Power adapter for interconnecting different types of power connectors

Claim 2

A power adapter comprising: a Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (Serial ATA) power connector, comprising a first housing and a first contact module consisted of a plurality of first contact units and assembled in the first housing, the first housing having a first base and a pair of sidewalls extending forwardly from the first base, the sidewalls defining an L-shape receiving slot therebetween, the first base defining a rear slot corresponding to the receiving slot, one of the longitudinal sidewall defining a plurality of passageways communicating the receiving slot and the rear slot, the rear slot having a left part and a right part communicating with each other and the right part having an altitude dimension larger than the left part, the first contact module comprising a submarginal first contact unit having a body portion bending upwardly and received in the right part of the rear slot; and a conventional IDE power connector comprising a second housing interconnected with the first housing and a plurality of second power contacts assembled in the second housing; wherein the second power contacts are respectively cooperated with corresponding first contact units for providing power transmission therebetween.

Claim 3

The power adapter as claimed in claim 1 , wherein each first contact unit of the first connector comprises a body portion remained in the rear slot, a plurality of tail portions projecting into the receiving slot, and a plurality of retaining portions extending from an edge of the body portion and each connecting with a corresponding tail portion.

Claim 4

The power adapter as claimed in claim 2 , wherein an upper and a lower innerwalls of the rear slot of the Serial ATA power connector defines a plurality of bars projecting into the rear slot, every two adjacent bars defining a channel for receiving a corresponding body portion of the first contact module.

Claim 5

The power adapter as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the second housing of the conventional IDE power connector comprises a second base having a forwardly projecting shroud defining a receiving cavity, the second base defines a plurality of second passageways communicating with the receiving cavity.

Claim 6

The power adapter as claimed in claim 4 , wherein each second contact of the second connector comprises a contact portion at a front end thereof and a mounting portion at a rear end thereof, the mounting portion retained in the second passageway and extending beyond the second base and electrically abutting against a corresponding body portion of the first contact unit of the Serial ATA power connector.

Claim 7

The power adapter as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the contact portion of the second contact has a substantially cylindrical shape, and the mounting portion thereof is a flange-shaped.

Claim 8

The power adapter as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first base of the Serial ATA power connector has a first abutment surface, and the second base of the conventional IDE power connector has a second abutment surface confronting the first abutment surface.

Claim 9

The power adapter as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the first base defines a plurality of polarization holes extending inwardly from the first abutment surface, and the second base defines a corresponding number of polarization posts snugly received within the corresponding polarization holes.

Claim 10

The power adapter as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the first base defines two middle channels in an upper and lower surface thereof and a step portion formed at the bottom of each middle channel, and the second base comprises two pairs of middle latches received in the corresponding middle channels and engaging with the corresponding step portions of the first base.

Claim 11

The power adapter as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the first base further defines a left channel at the lateral end thereof and a step portion formed at the bottom of the left channel, and the second base comprises a left latch received in the left channel and engaging with the step portion thereof.

Claim 12

The power adapter as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the first base further defines a pair of resilient latches extending rearward from the first abutment surface, the second housing comprises a side protrusion defining a right channel therein for receiving the pair of resilient latches therein.

Claim 13

The power adapter as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a centerline of a mating port of said Serial ATA power connector and that of another mating port of said IDE power connector are offset from each other.

Claim 14

A power adapter, comprising: a first power connector comprising a first housing having a first abutment surface at a rear end thereof and a first contact module having a plurality of first contact unit, the first housing defining a plurality of passageways at a front end, and a rear slot defined from the first abutment surface and communicating with the passageways, each first contact unit having a body potion remained in the rear slot and a plurality tail portions extending forwardly from an edge of the body portion and received in a corresponding passageway; a second power connector comprising a second housing and a plurality of second contacts, the second housing having a second base having a second abutment surface and a forwardly projecting shroud defining a receiving cavity therein, the second base defining a plurality of second passageways extending from the second abutment surface through the second base and communicating with the receiving cavity, each second contact comprising a contact portion projecting into the receiving cavity and a mounting portion retained in a corresponding second passageway and extending outwardly beyond the second abutment surface; wherein the first connector and the second connector are fastened with each other in a back-to-back manner, the first abutment surface of the first housing confronts the second abutment surface of the second housing, and the mounting portions of the second contacts mate with corresponding body portions of the first contact modules, and wherein the first contact module has submarginal first contact unit which has a body portion inclined an angle relative to other body portions, the second contact corresponding to the submarginal first contact unit disconnecting the submarginal first contact unit.

Claim 15

A power adapter, comprising: a first power connector comprising a first housing having a first abutment surface at a rear end thereof and a first contact module having a plurality of first contact unit, the first housing defining a plurality of passageways at a front end, and a rear slot defined from the first abutment surface and communicating with the passageways, each first contact unit having a body potion remained in the rear slot and a plurality tail portions extending forwardly from an edge of the body portion and received in a corresponding passageway; a second power connector comprising a second housing and a plurality of second contacts, the second housing having a second base having a second abutment surface and a forwardly projecting shroud defining a receiving cavity therein, the second base defining a plurality of second passageways extending from the second abutment surface through the second base and communicating with the receiving cavity, each second contact comprising a contact portion projecting into the receiving cavity and a mounting portion retained in a corresponding second passageway and extending outwardly beyond the second abutment surface; wherein the first connector and the second connector are fastened with each other in a back-to-back manner, the first abutment surface of the first housing confronts the second abutment surface of the second housing, and the mounting portions of the second contacts mate with corresponding body portions of the first contact modules, and wherein the first contact module has submarginal first contact unit which has a body portion inclined an angle relative to other body portions, the second contact corresponding to the submarginal first contact unit disconnecting the submarginal first contact unit.

Claim 16

A power adaptor comprising: different first and second connectors substantially back to back assembled to each other, said first connector including a first housing with a plurality of first contacts ( 44 ) therein and a fist mating port thereof for coupling with a complementary first connector, said second connector including a second housing with a plurality of second contacts ( 52 ) therein and a second mating port thereof for coupling with a complementary second connector different from said first complementary connector, some of said first contacts ( 44 ) being grouped with plural sets ( 40 ) in compliant contact with a number of the second contacts ( 52 ) along a front-to-back direction; wherein a pitch of said plural sets ( 40 ) of first contacts ( 44 ) is different from that of said second contacts ( 52 ); wherein each of said plural sets ( 40 ) of first contacts ( 44 ) engages the corresponding second contact ( 52 ) at one specific relative position thereof, which is different from another specific relative position of another of said plural sets ( 40 ) of first contacts ( 44 ) where another corresponding second contact ( 52 ) engages, so as to allow the sets ( 40 ) of first contacts ( 44 ) and the second contacts ( 52 ), with pitches different from each other, to be interconnected with each other without varying configurations of said sets ( 40 ) of first contacts ( 44 ) and those of said second contacts ( 52 ) individually for compensating pitch difference.

Claim 17

A power adaptor comprising: different first and second connectors substantially back to back assembled to each other, said first connector including a first housing with a plurality of first contacts ( 44 ) therein and a fist mating port thereof for coupling with a complementary first connector, said second connector including a second housing with a plurality of second contacts ( 52 ) therein and a second mating port thereof for coupling with a complementary second connector different from said first complementary connector, some of said first contacts ( 44 ) being grouped with plural sets ( 40 ) in compliant contact with a number of the second contacts ( 52 ) along a front-to-back direction; wherein a pitch of said plural sets ( 40 ) of first contacts ( 44 ) is different from that of said second contacts ( 52 ); wherein each of said plural sets ( 40 ) of first contacts ( 44 ) engages the corresponding second contact ( 52 ) at one specific relative position thereof, which is different from another specific relative position of another of said plural sets ( 40 ) of first contacts ( 44 ) where another corresponding second contact ( 52 ) engages, so as to allow the sets ( 40 ) of first contacts ( 44 ) and the second contacts ( 52 ), with pitches different from each other, to be interconnected with each other without varying configurations of said sets ( 40 ) of first contacts ( 44 ) and those of said second contacts ( 52 ) individually for compensating pitch difference.

Claim 18

The adaptor as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the rest of said first contacts is grouped as at least one additional set, and said least one additional set has a different configuration from those of said plural sets so as to avoid engaging the adjacent second contact and be a dummy one for coupling to the complementary first connector while not interconnecting with the second connector.