# US 2012/0074954 A1 · Electrical connector with corrosion prevention > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2012/0074954 A1 - Document ID: US20120074954A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/246,119 - Filed: 2011-09-27 - Published: 2012-03-29 - Earliest claimed: 2010-09-28 - Assignees: Tyco Electronics France SAS; Tyco Electronics Nederland BV - Inventors: Peter Dirk JAEGER; Emmanuel LANCELOT; Jacobus Nicholaas TUIN - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20120074954A1 ## CPC - H01R 13/7031: {Shorting, shunting or bussing of different terminals interrupted or effected on engagement of coupling part, e.g. for ESD protection, line continuity} - C23F 13/04: Controlling or regulating desired parameters - H01R 13/641: by indicating incorrect coupling; by indicating correct or full engagement - C23F 2201/00: Type of materials to be protected by cathodic protection - H01R 24/58: Contacts spaced along longitudinal axis of engagement - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS - C23F: NON-MECHANICAL REMOVAL OF METALLIC MATERIAL FROM SURFACE (working metal by laser beams B23K26/00; desurfacing by applying flames B23K7/00; working of metal by electro-erosion B23H; producing decorative effects by removing surface material, e.g. by engraving, by etching, B44C1/22; electrolytic etching or polishing C25F); INHIBITING CORROSION OF METALLIC MATERIAL OR INCRUSTATION IN GENERAL; MULTI-STEP PROCESSES FOR SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL INVOLVING AT LEAST ONE PROCESS PROVIDED FOR IN CLASS C23 AND AT LEAST ONE PROCESS COVERED BY SUBCLASS C21D OR C22F OR CLASS C25 ## Abstract The present invention relates to an electrical connector with at least one electrical contact for electrically contacting a corresponding mating connector. In particular, the present invention deals with connectors having a plug detecting unit for detecting a mated state of the connector and the mating connector. The present invention further relates to a corresponding method for detecting a mated state. Said connector comprises a plug detecting unit for detecting a mated state of the connector and the mating connector, wherein said plug detecting unit is operable to check the mated state by means of an intermittent test signal. Alternatively or additionally, the surfaces of first and second electrical contacts are covered with materials having a different oxidation potential, wherein a positive voltage of the test signal is applied to the electrical contact having the higher oxidation potential compared to the other electrical contact. ## Claims ### Claim 1 Electrical connector with at least one electrical contact for electrically contacting a corresponding mating connector, said connector comprising a plug detecting unit for detecting a mated state of the connector and the mating connector, wherein said plug detecting unit is operable to check the mated state by means of an intermittent test signal. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) Electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein said intermittent test signal comprises a voltage pulse having the form of a square-wave signal or a sawtooth-signal. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) Electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein said intermittent test signal has positive and/or negative polarity. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) Electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein said intermittent test signal comprises HIGH potential phases and LOW potential phases, said HIGH potential phases having a shorter duration than said LOW potential phases. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) Electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein at least two electrical contacts are provided which are covered with materials having different oxidation potential, wherein a positive voltage is applied to the electrical contact having the higher oxidation potential compared to the other electrical contact. ### Claim 6 Electrical connector with at least one first electrical contact for electrically contacting a corresponding mating connector, said connector comprising a plug detecting unit for detecting a mated state of the connector and the mating connector, wherein said plug detecting unit comprises a second electrical contact that is operable to check the mated state by means of a test signal, wherein the surfaces of said first and second electrical contacts are covered with materials having a different oxidation potential, and wherein a positive voltage of said test signal is applied to the electrical contact having the higher oxidation potential compared to the other electrical contact. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) Electrical connector according to claim 6, wherein said plug detecting unit comprises a switch that is actuated by the mating of the two connectors, thereby altering a current path for the test signal. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) Electrical connector according to claim 6, wherein said plug detecting unit comprises at least two electric contacts which are short-circuited by the mating connector in the mated state, thereby altering a current path for the test signal. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) Electrical connector according to claim 6, wherein said connector is an Audio/Video jack for a mobile phone. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) Electrical connector according to claim 6, wherein said connector is embedded in a housing that is sealed against intrusion of water. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) Electrical connector according to claim 6, wherein said plug detecting unit is operable to change an operating condition of the connector from a stand-by modus into an in-service modus, upon detection of the mated state with the mating connector. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) Electrical connector according to claim 11, wherein in said stand-by modus apart from the test signal electric potentials are applied to the at least one electrical contact. ### Claim 13 Method for detecting a mated state of an electrical connector with at least one electrical contact for electrically contacting a corresponding mating connector, said method comprising the steps of: applying a test signal to a plug detecting circuit which upon insertion of said mating connector is closed to indicate said mated state, wherein said test signal is an intermittent signal. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) Method according to claim 13, wherein said intermittent test signal comprises a voltage pulse having the form of a square-wave signal or a sawtooth-signal. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) Method according to claim 13, wherein said intermittent test signal has positive and/or negative polarity. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) Electrical connector according to claim 13, wherein said intermittent test signal comprises HIGH potential phases and LOW potential phases, said HIGH potential phases having a shorter duration than said LOW potential phases.