Magnetically Enhanced Electrical Signal Conduction Apparatus and Methods

• US 20120021618A1
• Filed: 07/20/2010
• Published: 01/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magnetic Innovations, LLC
• Original Assignee: Magnetic Innovations, LLC
• Inventors: Schultz, Ricky David
• Granted Patent: US 8,272,876 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/38
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 7/30 with arrangements for reducing conductor losses when carrying alternating current, e.g. due to skin effect
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/02 Permanent magnets [PM]
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/719 specially adapted for high frequency, e.g. with filters
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/20 for assembling or disassembling contact members with insulating base, case or sleeve
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/04 for correcting frequency response
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/04 Circuit arrangements, e.g. for selective connection of amplifier inputs/outputs to loudspeakers, for loudspeaker detection, or for adaptation of settings to personal preferences or hearing impairments combinations of amplifiers H03F3/68; stereophonic systems H04S
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0233 Filters, inductors or a magnetic substance
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/092 Dispersed materials, e.g. conductive pastes or inks
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/16 incorporating printed electric components, e.g. printed resistor, capacitor, inductor
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/083 Magnetic materials
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/086 for inductive purposes, e.g. printed inductor with ferrite core
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/303 Surface mounted components, e.g. affixing before soldering, aligning means, spacing means H05K3/32 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 9/0007 Casings standardised racks H05K9/0062
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4913 Assembling to base an electrical component, e.g., capacitor, etc.
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49208 by assembling plural parts

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for magnetically enhanced electrical signal conduction are disclosed. An embodiment electrical connector comprises a connector body, a first active signal contact mechanically attached to and at least partially disposed within the connector body, a ground contact mechanically attached to the connector body, an insulator mechanically separating and electrically isolating the first active signal contact and the ground contact, and a first permanent magnet electrically connected to the first active signal contact. An embodiment electrical cable comprises an elongated insulating sheath, a first active signal electrical conductor disposed within the sheath, a first connector body mechanically attached to a first end of the sheath, a first active signal contact mechanically attached to the first connector body, and electrically connected to the first active signal electrical conductor, and a first permanent magnet electrically connected to the first active signal electrical conductor.

Claims

1. An electrical connector comprising:

a connector body;

a first active signal contact mechanically attached to and at least partially disposed within the connector body;

a ground contact mechanically attached to the connector body;

an insulator mechanically separating and electrically isolating the first active signal contact and the ground contact; and

a first permanent magnet electrically connected to the first active signal contact.

2. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the first permanent magnet comprises a material selected from the group consisting of:

nickel, neodymium, samarium, mu-metal, cobalt, and combinations thereof.

3. The electrical connector of claim 1, further comprising a non-permanent-magnet ferromagnetic conductor electrically coupled to the first permanent magnet.

4. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the first active signal contact is a pin.

5. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the first active signal contact is a socket.

6. The electrical connector of claim 1, further comprising an electrically conductive sleeve disposed around at least a portion of the first permanent magnet.

7. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the first permanent magnet is part of the first active signal contact.

8. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the first permanent magnet comprises a plurality of stacked permanent magnets.

9. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the first permanent magnet comprises a first material, and further comprises a coating of conductive metal different from the first material.

10. An electrical cable comprising:

an elongated insulating sheath;

a first active signal electrical conductor disposed within the sheath;

a first connector body mechanically attached to a first end of the sheath;

a first active signal contact mechanically attached to the first connector body, and electrically connected to the first active signal electrical conductor; and

a first permanent magnet electrically connected in series with the first active signal electrical conductor.

11. The electrical cable of claim 10, wherein the first permanent magnet comprises a material selected from the group consisting of:

nickel, neodymium, samarium, mu-metal, cobalt, and combinations thereof.

12. The electrical cable of claim 10, wherein the first active signal electrical conductor comprises a non-permanent-magnet ferromagnetic material.

13. The electrical cable of claim 10, further comprising an electrically conductive sleeve disposed around at least a portion of the first permanent magnet.

14. The electrical cable of claim 10, further comprising:

a second connector body mechanically attached to a second end of the sheath; and

a second active signal contact mechanically attached to the second connector body, and electrically connected to the first active signal electrical conductor.

15. The electrical cable of claim 14,

wherein the first permanent magnet is at least partially disposed in the first connector body, and

wherein the electrical cable further comprises a second permanent magnet electrically connected in series with the first active signal electrical conductor, and at least partially disposed in the second connector body.

16. The electrical cable of claim 15, wherein a first north-south pole orientation of the first permanent magnet is in a same direction as a second north-south pole orientation of the second permanent magnet, relative to signal flow through the first active signal electrical conductor.

17. The electrical cable of claim 10, wherein the first permanent magnet comprises a plurality of stacked permanent magnets.

18. The electrical cable of claim 17, further comprising a Faraday cage disposed around the plurality of stacked permanent magnets.

19. The electrical cable of claim 10, wherein the first permanent magnet comprises a first material, and further comprises a coating of conductive metal different from the first material.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the first permanent magnet comprises a plurality of stacked permanent magnets.

20. A method of forming an electrical connector, the method comprising:

attaching a first active signal contact to a connector body;

attaching a ground contact to the connector body;

electrically insulating the first active signal contact from the ground contact; and

electrically connecting a first permanent magnet to the first active signal contact.

22. A method of forming an electrical cable, the method comprising:

disposing a first active signal electrical conductor in an elongated insulating sheath;

attaching a first active signal contact to a first connector body;

attaching the first connector body to a first end of the sheath;

electrically connecting the first active signal contact to the first active signal electrical conductor;

attaching a second active signal contact to a second connector body;

attaching the second connector body to a second end of the sheath;

electrically connecting the second active signal contact to the first active signal electrical conductor; and

electrically connecting a first permanent magnet in series with the first active signal electrical conductor.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the first permanent magnet comprises a plurality of stacked permanent magnets.

24. An electrical device comprising:

a device body;

an active or passive electrical component mechanically supported by the device body;

a first active signal conductor electrically connected to the electrical component, and mechanically attached to and at least partially disposed external to the device body;

a second conductor electrically connected to the electrical component, and mechanically attached to and at least partially disposed external to the device body; and

a first permanent magnet electrically connected to the first active signal conductor.

25. The electrical device of claim 24, wherein the electrical device is mounted on a circuit board, wherein the first active signal conductor and first permanent magnet are electrically connected to a first trace on the circuit board, and wherein the second conductor is electrically connected to a second trace on the circuit board.

26. The electrical device of claim 24, further comprising a second permanent magnet electrically connected to the second conductor.

27. The electrical device of claim 24, wherein the electrical component is a capacitor, resistor or inductor.

28. The electrical device of claim 24, further comprising:

a third active signal conductor electrically connected to the electrical component, and mechanically attached to and at least partially disposed external to the device body; and

a third permanent magnet electrically connected to the third active signal conductor.

29. The electrical device of claim 28, wherein the electrical component is a transistor.

30. The electrical device of claim 28, wherein the electrical component is a transformer and further comprises a fourth conductor electrically connected to the transformer, and mechanically attached to and at least partially disposed external to the device body.

31. The electrical device of claim 28, further comprising:

a second permanent magnet electrically connected to the second conductor; and

a fourth permanent magnet electrically connected to the fourth conductor.

32. The electrical device of claim 28, wherein the transformer comprises a primary winding and a secondary winding, at least one of which windings includes wire comprising a non-permanent-magnet ferromagnetic material.

33. The electrical device of claim 24, wherein the first permanent magnet comprises a plurality of stacked permanent magnets.

34. An electrical power transmission line comprising:

a first-phase conductor wire comprising a non-permanent-magnet ferromagnetic material;

a second-phase conductor wire comprising the non-permanent-magnet ferromagnetic material;

a third-phase conductor wire comprising the non-permanent-magnet ferromagnetic material;

a first permanent magnet disposed inline with the first-phase conductor wire;

a second permanent magnet disposed inline with the first-phase conductor wire; and

a third permanent magnet disposed inline with the first-phase conductor wire.

35. The electrical power transmission line of claim 34, wherein the non-permanent-magnet ferromagnetic material comprises steel or nickel.

36. The electrical power transmission line of claim 34, wherein the first, second, and third permanent magnets each comprises a plurality of stacked permanent magnets.

37. The electrical transmission line of claim 34, further comprising a transformer coupled to the first, second, and third conductor wires.

38. A printed circuit board comprising:

a dielectric substrate;

conductive signal traces disposed on the substrate, wherein one of the traces comprises a non-permanent-magnet ferromagnetic material; and

a permanent magnet disposed on the substrate and coupled to the one of the traces comprising the non-permanent-magnet ferromagnetic material.

39. The printed circuit board of claim 38, wherein the permanent magnet comprises a plurality of stacked magnets.

40. The printed circuit board of claim 38, wherein multiple ones of the traces comprise the non-permanent-magnet ferromagnetic material.