Electrical Connector

Abstract

An electrical connector, for example a connector that will operate with the Universal Serial Bus, is disclosed. In some embodiments, the connector includes none, one, or several tongue board, tongue tip, electrical contact, housing shell, insulating strip on the inner lining of housing shell, protective edge. A connector integral to a printed circuit board is also disclosed. Other embodiments are disclosed.

1 .- 11 . (canceled) 
   
   
       12 . An electrical apparatus for carrying signals to a USB compliant receptacle, comprising:
 a cable carrying each of the signals required to implement the USB standard;   a connector coupled to said cable,   a first set of electrical contacts located on one side of the connector and extending in parallel along its length, each of said first set of electrical contacts coupled to one of said signals;   a second set of electrical contacts located on an opposite side of the connector and extending in parallel along its length, each of said second set of electrical contacts coupled to one of said signals and to a respective one of said first set of electrical contacts;   wherein the electrical connector mates correctly to a USB standard compliant receptacle irrespective of whether the electrical connector is initially oriented in a first possible alignment or a second possible alignment with respect to the receptacle.   
   
   
       13 . A printed circuit board including a dual-sided electrical connector, comprising:
 an extension member extending from the printed circuit board;   a first set of electrical contacts located on one side of said extension member;   a second set of electrical contacts located on the opposite side of said extension member, each associated with a respective one of said first set of electrical contacts;   the first and second set of electrical contacts being positioned so that when the connector is inserted into a USB compliant receptacle, the electrical connector electrically mates to the receptacle irrespective of whether the electrical connector is initially oriented in a first possible alignment or a second possible alignment with respect to the receptacle.   
   
   
       14 . The printed circuit board of  claim 13 , wherein the first and second sets of electrical contacts carry the data signals and power required to implement the USB standard. 
   
   
       15 . The printed circuit board of  claim 14 , and further comprising: storage media located on the printed circuit board; and a storage processor coupled to the storage media. 
   
   
       16 . The printed circuit board of  claim 13  wherein the storage processor is coupled to the electrical connector. 
   
   
       17 . The printed circuit board of  claim 16 , wherein the storage media, electrical connector and storage processor implement a storage device that can interface with a USB host device. 
   
   
       18 . The printed circuit board of  claim 17 , wherein the storage media, electrical connector and storage processor comprise together a flash storage device. 
   
   
       19 . The printed circuit board of  claim 15 , wherein the storage media comprise at least one nonvolatile memory integrated circuit. 
   
   
       20 . A storage device having an interface for communication using the USB protocol,
 comprising:
 a printed circuit board comprising an electrical connector; 
 a first set of electrical contacts on one surface of the electrical connector, the 
 electrical contacts for carrying at least the signals and power required to implement the USB standard; 
 a second set of electrical contacts located on an opposite surface of the electrical connector, each associated with a respective one of the electrical contacts of the first set, the second set of electrical contacts being positioned in a reverse symmetry with respect to the first set of electrical contacts; 
 a storage processor associated with the electrical connector; and 
 storage media associated with the storage processor; 
 whereby the electrical connector will electrically mate to a receptacle that is compliant with the USB standard irrespective of whether the electrical connector is initially oriented in a first possible alignment or a second possible alignment with respect to the receptacle. 
   
   
   
       21 . The storage device of  claim 20 , whereby the storage media maybe accessed from the electrical connector responsive to operations executed by the storage processor. 
   
   
       22 . The storage device of  claim 20 , wherein the storage media comprises one or more nonvolatile memory integrated circuits. 
   
   
       23 . The storage device of  claim 20 , and further comprising:
 side protectors located in association with the sides of the electrical connector for preventing the electrical contacts from physically contacting the housing of a receptacle when the connector is inserted into the receptacle.   
   
   
       24 . The storage device of  claim 20 , wherein said electrical connector is integral to and extends from the printed circuit board. 
   
   
       25 . The storage device of  claim 20 , wherein said electrical connector is coupled to said printed circuit board by a cable. 
   
   
       26 . The storage device of  claim 20 , wherein said electrical connector is a tongue coupled to said printed circuit board. 
   
   
       27 . The storage device of  claim 20 , wherein:
 the first set of electrical contacts is placed in an order starting from one side of the connector of a ground voltage, a first signal A, a second signal B, and a positive supply voltage; and   the second set of electrical contacts is placed in a reverse order starting from the same side of the connector of the positive supply voltage, the second signal B, the first signal A, and the ground voltage;   whereby the signals on the top surface of the connector are always in the same order regardless of which side of the electrical connector is oriented upwards.   
   
   
       28 .- 33 . (canceled)