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US 2006/0234564 A1Published application
System and method for detecting an incorrect cable connection
AssigneeBroadcom Corporation
InventorsArt Pharn, James Muth, Ross Nagarasan, Richard Togashi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A connector device (for example, a jack) is provided with a sensing mechanism that detects mating of another connector to the connector device, and differentiates between matching and non-matching connectors. The sensing mechanism generates a signal to indicate that a non-matching connector has been mated with the connector device.
Claims19
A connecting device, comprising:
- a connector housing;
- first sensing means associated with the housing for sensing a mating of a connector with the housing;
- second sensing means associated with the housing for sensing a mating of a specific type of connector with the housing;
- and
- an error indicating circuit connected to the first sensing means and the second sensing means that provides an error indication when the first sensing means indicates that a connector has been mated with the housing and the second sensing means indicates that the connector mated with the housing is not the specific type of connector;
- wherein the first and second sensing means each consist of a spring contact and a contact on an interior cavity of the housing that are forced into electrical connection by direct physical contact between the spring contact and a connector when mated with the housing.
3 more elements
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A method, comprising:
- providing a connecting device including two sensors, a first sensor that senses a mating of one or more types of connectors with the connecting device, and a second sensor that senses a mating of a specific class of connectors with the connecting device;
- monitoring the first and second sensors to determine when a connector has been mated with the connecting device and it is not the correct connector;
- and
- providing an error indication when a connector has mated with the connecting device and it is not the correct connector;
- wherein the step of providing a connecting device including two sensors consists of providing as the first sensor a first spring contact and a first contact on an interior cavity of the housing that are forced into electrical connection by direct physical contact between the first spring contact and the one or more types of connectors when mated with the connecting device, and as the second sensor a second spring contact and a second contact on the interior cavity of the housing that are forced into electrical connection by direct physical contact between the second spring contact and one of the specific class of connectors when mated with the connecting device.
2 more elements
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A connecting device, comprising:
- a connector housing;
- a first sensing device positioned in the connector housing to form an electrical connection in response to mating of a connector with the connector housing;
- a second sensing device positioned in the connector housing to form an electrical connection in response to mating of a specific type of connector with the connector housing;
- an indicating circuit connected to the first sensing device and the second sensing device, and configured to generate an indication if the first sensing device forms an electrical connection and the second sensing device does not form an electrical connection;
- wherein the first and second sensing devices each consist of a spring contact and a contact that are forced into electrical connection by direct physical contact between the spring contact and a connector mated with the connector housing.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.