Data and power connector port

• US 6,522,515 B1
• Filed: 01/06/2000
• Issued: 02/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Littelfuse Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Littelfuse Incorporated
• Inventors: Whitney, Stephen J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson, Stephen W.
• Application Number:
  US09/478,575
• Time in Patent Office: 1,139 Days
• Field of Search: 361/56, 361/91.1, 361/111, 361/93.1, 361/93.6, 361/93.8, 361/104, 361/79, 361/87, 361/78, 439/620, 439/621, 439/622, 713/340, 714/47, 714/43
• US Class Current: 361/104
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6485 Electrostatic discharge protection in general H05F1/00, for electric apparatus H05K9/0067
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/665 with built-in electronic circuit H01R13/70, H01R13/719 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6658 on printed circuit board H01R13/6666 - H01R13/6691 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/719 specially adapted for high frequency, e.g. with filters
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/04 for network, e.g. LAN connectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/62 Sliding engagements with one side only, e.g. modular jack coupling devices

Abstract

A connector port for providing power to a serial device and termination of differential signals received therefrom is provided. The port includes circuitry providing a data interface and a power interface. The data interface is operably connected between an input differential wire pair and an output differential wire pair for providing termination of the input wire pair and transmission of signal onto the output wire pair. Further, the power interface includes a fuse link operably connected between a voltage input and a voltage output for providing overcurrent protection.

Claims

1. A connector port for connecting to a serial device providing a differential wire pair input signal, the port comprising:

a data interface circuit operably connected to the serial device for providing termination of the input signal and responsive differential output signals onto an output wire pair;

a power interface circuit having a voltage output operably connected to the serial device and a fuse link attached to the voltage output for providing overcurrent protection, wherein the data interface circuit further includes electrostatic discharge protection operably connected to the differential wire pair input signal.

3. The connector port of claim 1, wherein the power interface further includes a switch operably connected to the voltage output for substantially removing power from the serial device.

4. The connector port of claim 3, wherein the power interface further includes a current sensor operably connected to the switch for detecting the amount of power received by the serial device.

5. The connector port of claim 4, wherein the power interface further includes a controller operably connected between the sensor and the switch for determining when to remove the power from the serial device.

6. The connector port of claim 1, further comprising a connector jack for containing the data interface circuit and the power interface circuit.

7. The connector port of claim 1, wherein the differential wire pair input signal is bidirectional.

2. The connector port of claim 2, wherein the data interface circuit further includes a filter operably connected to the differential wire pair signal.

8. An integrated circuit die housed inside a port for connecting to a serial device, the die comprising:

an integrated data interface circuit that electrically communicates with a pair of data transmission contacts disposed within the port; and

an integrated power interface circuit that electrically communicates with a voltage output contact and a common contact disposed within the port, wherein the power interface circuit includes a fuse link coupled to a voltage input contact that is disposed within the port.

9. The integrated circuit die of claim 8, wherein the data interface circuit and the data transmission contacts are coupled via wire bonds.

10. The integrated circuit die of claim 8, wherein the power interface circuit and the voltage output contact are coupled via a wire bond.

11. The integrated circuit die of claim 8, wherein the power interface circuit includes a strip of material that melts at a particular amperage coupled to a voltage input contact attached to the port.

15. The integrated circuit die of claim 8, wherein the power interface circuit includes a switch electrically connected to the voltage output contact.

16. The integrated circuit die of claim 15, wherein the power interface circuit includes a temperature sensor operably coupled to the switch.

17. The integrated circuit die of claim 8, wherein the integrated data interface circuit is bidirectional.

12. A power interface circuit for a port that connects to a serial device, the power interface circuit comprising:

a voltage output line that connects to the serial device;

a switch operably connected to the voltage output line that breaks electrical communication with the voltage output line;

a current sensor operably connected to the switch, the current sensor detecting an amount of current received by the serial device; and

a controller operably connected between the switch and the current sensor, the controller controlling the switch in response to a communication received from the current sensor.

13. The power interface circuit of claim 12, which includes a temperature sensor that communicates with the controller, the controller controlling the switch in response to a communication received from the temperature sensor.

14. The power interface circuit of claim 12, which includes a flag output that communicates with the controller, the flag output indicating whether the controller is turning the switch on or off.

18. The power interface circuit of claim 12, which includes a fuse link between a voltage input and the current sensor.

19. The power interface circuit of claim 12, wherein the fuse link includes a material that thermally deforms at a particular amperage.

20. The power interface circuit of claim 12, which is bidirectional.