United States Patent [19]
`Benjamin et al.
`
`111111111111 11111 111111111111111 Hll 1111111 Ull 11111111111111111
`US005668654A
`[11] Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`5,668,654
`Sep. 16, 1997
`
`[54] PACKAGE FOR AN INFRARED
`COMMUNICATIONS ADAPTER
`
`[75]
`
`Inventors: Karen Elizabeth Benjamin; Jeffrey
`Byron McClinton; Robert Neil
`Whiteman, Jr.; Earl Chester Myers,
`Jr.; John Joseph Consoli. all of
`Harrisburg, Pa.
`
`[73] Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation.
`Wilmington, Del.
`
`[21] Appl. No.: 453,729
`
`May 30, 1995
`[22] Filed:
`Int. CI.6 ..•......•........•••.••.•••..............••.••••••.. H04B 10/00
`[51]
`[52] U.S. CI . ......................... ; ................... 359/152; 36ln52
`[58] Field of Search ..................................... 359/152. 159,
`359/162. 163; 385/88, 90, 92, 93; 36ln52,
`756, 785. 796. 802; 345/156. 163. 169,
`905; 463/36, 37, 38, 39; 273/148 H
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`4,069,403
`4,404,522
`4,431,966
`4,789,224
`4,809,257
`4,978,317
`5,109,453
`5,109,454
`5,142,538
`5,146,620
`5,181,181
`5,191,461
`5,276,279
`5,289,345
`5,327,328
`5,329,428
`5,339,178
`5,349,504
`
`1/1978 Beaudette et al .................... 200/51.12
`9/1983 Pucciarello .............................. 324/114
`2/1984 Pucciarello .............................. 324/114
`12/1988 Bougsty .................................. 350/345
`2/1989 Gantenbein et al. ....................... 370/4
`12/1990 Pocrass ................................... 439/490
`4/1992 Edwards et al ........................... 385/90
`4/1992 Okuno te al. ............................. 385/92
`8/1992 Fickes et al.
`............................. 371/34
`9/1992 Swilde et al ............................ 455/351
`1/1993 Glynn ...................................... 345/163
`3/1993 Cranshaw et al. ...................... 359/154
`1/1994 Brownlie et al. ..................... 174/65 R
`2/1994 Corradetti et al ....................... 36ln52
`7/1994 Simms et al .............................. 362/26
`7/1994 Block et al ............................. 361n85
`8/1994 Phelps, III et al. ....................... 359/42
`9/1994 Simms et al. ............................. 362/32
`
`5,359,492
`5,373,149
`5,416,872
`5,466,174
`5,470,252
`5,506,921
`5,555,161
`5,567,175
`
`10/1994 Porter ...................................... 361/683
`12/1994 Rasmussen .............................. 235/492
`5/1995 Sizer, II et al ............................ 385/88
`11/1995 Savage et al ........................... 439/596
`11/1995 Fladung .................................. 439/490
`4/1996 Horie ........................................ 385/88
`9/1996 Roe et al .................................. 362/32
`10/1996 Warden et al .......................... 439/490
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Photolink: Newest addition to wireless LAN arena, com(cid:173)
`puter reseller news. Jul. 31, 1989.
`Gimmick or Breakthrough, Wireless and rechargeable
`mouse Apr. 2, 1992 DAK industries.
`
`Primary Examiner-Wellington Chin
`Assistant Examiner-Rafael Bacares
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Anton P. Ness
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`An infrared communications adapter (10) is provided having
`a two part housing (22, 24) that snaps together to form a
`housing assembly (12) having an interior cavity (30). The
`interior cavity contains a circuit board (32) having commu(cid:173)
`nications circuitry and components thereon, including light
`emitting diodes ( 42. 44. 46) for indicating operating status of
`the unit and a photodiode array (34) for receiving and
`transmitting infrared signals. The adapter (10) includes a
`light pipe (50) having three light conducting channels (204.
`206, 208) that conduct light from the three light emitting
`diodes (42, 44, 46) to viewing facets (190, 192, 194) on the
`light pipe that extend through openings in the housing (12).
`A lens (20) is arranged in a front end of the housing directly
`in front of the photodiode array (34). An articulated coupling
`60 removably couples a stand (14) to the housing assembly
`(12) and permits aiming of the unit for receiving and
`transmitting the infrared signals. A cable (16) is tenninated
`at one end to the circuitry on the circuit board (32) and at the
`other end to a connector (18) that is connected to an
`input/output data port of a computer or other equipment.
`
`33 Claims, 10 Drawing Sheets
`
`~n--- CONNECTOR 1B
`~
`
`HOUSING
`
`Ex.1019
`APPLE INC. / Page 1 of 17
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 16, 1997
`
`Sheet 1 of 10
`
`5,668,654
`
`CONNECTOR 18
`
`ADAPTER 10
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`ADAPTER 10
`~
`
`Ex.1019
`APPLE INC. / Page 2 of 17
`
`

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`
`Ex.1019
`APPLE INC. / Page 3 of 17
`
`

`

`U.S. P a t e n t
`
`S e p . 16, 1997
`
`S h e e t 3 o f 10
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`ARRA y 34 LENS 20
`
`ST ANO 14
`
`Ex.1019
`APPLE INC. / Page 4 of 17
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 16, 1997
`
`Sheet 4 of 10
`
`S,668,654
`
`2
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`Ex.1019
`APPLE INC. / Page 5 of 17
`
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`Ex.1019
`APPLE INC. / Page 6 of 17
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 16, 1997
`
`Sheet 6 of 10
`
`5,668,654
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`Ex.1019
`APPLE INC. / Page 7 of 17
`
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`Ex.1019
`APPLE INC. / Page 8 of 17
`
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`Ex.1019
`APPLE INC. / Page 9 of 17
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 16, 1997
`Sep. 16, 1997
`
`Sheet 9 of 10
`Sheet 9 of 10
`
`5,668,654
`
`178
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`Ex.1019
`APPLEINC./ Page 10 of 17
`
`Ex.1019
`APPLE INC. / Page 10 of 17
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 16, 1997
`
`Sheet 10 of 10
`
`5,668,654
`
`126
`
`24
`
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`
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`
`Ex.1019
`APPLE INC. / Page 11 of 17
`
`

`

`5,668,654
`
`1
`PACKAGE FOR AN INFRARED
`COMMUNICATIONS ADAPTER
`
`The present invention is related to infrared communica(cid:173)
`tions equipment and more particularly to a package for an
`infrared communications adapter for interconnecting to a
`data port.
`
`2
`end of the cavity. The first features include at least one
`projection extending from one of the upper and lower
`housing halves and at least one opening in the other of the
`upper and lower housing halves in alignment with the
`5 projection. The opening is arranged to interferingly receive
`the projection therein thereby effecting the position and the
`interlock of the housing halves together.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
`
`10
`
`FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an external infrared
`communications adapter incorporating the teaching of the
`present invention;
`FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the adapter shown in FIG.
`15 1, taken from a different direction;
`FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 are side, front, and plan views,
`respectively, of the adapter shown in FIG. 1;
`FIGS. 6 and 7 are exploded parts views of the adapter
`shown in FIG. 1 taken from different directions;
`FIG. 8 is an isometric view of the lower housing half of
`the adapter;
`FIG. 9 is an isometric view of the upper housing half of
`the adapter;
`FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines
`10-10 in FIG. 5;
`FIG. 11 is a view of a portion of the view of FIG. 10
`showing the stand and adapter unit separated;
`FIGS. 12, 13, and 14 are top, front and side views,
`respectively, of a light pipe shown in FIGS. 6 and 7;
`FIGS. 15 and 16 are cross-sectional views taken along
`lines 15-15 and 16-16 respectively, in FIG. 3;
`FIG. 17 is an enlarged view of that of FIG. 15 showing the
`cable in place with the strain relief; and
`FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines
`18-18 in FIG. 16.
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`In the computer and computer peripherals industry, com-
`puters are sometimes interconnected to other computers,
`peripheral devices, and other equipment through a wireless
`infrared link instead of the conventional hard wire cable
`link. For example, keyboards, printers, and even computers
`may be easily and interchangeably interconnected to com(cid:173)
`puters and other devices via these wireless infrared links.
`Further, a few lap top computers and other equipment are
`being manufactured with such infrared links built in so that
`they can be interfaced with other equipment having an
`infrared port. Whether the infrared link is external or built in,
`the interface is accomplished by simply placing the two
`devices in proximity and visual alignment within limits
`specified by standards governing the infrared communica(cid:173)
`tions protocol. A typical communications protocol currently
`being used in the industry, for example, is the Infrared Data
`Association (IRDA) standard commonly referred to as IrDA
`1. In the cases where the infrared ports are not built into the
`original equipment, external infrared communications
`adapters are used. The external infrared communications
`adapter includes a package housing the infrared circuitry and
`components, and a cable terminated with a connector that is
`connected to a data port on the equipment. The data port may
`be a standard serial or parallel port. Each unit of equipment
`is equipped with such an infrared communications adapter.
`When it is desired to interconnect one unit to another unit,
`the two infrared communications adapters are pointed, or
`aimed, at each other within the limits of the protocol and the
`interconnection is complete. This aiming of the infrared
`communications adapters, however, requires that the adapter
`package be easily positioned and then held in that position
`during the period of interconnection. Currently available
`infrared communications adapters are not easily manipu(cid:173)
`lated to achieve this. Additionally, these adapters are costly
`to manufacture because they typically are complex struc-
`tures held together by means of separate fastener devices.
`What is needed is an external infrared communications
`adapter that is easily aimed and held in place during use.
`Additionally, the package housing the adapter should be
`constructed of a minimum of separate parts that do not
`require external fasteners to join them together, thereby
`lowering the cost of manufacturing the package.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`40
`
`45
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENT
`There is shown in FIGS. 1 through 5 an infrared com(cid:173)
`munications adapter 10 having a housing assembly 12, a
`stand 14, and an electrical cable 16 with a connector 18
`terminated to its free end. The connector 18 is of the type to
`mate with a standard port on a computer, peripheral device,
`or other equipment, such as a serial port or parallel port
`commonly used in the industry. The adapter 10 includes a
`lens 20 arranged in a front end of the housing assembly 12
`which receives infrared light signals during operation of the
`50 adapter, as will be explained below. As best seen in FIGS. 6
`and 7, the housing assembly 12 of the adapter 10 is com(cid:173)
`posed of an upper housing half 22 and a lower housing half
`24 that are mated along common peripheral edges 26 and 28,
`respectively, to form an interior cavity 30.
`A circuit board 32 having infrared communications cir-
`cuitry thereon is disposed within the internal cavity 30, and
`includes a photodiode array 34 near a front end 36, all
`thereby defining an infrared transceiver. The cable is termi(cid:173)
`nated to a connector 38 which is mounted to a rear end 40
`60 of the circuit board 32 and interconnected to the communi(cid:173)
`cations circuitry contained thereon in the usual manner. In
`addition to the various components that are mounted to the
`circuit board that are not shown, there are three light
`emitting diodes 42, 44, and 46 interconnected to the com-
`65 munications circuitry that indicate the current operational
`status of the adapter 10, as will be describe below.
`Additionally, a light pipe 50, which will be described in
`
`A package is disclosed for an infrared communications 55
`adapter. The communications adapter includes a circuit
`board having a communications circuit thereon and an
`infrared transceiver. The circuit is arranged to interface with
`a data port by means of an electrical cable terminated with
`a connector. The package includes an upper housing half and
`a lower housing half, each of which have first features that
`are integral to their respective housing halves and cooperate,
`and are the sole means, to position and interlock the housing
`halves together. The two housing halves form a housing
`assembly having an interior cavity for holding the circuit
`board therein. A longitudinal axis extends through the inte(cid:173)
`rior cavity and through the infrared transceiver near a first
`
`Ex.1019
`APPLE INC. / Page 12 of 17
`
`

`

`5,668,654
`
`3
`more detail below, is positioned within the interior cavity 30
`so that it will transmit light emitted by the diodes 42, 44, and
`46 to respective openings 52, 54, and 56 formed in the upper
`housing half 22, as shown in HGS. 6 and 7.
`As best seen in HGS. 6, 7, 10, and 11, the stand 14 is
`removably attached to the housing assembly 12 by means of
`an articulated coupling 60. The articulated coupling includes
`a ball portion 62 that extends above and is attached to the
`stand 14 by means of a tapered pedestal 64. The ball portion
`62 seats in an internal cylindrically shaped cavity 66 formed
`in a thermoplastic elastomer grommet 68. The cavity 66
`terminates in a somewhat hemispherically shaped end wall
`70 that engages the top of the ball portion 62, as shown in
`HG. 10. A cylindrical opening 72 is formed in the lower
`housing half 24 having an axis 74 that is perpendicular to a
`longitudinal axis 76 of the housing assembly 12, as shown
`in HGS. 3, 5, and 10. The grommet 68 has an outer diameter
`78 that is a line fit with the cylindrical opening 72. The
`cavity 66 has an inner diameter that is substantially concen(cid:173)
`tric to the outer diameter 78. The ball portion 62 has a
`diameter that is larger than the interior diameter of the cavity
`66 so that the walls of the cavity and the end wall 70 are
`conformably deformed by the ball a sufficient amount so that
`the friction therebetween will provide a desired amount of
`static resistance to relative tilting movement of the housing
`assembly 12 with respect to the stand 14. The static resis(cid:173)
`tance to tilting provided by the cooperation of the ba:11
`portion 62 with the walls of the cavity 66 and the end wa:11
`70 should be from about 0.01 inch pounds to about 0.03 inch
`pounds, and preferably, should be about 0.02 inch pounds
`for optimum controlled movement when aiming the com(cid:173)
`munications adapter 10. The cylindrical opening 72 includes
`a key slot 80 in the lower housing 24, as best seen in HGS.
`6, 8, and 12, and the grommet 68 includes a key 82, or
`projection, as best seen in HGS. 7 and 10, extending into the
`key slot to secure the grommet against rotation with respect
`to the lower housing. This assures that only the friction
`between the ba:11 portion 62 and the walls of the cavity 66
`and the end wa:11 70 will govern the static resistance to
`tilting. The grommet 68 includes an enlarged portion 84, as
`best seen in HGS. 6, 7, and 10, that is larger than the
`diameter 78, thereby forming a shoulder 86. The cylindrical
`opening 72 is formed in a boss 88 extending from the floor
`92 of the lower housing half 24, leaving a raised surface 90,
`against which the shoulder 86 of the grommet 68 rests. The
`enlarged portion 84 of the grommet includes a hole 94, as
`best seen in HG. 6, into which extends a projection 96, as
`shown in HGS. 10 and 11. This enlarged portion holds the
`grommet 68 captive within the housing assembly 12 during
`removal of the stand. The projection 96 extending into the
`hole 94 prevents the relatively soft materia:l from collapsing
`and allowing the enlarged portion 84 to pass through the
`cylindrical opening 72. The ball portion 62 and the grommet
`68 are arranged so that the longitudinal axis 76 of the adapter
`10 can be tilted in the vertical direction a minimum of plus
`or minus 30 degrees, as indicated at 100 in HG. 10 and,
`additionally, can be tilted in the horizontal direction a
`minimum of plus or minus 30 degrees, as indicated at 102
`in HG. 5. The cooperative friction between the ba:11 portion
`62 and the grommet 68 permits easy and smooth tilting
`movement of the housing assembly 12 with respect to the
`stand 14, yet will securely hold the housing in position after
`it is aimed as desired. In the present example the grommet
`68 is made from a thermoplastic elastomer sold under the
`tradename of SARLINK 1360, and manufactured by DSM
`Thermoplastic Elastomers Inc. of 690 Mechanic Street,
`Leominster, Mass. 01453. The SARLINK 1360 material has
`
`5
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`4
`a hardness of 64 Durometers on the Shore A scale. In this
`example the diameter 78 of the grommet 68 is 8.25 mm, the
`diameter of the cylindrical cavity 66 is 5 .25 mm, and the ba:11
`portion 62 has a diameter of 5.75 mm. It will be understood
`that the grommet 68 may be made from other suitable
`materials of suitable dimensions to produce the desired static
`resistance to tilting.
`As shown in HG. 8, the lower housing half 24 includes a
`lip 110 along most of its peripheral edge 28 that overlaps and
`10 locates within a recess 112 that extends along most of the
`peripheral edge 26 of the upper housing half 22, as shown
`in HG. 9, when the two housing halves are in mated
`engagement, as shown in HGS. 3 and 4. The upper housing
`half 22 includes two opposite side walls 114 and 116 that
`15 extend from a rear wa:11 118, and curve forward to a front
`wall 120. An opening 122 is formed in the front wa:11120 that
`wraps around into the ceiling 124 of the upper housing half
`22, for a purpose that will be explained. As shown in HG.
`8, the lower housing half 24 includes two side wa:lls 126 and
`20 128 that extend from a rear wall 130, and curve forward to
`a front wall 132. When the two housing halves 22 and 24 are
`in mated engagement, the respective side walls and rear and
`front walls are in flush a:lignment. The two housing halves 22
`and 24 are held together by means of six posts 134 that
`25 project from the floor 92 of the lower housing half 24 and six
`hexagonal holes 136 formed in bosses 138 in the upper
`housing half 22, each post 134 being in a:lignment with a
`respective hexagonal hole 136. The diameter of each of the
`posts is chosen to be an interference fit with its respective
`30 hexagonal hole so that when the two housing halves are
`pressed together into mated engagement, the posts and their
`respective hexagonal holes mutually deform and form tight
`joints that secure the two housing halves together. The
`opening 122 in the upper housing half 22 joins with an
`35 opening 138 in the front wall 132 of the lower housing half
`24 to receive the lens 20, as shown in HG. 1. The openings
`122 and 138 include a groove 140 that receives a flange 142
`on the lens 20 that holds the lens captive within the openings
`122 and 138 of the housing assembly 12.
`As shown in HGS. 6, 8 and 10, the two housing halves 22
`and 24 form an interior cavity 30 that houses the circuit
`board 32. The circuit board is positioned on three flat
`surfaces 146, 148, and 150 that extend above the floor 92 a
`short distance and form a flat mounting plane for the board.
`45 Note that the surface 150 is U-shaped and attached to the
`boss 88. The circuit board 32 is held latera:lly by means of
`six projections that are shaped as half cylinders. Two of the
`projections 152 are formed on the opposing sides of the two
`center posts 134, as shown in HG. 8. Two more of the
`50 projections 154 are formed on the rear facing sides of the
`two forward posts 134. And the last two projections 156 are
`formed on the forward facing side of the boss 88 adjacent the
`U-shapedflat surface 150. The projections 152,154, and 156
`extend vertically above the mounting surfaces 146, 148, and
`55 150 by more than the thickness of the circuit board 32. As
`best seen in HGS. 6, 8, and 10, the circuit board 32 is
`disposed in the space between the projections 152, 154, and
`156. The circuit board has two forwardly facing edges 158
`on each side thereof, as shown in HG. 6, that engage the two
`60 forward projections 154, and a rear edge 160 that engages
`the two projections 156, the circuit board being sized to
`provide an interference fit between the two sets of projec(cid:173)
`tions so that the board is firmly secured therebetween.
`Additionally, the circuit board 32 includes two side edges
`65 162 and 164 on opposite sides thereof that interferingly
`engage the two projections 152, to position the board
`laterally, and to help secure the board to the lower housing
`
`40
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`Ex.1019
`APPLE INC. / Page 13 of 17
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`5,668,654
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`half 24. The two forward bosses 138 of the upper housing
`half 22, as best seen in FIG. 9, each includes a bubble
`projection 166 that engages either side of the upper forward
`surface 168 of the circuit board 32 to assure that the
`photodiode array 34 is maintained in proper alignment.
`As shown in FIGS. 12, 13 and 14, the light pipe 50 is of
`unitary construction and includes a main body 178 and a flat
`mounting surface 180. Two hexagonal holes 182 are formed
`through the body perpendicular to the mounting surface 180.
`The upper housing half 22 includes a recess 184 in the
`ceiling 124, as shown in FIG. 9. thereby forming a raised
`portion 186. as shown in FIGS. 6 and 9. Two posts 188
`extend from the inside of the raised portion 186, in align(cid:173)
`ment with the two hexagonal holes 182. The diameter of
`each of the posts 188 is chosen to be an interference fit with
`its respective hexagonal hole 182. The light pipe is
`assembled to the upper housing half by pressing the light
`pipe into mated engagement therewith so that the posts enter
`their respective hexagonal holes and mutually deform and
`form tight joints that secure the light pipe to the upper
`housing half. As shown in FIGS. 9, 12, 13 and 14, the light
`pipe includes three viewing facets 190, 192, and 194, each
`of which has two viewing faces, a forward face 196 and an
`upward face 198, both of which are frosted. The three
`viewing facets 190, 192, and 194 extend above the mounting
`surface 180 and project into similarly shaped openings 200
`formed in the ceiling 124 and raised portion 186, as best seen
`in FIGS. 1 and 9. The light pipe 50 includes alight receiving
`clear surface 202 opposite the mounting surface 180, as
`shown in FIGS. 6 and 14. Three light conducting channels
`204, 206, and 208 extend from the light receiving surface
`202 to their respective viewing facets 190, 192, and 194, as
`shown in FIGS. U and 13. A groove 2U is formed in the
`body 178 between adjacent facets 190, 192 and 192, 194, as
`shown in FIGS. U and 13. The grooves 212 optically
`separate the three light conducting channels 204, 206, and
`208 so that light transfer therebetween is negligible. Refer(cid:173)
`ring to FIG. 6, when the circuit board 32 is in position within
`the lower housing half 24, the light pipe 50 in position within
`the upper housing half 22, and the two housing halves
`assembled together, the three light emitting diodes 42, 44,
`and 46 are closely adjacent the light receiving surface 202 in
`alignment with the light conducting channels 204, 206, and
`208, respectively. Therefore, light from each of these diodes
`is conducted up to the forward and upward faces 196 and
`198 of each respective light conducting channel, and can be
`viewed there. Light cross talk between the channels is
`minimized by the grooves 2U. As stated above, the lights
`from these three light emitting diodes indicate operational
`status of the communications adapter 10. In the present
`example, the light from the diode 42 is yellow and indicates
`that the unit is transmitting. The light from the diode 44 is
`green and indicates that the unit is receiving, while the light
`from the diode 46 is red and indicates that the unit is
`receiving power. These colors are by way of example only.
`It will be understood that any desirable color combination
`may be utilized to provide an indication of any desired
`operational state of the adapter 10.
`The housing assembly 12 includes a cable strain relief 220
`that has a lower portion 222 that is formed in the lower
`housing half 24, as best seen in FIG. 15, and an upper
`portion 224 that is formed in the upper housing half 22, as
`best seen in FIG. 16. The two portions 222 and 224
`cooperate to grip the cable 16 and prevent axial movement
`thereof with respect to the housing assembly U. The lower
`portion 222 includes a pair of opposing walls 226 and 228
`that form a cable receiving channel 230 therebetween. One
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`6
`of the walls 226 has two spaced apart ribs 232 extending info
`the channel and the other wall 228 has three spaced ribs 232
`extending into the channel. The ribs are spaced so that each
`rib on the wall 226 is between two ribs on the opposite wall
`5 228, that is, the ribs are staggered from one wall to the other.
`Further, the walls and ribs are spaced so that the cable 16 is
`interferingly received therebetween, as shown in FIG. 17. A
`pair of ribs 234 extend upwardly from the floor 92, or from
`a boss 236 on the floor, so that the ribs extend into the
`10 channel 230, in alignment with the two ribs 232 on the wall
`226. The upper portion 224 of the strain relief 220 is
`composed of three ribs 238 extending from the ceiling 124
`of the upper housing half 22, as best seen in FIG. 13. Each
`of the ribs 238 has a V-shaped notch 240 in the edge facing
`l5 the rear wall 118 that engage a respective one of the three
`ribs 232 in the wall 228, when the two housing halves 22 and
`24 are assembled together. The three ribs 238 extend into the
`channel sufficiently far to serve as abutting surfaces that
`engage the cable 16, forcing it to deviate from a straight line
`20 by bending slightly around the ribs 234 and 238, as best seen
`in FIG. 18. This results in the cable 16 being forced to follow
`a circuitous path in two planes, as shown in FIGS. 17 and 18,
`therefore, providing a superior strain relief for the cable.
`Now with reference to FIGS. 8 to 10 and 15 to 17, a cable
`25 organizer 246 is formed in the rear walls 118 and 130 of the
`two housing halves and consists of a first opening or through
`hole 248 that extends into the interior cavity 30 and that
`intersects a laterally formed second opening, or shallow
`channel 250 that is formed partially in each rear surface 118
`30 and 130 of the two housing halves 22 and 24, respectively.
`The opening 250 runs the entire length of the rear surfaces
`118 and 130, and has a diameter that is equal to or slightly
`larger than the diameter of the cable 16 preferably defined by
`arcuate cable-engaging surface portions of the upper and
`35 lower housings. While the opening 250 is open toward the
`rear of the housing assembly U, it has upper and lower outer
`lip portions 252 and 254, respectively (FIGS. 8 and 9), that
`extend over the opening slightly so that the distance between
`the two lips is slightly less that the diameter of the cable 16.
`40 This provides a snapping action when the cable is forced into
`the opening and serves to retain the cable in place. The cable
`16, after exiting the interior cavity 30 via the through hole
`248, may be routed either to the left or right portions of the
`opening 250, as desired. Further, the left or right orientation
`45 of the cable in the opening 250 may easily be changed by
`simply pulling it out of the opening and then reinserting it on
`the desired side. Due to the extra stress of the cable organizer
`246 and cable strain relief 220 tending to urge the two
`housing halves 22 and 24 apart, an additional holding
`50 mechanism is provided, referring now to FIGS. 8, 9, 15 and
`16. This is in the form of two resilient clips 260 that are
`formed integral to the lower housing half 24, each of which
`has a catch surface 262 that latchingly engages a pair of
`catches 264 that project from the side walls 114 and 116 of
`55 the upper housing half 22 and are formed integral thereto.
`The catches 264 have camming surfaces that permit the
`resilient clips 260 to deflect as the two housing halves are
`assembled together and then spring back into latching
`engagement, in the usual manner.
`Three rubber pads 270, as best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4. are
`attached to the underside of the lower housing half 22 so that
`two of the pads are spaced near the rear wall 130 and one pad
`is centered near the front wall 132. These rubber pads allow
`the communications adapter to be used without the stand 14.
`65 The stand 14 is removed from the housing assembly 12 by
`simply pulling the ball portion 62 out of the cylindrical
`cavity 66. The housing assembly 12 may then be placed with
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`60
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`Ex.1019
`APPLE INC. / Page 14 of 17
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`5,668,654
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`its pads 270 on a support surface and aimed as desired. This
`is especially useful where the unit is to communicate with
`other equipment having an infrared communications adapter
`that is already in alignment with the support surface, such as
`a laptop computer that is on the support surface.
`While the upper and lower housing halves 22 and 24 are
`secured together by means of several round posts in one of
`the parts being forced into hexagonal shaped holes in the
`other part, other shaped posts and mating holes may be
`utilized. For example, the posts may be square and the holes 10
`round, or they may be any other combination of different
`shapes. An important requirement is that the cross-sectional
`shape of the post be different from the cross-sectional shape
`of the hole and that they be sized to interfere.
`An important advantage of the present invention is that
`the two housing halves 22 and 24, the light pipe 50, the
`circuit board 32, and the stand 14 and articulated coupling
`60 are all assembled by simply snapping them together,
`without the need for loose fasteners or other loose parts, so
`that automated assembly processes are more easily
`employed. The infrared communications adapter 10 is easily
`aimed