Patent ID: 8542472

Claim:
Connector port power protection circuitry coupled between electrical components and first and second contacts in a first connector, wherein the first connector is configured to mate with a second connector having third and fourth contacts in a first orientation in which the first contact is coupled to the third contact and the second contact is connected to the fourth contact and a second orientation in which the first contact is coupled to the fourth contact and the second contact is connected to the third contact: a first circuit branch coupled between the first contact and the electrical components; a second circuit branch coupled between the second contact and the electrical components; and connector orientation detection circuitry coupled to the first and second connector contacts, wherein the connector orientation detection circuitry provides control signals to the first and second circuit branches so that the first circuit branch isolates the first contact from the electrical components in response to detection of the first orientation and so that the second circuit branch isolates the second contact from the electrical components in response to detection of the second orientation.