Key coded power adapter connectors

• US 20060183381A1
• Filed: 04/07/2006
• Published: 08/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Comarco Wireless Technologies Incorporated (Comarco Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Comarco Wireless Technologies Incorporated (Comarco Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lanni, Thomas W.
• Application Number:
  US11/399,968
• Publication Number:
  US 20060183381A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/677
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/641 by indicating incorrect coupling; by indicating correct or full engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6456 comprising keying elements at different positions along the periphery of the connector

Abstract

A key coded power connector and a system and method for making key coded power connections are disclosed. A power connector such as a power adapter connector is configured with either a visual keying system, a physical keying system, or both. The physical keying system prevents a user from connecting a host device to a connector of the power source which does not support that host device. The visual keying system provides the user with an early indication that the particular device is not supported by a power source. The user can visually compare a marking key on the host device with the making key on the power connector and determine whether or not the power source is capable of outputting sufficient power to operate the device. The visual and physical keying systems prevents a user from improperly connecting a host device to a power source which does not support that device.

Claims

1. A power connector comprising:

an electrical contact to receive a mating electrical contact; and

a visual key element to visually indicate a range of power which a power source coupled to the power connector is configured to output and to visually indicate alignment and orientation for properly coupling the electrical contact to the mating electrical contact.

2. The power connector of claim 1, further configured to transmit a power signal from the power source to the mating electrical contact through the electrical contact.

3. The power connector of claim 1, wherein the visual key element is color-coded.

4. A power connection system comprising:

a first power connector having an electrical contact to receive a mating electrical contact, wherein the first power connector is coupled to a power source and is configured with a visual key element; and

a second power connector having the mating electrical contact, the second power connector being configured with a mating visual key element, wherein the visual key element and the mating visual key element visually indicate alignment and orientation for properly coupling the first power connector to the second power connector.

5. The power connection system of claim 4, wherein the power source is selected from the group consisting of a power supply and a battery.

6. The power connection system of claim 4, wherein the visual key element visually indicates a range of power that the power source is configured to output.

7. The power connection system of claim 4, wherein the second power connector is coupled to an electronic device, and the mating visual key element visually indicates power consumption of the electronic device.

8. The power connection system of claim 4, wherein the visual key element and the mating visual key element are color-coded.

9. The power connection system of claim 4, wherein the first power connector transmits a power signal from the power source to the second power connector through the electrical contact.

10. A power connector comprising:

an electrical contact to receive a mating electrical contact from a second power connector; and

a physical key element to prevent coupling the electrical contact with the mating electrical contact unless the second power connector includes the mating physical key element, wherein the physical key element indicates a range of power that the power connector delivers, and the range of power is selected from a predetermined group of successive power ranges.

11. The power connector of claim 10, further configured to transmit a power signal from the power source to the mating electrical contact through the electrical contact.

12. A power connection system comprising:

a first power connector having an electrical contact to receive a mating electrical contact, the first power connector being couple to a power source and having a physical key element; and

a second power connector having a mating electrical contact, the second power connector having a mating physical key element, wherein the physical key element and the mating physical key element restrict coupling the first power connector to the second power connector unless the physical key element corresponds to the mating physical key element, and the physical key element indicates a range of power that the power source is configured to deliver.

13. The power connection system of claim 12, wherein the power source is selected from the group consisting of a power supply and a battery.

14. The power connection system of claim 12, wherein the second power connector is coupled to an electronic device and the mating physical key element indicates power consumption of the electronic device.

15. A method for preventing an improper power connection comprising:

configuring a first power connector with a visual key element, the first power connector being coupled to a power source capable of generating a power signal and including an electrical contact to receive a mating electrical contact;

configuring a second power connector with a mating visual key element, the second power connector having the mating electrical contact; and

providing a visual indication of whether the first power connector and the second power connector are properly connectable based on a comparison of visual key element and the mating visual key element.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

connecting the first power connector to the second power connector when the first power connector is properly connectable to the second power connector; and

transmitting the power signal from the first power connector to the second power connector through the electrical contact.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the visual key element visually indicates a range of power that the power source is configured to output.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the second power connector is coupled to an electronic device, and the mating visual key element visually indicates power consumption of the electronic device.

19. A method for preventing an improper power connection comprising:

configuring a first power connector with a physical key element, the first power connector being coupled to a power source capable of generating a power signal and including an electrical contact to receive a mating electrical contact;

configuring a second power connector with a mating physical key element, the second power connector having the mating electrical contact; and

restricting coupling of the first power connector to the second power connector unless the physical key element corresponds to the mating physical key element, wherein the physical key element indicates a range of power that the power source deliver.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the second power connector is coupled to an electronic device, and the mating physical key element indicates power consumption of the electronic device.