Circuits, methods, and apparatus that may provide power supply voltages in a safe and reliable manner that meets safety and regulatory concerns and does not exceed physical limitations of cables and other circuits and components used to provide the power supply voltages. One example may provide a cable having a sufficient number of conductors to provide power without exceeding a maximum current density for the conductors. Another example may provide a cable having more than the sufficient number of conductors in order to provide an amount of redundancy. Current sense circuits may be included for one or more conductors. When an excess current is sensed, a power source in the power supply may be shut down, the power source may be disconnected from one or more conductors, or both events may occur.

Active cables and communication methods can provide data path redundancy with power sharing. In one illustrative cable implementation, the cable includes a first connector with contacts to supply power to circuitry in the first connector; a second connector with contacts to supply power to a component of the circuitry in the first connector via a first connection that prevents reverse current flow; and a third connector with contacts to supply power to the same component via a second connection that prevents reverse current flow. An illustrative method implementation includes: using contacts of a first connector to supply power to circuitry in the first connector; and using contacts in each of multiple redundant connectors to supply power to a component of said circuitry in the first connector via a corresponding diodic or switched connection that prevents reverse current flow.

Circuits, methods, and apparatus that can provide an untethered cable that can safely provide power using a variety of power adapters, can protect users from voltages at exposed contacts of a connector insert, and can disconnect from a power adapter when damage to the cable is detected.

A leakage current detection and interruption (LCDI) device for a power cord includes a switch module that controls an electrical connection of first and second power supply lines between input and an output ends; a leakage current detection module, including first and second leakage current detection lines, which respectively cover the first and second power supply lines, and are respectively configured to detect leakage current signals on the first and second power supply lines and to generate self-test fault signals in response to the first and second leakage current detection lines having an open circuit; and a drive module which receives the first and/or second leakage current signal and the first and/or second self-test fault signal, and drives the switch module to disconnect the electrical connection in response to these signals. The LCDI device can individually detect leaks on the two power supply lines and open circuit on the two leakage current detection lines.

A smart sheath for the protection of an electric cable comprises an inner insulating tubular layer (3) adapted to contain the conductive elements (4) of the electric cable (1), an outer tubular protective layer (5) placed on the inner tubular layer (3), coaxially thereto, an electric control circuit (6) arranged inside the outer tubular layer (5) and adapted to intercept the induced electric currents generated by the passage of the electric current in the conductive elements (4). Furthermore, the electric control circuit (6) is operatively connected to electric current sensor means (7) and to microcontrollers (13) adapted to discriminate a value of the induced electric current higher than a predetermined maximum value to signal an overload inside the electric cable (1) or absence of the induced electric current for report a possible short-circuit.

A main electrical cabling is subject to variations in ambient temperature over its length. A detection system for detecting fault in the main electrical cabling able to cause a serial arc, or heating within a connection, includes a monitor electrical cabling placed as a return loop alongside the main electrical cabling, a monitoring device, and a return cable bringing back electrical potential at the output of the main electrical cabling to the monitoring device. The monitoring device includes a controllable current generator injecting, into the monitor electrical cable, a current dependent on current flowing through the main electrical cabling. Electronic circuitry determines a difference in voltages at inputs and outputs of the main electrical cabling and of the monitor electrical cabling, to detect a potential fault in the main electrical cabling leading to a serial arc or increase in temperature. A fault in the main electrical cabling is detected despite variations in temperature.

Described are system and method embodiments for shield fault detection to protect the cable, components and other circuits connected to the cable shield, and to avoid high short circuit currents flowing from a power source to ground during unexpected events. A threshold voltage detector and a slope detector may be used to sense the voltage on a shield pin switchably coupled to ground via a shield ground. Method embodiments to distinguish the shield ground switch current caused by a shield fault from normal operation are also discussed. In certain situations, a weak ground path is established first to sense or identify a valid attachment on the cable before establishing a strong ground path. The disclosed embodiments, separately or in combination, may effectively detect shield fault with improved performance.

A surge protector for providing electricity to an electronic device. The surge protector including a housing defining a module slot and including a module connector positioned within the module slot and a module insertable into the module slot and including at least one connector port and a housing connector. The housing connector can be operably connectable to the module connector when the module is inserted into the module slot. The cable can be connected to the module and housing such that the module can be positioned at a location remote from the housing.

Methods and apparatuses, including computer program code are disclosed herein that provide damage protection to cables and connectors. In one aspect, there is provided an apparatus. The apparatus may include an electrical connector comprising a power supply pin and at least one control pin. The apparatus may further include a protective element configured to change a state of the at least one control pin to cause the power supply pin to become inactive. The protective element may be integrated with the electrical connector and/or integrated at one or more locations along the length of a cable.

Circuits, methods, and apparatus that may provide power supply voltages in a safe and reliable manner that meets safety and regulatory concerns and does not exceed physical limitations of cables and other circuits and components used to provide the power supply voltages. One example may provide a cable having a sufficient number of conductors to provide power without exceeding a maximum current density for the conductors. Another example may provide a cable having more than the sufficient number of conductors in order to provide an amount of redundancy. Current sense circuits may be included for one or more conductors. When an excess current is sensed, a power source in the power supply may be shut down, the power source may be disconnected from one or more conductors, or both events may occur.