SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR AUTO-ALIGNING PROTRUDING CONNECTORS IN DOCKING INTERFACES

• US 20190243420A1
• Filed: 04/16/2019
• Published: 08/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Shaw, Timothy C., Vier, Bradford Edward, Radloff, Timothy M.
• Granted Patent: US 10,627,863 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/0205 Magnetic circuits with PM in general
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/0263 Closures, bags, bands, engagement devices with male and female parts
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/064 Circuit arrangements for actuating electromagnets circuit arrangements for obtaining special operating characteristics H01F7/18; driving circuits for electromagnets making use of a switching regulator H01H47/325
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/20 without armatures cores H01F3/00; coils H01F5/00 ; shaping metal by applying magnetic forces B21D26/14; electromagnets specially adapted for NMR applications G01R33/381
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6205 Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6315 allowing relative movement between coupling parts, e.g. floating connection for coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, H01R12/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/06 for computer periphery

Abstract

Systems and methods for auto-aligning protruding connectors in docking interfaces are described. In some embodiments, a docking interface may include a male portion comprising: a first magnetic device, a second magnetic device disposed across from the first magnetic device, and a guidepost disposed between the first magnetic device and the second magnetic device, where the guidepost comprises a third magnetic device. The docking interface may also include a female portion comprising a fourth magnetic device and a fifth magnetic device disposed across from the fourth magnetic device leaving a gap between the fourth magnetic device and the fifth magnetic device, where the gap is configured to receive the guidepost.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a first component of an Information Handling System (IHS), wherein the first component comprises a male portion, and wherein the male portion comprises;

a first magnetic device;

a second magnetic device disposed across from the first magnetic device; and

a first guidepost disposed between the first magnetic device and the second magnetic device, wherein the first guidepost comprises a third magnetic device;

receiving a second component of the IHS, wherein the second component comprises a female portion, and wherein the female portion comprises;

a fourth magnetic device; and

a fifth magnetic device disposed across from the fourth magnetic device with a first gap between the fourth magnetic device and the fifth magnetic device, wherein the first gap is configured to receive the first guidepost; and

coupling the first component to the second component by inserting the first guidepost into the first gap.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first component comprises a display portion of the IHS, and wherein the second component comprises a keyboard portion of the IHS.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first, second, fourth, and fifth magnetic devices have a given polarity orientation, and wherein the third magnetic device has another polarity orientation opposite the given polarity orientation.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a clamping action between the first and fourth magnetic devices and between the second and fifth magnetic devices increases in response to the third magnetic device approaching a center of the first gap during the coupling.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein a repulsion action between the third magnetic device and the fourth magnetic device and between the third magnetic device and the fifth magnetic device increases in response to the third magnetic device moving away from the center of the first gap during the coupling.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth magnetic devices have a circular shape.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the first, second, fourth, and fifth magnetic devices are clocked with respect to the third magnetic device.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein a diameter of the first, second, fourth, and fifth magnetic devices is greater than a diameter of the third magnetic device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the male portion further comprises:

another first magnetic device;

another second magnetic device disposed across from the other first magnetic device; and

a second guidepost disposed between the other first magnetic device and the other second magnetic device, wherein the second guidepost comprises another third magnetic device;

wherein the female portion further comprises;

another fourth magnetic device; and

another fifth magnetic device disposed across from the other fourth magnetic device with a second gap between the other fourth magnetic devices and the firth magnetic device, wherein the second gap is configured to receive the second guidepost; and

and wherein the method further comprises inserting the second guidepost into the second gap.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first or second components further comprises a data connector disposed between the first guidepost and the second guidepost.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the data connector has a length shorter than a length of the first or second guideposts.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the data connector is supported by a floating connector system.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more of the first, second, third, fourth, or fifth magnetic devices comprises an electromagnetic coil.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising configuring, manually by an end-user, a magnetic field created by the electromagnetic coil.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising configuring, dynamically by the IHS, a magnetic field created by the electromagnetic coil.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the magnetic field is configured in response to a signal generated by a sensor coupled to the IHS.