# US 11,994,279 B1 · Connector loading device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,994,279 B1 - Document ID: US11994279B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 18/054,747 - Filed: 2022-11-11 - Published: 2024-05-16 - Granted: 2024-05-28 - Earliest claimed: 2022-11-11 - Assignees: Maxar Space LLC - Applicants: Maxar Space LLC - Inventors: Raymond Antetomoso - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11994279B1 ## CPC - F21V 23/06: the elements being coupling devices {, e.g. connectors} - H01R 43/22: Hand tools - F21V 23/005: {the substrate is supporting also the light source} - F21Y 2115/10: Light-emitting diodes [LED] - F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS - F21Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO THE FORM OR THE KIND OF THE LIGHT SOURCES OR OF THE COLOUR OF THE LIGHT EMITTED ## Abstract A connector loading device may comprise a receptacle, a plurality of light sources, and a controller. The receptacle may comprise a first plurality of holes. The first plurality of holes are configured to respectively line up with a second plurality of holes in a connector when the connector is inserted in the receptacle. Each one of the first plurality of holes comprises a respective and corresponding one of a plurality of unique indexes. The plurality of light sources respectively correspond to the first plurality of holes. Each one of the plurality of light sources, when initiated, is configured to illuminate light from a bottom of its respective one of the first plurality of holes through a top of its respective one of the first plurality of holes. The controller is configured to receive an input and initiate a one of the plurality of light sources corresponding to the index. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system comprising: a receptacle comprising a first plurality of holes wherein the first plurality of holes are configured to respectively line up with a second plurality of holes in a connector when the connector is inserted in the receptacle wherein each one of the first plurality of holes comprises a respective and corresponding one of a plurality of unique indexes; a plurality of light sources respectively corresponding to the first plurality of holes wherein each one of the plurality of light sources, when initiated, is configured to illuminate light from a bottom of its respective one of the first plurality of holes through a top of its respective one of the first plurality of holes; and a controller configured to: receive an input indicating an index corresponding to one of the first plurality of holes, and initiate a one of the plurality of light sources corresponding to the index. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the receptacle comprises a male receptacle and the connector comprises a male connector. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the receptacle comprises a female receptacle and the connector comprises a female connector. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the connector comprises a D-type connector. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the connector comprises a circular connector. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a display configured to display the index. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising an input device configured to: receive the input corresponding to the index corresponding to the one of the first plurality of holes; and forward the input to the controller. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein the input device comprises a keypad. ### Claim 9 A method comprising: receiving a connector in a receptacle of a connector loading device, the receptacle comprising a first plurality of holes that are configured to respectively line up with a second plurality of holes in the connector when the connector is inserted in the receptacle wherein each one of the first plurality of holes has a corresponding index and has a corresponding light source configured to cause light to illuminate from the hole; receiving an index of a wire being installed in the connector; and causing light to illuminate from a hole of the first plurality of holes in the receptacle, wherein the illuminated hole corresponds to the index of the wire being installed in the connector. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising displaying the received index on a display located in the receptacle. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising receiving the wire in the connector in the illuminated hole. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the receptacle comprises a male receptacle. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the receptacle comprises a female receptacle. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the connector comprises a D-type connector. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the connector comprises a circular connector. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein receiving the index comprises receiving the index at a keypad on the connector loading device. ### Claim 17 A system comprising: a first receptacle comprising a first plurality of holes wherein the first plurality of holes are configured to line up with a second plurality of holes in a first connector when the first connector is inserted in the first receptacle wherein each one of the first plurality of holes comprises a respective and corresponding one of a plurality of unique indexes; a second receptacle comprising a third plurality of holes wherein the third plurality of holes are configured to line up with a fourth plurality of holes in a second connector when the second connector is inserted in the second receptacle wherein each one of the third plurality of holes comprises a respective and corresponding one of the plurality of unique indexes; a plurality of light sources respectively corresponding to the first plurality of holes and the third plurality of holes wherein each one of the plurality of light sources, when initiated, is configured to illuminate light from a bottom of its respective one of the first plurality of holes through a top of its respective one of the first plurality of holes and is configured to illuminate light from a bottom of its respective one of the third plurality of holes through a top of its respective one of the third plurality of holes; and a controller configured to: receive an input indicating an index corresponding to one of the first plurality of holes or one of the third plurality of holes, and initiate a one of the plurality of light sources corresponding to the index. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the first connector and the second connector are of a same type and size and the first connector comprises a female connector the second connector comprises a male connector. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the first connector and the second connector comprise D-type connectors. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the first connector and the second connector comprise circular connector.