초록 ▼

A versatile adaptor device to connect together devices having built-in connectors or receptacles for interfacing with other devices is described. Many devices include built-in connectors, which usually consist of proprietary fittings and pinouts/lineouts. The adaptor device connects with the built-i

A versatile adaptor device to connect together devices having built-in connectors or receptacles for interfacing with other devices is described. Many devices include built-in connectors, which usually consist of proprietary fittings and pinouts/lineouts. The adaptor device connects with the built-in connectors of two devices to enable communication between the two devices. Each end of the adaptor fits physically and electrically with the connectors to join both devices. The body of the adaptor is a double-ended molded plastic part that includes geometry to mate with a particular connector slot at one end and another specific connector slot at the opposing end. The adaptor device may be adapted to connect various different types of devices. For example, the adaptor accommodates connection to an array of brands and models of cellular phone devices at one end of the adaptor and an array of digital cameras at the other end of the adaptor. The manufacture of the adaptors is leveraged because the adaptor employs a minimum common denominator set of circuit lines available to interact with multiple different connectors.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. An adaptor device for joining a client device and a host device, said adaptor device comprising: a core connector of the adaptor device providing connectivity to a client device; connector circuitry of the adaptor device for connecting said core connector to various target co

What is claimed is: 1. An adaptor device for joining a client device and a host device, said adaptor device comprising: a core connector of the adaptor device providing connectivity to a client device; connector circuitry of the adaptor device for connecting said core connector to various target connectors, each target connector supporting a given host device, the connector circuitry including a plurality of circuits to route data to a target connector, based on an identity of the target connector selectively connected to said connector circuitry and the host device, wherein the plurality of circuits employ a minimum common denominator set of circuit lines to interact with each of a plurality of host devices that fit the target connector; and at least one target connector selectively connected to said connector circuitry, said target connector supporting connection of the adaptor to a host device for which connectivity to the client device is desired. 2. The device of claim 1, wherein said client device is a digital camera and said host device is a cellular telephone. 3. The device of claim 2, wherein said adaptor device enables wireless transmission of digital images from said digital camera through said cellular telephone. 4. The device of claim 1, wherein said adaptor device comprises a single integrated unit containing said core connector, said connector circuitry, and a target connector to a host device. 5. The device of claim 1, wherein said adaptor device is contained within a molded plastic body housing. 6. The device of claim 5, wherein said molded plastic body housing is double-ended. 7. The device of claim 1, wherein said adaptor device comprises two separate units, a first unit containing said core connector and said connector circuitry, and a second unit containing a target connector to a host device. 8. The device of claim 7, wherein said first unit may be connected to a plurality of target connectors for purposes of connecting to a plurality of host devices. 9. The device of claim 8, further comprising: a plurality of target connectors for purposes of connecting to a plurality of host devices. 10. The device of claim 1, wherein said adaptor device includes geometry on at least one end to mate with said client device. 11. The device of claim 1, wherein said adaptor device includes geometry on at least one end to mate with said host device. 12. The device of claim 1, wherein said adaptor device relies on mechanical friction to maintain connectivity to said client device. 13. The device of claim 1, further comprising: latch features on said adaptor device for maintaining connectivity with said client device. 14. The device of claim 1, further comprising: latch features on said adaptor device for maintaining connectivity with said host device. 15. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one side of said adaptor device includes contoured surfaces to facilitate mating of said adaptor to said client device. 16. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one side of said adaptor device includes contoured surfaces to facilitate mating of said adaptor to said host device. 17. The device of claim 1, wherein said core connector to said client device includes at least 15 pin contacts. 18. The device of claim 1, wherein said target connector to said host device includes at least 26 pin contacts. 19. The device of claim 1, wherein said host device comprises a selected one of a Motorola L7089 cellular phone and a Motorola Accompli 008 Cellular phone. 20. The device of claim 1, wherein said connector circuitry connects said core connector to said at least one target connector through specifically routed traces. 21. The device of claim 1, wherein said connector circuitry is adaptable to accommodate different connector contact dimensions and pitches. 22. The device of claim 1, wherein said connector circuitry comprises a printed circuit board (PCB). 23. The device of claim 22, wherein said PCB includes shunt resistors, acting as jumpers, to accommodate a plurality of target connectors. 24. The device of claim 1, wherein said connector circuitry includes shunt resistors to accommodate a plurality of target connectors having different connector pinouts. 25. The adaptor device of claim 1, wherein the connector circuitry comprises a printed circuit board having specifically routed traces to connect pins on the core connector to appropriate pins on the target connector. 26. The adaptor device of claim 1, wherein the connector circuitry further comprises a plurality of shunt resistors to couple appropriate traces between the core connector and the target connector. 27. An adaptor device for joining a first device with a plurality of second devices, said adaptor device comprising: a housing body; metal contacts contained within said housing body that make contact on one end with a connector of said first device; metal contacts contained within said housing body that make contact on another end with one or more of a plurality of connectors of second devices, with certain metal contacts being reserved to accommodate each of said plurality of connectors; and connector circuitry contained within said housing body including a plurality of circuits to connect particular pin contacts on said connector of said first device with particular pin contacts on a connector of a particular second device based on identity of metal contacts of each of said plurality of connectors of said second devices, wherein the plurality of circuits employ a minimum common denominator set of circuit lines to interact with each of the plurality of second devices. 28. The device of claim 27, wherein said first device is a digital camera and said second device is a cellular telephone. 29. The device of claim 28, wherein said adaptor device enables a digital camera to be connected to a plurality of cellular telephones having different connectors. 30. The device of claim 27, wherein said housing body is a molded plastic part. 31. The device of claim 27, wherein said housing body is double-ended. 32. The device of claim 27, wherein said metal contacts make contact on one end with a first connector having a certain number of pins and on another end with a connector having a number of pins different than said first connector. 33. The device of claim 27, wherein said metal contacts make contact with a connector having at least 15 pins on one end and with a connector having at least 26 pins on another end. 34. The device of claim 27, wherein said housing body includes geometry on at least one end to mate with a connector of a particular first device. 35. The device of claim 27, wherein said housing body includes geometry on at least one end to mate with a connector of a particular digital camera. 36. The device of claim 27, further comprising: latch features on said housing body for maintaining connectivity to said first device. 37. The device of claim 36, wherein said latch features include a button for release of said latch features. 38. The device of claim 36, wherein said latch features include features enabling release of said latch features with a specific tool. 39. The device of claim 38, further comprising: a specific tool for release of said latch features. 40. The device of claim 27, wherein at least one end of said housing body includes contoured surfaces to facilitate mating of said body housing to said first device. 41. The device of claim 27, wherein at least one end of said housing body includes contoured surfaces to facilitate mating of said body housing to said second device. 42. A device for joining a client device and a plurality of host devices, said device comprising: a core connector of the device providing connectivity to a client device; connector circuitry including a plurality of circuits, coupled to said core connector, for connecting said core connector to each of a plurality of disparate target connectors; and a plurality of target connectors, each target connector capable of being coupled to said core connector via said plurality of circuits and providing connectivity to a particular host device based an identity of a target connector and the particular host device, wherein the plurality of circuits employ a minimum common denominator set of circuit lines to interact with each of the plurality of host devices that fit the target connector. 43. The device of claim 42, wherein said client device is a digital camera. 44. The device of claim 42, wherein each said target connector provides connectivity to a particular type of cellular phone. 45. The device of claim 42, wherein said connector circuitry comprises a printed circuit board (PCB) including a set of routed traces to connect particular pin contacts on said core connector with said plurality of target connectors. 46. The device of claim 42, wherein said connector circuitry includes shunt resistors for purposes of connecting said core connector with said plurality of target connectors. 47. An adaptor comprising: a first end of the adaptor to connect to a camera s connector; a core camera connector of the adaptor, the core camera connector including a plurality of circuits, that create the set of electrical connections, to route data to an appropriate portion of a phone connector, based on an identity of the phone connector and the one of the plurality of target phones, wherein the plurality of circuits employ a minimum common denominator set of circuit lines to interact with each of the plurality of target phones that fit the target phone connector; and a target phone connector of the adaptor to fit one of a plurality of target phones, the core camera connector creating a set of electrical connections between the camera's connector and the target phone connector via the core camera connector. 48. The adaptor of claim 47, wherein the electrical connections are designed to transmit data signals comprising image data between a camera and one of the plurality of target phones. 49. The adaptor of claim 47, wherein the adaptor comprises two separate units, a first unit containing the first end and the core camera connector, and a second unit containing a target phone connector.