Electronic device including connectors and method of operating the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10145888-B2
Application number	US-201615045831-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 17, 2016
Priority date	Feb 17, 2015
Publication date	Dec 4, 2018
Grant date	Dec 4, 2018

Abstract

An electronic device is provided. The device includes a first connector configured to couple with a second connector and including a plurality of contacts separated from each other, and a processor configured to detect an incomplete connection between the first connector and the second connector when an electric current does not flow through at least one of the contacts.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic device comprising:
a printed circuit board (PCB) including a processor;
a display and a display circuit board for controlling an image output via the display under control of the processor, the display circuit board being disposed between the display and the PCB;
a first connector electrically connected to the PCB and comprising a plurality of first contacts; and
a second connector electrically connected to the display circuit board and comprising a plurality of second contacts,
wherein the processor is configured to detect an incomplete connection between the first connector and the second connector when an electric current does not flow between at least one preset contact of the first contacts and at least one preset contact of the second contacts.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one preset contact of the first contacts is disposed relatively outwards or relatively inwards among the first contacts.

3. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of first contacts are arranged in a row.

4. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one preset contact of the first contacts is different from the other contacts in a shape.

5. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one preset contact of the first contacts does not relatively protrude when compared with the other contacts, in a direction of coupling the first connector to the second connector.

6. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein, when a connection distance at one or more joints between the first connector and the second connector is greater than a reference distance, an electric current does not flow between the at least one preset contact of the first contacts and the preset contact of the second contacts.

7. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the first connector is electrically mounted on the PCB.

8. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a bracket disposed between the display circuit board and the PCB,
wherein the first connector and the second connector are connected through a through hole of the bracket.

9. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to detect no electric current flow between the at least one preset contact of the first contacts and the at least one preset contact of the second contacts based on a circuit comprising a pull-up resistor.

10. The electronic device of claim 1 ,
wherein the processor is further configured to notify the incomplete connection between the first connector and the second connector through the display.

11. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the first connector comprises a socket connector and the second connector comprises a header connector.

12. A method for operating an electronic device including a printed circuit board (PCB) including a processor, a display and a display circuit board for controlling an image output via the display under control of the processor, the display circuit board being disposed between the display and the PCB, a first connector electrically connected to the PCB and comprising a plurality of first contacts, and a second connector electrically connected to the display circuit board and comprising a plurality of second contacts, the method comprising:
detecting, by the processor, an incomplete connection between the first connector and the second connector when an electric current does not flow between at least one preset contact of the first contacts and at least one preset contact of the second contacts.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
notifying, by the processor, the incomplete connection between the first connector and the second connector through the display.

14. The method of claim 12 ,
wherein the electronic device further includes a bracket disposed between the display circuit board and the PCB, and
wherein the first connector and the second connector are connected through a through hole of the bracket.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first connector comprises a socket connector and the second connector comprises a header connector.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• An Jungchul
• Kang Dohee
• Sim Hyun-Woo

Classifications

• G01R31/68 Primary

  Testing of releasable connections, e.g. of terminals mounted on a printed circuit board · CPC title

• H01R12/716

  Coupling device provided on the PCB · CPC title

• H01R13/641 Primary

  by indicating incorrect coupling; by indicating correct or full engagement · CPC title

• G01R31/66

  Testing of connections, e.g. of plugs or non-disconnectable joints (testing for incorrect line connections G01R31/55) · CPC title

• G01R19/15

  Indicating the presence of current · CPC title