Patent Publication Number: US-2003228802-A1

Title: Filtered power connectors and methods thereof

Description:
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/386,900 filed Jun. 6, 2002, U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/406,086 filed Aug. 26, 2002, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/427,843 filed Nov. 20, 2002 which are all herein incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] This invention relates generally to connectors and, more particularly to a compact, power connector that can filter and shield radiant EMI/RFI noise ingress or egress.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003] In certain areas of the world, consistent, high quality power is not the norm. Additionally, in other areas of the world, there may be occasional lapses in the delivery of high quality of power. When the quality of the power drops, the amount of fluctuation and noise, such as EMI noise and RFI noise, in the power often increases.  
       [0004] This lower quality power can cause problems. For example, this power can interfere with the proper performance of system which are receiving this power. Additionally, this lower quality power may damage any systems coupled to it.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005] A filtered power connector in accordance with embodiments of the present invention includes a housing with at least one passage, at least one conductor, and at least one filter. The conductor extends at least partially into the passage in the housing and can handle currents greater than 40 amps. The filter has one end coupled to the conductor and another end coupled to a ground plane and filters out at a substantial portion of any signal on the conductor between about 0 kHz and about 40 Ghz.  
       [0006] A method for making a power connection system in accordance with embodiments of the present invention includes providing a housing with at least one passage. At least one conductor which can handle currents greater than 40 amps is extended at least partially into the passage in the housing. At least one filter that filters out a substantial portion of any signal between 0 kHz and 40 Ghz on the conductor is coupled at one end to the conductor and at another end to a ground plane.  
       [0007] The present invention provides a system and method which can simply and easily improve the quality of power being delivered. The present invention is able to filter the power to remove a substantial portion, if not all, of any signal between about 0 kHz and 40 GHz on the conductor.  
       [0008] Additionally, the present invention provides a system and method for monitoring and managing the delivery of power. For example, the present invention can be used to monitor and report on the quality of a power being delivered, to monitor and adjust the delivery of power to ensure that power requirements are being met, and can act as a safety shut off if a level of the power is too high or low. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0009]FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a filtered power connector in accordance with embodiments of the present invention coupled to a pair of bus bars;  
     [0010]FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the filtered power connector shown FIG. 1A disconnected from the bus bars;  
     [0011]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional, perspective view of a portion of the filtered power connector connected to one of the bus bars;  
     [0012]FIG. 3 is another cross-sectional view of the filtered power connector connected to the bus bars;  
     [0013]FIG. 4 is a perspective, end view of the filtered power connector;  
     [0014]FIG. 5 is an exploded, perspective view of the filtered power connector;  
     [0015]FIG. 6 is a partially broken away, perspective view of the filtered power connector coupled to the bus bars;  
     [0016]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of one end of a filtered power connector in accordance with other embodiments of the present invention;  
     [0017]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another end of the filtered power connector shown in FIG. 7;  
     [0018]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of one end of the filtered power connector coupled to a pair of bus bars;  
     [0019]FIG. 10 is a partially broken away, perspective view of the filtered power connector coupled to the bus bars shown in FIG. 9; and  
     [0020]FIG. 11 is an exploded, perspective view of the filtered power connector and bus bars shown in FIG. 10.  
     [0021]FIG. 12 is a perspective view of one end of a filtered power connector with a female mate-side connector and a male power-side connector in accordance with other embodiments of the present invention;  
     [0022]FIG. 13 is a perspective view of one end of a filtered power connector with a male mate-side connector and a female power-side connector in accordance with other embodiments of the present invention;  
     [0023]FIG. 14 is a perspective view of one end of a filtered power connector with a female mate-side connector and a female power-side connector in accordance with other embodiments of the present invention;  
     [0024]FIG. 15A is a perspective view of one end of a filtered power connector with a common ground disconnected from a ground plane in accordance with other embodiments of the present invention;  
     [0025]FIG. 15B is a perspective view of one end of a filtered power connector with a common ground coupled to a ground plane in accordance with other embodiments of the present invention; as -may be employed to connect shielded power conductors;  
     [0026]FIG. 16 is a perspective view of one end of a filtered power connector with a male mate-side connector and a male power-side connector in accordance with other embodiments of the present invention;  
     [0027]FIG. 17 is an exploded view of the filter power connector shown in FIG. 16;  
     [0028]FIG. 18 is a perspective view of one end of a power supply connector with a female mate-side connector and a female power-side connector for coupling with the filtered power connector shown in FIGS.  16 - 17  in accordance with other embodiments of the present invention; and  
     [0029]FIG. 19 is an exploded view of the power supply connector shown in FIG. 18. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
     [0030] Filtered power connectors  10 ( 1 )- 10 ( 6 ) in accordance with embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in FIGS.  1 - 17 . The filtered power connectors  10 ( 1 )- 10 ( 6 ) include a housing  12 ( 1 ),  12 ( 2 ),  12 ( 3 ),  12 ( 4 ) or  19 , spindles or other conductors  14 ( 1 )- 14 ( 2 ),  16 ( 1 )- 16 ( 2 ),  18 ( 1 )- 18 ( 2 ),  20 ( 1 )- 20 ( 2 ),  22 ( 1 )- 22 ( 2 ), or  24 ( 1 )- 24 ( 2 ) and filters  26 ( 1 )- 26 ( 2 ), although the systems  10 ( 1 )- 10 ( 6 ) may each comprise other components, other numbers of the components, and other combinations of the components. The present invention provides a system and method which can simply and easily improve the quality of power being delivered and which also can monitor and manage the delivery of the power.  
     [0031] Referring to FIGS.  1 - 6 , the housing  12 ( 1 ) for the filtered power connector  10 ( 1 ) includes a pair of passages  28 ( 1 )- 28 ( 2 ) and a chamber  30 , although the housing  12 ( 1 ) can have other configurations with other numbers of passages and chambers. Each of the passages  28 ( 1 )- 28 ( 2 ) is formed in the housing  12 ( 1 ) to receive one of the spindles  14 ( 1 )- 14 ( 2 ) and one of the filters  26 ( 1 )- 26 ( 2 ), although the passages  28 ( 1 )- 28 ( 2 ) can have other configurations to accept other components. The chamber  30  is formed in the housing  12 ( 1 ) between the passages  28 ( 1 )- 28 ( 2 ) to receive a sensor  32  which is used to monitor and manage the filtered power connector  10 ( 1 ), although other numbers and locations for the chamber  30  in housing  12 ( 1 ) could be used. The housing  12 ( 1 ) is made from thermoplastic with a metalized finish on both sides that acts to shield EMI radiated RFI noise, although the housing  12 ( 1 ) can be made of other materials. The housing  12 ( 1 ) acts as a ground plane and a shielding cover, although any type of ground or earthing technique could be used.  
     [0032] The sensor  32  is a non-contact current sensor, although other types of circuitry could be used for sensor  32 , such as programmed microprocessors, controllers, logic ICs, and various electrical, thermal or IR sensors. The sensor  32  is coupled to a monitoring system  34  that monitors readings from sensor  32  and which is coupled to and controls the operation of a power source  36  in response to the readings from sensor  32 . For example, the monitoring system  36  may adjust the power being output or may shut the power off in response to a reading from the sensor  32 . The monitoring system  34  comprises a processor and a memory which are coupled together by one or more buses, although monitoring system  34  can have other components, other numbers of the components, and other combinations of the components which are coupled together in other manners. In the monitoring system  34 , the memory has stored programmed instructions for monitoring and managing the delivery of power as described herein for execution by the processor, although some or all of these instructions and data may be stored elsewhere. A variety of different types of memory storage devices, such as a random access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM) or a floppy disk, hard disk, CD ROM, or other computer readable medium which is read from and/or written to by a magnetic, optical, or other reading and/or writing system coupled to the processor, can be used. A variety of different types of wired and wireless communication systems and protocols can be used for the communications between the sensor  32 , monitoring system  34 , power source  36 , and other components.  
     [0033] The spindles  14 ( 1 )- 14 ( 2 ) carry a power through the filtered power connector  10 ( 1 ), although other types of conductors could be used to carry the power. In this particular embodiment, each of the spindles  14 ( 1 )- 14 ( 2 ) can handle currents over about 40 amps DC or AC up to about 1000 amps DC or AC, although the spindles  14 ( 1 )- 14 ( 2 ) can handle other amounts of current being supplied for power. Each of the spindles  14 ( 1 )- 14 ( 2 ) extends partially into and is seated in one of the passages  28 ( 1 )- 28 ( 2 ) in the housing  12 ( 1 ), although other numbers and configurations for the spindles  14 ( 1 )- 14 ( 2 ) in the housing  12 ( 1 ) could be used.  
     [0034] Each of the spindles  14 ( 1 )- 14 ( 2 ) includes a flange  42 ( 1 ) or  42 ( 2 ), although other types of and arrangements for the flanges  42 ( 1 )- 42 ( 2 ) can be used and the spindles  14 ( 1 )- 14 ( 2 ) may have other shapes. The flange  42 ( 1 ) is formed on and is located between the ends of the spindle  14 ( 1 ) and the flange  42 ( 2 ) is formed on and is located between the ends of the spindle  14 ( 2 ),  
     [0035] One end of each of the spindles  14 ( 1 )- 14 ( 2 ) has a cylindrical shape to form a male connector and the other end of each of the spindles  14 ( 1 )- 14 ( 2 ) has a flattened shape with a ridge  38  to form a genderless connector or contact, although the ends of the spindles  14 ( 1 )- 14 ( 2 ) can have other shapes and configurations and other mechanisms for coupling to each end of the spindles  14 ( 1 )- 14 ( 2 ) can be used. By way of example only, in the filtered power connector  10 ( 2 ) shown in FIGS.  7 - 11  each of the spindles  16 ( 1 )- 16 ( 2 ) in the housing  12 ( 2 ) has a cylindrical shape at each end to form a male connector at each end and in the filtered power connector  10 ( 6 ) shown in FIGS.  16 - 17  each of the spindles  24 ( 1 )- 24 ( 2 ) in the housing  12 ( 4 ) has a cylindrical shape at each end to form a male connector at each end. In the filtered power connector  10 ( 3 ) shown in FIG. 12, each of the spindles  18 ( 1 )- 18 ( 2 ) in the housing  12 ( 3 ) has a socket shape at one end to form a female connector and a cylindrical shape at the other end to form a male connector which is coupled to the power source. In the filtered power connector  10 ( 4 ) shown in FIG. 13, each of the spindles  20 ( 1 )- 20 ( 2 ) in the housing  12 ( 3 ) has a cylindrical shape at one end to form a male connector and a socket shape at the other end which is coupled to the power source to form a male connector. In the filtered power connector  10 ( 5 ) shown in FIG. 14, each of the spindles  22 ( 1 )- 22 ( 2 ) in the housing  12 ( 3 ) has a socket shape at each end to form a female connector at each end.  
     [0036] Referring back to FIGS.  1 - 6 , filters  26 ( 1 ) and  26 ( 2 ) are used to filter the power on the spindles  14 ( 1 )- 14 ( 2 ) to produce clear, high quality output power. In this particular embodiment, the filters  26 ( 1 )- 26 ( 2 ) filter out a substantial portion of any signal between 0 kHz and 40 Ghz on the spindles  14 ( 1 )- 14 ( 2 ), although other types of filters in other ranges to filter power could be used.  
     [0037] Each of the filters  26 ( 1 )- 26 ( 2 ) is a capacitor with a substantially, tubular shaped, central dielectric region  48  between a pair of conductive regions  46 , although the filters  26 ( 1 )- 26 ( 2 ) can have other shapes and configurations and other types of filters could be used. In this particular embodiment, the filter  26 ( 1 ) is seated on and around a portion of the spindle  14 ( 1 ) and the filter  26 ( 2 ) is seated on and around a portion of the spindle  14 ( 2 ), although other arrangements for the filters  26 ( 1 )- 26 ( 2 ) and spindles  14 ( 1 )- 14 ( 2 ) can be used. One of the conductive regions  46  for filter  26 ( 1 ) is seated against the flange  42 ( 1 ) and one of the conductive regions  46  for filter  26 ( 2 ) is seated against the flange  42 ( 2 ). An insulating layer  44 ( 1 ) is located between and separates filter  26 ( 1 ) from spindle  14 ( 1 ) and an insulating layer  44 ( 2 ) is located between and separates filter  26 ( 1 ) from spindle  14 ( 1 ), although other manners for insulating filters  26 ( 1 )- 26 ( 2 ) from spindles  14 ( 1 )- 14 ( 2 ) can be used. Each of the filters  26 ( 1 )- 26 ( 2 ) around the spindles  14 ( 1 )- 14 ( 2 ) is also seated in one of the passages  28 ( 1 )- 28 ( 2 ) in the housing  12 ( 1 ).  
     [0038] An insulating cover  50  fits within one end of the housing  12 ( 1 ) and serves to isolate the filters  26 ( 1 ) and  26 ( 2 ) from the metalized body of the housing  12 ( 1 ). The insulating cover  50  provides a pair of openings  52  through which the one end of each of the spindles  14 ( 1 ) and  14 ( 2 ) can extend through.  
     [0039] A conductive cover  52  is secured to the housing  12 ( 1 ) over the openings at one end of the passages  28 ( 1 )- 28 ( 2 ), although other arrangements for the cover  52  can be used. The cover  52  is in contact with and coupled to the other conductive region of filter  26 ( 1 ) and the other conductive region of filter  26 ( 2 ) as well as to the housing  12 ( 1 ) and provides a grounding path from the other conductive regions  46  of filters  26 ( 1 )- 26 ( 2 ) to the housing  12 ( 1 ), although other grounding or earthing techniques can be used.  
     [0040] An end cap  54  with passages  56 ( 1 )- 56 ( 2 ) is secured to one end of the conductive cover  52  with one end of spindles  14 ( 1 )- 14 ( 2 ) extending out through passages  56 ( 1 )- 56 ( 2 ), although other arrangements for housing the components could be used.  
     [0041] Bus bars  58 ( 1 )- 58 ( 2 ) are coupled between a power source  36  and one end of spindles  14 ( 1 )- 14 ( 2 ), although other numbers of bus bars and other manners of coupling power source  36  to spindles  14 ( 1 )- 14 ( 2 ) can be used. Each of the bus bars  58 ( 1 )- 58 ( 2 ) can carry currents for power applications. In this particular embodiment, each of the bus bars  58 ( 1 )- 58 ( 2 ) carries over about 40 amps up to about 1000 amps, although bus bars  58 ( 1 )- 58 ( 2 ) can carry other amounts of current. For ease of illustration, only a portion of each of the bus bars  58 ( 1 )- 58 ( 2 ) is shown.  
     [0042] A socket connector  60 ( 1 ) is secured to bus bar  58 ( 1 ) and a socket connector  60 ( 2 ) is secured to bus bar  58 ( 2 ), although other types of connectors  58 ( 1 )- 58 ( 2 ). One end of spindles  14 ( 1 )- 14 ( 2 ) mate in socket connectors  60 ( 1 )- 60 ( 2 ) to couple power on bus bars  58 ( 1 )- 58 ( 2 ) to spindles  14 ( 1 )- 14 ( 2 ), although other techniques for connecting the spindles  14 ( 1 )- 14 ( 2 ) to the bus bars  58 ( 1 )- 58 ( 2 ) can be used, for example male connectors could be used to couple to one end of spindles  14 ( 1 )- 14 ( 2 ) if the connectors at the one end of spindles  14 ( 1 )- 14 ( 2 ) are female connectors.  
     [0043] A chassis  62  acts as a ground plane, although other types of structures and other grounding or earthing techniques can be used. The chassis  62  has an opening  64  in which a portion of the housing  12 ( 1 ) fits in and a flange of the housing  12 ( 1 ) is secured and coupled to the chassis  62 .  
     [0044] Referring to FIGS.  7 - 11 , a filtered power connector  10 ( 2 ) in accordance with other embodiments of the present invention is illustrated. Filtered power connector  10 ( 2 ) is identical to filtered power connector  10 ( 1 ), except as described and illustrated herein. Elements in filtered power connector  10 ( 2 ) which are like those in filtered power connector  10 ( 1 ) will have like reference numerals and will not be described again in detail. As discussed earlier, each of the spindles  16 ( 1 )- 16 ( 2 ) in the housing  12 ( 2 ) has a cylindrical shape at each end to form a male connector at each end, although other types and numbers of conductors with other shapes can be used for spindles  16 ( 1 )- 16 ( 2 ) and the housing  12 ( 2 ) is shaped to accommodate spindles  16 ( 1 )- 16 ( 2 ). Additionally, conductive washers  66 ( 1 )- 66 ( 2 ) are each seated on one of the filters  26 ( 1 )- 26 ( 2 ) and couple a conductive region  46  at one end of each of the filters  26 ( 1 )- 26 ( 2 ) the metallized body of the housing  12 ( 2 ). An insulated housing  53  is formed to have passages for the spindles  16 ( 1 )- 16 ( 2 ) and for filters  26 ( 1 )- 26 ( 2 ) and the insulated housing  53  is seated in the conductive panel housing  55  as shown in FIG. 10. The conductive panel housing  53  includes conductive tubular projections  57 ( 1 )- 57 ( 2 ) which engage with and are coupled to the conductive washers  66 ( 1 )- 66 ( 2 ) and the other conductive regions  46  of filters  26 ( 1 )- 26 ( 2 ).  
     [0045] Referring to FIGS.  12 - 14 , filtered power connectors  10 ( 3 )- 10 ( 5 ) in accordance with other embodiments of the present invention are illustrated. Filtered power connectors  10 ( 3 )- 10 ( 5 ) are identical to filtered power connector  10 ( 1 ), except as described and illustrated herein. Elements in filtered power connector  10 ( 3 )- 10 ( 5 ) which are like those in filtered power connector  10 ( 1 ) will have like reference numerals and will not be described again in detail. In the filtered power connector  10 ( 3 ) shown in FIG. 12, each of the spindles  18 ( 1 )- 18 ( 2 ) in the housing  12 ( 3 ) has a socket shape at one end to form a female connector and a cylindrical shape at the other end which is coupled to the power source to form a male connector, although other types and numbers of conductors with other shapes can be used for spindles  18 ( 1 )- 18 ( 2 ). The housing  12 ( 3 ) is also shaped to accommodate spindles  18 ( 1 )- 18 ( 2 ). In the filtered power connector  10 ( 4 ) shown in FIG. 13, each of the spindles  20 ( 1 )- 20 ( 2 ) in the housing  12 ( 3 ) has a cylindrical shape at one end to form a male connector and a socket shape at the other end which is coupled to the power source to form a male connector, although other types and numbers of conductors with other shapes can be used for spindles  20 ( 1 )- 20 ( 2 ). The housing  12 ( 4 ) is also shaped to accommodate spindles  20 ( 1 )- 20 ( 2 ). In the filtered power connector  10 ( 5 ) shown in FIG. 14, each of the spindles  22 ( 1 )- 22 ( 2 ) in the housing  12 ( 3 ) has a socket shape at each end to form a female connector at each end, although other types and numbers of conductors with other shapes can be used for spindles  22 ( 1 )- 22 ( 2 ). The housing  12 ( 4 ) is also shaped to accommodate spindles  22 ( 1 )- 22 ( 2 ).  
     [0046] Referring to FIGS.  15 A- 15 B, a filtered power connector  10 ( 2 ) for coupling to power cables  70 ( 1 )- 70 ( 2 ) is illustrated. Power cables  70 ( 1 )- 70 ( 2 ) are coupled to a power source (nor shown) and each include a metal braid which acts as a cable ground  72 . A conductive can housing is coupled to the cable ground  72  for each power cable  70 ( 1 )- 70 ( 2 ) and is coupled to the chassis  62 . Coupling the cable ground  72  for each power cable  70 ( 1 )- 70 ( 2 ) to the chassis  62  forms a common ground with the other conductive region  46  of filters  26 ( 1 )- 26 ( 2 ) which are also coupled to the chassis  62 , although other manners for forming a common ground can be used with this power connector  10 ( 2 ) and with other power connectors.  
     [0047] Referring to FIGS. 16 and 17, a filtered power connector  10 ( 6 ) in accordance with other embodiments of the present invention is illustrated is illustrated. Filtered power connector  10 ( 6 ) is identical to the filtered power connector  10 ( 2 ) shown in FIGS.  7 - 11 , except as described and illustrated herein. Elements in filtered power connector  10 ( 6 ) which are like those in filtered power connector  10 ( 2 ) will have like reference numerals and will not be described again in detail. The filter power connector  10 ( 6 ) includes spindles  24 ( 1 )- 24 ( 2 ) with male connectors at each end, although the ends of spindles  24 ( 1 )- 24 ( 2 ) can be configured to have other types of connectors, such as female or genderless connectors.  
     [0048] The filtered power connector  10 ( 6 ) also includes filters  26 ( 1 )- 26 ( 2 ). The filter  26 ( 1 ) is seated on the spindle  24 ( 1 ) with one of the conductive regions  46  of filter  26 ( 1 ) seated against and coupled to the conductive washer  43 ( 1 ) of spindle  24 ( 1 ). The filter  26 ( 2 ) is seated on the spindle  24 ( 2 ) with one of the conductive regions  46  of filter  26 ( 2 ) seated against and coupled to the conductive washer  43 ( 2 ) of spindle  24 ( 2 ). The conductive regions  46  for the filters  26 ( 1 )- 26 ( 2 ) which are coupled to the panel mount housing  94  are insulated from the spindles  24 ( 1 )- 24 ( 2 ) by insulating layers  101 ( 1 )- 101 ( 2 ). The conductive washer  43 ( 1 ) is seated against flange  96 ( 1 ) and the conductive washer  43 ( 2 ) is seated against flange  96 ( 2 ).  
     [0049] The filtered power connector  10 ( 6 ) also includes an EMI shield plate  88  and an EMI sealing gasket  90  which are located between the panel mount housing  94  and the cover  98 . The EMI shield plate  88  and the EMI sealing gasket  90  help to shield EMI from the filter power connector  10 ( 6 ) and couple the conductive region  46  of the filters  26 ( 1 )- 26 ( 2 ) to the conductive panel mount housing  94  which is coupled to the chassis  62 . The filters  26 ( 1 )- 26 ( 2 ) and one end of the spindles  24 ( 1 )- 24 ( 2 ) extend through openings in the EMI shield plate  88  and the EMI sealing gasket  90  into portions of the passages  28 ( 1 ) and  28 ( 2 ) in the panel mount  94  of housing  12 ( 4 ), although other components and assembly configurations can be used.  
     [0050] A panel mount  94  forms part of the housing  12 ( 4 ) and includes a portion of the passages  28 ( 1 )- 28 ( 2 ), although the panel mount  94  can include other numbers and types of passages and chambers. The panel mount  94  is made of an insulating material and is mounted to the chassis  62  which secures the EMI shield plate  88  and the EMI sealing gasket  90  between the panel mount  94  and the cover  98 .  
     [0051] Nut  84 ( 1 ) and washer  86 ( 1 ) are used to secure the one end of the spindle  24 ( 1 ) in the passage  28 ( 1 ) in the panel mount  94 . Nut  84 ( 2 ) and washer  86 ( 2 ) are used to secure the one end of the spindle  24 ( 2 ) in the passage  28 ( 2 ) in the panel mount  94 . A six-way snap in key  82  is secured to the panel mount  94  between the passages  28 ( 1 )- 28 ( 2 ), although other types of keys could be used or the key could be left off. The snap-key  82  is used to help prevent the connection of another connector to the filtered power connector  10 ( 6 ) with a mismatched voltage or current.  
     [0052] A cover  98  includes another portion of the passages  28 ( 1 )- 28 ( 2 ) for the other end of spindles  24 ( 1 )- 24 ( 2 ) and is also secured and to and compresses EMI gasket  90 . Cover  98  is made of an insulating material and passes through and is not in contact with the chassis  62 , although other arrangements can be used. Securing cover  98  to EMI gasket  90  puts flanges  96 ( 1 )- 96 ( 2 ) against the other conductive regions of filters  2691 )- 26 ( 2 ) and allows the other end of spindles  24 ( 1 )- 24 ( 2 ) to pass through. Nut  102 ( 1 ) and washer  100 ( 1 ) are used to secured the other end of spindle  24 ( 1 ) to the cover  98  and nut  102 ( 2 ) and washer  100 ( 2 ) are used to secured the other end of spindle  24 ( 2 ) to the cover  98 , although other arrangements for securing the components together can be used.  
     [0053] An insulator cover  104  is secured to the end of the cover  28 . The insulator cover  104  provides openings for the other ends of the spindles  24 ( 1 )- 24 ( 2 ) to extend out to couple with a power source.  
     [0054] Referring to FIGS. 18 and 19, a power supply connector  17  for connecting with the filtered power connector  10 ( 6 ) in accordance with other embodiments of the present invention is illustrated. The housing  19  for the power supply connector  17  has female connecting passages  97 ( 1 )- 97 ( 2 ) which house socket contacts  114 ( 1 )- 114 ( 2 ) for mating with the other end of spindles  24 ( 1 )- 24 ( 2 ), although other numbers and types of passages and connectors could be used, such as male connectors or genderless connectors.  
     [0055] The power supply connector  17  also has a six-way snap in key  82  which is secured in the housing  19  between the passages  97 ( 1 )- 97 ( 2 ), although other types of keys could be used or the key could be left off. The snap-key  82  is used to help prevent the connection of another connector to power supply connector  17  with a mismatched voltage or current.  
     [0056] The power supply connector  17  also has a socket contact keeper  110  which fits into a slot in the latching connector housing  11  and engages with and retains the socket contacts  114 ( 1 )- 114 ( 2 ) which have been inserted or mated with the passages  97 ( 1 )- 97 ( 2 ), although other types of retaining mechanisms could be used.  
     [0057] One end of each of the power cables  70 ( 1 )- 70 ( 2 ) is inserted and crimped into one end of the socket contacts  114 ( 1 )- 114 ( 2 ) and the other end of socket contacts  114 ( 1 )- 114 ( 2 ) are shaped to mate with the other end of spindles  24 ( 1 )- 24 ( 2 ), although again other types of connectors could be used for socket contacts  114 ( 1 )- 114 ( 2 ), such as male or genderless connectors. The clamps  112 ( 1 )- 112 ( 2 ) are secured around the cable insulation for power cables  70 ( 1 )- 70 ( 2 ) and a portion of the housing  19  and help to retain the socket contacts  114 ( 1 )- 114 ( 2 ) in place.  
     [0058] The method of making the filtered power connector  10 ( 1 ) in accordance with embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS.  1 - 6 . The filter  26 ( 1 ) is slid on to the spindle  14 ( 1 ) until one of the conductive regions  46  of the filter  26 ( 1 ) is seated against and coupled to the flange  42 ( 1 ) of spindle  14 ( 1 ). The filter  26 ( 2 ) is slid on to the spindle  14 ( 2 ) until one of the conductive regions  46  of the filter  26 ( 2 ) is seated against and coupled to the flange  42 ( 2 ) of spindle  14 ( 2 ). The spindle  14 ( 1 ) with the filter  26 ( 1 ) is seated in the passage  28 ( 1 ) in housing  12 ( 1 ) and the spindle  14 ( 2 ) with the filter  26 ( 2 ) is seated in the passage  28 ( 2 ) in housing  12 ( 1 ).  
     [0059] The conductive cover  52  has passages to allow the other ends of spindles  14 ( 1 )- 14 ( 2 ) to pass through and is seated over and is secured to panel mount housing  29 . A cover  54  also has passages to allow the other ends of spindles  14 ( 1 )- 14 ( 2 ) to pass through and is secured to the end of cover  52 . The filter power connector  10 ( 1 ) is seated in an opening  64  in a chassis  62  with the cover  52  and panel mount housing  29  secured to the chassis  62 . The other ends of the spindles  14 ( 1 )- 14 ( 2 ) are inserted in and coupled to the socket connectors  60 ( 1 )- 60 ( 2 ) which are coupled to bus bars  58 ( 1 )- 58 ( 2 ).  
     [0060] A sensor  32  may be inserted and secured in a chamber  30  in housing  12 ( 1 ) and is coupled to a monitoring system  34 . A variety of different wired and wireless communication systems and protocols may be used to couple sensor  32  to monitoring system  34 . Monitoring system  34  is coupled to power source  36  and can be used to manage the operation of the power source  36  in response to readings from sensor  32 . A conductive housing  74  or other conductive element can be used to couple the cable ground  72  for the power lines  70 ( 1 )- 70 ( 2 ) and the ground for the other conductive region  46  of filters  26 ( 1 )- 26 ( 2 ) to the chassis  62  to form a common ground as shown in FIGS.  15 A- 15 B in this and in other embodiments.  
     [0061] The method of making the filtered power connector  10 ( 2 ) in accordance with embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS.  7 - 11 . The method of making the filtered power connector  10 ( 2 ) is identical to the method of making filter power connector  10 ( 1 ), except as described herein. The filter  26 ( 1 ) is slid on to the spindle  16 ( 1 ) until one of the conductive regions  46  of the filter  26 ( 1 ) is seated against and coupled to the flange  42 ( 1 ) of spindle  16 ( 1 ). The filter  26 ( 2 ) is slid on to the spindle  16 ( 2 ) until one of the conductive regions  46  of the filter  26 ( 2 ) is seated against and coupled to the flange  42 ( 2 ) of spindle  16 ( 2 ). A conductive washer  66 ( 1 ) is slid on until the other one of the conductive region  46  of filter  26 ( 1 ) is seated against and coupled to the washer  66 ( 1 ). A conductive washer  66 ( 2 ) is slid on until the other one of the conductive region  46  of filter  26 ( 2 ) is seated against and coupled to the washer  66 ( 2 ).  
     [0062] The spindle  16 ( 1 ) with the filter  26 ( 1 ) and conductive washer  66 ( 1 ) are seated in the passage  28 ( 1 ) in housing  12 ( 2 ) and the spindle  15 ( 2 ) with the filter  26 ( 2 ) and conductive washer  66 ( 1 ) are seated in the passage  28 ( 2 ) in housing  12 ( 2 ). When the spindles  16 ( 1 )- 16 ( 2 ), filters  26 ( 1 )- 26 ( 2 ) and conductive washers  66 ( 1 )- 66 ( 2 ) are seated in the passages  28 ( 1 )- 28 ( 2 ), the conductive tubular projections  57 ( 1 )- 57 ( 2 ) engage with and are coupled to the conductive washers  66 ( 1 )- 66 ( 2 ) and the other conductive regions  46  of filters  26 ( 1 )- 26 ( 2 ).  
     [0063] The insulated housing  53  which has passages for the spindles  16 ( 1 )- 16 ( 2 ) and for filters  26 ( 1 )- 26 ( 2 ) is seated in the conductive panel housing  55  to insulate and shield the filters  26 ( 1 )- 26 ( 2 ) from the conductive panel housing  55  as shown in FIG. 10. The other ends of the spindles  16 ( 1 )- 16 ( 2 ) extend through the openings in the insulated housing  53  and are inserted in and coupled to the sockets  60 ( 1 )- 60 ( 2 ) which are coupled to bus bars  58 ( 1 )- 58 ( 2 ).  
     [0064] The method of making the filtered power connectors  10 ( 3 )- 10 ( 5 ) in accordance with embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS.  12 - 14 . The method of making the filtered power connectors  10 ( 3 )- 10 ( 5 ) is identical to the method of making filter power connector  10 ( 2 ), except that the types of spindles  18 ( 1 )- 18 ( 2 ),  20 ( 1 )- 20 ( 2 ), and  22 ( 1 )- 22 ( 2 ) are different and couple to the bus bars  58 ( 1 )- 58 ( 2 ) or to other power lines differently based on the type of connector, e.g. male, female, or genderless, at the end of the spindles  18 ( 1 )- 18 ( 2 ),  20 ( 1 )- 20 ( 2 ), and  22 ( 1 )- 22 ( 2 ).  
     [0065] The method of making the filtered power connector  10 ( 6 ) in accordance with embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS.  16 - 17 . The method of making the filtered power connector  10 ( 6 ) is identical to the method of making filter power connector  10 ( 2 ), except as described herein.  
     [0066] Contact washers  42 ( 1 )- 42 ( 2 ) are each slid onto one of the spindles  24 ( 1 )- 24 ( 2 ) up to flanges  96 ( 1 )- 96 ( 2 ). Filters  26 ( 1 )- 26 ( 2 ) are each slid onto one of the spindles  24 ( 1 )- 24 ( 2 ) until one of the conductive regions  46  of each of the filters  26 ( 1 )- 26 ( 2 ) is seated against and coupled to the contact washers  43 ( 1 )- 43 ( 2 ). EMI gasket  90  is slid onto spindles  24 ( 1 )- 24 ( 2 ), sitting loosely in place momentarily. Shield plate  88  is slid onto spindles  24 ( 1 )- 24 ( 2 ) adjacent EMI gasket  90 . Passages  28 ( 1 )- 28 ( 2 ) of panel-mount housing  94  are slid over one end of spindles  24 ( 1 )- 24 ( 2 ).  
     [0067] Nuts  84 ( 1 )- 84 ( 2 ) and washers  86 ( 1 )- 86 ( 2 ) are torqued onto the one end of the spindles  24 ( 1 )- 24 ( 2 ) in the passages  28 ( 1 )- 28 ( 2 ) to capture and compress contact washers  43 ( 1 )- 43 ( 2 ) and filters  26 ( 1 )- 26 ( 2 ) between flanges  96 ( 1 )- 96 ( 2 ) and shield plate  88 . Insulating cover  98  is slid onto the other end of spindles  24 ( 1 )- 24 ( 2 ) and washers  100 ( 1 )- 100 ( 2 ) and nuts  102 ( 1 )- 102 ( 2 ) are torqued onto the other end of the spindles  24 ( 1 )- 24 ( 2 ) to capturing the cover  98  and the gasket  90  to the previously assembled components. This compresses the gasket  90  against the shield plate  88 , and forms a liquid seal. Interior spaces within cover  98  are filled with potting compound. Insulator cover  104  is snapped into the rear of cover  98  (cosmetic purposes). Hex key  82  is snapped into desired orientation.  
     [0068] Finished filtered power connector  10 ( 6 ) is now ready for installation to the chassis  62 . Screws through the panel mount  94  fix the filtered power connector  10 ( 6 ) and bear the gasket  90  against the chassis  62  completing the ground circuit. The insulating cover  98  projects with clearance through a cutout in the chassis  62 , into the interior of the equipment.  
     [0069] The method of making the power supply connector  17  in accordance with embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS.  18 - 19 . The socket contacts  114 ( 1 )- 114 ( 2 ) are crimped onto the ends of power cables  70 ( 1 )- 70 ( 2 ) and then are inserted in the passages  97 ( 1 )- 97 ( 2 ) in the housing  19 . Socket contact keeper  110  is inserted in a slot in housing  19  to secure the socket contacts  114 ( 1 )- 114 ( 2 ) in place, although other types of retaining devices can be used. The clamps  112 ( 1 )- 112 ( 2 ) are secured around the socket contacts  114 ( 1 )- 114 ( 2 ) and a portion of the housing  19  and help to retain the socket contacts  114 ( 1 )- 114 ( 2 ) in place. The six-way key  82  is then inserted and locked in place in another passage between passages  97 ( 1 )- 97 ( 2 ). The finished power supply connector  17  is now ready to be coupled to filtered power connector  10 ( 6 ), although power supply connector  17  can be configured in other manners to be able to mate with other filtered power supply connectors.  
     [0070] Although methods for making the filtered power connectors  10 ( 1 )- 10 ( 6 ) and a power supply connector  17  are described herein, other methods for making the filtered power connectors  10 ( 1 )- 10 ( 6 ) and a power supply connector  17  can also be used.  
     [0071] The operation of the filtered power connector  10 ( 1 ) in accordance with embodiments of the present invention coupled to a monitoring system  34  and to a power source  36  will now be described with reference to FIGS.  1 - 6 . Power from a power source is provided to one end of the spindles  14 ( 1 )- 14 ( 2 ) from the bus bars  58 ( 1 )- 58 ( 2 ) or other power signal lines coupled to the spindles  14 ( 1 )- 14 ( 2 ). The power passes through the spindles  14 ( 1 )- 14 ( 2 ) out to other conductors coupled to the other end of the spindles  14 ( 1 )- 14 ( 2 ).  
     [0072] The filters  26 ( 1 )- 26 ( 2 ) filter the power as the power passes through the spindles  14 ( 1 )- 14 ( 2 ). In this particular embodiment, the filters  26 ( 1 )- 26 ( 2 ) filter out a substantial portion of any signal on the conductor between about 0 kHz and about 40 Ghz, although the filters  26 ( 1 )- 26 ( 2 ) can be configured to filter power in other manners, such as filtering out noise or spikes in the power signal. The conductive region  46  at one end of the filters  26 ( 1 )- 26 ( 2 ) is coupled to one of the flanges  42 ( 1 )- 42 ( 2 ) and the conductive region at the other end of the filters  26 ( 1 )- 26 ( 2 ) is coupled to the conductive cover  52  which is coupled to the housing  29  which is coupled to the chassis  62  which acts as ground. As a result, a substantial portion of any signal on the spindles  14 ( 1 )- 14 ( 2 ) is captured by the filters  26 ( 1 )- 26 ( 2 ) and is dissipated to ground through the cover  52  and housing  29  to chassis  62 . As a result, the present invention is able to provide a clear, high quality power signal.  
     [0073] The sensor  32  also monitors one or more characteristics about the delivery of the power, such as the temperature or the current reading in each spindle  14 ( 1 )- 14 ( 2 ). Based on the reading from the sensor  32 , the monitoring system  34  controls the operation of the power source  36 . By way of example only, if the sensor  32  reads a temperature above a stored threshold, the monitoring system  34  may signal the power source to shut down. The sensor  32  may also read a current level which is too high or low and the monitoring system  34  will control the operation of the power source  36  in response to this reading to either increase or decrease the current level to the appropriate amount.  
     [0074] The operation of the filtered power connector  10 ( 2 ) in accordance with embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS.  1 - 6 . The operation of the filtered power connector  10 ( 2 ) is the same as the operation of the filter power connector  10 ( 1 ) with the sensor  32  and monitoring system  34 , except as described herein.  
     [0075] Power from a power source is provided to one end of the spindles  16 ( 1 )- 16 ( 2 ) from the bus bars  58 ( 1 )- 58 ( 2 ) or other power signal lines coupled to the spindles  16 ( 1 )- 16 ( 2 ). The power passes through the spindles  16 ( 1 )- 16 ( 2 ) out to other conductors coupled to the other end of the spindles  16 ( 1 )- 16 ( 2 ).  
     [0076] The filters  26 ( 1 )- 26 ( 2 ) filter the power signal as the power signal passes through the spindles  16 ( 1 )- 16 ( 2 ). In this particular embodiment, the filters  26 ( 1 )- 26 ( 2 ) filter out a substantial portion of any signal on the spindles  16 ( 1 )- 16 ( 2 ) between about 0 kHz and about 40 Ghz, although the filters  26 ( 1 )- 26 ( 2 ) can be configured to filter power signals in other manners, such as filtering out noise or spikes in the power signal. The conductive region  46  at one end of the filters  26 ( 1 )- 26 ( 2 ) is coupled to one of the flanges  42 ( 1 )- 42 ( 2 ) and the conductive region at the other end of the filters  26 ( 1 )- 26 ( 2 ) is coupled to conductive washers  66 ( 1 )- 66 ( 2 ) which are coupled to conductive tubular projections  57 ( 1 )- 57 ( 2 ) which are coupled to the housing  55  which as ground. As a result, a substantial portion of any signal on the spindles  16 ( 1 )- 16 ( 2 ) is captured by the filters  26 ( 1 )- 26 ( 2 ) and is dissipated to ground through the conductive washers  66 ( 1 )- 66 ( 2 ) and the conductive tubular projections  57 ( 1 )- 57 ( 2 ) to the housing  55 . As a result, the present invention is able to provide clear, high quality power. Although not shown, the filter power connector  10 ( 2 ) may have a sensor  32  and a monitoring system  34  which operates as described above with reference to FIGS.  1 - 6 .  
     [0077] The operation of the filtered power connectors  10 ( 3 )- 10 ( 5 ) and  10 ( 7 ) in accordance with embodiments of the present invention is the same as the operation of the filter power connector  10 ( 2 ), except that different spindles and housings are used and thus will not be described again.  
     [0078] The operation of the filter power connector  10 ( 6 ) in accordance with embodiments of the present invention is the same as the operation of the filter power connector  10 ( 1 ), except as described herein. The power supply connector  17  is connected to the one end of filtered power connector  10 ( 6 ) so that power from a power source is provided to one end of the spindles  24 ( 1 )- 24 ( 2 ) from the power cables  70 ( 1 )- 70 ( 2 ), although other manners for delivering the power could be used. The power passes through the spindles  24 ( 1 )- 24 ( 2 ) out to other conductors coupled to the other end of the spindles  24 ( 1 )- 24 ( 2 ).  
     [0079] The filters  26 ( 1 )- 26 ( 2 ) filter the power as the power passes through the spindles  24 ( 1 )- 24 ( 2 ). In this particular embodiment, the filters  26 ( 1 )- 26 ( 2 ) filter out a substantial portion of any signal on the spindles  24 ( 1 )- 24 ( 2 ) between about 0 kHz and about 40 Ghz, although the filters  26 ( 1 )- 26 ( 2 ) can be configured to filter power in other manners. The conductive region  46  at one end of the filters  26 ( 1 )- 26 ( 2 ) is coupled to one of the flanges  43 ( 1 )- 43 ( 2 ) and the conductive region at the other end of the filters  26 ( 1 )- 26 ( 2 ) is coupled to EMI sealing gasket  90  which is coupled to EMI shield plate  88  which is coupled to the housing  94  which is coupled to chassis  62  that acts as ground. As a result, a substantial portion of any signal on the spindles  24 ( 1 )- 24 ( 2 ) is captured by the filters  26 ( 1 )- 26 ( 2 ) and is dissipated to ground through the EMI sealing gasket  90 , EMI shield plate  88 , panel housing  94  to the chassis  62 . As a result, the present invention is able to provide a clear, high quality power. Although not shown, the filter power connector  10 ( 6 ) may have a sensor  32  and a monitoring system  34  which operates as described above with reference to FIGS.  1 - 6 .  
     [0080] Having thus described the basic concept of the invention, it will be rather apparent to those skilled in the art that the foregoing detailed disclosure is intended to be presented by way of example only, and is not limiting. Various alterations, improvements, and modifications will occur and are intended to those skilled in the art, though not expressly stated herein. These alterations, improvements, and modifications are intended to be suggested hereby, and are within the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, the recited order of processing elements or sequences, or the use of numbers, letters, or other designations therefor, is not intended to limit the claimed processes to any order except as may be specified in the claims. Accordingly, the invention is limited only by the following claims and equivalents thereto.