connector 51 for connection with a USB socket comprises metal pins 11, a connection line 12 and a substrate 13. One end of the metal pins 11 connects with a end of connection line 12. Another end of connection line 12 is used for connection with a PCB board. The metal tabs 11 are formed on a surface of the substrate 13. The connection line 12 is fixed to the surface of the substrate 13. The thickness of the USB connector depends mainly on the thickness of the substrate 13. As long as the thickness of the substrate 13 satisfies the requirement of inserting the USB connector into the USB socket, the thickness of the USB connector and, furthermore, the thickness of the USB device are reduced without compromising the operation of the USB connector. Compared with conventional USB products, the thickness of the USB device according to the present invention has been greatly reduced, making the USB device smaller and easier to carry, which not only satisfies people's requirement regarding products. exquisite and compact electronics, but also enhances the practical nature and aesthetics of the USB device.

Also, when the thickness of the substrate 13 is more than 2.45mm, it may be difficult to insert the USB connector into the USB socket. When the thickness of the substrate 13 is less than 2.2mm, a gap between the USB connector and the USB female may be too large after inserting the USB connector into the USB female. As a result, the stability of the connection between the USB connector and the USB socket is reduced. Therefore, the thickness of the substrate 13 is preferably in the range of 2.2mm to 2.45mm.

The metal pins 11 can be attached to the surface of the substrate 13 by means of In Mold Decoration (IMD) molding or hot insertion. Furthermore, to improve the connection strength of the metal pins 11, grooves can be made in the surface of the substrate 13 and the metal pins 11 are embedded in the surface of the substrate 13 so that they integrate with said substrate 13. Alternatively, the metal pins 11 can be formed on the surface of the substrate 13 by corrosion methods. For example, the metal pins 11 are formed by exposing the copper to the surface of the substrate 13.

Furthermore, to ensure the electrical connection performance between the metal pins and the USB socket, the surface of the metal pins 11 is not below the surface of the substrate 13. However, when the metal pins 11 go beyond the surface of the substrate 13 at a height of more than 0.2mm, it may be difficult to insert the USB connector into the USB socket. Thus, the metal tabs exceed the surface of the substrate 13 by a height between 0 and 0.2 mm.

In addition, to prolong the life of the USB connector, the surface of the metal pins 11 is plated with gold or silver in order to prevent said metal pins 11 from being oxidized by air pollutants and to prevent the metal pins 11 from being eroded when touched. an user.

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In addition, to improve the protection against electrostatic discharge (Electro-Static Discharge, ESD) of the USB connector, the connection line 12 also includes a ground terminal 121 for connection to the ground of the PCB. A metal layer 14 is arranged on another surface of the substrate 13 facing the metal pins 11. The metal layer 14 is connected to the ground terminal 121 through a metal sheet 15 to provide ESD protection. Furthermore, the metallic layer 14 can be a layer of stainless steel in order to improve its anti-corrosion, thus prolonging the life of the USB connector. On the other hand, the metal sheet 15 extends through the substrate 13 so that one end of said metal sheet 15 connects with the ground terminal 121 of the connection line 12 and the other end connects with the metal layer 14 . Thus, the metal sheet 15 is invisible from the outside of the assembled USB connector, thereby improving the aesthetics of said USB connector. The metal layer 14 can be attached to the substrate 13 by means of ultrasonic welding, gluing or other methods so as to ensure good contact between the metal layer 14 and the metal sheet 15.

Furthermore, to reinforce the stability of the USB connector, a retainer 16 of the connection line is arranged so that it covers said connection line 12. The retainer 16 for the connection line fixes said connection line 12 on the substrate 13. The retainer 16 for connecting line can be made of plastic or hot melt rubber by injection molding. The heated plastic or hot melt rubber is loaded into the gap between the connection line 12 and the substrate 13 and forms the retainer 16 for the connection line after cooling.

Furthermore, to improve the practicability of the USB connector, a fail-safe structure 17 is provided on the surface of the substrate 13 to prevent the USB connector from being inserted in the inverted position. When the user inserts the USB connector 51 into the USB socket, the surface with the fail-safe structure 17 is turned upwards in order to form a good contact between the metal pins 11 and the USB socket 1, thus preventing the connector from USB is inserted upside down into the USB socket and cause a short circuit or no operation by means of the failsafe structure 17. Since a gap is formed between the surface of the substrate 13 and the inner wall of the USB socket when the substrate 13 mates with the USB socket, the fail-safe structure 17 can be accommodated in the gap. Thus, a universal USB female can be coupled with the USB connector 51 according to this embodiment. Furthermore, the failsafe structures 17 can be arranged symmetrically or asymmetrically on the surface of the substrate 13. Preferably, failsafe structures 17 are symmetrically arranged on the surface of substrate 13 to improve the aesthetics of the uSb connector and facilitate fabrication. Alternatively, the fail-safe structures 17 can be the projections arranged on one side of the surface of the substrate 13 or symmetrically on both sides of the surface of the substrate 13.

In addition, to ensure flexibility when the USB connector is in use, as shown in Figure 2a, a rotating shaft assembly 18 is attached to the surface of the substrate 13. The rotating shaft assembly 18 can be attached to the surface of the substrate 13 by means of ultrasonic welding, gluing, etc. When, see Figures 5a and 5b, the USB connector 51 is installed in other components by means of the rotating shaft assembly 18 to form a USB device, such as a U disk or a wireless network adapter, the USB connector 51 can rotate relative to other components by means of the rotary shaft assembly 18. In addition, see Figures 3 and 4, the rotary shaft assembly 18 may include a rotary shaft 181 and a rotary shaft sleeve 182. The rotary shaft sleeve 182 is fixed on the surface of the substrate 13 and the rotary shaft 181 is rotatable in the sleeve 182 thereof. Rotary shaft 181 has a first positioning structure 1811 disposed thereon and rotary shaft sleeve 182 has a second positioning structure 1821 disposed thereon. The first positioning structure 1811 cooperates with the second positioning structure 1821 to realize the positioning function. The rotating shaft assembly 18 with the first positioning structure 1811 and the second positioning structure 1821 could realize a positioning when the USB connector 51 is rotating. For example, the USB connector 51 can stop, by turning, every 45 ° or every 90 °. The first positioning structure 1811 and the second positioning structure 1821 can adopt the conventional positioning structure. For example, the first positioning structure 1811 consists of elastic projections and the second positioning structure 1821 consists of positioning holes or positioning grooves regularly distributed within the sleeve 182 of the rotary shaft in accordance with the positioning requirements when the USB connector 51 rotates. . When the rotary shaft 181 rotates relative to the rotary shaft sleeve 182 and the first locating frame 1811 meets the second locating frame 1821, the elastic projections are inserted into the locating holes or locating grooves, stopping and thus positioning the USB connector 51. When a force to continuously rotate the USB connector 51 has an effect on said USB connector 51, the elastic projections deform under extrusion of the inner wall of the positioning holes or the positioning grooves and disengage from the positioning holes, with so the USB connector can continue to rotate in an original direction or in an opposite direction.

To facilitate assembly of the USB connector 51 with other components to form the USB device, the rotary shaft assembly 18 may also include a rotary shaft bracket 183. Unlike the way the rotary shaft sleeve 182 is fixed on the surface of the substrate 13, the rotary shaft assembly 18 with the rotary shaft holder 183 is fixed on the surface of the substrate 13 by means of said shaft holder 183 rotary. As shown in Figures 2a and 2b, the rotary shaft assembly provided with a rotary shaft holder is fixed on the substrate surface as follows: the rotary shaft holder 183 is housed on the surface of the substrate 13, a portion of the rotary shaft holder 183 which comes into contact with the substrate surface 13 is fixedly connected, a first holder hole 1831 and a second bearing hole are provided. bracket 1832 on each side of the rotary shaft bracket 183, respectively, the other end of the connection line 12 passes through the first bracket hole 1831 to connect with the PCB; the sleeve 182 of the rotary shaft passes through the second

ES 2 341 508 T3 support 1832. As shown in figure 1, five wires are twisted together to form the connection line 12, one end of the five wires connects with the metal pins 11 and the other end passes through the first hole support 1831. As shown in figure 6, the USB connector has been installed with other components to form a USB device, the USB connector can rotate clockwise or counterclockwise relative to other components by means of the set of rotating shaft 18. During rotation, connecting line 12 is twisted or untwisted like a fried dough twist. In addition, the rotary shaft sleeve 182 includes a first sleeve portion 1822, a second sleeve portion 1823, and an elastic portion 1824. The first sleeve portion 1822 has a through hole formed therein. The second sleeve portion 1823 has a cavity 18231 formed therein and a hole 18232 formed in the side wall of the second sleeve portion 1823. The elastic part 1824 can be a spring, etc. The rotary shaft 181 comprises an elastic square head and a rear end 1812 that connects to the elastic square head. The rear end 1812 traverses the first part of the sleeve and cooperates with the second part 1823 of the sleeve 182 of the rotary shaft to press the elastic part 1824. After the rear end 1812 is fitted into the cavity 18231 of the second part of the sleeve, elastic deformation of the elastic part 1824 is resumed so that the square elastic head is ejected from the hole 18232 of the side wall of the second part. cuff.

In the second embodiment, as shown in Figures 5a, 5b and 6, a USB device, such as a U disk or a wireless network adapter, etc., comprises the USB connector 51 as described in the first embodiment, a housing 52 and a PCB. The same parts as those in the first embodiment are indicated by the same reference numerals as in the first embodiment. The USB connector 51 comprises metal pins 11, a connection line 12, a substrate 13 and a rotating shaft assembly 18. One end of the metal pins 11 connects with one end of the connection line 12. The metal pins 11 they are formed on the surface of the substrate 13. The rotating shaft assembly 18 is attached to the surface of the substrate 13. The USB connector is installed at the end of the housing 52 by means of the rotating shaft assembly 18. The PCB is arranged within the cavity of the housing and the end of the PCB is connected to the other end of the connection line 12. A receptacle 521 for accommodating the USB connector is provided on the surface of the housing.

To facilitate assembly, the housing generally includes a first housing 522 and a second housing 523. The first and second housings are joined together to form a cavity in which the PCB is disposed. When assembled, each of both ends of the USB connector fits into a corresponding hole that is provided on each side of one end of the first housing. The USB connector is thus installed at one end of the first housing by means of the rotating shaft assembly 18; then the first housing is covered with the second housing to form the USB device. The USB connector can rotate with respect to the housing and ensures continuity of the power line 12. Mounting of the USB connector at one end of the first housing by means of the rotating shaft assembly 18 can be implemented in the following ways: The rotating shaft assembly comprises a rotating shaft sleeve and a rotating shaft, the rotating shaft can rotate on the shaft sleeve, the rotating shaft sleeve is fixed to the surface of the substrate, and each of both ends of the rotating shaft is engaged in the corresponding hole on each side of one end of the first housing; alternatively, as shown in Figures 5a and 5b, the rotary shaft assembly 18 comprises a rotary shaft sleeve 182, a rotary shaft 181, and a rotary shaft bracket 183; the rotating shaft support 183 is fixed to the surface of the substrate 13; rotary shaft sleeve 182 passes from the inside through second support hole 1832 in one side of rotary shaft support 183 and through a hole 5221 formed in one side of one end of the first housing; rotary shaft 181 can rotate in sleeve 182 thereof; a first support portion, which is coaxial with the rotary shaft 181, is disposed on the rotary shaft support 183, and a second support portion corresponding to the first support portion is disposed on the first housing; the first support portion cooperates with the second support portion to pivotally connect the USB connector to the first housing. The first support portion may be a projection 1831 projecting outwardly from the rotating shaft holder 183, and the second support portion may be a hole 5222 formed on the other side of one end of the first housing, and the projection is received in the hole. Alternatively, the first support portion may be a groove formed in the rotary shaft support 183, the second support portion may be a projection projecting inwardly from another side of one end of the first housing, and the projection is received in the groove.

The receptacle 521 on the housing surface accommodates the USB connector such that the metal pins face the receptacle. Thus, when the USB device is not in use, the USB connector is accommodated in the receptacle and the metal faces face towards the receptacle. Viewed from outside the USB device, only the other surface of the substrate opposite the metal pins is exposed to the outside, thus preventing the metal pins from being contaminated or damaged by the environment.

Furthermore, as shown in Figure 7, from the perspective of aesthetics and psychology, there is a smooth transition between an outer surface of the USB connector and an outer surface of the housing when the USB connector is seated in the receptacle. Thus, when the USB device is not used, the USB connector and the housing appear to have the same surface, thus the appearance of the USB device is aesthetic, simple and smooth, thus satisfying the user's requirements for exquisite products.

As shown in Fig. 8, in practice, the USB connector can rotate relative to the housing in one direction or in an opposite direction, so that it can rotate freely and is easy to store. The USB device according to the present invention eliminates the disadvantage of the conventional USB device, in which the USB connector is arranged in line with the housing and cannot be bent.

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The above description is merely a special embodiment of the present invention. It is noted that it is possible for one skilled in the art to make various modifications and variations without departing from the principles of the present invention defined by the appended claims.