Patent ID: 7448919

Claim:
A method for safely powering a portable electronic device, the method comprising: providing a cigarette-lighter assembly connector including: a) a housing having a barrel portion that is substantially cylindrical about an axis; b) an electrically conductive plunger mounted for displacement along the axis of the barrel portion of the housing, the range of axial displacement for the plunger ranging from a retracted extremum to an extended extremum; c) an electrically conductive light-source terminal positioned to make electrical contact with the plunger only when the plunger is retracted at least a specified distance from the extended extremum; d) a light source in electrical communication with the light-source terminal such that the light source can be powered to emit light when a voltage is applied to the plunger and when the plunger is retracted at least the specified distance; e) at least one electrically conductive side terminal extending out of the barrel portion of the housing; f) a power cable extending from the housing and electrically coupled with the plunger and with the side terminal; and g) at least one spring disposed between the plunger and the barrel portion; providing a portable electronic device coupled with or couplable with the power cable; and inserting the barrel portion of the housing into a cigarette-lighter socket until the light source is powered to emit light, indicating that the cigarette-lighter assembly connector is inserted sufficiently far into socket to enable safe operation of the portable electronic device.