POGO PIN CONNECTOR

• US 20160233632A1
• Filed: 02/05/2016
• Published: 08/11/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Masimo Corporation
• Original Assignee: Masimo Corporation
• Inventors: Scruggs, Stephen, Al-Ali, Ammar, Schmidt, John, Abdul-Hafiz, Yassir Kamel, Triman, Benjamin C., MacNeish, William Jack III
• Granted Patent: US 10,205,291 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/227 Sensors with electrical connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1455 using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/714 with contacts abutting directly the printed circuit; Button contacts therefore provided on the printed circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/721 cooperating directly with the edge of the rigid printed circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/193 Means for increasing contact pressure at the end of engagement of coupling part , e.g. zero insertion force or no friction
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/2407 characterized by the resilient means
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/2421 using coil springs
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6271 Latching means integral with the housing H01R13/6276, H01R13/6277, H01R13/6278 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6272 comprising a single latching arm
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6278 comprising a pin snapping into a recess
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/629 Additional means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. aligning or guiding means, levers, gas pressure electrical locking indicators, manufacturing tolerances separate tools or apparatus H01R43/26
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/64 Means for preventing incorrect coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/641 by indicating incorrect coupling; by indicating correct or full engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6485 Electrostatic discharge protection in general H05F1/00, for electric apparatus H05K9/0067
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/652 with earth pin, blade or socket
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/12 for medicine and surgery
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/62 Sliding engagements with one side only, e.g. modular jack coupling devices

Abstract

Various connector and sensor assemblies are described. In some embodiments, the connector and sensor assembly comprises a connector and a sensor assembly. The connector can have an opening that has a first surface and second surface that are opposite each other. The connector can have a plurality of retractable electrical connectors that extend from the first surface and a lock structure that is located on the second surface. The sensor assembly is comprised of a body portion and a proximal end. The proximal end has a top side and a bottom side. The top side includes a plurality of electrical contacts that is configured to interact with the plurality of retractable electrical connectors. The bottom side includes a key structure that is configured to interact with the lock structure in the connector.

Claims

1. A connector and sensor assembly, the assembly including:

a connector including;

an opening with an internal surface, and

a plurality of retractable electrical connectors extending from the internal surface; and

a sensor assembly including;

a body portion, and

a proximal end with a top side including a plurality of electrical contacts wherein the proximal end is configured to be removably inserted into the opening of the connector.

2. The connector and sensor assembly of claim 1 wherein the plurality of retractable electrical connectors are pogo pins.

3. The connector and sensor assembly of claim 1 wherein the plurality retractable electrical connectors are in a staggered configuration.

4. The connector and sensor assembly of claim 3 wherein the electrical connectors are configured into a plurality of rows, wherein each row can include a plurality of electrical connectors.

5. The connector and sensor assembly of claim 1 wherein the plurality of electrical contacts on the sensor assembly are in a staggered configuration.

6. The connector and sensor assembly of claim 5 wherein the electrical contacts are configured into a plurality of rows, wherein each row can include a plurality of electrical contacts.

7. The connector and sensor assembly of claim 1 wherein the connector includes a first color indicator and the sensor assembly include a second color indicator, wherein the first color indicator and second color indicator are the same colors.

8. The connector and sensor assembly of claim 1 wherein the sensor assembly includes a visual indicator that indicates the type of sensor assembly to a user.

9. The connector and sensor assembly of claim 1 further including a first tapered surface on the proximal end of the connector and a second tapered surface on the proximal end of the sensor assembly, and wherein the first tapered surface tapers into the opening of the connector and the second tapered surface tapers outward.

10. The connector and sensor assembly of claim 9 wherein the tapered surface of the connector is configured to interact with the tapered surface of the sensory assembly.

11. The connector and sensor assembly of claim 9 wherein the tapered surface of the sensor assembly is configured to raise each of the plurality of retractable electrical connectors as the sensor assembly is inserted into the opening of the connector, wherein the tapered surface is configured to reduce the wear of the plurality of electrical contacts on the surface of the sensor assembly.

12. The connector and sensor assembly of claim 1 wherein the plurality of electrical contacts includes an electrical contact that serves as a grounding line.

13. The connector and sensor assembly of claim 12, wherein the grounding line is located near the proximal end of the sensor assembly.

14. The connector and sensor assembly of claim 12, wherein any of the plurality of retractable electrical connectors contacts the grounding line first before contacting any of the remaining plurality of electrical contacts.

15. The connector and sensor assembly of claim 12, wherein the grounding line is located entirely on the surface of the sensor assembly.

16. The connector and sensor assembly of claim 12, wherein the grounding line is partially located above the surface of the sensor assembly and partially located below the surface of the sensor assembly.

17. The connector and sensor assembly of claim 12, wherein the grounding line is intermittently connected across the surface of the sensor assembly.

18. A connector and sensor assembly, the assembly including:

a connector including;

an opening with a first surface wherein the first surface includes a lock structure; and

a sensor assembly including;

a body portion, and

a proximal end including a key structure configured to fit into the lock structure of the connector, and wherein the proximal end is configured to removably insert into the opening of the connector.

19. The connector and sensor assembly of claim 18 wherein the lock structure includes a rectangular indentation and the key structure is a protrusion in the shape of a rectangle.

20. The connector and sensor assembly of claim 18 wherein the lock structure has a plurality of centered rectangular structures and the key structure is a protrusion configured to connect around the lock structure.

21. The connector and sensor assembly of claim 18 wherein the lock structure includes a first detent and the key structure includes a second detent, wherein the first detent and second detent are configured to interact and provide a tactile feedback to the user.

22. The connector and sensor assembly of claim 18 wherein the lock structure is configured to only accept the key structure of the corresponding sensor assembly.

23. The connector and sensor assembly of claim 18 further including a first tapered surface on the proximal end of the connector and a second tapered surface on the proximal end of the sensor assembly, and wherein the first tapered surface tapers into the opening of the connector and the second tapered surface tapers outward.

24. The connector and sensor assembly of claim 23 wherein the tapered surface of the connector is configured to interact with the tapered surface of the sensory assembly.

25. The connector and sensor assembly of claim 23 wherein the tapered surface of the sensor assembly is configured to raise each of the plurality of retractable electrical connectors as the sensor assembly is inserted into the opening of the connector, wherein the tapered surface is configured to reduce the wear of the plurality of electrical contacts on the surface of the sensor assembly.

26. The connector and sensor assembly of claim 18 wherein the plurality of electrical contacts includes an electrical contact that serves as a grounding line.

32. The connector and sensor assembly of claim 18 wherein the connector includes a first color indicator and the sensor assembly include a second color indicator, wherein the first color indicator and second color indicator are the same colors.

33. The connector and sensor assembly of claim 18 wherein the key structure is a plurality of indentations located on either side of the proximal end of the sensor assembly that can be secured by the lock structure of the connector.

34. The connector and sensor assembly of claim 18 wherein the key structure is a centered rectangular structure with a curved indentation at the proximal end and a proximal lip.

27-31. -31. (canceled)

35-111. -111. (canceled)