Key coded power adapter connectors
First Claim
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 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A power connector comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A power connection system comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A power connector comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. A power connection system comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A method for preventing an improper power connection comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for preventing an improper power connection comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification