Power connector using resistive sensing
AssigneeVoltsafe Inc.
InventorsSanad Aridah, Arash Janfada, Trevor Burgess
Life of this patent
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Abstract
There is provided a power connector system for electrically connecting a power source to a device. The power connector comprises a first component and a second component which each have a plurality of electrical contacts disposed on a face thereof. The contacts each include an electrically resistive element having an impedance. When the first and second components are coupled, a logic unit controls enables current flow between the first and second components based on the impedances.
Claims28
A power connector system for electrically connecting a power source to a device, the power connector system comprising:
- a first component comprising:
- a first set of electrical contacts including a first electrically resistive element having a first impedance;
- and
- a first face having the first set of electrical contacts disposed thereon;
- and
- a second component comprising:
- a second set of electrical contacts including a second electrically resistive element having a second impedance;
- and
- a second face having the second set of electrical contacts disposed thereon;
- and
- wherein the first component further comprises a ferromagnetic element disposed on the first face, the second component comprises a magnetic element disposed on the second face, the magnetic element generating a magnetic field;
- wherein coupling the first component to the second component causes the first set of electrical contacts to form an electrical connection with the second set of electrical contacts, and wherein said coupling generates an attractive force between the ferromagnetic element and the magnetic element;
- and
- wherein a logic circuit is configured to enable current flow between the first component and the second component based at least in part on the first impedance and the second impedance.
A method of enabling a current flow between a power source and a device, the method comprising:
- providing a first component having a first set of contacts on a first face, wherein the first set of contacts includes a first electrically resistive element having a first impedance;
- providing a ferromagnetic element on the face of the first component;
- providing a second component having a second set of contacts on a second face, wherein the second set of contacts includes a second electrically resistive element having a second impedance;
- providing a magnetic element on the face of the second component, wherein the magnetic element produces a magnetic field;
- inducing an attractive force between the first face and the second face when the first face and the second face are separated by less than a predetermined distance;
- forming an electrical connection between the first set of contacts and the second set of contacts;
- and
- enabling current flow between the first component and the second component based at least in part on the first impedance and the second impedance.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.