Patent · US Active

Detecting a proper connection

US9915695B2 · kind B2 · utility

2Cited by
6References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 1, 2014
Grant dateMar 13, 2018
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 21, 2036

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01R29/00
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Examples provided herein describe a female connector in a computing device that includes a plurality of sensors for determining if a male connector has established a proper connection with the female connector. To do so, in one example, each of the sensors is coupled to an actuator that protrudes into an aperture defined by an inner surface of the female connector. As the male connector is inserted into this aperture, the actuators are pressed down which activates the sensors. Furthermore, the actuators are arranged such that a first actuator is deeper within the aperture than a second actuator. Thus, if the male connector pressed down the first actuator but not the second, a computing device can determine that only a partially connection was made. By using at least two actuators arranged at different depths in the aperture, the computing device is able to detect a proper or improper connection.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.