Abstract:
An electrical connector includes a casing, touch unit, processing module, light source unit, and connection unit. The casing has a receiving portion for receiving the processing module and the light source unit. The touch unit is disposed above the casing and adapted to be touched by a user to thereby generate a triggering signal. The processing module receives the triggering signal and outputs a current. The light source unit and the processing module are connected. The current drives the light source unit, such that the light source unit emits a light beam to be conveyed to the electronic device by the casing and the touch unit. The connection unit is connected to an electronic device for receiving a current and data from the electronic device. The electrical connector enables the electronic device to be illuminated, such that a user can connect the electrical connector to the electronic device easily.

Description:
FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to electrical connectors, and more particularly, to an electrical connector that enables an electronic device to be illuminated in an environment of a low light intensity. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    According to the prior art, a data and/or a current is transmitted between electronic devices by means of a transmission line connected therebetween. Examples of the electronic devices include a mobile power source, a portable mobile communication device, a tablet computer, a charger, a keyboard, and a mouse. 
         [0003]    The transmission line comprises a wire and two electrical connectors. The two electrical connectors are each connected to an end of the wire. According to the prior art, the transmission line is made portable by downsizing the wire and the two electrical connectors. 
         [0004]    However, the downsized electrical connectors have a drawback—in an environment of a low light intensity, a user finds it difficult to connect the electrical connectors to an electronic device easily and precisely. 
         [0005]    Accordingly, it is imperative to provide an electrical connector that solves the aforesaid drawback of the prior art. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    It is an objective of the present invention to provide an electrical connector comprising a touch unit and a light source unit such that the touch unit can be touched to drive a light source unit to generate a light beam adapted to fall on an electronic device eventually. Hence, with the electronic device being illuminated by the light beam, a user can connect the electrical connector to the illuminated electronic device easily and precisely. 
         [0007]    Another objective of the present invention is to provide the electrical connector adapted to be connected to an electronic device which receives a triggering signal from the touch unit, such that the electronic device operates in different modes, such as an off mode, a sleep mode, and an on mode, to thereby perform power management. 
         [0008]    Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide the electrical connector adapted to be connected to a first electronic device and a second electronic device, such that the user can touch the touch unit to thereby send a current and/or a data from the first electronic device to the second electronic device. 
         [0009]    In order to achieve the above and other objectives, the present invention provides an electrical connector for use with a first electronic device and a second electronic device. The electrical connector comprises a casing, a touch unit, a processing module, a light source unit, and a connection unit. The casing has a receiving portion. The casing is made of a transparent material or a translucent material. The touch unit is disposed above the casing and adapted to be touched by a user to thereby generate a triggering signal. The processing module is disposed in the receiving portion. The processing module is connected to the touch unit for receiving the triggering signal from the touch unit, such that the processing module can output a current. The light source unit is disposed in the receiving portion. The light source unit is connected to the processing module for receiving the current from the processing module. The current drives the light source unit to emit a light beam. The light beam is conveyed to the first electronic device and the second electronic device by the casing and the touch unit. The connection unit is disposed in at least a portion of the receiving portion. The connection unit has a first terminal and a second terminal The first terminal is connected to the first electronic device, and the second terminal is connected to the second electronic device. A current and a data are transmitted between the first terminal and the second terminal The current and the data originate from the first electronic device or the second electronic device. 
         [0010]    Unlike the prior art, the present invention provides an electrical connector that comprises a light source unit and can be easily and precisely connected by a user to an electronic device in an environment of a low light intensity, by illuminating the electronic device with a light beam emitted from the light source unit. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    Objectives, features, and advantages of the present invention are hereunder illustrated with specific embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a structural schematic view of an electrical connector according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a schematic perspective view of an electronic device as shown in  FIG. 1  according to the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a schematic view of a circuit connecting a touch unit, a processing module, and a light source unit as shown in  FIG. 1  according to the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a structural schematic view of an electrical connector according to the second embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a structural schematic view of an electrical connector according to the third embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a structural schematic view of an electrical connector according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the electrical connector  10  is connected to an electronic device  2  shown in  FIG. 2 . The electronic device  2  can be exemplified by a mobile power source, a portable mobile communication device, a tablet computer, a charger, a keyboard, or a mouse. In this embodiment, the electronic device  2  is exemplified by a portable mobile communication device. The portable mobile communication device outputs a current I d  and a data DA. 
         [0018]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , the electrical connector  10  comprises a casing  12 , a touch unit  14 , a processing module  16 , a light source unit  18 , and a connection unit  20 . 
         [0019]    The casing  12  has a receiving portion  122 . The receiving portion  122  receives the processing module  16  and the light source unit  18 . The casing  12  is made of a transparent material or a translucent material. For example, the casing  12  is made of a silicon dioxide, a polyethylene, a polypropylene, a polyvinyl chloride, a polycarbonate, a polymethacrylate, and/or a polyethylene terephthalate. In this embodiment, the casing  12  is exemplified by a transparent material. 
         [0020]    The touch unit  14  is disposed above the casing  12 . The touch unit  14  comprises a transparent conductive thin-film and/or an inductive conductive wire. For example, the transparent conductive thin-film is made of indium tin oxide. For example, as soon as a user touches the touch unit  14 , a capacitive or resistive change happens to the transparent conductive thin-film to thereby enable the touch unit  14  to send a triggering signal TS. 
         [0021]    The processing module  16  is connected to the touch unit  14  to receive the triggering signal TS from the touch unit  14 . The triggering signal TS triggers the processing module  16 , such that the processing module  16  outputs a current I. 
         [0022]    The light source unit  18  is connected to the processing module  16  to receive the current I from the processing module  16 . The current I drives the light source unit  18  to generate the light beam LB. Since both the casing  12  and the touch unit  14  are made of a transparent material, the light beam LB passes through the casing  12  and the touch unit  14  and then falls on the electronic device  2 . 
         [0023]    The connection unit  20  comprises a first terminal  202  and a second terminal  204 . 
         [0024]    The first terminal  202  protrudes from the receiving portion  122 . The second terminal  204  is disposed in the receiving portion  122 . The first terminal  202  is connected to the electronic device  2  to thereby receive the data DA and the current I d  from the electronic device  2 . Since the first terminal  202  and the second terminal  204  are connected, the data DA and the current I d  are transmitted to the second terminal  204  via the first terminal  202 . The first terminal  202  and the second terminal  204  each comply with the communication protocol of one of an IEEE 1394, a universal serial bus (USB), a micro USB, a mini USB, an Apple 30-pin dock, and an Apple lightning. 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , there is shown a schematic view of a circuit connecting a touch unit, a processing module  16 , and a light source unit as shown in  FIG. 1  according to the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the processing module  16  comprises a voltage unit  162 , a first switch unit  164 , a second switch unit  166 , a first resistor  168 , a capacitor  1610 , and a second resistor  1612 . 
         [0026]    There is a voltage V across the voltage unit  162 . For example, the voltage unit  162  is a secondary battery and/or a capacitor. 
         [0027]    The first switch unit  164  and the second switch unit  166  are each a semiconductor component. The semiconductor component has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a third terminal. For example, the semiconductor component is a metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET). The MOSFET comprises a gate, a drain and a source. The gate is defined as the first terminal, the drain is defined as the second terminal, and the source is defined as the third terminal. 
         [0028]    The MOSFET works in the following manner: applying a voltage (hereinafter referred to as “gate voltage”) to the gate to thereby allow a plurality of electrons and/or a plurality of holes to be attracted to between the drain and the source. The drain and the source are electrically connected by means of the electrons and/or the holes. The aforesaid electrical connection is hereunder referred to the electrically conductive state between the drain and the source. 
         [0029]    To attract enough electrons and/or holes, the gate voltage has to be higher than a critical voltage. For example, the critical voltage ranges between 1V and 3V. Hence, in the situation where the gate voltage is not applied to the gate or in the situation where the applied gate voltage is lower than the critical voltage, no sufficient amount of electrons and/or holes is attracted to between the drain and the source; hence, there is no electrical connection therebetween, thereby allowing a disconnected state to be formed between the drain and the source. 
         [0030]    In this embodiment, the first switch unit  164  is exemplified by a p-channel enhanced MOSFET, and the second switch unit  166  is exemplified by an n-channel enhanced MOSFET. 
         [0031]    The first switch unit  164  has a first gate G 1 , a first drain D 1 , and a first source S 1 . The second switch unit  166  has a second gate G 2 , a second drain D 2 , and a second source S 2 . 
         [0032]    The processing module  16  comprises a first circuit  24  and a second circuit  26 . 
         [0033]    The first circuit  24  comprises the voltage unit  162 , the first switch unit  164 , and the first resistor  168 . The voltage unit  162  applies a first voltage V 1  to a first gate G 1  through the first resistor  168 . The first voltage V 1  is lower than the critical voltage of the first gate G 1 . 
         [0034]    Given the triggering signal TS (which has a voltage level) from the touch unit  14 , the first voltage V  1  can boost the total voltage at the first gate G 1 , such that the total voltage exceeds the critical voltage. Hence, the triggering signal TS triggers the formation of an electrically conductive state between the first drain D 1  and the first source S 1 . By contrast, a disconnected state between the first drain D 1  and the first source S 1  will form, if the first voltage V 1  is applied to the first gate G 1  in the absence of the triggering signal TS. 
         [0035]    The second circuit  26  comprises the second switch unit  166 , the capacitor  1610 , and the second resistor  1612 . As mentioned above, once the electrically conductive state between the first drain D 1  and the first source S 1  is formed, the voltage V from the voltage unit  162  will further be applied to the second circuit  26  via the first drain D 1  and the first source S 1 , whereas a first current I 1  is measurable at the second circuit  26 . The first current I 1  passes through the second resistor  1612 , such that there is a second voltage V 2  across the two ends of the second resistor  1612 . In this embodiment, with the second resistor  1612  being of an appropriate resistance value, the second voltage V 2  applied to the second gate G 2  exceeds the critical voltage of the second gate G 2 . Hence, an electrically conductive state between the second drain D 2  and the second source S 2  is formed. 
         [0036]    In this embodiment, the light source unit  18  is connected to the voltage unit  162  and the second drain D 2 . As mentioned above, once the electrically conductive state between the second drain D 2  and the second source S 2  is formed, the voltage V from the voltage unit  162  will further be applied to the light source unit  18  to thereby emit the light beam LB. By contrast, if a disconnected state between the second drain D 2  and the second source S 2  is formed, the voltage V from the voltage unit  162  cannot be applied to the light source unit  18 . 
         [0037]    Hence, the triggering signal TS can change the electrically conductive state of the first switch unit  164  and the electrically conductive state of the second switch unit  166  to thereby enable the light source unit  18  to emit the light beam LB. 
         [0038]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , there is shown a structural schematic view of an electrical connector  10 ′ according to the second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the electrical connector  10 ′ connects a first electronic device  4  and a second electronic device  6 , such that the current I d  and the data DA are transmitted between the first electronic device  4  and the second electronic device  6 . 
         [0039]    The electrical connector  10 ′ comprises a casing  12 , a receiving portion  122 , a touch unit  14 , a processing module  16 , a light source unit  18 , a connection unit  20 , a first terminal  202  and a second terminal  204 , and a cable  28 . Except the first terminal  202 , the second terminal  204 , and the cable  28 , the above-mentioned has been describe above in the description of the first embodiment and thus is not described hereunder for the sake of brevity. 
         [0040]    The first terminal  202  is connected to the first electronic device  4 . 
         [0041]    The cable  28  has a first end  282  and a second end  284 . The first end  282  is connected to the second terminal  204 . The second end  284  is connected to the second electronic device  6 . 
         [0042]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , there is shown a structural schematic view of an electrical connector  10 ″ according to the third embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the electrical connector  10 ″ comprises a casing  12 , a receiving portion  122 , a touch unit  14 , a processing module  16 , a light source unit  18 , a connection unit  20 , a first terminal  202 , a second terminal  204 , a first control unit  30 , and a second control unit  32 . Except the first control unit  30  and the second control unit  32 , the above-mentioned is described above in the description of the first embodiment and thus is not described hereunder for the sake of brevity. 
         [0043]    The first control unit  30  is connected to the first terminal  202 , the second terminal  204 , and the touch unit  14 . The touch unit  14  generates and sends the triggering signal TS to the first control unit  30 , such that the first terminal  202  is connected to the second terminal  204 . Conversely, if the touch unit  14  does not generate the triggering signal TS, the first terminal  202  cannot be connected to the second terminal  204 . 
         [0044]    The second control unit  32  is connected to the first terminal  202 , the second terminal  204 , and the processing module  16 . The processing module  16  outputs a current I to the second control unit  32 , such that the first terminal  202  is connected to the second terminal  204 . By contrast, if the second control unit  32  does not receive the current I from the processing module  16 , the first terminal  202  cannot be connected to the second terminal  204 . 
         [0045]    The present invention is disclosed above by preferred embodiments. However, persons skilled in the art should understand that the preferred embodiments are illustrative of the present invention only, but should not be interpreted as restrictive of the scope of the present invention. Hence, all equivalent modifications and replacements made to the aforesaid embodiments should fall within the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the legal protection for the present invention should be defined by the appended claims.