Electrical connector with thermal sensor

• US 20040203276A1
• Filed: 05/03/2004
• Published: 10/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FCI Americas Technology LLC (Amphenol Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Berg Technology, Inc. (Amphenol Corporation)
• Inventors: Takahashi, Ryosuke, Masuda, Hiroshi, Kajiura, Motomo
• Granted Patent: US 7,074,089 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/488
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 7/42 Circuits effecting compensation of thermal inertia; Circuits for predicting the stationary value of a temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/62 connecting to rigid printed circuits or like structures
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/79 connecting to rigid printed circuits or like structures
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6683 with built-in sensor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/913 Condition determining device, e.g. oxygen sensor, accelerometer, ionizer chamber, thermocouple

Abstract

A card connector system that detachably supports a PC card and electrically connects the PC card to an electrical device. The system includes a temperature sensor to monitor temperature of the PC card to prevent the deleterious effect of heat generated by the PC card on the PC card itself and the electrical device. The sensor detects the surface temperature of the supported PC card and transmits the obtained temperature information to the electrical device. In this case, it is preferable that a transition board 33, electrically connected between the PC card and the electrical device, is used to transmit the temperature information.

Claims

1-19. -19. (Canceled)

20. A method of monitoring a temperature of an electronic card in an electrical connector mounted to an electronic device, comprising the steps of:

sensing the temperature of the electronic card; and

transmitting the temperature of the electronic card to the electronic device.

21. The method as recited in claim 20, wherein the electronic card communicates with the electronic device through the connector, said transmitting step independent of the communications between the connector and the electronic device.

22. The method as recited in claim 20, wherein the connector includes a transition board, said transmitting step occurring through the transition board.

23. The method as recited in claim 20, further comprising disconnecting power from the electronic card if the sensed temperature is above a predefined temperature.

24. The method as recited in claim 20, wherein the electrical connector comprises an electronic card connector and wherein the electronic card connector comprises a conductive cover having an aperture therein, the method further comprising:

positioning a temperature sensor on the electronic card connector and extended into the aperture to detect a surface temperature of the electronic card when the electronic card is received in the electronic card connector and to allow insertion and removal of the electronic card to and from the electronic card connector.

25. The method as recited in claim 24, wherein the conductive cover comprises a tab associated with the aperture, the method further comprising:

mounting the temperature sensor to the tab.

26. The method as recited in claim 20, wherein the electrical connector comprises an electronic card connector and wherein the electronic card connector comprises a conductive cover having an aperture therein, and wherein a temperature sensor is positioned on the electronic card connector to detect a surface temperature of the electronic card when the electronic card is received in the electronic card connector and to allow insertion and removal of the electronic card to and from the electronic card connector, the temperature sensor extending into the aperture.

27. The method as recited in claim 20 further comprising:

positioning the temperature sensor to detect a temperature of the electronic card when the electronic card is engaged in the electrical connector and to allow engagement and removal of the electronic card to and from the electrical connector.

28. The method as recited in claim 20 further comprising:

positioning the temperature sensor to directly detect a temperature of the electronic card when the electronic card is engaged in the electrical connector and to allow engagement and removal of the electronic card to and from the electrical connector.

29. The method as recited in claim 20 further comprising:

positioning the temperature sensor to detect a surface temperature of the electronic card when the electronic card is engaged in the electrical connector and to allow engagement and removal of the electronic card to and from the electrical connector.

30. The method as recited in claim 20, wherein sensing the temperature comprises sensing the temperature of the electronic card from a temperature sensor mounted to the electrical connector.

31. The method as recited in claim 20 wherein the connector includes a transition board having a plurality of holes therein and a plurality of corresponding connection points, the method further comprising:

positioning a wire of the temperature sensor in each of the plurality of holes of the transition board.