Method and apparatus for transferring electrical signals among electrical devices

An apparatus for transfer of electrical signals among one or more selectable devices, sources, or peripherals, said apparatus comprising:

• a connector receptacle for transferring said electrical signals of one or more devices, sources, or peripherals selected from among said selectable devices, sources, or peripherals;
• said receptacle including two normally-closed spring-loaded beams terminating at selectable first and second opposing contacts, so that a conductor of the first opposing contact accesses at least a first of the one or more selected devices, sources, or peripherals, while a conductor of the second opposing contact is capable of accessing a second of the one or more selectable devices, sources, or peripherals;
• said receptacle further includes a separate third contact having a conductor accessible to both the first and second devices, sources, or peripherals;
• a configurable connector plug for electrically interconnecting at least a third device, source, or peripheral selected from among said selectable devices, sources, or peripherals;
• said plug having an insulator and a first conductive segment, both segments being so positioned as to selectively attach the insulator segment to either the first self-opposing contact of the receptacle in a first selected configuration, or to the second self-opposing contact of the receptacle in a second selected configuration;
• either selected configuration thereby also electrically coupling the first conductive segment at the plug to the remaining non-selected opposing contact of the receptacle;
• said configurable plug further having a separate second conductive segment being so positioned as to electrically couple to the separate third contact of the receptacle, and
• respective conductors of the first and second conductive segments of the plug for attaching at least the third device, source or peripheral,
• wherein said first configuration of the plug is followed by said second configuration, so that electrical signals are transferred among the first, second, and third selected devices, sources, or peripherals.

A connector assembly for transfer of electrical signals among one or more selected devices, said connector assembly comprising:

• a configurable connector plug comprising a conductive pin having one or more conductive segments that are selectively configured for transferring electrical signals;
• the plug further comprising an insulator segment so positioned along the length of the pin as to oppose at least one of the conductive segments in an alignment that exposes both the insulator and conductive segments for attaching to selective segments of a connector receptacle;
• the connector receptacle for receiving said connector plug comprising contacts for selectively attaching to said one or more selectively configured conductive or insulator segments of said connector plug;
• wherein upon mating of the configured connector plug and the connector receptacle, said one or more electric signals are transferred between said connector plug's one or more selectively configured conductive segments and said connector receptacle's mating contacts and, therefrom, transferred selectively among each of the one or more selected devices that are electrically accessible to the plug and receptacle.

An apparatus for redirecting a transfer of electrical signals at an electrical device, comprising:

• first source of electrical signals having conductors coupled to contacts accessible to a port at the electrical device;
• a receptacle attached to said conductors for providing access to a second source of electrical signals, comprising self-closing contacts along at least one of said conductors for establishing a closed connection between the first source and the electrical device;
• and
• a configurable plug for attaching the second source of electrical signals to the receptacle, comprising at least one of one or more insertable contacts having opposing conductive and insulated surfaces, each accessible to the self-closing contacts at the receptacle;
• wherein a first configuration of the inserted plug causes the self-closing contacts at the receptacle to be separated so that the plug contact's insulated surface couples to the self-closing contact directed to the first source, thereby disengaging said first source from the contacts accessible to said port at the electrical device;
• and further
• wherein said plug contact's conductive surface couples to the self-closing contact directed to the electrical device, thereby engaging said second source to the contacts accessible to said port at the electrical device;
• thereby redirecting a transfer of electrical signals between said second source and the electrical device, instead of said first source.

A connector assembly for transfer of electrical signals among one or more selected devices, said connector assembly comprising:

• a configurable connector plug comprising a flat conductive surface aligned longitudinally with a flat insulator surface on opposing faces of the plug so that each surface engages one of a pair of pre-tensioned opposed contacts at a receptacle;
• said plug further including an elongated isolated contact centrally positioned between said insulator and conductive surfaces, said isolated contact and conductive surface being accessible by conductors to a first selected device for transferring electrical signals;
• a connector receptacle interposed along a first conductor electrically coupling a second and third selected device, said receptacle having a pair of opposing spring-loaded beams, each with a pre-tensioned contact electrically engaged to the other, so that a first pre-tensioned contact accesses the second selected device, and a second pre-tensioned contact accesses the third selected device;
• and
• the receptacle further including at least a third isolated contact interposed along a second conductor that electrically couples the second and third devices,
• whereby mating the connector plug to the receptacle opens the first pre-tensioned contact to engage said plug's insulator surface, thereby electrically isolating said second selected device from said third selected device and, further,
• whereby said mating opens the second pre-tensioned contact to selectively engage said plug's conductive surface and the isolated contact of said plug engages said receptacle's third isolated contact, thereby electrically coupling said first device to said third device,
• so that electrical signals are no longer transferred between said second and third selected devices but, instead, are now transferred between said first and third devices.

An apparatus for redirecting a transfer of electrical signals at an electrical device, comprising:

• a first source of electrical signals having conductors electrically coupled to contacts accessible to a port at said electrical device;
• a receptacle attached to said conductors for providing access to a second source of electrical signals, comprising self-closing contacts along at least one of said conductors for establishing a closed connection between the first source and the electrical device;
• further including
• a device for controlling the direction of electrical flow strapped across the conductors to the self-closing contacts for providing access to electrical signals directed only from said first source;
• and
• a plug for attaching said second source of electrical signals to the receptacle, comprising at least one of one or more insertable contacts having opposing conductive and insulated surfaces, each accessible to the self-closing contacts at the receptacle;
• wherein the plug's at least one insertable contact opens the receptacle's self-closing contacts, so the plug contacts insulated surface couples to the self-closing contact along the conductor directed to the first source, disengaging said first source from the contacts accessible to said port at the electrical device;
• and further
• wherein said plug contact's conductive surface couples to the self-closing contact along the conductor directed to the electrical device, engaging said second source to the contacts accessible to said port at the electrical device;
• thereby redirecting a transfer of electrical signals between said second source and the electrical device, instead of said first source, while said device for controlling the direction of electrical flow provides said second source and the electrical device access to electrical signals from said first source.