US 12,034,258 B2
Plug-in connector with authentication feature
Dean Drake, Oklahoma City, OK (US); Melissa Fritz, Rudy, AR (US); Raheel Chaudhry, Dallas, TX (US); Rajendra R. Pai, Bangalore (IN); and M. Deepan Ponraj, Chennai (IN)
Assigned to Rheem Manufacturing Company, Atlanta, GA (US)
Filed by Rheem Manufacturing Company, Atlanta, GA (US)
Filed on May 17, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/319,282.
Application 18/319,282 is a continuation of application No. 18/305,198, filed on Apr. 21, 2023.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/363,401, filed on Apr. 22, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0344180 A1, Oct. 26, 2023
Int. Cl. H01R 13/66 (2006.01); H01R 24/30 (2011.01); H01R 107/00 (2006.01)
CPC H01R 13/665 (2013.01) [H01R 24/30 (2013.01); H01R 2107/00 (2013.01)] 28 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A plug-in connector comprising:
a housing having four contact terminals received in four adjacent terminal receiving cavities, the four contact terminals forming individual hollow rectangular geometries, and wherein the four contact terminals are configured to be coupled to individual lines,
wherein an identification device is arranged in the housing and adapted to simultaneously contact at least two of the four contact terminals, the identification device comprising a unique identifier, wherein at least one of the four contact terminals is an output terminal of the identification device, and
wherein the unique identifier of the identification device is adapted to be read out via the output terminal by a control unit for authenticating the plug-in connector.