Functionally illuminated electronic connector with improved light dispersion

• US 6,257,906 B1
• Filed: 02/08/1999
• Issued: 07/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Original Assignee: 3Com Corporation (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Posey, Charles Eric, Johnson, Thomas A., Rupp, Scott W., Price, Tim Urry, Mueller, Nathan A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, T. C.
• Application Number:
  US09/246,534
• Time in Patent Office: 883 Days
• Field of Search: 439/131, 439/488, 439/489, 439/490, 439/910, 439/955
• US Class Current: 439/131
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/60 Means for supporting coupling part when not engaged
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/717 with built-in light source
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7175 Light emitting diodes (LEDs)
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/91 Observation aide, e.g. transparent material, window in housing

Abstract

The present invention relates to an illuminated connector that may be illuminated from a light source that is not immediately adjacent to the connector. The connector is illuminated by projecting a focused beam of light onto a translucent portion of the connector. The focused beam of light may then be redirected so as to illuminate selected sections of the connector in order to indicate diagnostic information or identify the source or model of the electronic device in which the connector is placed.

Claims

1. A functionally illuminated connector for an electronic device, said connector comprising:

one or more translucent portions;

means for receiving one or more focused beams of light into said one or more translucent portions; and

said electronic device comprising means for focusing one or more beams of light onto said means for receiving, and wherein said connector is retractably mounted to said device so that said connector rests in a first position wherein said connector is substantially contained within said device and said connector also rests in a second position wherein said connector protrudes from said device allowing a plug to be inserted substantially perpendicular to a direction of retracting into an aperture of said connector.

2. The connector of claim 1 wherein said means for receiving and said means for focusing each operationally communicate so as to functionally illuminate said connector in said first position and in said second position.

3. The connector of claim 1 wherein said means for receiving comprises one or more refractive or reflective surfaces which direct light throughout said one or more translucent portions.

4. The connector of claim 1 wherein said means for receiving comprises one or more refractive or reflective surfaces which direct light to one or more specific areas of said one or more translucent portions.

5. The connector of claim 4 wherein the illumination of said one or more specific areas indicates the state or condition of the electrical device or the state or condition of the connection thereto.

6. The connector of claim 4 wherein said one or more specific areas are configured to illuminate with different colors.

7. The connector of claim 6 wherein said different colors are effected through the use of multiple LED'"'"'s of varying colors.

8. The connector of claim 6 wherein said different colors are effected through the use of varying pigmentation of said one or more translucent portions.

9. The connector of claim 6 wherein said different colors are effected through the use of multi-colored LED'"'"'s of varying colors.

10. The connector of claim 1 wherein said means for receiving is an exterior surface of said one or more translucent portions which is substantially transparent.

11. The connector of claim 1 wherein said means for receiving is a lens comprised in said one or more translucent portions.

12. The connector of claim 1 wherein said means for focusing is a fresnel lens.

13. The connector of claim 1 wherein said means for focusing is a laser.

14. A functionally illuminated connector for an electronic device, said connector comprising:

a connector body having a thickness smaller than a cross-section of a connector plug capable of mating with the connectors the connector body also having formed therein an aperture for receiving said plug;

said body comprising one or more translucent portions;

means for receiving one or more focused beams of light into said one or more translucent portions;

means for focusing one or more beams of light onto said means for receiving, and wherein said connector is retractable mounted to said device so that said connector rests in a first position wherein said connector is substantially contained within said device and said connector also rests in a second position wherein said connector protrudes from said device allowing said plug to be inserted substantially perpendicular to direction of retraction into said aperture of said connector body.

15. The functionally illuminated connector of claim 14 wherein said connector body is retractable within said electronic device so that said connector body occupies a first position wherein the connector is substantially contained within said device and said connector body occupies a second position wherein said connector body protrudes from said electronic device allowing a media plug to be received by said connector.

16. The connector of claim 14 wherein said means for focusing is a fresnel lens.

17. The connector of claim 14 wherein said means for focusing is a laser.

18. A functionally illuminated connector for an electronic device, said connector comprising:

one or more translucent portions;

means for receiving one or more focused beams of light into said one or more translucent portions;

means for focusing one or more beams of light onto said means for receiving, and wherein said connector is retractably mounted to said device so that said connector rests in a first position wherein said connector is substantially contained within said device and said connector also rests in a second position wherein said connector protrudes from said device allowing a plug to be inserted substantially perpendicular to a direction of retraction into an aperture of said connector.

19. The connector of claim 18 wherein said means for focusing is a fresnel lens.

20. The connector of claim 18 wherein said means for focusing is a laser.