TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present application relates to electromagnetic shielding for electronic devices.
More specifically, the application discloses an apparatus for shielding an audio jack
to prevent electromagnetic interference and electrostatic discharging.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Electronic devices often have electrical inputs and outputs carried over cables connectable
to the device by connectors. The electrical signals flowing through these connectors
are prone to mutual electromagnetic interference (EMI) and electrostatic discharge
with the other operations of the device or from outside the device. EMI effects from
electrical cables and connectors connected to integrated circuits can be significant,
and can interfere with radio communication and audio equipment. Accordingly, manufacturers
of integrated circuit devices with connectable electrical cables have a need to reduce
the EMI effects of electrical connectors in electronic devices containing integrated
circuits.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0003] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of an audio jack with EMI
shielding.
[0004] FIG. 2 shows two perspective views showing the exemplary embodiment from FIG. 1 in
two different orientations.
[0005] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1 mounted on a printed
circuit board of an exemplary electronic device.
[0006] FIG. 4 is a partially cut-away perspective view of an exemplary electronic device
with the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1 mounted within.
[0007] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1 mounted within
an exemplary electronic device and having an exemplary plug inserted thereinto, the
cross-section taken through a vertical plane along the longitudinal axis of the audio
jack cavity.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0008] In a first aspect, the application is directed to an audio jack for an audio plug
for use in an electrical device, comprising a non-conductive enclosure having a front
side and defining a cavity having an aperture within the front side for receiving
the audio plug, the aperture having a first diameter, the cavity extending along a
longitudinal axis; a conductive shielding formed from sheet metal folded over at least
five sides of the enclosure including the front side, the shielding defining a shielding
aperture centered on the enclosure aperture and having a second diameter larger than
the first diameter; and a ground contact connected to the conductive shielding.
[0009] In another aspect, the application is directed to a non-conductive stopping member
extending from a surface of the enclosure, the non-conductive stopping member extending
substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cavity and adapted to
abut a complementary surface, thereby transferring any forces upon the audio jack
along the longitudinal axis to the complementary surface.
[0010] In a further aspect, the ground contact is connected to the conductive shielding
proximal to the shielding aperture.
[0011] In a further aspect, the ground contact comprises a spring contact.
[0012] In a further aspect, the application is directed to one or more cavity contacts situated
within the cavity to come into electrical communication with one or more conductive
surfaces of an inserted audio plug.
[0013] In a further aspect, the application is directed to one or more PCB spring contacts
adapted to connect to and electrically communicate with leads of a printed circuit
board, each PCB spring contact being in electrical communication with one or more
of the cavity contacts.
[0014] In a further aspect, the application is directed to an electronic device incorporating
the audio jack, comprising a rigid, non-conductive case defining an aperture centered
on the on the enclosure aperture and having a diameter smaller than the second diameter.
[0015] In a further aspect, the diameter of the case aperture is substantially the same
as the first diameter.
[0016] In a further aspect, the application is directed to an electronic device incorporating
the audio jack, comprising a rigid, non-conductive case defining an aperture centered
on the on the enclosure aperture and having a diameter smaller than the second diameter;
an audio subsystem having a left stereo speaker signal output, a right stereo speaker
signal output, and a microphone signal input; and a printed circuit board having a
left stereo speaker lead in communication with the left stereo speaker signal output
of the audio subsystem, a right stereo speaker lead in communication with the right
stereo speaker signal output of the audio subsystem, and a microphone lead in communication
with the microphone signal input of the audio subsystem, the left stereo speaker lead,
right stereo speaker lead, and microphone lead being positioned such that each comes
into contact with one or more of the PCB contacts of the audio jack when the audio
jack is mounted on the printed circuit board.
[0017] In a further aspect, the cavity contacts of the audio jack comprise a microphone
cavity contact in communication with a PCB contact positioned to communicate with
the microphone lead of the printed circuit board; a right speaker cavity contact in
communication with a PCB contact positioned to communicate with the right speaker
lead of the printed circuit board; and a left speaker cavity contact in communication
with a PCB contact positioned to communicate with the right speaker lead of the printed
circuit board.
[0018] In a further aspect, the application is directed to a system ground; the printed
circuit board further comprises a system ground lead in communication with the system
ground and positioned to come into communication with one or more of the PCB contacts
of the audio jack; and the cavity contacts further comprise a system ground cavity
contact in communication with a PCB contact positioned to communicate with the system
ground lead of the printed circuit board.
[0019] In a further aspect, the microphone cavity contact, the system ground cavity contact,
the right speaker cavity contact, and the left speaker cavity contact are arranged
in sequence from the enclosure aperture to the distal end of the cavity.
[0020] In a further aspect, the application is directed to an electronic device incorporating
the audio jack, comprising a rigid, non-conductive case defining an aperture centered
on the on the enclosure aperture and having a diameter smaller than the second diameter;
and a stopping surface placed so as to abut and complement the non-conductive member
of the enclosure and absorb any force on the audio jack along the longitudinal axis.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
[0021] The present application describes an audio jack with shielding against electromagnetic
interference (EMI).
[0022] FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show an exemplary embodiment of an audio jack with EMI shielding.
In this embodiment, the jack comprises two distinct pieces: a conductive shielding
100 substantially enclosing a non-conductive enclosure 200.
[0023] The enclosure 200 is formed from a non-conductive material such as a hard plastic.
The enclosure 200 is formed in this embodiment from a single piece of plastic. It
is substantially a rectangular prism with an angled front face. The enclosure 200
defines a hollow cavity 202 shaped to accommodate an electrical connector, namely
an audio plug of the TRS ("tip-ring-sleeve") or TRRS ("tip-ring-ring-sleeve") variety.
The shape of the cavity 202 is substantially complementary to the shape of the audio
plug, and the front face of the enclosure 200 defines an aperture 204 through which
a plug can be inserted into the cavity 202 along the longitudinal axis 230 of the
cavity 202. The elliptical shape of this aperture 204 is such that, viewed along the
longitudinal axis 230 of the cavity 202, it presents a circular profile corresponding
fairly closely to the diameter of a corresponding audio plug.
[0024] Within the cavity 202 are one or more electrical contacts designed to communicate
electrically with corresponding contacts on an inserted plug; the front-most of these
contacts is shown in FIG. 2 as a first cavity contact 210. These cavity contacts extend
into spring contacts adapted to connect to the surface of a printed circuit board
(PCB) of a device in which the jack is mounted. In this embodiment, five such spring
contacts are shown, comprising a first PCB spring contact 218, a second PCB spring
contact 220, a third PCB spring contact 222, a fourth PCB spring contact 224, and
a fifth PCB spring contact 226. Each of these spring contacts may be an extension
of one or more of the cavity contacts, such as the first cavity contact 210, and a
single cavity contact may extend into more than one spring contact. Alternatively,
one or more of these spring contacts may be an extension of an electrical component
within the enclosure 200 other than one of the cavity contacts.
[0025] The shielding 100 is formed from a conductive material, such as copper, gold, or
another metal, that acts to block EMI. The shielding 100 has five faces that substantially
enclose five sides of the enclosure 200. These faces are designated herein with reference
to their general orientation in FIG. 1: a bottom face 102, a back face 104, a front
face 106, a left face 108, and a right face 110. The top of the enclosure 200 (given
the orientation of FIG. 1) is at least partially exposed, showing the non-conductive
material from which the enclosure 200 is formed. The shielding 100 in this embodiment
is formed from a single sheet of conductive material, which is stamped out in a specific
shape, then folded and crimped to form the final shape. The front face 106 of the
shielding 100 defines an elliptical aperture 114 larger than the diameter of a corresponding
audio plug. This elliptical shape is slightly larger than that of the of the enclosure
aperture 204, leaving a small gap between the inside circumference of the shielding
aperture 114 and the circumference of the enclosure aperture 204, thereby preventing
an inserted plug from coming into electrical contact with the shielding 100. It will
be appreciated that although the cavity 202 is substantially cylindrical, the apertures
204 and 114 appear elliptical due to the angled front face 106.
[0026] The bottom face 102 of the shielding 100 defines an opening through which a mechanical
stopping pin 208 of the enclosure 200 protrudes. The front face 106 of the shielding
100 is secured to the enclosure 200 in part through a clip 116 that extends around
the corner between the front and top surfaces of the enclosure 200.
[0027] The shielding 100 additionally comprises a grounding spring contact 112 extending
from the shielding 100 proximal to the front face 106 of the shielding 100 and to
the shielding aperture 114. The grounding spring contact 112 is adapted to connect
to the grounding plane of a PCB on which the jack is mounted and to thereby ground
the shielding 100 to the resident device's system ground. The proximity of the grounding
spring contact 112 to the front face 106 and shielding aperture 114 minimizes the
interference effects created in the event of a spark discharge from an inserted plug
due to electrostatic buildup on the plug: any plug which discharges an electrostatic
charge into the shielding 100 by sparking over the gap between the shielding aperture
114 and the enclosure aperture 204 will have the charge grounded immediately to the
system ground via the grounding spring contact 112 without creating a current through
the length of the shielding 100 during the discharge. Furthermore, the use of a single
grounding spring contact 112 instead of multiple such contacts reduces the risk of
ground loops and other unwanted electrical artifacts within the shielding 100.
[0028] FIG. 3 shows the exemplary embodiment of the audio jack from FIG. 1 and 2 mounted
on the PCB 302 of an exemplary electronic device. The grounding spring contact 112
is shown in contact with the grounding plane of the PCB 302, while the various PCB
spring contacts 218, 220, 222, 224 and 226 (not visible) are also in communication
with various leads of the PCB 302. Here, the bottom face 102 of the shielding 100
is visible, with the mechanical stopping pin 208 of the enclosure 200 protruding upward.
A second cavity contact 212 is here visible, deeper within the cavity than the first
cavity contact 210.
[0029] FIG. 4 shows the exemplary audio jack of FIG. 1 to 3 mounted within an exemplary
electronic device 300, with more components of the device 300 in place than in FIG.
3. Here, a portion of the outer case 306 of the device is shown covering the front
face 106 of the shielding 100 and defining a case aperture 308 with the same cross-sectional
profile as the enclosure aperture 204 viewed along the longitudinal axis 230 of the
enclosure cavity 202. This match between the case aperture 308 and the enclosure aperture
204 ensures that an inserted plug cannot come into contact with the shielding 100,
which has an aperture 114 larger in circumference than the other two. Thus, the only
electrical communication between an inserted plug and the shielding 100 would be as
a result of a spark jumping the gap between the plug surface and the edge of the shielding
aperture 114.
[0030] FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the enclosure cavity 202 of the exemplary
audio jack of FIG. 1 to 4 in the context of an exemplary electronic device 300. The
jack is here shown with its bottom face 102 facing downward and the PCB 302 of the
device 300 positioned above the top surface of the enclosure 200. The fourth PCB spring
contact 224 is shown in contact with the PCB 302. The clip 116 retaining the front
face 106 of the shielding 100 to the enclosure 200 is shown curving around the corner
of the enclosure 200. The gap between the shielding aperture 114 and the enclosure
aperture 204 is also apparent in this view, as is the correspondence between the size
of the enclosure aperture 204 and the case aperture 308. The device case 306, formed
out of a non-conductive material such as hard plastic, encloses the various components
of the device 300.
[0031] An exemplary audio plug 400 is also shown here inserted into the enclosure cavity
202. The audio plug 400 is of a TRRS type, having an elongate cylindrical shape split
up by insulating rings to form four separate contacts (tip, ring, ring, and sleeve).
The contact most proximal to the base 418 of the plug 400 is the plug sleeve contact
410. This is separated by a first insulating ring 416 from a second plug contact 408
in the shape of a conductive ring, which is in turn separated by a second insulating
ring 414 from a third plug contact 406, also in the shape of a ring, which is finally
separated by a third insulating ring 412 from the plug tip contact 404 at the distal
end 402 of the plug 400. In the exemplary embodiments of the audio jack described
above, the plug sleeve contact 410 is in electrical communication with the first cavity
contact 210 when the plug 400 is fully inserted into the cavity 202, and the second
plug contact 408 is in electrical communication with the second cavity contact 212.
The third plug contact 406 and plug tip contact 404 are also in electrical communication
with a third cavity contact and end cavity contact (not shown), respectively.
[0032] A further feature of the audio jack shown in FIG. 5 is the mechanism by which it
is maintained in place within the device 300 housing. The enclosure 200 has a mechanical
stopping pin 208 which protrudes through an opening in the bottom face 102 of the
shielding 100 to hold the jack in place and resist longitudinal forces from an plug
400 inserted along the longitudinal axis 230 of the cavity 202. This stopping pin
208 acts in concert with a chamfered rear end 206 of the cavity 202 having a shape
complementary to the plug tip 402. When the tip 402 of the plug 400 comes into contact
with the rear end 206 of the cavity 202, any further force of insertion along the
longitudinal axis 230 of the cavity 202 is absorbed by the stopping pin 208 held in
place by a complementary stopping surface 304 of the device 300.
[0033] This stopping mechanism has a dual purpose. First, it prevents any force from being
transferred to the rear surface 310 of the device housing in which the jack is situated.
This may be important to prevent damage or wear to components located near the rear
surface 310 of the housing. In particular, the rear surface 310 may be an integral
part of another component of the device 300 that may be degraded by repeated contact
forces. For example, the component may house gaskets or other sealing elements that
may be dislodged or compromised by repetitive impact forces. Second, the stopping
mechanism allows a small gap to be maintained between the outside surface of the device
case 306 and the base 418 of the plug 400. In this exemplary embodiment, the plug
400 has a base 418 wider than its sleeve; without the stopping mechanism in place,
the plug might be inserted so far as to bring the base 418 of the plug 400 into direct
contact with the device case 306. This might have detrimental effects on the plug
400 and/or device 300, whereas leaving a small gap between them creates tolerances
and prevents damage caused by contact between these two surfaces.
[0034] Many audio connectors include a non-conductive extender surrounding a plug aperture
and extending to the exterior of the device case. The exemplary embodiments of the
audio jack described above differ from this design in that there is no extender, and
no part of the jack other than the interior of the cavity 202 is visible from the
outside of the device 300. This is a consequence of the circumference of the case
aperture 308 substantially matching that of the enclosure aperture 204, leaving no
gap for interposition of an extender. The thickness of the device case 300 instead
fulfills substantially the same function as a non-conductive extender, and results
in an entire audio jack assembly with a shorter length than a typical extended audio
jack.
[0035] In some embodiments, the different plug contacts may carry various audio signals,
including speaker signals and microphone signals. For example, the plug tip contact
404 may receive a left stereo speaker signal that is conveyed from a cavity end contact,
and which is in turn conveyed from one of the PCB spring contacts, such as the fourth
PCB spring contact 224. This fourth PCB spring contact 224 in such an embodiment would
be mounted on the PCB 302 in communication with a left stereo speaker lead on the
PCB 302, thereby receiving the left stereo speaker signal from an audio subsystem
of the device 300. By the same token, the third plug contact 406 might carry a right
stereo speaker signal, which would be conveyed through a third cavity contact and
the third PCB spring contact 222 from a right stereo speaker lead on the PCB 302.
The second plug contact 408 in such an embodiment might serve as a grounding contact,
connecting the plug 400 to a system ground or separate audio ground for the device
300 via the second cavity contact 212 and the second PCB spring contact 220. The plug
sleeve contact 410 might carry a microphone signal and convey it through the first
cavity contact 210 to the first PCB spring contact 218 and thence to a microphone
signal lead on the PCB 302, feeding into the audio subsystem of the device 300. In
such an embodiment, the first cavity contact 210 might serve some additional purpose
as well, such as protecting against electrostatic discharge by communicating with
an electrostatic discharge protection component of the device 300. Alternatively,
the functions of the various cavity contacts and PCB spring contacts might be rearranged
depending on the convention used in the device 300 and the plug 400.
[0036] In some embodiments, the cavity contacts may be placed so as to prevent the plug
sleeve contact 410 from coming into electrical communication with any of the cavity
contacts when the plug 400 is fully inserted. The first cavity contact 210 may come
into electrical communication with the second plug contact 408 instead of the plug
sleeve contact 410, and the other cavity contacts may correspondingly come into electrical
communication with different plug contacts as well.
[0037] Some embodiments may use one of the PCB spring contacts to convey a non-audio signal,
such as a signal indicating that the plug has been inserted. Alternatively, one or
more of the PCB spring contacts could be used to ground the plug and/or to connect
one or more contacts of the plug sleeve to additional electrical components of the
PCB, such as an electrostatic discharge element. In some embodiments, one or more
of the PCB spring contacts may be formed integrally with the shielding 100 or may
be in electrical communication with the shielding 100, thereby using the grounding
spring contact 112 of the shielding 100 to ground any element in communication with
that PCB spring contact. It will be further appreciated that the various spring contacts,
including the grounding spring contact 112, may take different forms in other embodiments,
such as pins adapted for soldering to a printed circuit board.
[0038] In an alternate embodiment, the jack is not an audio jack, but is a shielded enclosure
for some other type of electrical connector carrying one or more analog and/or digital
signals.
[0039] In a further alternate embodiment, the mechanical stopping pin 208 may have a shape
different from a pin and may come into contact with a complementary structure of the
device 300 to hold the jack in place. Different embodiments may have the mechanical
stopping pin 208 or other stopping element protruding from different surfaces of the
audio jack, and/or protruding in different directions. In some embodiments, the stopping
element may be formed from a separate piece of material from the enclosure.
[0040] The various embodiments presented above are merely examples and are in no way meant
to limit the scope of this disclosure. Variations of the innovations described herein
will be apparent to persons of ordinary skill in the art, such variations being within
the intended scope of the present application. In particular, features from one or
more of the above-described embodiments may be selected to create alternative embodiments
comprised of a subcombination of features which may not be explicitly described above.
In addition, features from one or more of the above-described embodiments may be selected
and combined to create alternative embodiments comprised of a combination of features
which may not be explicitly described above. Features suitable for such combinations
and sub-combinations would be readily apparent to persons skilled in the art upon
review of the present application as a whole. The subject matter described herein
and in the recited claims intends to cover and embrace all suitable changes in technology.
1. An audio jack for an audio plug for use in an electrical device, comprising:
a non-conductive enclosure (200) having a front side and defining a cavity (202) having
an aperture (204) within the front side for receiving the audio plug, the aperture
(204) having a first diameter, the cavity (202) extending along a longitudinal axis
(230);
a conductive shielding (100) formed from sheet metal folded over at least five sides
of the enclosure (200) including the front side, the shielding (100) defining a shielding
aperture (114) centered on the enclosure aperture (204) and having a second diameter
larger than the first diameter; and
a ground contact (112) connected to the conductive shielding (100).
2. The audio jack of claim 1, further comprising a non-conductive stopping member (208)
extending from a surface of the enclosure (200), the non-conductive stopping member
(208) extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (230) of the
cavity (202) and adapted to abut a complementary surface (304), thereby transferring
any forces upon the audio jack along the longitudinal axis (230) to the complementary
surface (304).
3. The audio jack of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the ground contact (112) is connected
to the conductive shielding (100) proximal to the shielding aperture (114).
4. The audio jack of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the ground contact (112) comprises
a spring contact.
5. The audio jack of any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising one or more cavity
contacts (210, 212) situated within the cavity to come into electrical communication
with one or more conductive surfaces of an inserted audio plug.
6. The audio jack of claim 5, further comprising one or more PCB contacts (218, 220,
222, 224, 226) adapted to connect to and electrically communicate with leads of a
printed circuit board, each PCB contact being in electrical communication with one
or more of the cavity contacts.
7. An electronic device (300) incorporating the audio jack of any one of claims 1 to
6, comprising a rigid, non-conductive case (306) defining a case aperture (308) centered
on the on the enclosure aperture and having a diameter smaller than the second diameter.
8. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the diameter of the case aperture (308)
is substantially the same as the first diameter.
9. The electronic device (300) of claim 7 or 8 when dependent upon claim 6, further comprising:
an audio subsystem having a left stereo speaker signal output, a right stereo speaker
signal output, a microphone signal input, and an audio ground; and
a printed circuit board (302) having a left stereo speaker lead in communication with
the left stereo speaker signal output of the audio subsystem, a right stereo speaker
lead in communication with the right stereo speaker signal output of the audio subsystem,
a microphone lead in communication with the microphone signal input of the audio subsystem,
and an audio ground lead in communication with the audio ground,
the left stereo speaker lead, right stereo speaker lead, microphone lead, and audio
ground lead being positioned such that each comes into contact with one or more of
the PCB contacts of the audio jack when the audio jack is mounted on the printed circuit
board (302).
10. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the cavity contacts of the audio jack comprise:
a microphone cavity contact in communication with a PCB contact positioned to communicate
with the microphone lead of the printed circuit board (302);
a right speaker cavity contact in communication with a PCB contact positioned to communicate
with the right speaker lead of the printed circuit board (302);
a left speaker cavity contact in communication with a PCB contact positioned to communicate
with the right speaker lead of the printed circuit board (302); and
an audio ground cavity contact in communication with a PCB contact positioned to communicate
with the audio ground lead of the printed circuit board (302).
11. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the microphone cavity contact, the audio
ground cavity contact, the right speaker cavity contact, and the left speaker cavity
contact are arranged in sequence from the enclosure aperture (114) to the distal end
of the cavity (202).
12. An electronic device (300) incorporating the audio jack of claim 2, comprising:
a rigid, non-conductive case (306) defining a case aperture (308) centered on the
on the enclosure aperture (114) and having a diameter smaller than the second diameter;
and
a stopping surface (304) placed so as to abut and complement the non-conductive stopping
member (208) and absorb any force on the audio jack along the longitudinal axis (230).
Amended claims in accordance with Rule 137(2) EPC.
1. An audio jack for an audio plug for use in an electrical device, comprising:
a non-conductive enclosure (200) having a front side and defining a cavity (202) having
an aperture (204) within the front side for receiving the audio plug, the aperture
(204) having a first diameter, the cavity (202) extending along a longitudinal axis
(230);
a conductive shielding (100) formed from sheet metal folded over at least five sides
of the enclosure (200) including the front side, the shielding (100) defining a shielding
aperture (114) centered on the enclosure aperture (204) and having a second diameter
larger than the first diameter;
a ground contact (112) connected to the conductive shielding (100); and
a non-conductive stopping member (208) extending from a surface of the enclosure (200),
the non-conductive stopping member (208) extending substantially perpendicular to
the longitudinal axis (230) of the cavity (202) and adapted to abut a complementary
surface (304), thereby transferring any forces upon the audio jack along the longitudinal
axis (230) to the complementary surface (304).
2. The audio jack of claim 1, wherein the ground contact (112) is connected to the conductive
shielding (100) proximal to the shielding aperture (114).
3. The audio jack of any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein the ground contact (112) comprises
a spring contact.
4. The audio jack of any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising one or more cavity
contacts (210, 212) situated within the cavity to come into electrical communication
with one or more conductive surfaces of an inserted audio plug.
5. The audio jack of claim 4, further comprising one or more PCB contacts (218, 220,
222, 224, 226) adapted to connect to and electrically communicate with leads of a
printed circuit board, each PCB contact being in electrical communication with one
or more of the cavity contacts.
6. An electronic device (300) incorporating the audio jack of any one of claims 1 to
5, comprising a rigid, non-conductive case (306) defining a case aperture (308) centered
on the on the enclosure aperture and having a diameter smaller than the second diameter.
7. The electronic device of claim 6, wherein the diameter of the case aperture (308)
is substantially the same as the first diameter.
8. The electronic device (300) of claim 6 or 7 when dependent upon claim 5, further
comprising:
an audio subsystem having a left stereo speaker signal output, a right stereo speaker
signal output, a microphone signal input, and an audio ground; and
a printed circuit board (302) having a left stereo speaker lead in communication with
the left stereo speaker signal output of the audio subsystem, a right stereo speaker
lead in communication with the right stereo speaker signal output of the audio subsystem,
a microphone lead in communication with the microphone signal input of the audio subsystem,
and an audio ground lead in communication with the audio ground,
the left stereo speaker lead, right stereo speaker lead, microphone lead, and audio
ground lead being positioned such that each comes into contact with one or more of
the PCB contacts of the audio jack when the audio jack is mounted on the printed circuit
board (302).
9. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the cavity contacts of the audio jack comprise:
a microphone cavity contact in communication with a PCB contact positioned to communicate
with the microphone lead of the printed circuit board (302);
a right speaker cavity contact in communication with a PCB contact positioned to communicate
with the right speaker lead of the printed circuit board (302);
a left speaker cavity contact in communication with a PCB contact positioned to communicate
with the right speaker lead of the printed circuit board (302); and
an audio ground cavity contact in communication with a PCB contact positioned to communicate
with the audio ground lead of the printed circuit board (302).
10. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the microphone cavity contact, the audio
ground cavity contact, the right speaker cavity contact, and the left speaker cavity
contact are arranged in sequence from the enclosure aperture (114) to the distal end
of the cavity (202).
11. An electronic device (300) incorporating the audio jack of any one of claims 1 to
5, comprising:
a rigid, non-conductive case (306) defining a case aperture (308) centered on the
on the enclosure aperture (114) and having a diameter smaller than the second diameter;
and
a stopping surface (304) placed so as to abut and complement the non-conductive stopping
member (208) and absorb any force on the audio jack along the longitudinal axis (230).