Connector system

Abstract

An electronic device adapted to be coupled to an information transfer system by means of a conductor including a standard connector having a translucent or transparent body insertable into a receptacle defined by the electronic device, the device including a housing, a substrate carrying electronic components, a light source mounted on the substrate and connected to components on the substrate, the light source being energizable in response to electrical signals generated by said components, the signals being indicative of the status and/or activity of the device, and a light guide extending between the light source and the receptacle for transmitting light from the light source to the receptacle, the light transmitted from the source to the receptacle illuminating the connector body thereby providing an indication of the status and/or activity of the electronic device.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A visual indicator for indicating the status of an electronic device in a detachable translucent electrical connector plug, said indicator comprising: 
 a light source driven by said electronic device, said light source being illuminated to indicate a status of said electronic device;    a light pipe having first and second ends for directing illumination from its first end to its second end, said light pipe optically coupled at its first end to said light source;    an electrical receptacle for receiving said connector plug and for providing one or more electrical signals from said electronic device to the connector plug when the connector plug is mated to said receptacle; and wherein said second end of said light pipe is coupled to said electrical receptacle to provide illumination from said light pipe to said translucent electrical connector plug when the connector plug is mated to said receptacle.    
     
     
         2 . The visual indicator of    claim 1    comprising two or more of said illumination sources and said light pipes for providing a plurality of status indicators.  
     
     
         3 . The visual indicator of    claim 2    wherein at least one of said illumination sources emits illumination of a different color to indicate a different status of said electronic device.  
     
     
         4 . The visual indicator of    claim 2    wherein at least one of said illumination sources emits illumination of a different color from another one of said illumination sources.  
     
     
         5 . The visual indicator of    claim 1    wherein said light source is an LED.  
     
     
         6 . The visual indicator of    claim 1    wherein said light pipe is comprised of Lexan.  
     
     
         7 . The visual indicator of    claim 1    wherein said receptacle is configured to accept an RJ-45 connector plug.  
     
     
         8 . The visual indicator of    claim 1    wherein said receptacle is configured to accept an RJ-11 connector plug.  
     
     
         9 . The visual indicator of    claim 1    wherein said electronic device is a PCMCIA type card.  
     
     
         10 . A system for providing electrical connections to an electronic device and visual indications of the status or activity of said device, said system comprising: 
 a detachable electrical connector plug having one or more electrical contacts within a translucent body;    a light source driven by said electronic device, said light source being illuminated to indicate a status of said electronic device;    a light pipe having first and second ends, said light pipe directing illumination from its first end to its second end, the first end of said light pipe being optically coupled to said light source;    an electrical receptacle for providing one or more electrical signals between said electronic device and the detachable electrical connector plug when said connector plug is mated to said receptacle; and wherein    said second end of said light pipe is coupled to said electrical receptacle to provide illumination from said light pipe to said translucent body of said electrical connector plug when said connector plug is mated to said receptacle.    
     
     
         11 . The system of    claim 10    comprising two or more of said illumination sources and said light pipes for providing a plurality of status indicators.  
     
     
         12 . The system of    claim 11    wherein at least one of said illumination sources emits illumination of a different color to indicate a different status of said electronic device.  
     
     
         13 . The system of    claim 11    wherein at least one of said illumination sources emits illumination of a different color from another one of said illumination sources.  
     
     
         14 . The system of    claim 10    wherein said light source is an LED.  
     
     
         15 . The system of    claim 10    wherein said light pipe is comprised of Lexan.  
     
     
         16 . The system of    claim 10    wherein said receptacle is configured to accept an RJ-45 connector plug.  
     
     
         17 . The system of    claim 10    wherein said receptacle is configured to accept an RJ-11 connector plug.  
     
     
         18 . The system of    claim 10    wherein said electronic device is a PCMCIA type card.  
     
     
         19 . A visual indicator for indicating the status of an electronic device in a detachable translucent electrical connector plug, said indicator comprising: 
 an electrical receptacle for coupling electrical signals between said electronic device and the detachable electrical connector plug when the connector plug is mated to said receptacle;    a light source driven by said electronic device, said light source being illuminated to indicate a status of said electronic device, said light source being adapted to illuminate at least a portion of said electrical receptacle; and wherein    said illumination is provided to said translucent electrical connector plug when said plug is mated to said receptacle.    
     
     
         20 . The visual indicator of    claim 19    additionally comprising: 
 a light pipe having first and second ends, said light pipe directing illumination from its first end to its second end, the first end of said light pipe being proximate said light source; and wherein  
 said second end of said light pipe is coupled to said electrical receptacle to provide illumination from said light pipe to said translucent electrical connector plug when the connector plug is mated to said receptacle.  
 
     
     
         21 . The visual indicator of    claim 20    wherein said light pipe is comprised of Lexan.  
     
     
         22 . The visual indicator of    claim 20    comprising two or more of said illumination sources for providing a plurality of status indicators.  
     
     
         23 . The visual indicator of    claim 22    wherein at least one of said illumination sources emits illumination of a different color to indicate different status from said electronic device.  
     
     
         24 . The visual indicator of    claim 22    wherein at least one of said illumination sources emits illumination of a different color from another one of said illumination sources.  
     
     
         25 . The visual indicator of    claim 19    wherein said light source is an LED.  
     
     
         26 . The visual indicator of    claim 19    wherein said receptacle is configured to accept an RJ-45 connector plug.  
     
     
         27 . The visual indicator of    claim 19    wherein said receptacle is configured to accept an RJ-11 connector plug.  
     
     
         28 . The visual indicator of    claim 19    wherein said electronic device is a PCMCIA PC card.