Universal electrical connector for receiving DC and AC electrical connectors
First Claim
1. A universal AC/DC electrical connector for selectively receiving direct electrical current and alternating electrical current, comprising:
- an insulated housing;
two direct current contacts coupled to said housing for receiving direct electrical current from a mating DC electrical connector electrically coupled to a source of direct electrical current;
two alternating current contacts coupled to said housing for receiving alternating electrical current from a mating AC electrical connector electrically coupled to a source of alternating electrical current; and
sensor means, coupled to said housing, for discriminating between direct electrical current and alternating electrical current.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A universal AC/DC electrical connector for selectively coupling either a mating direct electrical current (DC) electrical connector or a mating alternating electrical current (AC) electrical connector to selectively receive both direct electrical current (DC) and alternating electrical current (AC) therein. The AC/DC electrical connector has a pair of direct current contacts, a pair of alternating current contacts, and a ground contact. When DC electrical connector is coupled to the AC/DC electrical connector, the direct current contacts and the ground contact electrically engage corresponding electrical contacts of the DC electrical connector, while the alternating current contacts of the AC/DC electrical connector remains uncoupled, i.e., alternating current connects of the AC/DC electrical connector does not electrically engage the contacts of the DC electrical connector. When AC electrical connector is coupled to the AC/DC electrical connector, the alternating current contacts and the ground contacts of the AC/DC electrical connector engage corresponding electrical contacts of the AC electrical connector. The AC/DC electrical connector can also be provided with a sensor in the form of a pilot contact or reed switches for determining whether direct electrical current or alternating electrical current is being supplied thereto.
54 Citations
30 Claims
-
1. A universal AC/DC electrical connector for selectively receiving direct electrical current and alternating electrical current, comprising:
-
an insulated housing; two direct current contacts coupled to said housing for receiving direct electrical current from a mating DC electrical connector electrically coupled to a source of direct electrical current; two alternating current contacts coupled to said housing for receiving alternating electrical current from a mating AC electrical connector electrically coupled to a source of alternating electrical current; and sensor means, coupled to said housing, for discriminating between direct electrical current and alternating electrical current. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. An electrical connector for simultaneously mating with a pair of AC electrical contacts and a pair of DC electrical contacts of a universal AC/DC electrical connector, comprising:
-
an electrical cord adapted to be coupled to a source of power; an insulated housing with at least four contact openings therein for simultaneously receiving both of the pairs of AC and DC electrical contacts of the universal AC/DC electrical connector therein; a pair of first electrical contacts coupled within said insulated housing to said electrical cord for transmitting electrical current to the universal AC/DC electrical connector, each of said first electrical contacts being aligned with one of said contact openings in said housing such that an electrical connection is made between said first electrical contacts and one of the pairs of contacts of the universal AC/DC electrical connector to supply power thereto; a pair of recesses formed inside of said housing and being aligned with two of said contact openings for receiving one of the pairs of the electrical contacts of the universal AC/DC electrical connector such that no electrical connection is made within said recesses with said electrical cord for supplying power to the universal AC/DC electrical connector; sensor means, coupled to said housing, for indicating type of current being supplied; and a contact cover movably coupled to said housing for selectively covering said contact openings in a first position and exposing said contact openings in a second position. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
-
Specification