Pogo pin connector

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12374843-B2
Application number	US-202418656231-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 6, 2024
Priority date	Feb 6, 2015
Publication date	Jul 29, 2025
Grant date	Jul 29, 2025

Abstract

Various connector and sensor assemblies are described. In some embodiments, the connector and sensor assembly comprises a connector and a sensor assembly. The connector can have an opening that has a first surface and second surface that are opposite each other. The connector can have a plurality of retractable electrical connectors that extend from the first surface and a lock structure that is located on the second surface. The sensor assembly is comprised of a body portion and a proximal end. The proximal end has a top side and a bottom side. The top side includes a plurality of electrical contacts that is configured to interact with the plurality of retractable electrical connectors. The bottom side includes a key structure that is configured to interact with the lock structure in the connector.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A connector and sensor assembly, the assembly including:
a connector including:
an opening with an internal surface, wherein a bottom side of the inner surface comprises a detent and a receptor, wherein the detent forms a groove on the bottom side of the internal surface, and
a plurality of retractable electrical connectors extending downward from a top side of the internal surface; and

a sensor assembly including a sensor tab, a top side of the sensor tab including a plurality of electrical contacts, a bottom side of the sensor tab including a key detent and a key receptor, wherein the key receptor includes a raised structure,
wherein the sensor tab of the sensor assembly is configured to be removably inserted into the opening of the connector, and wherein, when inserted in a correct orientation, the key receptor is configured to engage with the receptor and engagement between the detent and the key detent is configured to provide a click feedback to indicate that the sensor tab has been correctly inserted.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the receptor only allows a sensor assembly with a corresponding key receptor to fit into the connector.

3. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sensor assembly further comprises a body portion coupled to the sensor tab at a first end of the body portion, the body portion configured to be held by a user during insertion of the sensor tab into the connector.

4. The assembly of claim 3 , wherein a top surface of the body portion is concave.

5. The assembly of claim 3 , wherein a second end of the body portion opposite the first end comprises an opening configured to receive a sensor.

6. The assembly of claim 5 , wherein a height of the body portion is greater at the first end than at the second end.

7. The assembly of claim 3 , wherein a top surface of the connector includes a first color indicator and a top surface of the body portion of the sensor assembly include a second color indicator, wherein the first color indicator and second color indicator match each other.

8. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of retractable electrical connectors are arranged in a staggered spatial configuration that spans a plurality of rows on the internal surface.

9. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of electrical contacts includes an electrical contact that serves as a grounding line.

10. The assembly of claim 9 , wherein at least one of the plurality of retractable electrical connectors is configured to contact the electrical contact that serves as the grounding line before electrical connection is established between a remainder of the plurality of retractable electrical connectors and a remainder of the plurality of electrical contacts.

11. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of electrical contacts are arranged in a staggered configuration.

12. The assembly of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of electrical contacts are arranged into a first row of electrical contacts, a second row of electrical contacts, and a third row of electrical contacts.

13. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the top surface of the sensor tab further comprises a first protrusion and a second protrusion.

14. The assembly of claim 13 , wherein the first protrusion and the second protrusion extend from a free end of the sensor tab toward a body portion of the sensor assembly connected to the sensor tab.

15. The assembly of claim 13 , wherein the first protrusion and the second protrusion are on opposite sides of the plurality of electrical contacts.

16. The assembly of claim 15 , wherein the first protrusion and the second protrusions are along opposite edges of the sensor tab across a width of the sensor tab.

17. The assembly of claim 13 , wherein a height of the first protrusion and the second protrusion ensures that the sensor tab is inserted through the opening at a distance from a top side of the opening.

18. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of retractable electrical connectors are pogo pins.

19. A connector and sensor assembly, the assembly including:
a connector including:
an opening with an internal surface, wherein a bottom side of the inner surface comprises a detent and a receptor, and
a plurality of retractable electrical connectors extending downward from a top side of the internal surface; and

a sensor assembly including a sensor tab, a top side of the sensor tab including a plurality of electrical contacts, a bottom side of the sensor tab including a key detent and a key receptor, wherein the key receptor includes a raised structure,
wherein the sensor tab of the sensor assembly is configured to be removably inserted into the opening of the connector, and wherein, when inserted in a correct orientation, the key receptor is configured to engage with the receptor and engagement between the detent and the key detent is configured to provide a click feedback to indicate that the sensor tab has been correctly inserted,
wherein the plurality of electrical contacts includes an electrical contact that serves as a grounding line and wherein at least one of the plurality of retractable electrical connectors is configured to contact the electrical contact that serves as the grounding line before electrical connection is established between a remainder of the plurality of retractable electrical connectors and a remainder of the plurality of electrical contacts.

20. The assembly of claim 19 , wherein the plurality of electrical contacts are arranged in a staggered configuration.

Assignees

• Masimo Corp

Inventors

• Scruggs Stephen
• Al-Ali Ammar
• Schmidt John
• Abdul-Hafiz Yassir Kamel
• Triman Benjamin C
• Macneish Iii William Jack

Classifications

• H01R13/652

  with earth pin, blade or socket · CPC title

• H01R13/641

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

• H01R13/64

  Means for preventing incorrect coupling · CPC title

• H01R13/6271

  Latching means integral with the housing (H01R13/6276, H01R13/6277, H01R13/6278 take precedence) · CPC title

• H01R13/2421

  using coil springs · CPC title