AN APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR COUPLING THE APPARATUS TO A RECIPROCAL APPARATUS

• US 20180358742A1
• Filed: 11/21/2016
• Published: 12/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: ANDREW, Piers
• Granted Patent: US 11,171,444 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/2414 conductive elastomers
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6205 Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/0314 Elastomeric connector or conductor, e.g. rubber with metallic filler elastomeric dielectric H05K2201/0133
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/083 Magnetic materials
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/323 by applying an anisotropic conductive adhesive layer over an array of pads
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/36 Assembling printed circuits with other printed circuits H05K7/142 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/361 Assembling flexible printed circuits with other printed circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/365 by abutting, i.e. without alloying process

Abstract

An apparatus and method, the apparatus comprising: a layer of quantum tunnelling composite configured such that in a non-compressed state the quantum tunnelling composite is an electrical insulator and in a compressed state the layer of quantum tunnelling composite is an electrical conductor; a magnetic portion configured to cause compression of the quantum tunnelling composite; and wherein the apparatus is configured to be coupled to a reciprocal apparatus where the reciprocal apparatus comprises a reciprocal magnetic portion such that when the apparatus is coupled to the reciprocal apparatus the magnetic portion causes compression of the quantum tunnelling composite to provide a direct current path through the quantum tunnelling composite to the reciprocal apparatus.

Claims

1-15. -15. (canceled)

16. An apparatus comprising:

a layer of quantum tunnelling composite configured such that in a non-compressed state the quantum tunnelling composite is an electrical insulator and in a compressed state the layer of quantum tunnelling composite is an electrical conductor;

a magnetic portion configured to cause compression of the quantum tunnelling composite; and

wherein the apparatus is configured to be coupled to a reciprocal apparatus where the reciprocal apparatus comprises a reciprocal magnetic portion such that when the apparatus is coupled to the reciprocal apparatus the magnetic portion causes compression of the quantum tunnelling composite to provide a direct current path through the quantum tunnelling composite to the reciprocal apparatus.

17. An apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein the conductivity of the quantum tunnelling composite in the compressed state is anisotropic such that the quantum tunnelling composite provides a direct current path in a direction in which the quantum tunnelling composite has been compressed but does not provide a direct current path in a direction in which the quantum tunnelling composite has not been compressed.

18. An apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein the magnetic portion is configured to move between a first position and a second position wherein when the magnetic portion is in the first position the quantum tunnelling composite is in a non-compressed state and when the magnetic portion is in the second position the quantum tunnelling composite is in a compressed state.

19. An apparatus as claimed in claim 18 further comprising a cavity configured to enable the magnetic portion to move between the first position and the second position.

20. An apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein the quantum tunnelling composite forms part of a casing of the apparatus.

21. An apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein the quantum tunnelling composite is water resistant.

22. An apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein the apparatus comprises a recess within a casing where the recess is configured to receive the reciprocal apparatus and enable the apparatus to be coupled to the reciprocal apparatus.

23. An apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein the apparatus comprises a projection within a casing where the projection is configured to fit into a recess of a reciprocal apparatus and enable the apparatus to be coupled to the reciprocal apparatus.

24. An apparatus as claimed in claim 16 comprising at least one contact electrically connected to the quantum tunnelling composite.

25. An apparatus as claimed in claim 16 comprising an insulating material around the at least one contact.

26. An apparatus as claimed in claim 25 wherein the insulating material comprises a part of a casing of the apparatus.

27. An apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein the magnetic portion comprises at least one of;

a magnet, a portion which is attracted to a magnet.

28. An electronic device comprising an apparatus as claimed in claim 16.

29. A connecting device comprising an apparatus as claimed in claim 16.

30. A method comprising:

providing a layer of quantum tunnelling composite within an apparatus where the quantum tunnelling composite is configured such that in a non-compressed state the quantum tunnelling composite is an electrical insulator and in a compressed state the layer of quantum tunnelling composite is an electrical conductor;

configuring a magnetic portion to cause compression of the quantum tunnelling composite; and

enabling the apparatus to be coupled to a reciprocal apparatus where the reciprocal apparatus comprises a reciprocal magnetic portion such that when the apparatus is coupled to the reciprocal apparatus the magnetic portion causes compression of the quantum tunnelling composite to provide a direct current path through the quantum tunnelling composite to the reciprocal apparatus.

31. A method as claimed in claim 30 wherein the conductivity of the quantum tunnelling composite in the compressed state is anisotropic such that the quantum tunnelling composite provides a direct current path in a direction in which the quantum tunnelling composite has been compressed but does not provide a direct current path in a direction in which the quantum tunnelling composite has not been compressed.

32. A method as claimed in claim 30 wherein the magnetic portion is configured to move between a first position and a second position wherein when the magnetic portion is in the first position the quantum tunnelling composite is in a non-compressed state and when the magnetic portion is in the second position the quantum tunnelling composite is in a compressed state.

33. A method as claimed in claim 32 further comprising a cavity configured to enable the magnetic portion to move between the first position and the second position.

34. A method as claimed in claim 30 wherein the quantum tunnelling composite forms part of a casing of the apparatus.

35. A method as claimed in claim 30 wherein the quantum tunnelling composite is water resistant.