Plug error insertion prevention systems, plugs, plug insertion sections, plug control programs, contactless identification tag control programs, and plug insertion section control programs

• US 7,275,970 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2004
• Issued: 10/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Hoshina, Masaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Gilman; Alexander
• Application Number:
  US10/814,115
• Publication Number:
  US 20040242087A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,280 Days
• Field of Search: 439/894, 439/373, 340/825, 340/539, 324/538, 324/537, 235/492
• US Class Current: 439/894
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/641 by indicating incorrect coupling; by indicating correct or full engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 27/02 for simultaneous co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts

Abstract

Plug error insertion prevention systems, plugs, plug insertion sections, and programs for controlling the same are provided which are suitable for preventing plugs from being inserted in wrong insertion sockets. The plug error insertion prevention system includes a plug attached through a cable to a device, and a plug insertion section that is attached to a device. The plug is provided with a structure including a contactless identification tag and a connection section. The contactless identification tag is provided with a structure including a data reception section, a data transmission section, a data control section, a data storage section, a first state notification section, a display section, and a power generation section. The plug insertion section is provided with a structure including a data reception section, a data transmission section, a data control section, a data storage section, a response information generation section, a second state notification section, first through third display sections, and first through third insertion sockets.

Claims

1. A plug error insertion prevention system that prevents a plug intended for use with a specified plug insertion socket of a plug insertion section from being inserted into an incorrect plug insertion socket of the plug insertion section, the system comprising:

the plug; and

the plug insertion section;

wherein the plug includes;

an electric power generation unit that generates electric power to drive the plug, the electric power being generated by an electromagnetic wave from the plug insertion section;

a first identification information storage unit that stores first identification information for identifying the specified plug insertion socket corresponding to the plug;

a first identification information transmission unit that sends the first identification information to a desired plug insertion socket;

a response information receiving unit that receives response information from the plug insertion section; and

a plug state notification unit that notifies a system user of a plug state relative to the desired plug insertion socket based on the response information received by the response information receiving unit, and

wherein the plug insertion section includes;

a second identification information storage unit that stores second identification information for identifying the plug corresponding to the specified plug insertion socket;

a first identification information receiving unit that receives the first identification information from the plug;

an identification information comparing unit that compares the first identification information received by the first identification information receiving unit and the second identification information;

a response information generation unit that generates response information to the plug based on a comparison result of the identification information comparing unit;

a response information transmission unit that sends the response information generated by the response information generation unit to the plug; and

a plug insertion socket state notification unit that notifies the system user of a plug insertion socket state relative to the plug.

2. The plug error insertion prevention system according to claim 1, wherein:

the plug insertion section is equipped with a power supply transmission unit that transmits the electromagnetic wave for supplying electric power to the plug.

3. The plug error insertion prevention system according to claim 1, wherein:

the plug is equipped with a contactless identification tag; and

the contactless identification tag is equipped with the first identification information storage unit that stores the first identification information, the first identification information transmission unit, the response information receiving unit, and the plug state notification unit.

4. The plug error insertion prevention system recited in claim 3, further comprising:

a contactless identification tag control program for controlling the contactless identification tag, the program including;

a first identification information transmission step of sending the first identification information to the desired plug insertion socket when the plug approaches the desired plug insertion socket;

a response information receiving step of receiving response information from the plug insertion section; and

a plug state notification step of notifying the system user of the plug state relative to the desired plug insertion socket based on the response information received in the response information receiving step.

5. The plug error insertion prevention system according to claim 1, wherein the plug state notification unit includes a plug state display section that displays specified information to notify the system user of the plug state.

6. The plug error insertion prevention system according to claim 5, wherein the plug state display section includes a light emitting element, and notifies the system user of the plug state by a mode of light emission.

7. The plug error insertion prevention system according to claim 6, wherein the plug state display section is disposed at a specified position of the plug at which a correct insertion position of the plug relative to the plug insertion socket can be guided.

8. The plug error insertion prevention system according to claim 6, wherein the plug state notification unit changes the mode of light emission of the light emitting element according to positions of the plug with respect to the plug insertion socket.

9. The plug error insertion prevention system according to claim 1, wherein the plug insertion socket state notification unit includes a plug insertion socket state display section, that displays specified information to notify the system user of the plug insertion socket state.

10. The plug error insertion prevention system according to claim 9, wherein the plug insertion socket state display section includes a light emitting element, and notifies the system user of the plug insertion socket state by the mode of light emission.

11. The plug error insertion prevention system according to claim 9, wherein the plug insertion socket state display section is disposed at a specified position of the plug insertion section at which a correct insertion position of the plug can be guided when inserting the plug into the plug insertion socket.

12. The plug error insertion prevention system according to claim 10, wherein the plug insertion socket state notification unit changes the mode of light emission of the light emitting element according to positions of the plug with respect to the plug insertion socket.

13. The plug error insertion prevention system according to claim 1, wherein:

the first identification information includes characteristic information of an authorized user of the plug;

the plug insertion section is equipped with a usability judging unit that judges whether the plug can use the specified plug insertion socket of the plug insertion section based on the characteristic information; and

the response information generation unit generates the response information based also on a judgment result of the usability judging unit.

14. A plug error insertion prevention system comprising:

a plug; and

a plug insertion section;

wherein the plug comprises;

an electric power generation unit that generates electric cower to drive the plug, the electric cower being generated by an electromagnetic wave from the plug insertion section;

a first identification information storage unit that stores first identification information for identifying a specified plug insertion socket corresponding to the plug;

a first identification information transmission unit that sends the first identification information to a desired plug insertion socket of the plug insertion section;

a response information receiving unit that receives response information from the plug insertion section; and

a plug state notification unit that notifies a system user of a plug state relative to the plug insertion socket based on the response information.

15. The plug error insertion prevention system recited in claim 14, further comprising:

a plug control program for controlling the plug, the program including;

a first identification information transmission step of sending the first identification information to the desired plug insertion socket upon the plug approaching the desired plug insertion socket;

a response information receiving step of receiving response information from the plug insertion section; and

a plug state notification step of notifying the a system the user of the plug state relative to the desired plug insertion socket based on the response information received in the response information receiving step.

16. A plug error insertion prevention system comprising:

a plug; and

a plug insertion section;

wherein the plug insertion section includes;

a power supply transmission unit that transmits an electromagnetic wave for supplying electric power to the plug;

a second identification information storage unit that stores second identification information for identifying the plug corresponding to a specified plug insertion socket of the plug insertion section;

a first identification information receiving unit that receives first identification information from the plug;

an identification information comparing unit that compares the first identification information received by the first identification information receiving unit and the second identification information;

a response information generation unit that generates response information to the plug based on a comparison result of the identification information comparing unit;

a response information transmission unit that sends the response information generated by the response information generation unit to the plug; and

a plug insertion socket state notification unit that notifies the system user of the plug insertion socket state relative to the plug.

17. The plug error insertion prevention system recited in claim 16, further comprising:

a plug insertion section control program for controlling the plug insertion section, the program including;

a first identification information receiving step of receiving the first identification information sent from the plug;

an information comparing step of comparing the first identification information received in the first identification information receiving step and the second identification information;

a response information generation step of generating response information to the plug based on a comparison result of the information comparing step;

a response information transmission step of sending the response information generated in the response information generation step to the plug; and

a plug insertion socket state notification step of notifying the system user of the plug insertion socket state relative to the plug.

18. A plug error insertion prevention system comprising:

a plug; and

a plug insertion section;

wherein the plug includes;

an electric power generation unit that generates electric power to drive the plug, the electric power being generated by an electromagnetic wave from the plug insertion section;

a first identification information memory storing first identification information identifying a specified socket suitable for the plug;

a socket information transmitter sending the first identification information to a desired socket of the plug insertion section;

a response information receiver receiving response information from the plug insertion section; and

a plug state messenger notifying a system user of the plug suitability relative to the desired socket based on the response information, and

wherein the plug insertion section includes;

a second identification information memory storing second identification information identifying a specified plug suitable for the desired socket;

a first identification information receiver receiving the first identification information from the plug;

an identification information comparator comparing the first and second identification information;

a response information generator generating response information based on a comparison result of the identification information comparator;

a response information transmitter sending the response information to the plug; and

a socket suitability notifier notifying the system user of the desired socket suitability relative to the plug;

whereby the system prevents the plug from being inserted into an incorrect socket of the plug insertion section.

19. A plug error insertion prevention system that prevents a plug intended for use with a specified plug insertion socket of a plug insertion section from being inserted into an incorrect plug insertion socket of the plug insertion section, the system comprising:

the plug; and

the plug insertion section;

wherein the plug includes an electric power generation unit that generates electric power to drive the plug, the electric power being generated by an electromagnetic wave from the plug insertion section; and

wherein the plug insertion section includes a power supply transmission unit that transmits the electromagnetic wave to the plug.

20. A plug for a plug error insertion prevention system that prevents a plug intended for use with a specified plug insertion socket of a plug insertion section from being inserted into an incorrect plug insertion socket of the plug insertion section, the plug comprising:

an electric power generation unit that generates electric power to drive the plug, the electric power being generated by an electromagnetic wave from a power supply transmission unit of the plug insertion section that transmits the electromagnetic wave to the plug.