A battery connector adapter includes a housing, a positive electrode terminal, a negative electrode terminal, two positive electrode connectors and two negative electrode connectors. The positive electrode terminal, the negative electrode terminal, the two positive electrode connectors, and the two negative electrode connectors are disposed in the housing. The two positive electrode connectors are electrically connected to the positive electrode terminal respectively by the two first transmission lines. The two negative electrode connectors are electrically connected to the negative electrode terminal respectively by the two second transmission lines, wherein the two first transmission lines and the two second transmission lines are disposed in the housing.

An I/O system including an I/O base, and at least one I/O module mechanically and electrically coupled with the I/O base. The I/O module includes a locking actuator assembly having a locking actuator movable from a first unlocked position to a second locked position, the locking actuator configured to interlock with the I/O base to secure the I/O module to the base when in the second position, and a sensor for sensing a position of the locking actuator and generating a signal indicative of the position of the locking actuator.

A terminal for a charging inlet assembly includes a head secured in a terminal channel of a housing of the charging inlet assembly having a terminating end configured to be terminated to a power cable. The head has a temperature sensor channel extending longitudinally therethrough open at the rear of the terminal. The terminal includes a pin at a front of the terminal. The pin has an outer surface defining a separable mating interface for mating engagement with a charging conductor of a charging connector. The terminal includes a temperature sensor assembly received in the temperature sensor channel. The temperature sensor assembly includes a temperature sensor and a lead extending from the temperature sensor through the temperature sensor channel. The temperature sensor is axially aligned with the separable mating interface of the pin within an interior of the terminal for sensing a temperature of the pin.

In an embodiment, the present invention provides a plug connector part for connection to a mating plug connector part, including a plurality of electrical contact elements for carrying an electrical current and establishing electrical contact with contact elements of a mating plug connector part, the plurality of electrical contact elements including a plurality of temperature sensors, each of which is arranged on one associated contact element, respectively, of the plurality of contact elements, to detect a change in a temperature of the associated contact element, the temperature sensors being connected to a common sensor line.

A connector with self-powered mating detection is disclosed. An example disclosed connector pair includes a first connector. The example connector pair also includes a piezoelectric sensor attached to the first connector. The example piezoelectric sensor generates a voltage when the first connector and a second connector are mated. The example piezoelectric sensor generates a voltage when the first connector and a second connector are unmated. The example connector pair also includes a memory circuit electrically coupled to the piezoelectric sensor to record a connection event in response to detecting voltage generated by the piezoelectric sensor(s). Additionally, the example connector pair includes an RFID circuit electrically coupled to the memory circuit. The example RFID circuit transmits the connection events.

Embodiments of an electrical outlet of the present invention generally include one or more sockets which include, in addition to positive, negative, and optionally, grounding electrical connections, at least one coupling/communication component, wherein AC electrical current flows through the outlet only when a plug comprising a complementary coupling/communication component is engaged with the socket, whereby the proximity of the coupling/communication component and the complementary coupling/communication component actuates the outlet to provide electrical current therethrough. In one embodiment, in lieu of a complementary coupling/communication component, a wireless transmission device is used to send a signal to the coupling/communication component to actuate the outlet. In other embodiments, an electrical outlet of the present invention includes a mechanism for maintaining engagement between the outlet and a receptacle/plug that provides for safe disengagement when they are inadvertently separated. Embodiments of a method of using embodiments of apparatuses of the present invention are also provided.

A cable structured to be repeatedly connected to a device, each repeated connection causing degradation of the cable, the cable including a condition indicator disposed on the cable and configured to be updated with each successive connection of the cable into the device.

A computer includes a processor, a PCIe-compatible interface bus that includes a root that is connected to the processor, and a routing complex that is connected to the root and is controlled by the processor. The computer also includes a first interface slot that is connectable to the root by the switches, a second interface slot that is connectable to the root by the switches, and an extended interface slot that is connectable to the root by the switches. The switches are configured based on properties of a first peripheral device to define a first switching configuration when the first peripheral device is connected only to the first interface slot and to define a second switching configuration when the first peripheral device is connected to both of the first interface slot and the extended interface slot.

A busway for power distribution to equipment positioned in information technology racks includes a plurality of locations in the busway suitably being configured to receive a plurality of detachably engageable taps. The busway, which are external to the information technology racks, includes a plurality of segments, each of which are detachably engaged with one another and including at least one of the plurality of locations. The busway provides power to the information technology racks by respective taps, where each of the taps includes a respective electrical sensor that senses at least one of a voltage level and a current level. Each of the electrical sensors providers an output signal to a computing device.

Various embodiments of active cover plates are disclosed. Active cover plates may include a face plate, an electrical load, at least one clip extending rearward from the faceplate. The clip may include a contact, a resilient strip supporting the contact, wherein the contact is joined to the resilient strip and passes through the resilient strip, and a rear insulator covering a rear side of the contact. An electrical connection may be formed between the clip and the electrical load.