CONNECTOR PLUG HAVING AN LED ACTIVATED BY A USER'S TOUCH

摘要

An improved apparatus for charging a cell phone battery in the dark. An LED and its control circuitry including a control switch are included in a USB connector to automatically illuminate a cell phone and its charging port or receptacle or jack, which happen to be located in an unlit or pitch black space, when a user attempts to insert a USB connector plug into the charging port for purposes of charging the battery. The LED is automatically energized by the user's mere touching of the overmold of the USB connector at its flat or bottom side, without otherwise manually operating the control switch, and thereby eliminating hunting in the dark for a control switch on the USB connector. This apparatus is useful with both standard charging equipment and with dongle charging equipment.

主权项

1. Apparatus comprising:
a cable containing electrically-conductive wiring, the cable configured to connect to a power source at a first end; a connector plug affixed to a second end of the cable, said connector plug having a front face and electrical contacts protruding from said front face; an LED supported by said connector plug and recessed into said front face to allow light emitted from said LED to illuminate an immediate environment of the connector plug while not interfering when said connector plug is mated with a corresponding connector-jack; and a switch included in said connector plug, said switch closing when a user touches the connector plug without otherwise manually operating said switch, the switch electrically connected to the LED and the power source whereby the LED illuminates when said switch is closed and when said cable is connected to the power source.