Electrical current connector

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11226378-B2
Application number	US-202016879809-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 21, 2020
Priority date	Oct 12, 2017
Publication date	Jan 18, 2022
Grant date	Jan 18, 2022

Abstract

Various embodiments are described that relate an electrical current connector. The electrical current connector can be configured to provide electrical current when pressure is applied to a prong set. This pressure can cause a contact to engage with a connector. This can complete a circuit that allows the electrical current to flow. The connector can be coupled to a cable that can be configured to transfer data along with the electrical current. The cable can have an inner portion that transfers the data while an outer portion that surrounds the inner portion transfers the current.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A cable, comprising:
an inner conduit configured to transfer a data to an apparatus;
an outer conduit configured to transfer an electrical current to the apparatus, the outer conduit encompasses the inner conduit; and
a connector where the inner conduit and outer conduit terminate at one end,
the connector comprising an electrical prong,
the connector comprising a plunger physically coupled to the electrical prong,
the connector comprising a spring physically coupled to the plunger coupled to the electrical prong,
the connector comprising a electrical contact physically coupled to the plunger coupled to the electrical prong, and
the connector comprising a current source connector portion;
where the spring is set at a force level such that when at rest the electrical contact does not touch the current source connector portion,
where when the prong engages with an electrical receptor, the electrical prong experiences a pressure,
where the pressure is transferred to the plunger,
where the pressure causes the plunger to move the spring to overcome the force level,
where when the spring overcomes the force level, the electrical contact touches the current source connector portion,
where when the electrical contact touches the current source connector portion, the electrical prong is energized.

2. The cable of claim 1 ,
where when the electrical contact touches the current source connector portion, the electrical current transmits along the outer conduit and
where the electrical current is transmitted concurrently with the data.

3. The cable of claim 1 , where when the electrical contact stops touching the current source connector portion after touching the current source connector portion, the electrical current stops transmission along the outer conduit.

4. The cable of claim 1 , the connector comprising:
a data prong;
a second plunger physically coupled to the data prong;
a second spring physically coupled to the second plunger coupled to the data prong;
a data contact physically coupled to the second plunger coupled to the data prong; and
a data source connector portion;
where the second spring is set at a second force level such that when at rest the data contact does not touch the data source connector portion,
where when the data prong engages with a data receptor, the data prong experiences a second pressure,
where the second pressure is transferred to the second plunger,
where the second pressure causes the second plunger to move the second spring to overcome the second force level,
where when the second pressure meets a second threshold, the data contact touches the data source connector portion,
where when the data contact touches the data source connector portion, the data prong communicates the data.

5. The cable of claim 4 ,
where when the second threshold is no longer met after being met, the data stops being communicated along the inner conduit.

6. The cable of claim 4 , where the data prong is configured to communicate the data when the electrical contact does not touch the current source connector portion and therefore the electrical prong is not energized.

7. The cable of claim 4 , where the electrical prong is configured to be energized when the data contact does not touch the data source connector portion and therefore the data prong does not communicate the data.

8. The cable of claim 1 , where the inner conduit is configured to:
transmit the data while the outer conduit transmits the electrical current,
receive the data while the outer conduit receives the electrical current,
transmit the data while the outer conduit receives the electrical current and
receive the data while the outer conduit transmits the electrical current.

9. A cable, comprising:
an inner conduit configured to transfer a data to an apparatus; and
an outer conduit configured to transfer an electrical current to the apparatus,
an electrical prong;
a first plunger physically coupled to the electrical prong;
a first spring physically coupled to the first plunger coupled to the electrical prong;
an electrical contact physically coupled to the first plunger coupled to the electrical prong; and
a current source connector coupled to the outer conduit;
a data prong;
a second plunger physically coupled to the data prong;
a second spring physically coupled to the second plunger coupled to the data prong;
a data contact physically coupled to the second plunger coupled to the data prong; and
a data source connector coupled to the inner conduit;
where the first spring is set at a first force level such that when at rest the electrical contact does not touch the current source connector,
where when the electrical prong engages with an electrical receptor, the electrical prong experiences a pressure,
where the pressure is transferred to the first plunger,
where the pressure causes the first plunger to move the first spring to overcome the force level,
where when the first spring overcomes the first force level, the electrical contact touches the current source connector,
where when the electrical contact touches the current source connector, the electrical prong is energized
where the second spring is set at a second force level such that when at rest the data contact does not touch the data source connector,
where when the data prong engages with a data receptor, the data prong experiences a second pressure,
where the second pressure is transferred to the second plunger,
where the second pressure causes the second plunger to move the second spring to overcome the second force level,
where when the second pressure meets a second threshold, the data contact touches the data source connector,
where when the data contact touches the data source connector, the data prong communicates the data,
where inner conduit is configured to transmit the data while the outer conduit transmits the electrical current,
where inner conduit is configured to receive the data while the outer conduit receives the electrical current,
where inner conduit is configured to transmit the data while the outer conduit receives the electrical current and
where inner conduit is configured to receive the data while the outer conduit transmits the electrical current, and
where the outer conduit encompasses the inner conduit.

10. The cable of claim 9 ,
where the data prong is configured to communicate the data when the electrical contact does not touch the current source connector and therefore the electrical prong is not energized.

11. The cable of claim 9 ,
where the electrical prong is configured to be energized when the data contact does not touch the data source connector and therefore the data prong does not communicate the data.

12. The cable of claim 9 ,
where the data contact is configured to no longer touch the data source connector in response to the second threshold not being met after being met.

13. A cable configured to connect a first apparatus and a second apparatus, the cable comprising:
an outer conduit configured to receiving an electrical current from the first apparatus and transfer the electrical current to the second apparatus; and
an inner conduit configured to transfer a first data to from the second apparatus to the first apparatus after the second apparatus employs the electrical current transferred by the outer conduit to power itself and configured to transfer a second data from the first apparatus to the second apparatus;
an electrical prong upon which the electrical current traverses;
a data prong upon which the first data and the second data traverses;
a fir

Assignees

• Us Gov Sec Army

Inventors

• Podlesak Thomas
• Gonzalez Michael

Classifications

• H01R13/641

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

• G01R31/50 Primary

  Testing of electric apparatus, lines, cables or components for short-circuits, continuity, leakage current or incorrect line connections (testing of sparking plugs H01T13/58) · CPC title

• H01R13/193

  Means for increasing contact pressure at the end of engagement of coupling part {, e.g. zero insertion force or no friction} · CPC title

• H01R13/6683

  with built-in sensor · CPC title

• H01R13/7038

  making use of a remote controlled switch, e.g. relais, solid state switch activated by the engagement of the coupling parts · CPC title