Electromagnetic connector for electronic device

• US 20070072442A1
• Filed: 09/26/2005
• Published: 03/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Rohrbach, Matthew, DiFonzo, John, Lim, Kanye, Gery, Jean-Marc, Doutt, Mark, Andre, Bartley
• Granted Patent: US 7,351,066 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/39
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6205 Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/641 by indicating incorrect coupling; by indicating correct or full engagement

Abstract

An electrical plug and receptacle relying on magnetic force from an electromagnet to maintain contact are disclosed. The plug and receptacle can be used as part of a power adapter for connecting an electronic device, such as a laptop computer, to a power supply. The plug includes electrical contacts, which are preferably biased toward corresponding contacts on the receptacle. The plug and receptacle each have a magnetic element. The magnetic element on one of the plug or receptacle can be a magnet or ferromagnetic material. The magnetic element on the other of the plug or receptacle is an electromagnet. When the plug and receptacle are brought into proximity, the magnetic attraction between the electromagnet magnet and its complement, whether another magnet or a ferromagnetic material, maintains the contacts in an electrically conductive relationship.

Claims

1. An apparatus for electrically connecting an electronic device to an electrical relation, comprising:

a first connector having at least one first contact electrically connected to the electronic device; and

a second connector positionable adjacent the first connector and having at least one second contact electrically connected to the electrical relation,

wherein one of the connectors comprises a magnetic element positioned on the connector,

wherein the other connector comprises an electromagnet positioned on the connector, and

wherein the electromagnet is energizable to produce magnetic attraction with the magnetic element and substantially maintain the first and second contacts of the connectors in an electrically conductive relationship.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second connectors each comprise a corresponding element to align the first and second connectors in one orientation.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the magnetic element comprises a permanent magnet, ferromagnetic material, or another electromagnet.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a switch element coupled to the electromagnet to control energization of the electromagnet.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the switch element comprises a mechanical switch actuatable by a user of the apparatus.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the switch element comprises a touch switch actuatable by a user of the apparatus.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a motion sensor coupled to the electromagnet to control energization of the electromagnet.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a proximity sensor coupled to the electromagnet and controlling energization of the electromagnet.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a detector coupled to the electromagnet, the detector detecting a condition and controlling energization of the electromagnet in response to the detected condition.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein in response to the detected condition, the detector causes the electromagnet to be de-energized.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein in response to the detected condition, the detector causes the electromagnet to be energized with a reverse polarity.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the condition includes a fault between the electronic device and the electrical connection, and wherein the detector includes a fault detector.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising control circuitry coupled to the electromagnet, the control circuitry detecting a control signal and controlling energization of the electromagnet based on the signal.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the control signal indicates a charged condition of a battery associated with the electronic device, and wherein the control circuitry causes the electromagnet to be de-energized in response to receiving the control signal.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the control signal provides an identification of the electronic device, and wherein the control circuitry causes the electromagnet to be energized in response to receiving the control signal.

16. An electronic device connectable to an electrical relation, comprising:

a housing for internal electronics;

a first connector connected to the relation, the first connector having at least one first contact electrically connected to the electrical relation; and

a second connector connected to the device, the second connector having at least one second contact electrically connected to the internal electronics,

wherein one of the connectors comprises a magnetic element positioned on the connector,

wherein the other connector comprises an electromagnet positioned on the connector, and

wherein the electromagnet is energiziable to produce magnetic attraction with the magnetic element and substantially maintain the first and second contacts of the connectors in an electrically conductive relationship.

17. The electronic device of claim 16, further comprising a transformer connectable to the first connector and connectable to the relation.

18. The electronic device of claim 17, wherein the first connector comprises a plug attached to the transformer by a cable.

19. The electronic device of claim 18, wherein the second connector comprises a receptacle attached to the housing of the electronic device.

20. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein the magnetic element comprises a permanent magnet, ferromagnetic material, or another electromagnet.

21. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein the electromagnet comprises a ferromagnetic core wrapped with a coil, the coil connectable to a power supply.

22. The electronic device of claim 21, wherein the power supply is selected from the group consisting of:

a battery of the electronic device, a transformer, the electronic relation, and a battery independent of the electronic device.

23. The electronic device of claim 16, further comprising a switch element coupled to the electromagnet to control energization of the electromagnet.

24. The electronic device of claim 23, wherein the switch element comprises a mechanical switch actuatable by a user of the apparatus.

25. The electronic device of claim 23, wherein the switch element comprises a touch switch actuatable by a user of the apparatus.

26. The electronic device of claim 16, further comprising a motion sensor coupled to the electromagnet to control energization of the electromagnet.

27. The electronic device of claim 16, further comprising a proximity sensor coupled to the electromagnet to control energization of the electromagnet.

28. The electronic device of claim 16, further comprising a detector coupled to the electromagnet, the detector detecting a condition and controlling energization of the electromagnet in response to the detected condition.

29. The electronic device of claim 28, wherein in response to the detected condition, the detector causes the electromagnet to be de-energized.

30. The electronic device of claim 28, wherein in response to the detected condition, the detector causes the electromagnet to be energized with a reverse polarity.

31. The electronic device of claim 28, wherein the condition includes a fault between the electronic device and the electrical connection, and wherein the detector includes a fault detector.

32. The electronic device of claim 16, further comprising control circuitry coupled to the electromagnet, the control circuitry detecting a control signal and controlling energization of the electromagnet based on the signal.

33. The electronic device of claim 32, wherein the control signal indicates a charged condition of a battery associated with the electronic device, and wherein the control circuitry causes the electromagnet to be de-energized in response to receiving the control signal.

34. The electronic device of claim 32, wherein the control signal provides an identification of the electronic device, and wherein the control circuitry causes the electromagnet to be energized in response to receiving the control signal.

35. A power adapter for connecting internal electronics of a device to a power supply, comprising:

a transformer connectable to the power supply;

a first connector connected to the internal electronics;

a second connector positionable adjacent the first connector and connected to the transformer;

means for energizing magnetic attraction between the connectors; and

means for maintaining the internal electronics in an electrically conductive relationship with the transformer.

36. The power adapter of claim 35, further comprising means for selecting energization of the magnetic attraction.

37. The power adapter of claim 35, further comprising means for controlling energization of the magnetic attraction.

38. The power adapter of claim 35, further comprising means for detecting a condition to control energization of the magnetic attraction.

39. The power adapter of claim 38, wherein the condition is selected from the group consisting of a fault, a received control signal, a received identification, and an entered security code.