Orientation Agnostic Electrical Connector

Abstract

The invention teaches how to establish 1 to 1 connection between a first group of n electrical signals to a second group of n electrical signals. A first connector half with a first group of n1 contacts equally spaced around a circle and a second connector half with a second group n2 connectors, also equally spaced around a circle, with n11=n2n. The angular extent of the individual contacts from the first group is e1, and that from the second group is e2. The angular extent of the gap between individual contacts from the second group is g2. Following relationship must be satisfied: e1<g2 and e2>(360/n1e1).

A switch interconnect means for connecting arbitrarily selected n contacts out of a first group of n1 contacts where (n11) n to n signals from a first group of n signals. The minimum number of signals required for doing this is n+(n1n)*n. A single pole switch is connected from each of the n signals from the first group to each of the n arbitrarily selected contacts from the first group of n1 contacts. Each of the remaining n1n contacts from first group, is connected to one end of a group of n switches. The other end of each switch from this group of switches is connected to each of the n signals from second group.

Claims

1. A method of establishing an electrical power connection across potentially misaligned a first and a second power connector bodies, the first connector body carries a first set of contactors and the second connector body carries a second set of contactors, comprising: a. providing first circuitry that identifies at least first and second electrically mating pairs that are electrically isolated from each other, from among the first and second sets of contactors; and b. providing second circuitry that establishes the power connection using the at least first and second electrically mating pairs.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of contactors has at least two contactor members, and the second set of contactors has at least three contactor members.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of contactors has n contactor members, and the second set of contactors has at least n+1 members.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first circuit identifies a third electrically mating pair that is electrically isolated from the first and the second electrically mating pairs, from among the first and second sets of contactors, and wherein the second circuitry establishes a power connection using the third electrically mating pair.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the first circuit identifies a fourth electrically mating pair that is electrically isolated from the first, the second and the third electrically mating pairs, from among the first and second sets of contactors, and wherein the second circuitry establishes a power connection using the fourth electrically mating pair.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and the second connector bodies are shaped to meet along a planer interface.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising utilizing the power connection to charge an electric vehicle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0007] FIG. 1: Connector agnostic to angular orientation: Isometric view, disengaged position.

[0008] FIG. 2: Connector agnostic to angular orientation: Isometric view, disengaged position.

[0009] FIG. 3 Connector agnostic to angular orientation: Isometric view, engaged and aligned position.

[0010] FIG. 4 Connector agnostic to angular orientation: Isometric view, engaged and miss-aligned position.

[0011] FIG. 5 Contact topology for a connector agnostic to angular orientation and overall system connections: Top view.

[0012] FIG. 6 Contact topology for a connector agnostic to angular orientation and overall system connections: Top view.

[0013] FIG. 7 Contact topology for a connector agnostic to angular orientation and overall system connections: Top view.

[0014] FIG. 8 Contact topology for a connector agnostic to angular orientation and overall system connections: Top view.

[0015] FIG. 9 Contact topology for a connector agnostic to angular orientation and system connections optimized to minimize switch count: Top view.

[0016] FIG. 10 Contact topology for a connector agnostic to angular orientation and system connections optimized to minimize switch count: Top view.

[0017] FIG. 11 Contact topology for a connector agnostic to angular orientation and system connections optimized to minimize switch count+hardware to detect the contact disposition.

[0018] FIG. 12 Contact topology for a connector agnostic to angular orientation and system connections optimized to minimize switch count+hardware to detect the contact disposition.

[0019] FIG. 13 Contact topology for a connector agnostic to angular orientation and system connections optimized to minimize switch count+hardware to detect the contact disposition.

[0020] FIG. 14 Contact topology for a connector agnostic to angular orientation and system connections optimized to minimize switch count+hardware to detect the contact disposition, with one less switch.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] Electrical power connectors have two halves, each carrying a group of connectors. These connector halves are brought together to mate with each other in a particular relative orientation. Frequently, the connectors have mechanical guides on one or both halves to guide the mating process into correct orientation such that each of the contacts from the first half mates with its matching counterpart from the second half. This invention teaches a contactor design that eliminates need for precise angular orientation of two halves of a power connector.

[0022] The Arrangement:

[0023] One of the embodiments of this invention is shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. It comprises of two halves 10 and 20. Where 10 carries a group of contactors 6, and 20 carries a group of connectors 5. For the purpose of visualization two marking notches 11 and 21 are inscribed on the lateral surfaces of 10 and 20 respectively. It should be noted that 11 and 21 do not play any role in the functioning of the connector. These two halves 10 and 20 mate as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. Here, FIG. 3 shows the basic configuration of the two halves 10 and 20 after mating. Additionally, as shown in FIG. 4, this innovation teaches contactor design that allows 10 and 20 to mate in any angular orientation 30. If a robot were to bring the two halves 10 and 20 together, this innovation allows the robot to not need a rotational actuator to align the two halves in direction 30.

[0024] FIG. 5 shows the top view of one embodiment of the invention. This embodiment is meant to connect n=2 electrical signals marked as S1 and S2 with a second group of electrical signals marked as L1 and L2. Just as an example, S1 and S2 are shown to emerge from an electricity source 1, and L1 and L2 are terminating into an electrical load 7. However it is not necessary for the first and send group of electrical signals to be source and load respectively. FIG. 5 shows the first set of n1 count of contacts 6A, 6B and 6C mounted on the first half 10, with n1=3. As seen in FIG. 5, some of the contacts 6A, 6B, and 6C connect with contacts from the second group of n2 count of contacts 5A and 5B with n2=2, mounted on second half 20 (not shown in FIG. 5). It should be noted that n2=n11n. The first group of contacts 6A, 6B, and 6C are evenly spaced around a circle with each contact having an angular extent of e1. The contacts 5A and 5B are also evenly spaced around a circle with the gaps between them having an angular extend of g2 and the contacts themselves having an angular extent of e2. It's clear that e2 and g2 are not independent, but are related by: 360=n2(e2+g2). The geometry is arranged such that e1<g2 and that e2>(360/n1e1). This ensures that any one of 6A, 6B or 6C never bridges the gap between 5A and 5B, thus never short circuiting 5A with 5B. Also, there will be at least one contact from the first group that will connect with each of the contacts from the second group.

[0025] Each of the first group of contacts 6A, 6B and 6C is connected to first terminal of a pair of switches. Specifically, 6A is connected to one end of each of the two switches from the first pair 4A and 4B, 6B is connected to one end of each of the two switches from the second pair 2A and 2B and 6C is connected to one end of each of the two switches from the third pair 3A and 3B. The remaining end of first switch from each of the first, second and third pairs is connected to S1. The remaining end of second switch from each of the first, second and third pairs is connected to S1 (see FIG. 5). When 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, 4A and 4B are correctly configures, either S1 or S2 can be connected to any one the contacts 6A, 6B or 6C. When n=n2, as is the case in this embodiment, each of the contacts from the second group is connected directly to a unique signal from the second group. For example in this embodiment, 5A is connected to L2 and 5B is connected to L1.

[0026] Operation: FIG. 6, FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 show the two connector halves at different orientations with respect to each other. Stating from the picture in FIG. 6; FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 show how the contacts progressively dispose themselves when first contactor half 10 rotates counterclockwise with respect to second contactor half 20. As seen in FIG. 7, 6Awhich was previously disconnected, comes in contact with 5A, much before 6B departs away from 5A. By the time 6B fully departs from 5A as seen in FIG. 8, 6A has fully established contact with 5A. Thus, at any rotational misalignment, the minimum required number of conduction paths are always available. All that is needed is for the control circuitry to figure out the rotational position and configure switches 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, 4A and 4B appropriately as shown in FIG. 6, FIG. 7 and FIG. 8. This configuration can be either set manually or automatically by a microprocessor.

[0027] Advantages:

[0028] The invention disclosed here uses a single ring for establishing all conduction paths. As a result, the mating surface and contacts have several desirable features: (i) The individual contacts can be made larger by taking advantage of the space saving design of single ring of contacts. This is particularly important for handling very high currents as the larger contacts not only allow for good sized contact surface and a large conductive body, but are also capable for dissipating any heat generated. (ii) This invention allows mating connector halves to tolerate rotational misalignment. This is important to be able to reduce the number of actuators required if the two mating halves are brought together mechanically.

[0029] Refinement1:

[0030] The embodiment in FIG. 5 uses six switches (n*n1). This arrangement allows connecting one particular signal from the first group (S1 or S2) to any one of the signals from second group (L1 or L2). In other words, the arrangement in FIG. 5 allows S1 to be connected to L1 or L2 without any constraint. Likewise, S2 can also be connected either to L1 or L2. Actual connection configuration can be chosen by the end user. However, if this degree of freedom is not required, but the only requirement is to connect S1 to one of the L1 and L2, and S2 to the other, then the number of switches can be reduced to 4 which is (n1n)*n+n, which is always less than n*n1). The specific arrangement for n=2 and n1=3 is shown in FIG. 9, which comprises of switches 8A, 8B-1, 8B-2 and 8C. The FIG. 9 shows the switches in open state and the FIG. 10 shows the switches in correct configuration to connect S1 and S2 to 6C and 6B respectively, which in turn connect with 5B and 5A respectively, which in turn connect to L1 and L2 respectively. Note that with the reduced number of switches, S1 to L1 and S2 to L2 is the only possible connection available in the configuration in FIG. 10. Typically, this is not a concern if the load or source is polarity agnostic, e.g. as is the case when 1 is an AC source and/or 7 is a resistive load.

[0031] Refinement2:

[0032] In order to configure the group of switches 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, 4A, 4B or the group of switches 8A, 8B-1, 8B-2, 8C; one needs to know which contacts 6A, 6B and 6C from the first group have connected with which particular contacts 5A or 5B from the second group. One approach is the use an encoder or an equivalent orientation sensor to measure relative orientation between 10 and 20. However, this could be expensive. Instead this invention teaches a novel approach of adding two switches 9A and 9B to signal paths for L1 and L2 as shown in FIG. 11. By using a specific sequence of switch configurations and continuity checks, a microprocessor or a human being can figure out how to configure the switches 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, 4A, 4B or 8A, 8B-1, 8B-2, 8C. These steps are listed below: [0033] Step 1: Disconnect 6A, 6B and 6C from S1 as well as S2. This means opening all of the switches 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, 4A, 4B or 8A, 8B-1, 8B-2, 8C. Also disconnect 5A and 5B from load or from each other. This means open 9A and 9B. See FIG. 11. Please note that the switch 9A is optional if (i) load 7 is capable of withstanding the small voltage used during the continuity checks used during this procedure and (ii) offers a low resistance that is detectable by continuity checks used during this procedure and in that case circuit of FIG. 11 can be simplified to circuit of FIG. 14 [0034] Step 2: Perform pairwise continuity check on 6A, 6B and 6C. The outcomes are all contacts are open, or two of them show short circuit. This represents the orientation shown in FIG. 7, where 6A and 6B are electrically connected by 5A. [0035] Step 3: Close the switch 9A. See FIG. 12. [0036] Step 4: Perform pairwise continuity check on 6A, 6B and 6C. The outcomes are: [0037] i. all contacts short circuited to each other (when 10 and 20 are oriented as shown in FIG. 7 i.e. when 6A and 6B are shorted through 5A and 6C is shorted to 5A through the pathway: 6C->5B->9A->5A->{6A and 6B}). [0038] ii. one pair is short circuited (when 10 and 20 are oriented as shown in FIG. 6 or FIG. 8). The short circuit is through 9A only. [0039] Step 5: Open switch 9A. Close switch 9B. See FIG. 13. [0040] Step 6: Combining the results of Step 2 and Step 4, one can understand which of the 6A, 6B or 6C are connected to 5A and 5B. Configure switches 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, 4A, 4B or switch 8A, 8B-1, 8B-2, 8C appropriately.

[0041] Application:

[0042] One of the important application of this technology is in the field of robotic hands-free charging of electric vehicles (EVs). In this application, a robot end effector would be installed with one half of an EV charging connector, and the other half would be installed on the electric vehicle. When the EV is to be charged, the robot would move its end effector and the attached connector half to bring it next to the connector half mounted on the EV. If this connector is to be designed as described in this invention, the Robot would not need to angularly align the two connector halves. This way, the robot end effector complexity can be reduced.

[0043] Another application is in the field of slip rings. In the traditional design of slip rings, each individual connection being transmitted across has its own dedicated ring. With the principle described in in this invention, multiple connections can be integrated into single slip ring that is peripherally segmented. This does add the complication of extra switching, as well as continuous monitoring of slip ring configuration. However, it allows for a significantly smaller slip ring design to be realized.

[0044] A third application is in the field of aerial drone recharging stations. The drone can simple land on the charging pad and not worry about the rotational alignment. The drone's landing gear will be fashioned as a ring, forming one half of the charging connector, and the charging pad surface will have appropriate mating connector embedded in it.

SUMMARY

[0045] The invention teaches how to establish 1 to 1 connection between a first group of n electrical signals to a second group of n electrical signals. A first connector half with a first group of n1 contacts equally spaced around a circle and a second connector half with a second group n2 connectors, also equally spaced around a circle, with n11=n2n. The angular extent of the individual contacts from the first group is e1, and that from the second group is e2. The angular extent of the gap between individual contacts from the second group is g2. Following relationship must be satisfied: e1<g2 and e2>(360/n1e1).

[0046] A switch interconnect means for connecting arbitrarily selected n contacts out of a first group of n1 contacts where (n11) n to n signals from a first group of n signals. The minimum number of signals required for doing this is n+(n1n)*n. A single pole switch is connected from each of the n signals from the first group to each of the n arbitrarily selected contacts from the first group of n1 contacts. Each of the remaining n1n contacts from first group, is connected to one end of a group of n switches. The other end of each switch from this group of switches is connected to each of the n signals from second group.

[0047] What is presented in this patent application are only few representative embodiments of the core innovation. There are countless situations where this innovation can be applied. Any variant embodiments of this innovation are anticipated by this disclosure and hence are to be considered as part of this patent.