Molex Corporation

Kevin L Nelson

Burke J Crane

Garth S Jones

Joseph D Comerci

Robert W DeRoss

Michael J O'Connell

James K Hollomon, Jr

Preston B Johnson

An automatic switched power receptacle includes an outlet receptacle adapted to receive a plug. A relay is connected between the power receptacle and a source of power to selectively power the receptacle. A plug presence sensor in proximity to the receptacle senses presence of a plug in the receptacle. The plug presence sensor comprises a light source and light sensor, the light source and light sensor being disposed on opposite sides of a path of movement of a plug being inserted in the receptacle. An automatic control circuit is connected between the relay and the plug presence sensor for selectively energizing the relay to power the receptacle incident to the sensor sensing presence of a plug.

Hysteresis in a circuit for sensing presence of a plug

A plug presence sensor comprises an LED and a light sensor in the form of a photo-transistor which senses presence of a plug in a receptacle. The sensor is monitored by a microcontroller to control latching of a relay. The microcontroller de-energizes the relay, so that no power is present at the receptacle, when no plug is inserted. When the plug is inserted, then the microcontroller causes the relay to be energized to provide power to the receptacle. The microcontroller is preprogrammed to communicate with a remote master controller. In the event that a loss of communication occurs between the microcontroller and the master controller, the microcontroller automatically de-energizes the relay so that no power is present at the receptacle. A communication error output signal is connected to an override circuit including a capacitor which differentiates an edge of the communication error signal to inject a pulse onto the plug presence sensor signal which simulates removal and reinsertion of the plug. As such, the override circuit fools the microcontroller into thinking that a plug was removed and then inserted so that the relay remains energized to power the outlet receptacle.

Circuit for overriding the cripple mode so that the relay remains latched

An electrical connector assembly includes a pair of spaced receptacle modules mounted to a first printed circuit board which is electrically coupled to a second printed circuit board spaced from and generally parallel to the first printed circuit board. A conductive ground plate is electrically coupled between the printed circuit boards and mechanically supports the circuit boards in their spaced generally parallel relationship. The ground plate is disposed perpendicular to the first and second printed circuit boards forming two separate compartments between the first and second printed circuit boards to provide electromagnetic interference isolation between the compartments. An electrical component such as transformer may be mounted on one side of the ground plate between the spaced generally parallel printed circuit boards, and the ground plate provides a heat sink for the transformer. A third printed circuit board may be mounted on the side of the ground plate opposite the transformer and electrically coupled to the transformer through the ground plate.

Electrical connector assembly with printed circuit board layout

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Virginia Beach, VA, United States of America

Kevin L Nelson