Detecting device and detecting method for detecting a usage state of a socket

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9885679-B2
Application number	US-201615186398-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 17, 2016
Priority date	Apr 15, 2016
Publication date	Feb 6, 2018
Grant date	Feb 6, 2018

Abstract

A detecting device for detecting a usage state of a socket includes a carrier, a movable assembly and a conductivity detecting module. The carrier has a first plug hole and a second plug hole. The movable assembly is movably disposed in the carrier. The conductivity detecting module is disposed on the carrier. The movable assembly is moved for exposing the first plug hole and the second plug hole by an external pushing force, and a detecting signal of the socket in-use is generated by the conductivity detecting module according to movement of the movable assembly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A detecting device for detecting a usage state of a socket, comprising:
a carrier having a first plug hole and a second plug hole;
a movable assembly movably disposed in the carrier; and
a conductivity detecting module disposed on the carrier;
wherein the movable assembly is moved for exposing the first plug hole and the second plug hole by an external pushing force, and a detecting signal of the socket in-use is generated by the conductivity detecting module according to movement of the movable assembly.

2. The detecting device for detecting a usage state of a socket according to claim 1 , wherein the movable assembly includes a movable member movably disposed in the carrier and a connecting element mated with the movable member, and the movable member is moved for exposing the first plug hole and the second plug hole by the external pushing force, and a detecting signal of the socket in-use is generated by the conductivity detecting module according to movement of the movable member.

3. The detecting device for detecting a usage state of a socket according to claim 1 , wherein the conductivity detecting module is disposed in a mounting hole on the carrier, and the conductivity detecting module further includes a circuit substrate and at least one conductive pad disposed on the circuit substrate.

4. The detecting device for detecting a usage state of a socket according to claim 3 , wherein when the first plug hole and the second plug hole are exposed by the movable assembly, a conductive sheet disposed on the movable assembly is electrically connected to the conductive pad, thus the detecting signal of the socket in-use is generated by the circuit substrate.

5. The detecting device for detecting a usage state of a socket according to claim 1 , wherein the conductivity detecting module further includes a light generating unit for generating a detecting light, and a light sensing unit disposed opposite to the light generating unit for receiving the detecting light.

6. The detecting device for detecting a usage state of a socket according to claim 5 , wherein when the first plug hole and the second plug hole are exposed by the movable assembly, the detecting light generating from the light generating unit is shielded by the movable assembly, thus the detecting signal of the socket in-use is generated by the light sensing unit.

7. A detecting method for detecting a usage state of a socket, comprising the following steps:
providing the socket, the socket including a carrier, a movable assembly movably disposed in the carrier and a conductivity detecting module disposed on the carrier, wherein the carrier has a first plug hole and a second plug hole;
generating a detecting signal by the conductivity detecting module according to movement of the movable assembly; and
determining whether the socket is in-use or not by a processing unit according to the detecting signal generated by the conductivity detecting module.

8. The detecting method for detecting a usage state of a socket according to claim 7 , wherein the step of generating the detecting signal by the conductivity detecting module according to movement of the movable assembly further includes:
exposing the first plug hole and the second plug hole and generating a first detecting signal by the conductivity detecting module according to movement of the movable assembly by an external pushing force.

9. The detecting method for detecting a usage state of a socket according to claim 8 , wherein the step of determining whether the socket is in-use or not by the processing unit according to the detecting signal generated by the conductivity detecting module further includes:
determining the socket is in-use by the processing unit according to the first detecting signal generated by the conductivity detecting module.

10. The detecting method for detecting a usage state of a socket according to claim 7 , wherein the step of generating the detecting signal by the conductivity detecting module according to movement of the movable assembly further includes:
shielding the first plug hole and the second plug hole and generating a second detecting signal while the movable assembly has not been moved yet by an external pushing force.

11. The detecting method for detecting a usage state of a socket according to claim 10 , wherein the step of determining whether the socket is in use or not by the processing unit according to the detecting signal generated by the conductivity detecting module further includes:
determining the socket is in non-use state by the processing unit according to the second detecting signal generated by the conductivity detecting module.

Assignees

• Powertech Ind Co Ltd

Inventors

• Lee Yu Lung

Classifications

• G01R27/205

  Measuring contact resistance of connections, e.g. of earth connections · CPC title

• G01R31/69 Primary

  of terminals at the end of a cable or a wire harness; of plugs; of sockets, e.g. wall sockets or power sockets in appliances · CPC title

• G01R17/105

  for measuring impedance or resistance · CPC title

• G01R1/0408

  Test fixtures or contact fields; Connectors or connecting adaptors; Test clips; Test sockets (G01R1/067 takes precedence; mass production testing systems G01R31/59; testing of connections G01R31/66; for testing printed circuit boards G01R31/2808) · CPC title

• G01N27/045 Primary

  Circuits (measuring resistance per se G01R27/00, e.g. G01R27/22) · CPC title