MAGNETIC CONNECTOR FOR ELECTRONIC DEVICE

• US 20080096398A1
• Filed: 10/22/2007
• Published: 04/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Doutt, Mark, Andre, Bartley, Difonzo, John, Rohrbach, Matthew, Lim, Kanye, Gery, Jean-Marc
• Granted Patent: US 7,517,222 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/39
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1633 Constructional details or arrangements of portable computers not specific to the type of enclosures covered by groups G06F1/1615 - G06F1/1626
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/18 Packaging or power distribution
• 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: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

An electrical plug and receptacle relying on magnetic force 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 or both of the plug and receptacle can be a magnet, which is preferably a permanent rare earth magnet although electromagnets may also be used. The magnetic element on the plug or receptacle that does not include a magnet is composed of ferromagnetic material. When the plug and receptacle are brought into proximity, the magnetic attraction between the 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 a first magnetic element and having at least one first contact electrically connected to the electronic device; and

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

wherein the at least one first contact comprises a metallic contact extending from a first face of the first connector and biased relative to the first face, and

wherein magnetic attraction between the first and second magnetic elements substantially maintains the first and second contacts 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 first magnetic element comprises a permanent magnet, and wherein the second magnetic elements comprise a permanent magnet or a ferromagnetic material capable of magnetic attraction to the first magnetic element.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first or second magnetic elements comprises a plurality of permanent magnets arranged in an opposing polarity configuration on the connector of the at least one first or second magnetic elements.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the at least one magnetic element comprising the plurality of permanent magnets arranged in the opposing polarity configuration further comprises a magnetically-conductive plate positioned against one side of each of the magnets.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first contact comprises a metallic pin biased relative to the first face by a spring.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the second contact comprises a metallic plate positioned on a second face of the second connector so as to be engaged by the metallic pin when the first and second faces are positioned adjacent one another.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second connectors each comprise two axes of symmetry such that the first and second connectors couple together in only two orientations relative to one another.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least one first and second contacts of the first and second connectors each comprise:

a first path contact on the connector for establishing a first path of electrical communication between the device and the relation,

wherein the first path contacts form an electrically conductive relationship with one another regardless of which of the two orientations the connectors are magnetically coupled.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first and second connectors each further comprise:

a second path contact on the connector for establishing a second path of electrical communication between the device and the relation,

wherein the second path contacts form electrically conductive relationships with one another regardless of which of the two orientations the connectors are magnetically coupled.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first and second connectors each further comprise:

a third path contact on the connector for establishing a third path of electrical communication between the device and the relation,

wherein the third path contracts form an electrically conductive relationship with one another regardless of which of the two orientations the connectors are magnetically coupled.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the third contact on each of the connectors comprises a shell positioned symmetrically on the connector.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the third contact on each of the connectors comprises at least two permanent magnet positioned symmetrically on the connector.

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

a housing for internal electronics;

a first connector connectable to the relation, the first connector having a first magnetic element positioned on the first connector and having at least one first contact electrically connected to the electrical relation; and

a second connector connectable to the device, the second connector having a second magnetic element positioned on the second connector and having at least one second contact electrically connected to the internal electronics,

wherein the at least one first contact comprises a metallic contact extending from a first face of the first connector and biased relative to the first face, and

wherein magnetic attraction between the first and second magnetic elements substantially maintains the first and second contacts in an electrically conductive relationship.

15. The electronic device of claim 14, further comprising a transformer connected to the first connector and connected to the relation.

16. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the first connector comprises a plug attached to the transformer by a cable.

17. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein the second connector comprises a receptacle attached to the housing of the electronic device.

18. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the first and second magnetic elements each comprise a permanent magnet.

19. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein either the first or second magnetic element comprises a permanent magnet, and wherein the other magnetic element comprises a ferromagnetic material.

20. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the first contact comprises a metallic pin biased relative to the first face by a spring.

21. The electronic device of claim 20, wherein the second contact comprises a metallic plate positioned on a second face of the second connector so as to be engaged by the metallic pin when the first and second faces are positioned adjacent one another.

22. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the first and second connectors each comprises two axes of symmetry such that the first and second connectors couple together in only two orientations relative to one another.

23. The electronic device of claim 22, wherein the at least one first and second contacts of the first and second connectors each comprise:

a signal contact on the connector for establishing a signal path between the device and the relation,

wherein the signal contacts of the first and second connectors form an electrically conductive relationship with one another regardless of which of the two orientations the connectors are magnetically coupled.

24. The electronic device of claim 22, wherein the first and second connectors each further comprise:

at least one forward path contact on the connector for establishing a forward path of electrical communication between the device and the relation,

wherein the forward path contacts of the first and second connectors form an electrically conductive relationship with one another regardless of which of the two orientations the connectors are magnetically coupled.

25. The electronic device of claim 22, wherein the first and second connectors each further comprise:

at least one return path contact on the connector for establishing a return path of electrical communication between the device and the relation,

wherein the return path contacts of the first and second connectors form an electrically conductive relationship with one another regardless of which of the two orientations the connectors are magnetically coupled.

26. The electronic device of claim 25, wherein the return path contact on each of the connectors comprises a shell positioned symmetrically on the connector.

27. The electronic device of claim 25, wherein the return path contact on each of the connectors comprises at least two permanent magnets positioned symmetrically on the connector.

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

a transformer connected 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 magnetically coupling the first and second connectors; and

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

29. The power adapter of claim 28, further comprising means for biasing the electrical connection between the first and second connectors.

30. The power adapter of claim 28, further comprising means for coupling the first and second connectors together in only one orientation.

31. The power adapter of claim 28, further comprising means for symmetrically coupling the first and second connectors together in only two orientations.

32. The power adapter of claim 28, further comprising means for establishing at least three separate paths of electrical communication between the internal electronics and the transformer regardless of which of the two orientations the connectors are coupled together.