Orientation Agnostic Electrical Connector

Abstract

A switch interconnect means for connecting arbitrarily selected n contacts out of a first group of n1 contacts where (n1−1) n to n signals from a first group of n signals. The minimum number of signals required for doing this is n+(n1−n)*n. A single pole switch is connected from each of the n signals from the first group to each of the n arbitrarily selected contacts from the first group of n1 contacts. Each of the remaining n1−n contacts from first group, is connected to one end of a group of n switches. The other end of each switch from this group of switches is connected to each of the n signals from second group.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of establishing an electrical power connection across potentially misaligned a first and a second power connector bodies, the first connector body carries a first set of contactors and the second connector body carries a second set of contactors, comprising:
 a. providing first circuitry that identifies at least first and second electrically mating pairs that are electrically isolated from each other, from among the first and second sets of contactors; and   b. providing second circuitry that establishes the power connection using the at least first and second electrically mating pairs.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first set of contactors has at least two contactor members, and the second set of contactors has at least three contactor members. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first set of contactors has n contactor members, and the second set of contactors has at least n+1 members. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first circuit identifies a third electrically mating pair that is electrically isolated from the first and the second electrically mating pairs, from among the first and second sets of contactors, and wherein the second circuitry establishes a power connection using the third electrically mating pair. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the first circuit identifies a fourth electrically mating pair that is electrically isolated from the first, the second and the third electrically mating pairs, from among the first and second sets of contactors, and wherein the second circuitry establishes a power connection using the fourth electrically mating pair. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first and the second connector bodies are shaped to meet along a planer interface. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising utilizing the power connection to charge an electric vehicle.