Patent ID: 6368155
Filing Date: 2002-04-09
Classification: H01R,Y10S

Abstract:
An I/O connector for providing a connection between a data transmission cable and a circuit board by way of an intervening connector mounted to the circuit board and for detecting status information about the cable, said cable having at least two distinct signal wires and one ground reference associated with the two signal wires, first and second power wires, the first power wire being a wire for supplying voltage through said cable and the second power wire being a voltage return wire, the connector comprising:a connector housing; the connector housing including a pair of distinct signal terminals for terminating to said cable signal wires, a ground terminal for terminating to said cable ground reference, first and second power terminals for respectively terminating to said cable first and second power wires; said connector housing further including a status information terminal disposed therein in proximity to said second power wire, said status information terminal and said second power terminal being shorted together by an electronic component capable of modifying voltage transmitted across said status information terminal, said status information terminal, second power terminal and electronic component forming an open circuit within said connector that is completed when said connector is mated to said intervening connector such that the status information at said cable may be read by a circuit on said circuit board.