US 12,413,026 B2
Monitoring the position of an electrical connector
Infane Lowe, Grand Blanc, MI (US); Lyall Kenneth Winger, Waterloo (CA); Aaron B. Bloom, Royal Oak, MI (US); Xinyu Du, Oakland Township, MI (US); and James Morrison, Sebringville (CA)
Assigned to GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC, Detroit, MI (US)
Filed by GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC, Detroit, MI (US)
Filed on Dec. 19, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/083,804.
Prior Publication US 2024/0204464 A1, Jun. 20, 2024
Int. Cl. H01R 13/66 (2006.01); G01L 5/00 (2006.01); H01R 13/629 (2006.01)
CPC H01R 13/6683 (2013.01) [H01R 13/629 (2013.01); G01L 5/00 (2013.01); H01R 2201/26 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An electrical connector comprising:
a first housing having an outer surface;
a second housing configured to receive the first housing, wherein the second housing includes an inner surface configured to contact the outer surface of the first housing;
a plurality of sensors configured to monitor a contact between the inner surface and the outer surface; and
a controller in communication with the plurality of sensors, wherein the controller is configured to determine a relative position of the first housing relative to the second housing,
wherein at least one of the plurality of sensors is a pressure sensor disposed on the inner surface and that extends along the inner surface towards a rear inner surface of the second housing,
wherein an output of the pressure sensor increases as a surface area of the contact between the outer surface and the pressure sensor increases as the first housing is inserted into the second housing, and
wherein the controller is configured to determine the relative position of the first housing and the second housing based at least in part on the output of the pressure sensor.