Patent Publication Number: US-7591681-B1

Title: Sensor connector assembly

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention generally relates to an electrical connector assembly, and more particularly to an electrical connector assembly equipped with a thermal sensing device adapted to measure the temperature where the electrical connector assembly is located so as to decide when to startup a cooling system. 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   To keep electronic circuits and computers work under certain temperature is a common practice in our daily life. It will consume power to conduct the heat away. Due to power saving in electronic computers and equipment is good for environment. An electrical connector assembly is expected to be equipped with a temperature or thermal sensor to measure the temperature where the electrical connector assembly is located so as to decide when to startup a cooling system, which is provided for cooling the environment of the electrical connector assembly. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   A sensor connector assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises an extender including a base defining opposite first and second mating faces, the second mating face different from the first mating face; a chamber standing upon a top wall of the base of the extender; a thermal sensing device received in the chamber; and a cover assembled onto the chamber for covering the thermal sensing device, the cover defining a plurality of through holes to communicate the thermal sensing device with the outside. This thermal sensing device is configured to measure or sense the temperature where the connector assembly is located so as to decide when to startup a cooling system for the connector assembly. 
   Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an assembled, perspective view of a sensor connector assembly in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is an assembled, perspective view of the sensor connector assembly of  FIG. 1 , but viewed from another aspect; 
       FIG. 3  is a partly-exploded, perspective view of the sensor connector assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is another partly-exploded, perspective view of the sensor connector assembly of  FIG. 1 ; and 
       FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view of a part of the sensor connector assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1-2  in conjunction with  FIGS. 3-4 , a sensor connector assembly in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes an extender having a first connector  1  and a second connector  2  electrically connected and disposed in a back-to-back relationship with each other, a chamber or receptacle  3  standing upon a top wall  30  of a base of the extender, a thermal sensing device received in the chamber  3 , and a cover  4  assembled onto the chamber  3  for covering the thermal sensing device, wherein the cover  4  defines a plurality of through holes  40  to communicate the thermal sensing device with the outside. 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , the first connector  1  has a connector body including a first forward mating port  10  defined on a first mating face  101 , a plurality of terminal passageways  103  formed in the connector body to communicate with the first mating port  10 , a plurality of terminals received in the respective terminal passageways  103  with contact sections  105  exposed in the first mating port. Referring to  FIG. 2 , the second connector  2  has a base including a mating tongue  21  exposed in a second mating port  20  defined on a second mating face  201 , and a plurality of contacts  23  disposed on a same face of the mating tongue  21 , wherein the second mating face  201  is different from the first mating face  101 . Referring to  FIG. 5 , the second connector  2  is electrically connected with the first connector  1  by the terminals of the first connector  1  engaging with the contacts  23  of the second connector  2 . In this preferred embodiment, the chamber  3  is configured to stand upon the top wall  30  of the connector body of the first connector  1 . In alternative embodiments, the chamber  3  may be defined on any wall of the first connector  1  or second connector  2 , or walls of both of the first and second connectors. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 3-4 , the thermal sensing device includes a thermal transistor  51 , a first thermal connector  52  having one end electrically connected to the thermal transistor  51  and another end electrically connected to a cable  54 , a second thermal connector  53  disposed transverse to the first thermal connector  52  and electrically connected with the first thermal connector  52  by the cable  54 , and a thermal pad  56  located outward of the thermal transistor  51  and the first thermal connector  52  to communicate with the outside and adapted to conduct the outside heat to the thermal transistor  51 , wherein an entrance of the chamber  3  at one side is walled up by the thermal pad  56 . The cover  4  is further assembled onto the outmost of the chamber  3  to cover or protect the thermal pad  56 , with thereof a plurality of through holes  40  for transmitting the outside heat to the thermal pad  56 . This thermal sensing device is configured to measure or sense the temperature of a specific position where the connector assembly is located so as to decide when to startup a cooling system for the connector assembly. When the temperature of the specific position where the connector assembly is located, is within a predetermined range measured by the thermal sensing device, the cooling system for the connector assembly is not enabled so as to have power savings. When the measured temperature is beyond a predetermined temperature, which will influence the normal operation of the electrical connector assembly, the cooling system for the connector assembly is enabled for temperature reduction to assure the normal operation of the electrical connector assembly. 
   It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.