Device for testing connectivity of a connector including spring contact pins

Abstract

A device for testing connectivity is provided. The device includes a first connector including a contact pin and a spacer for biasing the contact pin away from a spring contact pin of a second connector, when the first connector is inserted into the second connector. The device also includes an indicator, coupled to the contact pin of the first connector, for indicating whether the contact pin of the first connector is in contact with the spring contact pin of the second connector.

1 . A device comprising: 
 a first connector including a first contact pin and a spacer adjacent the first contact pin;    a second connector including a cavity for receiving the first connector, the cavity including a second spring contact pin, the spacer on the first connector biasing the first contact pin away from the second spring contact pin upon insertion of the first connector into the cavity for reducing the likelihood that the second spring contact pin makes physical contact with the first contact pin;    an indicator, coupled to the first contact pin of the first connector, for indicating whether the first contact pin of the first connector is in contact with the second spring contact pin of the second connector when biased by the spacer.    
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first connector includes a plurality of contact pins and the second connector includes a plurality of spring contact pins, each of the contact pins being provided for contact with a respective one of the spring contact pins.  
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first connector is a male connector, and the second connector is a female connector.  
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the first connector is a cable-mounted connector, and the second connector is a board-mounted connector.  
   
   
       5 . (canceled)  
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the first and the second connectors are RJ-45 connectors.  
   
   
       7 . (canceled)  
   
   
       8 . (canceled)  
   
   
       9 . (canceled)  
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 1 , and comprising: 
 a battery coupled to the indicator.    
   
   
       11 . (canceled)  
   
   
       12 . A method comprising: 
 providing a first connector including a first contact pin and a spacer adjacent the first contact pin;    providing a second connector including a cavity for receiving the first connector, the cavity including a second spring contact pin, the spacer on the first connector biasing the first contact Pin away from the second spring contact pin upon insertion of the first connector into the cavity for reducing the likelihood that the second spring contact pin makes physical contact with the first contact pin;    providing an indicator, coupled to the first contact pin of the first connector, for indicating whether the first contact pin of the first connector is in contact with the second spring contact pin of the second connector when biased by the spacer.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first connector includes a plurality of contact pins and the second connector includes a plurality of spring contact pins, each of the contact pins being provided for contact with a respective one of the spring contact pins.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first connector is a male connector, and the second connector is a female connector.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first connector is a cable-mounted connector, and the second connector is a board-mounted connector.  
   
   
       16 . (canceled)  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first and the second connectors are RJ-45 connectors.  
   
   
       18 . (canceled)  
   
   
       19 . (canceled)  
   
   
       20 . (canceled)  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 12 , and comprising: 
 providing a battery coupled to the indicator.    
   
   
       22 . (canceled)