Device For Testing Connectivity Of A Connector Including Spring Contact Pins
First Claim
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1. A device for testing electrical connectivity of an electrical connector, the device comprising:
- a non-conductive body defined by a top surface and an opposite bottom surface, a front surface and an opposite rear surface, and opposing side surfaces;
first and second electrically conductive contact pins extending into the body and having an exposed portion proximate the bottom surface, wherein the exposed portion is operable to contact and electrically couple with electrically conductive spring contact pins of a mating electrical connector when the body is at least partially inserted into the mating electrical connector;
a first electrical conductor having a first end and a second end, the first end of the first conductor electrically coupled with the first contact pin within the body;
an electrical resistor having a first end and a second end, the first end of the resistor electrically coupled with the second end of the first conductor;
an electrical battery having a first electrical polarity and a second electrical polarity, the first electrical polarity electrically coupled with the second end of the electrical resistor;
an indicator having a first end and a second end, the first end of the indicator electrically coupled with the second polarity of the battery;
a second electrical conductor having a first end and a second end, the first end electrically coupled with second end of the indicator and the second end of the second electrical conductor electrically coupled with the second contact pin within the body, wherein inserting the body into the mating electrical connector causes the indicator to indicate a closed circuit when the first and second contact pins contact electrically coupled spring pins in the mating electrical connector; and
a spacer device attached to and extending downward from a portion of the bottom surface to raise the bottom surface of the body above an inner bottom surface of the mating electrical connector when the body is inserted into the mating electrical connector.
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Abstract
A device for testing connectivity is provided. The device includes a first connector including a contact pin and a spacer for biasing the contact pin away from a spring contact pin of a second connector, when the first connector is inserted into the second connector. The device also includes an indicator, coupled to the contact pin of the first connector, for indicating whether the contact pin of the first connector is in contact with the spring contact pin of the second connector.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A device for testing electrical connectivity of an electrical connector, the device comprising:
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a non-conductive body defined by a top surface and an opposite bottom surface, a front surface and an opposite rear surface, and opposing side surfaces;
first and second electrically conductive contact pins extending into the body and having an exposed portion proximate the bottom surface, wherein the exposed portion is operable to contact and electrically couple with electrically conductive spring contact pins of a mating electrical connector when the body is at least partially inserted into the mating electrical connector;
a first electrical conductor having a first end and a second end, the first end of the first conductor electrically coupled with the first contact pin within the body;
an electrical resistor having a first end and a second end, the first end of the resistor electrically coupled with the second end of the first conductor;
an electrical battery having a first electrical polarity and a second electrical polarity, the first electrical polarity electrically coupled with the second end of the electrical resistor;
an indicator having a first end and a second end, the first end of the indicator electrically coupled with the second polarity of the battery;
a second electrical conductor having a first end and a second end, the first end electrically coupled with second end of the indicator and the second end of the second electrical conductor electrically coupled with the second contact pin within the body, wherein inserting the body into the mating electrical connector causes the indicator to indicate a closed circuit when the first and second contact pins contact electrically coupled spring pins in the mating electrical connector; and
a spacer device attached to and extending downward from a portion of the bottom surface to raise the bottom surface of the body above an inner bottom surface of the mating electrical connector when the body is inserted into the mating electrical connector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system comprising:
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means for determining whether heights of spring contact pins of a female connector are equal to or higher than a predetermined height such that spring contact pins that are at least partially exposed and at least partially within a cavity in the female connector are capable of being in contact with a mating male connector'"'"'s contact pins;
an information handling system (IHS) having the female connector, wherein the female connector has a pair of the spring contact pins, the pair of spring contact pins electrically coupled together; and
a testing device further comprising;
a male connector, wherein the male connector has a corresponding pair of contact pins for mating with the pair of spring contact pins when the heights of the spring contact pins of the female connector are equal to or higher than the predetermined height;
an electrical resistor, an electrical battery, and an indicator electrically coupled in series between the pair of contact pins, such that when the male connector is mated with the female connector the indicator indicates a closed circuit when the pair of contact pins contact the pair of spring contact pins; and
a spacer extending from a portion of the male connector to bias the contact pins away from the spring contact pins. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. A method of testing an electrical connector, the method comprising:
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providing a conventional connector, wherein the connector has a female portion and a corresponding male portion, wherein the female portion and the male portion mate together with the male portion nesting within a cavity in the female portion, the female portion having a pair of spring contact pins within the cavity, the male portion having a pair of fixed contact pins operable to touch the spring contact pins when mated with the female portion;
removing a section from the male portion opposite the contact pins, therein decreasing a thickness of the male portion;
adding a spacer to the male portion proximate the contact pins, therein biasing the contact pins away from the spring contact pins when the male portion is mated with the female portion; and
determining whether the spring contact pins extend into the cavity enough to touch the contact pins when the male portion is mated with the female portion. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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Specification