Receptacle connector with circuitry for determining the configuration of a corresponding plug connector mated therewith

摘要

An electronic device having a housing and a receptacle connector. The receptacle connector includes an opening at an exterior surface of the housing. A plurality of contacts are arranged in a two dimensional array positioned within the opening of the receptacle connector. The receptacle connector is configured to concurrently mate with multiple plug connectors where each mated plug connector electrically connects to different and mutually exclusive subsets of contacts in the plurality of contacts. Switching circuitry is coupled to the plurality of contacts and configured to detect when one or more plug connectors are mated with the receptacle connector and electrically connect circuitry within the electronic device to contacts in the one or more plug connectors via subsets of contacts from the plurality of contacts.

主权项

1. An electronic device comprising:
a housing; a receptacle connector having a first plurality of contacts, the receptacle connector configured to mate with a plug connector having a second plurality of contacts fewer in number than the first plurality of contacts; and switching circuitry coupled to the first plurality of contacts and configured to: (i) detect when the plug connector is mated with the receptacle connector in a first orientation and at a first position with respect to the receptacle connector and electrically connect circuitry within the electronic device to the second plurality of contacts via a first subset of contacts from the first plurality of contacts, and (ii) detect when a the plug connector is mated with the receptacle connector in a second orientation and at a second position with respect to the receptacle connector and electrically connect circuitry within the electronic device to the second plurality of contacts via a second subset of contacts from the first plurality of contacts.