Apparatus for producing an electric signal provided with luminous means characterizing said signal

• US 7,817,059 B2
• Filed: 07/04/2006
• Issued: 10/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: InterDigital CE Patent Holdings SAS (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Licensing (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Renard, Francis
• Primary Examiner(s): GOINS, DAVETTA WOODS
• Application Number:
  US11/988,319
• Publication Number:
  US 20090040064A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,568 Days
• Field of Search: 340/815.4, 340/815.43, 340/500, 340/540, 340/660, 340/636.15, 307/149, 307/153, 700/297, 700/298, 359/889
• US Class Current: 340/815.4
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3895 identification of connection, e.g. right plug to the right socket or full engagement of the mating parts keying element on the plug or adapter G02B6/3831; keying element on the ferrule G02B6/3851; keying element for electrical connection H01R13/64
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4298 coupling with non-coherent light sources and/or radiation detectors, e.g. lamps, incandescent bulbs, scintillation chambers
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/641 by indicating incorrect coupling; by indicating correct or full engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6691 with built-in signalling means H01R13/717 takes precedence

Abstract

The invention relates to a device supplying an electrical signal for which a characteristic, for example, the voltage is adjustable. The device has a connector at one end of a cable to supply this signal to another electrical device. This connector comprises a transmission means of a light signal for which a visible characteristic depends upon the electrical signal produced. One improvement consists in the light signal coming from a source of white light that is colour modulated by filters. These filters are mechanically integrated into a mobile part belonging to the adjustment means of the signal supplied. The invention also relates to a system comprising the device supplying the signal and the device to be connected, the latter device features a mark identifying the light signal compatible with the electrical signal to receive.

Claims

1. Device to produce an electric signal, comprising an adjustment means for adjusting a characteristic of said signal, a cable transmitting the signal to a connection element responsible for supplying said signal to another device,

wherein the cable also transmits a light signal whose visible characteristic depends upon the value of the adjustable characteristics of the electric signal produced, the connection element having an emission means of said light signal.

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein it comprises a white light source producing a light signal that is modulated by passage through color filters mechanically integrated into a mobile part of the adjustment means the light signal thus modulated is transmitted by the transmission means.

3. Device according to claim 1, wherein the electrical signal produced supplies the transmission means of the light signal.

4. Device according to claim 1, wherein it comprises light source supplying the light signal transmitted by the transmission means, the said light source being supplied by a second electrical signal whose characteristics vary as a function of the adjustment means.

5. Device according to claim 1, wherein it comprises a means of detecting a fault in the production of an electrical signal, the said means affecting in a visible manner the emission of the light signal in the case of such a fault.

6. Device according to claim 1, wherein the transmission means of the light signal is located on the connection element in such a way that the connection element remains visible whenever said connection element is connected to the device to supply it with said electric signal.

7. Device according to claim 1, wherein the connection element is removable, the device has a set of several different connection elements.

8. System composed of a device to produce an electrical signal having an adjustment means for adjusting a characteristic of the said signal and a cable transmitting the signal to a first connection element and a second device comprising another connection element capable of connecting to the first connection element, wherein this second device comprises a visual indication, preferably close to said other connection element, providing information on the type of signal to be produced so that the second device functions normally, the cable transmitting a light signal of which a visible characteristic depends upon the value of the adjustable characteristic of the electrical signal produced, the first connection element comprising a transmission means of said light signal.

9. System comprised of an electrical signal production device and a second device receiving said electrical signal according to claim 8, wherein the visual indication on the second device is comprised of a ring surrounding the connector into which the connection element pushed.