Connectors with movable magnetic components and method of connecting devices

• US 10,446,948 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2015
• Issued: 10/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nanoport Technology Inc. (Nano Magnetics Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Nanoport Technology Inc. (Nano Magnetics Ltd.)
• Inventors: Szeto, Timothy Jing Yin, Chan, Jeremy Zhi-Qiao
• Primary Examiner(s): Duverne, Jean F
• Application Number:
  US15/520,072
• Publication Number:
  US 20180337467A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,456 Days
• Field of Search: 439217
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/16 Constructional details or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1681 Details related solely to hinges hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1683 for the transmission of signal or power between the different housings, e.g. details of wired or wireless communication, passage of cabling
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/30 End pieces held in contact by a magnet
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6205 Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/16 for manufacturing contact members, e.g. by punching and by bending
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/05 for coaxial cables
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/022 The hinge comprising two parallel pivoting axes
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/16 including more than one display unit

Abstract

A connector for an electronic device has a housing with a peripheral surface and guides defining first and second paths. The second path extends from a first location proximate the peripheral surface to a second location farther from the peripheral surface and closer to the first path. A magnetic contact assembly in the housing is magnetically movable along the first path between a first position for joining the connector in data communication with an adjacent connector, and a second position withdrawn from the peripheral surface. A magnet in the housing and is movable by attraction to an adjacent connector along the second path, to magnetically hold the connector to an adjacent connector. The guides are configured so that the magnet and the magnetic contact assembly magnetically bias one another inwardly along the first and second paths.

Claims

1. A connector for an electronic device, comprising:

a housing having a peripheral surface;

a longitudinal cavity defining a longitudinal path within said housing, said longitudinal path extending between a first extremity withdrawn from said peripheral surface and an opposite second extremity; and

a magnetic assembly received in said longitudinal cavity of said housing, said magnetic assembly being longitudinally movable from a retracted position at said first extremity to an extended position at said second extremity, a magnetic bias magnetically biasing said magnetic assembly toward said first extremity of said longitudinal path, the magnetic assembly being movable to the second extremity against said magnetic bias, upon a complementary connector of an adjacent electronic device magnetically attracting said magnetic assembly.

2. The connector of claim 1 further comprising a block towards which said magnetic assembly is magnetically biased.

3. The connector of claim 2 wherein said magnetic assembly and said block bias said magnetic assembly into said retracted position within said connector such that when said connector is brought into engagement with said complementary connector, magnetic attraction between said connectors overcomes said magnetic bias provided by said block and causes said magnetic assembly to move along said longitudinal path toward said peripheral surface of said housing, said magnetic assembly thereby moving to said extended position within said connector, and such that when said connectors are disconnected from one another, said magnetic bias between the magnetic assembly and said block moves said magnetic assembly back to said retracted position.

4. The connector of claim 2 wherein said block is a ferrous block.

5. The connector of claim 2 wherein said block is a biasing magnet disposed at a rear wall of said housing in said longitudinal cavity.

6. The connector of claim 2 wherein said block is a stop at a rear wall of said housing in said longitudinal cavity.

7. The connector of claim 2 wherein said block is spaced apart from said second extremity of said longitudinal path.

8. The connector of claim 7 wherein said block is longitudinally spaced-apart from said second extremity of said longitudinal path.

9. The connector of claim 1 wherein said second extremity of said longitudinal path protrudes from said peripheral surface.

10. The connector of claim 9 wherein said magnetic assembly has a portion protruding from said peripheral surface of said housing in said extended position, said protruding portion having a rounded end in the shape of a semi-cylinder being rotatable relative to said complementary connector of said adjacent connector.

11. The connector of claim 1 wherein said magnetic assembly is T-shaped, has a crossbar portion and a stem portion, a portion of said peripheral surface of said housing mechanically preventing said crossbar portion from longitudinally moving farther than a predetermined position along said longitudinal path when said magnetic assembly is moved toward said second extremity of said longitudinal path.

12. The connector of claim 1 wherein said magnetic assembly comprises a plurality of core magnets.

13. An electronic device comprising the connector of claim 1.

14. A method of connecting first and second electronic devices, said first electronic device having a connector having a magnetic assembly being longitudinally movable along a longitudinal path extending between a first extremity withdrawn in said first electronic device and a second extremity, the method comprising:

the magnetic assembly being magnetically biased towards the second extremity;

positioning the connector of said first electronic device adjacent a connector of said second electronic device, the connector of said second electronic device magnetically moving said magnetic assembly along said longitudinal path toward said second extremity against said magnetic bias;

the first and second electronic device being magnetically attracted to one another thereafter.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising removing first second electronic device from said second electronic device;

and, said magnetic bias magnetically drawing said magnetic assembly back to said first extremity of said longitudinal path subsequently to said removal.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising a portion of said first electronic device mechanically preventing said magnetic assembly from longitudinally moving farther than a predetermined position along said longitudinal path when said magnetic assembly is moved toward said second extremity of said longitudinal path.

17. The method of claim 14, further wherein the magnetic bias between the magnetic assembly and the second extremity is exerted between the magnetic assembly and a block positioned beyond the second extremity.