Progressive impedance connector
A connector includes a base and a connector member with a first end connected to the base and a second end opposite the first end. A first region on the connector member, located adjacent the first end, has a first impedance. A second region on the connector member, located adjacent the second end, has a second impedance greater than the first impedance. When an electrostatically charged device is connected to the connector, the electrostatic charge is dissipated relatively slowly due to initial contact with the second region of increased impedance, lowering the voltage resulting from the connection in order to protect static sensitive circuits coupled to the connector.
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This application claims priority to and is a divisional of co-owned, copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/777,374, filed Feb. 12, 2004, by Marie-Pascale Chagny and Steven L. Williams, entitled PROGRESSIVE IMPEDANCE CONNECTOR, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUNDThe present disclosure relates generally to information handling systems, and more particularly to a connector for connecting an electro-statically charged device to an information handling system.
As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option available to users is information handling systems. An information handling system generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes thereby allowing users to take advantage of the value of the information. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements vary between different users or applications, information handling systems may also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in information handling systems allow for information handling systems to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, information handling systems may include a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems.
Information handling systems are sensitive to electrostatic discharges (ESDs). Often, an ESD event happens when connecting a charged device, such as a USB device or other peripherals, to the information handling system. As the charged device is connected to the information handling system, the charge on the device is rapidly discharged, resulting in a high voltage transient that can permanently damage static sensitive circuits in the information handling system. A variety of ESD protection schemes have been devised to deal with this problem.
An ESD protection network can include of a set of primary shunt devices, a series resistor, and a set of secondary shunt devices. Other schemes include the use of a plurality of shunt devices. The shunt devices are typically built using diodes, although transistors can be used as well. External components, including diodes and varistors, can also be added on to the system board to supplement the ESD protection network. The problem with these and other ESD protection networks is that series resistors and shunt devices can reduce signal integrity, take up board space, and result in an added cost to the information handling system. In addition, the ESD protection networks are limited in the amount of discharge they can safely absorb.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a connector for connecting an electrostatically charged device to an information handling system absent the disadvantages found in the prior devices and methods discussed above.
SUMMARYAccording to one embodiment, a connector includes a base and a connector member with a first end connected to the base and a second end opposite the first end. A first region on the connector member, located adjacent the first end, has a first impedance. A second region on the connector member, located adjacent the second end, has a second impedance greater than the first impedance.
A principal advantage of this embodiment is that a charged device may be connected to an information handling system via the connector, minimizing the creation of a voltage due to an electrostatic discharge that may damage static sensitive circuits within the information handling system. This is achieved at relatively low cost and without reducing signal integrity or taking up board space.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
For purposes of this disclosure, an information handling system may include any instrumentality or aggregate of instrumentalities operable to compute, classify, process, transmit, receive, retrieve, originate, switch, store, display, manifest, detect, record, reproduce, handle, or utilize any form of information, intelligence, or data for business, scientific, control, or other purposes. For example, an information handling system may be a personal computer, a network storage device, or any other suitable device and may vary in size, shape, performance, functionality, and price. The information handling system may include random access memory (RAM), one or more processing resources such as a central processing unit (CPU) or hardware or software control logic, ROM, and/or other types of nonvolatile memory. Additional components of the information handling system may include one or more disk drives, one or more network ports for communicating with external devices as well as various input and output (I/O) devices, such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a video display. The information handling system may also include one or more buses operable to transmit communications between the various hardware components.
In one embodiment, information handling system 10,
A connection device 100,
In operation, a charged connector 112 is provided that is coupled to a charged device (not shown) that is to be connected to information handling system 10. The charged connector 112 includes a base 114. A mating connector member 116 is mounted to the base 114, the mating connector member 116 including a receiving end 118 at a terminal end of charged connector 112 opposite base 114.
Charged connector 112 is connected to information handling system 10 by matingly engaging receiving end 118,
As mating connector member 116 continues mating with connector member 104, it moves along region 108 until receiving end 118 comes into contact with region 106,
In another embodiment,
In operation, connection device 200 functions in the same manner as connection device 100,
In yet another embodiment,
In operation, connection device 300 functions in the same manner as connection device 100,
In yet another embodiment,
In operation, connection device 400 functions in the same manner as connection device 100,
Although illustrative embodiments have been shown and described, a wide range of modification, change and substitution is contemplated in the foregoing disclosure and in some instances, some features of the embodiments may be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the embodiments disclosed herein.
Claims
1. A connector comprising:
- a base;
- a connector member having a first end connected to the base;
- the connector member terminating at a second end opposite the first end;
- a first region located adjacent the first end, the first region having a first impedance; and
- a second region located adjacent the second end, the second region having a second impedance that is greater than the first impedance.
2. The connector of claim 1 wherein the first region includes a metal.
3. The connector of claim 1 wherein the first region includes a metal alloy.
4. The connector of claim 1 wherein the second region includes a polymer.
5. The connector of claim 1 wherein the second region includes a resistive polymer
6. The connector of claim 1 wherein the impedance varies from the first impedance to the second impedance between the first end and the second end.
7. A connection device comprising:
- a connector member having a varying mating surface contact with a charged connector;
- the connector member including a first end and a second end opposite the first end; and
- a region on the connector member located between the first end and the second end, whereby the connector member provides impedance which varies from a first impedance adjacent the first end to a second impedance, which is greater than the first impedance, adjacent the second end, the impedance varying in response to varying the mating surface contact between the connector member and the charged connector.
8. The connection device of claim 7 wherein the connector member is made of a first material, whereby the region of a first impedance is due to the first material and the region of a second impedance is due to the first material being coated with a second material.
9. The connection device of claim 8 wherein the first material includes a metal.
10. The connection device of claim 8 wherein the first material includes a metal alloy.
11. The connection device of claim 8 wherein the second material includes a polymer.
12. The connection device of claim 8 wherein the second material includes a resistive polymer.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 13, 2005
Publication Date: Oct 13, 2005
Applicant: Dell Products L.P. (Round Rock, TX)
Inventors: Marie-Pascale Chagny (Austin, TX), Steven Williams (Round Rock, TX)
Application Number: 11/151,489