HDMI Plug and Cable Assembly

• US 20120064758A1
• Filed: 09/09/2010
• Published: 03/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: All Systems Broadband, Inc. (Amphenol Corporation)
• Original Assignee: All Systems Broadband, Inc. (Amphenol Corporation)
• Inventors: Grice, Michael E., Skeoch, Jason Alan
• Granted Patent: US 8,251,740 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/490
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/641 by indicating incorrect coupling; by indicating correct or full engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6471 by special arrangement of ground and signal conductors, e.g. GSGS [Ground-Signal-Ground-Signal]
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7175 Light emitting diodes (LEDs)

Abstract

A high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) plug on an HDMI cable assembly includes an indicator light that is illuminated only when both ends of the cable are plugged into a video source and a video sink. Embodiments include an HDMI plug that comprises a connector body having a mating end configured for insertion into a mating HDMI receptacle and containing electrical pins configured according to HDMI specifications, the pins including a +5V Power pin, a Ground pin, and a Hot Plug Detect pin. The HDMI plug further comprises an indicator circuit that includes a light-emitting diode and a transistor switch in series with the light emitting-diode, wherein the light-emitting diode and transistor switch are coupled to the +5V Power pin, Ground pin, and Hot Plug Detect pin so that the light-emitting diode is activated only when both the +5V Power pin and Hot Plug Detect pin are energized.

Claims

1. A high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) plug comprising:

a connector body having a mating end configured for insertion in a longitudinal direction into a mating HDMI receptacle and containing electrical pins configured according to HDMI specifications, the electrical pins including a +5V Power pin, a Ground pin, and a Hot Plug Detect pin; and

an indicator circuit disposed in or on the plug and comprising a light-emitting diode and a transistor switch in series with the light emitting-diode, wherein the light-emitting diode and transistor switch are coupled to the +5V Power pin, Ground pin, and Hot Plug Detect pin so that the light-emitting diode is activated only when both the +5V Power pin and Hot Plug Detect pin are energized.

2. The HDMI plug of claim 1, wherein the electrical pins are configured according to one of the following:

specifications for Type A connectors according to the HDMI 1.0 specification;

specifications for Type B connectors according to the HDMI 1.0 specification;

specifications for Type C connectors according to the HDMI 1.3 specification; and

specifications for Type D connectors according to the HDMI 1.4 specification.

3. The HDMI plug of claim 1, wherein the transistor switch comprises an NPN transistor having a base, emitter, and collector, and wherein the collector is coupled to the cathode of the light-emitting diode, the emitter is coupled to the Ground Pin, and the base is coupled to the Hot Plug Detect pin through a resistor.

4. A high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) cable assembly comprising a cable and first and second HDMI plugs, each of the first and second HDMI plugs comprising:

a connector body having a mating end configured for insertion in a longitudinal direction into a mating HDMI receptacle and containing electrical pins configured according to HDMI specifications, including a +5V Power pin, a Ground pin, and a Hot Plug Detect pin; and

an indicator circuit disposed in or on the plug and comprising a light-emitting diode and a transistor switch in series with the light emitting-diode, wherein the light-emitting diode and transistor switch are coupled to the +5V Power pin, Ground pin, and Hot Plug Detect pin so that the light-emitting diode is activated only when both the +5V Power pin and Hot Plug Detect pin are energized.

5. The HDMI cable assembly of claim 4, wherein, in each of the first and second HDMI plugs, the transistor switch comprises an NPN transistor having a base, emitter, and collector, and wherein the collector is coupled to the cathode of the light-emitting diode, the emitter is coupled to the Ground Pin, and the base is coupled to the Hot Plug Detect pin through a resistor.