ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR PLUG CONTINUITY

• US 20170194746A1
• Filed: 01/04/2017
• Published: 07/06/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Freer, Benjamin Avery
• Granted Patent: US 10,361,516 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/16566 Circuits and arrangements for comparing voltage or current with one or several thresholds and for indicating the result not covered by subgroups G01R19/16504, G01R19/16528, G01R19/16533
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/50 Testing of electric apparatus, lines, cables or components for short-circuits, continuity, leakage current or incorrect line connections testing of sparking plugs H01T13/58
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/52 Testing for short-circuits, leakage current or ground faults
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/54 Testing for continuity
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/641 by indicating incorrect coupling; by indicating correct or full engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/652 with earth pin, blade or socket
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6597 the conductive member being a contact of the connector
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6683 with built-in sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6691 with built-in signalling means H01R13/717 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7175 Light emitting diodes (LEDs)
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/20 for testing or measuring purposes

Abstract

An electrical connector includes a housing with a plurality of electrical contacts, including a ground contact, extending therefrom. The connector has a shell with the housing positioned therein. A monitor circuit is positioned in the housing and configured to determine continuity between the shell and the ground contact. In some examples, the monitor circuit includes an output connected to an indicator that is configured to output a signal in response to the continuity determination to indicate the condition of the connection between the ground contact and the connector shell.

Claims

1. An electrical connector system, comprising:

a housing having a plurality of electrical contacts including a ground contact;

a shell having the housing positioned therein;

a monitor circuit positioned in the housing and configured to determine continuity between the shell and the ground contact.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the monitor circuit includes an output connected to an indicator that is configured to output a signal in response to the continuity determination.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the indicator includes a first LED.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the indicator includes first and second LEDs.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the indicator includes a wireless signal transmitter.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the monitor circuit is configured to measure voltage between the shell and the ground contact.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the monitor circuit is powered by power harvested from the electrical contacts.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising a current sensing transformer coupled to a first one of the electrical contacts and having an output connected to the monitor circuit.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising an amplifier having input and output terminals, the input terminals connected to the output of the current sensing transformer, and the output terminals connected to an indicator.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a plug;

wherein the shell is the shell of the plug, and the conductors include sleeves extending from the housing.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a receptacle;

wherein the shell is the shell of the receptacle, and the conductors include pins extending from the housing.

12. An electrical connector system, comprising:

a first connector including a first housing received in a first shell with a first plurality of electrical contacts extending from the first housing, the first plurality of electrical contacts including a first ground contact connected to the first shell;

a second connector including a second housing received in a second shell with a second plurality of electrical contacts extending from the second housing, the second plurality of electrical contacts including a second ground contact connected to the second shell, the first and second connectors configured to mate with one another such that the respective first and second electrical contacts make electrical connections with one another;

a monitor circuit positioned in the first housing and configured to determine continuity between the first shell and the first ground contact and output an indicator signal in response to the determined continuity; and

an indicator connected to receive the indicator signal output from the monitor circuit.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein:

the first connector is a plug;

the first plurality of conductors include sleeves extending from the first housing;

the second connector is a receptacle;

the second plurality of conductors include pins extending from the second housing; and

the second ground contact and the second shell are connected to ground.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the indicator includes a first LED configured to light in response to the monitor circuit determining a continuity fault between the first ground contact and the first shell.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the indicator is received in the shell.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the monitor circuit is configured to measure voltage between the first shell and the first ground contact.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the monitor circuit is powered by power harvested from the at least one of the first plurality of electrical contacts.

18. A method of monitoring continuity in an electrical connector, comprising:

providing a shell containing a plurality of electrical contacts including a ground contact, the ground contact connected to the shell;

measuring a voltage between the ground contact and the shell; and

activating an indicator in response to the voltage measurement exceeding a predetermined level.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein measuring the voltage includes providing a monitor circuit in a housing receiving in the shell, wherein the plurality of electrical contacts extend from the shell.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising harvesting power from at least one of the plurality of electrical contacts to power the monitor circuit.