System and method for sensing information that is being communicated through a connector
First Claim
1. A sensor connector, comprising:
- at least one shell adapted to be connected to at least one of a corresponding, external plug and a corresponding, external receptacle, said at least one shell comprising at least one conductor for transmitting information;
at least one sensor for sensing said information from at least one conductor;
at least one circuit in communication with said at least one sensor, said at least one circuit comprising at least one communication port for transmitting said information to at least one external device;
a housing connected to said at least one shell and substantially surrounding said at least one sensor and said at least one circuit anda receptacle adapted to be connected to said corresponding, external plug;
wherein said at least one shell further comprises a plug adapted to be connected to said corresponding, external receptacle, said at least one conductor further comprises at least one of at least one pin contact and at least one socket contact, and said housing being mounted between at least a portion of said plug and at least a portion of said receptacle.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method is provided for sensing information (e.g., voltage, current, data, etc.) that is being transmitted through a connector. Preferred embodiments of the present invention operate in accordance with a connector and at least one sensor. In one embodiment of the present invention, the connector comprises a plug, a receptacle, and a sensor assembly for housing at least one circuit board, at least one sensor, and at least one sensor housing, wherein the sensor is configured to sense (or sample) information that is being communicated over a conductor. The sensor may be a torroidal coil that includes a core (e.g., ferrite, etc.) and at least one wire (e.g., copper, etc.) wound around the core. Alternatively, the sensor may be a MEMS sensor, a Hall Effect sensor, a capacitive sensor, a resistive sensor and/or a direct (or physical) connection between the at least one wire and either the at least one circuit board or an external circuit. In one embodiment of the present invention, the at least one circuit board may include circuitry for storing, processing and transmitting the sensed information.
29 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A sensor connector, comprising:
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at least one shell adapted to be connected to at least one of a corresponding, external plug and a corresponding, external receptacle, said at least one shell comprising at least one conductor for transmitting information; at least one sensor for sensing said information from at least one conductor; at least one circuit in communication with said at least one sensor, said at least one circuit comprising at least one communication port for transmitting said information to at least one external device; a housing connected to said at least one shell and substantially surrounding said at least one sensor and said at least one circuit and a receptacle adapted to be connected to said corresponding, external plug; wherein said at least one shell further comprises a plug adapted to be connected to said corresponding, external receptacle, said at least one conductor further comprises at least one of at least one pin contact and at least one socket contact, and said housing being mounted between at least a portion of said plug and at least a portion of said receptacle. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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2. A sensor connector, comprising:
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at least one shell adapted to be connected to at least one of a corresponding, external plug and a corresponding, external receptacle, said at least one shell comprising at least on conductor for transmitting information; at least one sensor for sensing said information from at least one conductor; at least one circuit in communication with said at least one sensor, said at least one circuit comprising at least one communication port for transmitting said information to at least one external device; and a housing connected to said at least one shell and substantially surrounding said at least one sensor and said at least one circuit; wherein said at least one sensor comprises a torroidal coil, including a core and at least one wire wrapped around said core.
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11. A sensor connector, comprising:
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at least one shell adapted to be connected to at least one of a corresponding, external plug and a corresponding, external receptacle, said at least one shell comprising at least on conductor for transmitting information; at least one sensor for sensing said information from at least one conductor; at least one circuit in communication with said at least one sensor, said at least one circuit comprising at least one communication port for transmitting said information to at least one external device; and a housing connected to said at least one shell and substantially surrounding said at least one sensor and said at least one circuit; wherein said at least one circuit further comprises a memory device for storing said information prior to being transmitted via said communication port.
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12. A sensor connector, comprising:
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at least one shell adapted to be connected to at least one of a corresponding, external plug and a corresponding, external receptacle, said at least one shell comprising at least on conductor for transmitting information; at least one sensor for sensing said information from at least one conductor; at least one circuit in communication with said at least one sensor, said at least one circuit comprising at least one communication port for transmitting said information to at least one external device; and a housing connected to said at least one shell and substantially surrounding said at least one sensor and said at least one circuit; wherein said at least one circuit further comprises a processor for processing said information prior to being transmitted via said communication port and a memory device for storing said information after said information has been processed, but prior to said information being transmitted via said communication port.
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13. A sensor connector, comprising:
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at least one shell adapted to be connected to at least one of a corresponding, external plug and a corresponding, external receptacle, said at least one shell comprising at least on conductor for transmitting information; at least one sensor for sensing said information from at least one conductor; at least one circuit in communication with said at least one sensor, said at least one circuit comprising at least one communication port for transmitting said information to at least one external device; a housing connected to said at least one shell and substantially surrounding said at least one sensor and said at least one circuit; and at least one circuit board, wherein said at least one circuit board includes said at least one circuit.
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14. A sensor connector, comprising:
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at least one shell adapted to be connected to at least one of a corresponding, external plug and a corresponding, external receptacle, said at least one shell comprising at least on conductor for transmitting information; at least one sensor for sensing said information from at least one conductor; at least one circuit in communication with said at least one sensor, said at least one circuit comprising at least one communication port for transmitting said information to at least one external device; and a housing connected to said at least one shell and substantially surrounding said at least one sensor and said at least one circuit; wherein said housing comprises at least a first portion and a second portion, said first portion being separate from, and adapted to be connected to, said second portion.
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15. A sensor connector, comprising:
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at least one shell adapted to be connected to at least one of a corresponding, external plug and a corresponding, external receptacle, said at least one shell comprising at least on conductor for transmitting information; at least one sensor for sensing said information from at least one conductor; at least one circuit in communication with said at least one sensor, said at least one circuit comprising at least one communication port for transmitting said information to at least one external device; and a housing connected to said at least one shell and substantially surrounding said at least one sensor and said at least one circuit; wherein said housing comprises a backshell, said backshell being connected to said at least one shell.
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16. A sensor connector, comprising:
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at least one shell adapted to be connected to at least one of a corresponding, external plug and a corresponding, external receptacle, said at least one shell comprising at least one conductor for transmitting information; at least one circuit board; at least one sensor on said at least one circuit board for sensing said information from said at least one conductor; at least one circuit on said at least one circuit board in communication with said at least one sensor, said at least one circuit comprising at least one communication port for transmitting said information to at least one external device; and a housing connected to said at least one shell and substantially surrounding said at least circuit board, said at least one sensor and said at least one circuit. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An in-line sensor connector, comprising:
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at least one shell adapted to be connected to a corresponding, external plug and a corresponding, external receptacle, said at least one shell comprising a plurality of conductors for transmitting information; and a plurality of sensors for sensing said information from said plurality of conductors; a plurality of circuits for transmitting at least a portion of said information to at least one external device; a plurality of inner housings; and an outer housing connected to said at least one shell, said outer housing substantially surrounding said plurality of sensors, said plurality of circuits, and said plurality of inner housings; wherein each one of said plurality of inner housings is adapted to affix at least one of said plurality of sensors and is connected to a corresponding one of said plurality of circuits. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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Specification