Abstract:
A connector system, including two electrical connectors configured to mate together; one electrical connector containing a magnetic flux responsive device configured for generating an electrical signal; the other electrical connector containing a magnet which is located in association with the magnetic flux responsive device when the two electrical connectors are mated together.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to electrical connectors, and, more particularly, to electrical connectors with a mating sensor.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0004]    Electrical connectors are well known in the art and often include a male connector and a female connector with keying elements to ensure proper orientation before mating the two connectors. Such keying elements prevent physical mating of mechanically incompatible connectors, but do not allow for the remote sensing that a connector is physically engaged allowing the circuit to be tested prior to applying power or signals.  
           [0005]    Also well known in the art are remotely energized circuits which utilize electrical connectors.  
           [0006]    A problem encountered with engaging connectors which have electrically live contacts is the arcing between contacts which can diminish the useful life of the contacts and pose other concerns.  
           [0007]    What is needed in the art is a connector system that includes a mating sensor which would allow for the selective activation of conductors in the connector system.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    The present invention provides an apparatus and a method to delay the excitation of the conductors of a connector system until after the contacts of two connectors are engaged, which is accomplished by the proximate locating of a sensor triggering element in one connector to a sensor in the other connector causing the generation of an electrical signal that is used as a command to apply power or signals to the conductors.  
           [0009]    The invention comprises, in one form thereof, a connector system including two electrical connectors configured to mate together; one electrical connector containing a magnetic flux responsive device configured for generating an electrical signal; the other electrical connector containing a magnet which is located in association with the magnetic flux responsive device when the two electrical connectors are mated together.  
           [0010]    An advantage of the present invention is that electrical connections can be achieved without any electrical arcing, thus reducing the chance of explosion in an explosive environment.  
           [0011]    Another advantage is that the device provides a safer connector in areas of high moisture, in that if the connector is unengaged and is placed in a conducting liquid the possibility of causing injury to people or machinery is eliminated.  
           [0012]    Yet another advantage is that accidental insertion of a conductive item into the electrical connections will not result in injury.  
           [0013]    Yet still another advantage is that the signals may be centrally controlled by sensing a coupling of the connectors. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]    The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1 is a top view of a female electrical connector used in the electrical connector system of the present invention;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2 is a front view of the electrical connector shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 3 is a side view of the electrical connector shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the electrical connector shown in FIGS.  1 - 3 ;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 5 is a top view of a male electrical connector which mates with the female electrical connector shown in FIGS.  1 - 4 ;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 6 is a front view of the electrical connector shown in FIG. 5;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 7 is a side view of the electrical connector shown in FIGS. 5 and 6;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the electrical connector shown in FIGS.  5 - 7 ;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 9 is a top view of another embodiment of a female electrical connector used in the electrical connector system of the present invention;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 10 is a front view of the electrical connector shown in FIG. 9;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 11 is a side view of the electrical connector shown in FIGS. 9 and 10;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the electrical connector shown in FIGS.  9 - 11 ;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 13 is a top view of a male electrical connector which mates with the female electrical connector shown in FIGS.  9 - 12 ;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 14 is a front view of the electrical connector shown in FIG. 13;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 15 is a side view of the electrical connector shown in FIGS. 13 and 14; and  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the electrical connector shown in FIGS.  14 - 15 . 
     
    
       [0031]    Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplifications set out herein illustrate one preferred embodiment of the invention, in one form, and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0032]    Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS.  1 - 4 , there is shown a female electrical connector  10  including a plurality of electrical contacts  12  for the distribution of power or signals, sensor  14 , sensor triggering element  16 , connector body  18 , a plurality of electrical conductors  20 , connector cap  22  and connector cap tether  24 . Sensor  14  is positioned such that it may interact with sensor triggering element  16  of electrical connector  10  or sensor triggering element  34  of electrical connector  30  of FIG. 5.  
         [0033]    Now additionally referring to FIGS.  5 - 8  there is shown a male electrical connector  30  which mates with female connector  10  shown in FIGS.  1 - 4 . Male electrical connector  30  includes a plurality of electrical contacts  32  for the distribution of power or signals, sensor triggering element  34 , connector body  36  and a plurality of electrical conductors  38 . Sensor triggering element  34  is fully encapsulated in electrical connector 30  as is shown in FIGS.  5 - 8 , however sensor triggering element  34  may alternatively protrude from electrical connector  30 .  
         [0034]    In one embodiment of the invention, sensor triggering element  16  is a magnet and sensor  14  may include magnetic flux responsive devices, Hall effect devices, Mosfet transistors and reed switches. Electrical contacts  12  remain unenergized until electrical contacts  32  of electrical connector  30  are engaged therewith, and electrical contacts  12  will de-energize prior to being fully disengaged from electrical contacts  32 . This is accomplished by the use of sensor  14 , which is fully encapsulated in electrical connector  10 . As electrical contacts  32  are engaged with electrical contacts  12  the magnetic flux of sensor triggering element  34  will cause sensor  14  to change its electrical characteristic. The change in the electrical characteristics of sensor  14  is conveyed through some of electrical conductors  20  to a control device, not a part of this invention, which then energizes some of the other electrical conductors  20 .  
         [0035]    An alternate embodiment of this invention connects sensor  14  in series with one of electrical conductors  20  and with one of electrical contacts  12 . This embodiment energizes electrical contact  12  without the need for a control device.  
         [0036]    In either embodiment as electrical connector  30  is disengaged from electrical connector the flux of sensor triggering element  34  decreases in the area of sensor  14  causing the electrical characteristic of sensor  14  to change resulting in a de-energizing of electrical contacts  12 .  
         [0037]    The timing of these events can be controlled by ensuring that the physical length of electrical contacts  32  are such that they will be engaged prior to sensor triggering element  34  being in sufficient proximity with sensor  14  for the electrical characteristic of sensor  14  to change. In a like manner as electrical connector  30  is being disengaged from electrical connector  10  the electrical characteristic of sensor  14  will change prior to electrical contacts  32  are disengaged from electrical contacts  12 .  
         [0038]    In another embodiment of the invention, sensor  14  may be electrically connected to other sensors of other connectors of the present invention in order to control when all of the connectors are energized. If it is desirable to energize the connectors and there is no electrical connector  30  to mate with an electrical connector  10 , then engaging connector cap  22  with electrical connector  10  such that sensor triggering element  16  is positioned proximate sensor  14  will achieve the desired goal.  
         [0039]    The act of coupling male connector  30  with female connector  10  is accomplished by orienting male connector  30  and female connector  10  to align their respective contacts, engaging electrical contacts  12  and  32 , and as electrical contacts  12  and  32  are being fully engaged sensor triggering element  34  comes into proximity with sensor  14  causing the electrical characteristics of sensor  14  to alter generating an electrical signal. The electrical signal generated by sensor  14  during the coupling process is then utilized to cause power and/or signals to be applied to some of conductors  20 . Since conductors  20  are now electrically connected to conductors  38  through contacts  12  and  32 , power and/or signals are passed to the termination of conductors  38 .  
         [0040]    In yet another embodiment of the invention, referring now to FIGS.  9 - 16 , there is shown a female electrical connector  50  including a plurality of electrical contacts  52  for the distribution of power or signals, sensor  54 , sensor triggering element  56 , connector body  58 , a plurality of electrical conductors  60 , connector cap  62 , connector cap tether  64  and triggering source  66 . Sensor  54  and triggering source  66  are positioned such that they may interact with sensor triggering element  56  of electrical connector  50  or sensor triggering element  74  of electrical connector  70 . Electrical connector  70  includes a plurality of electrical contacts  72  for the distribution of power or signals, sensor triggering element  74 , connector body  76 , a plurality of electrical conductors  78  and connector key  80 . Sensor triggering element  74 , which is shown in FIGS.  13 - 16  as protruding from electrical connector  70 , may alternatively be of a non-protruding nature and may be fully encapsulated in electrical connector  70 .  
         [0041]    Sensor  54  and triggering source  66  are located in electrical connector  50  such that triggering source  66  does not activate sensor  54  unless sensor triggering element  74  of electrical connector  70  directs the triggering attribute of triggering source  66  such that it will alter the electrical characteristics of sensor  54 .  
         [0042]    In the foregoing embodiments triggering source  66  may be a magnet; sensor  54  includes a reed switch, a Mosfet transistor, a Hall effect device or any magnetic flux responsive device; sensor triggering element  74  is a material with a magnetic permeability sufficient to cause sensor  54  to generate an electrical signal by the conduction of flux from triggering source  66 , which is physically configured as either a protruding or non-protruding part of electrical connector  70 . In a similar fashion triggering source  66  may be a light source of predetermined wavelength; sensor  54  includes a phototransistor or any light responsive device which will respond to triggering source  66 ; sensor triggering element  74  is a material with either an optically conductive property or a light absorbing characteristic which is shown protruding in FIGS.  13 - 16 , but alternatively may be of a non-protruding nature; triggering source  66  and sensor  54  may be configured such that the connection of electrical connector  50  with electrical connector  70  causes the light of triggering source  66  to be conducted to sensor  54  causing a change in the electrical characteristics of sensor  54 ; or triggering source  66  and sensor  54  may be configured such that the engaging of electrical connector  50  with electrical connector  70  causes sensor triggering element  74  to block the light of triggering source  66  so that it will not arrive at sensor  54  causing a change in the electrical characteristics of sensor  54 .  
         [0043]    While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.