公开(公告)号：US09935388B2

公开(公告)日：2018-04-03

申请号：US14617957

申请日：2015-02-10

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： George Tziviskos ,  Paul J. Hack ,  Zheng Gao

IPC: H01R24/00 ,  H01R13/187 ,  H01R24/58 ,  H01R13/15 ,  H01R43/00 ,  H01R13/703 ,  H01R13/717 ,  H01R107/00

CPC classification number: H01R13/187 ,  H01R13/15 ,  H01R13/7033 ,  H01R13/7175 ,  H01R24/58 ,  H01R43/00 ,  H01R2107/00 ,  Y10T29/49208

Abstract: Circuits, methods, and apparatus that may provide audio jacks capable of providing a sufficient retention force to avoid some inadvertent extractions of an audio plug. Examples may also provide audio jacks that may be readily assembled. Other examples may provide other types of connectors. These audio jacks or other connectors may provide contact structures having one or more contacts, each having a contact support to increase contact retention force. Different materials may be used to form the contacts and the contact supports. In this way, contacts may be formed using a highly conductive material, while the contact supports may be formed of a material having good spring characteristics. While such a contact may not be able to provide an adequate retention force on its own, the use of a contact support may sufficiently increase the retention force to prevent accidental extractions of an audio plug or other connector.

公开(公告)号：US09923290B2

公开(公告)日：2018-03-20

申请号：US15281066

申请日：2016-09-30

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Zheng Gao ,  Joshua Pong

IPC: H01R11/30 ,  H01R13/17 ,  H01R13/62 ,  H01R13/24

CPC classification number: H01R11/30 ,  H01R13/17 ,  H01R13/2421 ,  H01R13/2457 ,  H01R13/6205 ,  Y10S439/939

Abstract: Connector inserts and receptacles that are robust, easily manufactured, and provide an improved connector performance. One example may provide a connector receptacle having a power contact located in a ground surface. An insulating layer may be placed between the power contact and the ground surface. The ground surface may be curved or flat, or it may have other shapes. Another example may provide a robust connector insert. This connector insert may include a crimping piece that fits over a cable braiding and is crimped. The crimping piece may then be attached to an attraction plate. A cover or shell may be attached to provide further reinforcement. Another example may provide a connector system having a ground contact and a power contact, where the ground contact is a make-first-break-last contact.

公开(公告)号：US20180068808A1

公开(公告)日：2018-03-08

申请号：US15259075

申请日：2016-09-08

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Paul X. Wang ,  Zheng Gao ,  Craig C. Leong ,  Robert J. Lockwood ,  Bryan W. Posner ,  Robert Y. Cao ,  Simon R. Lancaster-Larocque ,  Dinesh C. Mathew ,  Alex J. Lehmann ,  Denis Endisch ,  Karan Bir

IPC: H01H13/14 ,  H01H13/70

Abstract: Keyboards include mechanisms that prevent and/or alleviate contaminant ingress. In some embodiments, a keyboard assembly includes a substrate, a key cap, a movement mechanism moveably coupling the key cap to the substrate, and a guard structure coupled to the key cap operable to direct contaminants away from the movement mechanism. In other embodiments, a keyboard includes a base; a web that defines apertures; keys moveably coupled to the base within the apertures; and a gasket coupled to the keys, the gasket fixed between the web and the base, operable to block passage of contaminants into the apertures.

公开(公告)号：US20180048094A1

公开(公告)日：2018-02-15

申请号：US15721041

申请日：2017-09-29

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： William P. Cornelius ,  Mahmoud R. Amini ,  Zheng Gao

IPC: H01R13/6469 ,  H01R13/6473 ,  H01R13/66

CPC classification number: H01R13/6469 ,  H01R12/721 ,  H01R13/6473 ,  H01R13/665

Abstract: Connector inserts and receptacles that provide signal paths having desired impedance characteristics. One example may provide a connector system having a connector insert and a connector receptacle. Contacts in the connector insert may form signal paths with corresponding contacts in the connector receptacle. Additional traces in the connector insert and receptacle may be part of these signal paths. The signal paths may have a target or a desired impedance along their lengths such that the power paths electrically appear as transmission lines. Constraints on physical dimensions of the connector insert and connector receptacle contacts may result in variations in impedance along the signal paths. Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention may provide structures to reduce these variations, to compensate for these variations, or a combination thereof.

公开(公告)号：US09876318B2

公开(公告)日：2018-01-23

申请号：US15268645

申请日：2016-09-19

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Zheng Gao ,  Mahmoud R. Amini ,  Nathan N. Ng ,  Min Chul Kim

IPC: H01R13/648 ,  H01R13/6582 ,  H01R13/6591 ,  H01R24/60 ,  H01R107/00

CPC classification number: H01R13/6582 ,  H01R13/6581 ,  H01R13/6591 ,  H01R24/60 ,  H01R2107/00

Abstract: Connector inserts having a high signal integrity and low insertion loss by shielding signal contacts. One example may provide one or more ground contacts between a front opening and signal pins of a connector insert. These ground contacts may have sufficient lever arm to provide a good contact to a corresponding contact in a connector receptacle. To avoid excessive length in the connector insert, embodiments of the present invention may stack a portion of the ground contact above the signal contacts in the connector insert. To reduce excessive capacitance that would otherwise reduce signal impedance, one or more openings may be formed in the ground contacts. To prevent signal contacts from shorting to a shield through this opening, the opening may be covered by tape. The ground contacts may be positioned to avoid encountering power contacts in the receptacle when the insert is inserted into the receptacle.

公开(公告)号：US09806446B2

公开(公告)日：2017-10-31

申请号：US15168036

申请日：2016-05-28

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Jae Hwang Lee ,  Mahmoud R. Amini ,  Zheng Gao ,  Nathan N. Ng

IPC: H01R12/00 ,  H01R12/71 ,  H01R24/66 ,  H01R31/06 ,  H01R12/52 ,  H01R12/72 ,  H01R13/04 ,  H01R13/658

CPC classification number: H01R12/71 ,  H01R9/096 ,  H01R12/52 ,  H01R12/724 ,  H01R13/04 ,  H01R13/658 ,  H01R24/66 ,  H01R31/06 ,  H01R2201/06

Abstract: Connecting structures to mechanically connect to a connector receptacle tongue and a printed circuit board and to electrically connect contacts on the connector receptacle tongue to traces on the printed circuit board. One example may provide an interposer having a housing and a plurality of contacts to connect a vertical tongue to a horizontal printed circuit board. The contacts may have a side or tongue connecting portion extending beyond a side of the housing and a bottom or board contacting portion extending beyond a bottom of the housing. The contacts may form a ninety-degree bend. A shield may at least substantially surround a vertical side of the housing.

公开(公告)号：US20170155213A1

公开(公告)日：2017-06-01

申请号：US15268645

申请日：2016-09-19

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Zheng Gao ,  Mahmoud R. Amini ,  Nathan N. Ng ,  Min Chul Kim

IPC: H01R13/6582 ,  H01R24/60 ,  H01R13/6591

CPC classification number: H01R13/6582 ,  H01R13/6581 ,  H01R13/6591 ,  H01R24/60 ,  H01R2107/00

Abstract: Connector inserts having a high signal integrity and low insertion loss by shielding signal contacts. One example may provide one or more ground contacts between a front opening and signal pins of a connector insert. These ground contacts may have sufficient lever arm to provide a good contact to a corresponding contact in a connector receptacle. To avoid excessive length in the connector insert, embodiments of the present invention may stack a portion of the ground contact above the signal contacts in the connector insert. To reduce excessive capacitance that would otherwise reduce signal impedance, one or more openings may be formed in the ground contacts. To prevent signal contacts from shorting to a shield through this opening, the opening may be covered by tape. The ground contacts may be positioned to avoid encountering power contacts in the receptacle when the insert is inserted into the receptacle.

公开(公告)号：US09660389B2

公开(公告)日：2017-05-23

申请号：US14720935

申请日：2015-05-25

Applicant: APPLE INC.

Inventor： Zheng Gao ,  Min Chul Kim ,  Colin Abraham ,  Nathan Ng

IPC: H01R13/648 ,  H01R13/6581 ,  H01R24/60 ,  H01R107/00

CPC classification number: H01R13/6581 ,  H01R24/60 ,  H01R2107/00

Abstract: Low cost ground connections for standard connectors and connectors having reduced pin counts. One example may provide a connector system including a connector insert having a plurality of contacts along a top or bottom, or both top and bottom, of a connector insert, where first contacts in the plurality of contacts may be used to convey power, ground, or data and where second contacts in the plurality of contacts are used for ground. The second contacts may be arranged to have contacting portions that are positioned in the insert at different heights relative to the top or bottom of the connector insert and at different depths relative to a front opening of the connector insert.

公开(公告)号：US20170069444A1

公开(公告)日：2017-03-09

申请号：US15233877

申请日：2016-08-10

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Paul X. Wang ,  Ryan P. Brooks ,  Zheng Gao

IPC: H01H13/52 ,  H01H11/00 ,  H01H13/02 ,  H01H13/14 ,  H01H13/705

CPC classification number: H01H13/023 ,  G06F1/1662 ,  H01H13/52 ,  H01H13/705 ,  H01H13/83 ,  H01H2011/0087 ,  H01H2205/016 ,  H01H2219/062 ,  H01H2221/05 ,  H01H2223/002 ,  H01H2227/016 ,  H01H2227/026 ,  H01H2227/036 ,  H01H2229/02 ,  H01H2229/028 ,  H01H2229/036 ,  H01H2231/002

Abstract: A switch assembly includes a switch body defining a switch opening, a dome switch positioned in the switch opening, a film attached to a surface of the switch body and covering the switch opening, and a protrusion extending from the film in an area above the switch opening. The protrusion is configured to transfer a force from a keycap of a key to the dome switch when the keycap is depressed. The dome switch may include an upper dome below the film and a lower dome below the upper dome.

公开(公告)号：US09537238B2

公开(公告)日：2017-01-03

申请号：US14636061

申请日：2015-03-02

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Paul J. Hack ,  Joshua Funamura ,  George V. Anastas ,  Zheng Gao ,  Gregory Springer ,  Erik James Shahoian

IPC: H01R13/62 ,  H01R12/70 ,  G06F1/18 ,  H05K7/14 ,  H01R13/641

CPC classification number: H01R12/7076 ,  G06F1/185 ,  H01R13/641 ,  H05K7/1402 ,  H05K7/1408 ,  H05K7/1409

Abstract: Sockets that provide easy access for users to change cards while allowing the use of thinner device enclosures. One example provides a socket having two positions. When the socket is in an open state, the card may be oriented in a direction substantially away from the main logic board. When the socket is in a closed state, the card moves such that it is oriented at least closer to being in parallel to the main logic board.

Abstract translation: 插座可方便用户更换卡片，同时允许使用更薄的设备外壳。 一个示例提供了具有两个位置的插座。 当插座处于打开状态时，卡可以沿着远离主逻辑板的方向定向。 当插座处于关闭状态时，卡移动使其至少更接近于与主逻辑板平行。