Methods and arrangements for an adapter to improve electrostatic discharge protection
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsMithkal M. Smadi, Anthony C. Spielberg
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and arrangements to adapt an electronic system to attenuate electrostatic discharges of a cable as the cable is connected with a connector on the electronic system are disclosed. Embodiments may include an adapter to couple with a connector of an electronic system. The adapter may momentarily interconnect conductors of a cable with a selected conductor of the connecter to discharge to attenuate or discharge an electrostatic charge built up on the conductors of the cable. In some embodiments, the adapter includes a selector switch so the selected conductor can be selected based upon the electronic system. In other embodiments, the selected conductor is fixed.
Claims20
An apparatus comprising:
- a connection adapter to couple with a first connector of an electronic system, the connection adapter to interconnect conductors of a cable via a second connector of the cable with conductors of the first connector;
- an isolator, in a first state, to couple the conductors of the cable with a selected conductor of the first connector and, in a second state, to couple the conductors of the cable with corresponding conductors of the first connector for communication of data across the cable with the electronic system;
- and
- a discharge device coupled with the isolator to switch the isolator from the first state to the second state while coupling the cable with the electronic system.
A system to attenuate electrostatic discharges from a cable to an electronic system, the system comprising:
- an enclosure comprising a first connector, wherein the first connector interconnected with circuitry in the enclosure;
- and
- an adapter to couple with the first connector, the adapter comprising:
- a connection adapter to couple with the first connector, the connection adapter to interconnect conductors of a cable via a second connector of the cable with conductors of the first connector;
- an isolator to couple the conductors of the cable with a selected conductor of the first connector in a first state and to couple the conductors of the cable with corresponding conductors of the first connector in a second state for communication via the cable with the electronic system;
- and
- a discharge device coupled with the isolator to switch the isolator from the first state to the second state while coupling the cable with the electronic system.
A method to attenuate electrostatic discharges of a cable, the method comprising:
- connecting an adapter with a first connector of an electronic system to interconnect conductors of the first connector with conductors of the adapter;
- interconnecting conductors of a cable via a second connector of the cable with a selected conductor of the first connector via an isolator of the adapter to discharge an electrostatic charge from the conductors of the cable through the selected conductor;
- and
- changing the state of the isolator to disconnect the conductors of the cable from the selected conductor and to interconnect the conductors of the cable with corresponding conductors of the first connector for communication of data via the cable with the corresponding conductors of the first connector.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.