Power socket module and plug

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11056822-B2
Application number	US-201916519805-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 23, 2019
Priority date	Jul 23, 2019
Publication date	Jul 6, 2021
Grant date	Jul 6, 2021

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing power includes a power socket module having a first conducting layer and a second conducting layer. An insulating layer may be positioned in between the first and second conducting layers. A plug includes a first prong having a first length and second prong having a second length, where the first length is longer than the second length. When the plug is plugged into the power socket module, the first prong electrically couples to the second conducting layer, and the second prong electrically couples to the first conducting layer.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of providing power, the method comprising:
providing a power socket module including:
a first conducting layer;
a second conducting layer; and
a first insulating layer positioned in between the first and second conducting layers; and

providing a plug that includes an enclosure, a first prong having a first length, a second prong having a second length, a first wire coupled to the first prong, and a second wire coupled to the second prong, wherein the first length is longer than the second length, wherein the enclosure houses a portion of the first prong, a portion of the second prong, a portion of the first wire, and a portion of the second wire, and wherein the first and second wires extend out of the enclosure to couple to an appliance and
wherein when the plug is plugged into the power socket module, the first prong electrically couples to the second conducting layer, and the second prong electrically couples to the first conducting layer, and wherein a thickness of at least one of the first conducting layer and first insulating layer is based on at least one of: power supplied to the first conducting layer, a conductivity of the first conducting layer, or a conductivity of either prong of the plug.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein a second insulating layer is positioned on a side of the first conducting layer that is opposite a second side of the first conducting layer facing the second conducting layer.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein a third insulating layer is positioned on a side of the second conducting layer that is opposite a second side of the second conducting layer facing the first insulating layer.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising using the first prong to penetrate the first conducting layer, the first insulating layer, and the second conducting layer.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising constructing at least one of the first conducting layer, the first insulating layer, and the second conducting layer from a material that is resilient to puncturing.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising electrically coupling a second power socket module to the power socket module.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising mechanically attaching a second power socket module to the power socket module.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the power socket module is flexible.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the thickness of at least one of the first conducting layer and first insulating layer is further based on an exposed dimension of either prong of the plug.

10. An apparatus, comprising:
a plug casing;
a first prong having a first length extending from the plug case in a first direction;
a second prong having a second length extending from the plug case in the first direction, wherein the first length is longer than the second length;
a first wire coupled to the first prong; and
a second wire coupled to the second prong, wherein the casing houses a portion of the first prong, a portion of the second prong, a portion of the first wire, and a portion of the second wire, and wherein the first and second wires extend out of the casing to couple to an appliance,
wherein when the first prong electrically couples to a first conducting layer, and the second prong electrically couples to a second conducting layer, wherein a first insulating layer is positioned between the first and second conducting layers, and wherein a thickness of at least one of the first conducting layer and first insulating layer is based on at least one of: power supplied to the first conducting layer, a conductivity of the first conducting layer, or a conductivity of either prong.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein a portion of the first prong of the plug includes an insulating covering.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the insulating covering encircles the portion of the first prong.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the first prong penetrates the first conducting layer.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the first prong penetrates the second conducting layer.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the first prong penetrates an insulating layer positioned between the first and second conducting layers.

16. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the second prong does not penetrate the second conducting layer.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the second prong penetrates the first conducting layer.

18. An apparatus comprising:
a first insulating layer;
a first conducting layer positioned below the first insulating layer;
a second insulating layer positioned below the first conducting layer;
a second conducting layer positioned below the first insulating layer; and
a third insulating layer positioned below the second conducting layer,
wherein at least the first and second conducting layers, and the first and second insulating layers are penetrable by prongs of a plug, the plug comprises an enclosure, a first prong having a first length, a second prong having a second length, a first wire coupled to the first prong, and a second wire coupled to the second prong, wherein the first length is longer than the second length, wherein the enclosure houses a portion of the first prong, a portion of the second prong, a portion of the first wire, and a portion of the second wire, wherein the first and second wires extend out of the enclosure to couple to an appliance, wherein the first prong electrically couples to the second conducting layer and the second prong electrically couples to the first conducting layer, and wherein a thickness of at least one of the first conducting layer and first insulating layer is based on at least one of: power supplied to the first conducting layer, a conductivity of the first conducting layer, or a conductivity of either prong of the plug.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein at least one of the first conducting layer, the first insulating layer, the second conducting layer, the second insulating layer, and the third insulating layer are constructed from a material that is resilient to punctures.

20. The apparatus of claim 18 , further comprising electrically coupling a power socket module to the first and second conducting layers.

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Wang Jian
• Li Jing
• Jiang Jian Min
• Wang Ke
• Huang Zi Ming

Classifications

• H01R13/04 Primary

  Pins or blades for co-operation with sockets · CPC title

• H01R13/10

  Sockets for co-operation with pins or blades · CPC title

• H01R13/514 Primary

  composed as a modular blocks or assembly, i.e. composed of co-operating parts provided with contact members or holding contact members between them · CPC title

• H01R11/07

  the connecting locations being of the same type but different sizes · CPC title

• H01R13/111

  co-operating with pins having a circular transverse section · CPC title