Method and apparatus for transferring electrical signals among electrical devices

• US 6,634,896 B1
• Filed: 08/23/1999
• Issued: 10/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Patrick Potega
• Original Assignee: Patrick Potega
• Inventors: Potega, Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild, Lynn D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HYEON, HAE M
• Application Number:
  US09/378,781
• Time in Patent Office: 1,520 Days
• Field of Search: 439/218, 439/669, 439/221-224, 439/217
• US Class Current: 439/218
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/02 Means for indicating or recording specially adapted for thermometers
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 7/223 characterised by the shape of the resistive element
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/36 Arrangements for testing, measuring or monitoring the electrical condition of accumulators or electric batteries, e.g. capacity or state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3648 comprising digital calculation means, e.g. for performing an algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3835 involving only voltage measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/40 Testing power supplies testing photovoltaic devices H02S50/10
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/263 Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC G06F1/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4257 Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/486 for measuring temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0068 Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply H02J7/0013 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/061 for DC powered loads
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

An apparatus for a power and/or data I/O port, comprised of a connector assembly (400 in FIG. 21A) which has male plug (433) with conductors (437, 435, 439, and 441), insulators (443, 438), and a female receptacle (414) with conductors (417, 419, and 421), and related elements (423) that create different electrical paths than had previously been present in electrical and electronic host devices. These newly-created electrical paths enable host devices and peripherals—such as a battery pack (450) and its battery power source (413), as well as one or more external power sources—to perform power and/or data functions in ways they could not without such an apparatus. By locating a connector assembly (400) in replaceable modules, such as a battery pack (450), users can upgrade and enhance the functionality of a multiplicity of existing (and future) electronic and electrical goods.

Claims

1. A connector assembly for transfer of electrical signals among a plurality of selectable sources, devices, or peripherals, said connector assembly comprising:

a selectively positionable connector plug comprising a conductive pin having one or more selectively conductive sections and one or more selectively insulated sections; and

a connector receptacle for receiving said positionable connector plug, said receptacle comprising one or more conductive contacts for receiving said one or more selectively conductive or selectively insulated sections of said positionable conductive pin;

wherein at least one selectable position of the positionable connector plug aligns said one or more selectively conductive sections and at least one of said selectively insulated sections of said pin with said receptacle'"'"'s one or more conductive contacts for selectively engaging at least one of said conductive sections with at least one conductive contact, and at least one of said insulated sections with at least one conductive contact, thereby causing the transfer of one or more electrical signals between at least one of said plurality of selectable device, sources, or peripherals thereof attached to said selectively positionable connector plug and at least one of said plurality of selectable devices, sources, or peripherals attached to said connector receptacle.

2. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein said one or more conductive contacts are pre-tensioned to form at least a first closed circuit;

and said positioning of said conductive pin aligns said one or more selectively insulated sections to engage said receptacle'"'"'s pre-tensioned conductive contacts for disrupting at least said first closed circuit;

said positioning of said pin also aligns one or more selectively conductive sections to engage said receptacle'"'"'s pre-tensioned conductive contacts for forming at least a second closed circuit.

3. The connector assembly of claim 2, wherein a selecting of a first position of said positionable connector plug aligns said one or more selectively conductive sections and at least one of said selectively insulated sections of said pin with said receptacle'"'"'s one or more conductive contacts for selectively engaging at least one of said conductive sections with at least one conductive contact, and at least one of said insulated sections with at least one conductive contact;

whereby the selecting of said first position causes a device selected from among a plurality of selectable devices, sources or peripherals to transfer one or more particular electrical signals along said second closed circuit.

4. The connector assembly of claim 3, wherein a selecting of a second position of said positionable connector plug aligns said one or more selectively conductive sections and at least one of said selectively insulated sections of said pin with said receptacle'"'"'s one or more conductive contacts for selectively engaging at least one of said conductive sections with at least one conductive contact, and at least one of said insulated sections with at least one conductive contact;

wherein the selecting of said second position causes a source selected from among a plurality of selectable devices, sources or peripherals to transfer one or more particular electrical signals to said selected device accessible along said second closed circuit.

5. The second position of claim 4, wherein said selected device is an electrical device and said selected source is a power source.

6. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein said at least one of said plurality of selectable devices, sources or peripherals attached to said connector plug is an electrical device and said at least one of said plurality of selectable devices, sources or peripherals attached to said connector receptacle is a battery.

7. The second closed circuit of claim 4, wherein said selected device is a power source and said selected source is a battery.

8. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein said at least one of said plurality of selectable devices, sources or peripherals attached to said connector plug is a battery charger and said at least one of said plurality of selectable devices, sources or peripherals attached to said connector receptacle is a battery.

9. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein said selected device is a battery and said selectable source is a battery monitor.

10. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein one or more of said plurality of selectable devices, sources, or peripherals includes:

one of said plurality of selected devices being a battery-powered electrical device;

a first source being a battery; and

a second source being a power source other than the battery of said first source.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one or more of said plurality of selectable devices, sources, or peripherals includes:

one of said plurality of selectable devices, sources, or peripherals being a battery having an interface port accessible to an electrical device for transferring electrical signals, the battery being attached to said connector receptacle;

the electrical device accessing said connector receptacle at the battery interface port; and

a power source capable of transferring electrical signals, the power source being attached to said positionable connector plug;

wherein mating said positionable connector plug to said connector receptacle disengages access for transferring electrical signals between the battery and the electrical device, and the mating also engages access for transferring electrical signals between the power source and the electrical device.

12. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the electrical signals being transferred are either analog or digital.

13. The connector assembly of claim 12, wherein one or more of said electrical signals are selectively transferred among said one or more selected devices, sources, or peripherals based on one or more of said analog or digital signals as control signals.

14. The connector assembly of claim 13, wherein said one or more electrical signals are adjusted based on one or more of said analog or digital signals as control signals.

15. An apparatus for transfer of electrical signals among one or more selectable devices, sources, or peripherals, said apparatus comprising:

a connector receptacle for transferring said electrical signals of one or more devices, sources, or peripherals selected from among said selectable devices, sources, or peripherals;

said receptacle including two normally-closed spring-loaded beams terminating at selectable first and second opposing contacts, so that a conductor of the first opposing contact accesses at least a first of the one or more selected devices, sources, or peripherals, while a conductor of the second opposing contact is capable of accessing a second of the one or more selectable devices, sources, or peripherals;

said receptacle further includes a separate third contact having a conductor accessible to both the first and second devices, sources, or peripherals;

a configurable connector plug for electrically interconnecting at least a third device, source, or peripheral selected from among said selectable devices, sources, or peripherals;

said plug having an insulator and a first conductive segment, both segments being so positioned as to selectively attach the insulator segment to either the first self-opposing contact of the receptacle in a first selected configuration, or to the second self-opposing contact of the receptacle in a second selected configuration;

either selected configuration thereby also electrically coupling the first conductive segment at the plug to the remaining non-selected opposing contact of the receptacle;

said configurable plug further having a separate second conductive segment being so positioned as to electrically couple to the separate third contact of the receptacle, and

respective conductors of the first and second conductive segments of the plug for attaching at least the third device, source or peripheral,

wherein said first configuration of the plug is followed by said second configuration, so that electrical signals are transferred among the first, second, and third selected devices, sources, or peripherals.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein at least one of said first or second selected configurations of said connector plug causes said electrical signals to be selectively transferred between either at least one of the said first or second selected devices, sources, or peripherals attached at said receptacle and said third selected device, source, or peripheral attached at said plug.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, which further includes a device for controlling the flow of electrical signals strapped across said spring-loaded beams, causing only an outward electrical flow from said first device, source, or peripheral at said receptacle;

wherein said first selected configuration of said connector plug causes said second selected device, source, or peripheral to be accessible for transfers of electrical signals between said first and second selected devices, sources, or peripherals, and further transfers between said first and third devices, sources, or peripherals and said second and third selected devices, sources, or peripherals.

18. The configuration of claim 17, wherein said first selected device, source, or peripheral is an electrical device;

said second selected device, source, or peripheral is a battery monitor and said third selected device, source, or peripheral is a battery charger.

19. The configuration of claim 17, wherein said second selected device, source, or peripheral is an electrical device and said first selectable device, source, or peripheral is a battery.

20. The configuration of claim 17, wherein said second selected device, source, or peripheral is a mobile computing device and said third selected device, source, or peripheral is a power source.

21. The first configuration of claim 17, wherein said one or more selectable devices, sources, or peripherals include:

one of said selected devices, sources, or peripherals being a battery;

a second selected device, source, or peripheral being a battery-powered electrical device; and

a third selected device, source, or peripheral being a power source other than the battery of the first selected device, source, or peripheral.

22. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the electrical signals are either analog or digital.

23. A connector assembly for transfer of electrical signals among one or more selected devices, said connector assembly comprising:

a configurable connector plug comprising a conductive pin having one or more conductive segments that are selectively configured for transferring electrical signals;

the plug further comprising an insulator segment so positioned along the length of the pin as to oppose at least one of the conductive segments in an alignment that exposes both the insulator and conductive segments for attaching to selective segments of a connector receptacle;

the connector receptacle for receiving said connector plug comprising contacts for selectively attaching to said one or more selectively configured conductive or insulator segments of said connector plug;

wherein upon mating of the configured connector plug and the connector receptacle, said one or more electric signals are transferred between said connector plug'"'"'s one or more selectively configured conductive segments and said connector receptacle'"'"'s mating contacts and, therefrom, transferred selectively among each of the one or more selected devices that are electrically accessible to the plug and receptacle.

24. The connector assembly of claim 23, wherein the connector assembly is reconfigured for selecting a device from among interconnected devices to be inaccessible for transferring electrical signals, wherein:

said connector plug presents said insulator segment for attaching to a receptacle contact that previously attached to plug'"'"'s said opposing conductive segment, so that the receptacle contact becomes electrically inactive, thereby causing electrical signals of at least one from among the one or more interconnected devices to be inaccessible.

25. An apparatus for redirecting a transfer of electrical signals at an electrical device, comprising:

first source of electrical signals having conductors coupled to contacts accessible to a port at the electrical device;

a receptacle attached to said conductors for providing access to a second source of electrical signals, comprising self-closing contacts along at least one of said conductors for establishing a closed connection between the first source and the electrical device; and

a configurable plug for attaching the second source of electrical signals to the receptacle, comprising at least one of one or more insertable contacts having opposing conductive and insulated surfaces, each accessible to the self-closing contacts at the receptacle;

wherein a first configuration of the inserted plug causes the self-closing contacts at the receptacle to be separated so that the plug contact'"'"'s insulated surface couples to the self-closing contact directed to the first source, thereby disengaging said first source from the contacts accessible to said port at the electrical device; and

further

wherein said plug contact'"'"'s conductive surface couples to the self-closing contact directed to the electrical device, thereby engaging said second source to the contacts accessible to said port at the electrical device;

thereby redirecting a transfer of electrical signals between said second source and the electrical device, instead of said first source.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the first source is a battery and the second source is a power source, so that electrical signals for transfer between said battery and said electrical device are disengaged when said power source is attached to said receptacle, and instead said electrical signals transfer between said power source and said electrical device.

27. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein a second configuration of said configurable plug causes the self-closing contacts to be separated so that said plug'"'"'s insulated surface couples to the self-closing contact directed to the electrical device, disengaging said second source from the contacts accessible to said port at the electrical device;

and further

wherein said plug'"'"'s conductive surface couples to the self-closing contact directed to the first source, engaging said second source to said first source;

thereby redirecting a transfer of electrical signals between said second source and the first source, instead of said electrical device.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the first source is a battery and the second source is a power source, so that electrical signals for transfer between said second source and said electrical device are disengaged when said power source is attached to said receptacle, and instead said electrical signals transfer between said power source and said battery.

29. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said plug'"'"'s conductive surface couples to the self-closing contact directed to said first source as a battery, thereby electrically connecting said battery to said second source as a power source that configures its controlled output based on electrical signals transferred between said battery and said power source.

30. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein in said plug'"'"'s second configuration its conductive surface couples to the self-closing contact directed to said first source as a battery for electrically connecting said battery to said second source as a power source that configures its controlled output based on electrical signals transferred between said battery and said power source;

wherein after said plug is reconfigured in a first configuration so that its insulated surface couples to the self-closing contact directed to said battery; and

said plug'"'"'s conductive surface couples to the self-closing contact directed to said electrical device for directing said power source'"'"'s configured output to said electrical device;

thereby said electrical device is powered from said power source without charging said battery.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein a device for controlling the direction of electrical flow is strapped across the conductors coupled to the self-closing contacts, directing said electrical flow only toward said battery;

thereby eliminating said first plug configuring.

32. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein said power source is embedded in a transportation vehicle and said battery is for powering a mobile computing device.

33. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein said power source is an external power-conversion module and said battery is for powering a mobile computing device.

34. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said transferred electrical signals are analog or digital.

35. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein upon said plug is reconfigured so that its conductive surface couples to the self-closing contact directed to said electrical device, thereby directing said power source'"'"'s configured output to said electrical device.

36. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said receptacle is installed in a battery housing.

37. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said receptacle is installed in an accessible area of said electrical device, replacing a power-input jack.

38. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said electrical signals for transfer are analog or digital.

39. A connector assembly for transfer of electrical signals among one or more selected devices, said connector assembly comprising:

a configurable connector plug comprising a flat conductive surface aligned longitudinally with a flat insulator surface on opposing faces of the plug so that each surface engages one of a pair of pre-tensioned opposed contacts at a receptacle;

said plug further including an elongated isolated contact centrally positioned between said insulator and conductive surfaces, said isolated contact and conductive surface being accessible by conductors to a first selected device for transferring electrical signals;

a connector receptacle interposed along a first conductor electrically coupling a second and third selected device, said receptacle having a pair of opposing spring-loaded beams, each with a pre-tensioned contact electrically engaged to the other, so that a first pre-tensioned contact accesses the second selected device, and a second pre-tensioned contact accesses the third selected device; and

the receptacle further including at least a third isolated contact interposed along a second conductor that electrically couples the second and third devices,

whereby mating the connector plug to the receptacle opens the first pre-tensioned contact to engage said plug'"'"'s insulator surface, thereby electrically isolating said second selected device from said third selected device and, further,

whereby said mating opens the second pre-tensioned contact to selectively engage said plug'"'"'s conductive surface and the isolated contact of said plug engages said receptacle'"'"'s third isolated contact, thereby electrically coupling said first device to said third device,

so that electrical signals are no longer transferred between said second and third selected devices but, instead, are now transferred between said first and third devices.

40. The connector assembly of claim 39, wherein said electrical signals are power signals and a device for controlling the direction of electrical flow is strapped across the receptacle'"'"'s opposing beams, so that power signals are capable of flowing outward from said second device to said first pre-tensioned contact;

and

thereby said power signals are accessible to both said first and third selected devices.

41. The connector assembly of claim 39, wherein a reconfigured connector plug is mated to said receptacle so as to open the engaged contacts of the opposing beams, so that said second pre-tensioned contact selectively engages said plug'"'"'s insulator area and, thereby, electrically isolates said third selected device;

and further,

said first pre-tensioned contact selectively engages said plug'"'"'s conductive surface and, thereby, partially couples said first selected device to said second selected device; and

further

the isolated contact of said plug engages said receptacle'"'"'s third isolated contact, thereby fully coupling said first selected device to said second selected device, so that electrical signals are no longer transferred between said first and third selected devices and, instead, one or more electrical signals are now transferred between said first selected device and said second selected device.

42. An apparatus for redirecting a transfer of electrical signals at an electrical device, comprising:

a first source of electrical signals having conductors electrically coupled to contacts accessible to a port at said electrical device;

a receptacle attached to said conductors for providing access to a second source of electrical signals, comprising self-closing contacts along at least one of said conductors for establishing a closed connection between the first source and the electrical device;

further including

a device for controlling the direction of electrical flow strapped across the conductors to the self-closing contacts for providing access to electrical signals directed only from said first source; and

a plug for attaching said second source of electrical signals to the receptacle, comprising at least one of one or more insertable contacts having opposing conductive and insulated surfaces, each accessible to the self-closing contacts at the receptacle;

wherein the plug'"'"'s at least one insertable contact opens the receptacle'"'"'s self-closing contacts, so the plug contacts insulated surface couples to the self-closing contact along the conductor directed to the first source, disengaging said first source from the contacts accessible to said port at the electrical device; and

further

wherein said plug contact'"'"'s conductive surface couples to the self-closing contact along the conductor directed to the electrical device, engaging said second source to the contacts accessible to said port at the electrical device;

thereby redirecting a transfer of electrical signals between said second source and the electrical device, instead of said first source, while said device for controlling the direction of electrical flow provides said second source and the electrical device access to electrical signals from said first source.