# US 7,407,400 B2 · Methods and arrangements to attenuate an electrostatic charge on a cable prior to coupling the cable with an electronic system

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- Number: US 7,407,400 B2
- Document ID: US7407400B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 11/764,662
- Filed: 2007-06-18
- Published: 2007-10-18
- Granted: 2008-08-05
- Earliest claimed: 2005-12-06
- Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation
- Inventors: Mithkal M. Smadi; Anthony C. Spielberg
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7407400B2

## CPC

- H01R 13/6485: {Electrostatic discharge protection (in general H05F1/00, for electric apparatus H05K9/0067)}
- H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS

## Abstract

Methods and arrangements to methods and arrangements to attenuate electrostatic discharges of a cable are disclosed. Embodiments may include connectors with discharge elements integrated into the connectors to interconnect conductors of a cable to attenuate or discharge an electrostatic charge built up on the conductors. In some embodiments, the conductors are momentarily connected to ground as the connector couples with another connector to interconnect a cable with, e.g., a computer. In further embodiments, the discharge elements interconnect the conductors of a cable to redistribute an electrostatic charge and thereby minimize the impact of a discharge when the cable couples with an electronic system such as a computer. Another embodiment comprises a male connector with discharge elements, which ground conductors of the cable as the cable is being inserted into the connector. The discharge elements are pushed out of the way of the conductors as the conductors couple with the connector.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method to attenuate electrostatic discharges of a cable, the method comprising:
positioning a discharge element to couple the discharge element with a conductor of the cable, to couple the cable with an electronic system by coupling a first connector of the electronic system with a second connector of the cable, the first connector comprising a mounting coupled with the discharge element to maintain the position of the discharge element with respect to a housing of the first connector;
discharging the conductor to a ground of the electronic system in response to contact between the conductor of the cable and the discharge element while coupling the first connector with the second connector;
decoupling the conductor of the cable and the discharge element in response to depression of a button coupled with the first connector; and
coupling the conductor of the cable with circuitry of the electronic system in response to depression of the button.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein decoupling comprises disconnecting the conductor of the cable from the discharge element prior to coupling the conductor of the cable with the circuitry of the electronic system.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein discharging comprises discharging the conductor of the cable by coupling the first connector with a grounding structure of the electronic system.