Electrical connector with thermal sensor

• US 7,074,089 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2004
• Issued: 07/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: FCI Americas Technology Incorporated (FCI)
• Original Assignee: FCI Americas Technology Incorporated (FCI)
• Inventors: Takahashi, Ryosuke, Kajiura, Motomo, Masuda, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Bradley, P. Austin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Leon, Edwin A.
• Application Number:
  US10/837,957
• Publication Number:
  US 20040203276A1
• Time in Patent Office: 799 Days
• Field of Search: 439/488, 439/489, 439/159, 439/620, 439/67, 439/913, 439/77, 307/116, 307/125, 307/140, 374/181, 374/179, 374/182, 374/141, 713/322, 702130-132, 340/870.04, 340/870.17, 361/103, 361/687, 361/695, 361/697
• US Class Current: 439/620.01
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 7/42 Circuits effecting compensation of thermal inertia; Circuits for predicting the stationary value of a temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/62 connecting to rigid printed circuits or like structures
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/79 connecting to rigid printed circuits or like structures
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6683 with built-in sensor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/913 Condition determining device, e.g. oxygen sensor, accelerometer, ionizer chamber, thermocouple

Abstract

A card connector system that detachably supports a PC card and electrically connects the PC card to an electrical device. The system includes a temperature sensor to monitor temperature of the PC card to prevent the deleterious effect of heat generated by the PC card on the PC card itself and the electrical device. The sensor detects the surface temperature of the supported PC card and transmits the obtained temperature information to the electrical device. In this case, it is preferable that a transition board 33, electrically connected between the PC card and the electrical device, is used to transmit the temperature information.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring a temperature of an electronic card in an electrical connector of an electronic device, comprising:

positioning a temperature sensor on the electrical connector of the electrical device and extending the temperature sensor into an aperture in a conductive cover of the electrical connector to detect a temperature of the electronic card when the electronic card is engaged in the electrical connector and to allow engagement and removal of the electronic card to and from the electrical connector;

sensing the temperature of the electronic card; and

transmitting the temperature of the electronic card to the electronic device.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein positioning the temperature sensor comprises mounting the temperature sensor to a tab associated with the aperture on the conductive cover of the electrical connector.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein positioning the temperature sensor comprises positioning the temperature sensor on the electrical connector of the electrical card and extending the temperature sensor into an aperture in a conductive cover of the electrical connector to detect a surface temperature of the electronic card when the electronic card is engaged in the electrical connector and to allow engagement and removal of the electronic card to and from the electrical connector.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein positioning the temperature sensor comprises positioning the temperature sensor on the electrical connector of the electrical card and extending the temperature sensor into an aperture in a conductive cover of the electrical connector to directly detect a temperature of the electronic card when the electronic card is engaged in the electrical connector and to allow engagement and removal of the electronic card to and from the electrical connector.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising disconnecting power from the electronic card if the sensed temperature is above a predefined temperature.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein transmitting the temperature comprises transmitting the temperature independently of other communications between the electronic card and the electronic device.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein transmitting the temperature comprises transmitting the temperature through a transition board of the electrical connector.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising positioning a wire of the temperature sensor in each of a plurality of holes of a transition board of the electrical connector, each of the plurality of holes having a corresponding connection point.

9. A method of monitoring a temperature of an electronic card in an electrical connector of an electronic device, wherein a temperature sensor is positioned on the electrical connector of the electrical device and extended into an aperture in a conductive cover of the electrical connector to detect a temperature of the electronic card when the electronic card is engaged in the electrical connector and to allow engagement and removal of the electronic card to and from the electrical connector, the method comprising:

sensing the temperature of the electronic card; and

transmitting the temperature of the electronic card to the electronic device.

10. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the temperature sensor is mounted to a tab associated with the aperture on the conductive cover of the electrical connector.

11. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the temperature sensor is positioned on the electrical connector of the electrical card and extended into an aperture in a conductive cover of the electrical connector to detect a surface temperature of the electronic card when the electronic card is engaged in the electrical connector and to allow engagement and removal of the electronic card to and from the electrical connector.

12. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the temperature sensor is positioned on the electrical connector of the electrical card and extended into an aperture in a conductive cover of the electrical connector to directly detect a temperature of the electronic card when the electronic card is engaged in the electrical connector and to allow engagement and removal of the electronic card to and from the electrical connector.

13. The method as recited in claim 9, further comprising disconnecting power from the electronic card if the sensed temperature is above a predefined temperature.

14. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the electronic card communicates with the electronic device through the connector, and wherein transmitting the temperature comprises transmitting the temperature independently of the communication between the electronic card and the electronic device.

15. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the electrical connector includes a transition board, and where transmitting the temperature comprises transmitting the temperature through the transition board.

16. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the electrical connector includes a transition board having a plurality of holes therein and a plurality of corresponding connection points, the method further comprising positioning a wire of the temperature sensor in each of the plurality of holes of the transition board.