Patent Abstract:
An aspect provides a plug including: a connection element for connecting to a port of an information handling device; a detection element disposed within the plug; and an illumination source disposed within the plug; the detection element controlling illumination of the illumination source via detecting the information handling device. Other aspects are described and claimed.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Information handling devices (“devices”) come in a variety of forms, for example laptop computing devices, tablet computing devices, smart phones, e-readers, MP 3  players, and the like. Many such devices are mobile and thus configured for use with a rechargeable battery. 
         [0002]    The rechargeable battery may be charged via a wired connection. Wired charging connection arrangements (“connections”) operate to supply current for recharging the battery via a plug or connector, transferring charging current from a commercial power source outlet to the device&#39;s rechargeable battery. There are many different types of connections. Many designs of connections are “keyed”. That is, the plug end of the wire includes a connector element that fits into a port on the device, but each of the connector element of the plug and the port of the device is designed asymmetrically. This helps to ensure that the plug is inserted in the proper orientation into the device&#39;s charging port. Additionally, connections and keyed connections are used for other purposes, e.g., data connections such as USB, and other connections (combined) are utilized for combined charging/data transmission. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0003]    In summary, one aspect provides a plug comprising: a connection element for connecting to a port of an information handling device; a detection element disposed within the plug; and an illumination source disposed within the plug; the detection element controlling illumination of the illumination source via detecting the information handling device. 
         [0004]    Another aspect provides a method, comprising: bringing a detection element disposed within a plug into a predetermined proximity of a detection element of an information handling device; and illuminating an illumination source of the plug in response to the detection elements being brought into the predetermined proximity of one another. 
         [0005]    The foregoing is a summary and thus may contain simplifications, generalizations, and omissions of detail; consequently, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. 
         [0006]    For a better understanding of the embodiments, together with other and further features and advantages thereof, reference is made to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The scope of the invention will be pointed out in the appended claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1(A-B)  illustrates an example plug and device. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  illustrates an example method of connection illumination using communication elements. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  illustrates an example of information handling device circuitry. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0010]    It will be readily understood that the components of the embodiments, as generally described and illustrated in the figures herein, may be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations in addition to the described example embodiments. Thus, the following more detailed description of the example embodiments, as represented in the figures, is not intended to limit the scope of the embodiments, as claimed, but is merely representative of example embodiments. 
         [0011]    Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” (or the like) means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, the appearance of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” or the like in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. 
         [0012]    Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided to give a thorough understanding of embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the various embodiments can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, et cetera. In other instances, well known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obfuscation. 
         [0013]    Specific examples are described herein with respect to charging connections. However, it will be readily apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art that the charging connection based examples may be extended to other connections such as data connections and/or combined charging/data connections. 
         [0014]    An example of a keyed connection arrangement (“plug”) is illustrated in  FIG. 1(A-B) . The plug  100  includes a connection element  101  and a wire  102  connected by an intermediary element  103 . The wire  102 , in the case of a charging connection, provides power to the plug  100  generally and to the connection element  101  specifically for charging another device, e.g., device  105 . The wire  102  in such a charging connection scenario thus includes an end that connects to a commercial power outlet and an end that includes a plug  100  and a connection for a port  106  of a device  105 . The intermediary element  103  may include a detection element or component that communicates with or is detectable by a detection element  109  of the device  105 . The device  105  may have a battery to be charged. Again, alternatively the plug  100  may be a data only plug or a combination plug for transmitting power and data. 
         [0015]    Referring to  FIG. 1A-B , the connection element  101  connects to a port  106  of the device  105  and physically contacts a contact element  108  through which charging current and/or data may be supplied. Thus, in the case of a charging connection power from the wire  103  travels through the contact element  108  of the device  105 . 
         [0016]    The connection element  101  illustrated is keyed, i.e., is asymmetric about a plane (indicated by the dashed line), as is the port  106  of the device  105 . Particularly, the shape of the connection element  101  matches the fittings of the port  106  such that the connection element enters into a space  107  and is able to contact the contact element  108  of the device  105 . There connecting element  101  of the plug  100  therefore is only connectable to the port  106  of the device  105  in a certain orientation. 
         [0017]    A keyed arrangement, while useful for ensuring appropriate connection between plug  100  and device  105 , complicates use because it requires a particular orientation of the plug  100  relative to the device  105  in order to insert the connection element  101  into the port  106 . This oftentimes is difficult, for example in low light conditions. Moreover, the plug  100  is oftentimes small in form, making visual identification of the proper orientation quite difficult, especially under low light conditions. It will be appreciated that the small form of the plugs (e.g., combined USB/power plug of a smart phone or tablet) makes insertion of the connection element  101  into the port  106  of the device  105  difficult even if the connection is not keyed. Such difficulties in determining the proper orientation of the connection elements (e.g. plug  101  and port  106 ) is therefore quite difficult in certain circumstances, e.g., in low light. 
         [0018]    Accordingly, an example embodiment provides an illumination feature, for example included with the intermediary element  103  in the form of a light emitting diode (LED)  110  or other suitable source of illumination. In one example, the illumination feature leverages short range communication or sensing to provision light such that, under low light conditions such as at night, a user is supplied with additional light in order to effect a connection between the plug  100  and the port  106  of the device  105 . 
         [0019]    In an example configuration, the intermediary element  103  of the plug  100  may include a short range communication feature such as a radio frequency identification (RFID) element (e.g., RFID chip). This short range communication feature may take a variety of forms but includes an element that is detectable, e.g., by a device  105  or component or subsystem thereof, such as detection element  109 , based on proximity, e.g. on the order of centimeters. For near field communication elements, as an example, the proximity range may be about 10 cm or less. 
         [0020]    For example, the device  105  may include a detection element  109  including an RFID reader that detects an RFID chip of the intermediary element  103 . In the example of an RFID arrangement, intermediary element  103  includes an RFID chip or tag that is read or detected by an RFID chip or tag reader of the detection element  109  of the device  105 . Other short range communication or sensing mechanisms may be employed. 
         [0021]    The RFID chip of the intermediary element  103  may be detected in a variety of ways. An example includes modulation of a field produced by the detection element  109  of the device  105 , for example when intermediary element  103  is brought into a predetermined proximity of (in the field of) the detection element  109 . This modulation of the field about detection element  109  may be detected and act as a signal. A signal thus detected may be utilized to activate a source of illumination, for example switch on power (e.g., from the wire) to the LED  110  of plug  100 . 
         [0022]    Additionally or alternatively, the device  105  may include a detection element  109  such as an RFID reader that detects an RFID chip of the intermediary element  103  and provides sufficient power to the intermediary element  103  such that a source of illumination, e.g., LED  110 , of the intermediary element  103  is powered by the near field communication. Thus, the LED  110  may be detected (by association with intermediary element  103 ) and turned on based on proximity of the NFC elements  103 ,  109  of the plug  100  and the device  105 . 
         [0023]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , therein is illustrated an example method of connector illumination. At  210  a user brings the plug  100  and the device  105  into a predetermined proximity. This permits the detection elements to be located proximate to one another. For example, intermediary element  103  and detection element thereof are brought near the detection element  109  of the device. This in turn permits the detection elements to be detected using, e.g., near field communication. Thus, the plug  100  may be detected as proximate to the device  105  at step  220 . 
         [0024]    When the plug  100  is detected at  220 , an illumination source, e.g., LED  110  of intermediary element  103 , may be powered at step  230 . This may take a variety of forms, as described herein. For example, an LED may be powered by the near field communication, the LED  110  may be powered via power received from a wire  102 , etc. With the illumination source powered, illumination is provided such that a user may more readily see the port  106  of the device  105  for inserting the insertion element  101 . Moreover, the additional illumination provided by the plug  100  (or component thereof) provides an aid in properly orienting the plug  100  with respect to the port  106  of the device  105 , assisting users of “keyed” connectors. 
         [0025]    In this respect, referring back to  FIG. 1A , the source of illumination, e.g., LED  110 , may be positioned in a useful way. In the example of  FIG. 1A , the LED  110  is placed on a certain, keyed side of the connector element  101 . This allows the user to remember that the illumination source, e.g., LED  110 , is oriented in a certain way. This in turn will assist the user in attempts to insert the insertion element  101  into the port  106  when a keyed connector is utilized. 
         [0026]    Optionally, the connection of the plug  100  into the port  106  also may be utilized to control illumination. For example, at step  240  the plug  100  is detected as being connected to the port  106 , which may be utilized (e.g., by device  105  or by intermediary element  103 , or the like) as a signal that the LED  110  should be powered off. 
         [0027]    In other examples, certain components may be rearranged depending on the desired implementation, components, etc. For example, other communication techniques, components or elements may be utilized other than near field communication elements. Additionally, other arrangements of components may be utilized, such as rearranging the positioning of the LED  110  or other illumination source on the plug  100 , moving the LED  110  or other illumination source to another component, for example the device, or other suitable combinations. 
         [0028]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , while various other circuits, circuitry or components may be utilized, with regard to laptop, smart phone and/or tablet circuitry  300 , an example illustrated in  FIG. 3  includes an ARM based system (system on a chip) design, with software and processor(s) combined in a single chip  310 . Internal busses and the like depend on different vendors, but essentially all the peripheral devices ( 320 ) may attach to a single chip  310 . The circuitry  300  combines the processor, memory control, and I/O controller hub all into a single chip  310 . Also, ARM based systems  300  do not typically use SATA or PCI or LPC. Common interfaces for example include SDIO and I2C. 
         [0029]    There are power management chip(s)  330 , e.g., a battery management unit, BMU, which manage power as supplied for example via a rechargeable battery  340 , which may be recharged by a connection to a power source such as provided by a connector, e.g., plug and port arrangement shown as an illustrative example in  FIG. 1(A-B) . The circuitry  300  may thus be included in a device such as the information handling device of  FIG. 1B . In at least one design, a single chip, such as  310 , is used to supply BIOS like functionality and DRAM memory. 
         [0030]    ARM based systems  300  typically include one or more of a WWAN transceiver  350  and a WLAN transceiver  360  for connecting to various networks, such as telecommunications networks and wireless base stations. Commonly, an ARM based system  300  will include a touch screen  370  for data input and display. ARM based systems  300  also typically include various memory devices, for example flash memory  380  and SDRAM  390 . 
         [0031]    Information handling devices, as for example outlined in  FIG. 1B  and  FIG. 3 , may include ports for wired charging connections, e.g., connector as illustrated in  FIG. 1(A-B) , to recharge a rechargeable battery, e.g., battery  340 . It should be noted, however, that the example device of  FIG. 1B  and circuitry of  FIG. 3  are examples only, and other devices and circuitry may be used. Moreover, although RFID communication techniques have been focused on herein, embodiments may be implemented using other suitable communication or sensing techniques. 
         [0032]    As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, various aspects may be embodied as a system, method or device program product. Accordingly, aspects may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment or an embodiment including software that may all generally be referred to herein as a “circuit,” “element” or “system.” Furthermore, aspects may take the form of a device program product embodied in one or more device readable medium(s) having device readable program code embodied therewith. 
         [0033]    Any combination of one or more non-signal device readable medium(s) may be utilized. The non-signal medium may be a storage medium. A storage medium may be, for example, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. More specific examples of a storage medium would include the following: a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. 
         [0034]    Program code embodied on a storage medium may be transmitted using any appropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless, wireline, optical fiber cable, RF, et cetera, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. 
         [0035]    Program code for carrying out operations may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages. The program code may execute entirely on a single device, partly on a single device, as a stand-alone software package, partly on single device and partly on another device, or entirely on the other device. In some cases, the devices may be connected through any type of connection or network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made through other devices (for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider) or through a hard wire connection, such as over a USB connection. 
         [0036]    Aspects are described herein with reference to the figures, which illustrate example methods, devices and program products according to various example embodiments. It will be understood that the actions and functionality may be implemented at least in part by program instructions. These program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose information handling device, a special purpose information handling device, or other programmable data processing device or information handling device to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via a processor of the device implement the functions/acts specified. 
         [0037]    This disclosure has been presented for purposes of illustration and description but is not intended to be exhaustive or limiting. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. The example embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain principles and practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the disclosure for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. 
         [0038]    Thus, although illustrative example embodiments have been described herein with reference to the accompanying figures, it is to be understood that this description is not limiting and that various other changes and modifications may be affected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the disclosure.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7