Connector module and locking device including the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9742107-B2
Application number	US-201615047069-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 18, 2016
Priority date	Feb 27, 2015
Publication date	Aug 22, 2017
Grant date	Aug 22, 2017

Abstract

A connector module may include: a connector body including an interior space with an empty area therein; and a connector part disposed on one side of the connector body. The connector part may include: a connector protruding from the connector body; and a connector holder seated in the empty area of the connector body and configured to secure the connector thereto. The connector holder may be configured to move the connector in one direction in response to an external force. A fixing part may be connected to one side of the connector body in a hinged fashion and being rotatable relative to the connector.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A connector module, comprising:
a connector body including an interior space having an empty area therein; and
a connector part disposed on one side of the connector body, the connector part including :
a connector protruding from the connector body; and
a connector holder seated in the empty area of the connector body and configured to secure the connector thereto,
a fixing part is connected to one side of the connector body in a hinged fashion;
wherein the fixing part is separately disposed with the connector and is configured to move toward the connector or away from the connector in response to an external force;
wherein the connector is configured to move in a direction of a front side of the connector body or a rear side of the connector body.

2. The connector module of claim 1 , wherein the fixing part is rotatable relative to the connector.

3. The connector module of claim 2 , wherein the fixing part comprises:
a fixing panel to which a cable is configured to be connected; and
a bonding part disposed on one surface of the fixing panel and configured to move closer to the connector in response to the fixing part being rotated.

4. The connector module of claim 3 , wherein the fixing part further comprises an upper fixing plate, and wherein a width of the bonding part is larger than a width of the upper fixing plate.

5. The connector module of claim 3 , further comprising:
a deformable bonding part including a bonding layer that is disposed on at least one of opposite surfaces thereof, wherein the bonding layer is bonded to the bonding part.

6. The connector module of claim 3 , wherein the fixing panel comprises:
a lower fixing plate rotatably connected to one side of the connector body, the lower fixing plate including an upper surface;
an upper fixing plate that covers at least a portion of the upper surface of the lower fixing plate; and
a coupling member that secures the upper fixing plate to the lower fixing plate.

7. The connector module of claim 6 , wherein the lower fixing plate comprises:
a connection hole formed on one side of the cable and configured to inhibit movement of the cable; and
a stopper holder that fixes an end of a molding stopper disposed within the connection hole.

8. The connector module of claim 6 , wherein the lower fixing plate comprises:
a cable cover that guides the cable such that the cable is configured to be inserted at a predetermined angle and an insertion state of the cable is maintained.

9. The connector module of claim 3 , wherein the fixing part further comprises:
a sensor part disposed on one side of the fixing panel, wherein the sensor part is configured to sense a physical contact.

10. The connector module of claim 9 , wherein the fixing part further comprises:
a sensor pad inserted into a bracket disposed on one side of the fixing panel, the sensor pad being configured to support the sensor part.

11. The connector module of claim 9 , wherein the fixing panel and the bonding part comprise holes through which the sensor part is exposed to the outside.

12. The connector module of claim 1 , further comprising:
a cable connected to one side of a fixing part and at least one wire that is disposed inside the connector body.

13. The connector module of claim 1 , wherein the connector part further comprises:
a bottom; and
a guide body disposed to cover at least a portion of an opening of the connector body comprising side walls extending from peripheries of the bottom by a predetermined height and from which the connector protrudes, and
wherein the connector holder guides the connector such that the connector is moved in a predetermined direction along a guide groove formed in the guide body.

14. The connector module of claim 1 , wherein the connector part further comprises:
a connector printed circuit board (PCB) electrically connected to the connector;
a light emitting diode (LED) disposed on one side of the connector PCB and configured to irradiate light according to supplied electric power;
a through-hole formed on one side of the connector body; and
an LED window seated in the through-hole and configured to irradiate light from the LED to the outside of the connector body.

15. The connector module of claim 1 , wherein the connector body comprises:
a front side wall;
left and right side walls connected to the front side wall; and
a rear side wall connecting the left and right side walls,
wherein a height of the left and right side walls closer to the front side wall is larger than a height of the left and right side walls closer to the rear side wall.

16. The connector module of claim 1 , wherein the connector part further comprises:
at least one resilient member disposed between the connector body and the connector holder and having a resilient force such that the connector holder returns to a predetermined position after being moved.

17. The connector module of claim 1 , wherein the connector part further comprises:
a connector pad disposed closer to the connector holder and disposed to absorb an impact resulting from a collision with the connector body.

18. A locking device, comprising:
a connector part comprising:
a connector holder; and
a connector body;

a connector protruding from the connector body,
the connector part including an interior space having an empty area therein and being connected to a designated port of an electronic device by the connector holder,
the connector holder permitting the connector to be movable in one direction;
a fixing part including a fixing panel, the fixing part being rotatably connected to one side of the connector body; and
a bonding part disposed on a surface of the fixing panel and being configured to move closer to the connector in response to the fixing part being rotated.

19. The locking device of claim 18 , further comprising:
a control unit to which a connector module is electrically connected,
wherein the control unit determines a contact state of the fixing part based on a sensor part for sensing a contract state of the fixing part and outputs guide information corresponding to a holding state of the electronic device.

20. The locking device of claim 19 , wherein when the electronic device is at least one of separated from the connector part and separated from the contact state of the fixing part, the control unit outputs guide information corresponding to the separation.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Choi Sang Wook
• Kim Kyung Ho
• Kim Sung Yub
• Park Han Eol
• Lee Jeong In
• Chang Jae Young

Classifications

• H02J7/731

  specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries (H02J7/751 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G06F21/88

  Detecting or preventing theft or loss · CPC title

• H02J7/00

  Circuit arrangements for charging or discharging batteries or for supplying loads from batteries · CPC title

• H01R31/065

  with built-in electric apparatus · CPC title

• H01R13/6315

  allowing relative movement between coupling parts, e.g. floating connection (for coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, H01R12/91 takes precedence) · CPC title