Positionable-connect apparatus for electrically coupling selected electrical devices

• US 6,945,803 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2003
• Issued: 09/20/2005
• 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): HYEON, HAE M
• Application Number:
  US10/401,637
• Publication Number:
  US 20030186592A1
• Time in Patent Office: 908 Days
• Field of Search: 439/218, 439/668, 439/669, 439221-224
• 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: 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: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A connector apparatus for a power and/or data interface, comprised of a connector assembly (220 in FIG. 6) which has a positionable plug (217A) with conductors (219A-D), and an insulated shaft (243) that engages a receptacle (257) having conductors (263A and B, 261A and B, 259A and B, 265A and B), and related elements (245, 245A, and 219E-G) that redirect electrical signals upon insertion and rotation of the plug. Redirecting electrical signals enables host devices, power sources, and peripherals—such as a host device (321 in FIG. 7A), its battery source (299), as well as one or more attachable peripherals (309, 310, and 311)—to signal transfers in ways they could not without such an apparatus. By locating a connector apparatus (220) in replaceable modules, such as battery packs (299), 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 devices, sources, or peripherals, said connector assembly comprising:

a selectively positionable connector plug comprising an insulator shaft having one or more conductive contact pads arranged longitudinally thereon so as to expose one or more insulated areas thereof; and

a connector receptacle for receiving said connector plug, said receptacle comprising one or more spring-loaded opposing conductive contacts located so as to selectively engage said one or more contact pads or insulated areas of said positionable plug;

wherein, mating said plug and receptacle in at least one selectable position of the connector plug aligns at least one of said exposed insulated areas of said shaft with at least one of said receptacle'"'"'s conductive contacts for selectively engaging at least one of said insulated areas with at least one conductive contact, and at least one of said contact pads 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 devices, 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 form at least a first closed circuit;

and said positioning of said connector plug aligns at least one of said one or more selectively insulated areas to engage at least one of said receptacle'"'"'s conductive contacts for disrupting said first closed circuit.

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

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

4. The connector assembly of claim 3, wherein said selected source is a power source and said selected peripheral is for monitoring said power source.

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

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

6. The connector assembly of claim 5, wherein said selected device is an electrical device for receiving power and said selected peripheral is a configurable power supply.

7. The connector assembly of claim 2, wherein a selecting of a second position of said positionable connector plug also aligns at least one of said one or more conductive contact pads with at least one of said receptacle'"'"'s one or more conductive contacts for selectively engaging at least one of said contact pads with at least one conductive contact;

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

8. The connector assembly of claim 7, wherein said selected device is an electrical device for receiving power and said selected peripheral is a configurable power supply.

9. 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.

10. The connector assembly of claim 2, wherein a selecting of a second position of said positionable connector plug aligns at least one of said one or more conductive contact pads with at least one of said receptacle'"'"'s one or more conductive contacts for selectively engaging at least one of said contact pads with at least one conductive contact;

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

11. The second position of claim 10, wherein said selected peripheral is a battery charger and said selected source is a rechargeable battery.

12. 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 charging source and said at least one of said plurality of selectable devices, sources or peripherals attached to said connector receptacle is a battery.

13. 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.

14. 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 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.

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

16. The connector assembly of claim 15, 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.

17. 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 selectable from among said devices, sources, or peripherals;

said receptacle including at least one of one or more pairs of 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 positionable 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 insulated shaft along which at least one conductor terminates at a contact pad located so as to attach an insulator area of the shaft to either the first opposing contact of the receptacle in a first selected position, or to the second opposing contact of the receptacle in a second selected position, either selected position thereby also electrically coupling the contact pad at the plug to the remaining non-selected opposing contact of the receptacle;

said positionable plug further having a separate conductive element so located as to electrically couple to the separate third contact of the receptacle, and

respective conductors of the conductive element of the plug for attaching at least the third device, source or peripheral;

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

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein at least one of said first or second selected positions of said connector plug causes said electrical signals to be selectively transferred between either at least one of the said first or second selectable devices, sources, or peripherals attached at said receptacle and said third selectable device, source, or peripheral attached at said plug.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said second selected device, source, or peripheral is an electrical device and said first selected device, source, or peripheral is a battery.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, 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 apparatus of claim 17, 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 position 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.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said device for controlling the flow of electrical signals further includes a bleed resistor also strapped across said spring-loaded beams for correcting a voltage signal as one of the electrical signals transferred between said first and second selected devices, sources, or peripherals.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said first selected device, source, or peripheral is a power source;

said second selected device, source, or peripheral is a battery monitoring peripheral, and said third selected device, source, or peripheral is a battery charging peripheral.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said first, second, and third selected devices, sources, or peripherals of said first position 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.

25. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the electrical signals are either analog or digital.

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

a positionable connector plug comprising an insulated shaft having one or more conductive contact pads that are selectively configured for transferring electrical signals;

the plug further comprising areas along the insulated shaft so located as to oppose at least one contact pad in an alignment that exposes both the insulated area and contact pads for attaching to selective contacts of a connector receptacle; and

the connector receptacle for receiving said connector plug comprising self-closing opposing contacts for attaching to said one or more contact pads or insulated areas of said connector plug;

wherein upon mating the connector plug at the connector receptacle, said one or more electrical signals are transferred between said connector plug'"'"'s one or more contact pads and said connector receptacle'"'"'s opposing contacts and, therefrom, transferred selectively among each of the one or more selected devices, sources, or peripherals along conductors that are electrically attached to the plug'"'"'s contact pads and the receptacle'"'"'s opposing contacts.

27. The connector assembly of claim 26, wherein the connector plug is positioned for selecting a device, source, or peripheral from among interconnected devices, sources, or peripherals to be inaccessible for transferring electrical signals, wherein said connector plug presents said insulated area for attaching to a receptacle contact that previously engaged said opposing contact pad, 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.

28. An apparatus for redirecting a transfer of electrical signals among selectable electrical devices, sources, or peripherals, comprising:

a 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;

a positionable plug for attaching the second source of electrical signals to the receptacle, comprising an insulated shaft along which are arranged one or more conductive contact pads so that at least one contact pad or exposed insulated area is accessible the receptacle'"'"'s self-closing contacts, as determined by the position of the mated plug; and

at least one of one or more elements for controlling the direction of electrical flow strapped across conductors accessible to said first source, for providing access to electrical signals directed only from said first source;

wherein said plug separates the self-closing contacts at the receptacle, thereby disengaging said first source from the contacts accessible to said port at the electrical device and a first position of said plug couples a first contact pad to the self-losing contact along the conductor directed to the first source, and further;

wherein said plug'"'"'s contact pad engages the self-closing contact of the receptacle directed to the first source, thereby electrically coupling said second source to the contacts accessible to said port at the first source;

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

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the first source is a battery and the second source is an attachable 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.

30. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein a second position of said plug causes the self-closing contacts at the receptacle to be separated, so that said insulated area 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 contact pad couples to the self-closing contact directed to said first source, engaging said second source to said first source;

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

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the first source is a battery and the second source is an attachable 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.

32. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein said plug'"'"'s contact pad couples to the self-closing contact directed to said first source as a battery, thereby electrically connecting said battery to said second source as an attachable power source that configures its controlled output based on electrical signals transferred between said battery and said power source.

33. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the second position of said plug couples its contact pad to the self-closing contact at the receptacle directed to said first source as a battery for electrically connecting said battery to said second source as an attachable power supply 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 position so that its insulated area couples to the self-closing contact directed to said battery; and

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

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

34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein said power supply is embedded in a transportation vehicle and said battery is for powering a mobile computing device.

35. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein said transferred electrical signals are analog or digital.

36. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein said receptacle is installed in a battery housing.

37. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein said receptacle is installed in an accessible area of said electrical device, replacing a power-input jack.

38. A connector assembly for transfer of electrical signals among one or more selected devices, sources, or peripherals, comprising:

at least one of one or more peripherals selected from among selectable devices, sources, or peripherals attached to a positionable connector plug comprising an insulated shaft encapsulating at least two conductors, each terminating to at least one of one or more contact pads aligned longitudinally along opposing faces of the plug, so positioned that either the contact pads or an insulated area of the shaft engages each contact of a plurality of pre-tensioned opposed pairs of thereof at a connector receptacle;

the connector receptacle interposed along at least two conductors electrically coupling at least one of one or more sources selected from among the selectable devices, sources, or peripherals and at least one of one or more devices selected from among the selectable devices, sources, or peripherals each conductor terminating in the contact of each of the opposing pre-tensioned pairs; and

one or more elements for controlling the direction of flow of a signal along at least one of said conductors, for transferring electrical signals only in a direction from a the selected source to the selected peripheral;

whereby mating the connector plug to the receptacle in a first position opens the pre-tensioned contacts so that at least one contact engages said plug'"'"'s insulator area, thereby electrically isolating said source from said device and, further;

whereby an axial rotation of said plug to a second position causes said contact pads to engage said pre-tensioned contacts, for electrically coupling the selected source and device to the selected peripheral;

so that electrical signals are no longer transferred between said source and device but, instead, the signals from the source to the peripheral, and signals between the peripheral and device are also transferred.