HK1103175A - Methods and apparatus to attenuate cable discharge - Google Patents

Abstract

Methods and arrangements to methods and arrangements to attenuate electrostatic discharges of a cable are disclosed. Embodiments may include connectors with discharge elements integrated into the connectors to interconnect conductors of a cable to attenuate or discharge an electrostatic charge built up on the conductors. In some embodiments, the conductors are momentarily connected to grounds as the connector couples with another connector to interconnect a cable with, e.g., a computer. In further embodiments, the discharge elements interconnect the conductors of a cable to redistribute an electrostatic charge and thereby minimize the impact of a discharge when the cable couples with an electronic system such as a computer. Another embodiment comprises a male connector with discharge elements, which ground conductors of the cable as the cable is being inserted into the connector. The discharge elements are pushed out of the way of the conductors as the conductors couple with the connector.

Description

Method and apparatus for reducing cable discharge

Technical Field

The present invention relates to the field of cable connections for electronic systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods and arrangements for reducing the electrostatic charge of a cable prior to connection with a connector on an electronic system, such as a computer system.

Background

Whenever a cable is connected to a computer system (e.g., via USB, FireWire, or other common input/output port), there is a risk of damage to the system due to a Cable Discharge Event (CDE). CDE results from electrostatic charges that have accumulated on the cable and discharged to the computer system when the cable is connected to the computer system. For example, in many office environments, personnel may move from one location to another to reassign personnel, move locations, and so forth. The person's computer may move with it and reconnect to the network at a new location. Moving cables with isolated pins and shields (shielding) often accumulate electrostatic charges because the cables rub against each other, the cables rub against a carpet or wall, or even because the materials inside the cables rub against each other.

Depending on the relative humidity and the materials involved, the voltage of the electrostatic charge accumulated on the cable may vary significantly. For example, an electrostatic charge of 1,500 volts may typically be generated across a carpeted area only at a relative humidity of about 65% to 90%. An electrostatic charge of 35,000 volts may be generated across the same carpeted area at a relative humidity of about 10% to 20%.

ESD is a serious problem in electronic systems. When an electrostatically charged cable is connected to an electrostatic discharge sensitive (ESDS) electronic system, the electrostatic charge may be discharged through sensitive circuitry in the electronic system. High voltages can damage or degrade the insulating material and if the electrostatic charge has sufficient energy, damage can occur due to local overheating. Generally, devices with finer geometries are more susceptible to ESD damage.

Integrated Circuits (ICs) are particularly susceptible to ESD, especially when considering the driving force to build ICs with smaller geometries in subsequent generations. ICs are made of semiconductor materials such as silicon and insulating materials such as silicon dioxide which can break down if exposed to high voltages. Manufacturers and users of ICs must take care to avoid these problems. Such measures include suitable potting materials, the use of conductive wrist and foot straps to prevent the build up of high pressure on the worker's body, the use of anti-static pads to conduct harmful charge away from the work area, and humidity control.

Typically, designers of computer systems attempt to protect their products from CDE by including electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection structures in the components used in the system, in the case of CDE, which are designed to direct electrical charge from the cable to ground, thus avoiding or reducing damage to the protected components.

However, in practice, the use of ESD protection devices on the components provides only limited protection. Individual ESD structures vary in their ability to handle ESD events and may gradually wear out over time to fail to handle ESD events. Severe CDEs are prone to exceed the capabilities of even the best ESD protection architectures and cause transient and catastrophic damage to computer systems. For example, many ESD protection devices can handle voltages up to about 2,000 volts, but break down in higher voltage ESD situations.

Once a computer system has been manufactured and sold, it is not a viable option to change its internal design or structure to improve resistance to CDEs.

Disclosure of Invention

The above problems are solved in large part by methods and arrangements for mitigating electrostatic discharge from a cable to an electronic system. One embodiment provides an apparatus for mitigating electrostatic discharge from a cable. The apparatus may include a discharge element and a connector coupled to the cable to couple the cable conductor to the discharge element. Coupling the cable and the discharge element prior to coupling the cable conductor to the conductor of the electronic system may reduce electrostatic charge on the cable conductor.

Another embodiment provides an electronic system that mitigates electrostatic discharge from a cable. The system may include a housing containing circuitry and a ground structure; a discharge element coupling the cable conductor and the ground structure; and a connector coupled to the housing to couple the cable conductor and the discharge element. Coupling the cable and the discharge element prior to coupling the cable conductor and the circuit may reduce electrostatic charges on the cable conductor.

Yet another embodiment provides a method of mitigating electrostatic discharge from a cable to an electronic system. The method may include disposing a discharge element in an insertion path of a conductor of a cable to couple the cable with a connector of an electronic system; in coupling the cable with the connector, the pin is discharged toward a ground terminal of the electronic system in response to contact between the cable conductor and the discharge element, and the cable conductor is disconnected from the discharge element prior to coupling the cable conductor with circuitry of the electronic system.

Drawings

Advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings in which like reference numerals may indicate like elements.

FIG. 1 depicts an embodiment of a system including a computer, an external display, and a printer;

FIG. 2 depicts an embodiment of a female connector (female connector);

FIG. 3 depicts various female fitting embodiments;

FIG. 4 depicts an embodiment of a male connector (male connector);

FIG. 5 depicts another embodiment of a male fitting;

FIG. 6 depicts yet another embodiment of a male fitting;

fig. 7 depicts a flow diagram of an embodiment of mitigating cable electrostatic discharge.

Detailed Description

The following is a detailed description of embodiments of the invention depicted in the accompanying drawings. The embodiments are in such detail as to clearly communicate the invention. However, the amount of detail offered is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. The following detailed description is designed to make these embodiments obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

Generally, methods and arrangements for mitigating cable electrostatic discharge are contemplated. These embodiments may include a connector having a discharge element integrated into the connector to interconnect the cable conductors to attenuate or discharge electrostatic charges accumulated on the conductors. In some embodiments, the conductor is temporarily connected to ground while the connector is coupled to another connector to interconnect the cable with, for example, a computer. In further embodiments, the discharge element interconnects the cable conductors to redistribute the electrostatic charge and thereby minimize the effects of the discharge when the cable is coupled to an electronic system such as a computer. For example, one embodiment includes a female connector having a discharge element that grounds each conductor of the cable when the cable is inserted into the connector. Another embodiment includes a male connector having a discharge element that grounds a conductor of the cable when the cable is inserted into the connector. The discharge element is pushed aside the conductor when the conductor is coupled with the connector.

These embodiments may advantageously reduce or even eliminate the risk of Cable Discharge Events (CDEs) and may be implemented at lower cost. Further, these embodiments may not rely on electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection on downstream components and may be transparent to the end user, requiring no knowledge or action by the end user. These embodiments may also be robust (robust), substantially avoid inefficiencies (avaidance) or errors, and are highly reliable with minimal loss.

Although specific embodiments will be described below with reference to particular circuit and pin or conductor configurations, those skilled in the art will recognize that embodiments of the present invention may be advantageously implemented using other substantially equivalent configurations and any number of pins or conductors.

Turning now to the drawings, FIG. 1 depicts an embodiment of a system 100 that includes a computer 110, an external display 150, and a printer 180. Cables 135 and 165 are adapted to interconnect the external display 150 and printer 180, respectively, to the computer 110. For example, a staff member designated to use the system 100 may move to a new location to start a new task or project. Personnel may package the system 100 without using the recommended anti-static devices and bags to prevent the build-up of static charge on the cables 135 and 165 and then reassemble the system 100 at a new location. When an employee connects the parallel cable 135 with the connector 115 on the computer 110, the connector 115 may temporarily connect the conductors of the cable 135 with the housing 125, thereby discharging the electrostatic charge from the conductors. Once the conductors have been discharged, the conductors couple to corresponding conductors of connector 115 to facilitate communication between external display 150 and computer 110.

Computer 110 includes an electronic system with internal circuitry that is sensitive to electrostatic discharge from cables such as cables 135 and 165. In this embodiment, computer 110 is depicted as a laptop computer, but computer 110 may be a desktop computer, a workstation, a server, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a stereo system, a digital music player, a mobile phone, or any other electronic system that includes circuitry sensitive to electrostatic discharge and that includes connectors to facilitate interconnection of peripherals via, for example, cables.

The computer 110 includes a housing 125, a parallel connector 115, and a serial connector 120. The housing 125 may include conductive grounding structures integrated into the housing, mounted inside the housing, etc. The ground structure may serve as a ground for discharging electrostatic charges from cables 135 and 165 without damaging the circuit.

The parallel connector 115 may be any type of electrical parallel connection and may include a connector having one or more brushes, filaments, or the like. Brushes, filaments, and/or the like may provide a path to discharge electrostatic charges on cable 135. This path is more conductive than the air at the connector or is sufficiently conductive to reduce or eliminate electrical sparking through the air to the connector 115. For example, the parallel connector 115 may include brushes positioned in the insertion path of the connector 130 to contact the conductors of the cable 135 when the connector 130 is inserted into the parallel connector 115. The brushes may remain in contact with the conductors of the cable 135 for a sufficient period of time to substantially discharge electrostatic charges from the cable 135 into a grounded system, such as a grounded structure of the housing 125. The brushes may then be disconnected from the conductors of the cable 135, thereby facilitating a connection between the conductors of the cable 135 and the conductors of the connector 115.

Similarly, the serial connector 120 may be any type of electrical serial connection, such as a circular or rectangular 5-pin, 7-pin, or 12-pin serial connection. For example, serial connector 120 may include a proprietary serial connector, such as a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connector and/or a firewire connector. The serial connector 120 includes a discharge element and a connector adapted to couple the discharge element with a conductor of a cable 165 when the connector 160 is coupled with the serial connector 120.

In some embodiments, display 150 may include a parallel connector, such as parallel connector 115, that discharges cable 135 if connector 140 is inserted into external display 150 before connector 130 is inserted into computer 110. Similarly, printer 180 may include a serial connector of serial connector 120 that discharges any electrostatic charge on cable 165 when connector 170 is inserted into the serial connector on printer 180.

In further embodiments, one or more connectors of cables 135 and/or 165, such as connectors 160 and/or 170, may include brushes, filaments, or the like to at least temporarily couple the conductors of cable 165 together prior to connection with an electrical device. Coupling the conductors together may redistribute the electrostatic charge between the conductors of the cable 165, thereby mitigating damage to the electronic device from electrostatic discharge. In some embodiments, a connector on the electronic device, such as connector 120, is adapted to discharge to ground via, for example, a ground connection on connector 160.

Fig. 2A-C depict an example of a female connector 200 suitable for attenuating electrostatic charges on a cable. Female connector 200 includes a housing 210 coupled to ground 220, a cradle 215, discharge elements 230 and 240, conductors 235 and 245, and an isolator 255 (shown in fig. 2B-C). Fig. 2A and 2B illustrate a front view and a side view, respectively, of the female fitting 200. Fig. 2C illustrates another side view of the cable connector 290 when coupled with the female connector 200.

The housing 210 may couple the female connector 200 with a ground terminal of an electronic device. For example, the housing 210 may be coupled with a housing of an electronic device. In some embodiments, the housing 210 may include receptacles that define a unique shape for connection to prevent the female fitting 200 from coupling with an incompatible cable. In a further embodiment, the housing 210 may form a receptacle shaped to maintain the interconnection between the cable and the female connector 200 once the connection is made.

The cradle 215 is connected to the discharge element 230 to hold the discharge element in place when the cable connection is initially established (as shown in fig. 2C). The bracket 215 may also isolate the conductors 235 and 245 from the cable conductors, thereby preventing or reducing electrostatic discharge to the electronics circuitry.

The position of the discharge elements 230 and 240 may maintain the discharge elements 230 and 240 in the path of the male pins 295 of the cable connector 290 such that the discharge elements 230 and 240 contact the male pins 295 when the cable connector 290 is inserted into the housing 210. Discharge elements 230 and 240 contact male pin 295 while discharge elements 230 and 240 contact isolator 255 (shown in fig. 2B-C), thereby discharging the electrostatic charge on pin 295 to ground 220.

In this embodiment, after the discharge elements 230 and 240 contact the male pin 295, the discharge elements are pushed aside the connection between the male pin 295 and the conductors 235 and 245 as shown in fig. 2C. In further embodiments, the discharge elements 230 and 240 may be disconnected from ground 220.

In other embodiments, the female connector 200 may be permanently or temporarily coupled to one or more ends of the cable to redistribute the electrostatic charge among the respective conductors of the cable to reduce the magnitude of the discharge event. Given sufficient time, such as a fraction of a second, the redistribution of charge should be such that the electrostatic charge of each conductor is equal. In this embodiment, the housing 210 may not be coupled to the ground 220 or may be coupled to the ground 220 when coupling the female connector 200 with an electronic device, such as the computer 110 in fig. 1.

Note also that for simplicity and clarity, many of the figures show two conductor connections for the cable and connector. However, embodiments may have one or more conductors. For example, connectors conforming to the USB1.1 and 2.0 standards have four conductors and one shield. These embodiments include one or more discharge elements in the path of the four conductors to at least temporarily ground the conductors. The shield as the fifth conductor is also grounded in a similar manner as in the several embodiments.

Fig. 3A-C depict an example of a female connector 300 adapted to reduce the electrostatic charge on a cable. Female connector 300 includes housing 310 coupled to ground 320, cradle 315, discharge elements 330 and 340, conductors 335 and 345, and isolator 360 coupled to spring 350 (shown in fig. 3B-C). Fig. 3A and 3B show a front view and a side view, respectively, of the female fitting 300. Fig. 3C shows another side view when the cable connector 390 is coupled with the female connector 300.

Similar to the housing 210, the housing 310 may couple the female connector 300 and a ground of the electronic device. The bracket 315 is coupled to the discharge elements 330 and 340 to hold the discharge elements in place when a cable connector 390 (shown in fig. 3C) is coupled to the female connector 300. Unlike the bracket 215, the bracket 315 does not move when the cable is connected. Instead, isolator 360 is adapted to contact cable connector 390 after substantially discharging male pin 395, thereby separating discharge elements 330 and 340 from ground 320.

In this embodiment, as shown in fig. 3C, it is desirable to depress button 380 (or activate a switch) to allow contact with cable connector 390 to make physical contact with conductors 335 and 345 of female connector 300. With the aid of the fulcrum, depressing button 380 simply moves element 385 out of the way for access. The button 380 may also be spring loaded so that once the cable is disconnected, the button will automatically return to a position that prevents connection to the cable.

After the cable connector 390 is disconnected from the female connector 300, the spring 350 is coupled to the isolator 360, thereby re-coupling the discharging elements 330 and 340 with the ground terminal 320. Further embodiments may include a spring, such as spring 350 coupled between bracket 315 and isolator 360, to restore contact between isolator 360 and discharge elements 330 and 340.

Fig. 4A-C depict an example of a male connector 400 adapted to reduce the electrostatic charge on a cable. Male fitting 400 includes housing 410 coupled to ground 420, cradle 415, discharge elements 430 and 440, conductors 435 and 445, and isolator 460 coupled to springs 450 and 455 (as shown in fig. 4B-C). Fig. 4A and 4B show front and side views, respectively, of the male fitting 400. Fig. 4C shows another side view of the cable connector 490 when coupled with the male connector 400.

Similar to housing 210, housing 410 may couple male connector 400 to a ground terminal of an electronic device and define a shape within which cable connector 490 mates to prevent improper interconnection between conductors. The bracket 415 is coupled with the discharge elements 430 and 440 to hold the discharge elements 430 and 440 in place when a cable connection is initially established (as shown in fig. 4C). After discharge elements 430 and 440 contact cable conductors 495, cradle 415 contacts component 497 of cable connector 490, thereby moving the discharge elements alongside the interconnection path between cable connector 490 and conductors 435 and 445.

After the cable connector 490 is disconnected from the male connector 400, the springs 450 and 455 are coupled to the isolator 460, thereby repositioning the discharge elements 430 and 440 into the insertion path of the conductor 495. In further embodiments, component 497 may rotate bracket 415 to move discharge elements 430 and 440 aside the connection path or to disconnect or isolate discharge elements 430 and 440 from conductor 495.

In other embodiments, the male connector 400 may be permanently or temporarily coupled to one or more ends of the cable to redistribute the electrostatic charge among the respective conductors of the cable to reduce the magnitude of the discharge event. In this embodiment, the housing 410 may not be coupled to the ground 420 or may be coupled to the ground 420 when coupling the male connector 400 with an electronic device, such as the computer 110 in fig. 1.

Fig. 5A-C depict an example of a male connector 500 suitable for reducing the electrostatic charge on a cable. The male connector 500 includes a housing 510 coupled to ground 520, a cradle 515, discharge elements 530 and 540, conductors 535 and 545, and isolators 560 and 565 coupled to springs 550 and 555 (as shown in fig. 5B-C). Fig. 5A and 5B show a front view and a side view, respectively, of the male fitting 500. Fig. 5C shows another side view when the cable connector 590 is connected with the male connector 500.

The housing 510 may couple the male connector 500 and a ground 520 of the electronic device. The cradle 515 is coupled to the discharge elements 530 and 540 to hold the discharge elements 530 and 540 in place while the cable connection 590 is inserted (as shown in fig. 5C). After the discharge elements 530 and 540 contact the cable conductor 595, the isolation member 560 contacts the cable connector 590, thereby disconnecting the discharge elements 530 and 540 from the ground 520. Specifically, as the cable connector 590 pushes the isolation member 565, the isolation member 560 rotates the isolation member 565, and the cable connector 590 disconnects the discharging elements 530 and 540 from the isolation member 565.

When the cable connector 590 is disconnected from the male connector 500, the springs 550 and 555 are coupled with the isolation member 565, thereby re-coupling the discharging elements 530 and 540 with the ground 520. The isolation member 565 may be coupled with the carrier 515 by means of a rotatable hinge. In some embodiments, spacer 560 can be coupled with spacer 565 by means of a rotatable hinge.

Fig. 6A-C depict an example of a male connector 600 suitable for reducing the electrostatic charge on a cable. The male connector 600 includes a housing 610 coupled to ground 620, a cradle 615, discharge elements 630 and 640, conductors 635 and 645, and isolators 660 and 665 (shown in fig. 6B-C) coupled to springs 650 and 655. Fig. 6A and 6B show front and side views, respectively, of the male fitting 600. Fig. 6C shows another side view when the cable connector 690 is coupled with the male connector 600.

The housing 610 may couple the male connector 600 to a ground 620 of the electronic device. Bracket 615 is coupled to discharge elements 630 and 640 to hold discharge elements 630 and 640 in place when a cable connection 690 (shown in fig. 6C) is inserted. After discharge elements 630 and 640 are in contact with cable conductor 695, isolation member 660 contacts cable connector 690, thereby disconnecting discharge elements 630 and 640 from ground 620 and coupling conductors 635 and 645 with conductors 630 and 640, respectively. Specifically, upon insertion of cable connector 690, isolation member 660 rotates isolation member 665 to disconnect discharge elements 630 and 640 from ground 620.

When the cable connector 690 is disconnected from the male connector 600, the springs 650 and 655 are coupled with the isolation member 665, thereby re-coupling the discharge elements 630 and 660 with the ground 620. The spacing member 665 can be coupled with the bracket 615 by means of a rotatable hinge.

Referring now to fig. 7, a flow diagram 700 of an embodiment of reducing cable electrostatic charge is shown. Flowchart 700 begins with disposing a discharge element (cell 710) in an insertion path of a cable conductor of a connector coupling a cable with an electronic system. Disposing the discharge element in the insertion path may require maintaining the position of the discharge element in the insertion path or installing the discharge element so that the discharge element remains in the path. For example, the discharge element may be coupled with a bracket to fix the discharge element. The cradle may be temporarily or permanently positioned so that the discharge element contacts the conductors of a compatible cable connector before the conductors touch the conductors of the electronic device.

In some embodiments, one or more springs may be coupled with the bracket to temporarily secure the bracket in place. In many such embodiments, the cradle is capable of moving the discharge element aside the insertion path when the cable is connected to the electronic device, thereby facilitating a clean connection between the cable and the electronic device. These embodiments may also move the discharge element back into the insertion path when the cable is disconnected from the electronic device.

Once the discharge element is in place, the flow diagram 700 continues with discharging the conductor toward the ground of the electronic system in response to contact between the cable conductor and the discharge element (element 715). In particular, discharging the conductor may interconnect the cable conductor and other conductors of the cable with a ground structure of the electronic system. For example, a discharge element in an insertion path for a cable connector may contact a cable conductor when the cable connector is connected with a connector on an electronic device. Upon contacting the discharge element, any electrostatic charge accumulated on the conductor begins to discharge through the discharge element to ground.

Many embodiments are adapted to completely discharge the cable conductor before decoupling the conductor from the discharge element. In some embodiments, less than all of the electrostatic charge may be discharged before the coupling cable is connected to the electronic device.

After discharging the cable conductor, the discharge element is disconnected from the cable conductor (element 720). In some embodiments, the discharge element is disconnected prior to connecting the cable conductor with the conductor of the electronic device. In a further embodiment, the discharge element is disconnected when connecting the cable conductor with the conductor of the electronic device. Additionally, in other embodiments, the discharge element is disconnected after connecting the cable conductor with the conductor of the electronic device.

Disconnecting the discharge element from the cable conductor may involve resetting components coupled to the discharge element. For example, the isolation features coupling the discharge element to ground may be rearranged, thereby disconnecting the discharge element from ground and/or coupling the discharge element to conductors of the electronic system.

Methods and arrangements for attenuating the electrostatic charge of a cable are contemplated by the present invention as will be apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of this disclosure. It is understood that the form of the invention shown and described in the detailed description and the drawings are to be taken merely as examples. It is intended that the following claims be interpreted broadly to embrace all the variations of the example embodiments disclosed.

Although the present invention and some of its advantages have been described in detail for some embodiments, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. While embodiments of the invention may achieve multiple objectives, not every embodiment falling within the scope of the attached claims will achieve every objective. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the disclosure of the present invention, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized according to the present invention. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.

Claims (20)

1. An apparatus for attenuating electrostatic discharge from a cable to an electronic system, the apparatus comprising:

a discharge element; and

a connector coupled to the cable to couple the cable conductor to the discharge element prior to coupling the cable conductor to the conductor of the electronic system to reduce electrostatic charge on the cable conductor.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the discharge element comprises a brush that conducts an electrical charge.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the connector includes a bracket that couples the brush at a location relative to the connector and the cable, wherein the location initiates contact between the brush and the cable conductor when the cable is coupled with the connector, thereby substantially discharging the cable conductor.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the discharge element is coupled to the other conductor of the cable to redistribute the charge between the cable conductor and the other conductor of the cable.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the discharge element comprises a material that is sufficiently conductive to avoid discharging electrostatic charges from a conductor of the cable to a conductor of the electronic system when the cable is coupled with the connector.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the discharge element is coupled to a ground terminal of an electronic system.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the connector includes a receptacle to couple the cable conductor to the discharge element and isolate the cable conductor from a conductor of the electronic system in response to coupling the cable to the connector at least until the cable conductor is decoupled from the discharge element.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said connector comprises a substantially permanent connection on the end of the cable, wherein said substantially permanent connection is adapted to substantially equally distribute electrical charge on the cable conductor and other conductors of the cable.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the connector includes a ground connection to couple with a corresponding ground connection on the electronic system to discharge the electrostatic charge prior to coupling the cable conductor with the conductor of the electronic device.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the connector comprises a substantially permanent connection on the electronic system, wherein the substantially permanent connection is adapted to substantially discharge an electrostatic charge to a housing of the electronic system.

11. An electronic system for mitigating electrostatic discharge from a cable, the system comprising:

a housing containing circuitry and a ground structure;

a discharge element coupling the cable conductor to the ground structure; and

and a housing to couple the cable conductor to the discharge element prior to coupling the cable conductor to the circuit to reduce electrostatic charge on the cable conductor.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the discharge element comprises one or more brushes to conduct electrical charge from the cable conductor to the ground structure.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the connector includes a bracket that couples the brushes at a location relative to a cable insertion point, wherein the location initiates contact between the one or more brushes and the cable conductor when the cable is connected to the connector and disconnects the cable conductor prior to electrical contact between the cable conductor and the circuit.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the connector comprises a member coupled to the discharge element to interconnect the cable conductor and other conductors of the cable with the ground structure by way of the discharge element at a first location and to open the electrical element from the cable conductor at another location.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the connector comprises a serial bus connector.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the connector comprises a parallel bus connector.

17. A method of mitigating cable electrostatic discharge, the method comprising:

providing a discharge element in an insertion path of a conductor of the cable, thereby coupling the cable with a connector of an electronic system; and

when the cable is coupled to the connector, the conductor discharges to a ground terminal of the electronic system in response to contact between the cable conductor and the discharge element.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising disconnecting the cable conductor from the discharge element prior to coupling the cable conductor to circuitry of the electronic system.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein disposing the discharge element comprises maintaining a position of the discharge element in the insertion path.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein discharging comprises interconnecting cable conductors and other conductors of the cable with a ground structure of the electronic system.