PROGRAMMABLE MAGNETIC CONNECTORS

• US 20120021619A1
• Filed: 07/21/2011
• Published: 01/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Bilbrey, Brett, Pance, Aleksandar, Simon, David I., Lee, Jean, Hillman, Michael D., Tice, Gregory L., Arnold, Peter, Iyer, Vijay, Spare, Bradley
• Granted Patent: US 8,963,666 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

Connectors and methods of coupling electronic devices and cables are provided. In one embodiment, a connector has a first coded magnet on a first surface of a first device. The first coded magnet has at least two different polarity regions on the first surface. A second coded magnet on a second surface of a second device is also provided. The second coded magnet is configured to provide identifying information regarding the device on which it is located.

Claims

1. A connector, comprising:

a first coded magnet on a first surface of a first device, the first coded magnet having at least two different polarity regions on the first surface; and

a second coded magnet on a second surface of a second device;

wherein the second coded magnet is configured to provide identifying information regarding the device on which it is located.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the first coded magnet is dynamic and is configured to arrange itself to compliment the first coded magnet so that the device of the second coded magnet is identifiable by the device of first coded magnet.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the first coded magnet comprises at least one electromagnet; and

a dynamically programmable force curve of the first coded magnet is changed by applying electricity to the electromagnet.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the first surface is a portion of a cable.

5. The device of claim 3, wherein the first device comprises:

a controller in communication with the first coded magnet, wherein the controller is configured to read the arrangement of the first coded magnet and identify the second device.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the first device comprises one or more configurable conductors.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the one or more configurable conductors comprises one or more pins configured to extend or retract from the first device based on a determination of the identity of the second device.

8. The device of claim 6, wherein the one or more configurable conductors remain obscured by the first device until the first device identifies the second device.

9. The device of claim 3, wherein the first magnet is configurable to repulse the second magnet to decouple the first and second devices.

10. The device of claim 3, wherein the first magnet is configurable to prevent coupling of the first and second device.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the second surface comprises a surface of a port of an electronic device.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein:

the second coded magnet comprises at least one electromagnet; and

a dynamically programmable force curve of the second coded magnet is changed by applying electricity to the electromagnet.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the second device comprises one or more configurable conductors configured to extend or retract within the port of the second device based on a determination of the identity of the first device.

14. The device claim 12, wherein:

the second coded magnet is configured to identify the first coded magnet; and

the port is configurable to receive the device of the first coded magnet.

15. A wireless docking system comprising:

a docking station configured to interface with an electronic device;

at least one coded magnet on a first surface of the docking station, the first coded magnet having at least two different polarity regions on the first surface;

one or more wireless communication devices positioned on the first surface of the docking station; and

a docking device comprising;

at least one coded magnet located on the docking device in a position that corresponds with the at least one coded magnet of the docking station; and

at least one wireless communication device configured to communicate with the one or more wireless communication devices.

16. The wireless docking system of claim 15, wherein the docking device is hermetically sealed.

17. The wireless docking system of claim 15, wherein the docking station is configured to inductively charge the docking device.

18. The wireless docking system of claim 15, wherein the at least one coded magnet is configured to identify the docking device based on an arrangement of the at least one coded magnet of the docking device.

19. The wireless docking system of claim 15, wherein:

the at least one coded magnet comprises at least one electromagnet; and

a dynamically programmable force curve of the at least one coded magnet is changed by applying electricity to the electromagnet.

20. The wireless docking system of claim 15, wherein the one or more wireless communication devices comprises at least one of an optical communication device or a radio frequency communication device.

21. The wireless docking system of claim 15, wherein the one or more wireless communication devices comprises configurable coded magnets.