ESD protective connector apparatus

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention include connector assembly for a handheld computer. The connector assembly includes a plurality of conductive elements disposed on a first side of a printed circuit board housed with the handheld computer. One or more of the conductive elements has a pointed end.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A connector assembly for a handheld computer, the connector assembly comprising: 
 a plurality of conductive elements disposed on a first side of a printed circuit board housed with the handheld computer, a first conductive element in the plurality of conductive elements having a pointed end;    a plurality of contacts, each of the contacts contacting one of the plurality of conductive elements, each contact including a first surface to mate with a connector element of a first type of accessory connector, and a second surface to mate with a connector element of a second type of accessory connector; and    a ground structure disposed on the printed circuit board, the ground structure including a contour positioned sufficiently proximate to the pointed end of the first conductive element to form a spark gap, the spark gap transferring an electrostatic discharge formed on one or more of the plurality of conductive elements to the ground pad when the electrostatic discharge exceeds a sufficient level.    
     
     
         2 . The connector assembly of    claim 1   , where the first surface of each contact mates with the connector element of a wiping style connector on an accessory device.  
     
     
         3 . The connector assembly of    claim 2   , wherein the second surface of each contact mates with the connector element of a pogo style connector on the accessory device.  
     
     
         4 . The connector element of    claim 1   , wherein the first surface of the contact is aligned to be acute or perpendicular to the second surface of the contact.  
     
     
         5 . The connector assembly of    claim 1   , further comprising at least one vias associated with the first conductive element to transfer electrostatic discharge from the pointed end of the first conductive element to the ground pad.  
     
     
         6 . The connector assembly of    claim 1   , wherein the grand pad includes a plurality of interior sides that define an interior space that at least partially surrounds the plurality of conductive elements on three or more interior sides, at least one of the interior sides having a saw tooth contour wherein at least a portion of the saw tooth contour is positioned relative to the point end of the first conductive element to define the spark gap.  
     
     
         7 . The connector assembly of    claim 1   , wherein the spark gap has a length of about 0.20 mm to about 0.30 mm.  
     
     
         8 . The connector assembly of    claim 1   , wherein the spark gap has a gap distance of about 0.25 mm.  
     
     
         9 . The connector assembly of    claim 1   , wherein the contour is positioned sufficiently proximate to the pointed end to transfer the electrostatic discharge exceeding 100 volts.  
     
     
         10 . The connector assembly of    claim 1   , wherein the contour is positioned sufficiently proximate to the pointed end to transfer the electrostatic discharge exceeding t 100 volts but less than 250 volts.  
     
     
         11 . The connector assembly of    claim 1   , wherein the point end of the first conductive element is formed by at least two linear sides.  
     
     
         12 . The connector assembly of    claim 11   , wherein the pointed end of the first conductive element has a triangular shape.  
     
     
         13 . The connector assembly of    claim 11   , wherein the pointed end of the first conductive element forms a rounded end.  
     
     
         14 . The connector assembly of    claim 1   , wherein each of the plurality of conductive elements are equidistantly spaced from one another.  
     
     
         15 . The connector assembly of    claim 1   , wherein the ground pad is coupled to a charge storage device.  
     
     
         16 . The connector assembly of    claim 15   , wherein the charge storage device includes one of a electric battery or a capacitor.  
     
     
         17 . A handheld computer comprising: 
 a housing including a front and back, the front of the housing providing access to a display;    a printed circuit board located in the housing, the printed circuit board including a first side and a second side, the printed circuit board interconnecting a plurality of internal components of the handheld computer on the second side;    a connector positioned to mate with an accessory device, the connector including a plurality of conductive elements positioned on the first side of the circuit board to extend electrical communications to the accessory device, a first conductive element in the plurality of conductive elements including a pointed end; and    a ground pad structure positioned sufficiently proximate to the pointed end of the first conductive element to enable an electrostatic discharge to be transferred from the pointed end of the first conductive element when an electrostatic discharge forms on one or more of the conductive elements that is sufficient to cross the spark gap.    
     
     
         18 . The handheld computer of    claim 17   , wherein the ground pad structure includes a contour that extends towards the pointed end of the first conductive element to form the spark gap.  
     
     
         19 . The handheld computer of    claim 17   , wherein the ground pad structure includes at least three interior sides that define an interior space that substantially surrounds the plurality of conductive pads on three or more interior sides, at least one of the interior sides having a saw tooth contour wherein at least a portion of the saw tooth contour is positioned relative to the pointed end of the first conductive element to define the spark gap.  
     
     
         20 . The handheld computer of    claim 17   , further comprising a vias extending between the first and second side of the circuit board to electrically interconnect one or more of the plurality of conductive elements with one or more of the plurality of internal components on the second side of the circuit board.  
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of    claim 17   , wherein the contour of the ground pad includes a pointed tooth spaced from the pointed end of one of the conductive elements to define the spark garp.  
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of    claim 17   , wherein the spark gap structure is configured to initiate a current flow between at least of one the plurality of the conductive elements and the ground pad structure when a electrical potential between the at least one of the conductive elements and the ground pad structure exceeds a threshold level.  
     
     
         23 . A handheld computer comprising: 
 a housing including a front and a back, the front of the housing providing access to a display;    a connector accessible to interconnect with a mating connector of an accessory device; and    an electrostatic discharge feature configured to dissipate an electrostatic charge having a voltage exceeding a threshold level upon the connector being mated with the mating connector of the accessory device.    
     
     
         24 . The handheld computer of    claim 23   , further comprising a door, the door being slideable between a door including a closed position and an open position, the connector being accessible when the door is in the open position.  
     
     
         25 . The handheld computer of    claim 24   , wherein the door is biased to remain in the closed position until a force directs the door to the open position.  
     
     
         26 . The handheld computer of    claim 23   , wherein the electrostatic discharge feature includes a pointed end positioned on each of a plurality of conductive elements disposed on a circuit board of the handheld computer.  
     
     
         27 . The handheld computer of    claim 26   , wherein the electrostatic discharge feature includes a ground pad positioned sufficiently proximate to the pointed ends of the conductive elements to form a spark gap to transfer an electrostatic discharge from the conductive elements to the ground pad.  
     
     
         28 . The handheld computer of    claim 27   , wherein the electrostatic discharge feature includes a plurality of contours on the ground pad, each of the contours being positioned proximate to a corresponding conductive element of the plurality of conductive elements.  
     
     
         29 . The handheld computer of    claim 28   , wherein the electrostatic discharge feature includes a plurality of saw-tooth contours on the ground pad.  
     
     
         30 . The handheld computer of    claim 26   , wherein the electrostatic discharge feature includes a ground pad including a tooth spaced from each pointed end to form the electrostatic discharge features.  
     
     
         31 . The handheld computer of    claim 23   , further comprising: 
 a plurality of contacts, each of the contacts contacting one of the plurality of conductive elements, each contact including a first surface to mate with a connector element of a first type of accessory connector, and a second surface to mate with a connector element of a second type of accessory connector.    
     
     
         32 . The handheld computer of    claim 31   , wherein the first surface mates with the connector element of a wiping style connector, and the second surface mates with the connector element of a pogo style connector.  
     
     
         33 . An accessory device for a handheld computer comprising: 
 a stand for placement of the handheld computer;    a mating connector to mate with another connector of a handheld computer when the handheld computer is rested on the stand;    an outlet to communicate with another computer; and    an electrostatic discharge feature configured to dissipate an electrostatic charge having a voltage exceeding a threshold level upon the mating connector being mated with the other connector of the handheld computer.    
     
     
         34 . A handheld computer comprising: 
 a housing including a first and a back, the front of the housing providing access to a display;    a connector including a plurality of contacts, each contact including a first surface to receive an element wiping style connector, and a second surface to receive an element of a pogo style connector;    a ground pad positioned adjacent to the connector; and    means for transferring an electrostatic discharge forming on the connector to the ground pad.    
     
     
         35 . A handheld computer comprising: 
 a housing including a first and a back, the front of the housing providing access to a display;    a connector accessible to interconnect with a mating connector of an accessory device;    a door including an open position to provide access to the connector and a closed position to protect the connector;    a ground pad positioned adjacent to the connector; and    means for transferring an electrostatic discharge forming on the connector to the ground pad.