Power interconnection with current surge mitigation

• US 9,780,516 B2
• Filed: 01/02/2015
• Issued: 10/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Chen, Henry, Chen, Jung-Tai, Tan, Ko-Chen, Tsai, Claire, Wu, Chia-Yen
• Primary Examiner(s): Harvey, James
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dzierzynski, Matthew T
• Application Number:
  US14/588,548
• Publication Number:
  US 20150188266A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,005 Days
• Field of Search: 361 1, 361220, 361 56, 43962001, 43962021, 4396203
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6616 with resistor
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/78 with additional earth or shield contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/06 Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/94
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/26 for engaging or disengaging the two parts of a coupling device structural association with two-part coupling device H01R13/629
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 9/02 responsive to excess current current limitation for voltage regulators G05F1/573; disconnection after limiting H02H3/025
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49208 by assembling plural parts

Abstract

Disclosed is an apparatus for power interconnection, adapted for use between a main connector and a DC main. The power connector has a connector power terminal and the DC main has a DC main power terminal. The apparatus includes an apparatus power terminal for being electrically coupled to the DC main power terminal in response to the apparatus in connection with the DC main; a first conductor including a resistor and a conductive contact, the conductive contact being electrically coupled to the resistor; and a second conductor, the resistor being electrically coupled to the second conductor, wherein, in response to an action of the power connector in connection with the apparatus, the connector power terminal contacts the conductive contact and a first current flowing therethrough is limited by the resistor. A receptacle structure for power interconnection is also disclosed.

Claims

1. An apparatus for power interconnection, adapted for use between a main connector and a direct current (DC) main, the main connector having a connector main terminal, and the DC main having a DC main terminal, the power interconnection apparatus comprising:

an apparatus main terminal electrically coupled to the DC main terminal in response to the power interconnection apparatus being connected to the DC main;

a conductive contact electrically coupled to a resistor via a first electrical conductive path from the DC main to the main connector, the conductive contact located at an entrance to an apparatus casing hole of the power interconnection apparatus; and

a conductor electrically coupled to the resistor via the first electrical conductive path from the DC main to the main connector, the conductor separated from the conductive contact by a specified distance;

wherein, in response to a first action in which the main connector is at a first position at the entrance to the apparatus casing hole of the power interconnection apparatus and in contact with the conductive contact, a first current passes from the conductor to the conductive contact via the first electrical conductive path through the resistor that restricts the first current to prevent damage from inrush current and, in response to a second action in which the main connector is inserted through the entrance of the apparatus casing hole to a second position, the connector main terminal contacts both the conductive contact and the conductor that are separated by the specified distance allowing a second current to pass through the conductor to form a second electrical conductive path from the DC main to the main connector providing a power supply.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the conductive contact dangles in response to the main connector not being connected to the power interconnection apparatus.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an apparatus casing, wherein the apparatus casing includes the apparatus casing hole whereby the connector main terminal is mounted and dismounted through the apparatus casing hole.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the DC main is one of a group consisting of:

a solar power main, a battery main, and a capacitor.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is one of a group consisting of:

a notebook computer, a tablet, an DVD player, a monitor, a portable electronic apparatus, a mobile phone, a PDA, a server, a home appliance, a measurement instrument, a desktop computer, and an industrial computer, and wherein the DC main is supplied through a DC receptacle, and wherein the DC receptacle is one of a group consisting of;

an indoor electrical outlet, an outdoor electrical outlet, and a main extension.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the conductive contact is made of a conductive material selected from a group consisting of copper, silver, gold, and aluminum, and wherein the conductor is made of a conductive material selected from a group consisting of:

copper, silver, gold, and aluminum.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first electrical conductive path branches from the conductor.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an apparatus casing, wherein the apparatus main terminal protrudes from the apparatus casing.

9. A receptacle structure, adapted to supply a direct current (DC) to a main connector having a connector main terminal, the receptacle structure comprising:

a DC main terminal for supplying the direct current;

a conductive contact electrically coupled to a resistor via a first electrical conductive path from the DC main terminal to the connector main terminal, the conductive contact located at an entrance to a receptacle casing hole of the DC receptacle; and

a conductor electrically coupled to the DC main terminal;

wherein the resistor is electrically coupled to the conductor, and wherein, in response to a first action in which the main connector is at a first position at the entrance to the receptacle casing hole of the DC receptacle and in contact with the conductive contact, a first current passes from the conductor to the conductive contact via the first electrical conductive path through the resistor that restricts the first current to prevent damage from inrush current and, in response to a second action in which the main connector is inserted through the entrance of the receptacle casing hole to a second position, the connector main terminal contacts both the conductive contact and the conductor that are separated by a specified distance allowing a second current to pass through the conductor to form a second electrical conductive path from the DC main terminal to the connector main terminal providing a power supply.

10. The receptacle structure of claim 9, wherein the conductive contact dangles in response to the main connector not being connected to the DC receptacle.

11. The receptacle structure of claim 9, further comprising a receptacle casing and a receptacle casing hole disposed on the receptacle casing to allow the connector main terminal to be mounted and dismounted through the receptacle casing hole.

12. The receptacle structure of claim 9, wherein the conductive contact is made of a conductive material selected from a group consisting of:

copper, silver, gold, and aluminum, and wherein the conductor is made of a conductive material selected from a group consisting of;

copper, silver, gold, and aluminum.