Intelligent electrical connector

An intelligent electrical includes a metallic shielding case, an insulating main body, plural conducting terminals and at least one detecting element. The metallic shielding case includes a receiving space and at least one elastic sustaining element. The insulating main body includes a first body part and a second body part. The first body part is accommodated within the receiving space. The second body part is exposed outside the metallic shielding case. The detecting element is disposed on the second body part, arranged beside the elastic sustaining element of the metallic shielding case, and selectively contacted with or separated from the elastic sustaining element. When the elastic sustaining element is contacted with the detecting element, the electricity is permitted to be transmitted through the intelligent electrical connector. Whereas, when the elastic sustaining element is separated from the detecting element, the electricity fails to be transmitted through the intelligent electrical connector.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an electrical connector, and more particularly to an intelligent electrical connector.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As known, universal serial bus connectors (hereinafter referred as USB connectors) are electrical connectors widely used in diversified electronic devices such as personal computers, notebook computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), multimedia players, portable hard disc drives, power supply apparatuses, or the like. USB (Universal Serial Bus) is a specification to establish communication between a USB host device and a USB peripheral device. Generally, the USB connectors may be classified into two types, i.e. USB sockets and USB plugs. The host device that provides electricity has a USB socket, and the USB peripheral device has a USB plug. In other words, the USB socket may be used as a power socket. Through the USB socket, the host device may provide electricity to the external peripheral device or charge a chargeable battery within the external peripheral device.

For example, an external peripheral device such as a mobile phone, a notebook computer or a personal digital assistant may be powered by common chargers. In addition, the external peripheral device may be electrically connected with a host device (e.g. a personal computer, a power supply or a power adapter) having a USB socket through a USB cable in order to receive electricity from the host device.

The use of the conventional USB socket, however, still has some drawbacks. For example, even if no mating electric connector (i.e. a USB plug) is inserted into the USB socket or the electronic device with the USB socket is in a no-load condition, electricity is still transmitted to the USB socket. Under this circumstance, the power consumption is increased, the operating efficiency is decreased, and the USB socket fails to meet the power-saving requirement. For solving these drawbacks, an additional mechanical switch is used for switching the on/off statuses of the USB socket. As known, the mechanical switch has complicated configurations and increased fabricating cost. In addition, the use of the mechanical switch is detrimental to space utilization and miniaturization of the electrical connector. Since the transmission of the electrical power through the USB socket is controlled by manually adjusting the mechanical switch, this controlling approach is not user-friendly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an intelligent electrical connector, in which electricity is permitted or restricted to be transmitted through the intelligent electrical connector depending on the connection status or disconnection status between the intelligent electrical connector and a mating electrical connector. In such way, the power consumption is reduced and the operating efficiency is enhanced to meet the power-saving requirement.

The present invention further provides an intelligent electrical connector having simple configurations, reduced fabricating cost and enhanced space utilization.

The present invention further provides an intelligent electrical connector having a function of detecting whether a mating electrical connector is connected therewith.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the intelligent electrical connector includes a metallic shielding case, an insulating main body, plural conducting terminals and at least one detecting element. The metallic shielding case includes a receiving space and at least one elastic sustaining element. The insulating main body includes a first body part and a second body part. The first body part is accommodated within the receiving space of the metallic shielding case. The second body part is exposed outside the metallic shielding case. The conducting terminals are partially accommodated within the receiving space. The detecting element is disposed on the second body part, arranged beside the elastic sustaining element of the metallic shielding case, and selectively contacted with or separated from the elastic sustaining element. When the elastic sustaining element is contacted with the detecting element, electricity is permitted to be transmitted through the intelligent electrical connector. Whereas, when the elastic sustaining element is separated from the detecting element, electricity fails to be transmitted through the intelligent electrical connector.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the intelligent electrical connector includes a metallic shielding case, an insulating main body, plural conducting terminals and at least one detecting element. The metallic shielding case includes a receiving space and at least one elastic sustaining element. The insulating main body is at least partially accommodated within the receiving space of the metallic shielding case. The conducting terminals are partially accommodated within the receiving space. The detecting element is arranged beside the elastic sustaining element of the metallic shielding case. When an additional mating electronic connector is inserted into the receiving space, the detecting element is contacted with the elastic sustaining element and electricity is permitted to be transmitted through the intelligent electrical connector. Whereas, when no additional mating electronic connector is inserted into the receiving space, the detecting element is separated from the elastic sustaining element and electricity fails to be transmitted through the intelligent electrical connector.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIGS. 1A,1B and1C are schematic perspective views illustrating an intelligent electrical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention and respectively taken along different viewpoints. An example of the intelligent electrical connector1includes but is not limited to a USB connector. It is preferred that the intelligent electrical connector1is a USB socket. As shown inFIGS. 1A,1B and1C, the intelligent electrical connector1includes a metallic shielding case11, an insulating main body12, plural conducting terminals13and at least one detecting element14.

The metallic shielding case11includes a receiving space111and at least one elastic sustaining element112. The insulating main body12includes a first body part121and a second body part122. The first body part121and the second body part122are connected with each other. It is preferred that the first body part121and the second body part122are integrally formed. The first body part121is accommodated within the receiving space111of the metallic shielding case11. The second body part122is exposed outside the metallic shielding case11. For example, the second body part122is protruded outside a first sidewall113of the metallic shielding case11.

The plural conducting terminals13have respective contacting parts131and respective pin parts132. The contacting parts131of the conducting terminals13are disposed on the first body part121. The contacting parts131and the first body part121are accommodated within the receiving space111of the metallic shielding case11. The pin parts132of the conducting terminals13are protruded outside the first body part121and the metallic shielding case11. In addition, the pin parts132are substantially perpendicular to the contacting parts131.

The detecting element14is disposed on the second body part122of the insulating main body12and arranged beside the elastic sustaining element112of the metallic shielding case11. The detecting element14is either contacted with or separated from the elastic sustaining element112. The connection status or the disconnection status between the elastic sustaining element112and the detecting element14may be utilized to determine whether electricity is transmitted through the intelligent electrical connector1. For example, in a case that a mating electronic connector (not shown) is inserted into the receiving space111of the intelligent electrical connector1, the mating electronic connector is sustained against the elastic sustaining element112, so that the elastic sustaining element112is moved toward the detecting element14to be contacted with the detecting element14. When the elastic sustaining element112is contacted with the detecting element14, a detecting signal issued from the intelligent electrical connector1to a circuit board2(seeFIG. 4) is in an enabling status. In response to the enabling status of the detecting signal, the electricity may be transmitted through the intelligent electrical connector1. Whereas, in a case that no mating electronic connector is inserted into the receiving space111of the intelligent electrical connector1, the elastic sustaining element112is restored to its original position and separated from the detecting element14. When the elastic sustaining element112is separated from the detecting element14, a detecting signal issued from the intelligent electrical connector1to a circuit board2(seeFIG. 4) is in a disabling status. In response to the disabling status of the detecting signal, the electricity fails to be transmitted through the intelligent electrical connector1.

FIG. 2is an exploded view illustrating the intelligent electrical connector as shown inFIG. 1. Please refer toFIGS. 1A,1B,1C and2. The metallic shielding case11has a first sidewall113, a second sidewall114, a third sidewall115, a fourth sidewall116, a first opening117and a second opening118. The first sidewall113is connected with the second sidewall114and the fourth sidewall116. The third sidewall115is opposed to the first sidewall113. The first opening117and the second opening118are opposed to each other. The mating electrical connector (not shown) can be inserted into the receiving space111of the intelligent electrical connector1through the first opening117. The plural conducting terminals13are protruded outside the first body part121and the metallic shielding case11through the second opening118. Moreover, the first sidewall113has a slot119. The elastic sustaining element112is aligned with the slot119and partially accommodated within the receiving space111. The elastic sustaining element112has a connecting segment1121, a bending segment1122and a contacting segment1123. The connecting segment1121is connected with a periphery of the slot119. The bending segment1122is arranged between the connecting segment1121and the contacting segment1123, and internally concaved to the receiving space111. The contacting segment1123is connected with the contacting segment1123and formed as a free end. The contacting segment1123is either contacted with or separated from the detecting element14.

The metallic shielding case11further includes plural elastic fastening elements110. For example, the elastic fastening elements110are respectively arranged on the second sidewall114and the fourth sidewall116. When a mating electrical connector such as a USB plug (not shown) is inserted into the receiving space111of the intelligent electrical connector1, the elastic fastening elements110are engaged with corresponding elastic fastening elements of the mating electrical connector so that the intelligent electrical connector1and the mating electrical connector are combined with each other. In this embodiment, the metallic shielding case11comprises two elastic sustaining elements112, which are respectively arranged at the first sidewall113and the third sidewall115. After the mating electrical connector is inserted into the receiving space111of the intelligent electrical connector1, the two elastic sustaining elements112are sustained against corresponding sidewalls of the mating electrical connector for facilitating fixing the mating electrical connector.

In some embodiments, the metallic shielding case11further includes plural fixing pins11aand at least one ground pin11b. The fixing pins11amay be inserted into corresponding fixing holes (not shown) of the circuit board, so that the intelligent electrical connector1is firmly fixed on the circuit board. The ground pin11bis connected to a ground pin (not shown) of the circuit board. In other words, the ground pin11bis used as the ground terminal of the metallic shielding case11. After the mating electrical connector is inserted into the receiving space111of the intelligent electrical connector1, the ground pin11bprovides a static electricity discharging path.

Please refer toFIG. 2again. The detecting element14is embedded in the second body part122. The detecting element14has a pin part141, a coupling part142, a contacting part143and an elastic part144. The pin part141and the coupling part142are connected with each other. The coupling part142and the contacting part143are connected with each other. The contacting part143and the elastic part144are connected with each other. In this embodiment, the pin part141is extended downwardly and may be inserted into a corresponding conductive hole (not shown) of the circuit board. As such, the detecting element14is electrically connected with a detecting circuit or a control circuit of the circuit board. The coupling part142is partially embedded in the second body part122, so that the detecting element14is fixed on the second body part122. The contacting part143is arranged beside the contacting segment1123of the elastic sustaining element112, so that the contacting part143is either contacted with or separated from the contacting segment1123of the elastic sustaining element112. The elastic part144is sustained against the second body part122. The restoring force resulted from the elastic part144may facilitate the contacting part143to be elastically contacted with the elastic sustaining element112.

FIG. 3is a schematic perspective view illustrating an intelligent electrical connector according to another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the pin parts132of the conducting terminals13and the pin parts144of the detecting element are surface mount pins. As such, the intelligent electrical connector1may be installed on the circuit board according to a surface mount technology. The intelligent electrical connector1may be installed on a circuit board of a power adapter, a power supply or a charger.

FIG. 4Ais a schematic view illustrating the relation between the intelligent electrical connector and the circuit board, in which no mating electronic connector is inserted into the intelligent electrical connector. Since no mating electronic connector is inserted into the receiving space111of the intelligent electrical connector1, the elastic sustaining element112and the detecting element14are separated from each other. In this situation, a detecting signal in a disabling status is issued from the intelligent electrical connector1to a specified circuit21of the circuit board2. The specified circuit21is for example a detecting circuit, a controlling circuit or a power conversion circuit. In response to the disabling status of the detecting signal, the electricity fails to be transmitted through the intelligent electrical connector1.

FIG. 4Bis a schematic view illustrating the relation between the intelligent electrical connector and the circuit board, in which a mating electronic connector is inserted into the intelligent electrical connector. Please refer to FIGS.1A,1B,1C and4. After a mating electronic connector3(e.g. a USB plug) is inserted into the receiving space111of the intelligent electrical connector1, the sidewalls of the mating electronic connector3will be sustained against the elastic sustaining element112, so that the elastic sustaining element112and the detecting element14are contacted with each other. In addition, the metallic shielding case11of the intelligent electrical connector1is connected with a ground terminal of the circuit board2, and the detecting element14is connected with the specified circuit21of the circuit board21. Since the elastic sustaining element112and the detecting element14are contacted with each other, electrical connection between the detecting element14and the metallic shielding case11is rendered. In this situation, a detecting signal in an enabling status is issued from the intelligent electrical connector1to a specified circuit21of the circuit board2. In response to the enabling status of the detecting signal, the electricity is permitted to be transmitted through the conducting terminals13of the intelligent electrical connector1.

From the above description, the electricity fails to be transmitted through the intelligent electrical connector if no mating electric connector is inserted into the receiving space of the intelligent electrical connector or the electronic device with the intelligent electrical connector is in a no-load condition. On the other hand, the electricity is permitted to be transmitted through the intelligent electrical connector if a mating electric connector is inserted into the receiving space of the intelligent electrical connector or the electronic device with the intelligent electrical connector is in a normal-load condition. In such way, the power consumption is reduced and the operating efficiency is enhanced to meet the power-saving requirement. Moreover, the intelligent electrical connector of the present invention has simple configurations, reduced fabricating cost and enhanced space utilization. The intelligent electrical connector has a function of detecting whether a mating electrical connector is connected therewith. According to the connection status or disconnection status, the electricity is permitted or restricted to be transmitted through the intelligent electrical connector.