Apple Inc.

Michael A Kinney

Mahmoud R Amini

Eric Steven Jol

Colin M Ely

Jared Mitchell Kole

Edward Siahaan

Daniel Ray Bloom

Sean Thomas McIntosh

Jason Joseph LeBlanc

Rui Zhou

Tian Shi Li

Robert D Zupke

Eric T SooHoo

Nikhil S Pansare

Peter J Cameron

Rohan Gupta

Brock A Zekany

Jordan J Francis

Methods and apparatus that can allow an electronic device housed in a protective accessory to communicate with another electronic device, and are readily manufactured. An example can provide a connector assembly that can include a number of top contacts electrically connected to a corresponding number of bottom contacts. The top contacts can be spaced at a first pitch while the bottom contacts can be spaced at a second pitch, the second pitch different than the first pitch.

Pass-through connectors for connector systems

Connector inserts and connector receptacles that have a small form factor and where when a connector insert and connector receptacle are mated, the connector insert can rotate and articulate relative to an electronic device housing the connector receptacle. The connector receptacle can be connected to components in the electronic device through a flexible circuit board having an amount of slack or excess length to allow the connector receptacle and the connector insert to rotate relative to the connected components. A bearing supporting the connector receptacle can articulate about an axis to allow the connector receptacle and connector insert to articulate relative to the connected components. The bearing can further support a locking mechanism to lock the connector insert in place in the connector receptacle.

Separable articulating power and data interface

An accessory for an electronic device includes a plug connector that is configured to connect to an electronic device when the electronic device is received by the accessory. The accessory also includes a receptacle connector at an exterior surface for coupling the accessory to a charging system when a mating connector is received within a receiving cavity of the receptacle connector. A bracket electrically and mechanically couples the plug connector to the receptacle connector. A ground spring is coupled to an exterior metallic shell of the receptacle connector and has a pair of spring arms that each have a distal end positioned within the receiving cavity such that when a mating plug connector is received within the receiving cavity a low-impedance ground path is formed between the mating connector and the plug connector.

Connector assembly having a low-impedance ground connection

Connector tongues that may provide a high signal quality or signal integrity to allow high speed data transfers, may be reliably manufactured, and may be durable and have good wear performance.

Connectors with contacts bonded to tongue for improved structural integrity

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San Francisco, CA, United States of America

Michael A Kinney