ELECTROMAGNETIC CONNECTOR FOR ELECTRONIC DEVICE

• US 20100087071A1
• Filed: 12/08/2009
• Published: 04/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Andre, Bartley K., DiFonzo, John C., Lim, Kanye, Doutt, Mark Edward, Rohrbach, Matthew Dean, Gery, Jean-Marc
• Granted Patent: US 8,497,753 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. A connector comprising:

a first contact;

an electromagnet positioned on the connector; and

a switch element coupled to the electromagnet to control energization of the electromagnet, wherein the switch element comprises a touch switch actuatable by a user,

wherein the electromagnet is energizable to produce magnetic attraction with a magnetic element in a second connector and substantially maintain contact between the first contact and a second contact of the second connector in an electrically conductive relationship.

2. The connector of claim 1, wherein the electromagnet comprises a ferromagnetic core wrapped with a coil, the coil connectable to a power supply.

3. The connector of claim 1, wherein the first contact and the second contact foam a signal path.

4. The connector of claim 1, wherein the first contact is one of a plurality of movable first contacts to make electrically conductive paths with a plurality of second contacts in the second connector when the first connector is mated with the second connector, each of the movable first contacts biased by one of a plurality of first springs.

5. The connector of claim 1, wherein the connector is a plug.

6. The connector of claim 1, wherein the connector is a receptacle.