Electrically isolated optical connector identification system
First Claim
1. A connector assembly of a predetermined type for use with a cable carrying electrical communication signals thereon comprising:
- a plug member having a body and means, extending outwardly from said body, for indicating said predetermined connector type;
a receptacle having a cavity therein for receiving said plug member; and
means, disposed in said cavity, for detecting said predetermined connector type indicating means, said detecting means comprising at least two optical emitters and at least two optical sensors and means for generating an output indicative of said predetermined connector type.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A connector/cable identification system comprises a plug having an extension and a female housing having at least two pairs of optical emitter/sensors. Each emitter/sensor pair detects whether the extension is therebetween. Because different extensions have different lengths or aperture configurations, the type of connector (and thus associated cable) can be determined. Voltage isolation between the cable (i.e., a common carrier transmission line) and the apparatus receiving the cable (i.e., a personal computer) is maintained by physically separating the transmission circuitry from the identification circuitry.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A connector assembly of a predetermined type for use with a cable carrying electrical communication signals thereon comprising:
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a plug member having a body and means, extending outwardly from said body, for indicating said predetermined connector type; a receptacle having a cavity therein for receiving said plug member; and means, disposed in said cavity, for detecting said predetermined connector type indicating means, said detecting means comprising at least two optical emitters and at least two optical sensors and means for generating an output indicative of said predetermined connector type. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A connector assembly of a predetermined type having an optical connector identification system for detecting the engagement and type of said connector, comprising:
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a) a male connector having an extension extending outwardly therefrom; b) a female connector for engaging said male connector so that electrical signals may pass therebetween, said female connector having a cavity formed therein for receiving said extension; and c) optical detection means disposed in said cavity comprising at least two optical emitter-sensor pairs for detecting the presence of said extension within said cavity, said optical detection means being electrically isolated from said electrical signals. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. A receptacle for receiving a plurality of different types of plug members and for providing an indication of the particular type of an inserted plug member, each plug member of a particular type having a body and means extending outwardly from said body for indicating said particular type, said receptacle comprising:
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a receptacle body having a cavity therein for receiving said plug member body and said type indicating means; means, disposed in said cavity, for detecting said type indicating means, said detecting means comprising at least two optical emitters and at least two optical sensors, said optical emitters and said optical sensors being relatively disposed such that light from each optical emitter is directed towards a corresponding optical sensor and disposed such that, when said plug member is engaged with said receptacle, said type indicating means blocks the light from at least one of said optical emitters from reaching said corresponding optical sensor; and means connected to said detecting means for generating an output indicative of said particular plug member type.
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Specification