# US 12,000,907 B2 · System, device and method for detecting connection of connecting structure

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- Number: US 12,000,907 B2
- Document ID: US12000907B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/817,432
- Filed: 2022-08-04
- Published: 2022-11-24
- Granted: 2024-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2020-02-04
- Assignees: Naver Labs Corporation
- Applicants: Naver Labs Corporation
- Inventors: Sungyong Chung; Jaeryang Lee; Eungyo Jung; Seong-jun Lee; Junghoon Cheon; Joonseo Park
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12000907B2

## CPC

- G01R 31/66: Testing of connections, e.g. of plugs or non-disconnectable joints (testing for incorrect line connections G01R31/55)
- G06F 1/266: {Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips}
- G01R 23/02: Arrangements for measuring frequency, e.g. pulse repetition rate; Arrangements for measuring period of current or voltage
- G01R 31/68: Testing of releasable connections, e.g. of terminals mounted on a printed circuit board
- G06F 1/1632: {External expansion units, e.g. docking stations}
- H03K 5/26: the characteristic being duration, interval, position, frequency, or sequence
- G01R 31/2837: {Characterising or performance testing, e.g. of frequency response (transient response G01R27/28)}
- G01R 31/54: Testing for continuity
- G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12)
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- H03K: PULSE TECHNIQUE (measuring pulse characteristics G01R; modulating sinusoidal oscillations with pulses H03C; transmission of digital information H04L; discriminator circuits detecting phase difference between two signals by counting or integrating cycles of oscillation H03D3/04; automatic control, starting, synchronisation or stabilisation of generators of electronic oscillations or pulses where the type of generator is irrelevant or unspecified H03L; coding, decoding or code conversion, in general H03M)

## Abstract

A system for detecting a connection between two devices includes a first device and a second device. The first device includes a first connection terminal and a first reactance element connected to the first connection terminal. The second device includes a second connection terminal; a first resistance element, and a first frequency generator for allowing a signal to pass through the first resistance element and be applied to the first device via the second connection terminal. The second device further includes a first comparator having both input terminals connected to both ends of the first resistance element, and comparing and outputting a signal of both ends of the first resistance element, and a first control unit for determining whether or not the first connection terminal of the first device is connected to the second connection terminal by means of the output signal of the first comparator.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system for detecting a connection, comprising:
a first device including a first connection terminal having a 1-1 contact point and a 1-2 contact point and a first reactance element connected to the first connection terminal; and
a second device including,
a second connection terminal having a 2-1 contact point and a 2-2 contact point corresponding to the 1-1 contact point and the 1-2 contact point,
a first resistance element,
a first frequency generator connected to a first end of the first resistance element and configured to apply a signal having a frequency varying a predetermined range to the first device through the second connection terminal via the first end of the first resistance element, a second end of the first resistance element being connected to the second connection terminal,
a first comparator having a first input terminal connected to the first end of the first resistance element and a second input terminal connected to the second end of the first resistance element and configured to compare signals at the first end and the second end of the first resistance element, and a first controller configured to determine whether the first connection terminal is connected to the second connection terminal by using an output signal of the first comparator.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the first comparator is a phase comparator configured to compare phases of the signals at the first end and the second end of the first resistance element, and
the first controller is configured to detect a first frequency of a phase delay between the first end and the second end of the first resistance element by using an output signal of the phase comparator, the phase delay being out of a predetermined range according to an increase in the frequency of the first frequency generator, and
calculate an element value of the first reactance element by using the first frequency and determine whether the first connection terminal of the first device is connected to the second connection terminal.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2, wherein the first controller is configured to detect a second frequency of a size change between the signals at the first end and the second end of the first resistance element, the size change being output of a predetermined range according to an increase in the frequency of the first frequency generator, and
verify whether the first frequency is accurate by using the second frequency.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the first connection terminal comprises a 1-3 contact point,
the second connection terminal comprises a 2-3 contact point corresponding to the 1-3 contact point, and
the first controller is configured to detect the connection between the first connection terminal and the second connection terminal and then perform control to apply power to the first device through the 2-3 contact point.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2, wherein the first frequency generator is configured to apply the signal while changing the frequency within the predetermined range, based on a predicated value of the first frequency according to the first reactance element.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the first device comprises a third connection terminal having a 3-1 contact point and a 3-2 contact point,
a second resistance element,
a second frequency generator configured to apply a signal having a frequency varying in a predetermined range to a third device through the third connection terminal via the second resistance element,
a second comparator having both input terminals connected to both ends of the second resistance element and configured to compare and signals at both ends of the second resistance element, and
a second controller configured to determine whether a fourth connection terminal of the third device is connected to the third connection terminal by using an output signal of the second comparator.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The system of claim 6, wherein the third connection terminal has a 3-3 contact point, and
the second controller is configured to detect the connection between the third connection terminal and the fourth connection terminal and then perform control to apply power to the third device through the 3-3 contact point.

### Claim 8

An apparatus for detecting a connection to detect whether there is a connection with a first device having a first connection terminal including a 1-1 contact point and a 1-2 contact point and a first reactance element connected to the first connection terminal, the apparatus comprising:
a second connection terminal having a 2-1 contact point and a 2-2 contact point corresponding to the 1-1 contact point and the 1-2 contact point;
a first resistance element;
a first frequency generator connected to a first end of the first resistance element and configured to apply a signal having a frequency varying in a predetermined range to the first device through the second connection terminal via the first end of the first resistance element, wherein a second end of the first resistance element is connected to the second connection terminal;
a first comparator having a first input terminal connected to the first end of the first resistance element and a second input terminal connected to the second end of the first resistance element and configured to compare signals at the first end and the second end of the first resistance element, and
a first controller configured to determine whether the first connection terminal of the first device is connected to the second connection terminal by using an output signal of the first comparator.

### Claim 9

A method of detecting a connection by which a second device detects whether there is a connection with a first device, the first device including a first connection terminal having a 1-1 contact point and a 1-2 contact point and a first reactance element connected to the first connection terminal, the method comprising:
a signal application operation in which the second device generates, using a first frequency generator connected to a first end of a first resistance element, a signal having a frequency varying in a predetermined range and applies the signal to the first device through a second connection terminal having a 2-1 contact point and a 2-2 contact point corresponding to the 1-1 contact point and the 1-2 contact point via the first end of the first resistance element, a second end of the first resistance element being connected to the 2-1 contact point or the 2-2 contact point;
a signal comparison operation in which the second device compares signals at the first end and the second end of the first resistance element; and
a connection determination operation in which the second device determines whether the first connection terminal of the first device is connected to the second connection terminal by using a result of the comparison between the signals at the first end and the second end of the first resistance element.