Other

Chrysler Corporation

Daimlerchrysler Corporation

David A Lescamela

Thomas E Zielinski

Larry L Neblett

Guenter Rohr

John M Gaynier

Norman T Caramagno

William T Presley

An electrical connector assembly has a male and female connector. The male connector has electrical contacts in a housing for conducting AC or DC current. The female connector also includes a housing with electrical contacts to electrically couple with the male electrical contacts. The electrical contacts are coupled between a power source and a rechargeable power user, such as batteries in an electric vehicle. A mechanism to terminate power of the rechargeable power user is coupled with the system to prohibit use of the rechargeable power user during charging.

Universal charge port connector for electric vehicles

An electrical connector assembly has a male connector and a female connector. The male connector has electrical contacts for conducting AC or DC current. The female connector includes electrical contacts for coupling with the male electrical contacts for conducting the AC or DC current. A mechanism to eliminate current arcing during disconnection of the male and female connectors is coupled with at least one of the male or female connectors.

An electrical connector assembly has a male and female connector. The male connector has a housing with electrical contacts to conduct AC or DC current. The female connector also includes a housing to couple with the male housing. The female housing includes electrical contacts to electrically couple with the male electrical contacts. A latch mechanism is associated with the male or female connector housing to releasably couple the male and female connectors together. A lock mechanism is coupled with the latch mechanism to prohibit unauthorized disconnection of the male and female connectors in a coupled position.

A digital verification system and method is described for verifying that the terminal connector assembly of an automobile's battery cable is properly connected to the connector assembly of a power distribution module (PDM). The terminal connector assembly is provided with an integrated CPA assembly having an engagement member, such as an elongated appendage. The PDM connector assembly is provided with a shorting bar that contacts a bus bar so as to cause a short circuit to occur when current is supplied to the PDM connector assembly through the battery's terminal connector assembly. A sense lead in contact with the shorting bar sends a response signal through a printed circuit board to a microprocessor indicating that electrical power is flowing though the short circuit. The CPA assembly can only be engaged when the terminal connector assembly is fully mated to the PDM connector assembly. When the CPA assembly is engaged, the engagement member simultaneously contacts the shorting bar and causes the short circuit to be interrupted. The sense lead then sends a response signal to the microprocessor indicating that no electrical power is flowing through the circuit. In this manner, a technician can be assured that a proper connection has been established between the terminal connector assembly and the PDM connector assembly.

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Clinton Township, MI, United States of America

David A Lescamela