Plug assembly for a connectivity management system
View Patent ↗A plug assembly includes a body extending between a mating end and a cable end. A sensor assembly is supported by the body that has an integrated circuit component having a first pad and a second pad. The sensor assembly also has a first sensor probe mounted to the first pad and a second sensor probe mounted to the second pad.
1. A plug assembly comprising:
a plug body extending between a mating end and a cable end, the mating end being configured to be received in a receptacle of a receptacle housing; and
a sensor assembly supported by the body, the sensor assembly having an integrated circuit component having a first pad and a second pad, the sensor assembly having a first sensor probe mounted to the first pad, the sensor assembly having a second sensor probe mounted to the second pad, the first and second sensor probes forming part of a plug identification circuit defined by the integrated circuit component when the first and second sensor probes are connected to corresponding connectivity sensors associated with the receptacle that receives the mating end of the plug body.
2. The plug assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first and second sensor probes are directly connected to the first and second pads by a conductive joint.
3. The plug assembly of claim 1 , further comprising mounting features comprising a first standoff and a second standoff, the mounting features directly connect the first and second sensor probes to the first and second pads, respectively, wherein the first standoff positioned between the first sensor probe and the first pad and the second standoff positioned between the second sensor probe and the second pad, the first and second standoffs elevate the first and second sensor probes above the first and second pads, the first and second standoffs defining direct electrical paths between the first and second sensor probes and the first and second pads, respectively.
4. The plug assembly of claim 1 , further comprising mounting features comprising first and second clips, the mounting features directly connect the first and second sensor probes to the first and second pads, respectively, wherein the first sensor probe is held by the first clip in an interference fit, and the second sensor probe is held by the second clip in an interference fit, the first clip being electrically and mechanically coupled to the first pad, the second clip being electrically and mechanically coupled to the second pad.
5. The plug assembly of claim 1 , further comprising mounting features comprising first and second clips, the mounting features directly connect the first and second sensor probes to the first and second pads, respectively, wherein, the first clip has a first spring beam extending therefrom being electrically and mechanically coupled to the first pad, and the second clip has a second spring beam extending therefrom being electrically and mechanically coupled to the second pad, the first and second spring beams allowing the first and second clips to move relative to the first and second pads, respectively.
6. The plug assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first and second sensor probes are mounted to the first and second pads such that the first and second sensor probes extend along parallel axes.
7. The plug assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plug body is configured to be received in a receptacle of a receptacle housing through a front connectivity interface thereof, the receptacle housing having a plurality of connectivity sensors external of the receptacle exposed along the front connectivity interface, and wherein the first and second sensor probes have probe tips being configured to engage the connectivity sensors at the front connectivity interface when the body of the plug is loaded into the receptacle.
8. The plug assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second sensor probe is electrically grounded when mated with a corresponding connectivity sensor associated with a receptacle that receives the plug.
9. The plug assembly of claim 1 , wherein the integrated circuit component includes embedded circuitry containing data that uniquely identifies the plug.
10. The plug assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sensor assembly is overmolded into a strain relief boot surrounding a portion of the body, portions of the first and second sensor probes extending from the strain relief boot at the mating end of the body.
11. The plug assembly of claim 1 , wherein the integrated circuit component includes a substrate and embedded circuitry including a memory, the circuitry being electrically connected to the first and second pads, the substrate having a mating surface and a mounting surface opposite to the mating surface, the mounting surface being mounted to an exterior surface of the body, the first and second pads being exposed on, and being substantially flush with, the mating surface.
12. A plug assembly comprising:
a body extending between a mating end and a cable end; and
a sensor assembly supported by the body, the sensor assembly having an integrated circuit component having a first pad and a second pad, the sensor assembly having a first sensor probe mounted to the first pad, the sensor assembly having a second sensor probe mounted to the second pad, wherein the integrated circuit component comprises a memory chip having a memory circuit including data that uniquely identifies the plug, the memory circuit being configured to transmit data when the first and second sensor probes are connected to corresponding connectivity sensors associated with a receptacle that receives the body, the memory circuit being configured to transmit data based on an interrogation signal transmitted to at least one of the first and second sensor probes.
13. The plug assembly of claim 12 , wherein the body is configured to be received in a receptacle of a receptacle housing through a front connectivity interface thereof, the receptacle housing having a plurality of connectivity sensors external of the receptacle exposed along the front connectivity interface, and wherein the first and second sensor probes have probe tips being configured to engage the connectivity sensors at the front connectivity interface when the body of the plug is loaded into the receptacle.
14. The plug assembly of claim 12 , wherein the integrated circuit component includes a substrate and embedded circuitry including a memory, the circuitry being electrically connected to the first and second pads, the substrate having a mating surface and a mounting surface opposite to the mating surface, the mounting surface being mounted to an exterior surface of the body, the first and second pads being exposed on, and being substantially flush with, the mating surface.
15. A plug comprising:
a body extending between a mating end and a cable end; and
a sensor assembly supported by the body, the sensor assembly having an integrated circuit component having a substrate and embedded circuitry including a memory, the substrate having a mounting surface and a mating surface with a first pad and a second pad, the circuitry being electrically connected to the first and second pads, the mounting surface being mounted to an exterior surface of the body, the first and second pads being exposed on, and being substantially flush with, the mating surface, the sensor assembly having a first sensor probe extending along the mating surface and being electrically and mechanically connected to the first pad, the sensor assembly having a second sensor probe extending along the mating surface and being electrically and mechanically connected to the second pad.
16. The plug of claim 15 , wherein the first and second sensor probes are directly connected to the first and second pads by a conductive joint.
17. The plug of claim 15 , further comprising mounting features comprising a first standoff positioned between the first sensor probe and the first pad and a second standoff positioned between the second sensor probe and the second pad, the first and second standoffs elevate the first and second sensor probes above the first and second pads, the first and second standoffs defining direct electrical paths between the first and second sensor probes and the first and second pads, respectively.
18. The plug of claim 15 , wherein the integrated circuit component comprises a memory chip having a memory circuit including data that uniquely identifies the plug, the memory circuit being configured to transmit data when the first and second sensor probes are connected to corresponding connectivity sensors associated with a receptacle that receives the plug, the memory circuit being configured to transmit data based on an interrogation signal transmitted to at least one of the first and second sensor probes.
19. The plug of claim 15 , further comprising mounting features comprising first and second clips, the mounting features directly connect the first and second sensor probes to the first and second pads, respectively, wherein the first sensor probe is held by the first clip in an interference fit, and the second sensor probe is held by the second clip in an interference fit, the first clip being electrically and mechanically coupled to the first pad, the second clip being electrically and mechanically coupled to the second pad.
20. The plug of claim 15 , further comprising an overmolded strain relief boot surrounding a portion of the body, at least a portion of the substrate and portions of the first and second sensor probes, the first and second sensor probes having portions extending from the strain relief boot at the mating end of the body.
21. The plug of claim 15 , wherein the body is configured to be received in a receptacle of a receptacle housing through a front connectivity interface thereof, the receptacle housing having a plurality of connectivity sensors external of the receptacle exposed along the front connectivity interface, and wherein the first and second sensor probes have probe tips being configured to engage the connectivity sensors at the front connectivity interface when the body of the plug is loaded into the receptacle.