The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 06, 1999
Filed:
Aug. 07, 1995
Noah M Price, Campbell, CA (US);
Laurence A Thompson, Saratoga, CA (US);
Gary L Baker, Watsonville, CA (US);
Apple Computer, Inc., Cupertino, CA (US);
Abstract
A sensor is provided for automatically detecting the presence or absence of an electronic device which interfaces with other devices via an information signal. The sensor comprises a receiving connector which receives a mating connector associated with the electronic device to electrically and physically connect the device to the sensor and to another device. The receiving connector includes a terminal to which the information signal is applied. The sensor also comprises a sensing circuit connected to the terminal of the receiving connector for detecting whether the information signal is present at the terminal. The sensing circuit generates an output signal which indicates when a mating connector is received within the receiving connector, and thus whether the electronic device is present, in dependence upon whether the information signal is detected at the terminal. In one embodiment, the sensing circuit comprises a low-pass analog filter connected to a switching transistor for generating a signal at two logic levels. The two logic levels respectively indicate whether or not a mating connector is received within the receiving connector, and thus whether or not the electronic device is present.