Illuminated connector

• US 6,159,037 A
• Filed: 11/05/1998
• Issued: 12/12/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Original Assignee: 3Com Corporation (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Madsen, Brent D., Nagel, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Bradley, Paula
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gilman, Alexander
• Application Number:
  US09/187,175
• Time in Patent Office: 768 Days
• Field of Search: 439/131, 439/409, 439/910, 439/946, 439/70, 439/751, 439/857, 439/489, 439/488, 439/490, 439/491
• US Class Current: 439/488
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/465 Identification means, e.g. labels, tags, markings H01R9/2475, H01R9/2683 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6691 with built-in signalling means H01R13/717 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/717 with built-in light source
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7175 Light emitting diodes (LEDs)
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7177 filament or neon bulb
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/62 Sliding engagements with one side only, e.g. modular jack coupling devices

Abstract

The present invention relates to an illuminated connector that may provide a diagnostic display for a user. The illuminated connector may be used on such devices as computers including laptops, notebooks, and subnotebooks. The illuminated connector receives launched light energy and acts as a wave guide. Additionally, the launched light energy may be redirected by the use of selected reflective surfaces. The illuminated connector is particularly useful for structures such as a jack for a PCMCIA card, a Telco cable, and a LAN cable.

Claims

1. An electronic device enclosed within a housing having physical dimensions conforming substantially to the PCMCIA standard, the device comprising:

a connector that is capable of being extended and retracted from within the PCMCIA housing the connector having a receptacle formed therein for operatively receiving an electrical plug, and wherein at least a portion of the connector is formed with a substantially translucent material capable of emitting light energy;

at least one light source capable of emitting light energy;

at least one light receiving portion providing a light conducting path between the light energy emitted by the at least one light source and the translucent portion of the connector;

whereby at least a portion of the connector is visibly illuminated.

2. A PCMCIA electronic device as defined in claim 1, further comprising at least one reflective surface that is oriented to redirect the light energy so that it is emitted from at least one predetermined surface of the connector, whereby the at least one predetermined surface is visibly illuminated.

3. A PCMCIA electronic device as defined in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the light energy is emitted into a portion of the receptacle, whereby the receptacle is visibly illuminated so as to at least partially illuminate the electrical plug received therein.