Female connector, connector module having the female connector and electronic device having the connector module

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10290978-B2
Application number	US-201715634571-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 27, 2017
Priority date	Jul 8, 2016
Publication date	May 14, 2019
Grant date	May 14, 2019

Abstract

A female connector capable of easily confirming whether or not a male connector is connected thereto, a connector module having the male connector, and an electronic device having the connector module are disclosed. The female connector comprises a connector body, a first terminal engagement pin and a second terminal engagement pin. The first terminal engagement pin is disposed inside the connector body and capable of receiving an input signal from a connection terminal of a male connector when the connection terminal is in contact therewith. The second terminal engaging pin is disposed inside the connector body to be spaced apart from the first terminal engaging pin. The first and second terminal engagement pins are electrically connected with each other through the connection terminal when the connection terminal is inserted and coupled between the first and second terminal engagement pins.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electrical connector module comprising:
a female connector comprising a connector body, a first terminal engagement pin disposed inside the connector body and capable of receiving an input signal from a connection terminal of a male connector when the connection terminal is in contact therewith, and a second terminal engaging pin disposed inside the connector body to be spaced apart from the first terminal engaging pin, wherein the first and second terminal engagement pins are electrically connected with each other through the connection terminal when the connection terminal is inserted and coupled between the first and second terminal engagement pins; and
a connector circuit electrically connected to each of the first and second terminal engagement pins,
wherein a first voltage is formed on the second terminal engagement pin when the second terminal engagement pin is not electrically connected to the first terminal engagement pin, and
a second voltage different from the first voltage is formed in the second terminal engagement pin when the second terminal engagement pin is electrically connected to the first terminal engagement pin through the connection terminal,
wherein the connector circuit further comprises:
a signal receiving unit electrically connected to the first terminal engagement pin to receive the input signal from the first terminal engagement pin;
a power supply unit for providing a DC voltage;
a resistor unit electrically connecting the second terminal engagement pin and the power supply unit; and
a ground unit being electrically connected to and providing a ground voltage to the first terminal engagement pin.

2. The electrical connector module of claim 1 , wherein the connector circuit further comprises
an inductor unit electrically connecting the first terminal engagement pin and the ground unit.

3. The electrical connector module of claim 2 , wherein the first voltage is a high level voltage, and the second voltage is a voltage of a low level.

4. An electronic device comprising:
a connector module comprising:
a female connector comprising a connector body, a first terminal engagement pin disposed inside the connector body and capable of receiving an input signal from a connection terminal of a male connector when the connection terminal is in contact therewith, and a second terminal engaging pin disposed inside the connector body to be spaced apart from the first terminal engaging pin, wherein the first and second terminal engagement pins are electrically connected with each other through the connection terminal when the connection terminal is inserted and coupled between the first and second terminal engagement pins; and
a connector circuit electrically connected to each of the first and second terminal engagement pins; and

a signal processing module electrically connected to the connector circuit to receive the input signal to process a signal, the signal processing unit being capable of indicating whether or not the female connector is connected to the male connector,
wherein the signal processing module further comprises:
a voltage sensing unit electrically connected to the connector circuit to sense a voltage formed on the second terminal engagement pin, and to output a control signal depending on whether or not the female connector is connected to the male connector in response to the sensed voltage;
an indicating unit capable of outputting light; and
a signal processing unit capable of processing a signal in response to the input signal provided from the connector circuit and controlling the indicating unit to indicate whether or not the female connector is connected to the male connector in response to the control signal provided from the voltage sensing unit.

5. The electronic device of claim 4 , wherein the indicating unit comprises a display device controlled by the signal processing unit and capable of displaying an image according to the input signal or indicating whether or not the female connector is connected to the male connector according to the control signal.

6. The electronic device of claim 4 , wherein, a first voltage is formed on the second terminal engagement pin when the second terminal engagement pin is not electrically connected to the first terminal engagement pin, and
a second voltage different from the first voltage is formed on the second terminal engagement pin when the second terminal engagement pin is electrically connected to the first terminal engagement pin through the connection terminal.

7. The electronic device of claim 6 , wherein the connector circuit comprises:
a signal receiving unit electrically connected to the first terminal engagement pin to receive the input signal from the first terminal engagement pin;
a power supply unit for providing a DC voltage;
a resistor unit electrically connecting the second terminal engagement pin and the power supply unit; and
a ground unit being electrically connected to and providing a ground voltage to the first terminal engagement pin.

8. The electronic device of claim 6 , wherein the connector circuit comprises:
a signal receiving unit electrically connected to the first terminal engagement pin to receive the input signal from the first terminal engagement pin;
a ground unit providing a ground voltage;
a resistor unit electrically connecting the second terminal engagement pin and the ground unit; and
a power supply unit being electrically connected to and providing a DC voltage to the first terminal engagement pin.

Assignees

• Solum Co Ltd

Inventors

• Park Jong Sik
• Jang Dae Hyun
• Seo Chang Min

Classifications

• H01R13/6633

  with inductive component, e.g. transformer · CPC title

• H01R2103/00

  Two poles · CPC title

• H01R13/641 Primary

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

• H01R2101/00

  One pole · CPC title

• H01R24/46

  comprising switches · CPC title