Connector assembly for electrical signal transfer among multiple devices

• US 20030207603A1
• Filed: 03/31/2003
• Published: 11/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Patrick Potega
• Original Assignee: Patrick Potega
• Inventors: Potega, Patrick
• Granted Patent: US 6,866,527 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/218
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/58 Contacts spaced along longitudinal axis of engagement

Abstract

An apparatus for a power and/or data I/O port, comprised of a connector assembly (400 in FIG. 21A) which has male plug (433) with conductors (437, 435, 439, and 441), insulators (443, 438), and a female receptacle (414) with conductors (417, 419, and 421), and related elements (423) that create different electrical paths than had previously been present in electrical and electronic host devices. These newly-created electrical paths enable host devices and peripherals—such as a battery pack (450) and its battery power source (413), as well as one or more external power sources—to perform power and/or data functions in ways they could not without such an apparatus. By locating a connector assembly (400) in replaceable modules, such as a battery pack (450), users can upgrade and enhance the functionality of a multiplicity of existing (and future) electronic and electrical goods.

Claims

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

a port for transferring electrical signals among one or more devices or peripherals; and

a connector attached to said port for transferring electrical signals among said one or more devices or peripherals attached to said connector, wherein in at least one configuration said connector causes said electrical signals to be transferred to one or more selected devices or peripherals.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein in at least a second configuration said connector causes said electrical signals to be delivered to at least one peripheral instead of said one or more devices.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein in at least a third configuration said connector causes said electrical signals to be delivered to at least one said device and said at least one peripheral.

4. The connector assembly of claim 3, wherein said device is an electrical device and said peripheral is a power source.

5. The connector assembly of claim 3, wherein said device is a laptop computer and said peripheral is a rechargeable battery.

14. A method of transferring one or more electrical signals among one or more devices using the connector assembly of claim 5 comprising:

transferring one or more electrical signals from a source along conductive wiring to at least one of said one or more conductive segments of said connector plug;

mating said connector receptacle to said connector plug such that said receptacle'"'"'s one or more conductive segments of the interior surface of said first conductive sleeve are coupled to said plug'"'"'s one or more conductive segments of said exterior surface of said conductive sleeve;

said receptacle'"'"'s one or more conductive segments of said second conductive sleeve are coupled to said plug'"'"'s one or more conductive segments of said interior surface of said conductive sleeve; and

said receptacle'"'"'s one or more conductive segments of said third conductive sleeve receive said pin'"'"'s one or more conductive segments of said center pin;

transferring one or more electrical signals induced in said one or more conductive segments in said connector receptacle to one or more devices attached thereto.

6. An apparatus for delivery of electric signals to an electrical device, said apparatus comprising:

a port for transferring electrical signals from a secondary power source;

a connector attached to said port for transferring said electrical signals;

a receiving port for receiving said connector, said receiving port having self-closing contacts for establishing a closed connection between an electrical device and a primary power source;

wherein said connector received in at least a first position by said receiving port, disrupts said self-closing contacts and said closed connection between said electrical device and said primary power source, and causes said electrical signals to be transferred from said input port connected to said secondary power source to said electrical device.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said connector received in at least a second position by said receiving port, disrupts said self-closing contacts and said closed connection between said electrical device and said primary power source, and causes said electrical signals to be delivered from said input port to said peripheral instead of said electrical device.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein in said connector received in at least a third position by said receiver causes said electrical signals to be delivered both to said electrical device and said peripheral.

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

a connector plug comprising a conductive pin having one or more conductive segments carrying one or more electrical signals;

a connector receptacle for receiving said connector plug, comprising a conductive receiver having one or more conductive segments for mating with said one or more conductive segments of said connector plug;

wherein upon mating of said connector plug and said connector receptacle, said one or more electric signals are delivered from said connector plug'"'"'s one or more conductive segments to said connector receptacle'"'"'s one or more conductive segments and therefrom to one or more devices.

10. The connector assembly of claim 9, wherein said one or more electrical signals are selectively transferred among said one or more devices based on one or more control signals.

11. The connector assembly of claim 9, wherein said one or more electrical signals are selectively adjusted based on one or more control signals.

12. A method of transfer of one or more electrical signals among one or more devices using the connector assembly of claim 9 comprising:

transferring one or more electrical signals from a source along conductive wiring to at least one of said one or more conductive segments of said connector plug;

mating said connector receptacle to said connector plug such that said one or more conductive segments of said connector plug are coupled to said one or more conductive segments of said connector receptacle;

transferring one or more electrical signals induced in said one or more conductive segments of said connector receptacle, as the result of said mating, to one or more devices attached to the connector receptacle.

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

a connector plug comprising a conductive center pin having one or more conductive segments, said center pin surrounded by a conductive sleeve having an interior surface and an exterior surface, at least one of said surfaces having one or more conductive segments; and

a connector receptacle for receiving said connector plug comprising;

a first conductive sleeve having an interior surface comprising one or more conductive segments for mating with said one or more conductive segments of said exterior surface of said conductive sleeve of said connector plug;

a second conductive sleeve having an exterior surface comprising one or more conductive segments for mating with said one or more conductive segments of said interior surface of said conductive sleeve of said connector plug; and

a third conductive sleeve having an interior surface comprising of one or more conductive segments for receiving said one or more conductive segments of said center pin of said connector plug;

wherein the mating said one or more conductive segments of said connector plug and said connector receptacle causes one or more electrical signals to be delivered to one or more electric devices coupled to said connector receptacle.

15. A connector assembly for transfer of electrical signals among at least one device and one peripheral device comprising:

a connector plug comprising a conductive pin having one or more conductive segments is for transfer of one or more electrical signals;

a connector receptacle attached to at least a device and a peripheral, said receptacle comprising a conductive receiver having one or more conductive segments for mating with said one or more conductive segments of said connector plug; and

a processor for adjusting said one or more electrical signals transferred by said connector plug based on control signals received from said connector receptacle;

wherein the mating of said plug and said receptacle, causes a first electrical signal to be transferred to said device and a second electrical signal to be delivered to said peripheral device through the engagement of said one or more conductive segments of said plug and said receptacle as adjusted by said processor.

16. The connector assembly of claim 15, wherein said peripheral device is a chargeable battery, said first electrical signal powers said device, and said second electrical signal recharges said battery based on said control signals.

17. The connector assembly of claim 16, wherein said processor is a voltage sensing device for determining the appropriate voltage to be delivered for recharging the battery.

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

a connector plug comprising a conductive pin having one or more conductive segments, and one or more insulated segments; and

a connector receptacle for receiving said connector plug, said receptacle comprising one or more conductive contacts for receiving said one or more conductive or insulated segments of said conductive pin;

wherein the engagement of said pin'"'"'s conductive segments with said receptacle'"'"'s conductive contacts causes the transfer of one or more electrical signals from a source attached to said connector plug to one or more devices attached to said connector receptacle.

19. The connector assembly of claim 18, wherein said one or more conductive contacts are pre-tensioned to form at least a first closed circuit prior to receiving said conductive pin.

20. The connector assembly of claim 19, wherein upon mating, said conductive pin spreads said connector receptacle'"'"'s one or more conductive contacts, disrupting at least said first closed circuit;

said conductive pin'"'"'s one or more conductive segments are aligned to engage said one or more conductive contacts to form at least a second closed circuit.

21. The connector assembly of claim 20, wherein said conductive pin'"'"'s one or more conductive segments are aligned to rotationally engage said conductive contacts, in at least a first position, to form at least said second closed circuit;

and said conductive pin'"'"'s one or more insulated segments are aligned to rotationally engaged said conductive contacts, in at least a second position, to keep at least said first circuit open.

22. The connector assembly of claim 21, wherein said conductive pin'"'"'s one or more conductive segments transfer one or more electrical signals among said conductive contacts upon engagement with said conductive contacts in at least a first position.

23. The connector assembly claim 20, wherein said first circuit connects one or more electrical devices and at least a first power source attached to said receptacle.

24. The connector assembly claim 23, wherein said second circuit connects said one or more electrical devices to at least a second power source attached to said connector plug.

25. The connector assembly of claim 24, wherein said first circuit is open and said second circuit is closed when said conductive pin'"'"'s one or more insulated segments are engaged with said conductive contacts in at least a first position.

26. A connector assembly for selectively distributing electrical signals to plurality of devices and peripherals comprising:

a connector plug having a conductive pin with a plurality of conductive and insulated segments;

a connector receptacle for mating with said connector plug, said connector receptacle comprising self-closing contacts for receiving said plurality of conductive and insulated segments of said conductive pin;

wherein said self-closing contacts, in a closed position, form at least a first closed circuit between at least a host device and at least one peripheral attached to said connector receptacle;

said plurality of conductive segments when engaged with said self-closing contacts disrupt at least said first closed circuit and form at least a second closed circuit between said host device and an external power source attached to said connector plug;

said plurality of insulated segments when engaged with said self-closing contacts disrupt said first closed circuit and form at least a third closed circuit between at least a peripheral and said external power source.