Magnetically activated latch mechanism

• US 10,483,688 B2
• Filed: 05/23/2018
• Issued: 11/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Wrisley, Kurt David, Shah, Akash Atul, Schafer, Christopher Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Duverne, Jean F
• Application Number:
  US15/987,864
• Publication Number:
  US 20180375251A1
• Time in Patent Office: 545 Days
• Field of Search: 439 39
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/30 End pieces held in contact by a magnet
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/24 resilient; resiliently-mounted
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6205 Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6271 Latching means integral with the housing H01R13/6276, H01R13/6277, H01R13/6278 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6273 comprising two latching arms
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/64 Means for preventing incorrect coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/665 with built-in electronic circuit H01R13/70, H01R13/719 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2107/00 Four or more poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/60 Contacts spaced along planar side wall transverse to longitudinal axis of engagement

Abstract

A magnetic receptacle is described. The receptacle includes an electronic connector having an engagement feature on one or more sides of the electronic connector. The engagement feature is configured to engage a latching feature on a magnetic protrusion. The receptacle includes one or more receptacle magnets positioned adjacent the magnetic receptacle configured to deactivate the latching feature on the magnetic protrusion. In one implementation, a magnetic plug is described. The plug includes a plug tip. The plug includes one or more latching features. The plug includes one or more plug magnets positioned adjacent the plug tip. The one or more plug magnets are configured to cooperate with one or more receptacle magnets to transition the one or more latching features between an engaged state and a disengaged state.

Claims

1. A magnetic receptacle, comprising:

an electronic connector having an engagement feature on one or more sides of the electronic connector, the engagement feature configured to engage a latching feature on a magnetic protrusion; and

one or more receptacle magnets positioned adjacent the magnetic receptacle configured to laterally move the latching feature on the magnetic protrusion.

2. The magnetic receptacle of claim 1, further comprising two engagement features on the electronic connector.

3. The magnetic receptacle of claim 1, wherein the one or more receptacle magnets includes a first receptacle magnet on a first side of the electronic connector and a second receptacle magnet on a second side of the electronic connector.

4. The magnetic receptacle of claim 1, the one or more receptacle magnets each generating a force of greater than an opposing force applied by a plug.

5. The magnetic receptacle of claim 1, the one or more receptacle magnets each generating a force of greater than 2.0 Newtons.

6. The magnetic receptacle of claim 1, further comprising one or more latching features with the magnetic receptacle.

7. The magnetic receptacle of claim 1, the one or more receptacle magnets positioned a distance from the electronic connector.

8. The magnetic receptacle of claim 7, the distance between the one or more receptacle magnets and the electronic connector being less than 5.0 millimeters.

9. A magnetic plug, comprising:

a plug tip;

one or more latching features; and

one or more plug magnets positioned adjacent the plug tip, the one or more plug magnets configured to cooperate with one or more receptacle magnets to laterally move the one or more latching features between an engaged state and a disengaged state.

10. The magnetic plug of claim 9, wherein the one or more latching features includes a first latching feature and a second latching feature.

11. The magnetic plug of claim 9, wherein the one or more plug magnets includes a first plug magnet on a first side of the plug tip and a second plug magnet on a second side of the plug tip.

12. The magnetic plug of claim 9, the one or more plug magnets each generating a force of greater than 2.0 Newtons.

13. The magnetic plug of claim 9, wherein the one or more latching features are biased toward the engaged state.

14. The magnetic plug of claim 9, further comprising a latching feature actuator connected to the one or more plug magnets and to the one or more latching features.

15. The magnetic plug of claim 14, wherein the latching feature actuator is directly connected to the one or more plug magnets.

16. The magnetic plug of claim 14, wherein the latching feature actuator includes one or more springs to bias the one or more latching features toward the engaged state.

17. The magnetic plug of claim 14, wherein the latching feature actuator includes one or more pivots to pivot the one or more latching features between the engaged state and the disengaged state.

18. The magnetic plug of claim 9, the one or more plug magnets positioned a distance from the one or more latching features.

19. The magnetic plug of claim 18, the distance between the one or more plug magnets and the one or more latching features being less than 5.0 millimeters.

20. A system, comprising:

a magnetic receptacle including;

an electronic connector having an engagement feature on one or more sides of the electronic connector; and

one or more receptacle magnets positioned adjacent the magnetic receptacle;

a magnetic plug including;

a plug tip;

one or more latching features; and

one or more plug magnets positioned adjacent the plug tip, the one or more plug magnets configured to cooperate with the one or more receptacle magnets to laterally move the one or more latching features on the magnetic plug between a friction state and a free state.