Power interconnection with current surge mitigation

• US 9,960,564 B2
• Filed: 06/09/2015
• Issued: 05/01/2018
• 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): Nguyen, Donghai D
• Application Number:
  US14/734,479
• Publication Number:
  US 20150270675A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,057 Days
• Field of Search: 29830, 29831, 29874, 29876, 361 2, 361753, 439157, 439181
• 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. A method of supplying a direct current (DC), adapted for use between a main connector and a DC main, the method comprising the steps of:

providing the main connector comprising a connector main terminal;

providing the DC main, wherein the DC main comprises;

a DC main terminal for supplying the direct current from a DC receptacle;

a first conductor comprising a resistor and a conductive contact electrically coupled to the resistor; and

a second conductor, wherein an end of the second conductor is electrically coupled to the DC main terminal, and wherein the resistor of the first conductor is electrically coupled to the second conductor; and

causing the main connector to physically and directly connect with the DC Main and to the DC receptacle;

wherein, in response to the main connector being physically and directly connected to the DC main instantaneously, the connector main terminal comes into contact with the conductive contact, and a first current passing through the first conductor is restricted by the resistor.

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