Electromagnetic Connectors

• US 20140327318A1
• Filed: 05/02/2013
• Published: 11/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Bedrock Automation Platforms, Inc. (Analog Devices, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rooyakkers, Albert, Calvin, James
• Granted Patent: US 9,449,756 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/104
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 41/02 for manufacturing cores, coils, or magnets H01F41/14 takes precedence; for dynamo-electric machines H02K15/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49071 by winding or coiling

Abstract

An electromagnetic connector well suited for use in harsh environments. The connector used an E-core or C-core magnetic members for coupling power such as from a backplane to a module mounted on the backplane and using I-cores for coupling signals to and from the module. Separation of the power and signaling allows optimization of each coupling without compromise in performance of each function. Use of I-cores for signal coupling provides efficient use of space, with the use of E-cores or C-cores providing maximum power coupling to the module in a minimum space. Various aspects of exemplary embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A connector for transferring power from a backplane to a module mounted on the backplane comprising:

a first magnetic E-core having a center leg and first and second outer legs, the center leg and the outer legs being joined at a first end thereof and being mounted with a second end thereof extending into openings in the backplane, the backplane having a printed coil encircling at least one of the three legs;

a second magnetic E-core having a center leg and first and second outer legs, the center leg and the outer legs being joined at one end thereof and being mounted with a second end thereof mounted adjacent an end of the module, the module having at least one wound coil encircling at least one of the three legs;

the backplane and the module being configured so that the second end of each leg of the magnetic E-core on the backplane is aligned with the corresponding leg of the magnetic E-core in the module when the module is mounted to the backplane.

2. The connector of claim 1 wherein the wound coil in the module is a coil with multiple taps.

3. The connector of claim 1 wherein the second ends of the magnetic E-core in the backplane do not protrude from the module side of the backplane.

4. The connector of claim 3 wherein the second ends of each of the first and second magnetic E-cores have a protective sheet or layer thereover.

5. The connector of claim 3 wherein the magnetic E-core in the module is spring mounted to provide a spring force between the magnetic E-core in the module and the magnetic E-core in the backplane when the module is mounted to the backplane.

6. The connector of claim 1 wherein the magnetic E-cores are ferrite E-cores.

7. The connector of claim 1, also for signal transmission for at least one of a backplane to a module mounted on the backplane, and a module to a backplane to which the module is mounted, further comprising:

first and second magnetic I-cores;

the first magnetic I-core being mounted with an end thereof extending into an opening in the backplane, the backplane having a printed coil encircling the first magnetic I-core;

the second magnetic I-core having an end thereof mounted adjacent an end of the module, the module having at least one wound coil encircling the second magnetic I-core;

the backplane and the module also being configured so that the end of the first magnetic I-core is adjacent the end of the second magnetic I-core when the module is mounted to the backplane.

8. The connector of claim 7 wherein the connector further comprises:

at least third and fourth magnetic E-cores, the third magnetic E-core being configured on the backplane like the first magnetic E-core and the fourth magnetic E-core being mounted adjacent the end of the module and configured like the second magnetic E-core;

at least third and fourth magnetic I-cores, the third magnetic I-core being configured on the backplane like the first magnetic I-core and the fourth magnetic I-core being mounted adjacent the end of the module and configured like the second magnetic I-core;

the first and second magnetic E-cores being mounted symmetrically with the third and fourth magnetic E-cores about a center of the module;

the first and second magnetic I-cores being mounted symmetrically with the third and fourth magnetic I-cores about a center of the module;

whereby the connector will be functional when the module may be mounted to the backplane in a first relative orientation, or a second relative orientation reversed from the first relative orientation.

9. The connector of claim 8 wherein the module contains two identical circuits.

10. The connector of claim 8 wherein the module connected to the backplane includes circuitry for sensing the relative orientation of the module and rerouting power and/or signals as needed.

11. The connector of claim 7 wherein the end of the first magnetic I-core in the backplane does not protrude from the module side of the backplane.

12. The connector of claim 7 wherein the ends of each of the magnetic I-cores have a protective sheet or layer thereover.

13. The connector of claim 7 wherein the magnetic I-cores in the module and in the backplane are positively mounted in the module and the backplane, respectively.

14. The connector of claim 13 wherein the magnetic I-core in the backplane is mounted in the backplane with an axis of the magnetic I-core perpendicular to the backplane, and wherein the magnetic I-core in the module is mounted with an axis substantially collinear with the axis of the magnetic I-core in the backplane when the module is mounted to the backplane.

15. The connector of claim 14 wherein the magnetic I-cores are mounted so that when the module is mounted to the backplane, the ends of the magnetic I-cores are in close proximity without subjecting each other to a mechanical force along their axes.

16. The connector of claim 7 wherein the magnetic E-cores are ferrite E-cores.

17. The connector of claim 7 wherein the magnetic I-cores are ferrite I-cores.

18. The connector of claim 7 wherein both the magnetic E-cores and magnetic I-cores are ferrite cores, the magnetic E-cores being of one grade of ferrite and the magnetic I-cores being of a second grade of ferrite different from the first grade.

19. A connector for transferring power from a backplane to a module mounted on the backplane comprising:

a first magnetic C-core having first and second legs, the first and second legs being joined at a first end thereof and being mounted with a second end thereof extending into openings in the backplane, the backplane having a printed coil encircling at least one of the first and second legs;

a second magnetic C-core having first and second legs, the first and second legs being joined at one end thereof and being mounted with a second end thereof mounted adjacent an end of the module, the module having at least one wire wound coil encircling at least one of the first and second legs;

the backplane and the module being configured so that the second end of each leg of the magnetic C-core on the backplane is aligned with the corresponding leg of the magnetic C-core in the module when the module is mounted to the backplane.

20. The connector of claim 19 wherein the wound coil in the module is a coil with multiple taps.

21. The connector of claim 19 wherein the second ends of the magnetic C-core in the backplane do not protrude from a module side of the backplane.

22. The connector of claim 21 wherein the second ends of each of the first and second magnetic C-cores have a protective sheet or layer thereover.

23. The connector of claim 21 wherein the magnetic C-core in the module is spring mounted to provide a spring force between the magnetic C-core in the module and the magnetic C-core in the backplane when the module is mounted to the backplane.

24. The connector of claim 19 wherein the magnetic C-cores are ferrite C-cores.

25. The connector of claim 19, also for signal transmission for at least one of a backplane to a module mounted on the backplane, and a module to a backplane to which the module is mounted, further comprising:

first and second magnetic I-cores;

the first magnetic I-core being mounted with an end thereof extending into an opening in the backplane, the backplane having a printed coil encircling the first magnetic I-core;

the second magnetic I-core having an end thereof mounted adjacent an end of the module, the module having at least one wire wound coil encircling the second magnetic I-core;

the backplane and the module also being configured so that the end of the first magnetic I-core is adjacent the end of the second magnetic I-core when the module is mounted to the backplane.

26. The connector of claim 25 wherein the connector further comprises:

at least third and fourth magnetic C-cores, the third magnetic C-core being configured on the backplane like the first magnetic C-core and the fourth magnetic C-core being mounted adjacent the end of the module and configured like the second magnetic C-core;

at least third and fourth magnetic I-cores, the third magnetic I-core being configured on the backplane like the first magnetic I-core and the fourth magnetic I-core being mounted adjacent the end of the module and configured like the second magnetic I-core;

the first and second magnetic C-cores being mounted symmetrically with the third and fourth magnetic C-cores about a center of the module;

the first and second magnetic I-cores being mounted symmetrically with the third and fourth magnetic I-cores about a center of the module;

whereby the connector will be functional when the module may be mounted to the backplane in a first relative orientation, or a second relative orientation reversed from the first relative orientation.

27. The connector of claim 26 wherein the module contains two identical circuits.

28. The connector of claim 26 wherein the module connected to the backplane includes circuitry for sensing the relative orientation of the module and rerouting power and/or signals as needed.

29. The connector of claim 25 wherein the end of the first magnetic I-core in the backplane does not protrude from the module side of the backplane.

30. The connector of claim 25 wherein the ends of each of the magnetic I-cores have a protective sheet or layer thereover.

31. The connector of claim 25 wherein the magnetic I-cores in the module and in the backplane are positively mounted in the module and the backplane, respectively.

32. The connector of claim 31 wherein the magnetic I-core in the backplane is mounted in the backplane with an axis of the magnetic I-core perpendicular to the backplane, and wherein the magnetic I-core in the module is mounted with an axis substantially collinear with the axis of the magnetic I-core in the backplane when the module is mounted to the backplane.

33. The connector of claim 32 wherein the magnetic I-cores are mounted so that when the module is mounted to the backplane, the magnetic I-cores are in close proximity without subjecting each other to a mechanical force along their axes.

34. The connector of claim 25 wherein the magnetic C-cores are ferrite C-cores.

35. The connector of claim 25 wherein the magnetic I-cores are ferrite I-cores.

36. The connector of claim 25 wherein both the magnetic C-cores and magnetic I-cores are ferrite cores, the magnetic C-cores being of one grade of ferrite and the magnetic I-cores being of a second grade of ferrite different from the first grade.

37. A method of coupling power from a backplane to a module to be coupled to the backplane comprising:

mounting a first magnetic C-core or E-core on a backplane circuit board with faces thereof extending into openings in the backplane, the backplane circuit board having at least one planar coil in the backplane circuit board encircling at least one leg of the first magnetic C-core or E-core;

providing a second magnetic C-core or E-core mounted in a module with faces thereof adjacent a module surface, the second magnetic C-core or E-core having a wire wound coil encircling at least one leg of the second magnetic C-core or E-core;

whereby when the module is coupled to the backplane, the faces of the second magnetic C-core or E-core on the module will be adjacent to the faces of the first magnetic C-core or E-core on the backplane circuit board, AC electrical power may be applied to the planar coil and coupled to the wire wound coil.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein the wire wound coil on the second magnetic C-core or E-core is provided with multiple taps.

39. The method of claim 37 wherein second ends of the second magnetic C-core or E-core in the backplane do not protrude from the module side of the backplane.

40. The method of claim 39 wherein a protective sheet or layer is provided over the second ends of the second magnetic C-cores or E-cores.

41. The method of claim 39 further comprising spring mounting the second magnetic C-core or E-core in the module to provide a spring force between the first magnetic C-core or E-core in the module and the second magnetic C-core or E-core in the backplane when the module is mounted to the backplane.

42. The method of claim 37 wherein the second magnetic C-cores or E-cores are ferrite cores.

43. The method of claim 37, also for signal transmission for at least one of a backplane to a module mounted on the backplane, and a module to a backplane to which the module is mounted, further comprising:

providing first and second magnetic I-cores;

mounting the first magnetic I-core with an end thereof passing through an opening in the backplane, the backplane having a printed coil encircling the first magnetic I-core;

mounting the second magnetic I-core with an end thereof adjacent an end of the module with the second magnetic I-core having at least one wound coil encircling the second magnetic I-core and so that the end of the first magnetic I-core is adjacent the end of the second magnetic I-core when the module is mounted to the backplane.

44. The method of claim 43 further comprises:

providing at least third and fourth magnetic I-cores;

configuring the third magnetic E-core like the first magnetic I-core and the fourth magnetic E-core like the second magnetic I-core;

providing at least third and fourth magnetic I-cores;

configuring the third magnetic I-core like the first magnetic I-core and the fourth magnetic I-core like the second magnetic I-core;

mounting the third and fourth magnetic C-cores or E-cores symmetrically with the first and second magnetic C-cores or E-cores about a center of the module;

mounting the third and fourth magnetic I-cores symmetrically with the first and second magnetic I-cores about a center of the module;

whereby the module will be functional when the module is mounted to the backplane in a first relative orientation, or a second relative orientation reversed from the first relative orientation.

45. The method of claim 44 wherein the module contains two identical circuits.

46. The method of claim 44 wherein the module connected to the backplane includes circuitry for sensing the relative orientation of the module and rerouting power and/or signals as needed.

47. The method of claim 43 wherein the first magnetic I-core is mounted so that the end of the first magnetic I-core in the backplane does not protrude from the module side of the backplane.

48. The method of claim 43 further comprising providing a protective sheet or layer over the ends of each of the magnetic I-cores.

49. The method of claim 43 wherein the magnetic I-cores in the module and in the backplane are positively mounted in the module and the backplane, respectively.

50. The method of claim 49 wherein the magnetic I-core in the backplane is mounted in the backplane with an axis of the magnetic I-core perpendicular to the backplane, and wherein the magnetic I-core in the module is mounted with an axis substantially collinear with the axis of the magnetic I-core in the backplane when the module is mounted to the backplane.

51. The method of claim 50 wherein the magnetic I-cores are mounted so that when the module is mounted to the backplane, the magnetic I-cores are in close proximity without subjecting each other to a mechanical force along their axes.

52. The method of claim 43 wherein the second magnetic C-cores or E-cores are ferrite C-cores or E-cores.

53. The method of claim 43 wherein the magnetic I-cores are ferrite I-cores.

54. The method of claim 43 wherein both the second magnetic C-cores or E-cores and the magnetic I-cores are ferrite cores, the second magnetic C-cores or E-cores being of one grade of ferrite and the magnetic I-cores being of a second grade of ferrite different from the first grade of ferrite.

55. A connector for signal transmission for at least one of a backplane to a module mounted on the backplane, and a module to a backplane to which the module is mounted, comprising:

first and second magnetic I-cores;

the first magnetic I-core being mounted with an end thereof passing into an opening in the backplane, the backplane having a printed coil encircling the first magnetic I-core;

the second magnetic I-core having an end thereof mounted adjacent an end of the module, the module having at least one wound coil encircling the second magnetic I-core;

the backplane and the module also being configured so that the end of the first magnetic I-core is adjacent the end of the second magnetic I-core when the module is mounted to the backplane.

56. The connector of claim 55 wherein the connector further comprises:

at least third and fourth magnetic I-cores, the third magnetic I-core being configured on the backplane like the first magnetic I-core and the fourth magnetic I-core being mounted adjacent the end of the module and configured like the second magnetic I-core;

the first and second magnetic I-cores being mounted symmetrically with the third and fourth magnetic I-cores about a center of the module;

whereby the connector will be functional when the module may be mounted to the backplane in a first relative orientation, or a second relative orientation reversed from the first relative orientation.

57. The connector of claim 56 wherein the module contains two identical circuits.

58. The connector of claim 56 wherein the module connected to the backplane includes circuitry for sensing the relative orientation of the module and rerouting signals as needed.

59. The connector of claim 55 wherein the end of the first magnetic I-core in the backplane does not protrude from the module side of the backplane.

60. The connector of claim 55 wherein the ends of each of the magnetic I-cores have a protective sheet or layer thereover.

61. The connector of claim 55 wherein the magnetic I-cores in the module and in the backplane are positively mounted in the module and the backplane, respectively.

62. The connector of claim 55 wherein the magnetic I-core in the backplane is mounted in the backplane with an axis of the magnetic I-core perpendicular to the backplane, and wherein the magnetic I-core in the module is mounted with an axis substantially collinear with the axis of the magnetic I-core in the backplane when the module is mounted to the backplane.

63. The connector of claim 62 wherein the magnetic I-cores are mounted so that when the module is mounted to the backplane, the magnetic I-cores are in close proximity without subjecting each other to a mechanical force along their axes.

64. The connector of claim 55 wherein the magnetic I-cores are ferrite I-cores.