System for presenting electrically supported devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018074988-A1
Application number	US-201715704597-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 14, 2017
Priority date	Sep 14, 2016
Publication date	Mar 15, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

Systems for presenting electrically supported devices and methods for assembling the same are provided.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A cable assembly for electrically coupling with a cable module connector subassembly of a support module assembly comprising a support mating feature, wherein the cable module connector subassembly comprises a cable module connector contact, the cable assembly comprising:
a cable subassembly comprising an electrical conductor extending between a first conductor end and a second conductor end; and a module cable connector subassembly comprising:
a boot structure comprising an interior boot surface and an exterior boot surface extending from a first boot open end to a second boot open end, wherein the interior boot surface defines a boot space; and
a module cable connector contact that is electrically coupled to the second conductor end at an electrical coupling location within the boot space, wherein:
the exterior boot surface comprises a boot mating feature operative to mate with the support mating feature; and
the module cable connector subassembly is operative to interface with the support module assembly for electrically coupling the module cable connector contact to the cable module connector contact when the boot mating feature is mated with the support mating feature.

2 . The cable assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the module cable connector subassembly is operative to interface with the support module assembly for electrically coupling the module cable connector contact to the cable module connector contact when the module cable connector contact is moved along a linear axis towards the cable module connector contact; and when the boot mating feature is mated with the support mating feature, the module cable connector contact is properly oriented along the linear axis with respect to the cable module connector contact for electrically coupling the module cable connector contact to the cable module connector contact.

3 . The cable assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the module cable connector subassembly is operative to interface with the support module assembly for electrically coupling the module cable connector contact to the cable module connector contact when the module cable connector contact is moved along a linear axis towards the cable module connector contact; and when the boot mating feature is mated with the support mating feature, the module cable connector contact is properly oriented about the linear axis with respect to the cable module connector contact for electrically coupling the module cable connector contact to the cable module connector contact.

4 . The cable assembly of claim 1 , wherein the module cable connector subassembly provides a superset of a universal serial bus (“USB”) Type-C connector.

5 . The cable assembly of claim 4 , wherein the module cable connector contact provides a male-type connector contact.

6 . The cable assembly of claim 1 , wherein the module cable connector contact provides a male-type connector contact.

7 . The cable assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the cable subassembly further comprises a memory cable component extending between a first memory cable end and a second memory cable end; at least a portion of the memory cable component is configured to define a curved shape between the first memory cable end and the second memory cable end absent any external force applied to the cable assembly; the module cable connector subassembly further comprises a cap that is at least partially positioned within the boot space; the electrical conductor passes through the cap; and the second memory cable end is fixed to the cap.

8 . The cable assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the module cable connector subassembly further comprises:
a cap; and
a ring;
a first portion of the cap is positioned within the boot space; the ring is positioned about a second portion of the cap; and the ring enables robust retention of the module cable connector subassembly within a portion of the support module assembly when the module cable connector contact is electrically coupled to the cable module connector contact.

9 . The cable assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the module cable connector subassembly further comprises:
a cap; and
a ring;
a first portion of the cap is positioned within the boot space; the ring is positioned about a second portion of the cap; and the ring prevents fluid ingress into a portion of the support module assembly when the module cable connector contact is electrically coupled to the cable module connector contact.

10 . The cable assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the support module assembly comprises the cable module connector contact positioned below a top surface of a support structure; the module cable connector subassembly further comprises a ca; the electrical conductor passes through the cap; and the cap is positioned above the top surface of the support structure when the module cable connector contact is electrically coupled to the cable module connector contact.

11 . The cable assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the module cable connector subassembly further comprises a gasket positioned at least partially about the module cable connector contact and across the second boot open end; the gasket and the boot structure together provide at least a portion of an electromagnetic interference cage for protecting the electrical coupling location from electromagnetic interference; and the gasket is operative to interact with a portion of the cable module connector subassembly to provide at least a portion of an electromagnetic interference shield for shielding an electrical signal communication coupling between the module cable connector subassembly and the cable module connector subassembly when the module cable connector contact is electrically coupled to the cable module connector contact.

12 . A support module assembly for electrically coupling with a module cable connector subassembly, wherein the module cable connector subassembly comprises a module cable connector contact, the support module assembly comprising:
a support structure comprising a support structure opening extending between a top surface of the support structure and a bottom surface of the support structure; a trim component comprising an interior trim surface and an exterior trim surface extending from a first trim open end to a second trim open end; and a cable module connector subassembly comprising:
a cable module connector housing; and
a cable module connector contact positioned at least partially within the cable module connector housing, wherein:
the interior trim surface defines a trim space operative to receive a portion of the module cable connector subassembly;
a first portion of the trim space is positioned within the structure opening;
at least a portion of the cable module connector housing is positioned within a second portion of the trim space; and
the cable module connector contact is operative to be electrically coupled to the module cable connector contact when the trim space receives the portion of the module cable connector subassembly.

13 . The support module assembly of claim 12 , wherein:
an electrical coupling location of the cable module connector contact is operative to be electrically coupled to the module cable connector contact when the trim space receives the portion of the module cable connector subassembly; and the electrical coupling location of the cable module connector contact is positioned outside of the support structure opening and below the bottom surface of the support structure.

14 . The support module assembly of claim 13 , wherein the cable module connector contact is opera

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Woosley Clayton R
• Rao Aditya
• Feng Bo
• Kumka David S
• Briskey Joseph I
• Kim Min Chul
• Yuan Paul Z
• Liao Yufan
• Tziviskos George
• Schwalbach Charles A
• Wong Eric H
• Kosecoff David B
• Michalske Steven C
• Smith Ariadne G

Classifications

• G06F13/385

  for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices · CPC title

• G06F13/4282

  on a serial bus, e.g. I2C bus, SPI bus (on daisy chain buses G06F13/4247) · CPC title

• H01B9/02

  with screens or conductive layers, e.g. for avoiding large potential gradients · CPC title

• G11B33/126

  Arrangements for providing electrical connections, e.g. connectors, cables, switches · CPC title

• H01R13/631

  for engagement only · CPC title