| US 7,479,019 B2 | ||
| Intelligent connector assembly for use in medical device cables | ||
| Harold B. Kent, Portola Valley, Calif. (US); James J. LeVante, Redwood City, Calif. (US); Joseph R. Layton, Sunnyvale, Calif. (US); and Aaron T. Fine, Alviso, Calif. (US) | ||
| Assigned to Medconx, Inc., Santa Clara, Calif. (US) | ||
| Filed on Jul. 23, 2004, as Appl. No. 10/897,616. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2006/0019512 A1, Jan. 26, 2006 | ||
| Int. Cl. H01R 12/00 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 439—76.1 [439/633] | 20 Claims |
| 1. An apparatus for use with an electrical plug having contact holes for electrical contact pins, the apparatus comprising:
a housing configured to receive the plug, a portion of the housing having a circular periphery with alignment protrusions;
a circuit block configured to mate with the housing within the circular periphery of the housing, the circuit block having
a polygonal periphery with alignment indentations configured to receive the alignment protrusions on the housing for the circuit
block to mate with the housing in only one orientation; and
electrical contact pins projecting from the circuit block to enter the contact holes when the plug is inserted in the housing;
wherein the alignment indentations on the circuit block interrupt the polygonal periphery at each linear side of the circuit
block;
wherein the polygon periphery of the circuit block is rectangular with four alignment indentations;
wherein the four alignment indentations are located at the four corners of the rectangle; and
wherein the four alignment indentations include diagonally opposed indentations that are configured differently from each
other.
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