System and method for utilizing smart data connectors with built in safely remove hardware functionality

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9912103-B2
Application number	US-201615091159-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 5, 2016
Priority date	Apr 5, 2016
Publication date	Mar 6, 2018
Grant date	Mar 6, 2018

Abstract

An information handling system includes a processor and receptacle module. The processor to receive a request to safely remove a hardware component coupled to the information handling system, to execute a safely remove process, and to send a latch release signal in response to the process being completed. The receptacle module including a receptacle, a latch, and a component. The latch is biased in a first position with a hook of the latch being located within a notch of the receptacle. The latch to rotate from the first position to a second position in response to a plug being inserted into the receptacle, and to snap back to the first position in response to the plug being fully inserted into the receptacle. The component to continually exert a first force on the latch to move the latch to the second position while the latch release signal is received.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
popping a latch, of a receptacle of an information handling system, out from a first position to a second position in response to a plug being inserted into the receptacle;
snap fitting the latch onto the plug in response to the plug being fully inserted into the receptacle, wherein the latch in placed in the first position when the latch is snap fitted onto the plug;
receiving a request to safely remove a hardware component coupled to the plug;
sending a first signal to illuminate a light emitting diode of the plug with a first color in response to the request to safely remove the hardware component being received, wherein the first color indicates that the plug is not ready to be removed;
executing, at a processor of the information handling system, a safely remove process for the hardware component;
sending a latch release signal to the receptacle in response to the safely remove hardware process being completed;
releasing the latch in response to the latch release signal; and
sending a second signal to illuminate the light emitting diode of the plug with a second color in response to a specific amount of time expiring after the latch release signal is sent, wherein the second color indicates that the plug is ready to be removed.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein sending the latch release signal comprises:
providing a voltage to a component coupled to the latch.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein releasing the latch comprises:
moving, by the component, the latch from the first position to the second position to cause the latch to no longer be snap fitted onto the plug.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the latch is snap fitted into a notch of the plug.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
continually sending the latch release signal until a determination is made that the plug has been removed.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the request to safely remove the hardware component is received in response to a button on the plug being pressed.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the request to safely remove a hardware component is received via a data communication port of the receptacle.

8. An information handling system comprising:
a processor to receive a request to safely remove a hardware component coupled to the information handling system, to execute a safely remove process for the hardware component, and to send a latch release signal in response to the safely remove hardware process being completed; and
a receptacle module in communication with the processor, the receptacle module including:
a receptacle circuit board;
a receptacle mounted on the receptacle circuit board, the receptacle having a first notch;
a latch in physical communication with the receptacle circuit board, the latch including a hook, wherein the latch is biased in a first position with the hook being located in first notch of the receptacle, the latch to rotate from the first position to a second position in response to a plug being inserted into the receptacle, and to snap back to the first position in response to the plug being fully inserted into the receptacle; and
a component in physical communication with the latch, the component to receive the latch release signal from the processor, and to continually exert a first force on the latch to move the latch to the second position while the latch release signal is received.

9. The information handling system of claim 8 further comprising:
a spring to exert a second force on the latch to bias the latch in a first position when a plug is not in the receptacle and when the plug is fully inserted in the receptacle.

10. The information handling system of claim 8 wherein the first force exerted by the component is greater than the second force exerted by the spring.

11. The information handling system of claim 8 wherein the component is a wire that compresses in response to a current flowing through the wire.

12. The information handling system of claim 8 wherein the component is electrically insulated from the latch.

13. The information handling system of claim 8 , wherein a light emitting diode of the plug is illuminated a first color in response to the request to safely remove the hardware component being sent to the processor, wherein the first color indicates that the plug is not ready to be removed.

14. The information handling system of claim 8 wherein the receptacle is a type-C universal serial bus receptacle.

15. A plug for a hardware component, the plug comprising:
a tip including a notch and data communication pins, the notch to receive a hook of a latch in response to the tip to be inserted within a receptacle of an information handling system;
a button in communication with the data communication pins, the button to provide a request to safely remove the hardware component from an information handling system in response to the button being pressed; and
a light emitting diode in communication with the button and with the data communication pins, the light emitting diode to illuminate a first color in response to the button being pressed, and to illuminate a second color in response to a signal indicating that the hardware component can be safely removed from the information handling system.

16. The plug of claim 15 wherein the request to safely remove the hardware component is provided to a processor of an information handling system via the data communication pins.

17. The plug of claim 15 wherein the first color indicates that the hardware component cannot be safely removed from the information handling system.

18. The plug of claim 15 wherein the second color indicates that the hardware component can be safely removed from the information handling system.

19. The plug of claim 15 wherein the hook is no longer located within the notch of the tip when the hardware component can be safely removed from the information handling system.

20. The plug of claim 15 wherein the plug is a type-C universal serial bus plug.

Assignees

• Dell Products Lp

Inventors

• Morrison Jason S
• Regimbal Laurent A

Classifications

• H01R13/627

  Snap or like fastening · CPC title

• H01R13/7175

  Light emitting diodes (LEDs) · CPC title

• G06F13/4282

  on a serial bus, e.g. I2C bus, SPI bus (on daisy chain buses G06F13/4247) · CPC title

• H01R13/633 Primary

  for disengagement only {(in combination with safety switch H01R13/7132)} · CPC title