Communication module adaptor

• US 9,343,861 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2013
• Issued: 05/17/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TE Connectivity Corporation (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Fry, Charles David
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Xiaoliang
• Application Number:
  US13/750,652
• Publication Number:
  US 20140211434A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,208 Days
• Field of Search: 361/814, 710/62, 710/316, 439/620.21, 324/402, 700/296, 700/297
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/72 coupling with the edge of the rigid printed circuits or like structures
• 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 31/065 with built-in electric apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/6418 Hybrid transport

Abstract

A communication module adaptor adapted for mating with a device connector of a smart electronic device includes an adaptor circuit having a communication module and an adaptor connector coupled to the adaptor circuit. The communication module has a mating interface differing from a mating interface of the device connector such that the communication module is unable to directly connect to the device connector. The adaptor connector has a mating interface complementary to the mating interface of the device connector for mating with the device connector to electrically connect the communication module adaptor to the smart electronic device. The adaptor circuit electrically connects the adaptor connector and the communication module and control signals are transmitted from a controller of the communication module to the device connector of the smart electronic device via the adaptor connector.

Claims

1. A communication module adaptor adapted for mating with a device connector of a smart electronic device, the communication module adaptor comprising:

an adaptor housing;

an adaptor circuit board housed within the adaptor housing, the adaptor circuit board having an adaptor circuit;

a communication module housed within the adaptor housing, the communication module being electrically coupled to the adaptor circuit, the communication module having a mating interface differing from a mating interface of the device connector such that the communication module is unable to directly connect to the device connector, the communication module having a controller configured to receive data from a smart electrical grid system and control operation of the smart electronic device based on the received data from the smart electrical grid system; and

an adaptor connector within the adaptor housing, the adaptor connector being electrically coupled to the adaptor circuit, the adaptor connector having a mating interface complementary to the mating interface of the device connector, the adaptor connector being configured to be mated with the device connector to electrically connect the communication module adaptor to the smart electronic device;

wherein the adaptor circuit electrically connects the adaptor connector and the communication module, and wherein control signals based on the received data from the smart electrical grid system are transmitted from the controller of the communication module to the device connector of the smart electronic device via the adaptor connector to control operation of the smart electronic device based on the received data from the smart electronic grid system.

2. The communication module adaptor of claim 1, wherein the adaptor connector comprises a plug and a plurality of contacts defining the mating interface of the adaptor connector, the plug and contacts being configured to be plugged into the device connector, the contacts being terminated to the adaptor circuit, data being transmitted by the contacts.

3. The communication module adaptor of claim 2, wherein power is transmitted by the contacts to power the communication module.

4. The communication module adaptor of claim 3, further comprising a power converter coupled to the adaptor circuit, the power converter converting the power from the contacts from AC power to DC power to power the communication module.

5. The communication module adaptor of claim 1, further comprising a protocol converter coupled to the adaptor circuit housed within the adaptor housing to convert a protocol of the control signals transmitted from the communication module.

6. The communication module adaptor of claim 1, wherein the communication module operates in accordance with a first protocol and the smart electronic device operates in accordance with a second protocol, and wherein the control signals are transmitted from the controller of the communication module to a protocol converter coupled to the adaptor circuit housed within the adaptor housing, the protocol converter converting the control signals from the first protocol to the second protocol and then the control signals being transmitted from the protocol converter to the device connector of the smart electronic device via the adaptor connector.

7. The communication module adaptor of claim 1, wherein the communication module includes a circuit card having a card edge defining the mating interface of the communication module, the mating interface of the adaptor connector comprising a plug having contacts held in the plug.

8. The communication module adaptor of claim 1, further comprising a socket connector coupled to the adaptor circuit, the communication module being plugged into the socket connector to electrically connect the communication module to the adaptor circuit.

9. The communication module adaptor of claim 1, wherein the controller of the communication module receives data wirelessly.

10. The communication module adaptor of claim 1, wherein the controller of the communication module receives data from the smart electronic grid system across the mating interface of the adaptor connector from the smart electronic device.