Description:Complete Specification:

The following specification describes and ascertains the nature of this invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.
Field of the invention
[0001] This invention relates to a smart connector for an automobile, and more specifically to a temperature transducer that is positioned on a connector terminal for detecting when failure of the smart connector would occur.

Background of the invention
[0002] CN 207456636 U describes an environment temperature transducer, including a copper shell body, and a thermistor, base. The thermistor base is equipped with a sealed inner chamber and equipped within the inner chamber thermistor. The lower extreme end of the thermistor with the inner chamber bottom is close to the internal plug connector that is equipped with of copper shell. The plug connector is fixed in through the plastics interface copper shell internally. The plastics interface is equipped with a sealed pad between the copper shell body. The plug connector lower extreme penetrates inner chamber fixed connection in the thermistor. The copper shell body with be equipped with the insulating layer between the thermistor upper end. The base inside wall with it has the heat conducting glue to annotate between the thermistor lower extreme end. The utility model discloses temperature response is sensitive, and the precision is high, and the control of temperature error scope is 1 DEG C. It comprises a simple structure and production efficiency is high.

Brief description of the accompanying drawings
[0003] Figure 1 illustrates a temperature transducer that is positioned on a connector terminal of a smart connector for an automobile in one embodiment of the invention.

[0004] Figure 2 illustrates a flowchart depicting an algorithm for operating the smart connector shown in Figure 1 in one embodiment of the invention.

Detailed description of the embodiments
[0005] Figure 1 illustrates a temperature transducer 110 that is positioned on a connector terminal 100 of a smart connector in one embodiment of the invention. The connector terminal 100 comprises at least one male connector pin 102 defined in the connector terminal 100, and at least one female connector pin 104 inserted through the connector terminal 100 such that the at least one female connector pin 104 encapsulates the at least one male connector pin 102 such that a portion of an inner wall of the at least one female connector pin 104 is in contact with an outer wall 108 of the at least one male connector pin 102. A temperature transducer 110 is defined on the at least one female connector pin 104 and proximate to a contact interface 112 between the at least one male connector pin 102 and the at least one female connector pin 104 such that the temperature transducer 110 senses a temperature at the contact interface 112 between the at least one male connector pin 102 and the at least one female connector pin 104. A first electrical lead 114 is connected between the temperature transducer 110 and a control unit, the first electrical lead 114 adapted to transmit a first electrical signal that comprises a temperature at the contact interface 112 between the at least one male connector pin 102 and the at least one female connector pin 104.

[0006] Figure 1 illustrates a temperature transducer 110 that is positioned on a connector terminal 100 of a smart connector for an automobile in one embodiment of the invention. The connector terminal 100 comprises at least one male connector pin 102 defined in the connector terminal 100. More specifically, the male connector pin 102 extends from an end of the connector terminal 100 within a bore 120 that is defined in the connector terminal 100. In an exemplary embodiment, at least one female connector pin 104 is inserted through the connector terminal 100 such that the at least one female connector pin 104 encapsulates the at least one male connector pin 102. More specifically, the at least one female connector pin 104 that encapsulates the at least one male connector pin 102 comprises an inner wall 130 and an outer wall 132. A portion of the inner wall 130 of the at least one female connector pin 104 is in contact with an outer wall 108 of the at least one male connector pin 102 to ensure a sealing assembly between the at least one female connector pin 104 and the at least one male connector pin 102. In an exemplary embodiment, a temperature transducer is defined on the at least one female connector pin 104 and is positioned proximate to a contact interface 112 between the at least one male connector pin 102 and the at least one female connector pin 104. The temperature transducer 110 senses a temperature at the contact interface 112 between the at least one male connector pin 102 and the at least one female connector pin 104 and transmits the temperature at the contact interface 112 between the at least one male connector pin 102 and the at least one female connector pin 104 to a control unit for further processing. More specifically, a first electrical lead 114 is connected between the temperature transducer 110 and the control unit. The first electrical lead 114 is adapted to transmit a first electrical signal that comprises the temperature at the contact interface 112 between the at least one male connector pin 102 and the at least one female connector pin 104 to the control unit.

[0007] In an exemplary embodiment, a second electrical lead 116 is connected between a contact interface 112 of the at least one male connector pin 102 and the at least one female connector pin 104 and the control unit. More specifically, the second electrical lead 116 is adapted to transmit a second electrical signal that comprises a current flowing through the at least one male connector pin 102 and the at least one female connector pin 104. Based on the first electrical signal that is received by the control unit, the control unit determines if the temperature at the contact interface 112 between the at least one male connector pin 102 and the at least one female connector pin 104 is greater than a threshold value that is predetermined by a user. Similarly, based on the second electrical signal that is received by the control unit, the control unit determines if the current flowing through the at least one male connector pin 102 and the at least one female connector pin 104 is greater than a threshold value that is predetermined by a user.

[0008] In an exemplary embodiment, the control unit transmits a warning electrical signal that is indicative of a prediction of failure of the connector terminal 100 of the smart connector when the temperature at the contact interface 112 between the at least one male connector pin 102 and the at least one female connector pin 104 is lesser than the threshold value that is within a safe duration time limit that is predetermined by the user. In addition, the control unit transmits the warning electrical signal that is indicative of the prediction of failure of the connector terminal 100 of the smart connector when the current flowing through the at least one male connector pin 102 and the at least one female connector pin 104 is greater than a threshold value that is predetermined by the user.

[0009] In an alternate exemplary embodiment, the control unit transmits a warning electrical signal that is indicative of a prediction of failure of the connector terminal 100 of the smart connector when the temperature at the contact interface 112 between the at least one male connector pin 102 and the at least one female connector pin 104 is greater than the threshold value that is within a safe duration time limit that is predetermined by the user. In addition, the control unit transmits the warning electrical signal that is indicative of the prediction of failure of the connector terminal 100 of the smart connector when the current flowing through the at least one male connector pin 102 and the at least one female connector pin 104 is greater than a threshold value that is predetermined by the user.

[0010] In yet another alternate exemplary embodiment, the control unit transmits a warning electrical signal that is indicative of a prediction of failure of the connector terminal 100 of the smart connector when the temperature at the contact interface 112 between the at least one male connector pin 102w and the at least one female connector pin 104 is greater than the threshold value that is within a safe duration time limit that is predetermined by the user. In addition, the control unit transmits the warning electrical signal that is indicative of the prediction of failure of the connector terminal 100 of the smart connector when the current flowing through the at least one male connector pin 102 and the at least one female connector pin 104 is lesser than a threshold value that is predetermined by the user.

[0011] In an exemplary embodiment, the control unit transmits a failure electrical signal indicative of a failure of the connector terminal 100 of the smart connector when the temperature at the contact interface 112 between the at least one male connector pin 102 and the at least one female connector pin 104 is greater than the threshold value that is beyond a safe duration time limit that is predetermined by the user. In addition, the control unit transmits the failure electrical signal indicative of the failure of the connector terminal 100 of the smart connector when the current flowing through the at least one male connector pin 102 and the at least one female connector pin 104 is lesser than a threshold value that is predetermined by the user.

[0012] In an exemplary embodiment, the control unit transmits a failure electrical signal indicative of a failure of the connector terminal 100 of the smart connector when the temperature at the contact interface 112 between the at least one male connector pin 102 and the at least one female connector pin 104 is greater than the threshold value that is beyond a safe duration time limit that is predetermined by the user. In addition, the control unit transmits the failure electrical signal indicative of the failure of the connector terminal 100 of the smart connector when the current flowing through the at least one male connector pin 102 and the at least one female connector pin 104 is greater than a threshold value that is predetermined by the user.

[0013] In an exemplary embodiment, a method of predicting failure at a contact interface 112 of a male connector pin 102 and a female connector pin 104 is disclosed. The method of predicting failure at the contact interface 112 of the male connector pin 102 and the female connector pin 104 by collecting a temperature signal from the contact interface 112 between the male connector pin 102 and the female connector pin 104 by means of the temperature transducer 110 comprises the steps of receiving 191 a temperature voltage signal at a processor from the temperature transducer 110 that is positioned in the female connector pin 104. More specifically, the step of receiving the temperature voltage signal at the processor from the temperature transducer 110 that is positioned in the female connector pin 104 comprises the step of receiving the temperature voltage signal at the processor from the contact interface 112 between the male connector pin 102 and the female connector pin 104 respectively. Once the temperature voltage signal is received at the processor from the contact interface 112 between the male connector pin 102 and the female connector pin 104, the processor converts 192 the temperature voltage signal to a temperature value in the processor. Therein, the temperature value is transmitted 193 from the processor to a control unit via wireless means. The method of predicting failure at a contact interface 112 of the male connector pin 102 and the female connector pin 104 further comprises verifying 194 that an operating current from the control unit to the contact interface 112 between the male connector pin 102 and the female connector pin 104 is within a rated current of a wire supplying the operating current. Moreover, the control unit determines that the operating current is within the derated current derived by an ambient temperature, a female connector pin and male connector pin plating, and female connector pin and male connector pin size which is pre-fed by a user to the control unit. In addition, the control unit validates 195 that the temperature value received from the processor is within a pre-determined design limit of the female connector pin and male connector pin temperature values respectively.
[0014] It must be understood that the embodiments explained above are only illustrative and do not limit the scope of the disclosure. Many modifications in the embodiments with regard to dimensions of various components are envisaged and form a part of this invention. The scope of the invention is only limited by the scope of the claims.
, Claims:We Claim

1. A connector terminal (100) of a smart connector for an automobile, the connector terminal (100) comprising;
at least one male connector pin (102) defined in the connector terminal (100);
at least one female connector pin (104) inserted through the connector terminal (100) such that the at least one female connector pin (104) encapsulates said at least one male connector pin (102) such that a portion (106) of an inner wall of the at least one female connector pin (102) is in contact with an outer wall (108) of said at least one male connector pin (102); characterized in that
a temperature transducer (110) defined on the at least one female connector pin (104) and proximate to a contact interface (112) between the at least one male connector pin (102) and the at least one female connector pin (104) such that the temperature transducer (110) senses a temperature at the contact interface (112) between the at least one male connector pin (102) and the at least one female connector pin (104); and
a first electrical lead (114) connected between said temperature transducer (110) and a control unit, the first electrical lead (114) adapted to transmit a first electrical signal that comprises the temperature at the contact interface (112) between the at least one male connector pin (102) and the at least one female connector pin (104).

2. The connector terminal (100) of a smart connector for an automobile in accordance with Claim 1 further comprising a second electrical lead (116) connected between the contact interface (112) between the at least one male connector pin (102) and the at least one female connector pin (104) and the control unit, the second electrical lead (116) adapted to transmit a second electrical signal that comprises a current flowing through the at least one male connector pin (102) and the at least one female connector pin (104).

3. The connector terminal (100) of a smart connector for an automobile in accordance with Claim 2, wherein the control unit determines if the temperature at the contact interface (112) between the at least one male connector pin (102) and the at least one female connector pin (104) is greater than a threshold value that is predetermined by a user.

4. The connector terminal (100) of a smart connector for an automobile in accordance with Claim 3, wherein the control unit determines if the current flowing through the at least one male connector pin (102) and the at least one female connector pin (104) is greater than a threshold value that is predetermined by a user.

5. The connector terminal (100) of a smart connector for an automobile in accordance with Claim 3, wherein the control unit transmits a warning electrical signal indicative of a prediction of failure of the connector terminal (100) of the smart connector when one of:
the temperature at the contact interface (112) between the at least one male connector pin (102) and the at least one female connector pin (104) is lesser than a threshold value that is within a safe duration time limit that is predetermined by the user and when the current flowing through the at least one male connector pin (102) and the at least one female connector pin (104) is greater than a threshold value that is predetermined by the user;
the temperature at the contact interface (112) between the at least one male connector pin (102) and the at least one female connector pin (104) is greater than the threshold value that is within the safe duration time limit that is predetermined by the user and when the current flowing through the at least one male connector pin (102) and the at least one female connector pin (104) is greater than the threshold value that is predetermined by the user; and
the temperature at the contact interface (112) between the at least one male connector pin (102) and the at least one female connector pin (104) is greater than the threshold value that is within the safe duration time limit that is predetermined by the user and when the current flowing through the at least one male connector pin (102) and the at least one female connector pin (104) is lesser than the threshold value that is predetermined by the user.

6. The connector terminal (100) of a smart connector for an automobile in accordance with Claim 3, wherein the control unit transmits a failure electrical signal indicative of a failure of the connector terminal (100) of the smart connector when one of:
the temperature at the contact interface (112) between the at least one male connector pin (102) and the at least one female connector pin (104) is greater than the threshold value that is beyond the safe duration time limit that is predetermined by the user and when the current flowing through the at least one male connector pin (102) and the at least one female connector pin (104) is lesser than the threshold value that is predetermined by the user; and
the temperature at the contact interface (112) between the at least one male connector pin (102) and the at least one female connector pin (104) is greater than the threshold value that is beyond the safe duration time limit that is predetermined by the user and when the current flowing through the at least one male connector pin (102) and the at least one female connector pin (104) is greater than the threshold value that is predetermined by the user.

7. A method of predicting failure at a contact interface (112) of a male connector pin (102) and female connector pin (104) by collecting a temperature signal from the contact interface (112) between the male connector pin (102) and the female connector pin (104) by means of a temperature transducer (110), the method comprising the steps of:
receiving (191) a temperature voltage signal at a processor from the temperature transducer (110) that is positioned in the female connector pin (104) from the contact interface (112) between the male connector pin (102) and the female connector pin (104);
converting (192) the temperature voltage signal to a temperature value in the processor;
transmitting (193) the temperature value from the processor to a control unit via wireless means;
verification (194) that an operating current from the control unit to the contact interface (112) of the male connector pin (102) and the female connector pin (104) is within a rated current of a wire supplying the operating current, and that the operating current is within the derated current derived by an ambient temperature, female connector pin and male connector pin plating, and female connector pin and male connector pin size which is pre-fed by a user to the control unit; and
verification (195) that the temperature value received from the processor is within a pre-determined design limit of the female connector pin and male connector pin temperature value.