Electromagnetic induction-type connector

• US 6,736,646 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2002
• Issued: 05/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Inventors: Takahashi, Hideo, Kojima, Naoya, Suzuki, Yasuhiro
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KHIEM M
• Application Number:
  US10/157,811
• Publication Number:
  US 20020182898A1
• Time in Patent Office: 718 Days
• Field of Search: 439/34, 439/39, 439/248, 439/383, 439/384
• US Class Current: 439/39
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6633 with inductive component, e.g. transformer

Abstract

A first connector includes a first core member, and a first positioning-purpose fitting portion for the second connector. A second connector includes a second core member, in which an induction electromotive force is produced by the first core member, and a second positioning-purpose fitting portion for fitting in the first fitting portion. The first fitting portions, as well as the second fitting portions, may be arranged at opposite sides of the first core member in such a manner that the first core member are interposed between the first fitting portions. A shock-absorbing elastic member, which can be elastically deformed upon contact, may be provided at the first fitting portion (35) and/or the second fitting portion (44).

Claims

1. An electromagnetic induction-type connector comprising:

a first connector on a first member which includes a first core member, and a first fitting portion; and

a second connector on a second member adapted to be brought into proximity to the first member, which includes a second core member for producing an induction electromotive force in cooperation with the first core member, and a second fitting portion, for positioning the second connector with respect to the first connector, fitted to the first fitting portion when the second connector is brought into proximity of the first member,

wherein electric power or a signal is transmitted between the first connector and the second connector by mutual induction effect when the second member is brought into proximity to the first member,

wherein a shock-absorbing resilient member which can be resiliently deformed when the first fitting portion is fitted to the second fitting portion is provided at at least one of the first fitting portion and the second fitting portion.

2. The electromagnetic induction-type connector according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the first fitting portions and a plurality of the second fitting portions are provided at the first and second connectors, respectively.

3. The electromagnetic induction-type connector according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of first fitting portions are disposed at opposite sides of the first core member in such a manner that the first core member is interposed between the plurality of first fitting portions, and the plurality of second fitting portions are disposed at opposite sides of the second core member in such a manner that the second core member is interposed between the plurality of second fitting portions.

4. The electromagnetic induction-type connector according to claim 1, wherein the first fitting portion is a recess and the second fitting portion is a projection to be inserted into the recess.

5. The electromagnetic induction-type connector according to claim 4, wherein the recess includes a first tapering surface and the projection includes a second tapering surface slidable along the first tapering surface.

8. The electromagnetic induction-type connector according to claim 1, wherein the first core member includes a primary core and a primary coil, and the second core member includes a secondary core and a secondary coil.

18. The electromagnetic induction-type connector according to claim 1, wherein the shock-absorbing resilient member is provided at an inner end portion of the second fitting portion.

19. The electromagnetic induction-type connector according to claim 1, wherein the second fitting portion has a substantially trapezoid-shaped cross-section.

6. An electromagnetic induction-type connector comprising:

a first connector on a first member which includes a first core member, and a first fitting portion; and

a second connector on a second member adapted to be brought into proximity to the first member, which includes a second core member for producing an induction electromotive force in cooperation with the first core member, and a second fitting portion, for positioning the second connector with respect to the first connector, fitted to the first fitting portion when the second connector is brought into proximity of the first member,

wherein electric power or a signal is transmitted between the first connector and the second connector by mutual induction effect when the second member is brought into proximity to the first member,

wherein a shock-absorbing resilient member which can be resiliently deformed when the first fitting portion is fitted to the second fitting portion is provided at one of the first and second core members.

7. An electromagnetic induction-type connector comprising:

a first connector on a first member which includes a first core member, and a first fitting portion; and

a second connector on a second member adapted to be brought into proximity to the first member, which includes a second core member for producing an induction electromotive force in cooperation with the first core member, and a second fitting portion, for positioning the second connector with respect to the first connector, fitted to the first fitting portion when the second connector is brought into proximity of the first member,

wherein electric power or a signal is transmitted between the first connector and the second connector by mutual induction effect when the second member is brought into proximity to the first member,

wherein one of the first and second connectors includes an elastic member for allowing the first or second core member of the one of the first and second connectors to retract upon contact between the first and second connectors.

9. An electromagnetic induction-type connector comprising:

a first connector on a first member;

a second connector on a second member adapted to be brought into proximity to the first member for producing an induction electromotive force in cooperation with the first connector when the first member is brought into proximity of the second member; and

a shock-absorbing resilient member, which can be resiliently deformed upon a contact between the first and second connectors, provided at one of the first and second core members,

wherein electric power or a signal is transmitted between the first connector to the second connector by mutual induction effect when the second member is brought into proximity to the first member.

10. The electromagnetic induction-type connector according to claim 9, wherein the shock-absorbing resilient member is provided in the vicinity of a coupling portion of the one of the first and second connectors which cooperates with the other of the first and second connectors to produce the mutual induction.

11. The electromagnetic induction-type connector according to claim 10, wherein the shock-absorbing resilient member surrounds the coupling portion.

12. The electromagnetic induction-type connector according to claim 10, wherein the shock-absorbing resilient member is provided so as to be brought into contact with a coupling surface of a coupling portion of the other of the first and second connectors which produces the mutual induction.

13. The electromagnetic induction-type connector according to claim 9, wherein the shock-absorbing resilient member is provided in the vicinity of a coupling surface of a coupling portion of the one of the first and second connectors which cooperates with the other of the first and second connector to produce the mutual induction.

14. The electromagnetic induction-type connector according to claim 9, wherein

a resilient member is provided on one of the first connector and the second connector, and

when a pressing force above a predetermined value is applied to the resilient member by the contact, the resilient member is resiliently deformed, thereby enabling the one of the first and second connectors having the resilient member to retract.

15. An electromagnetic induction-type connector comprising:

a first connector on a first member which includes a first core member; and

a second connector on a second member adapted to be brought into proximity to the first member, which includes a second core member for producing an induction electromotive force in cooperation with the first coil member;

an elastic member provided at the first connector for allowing the first core member to retract upon contact between the first and second connectors; and

a fixing member for fixing the elastic member to the first member,

wherein electric power or a signal is transmitted between the first connector and the second connector by mutual induction effect when the second member is brought into proximity to the first member.

16. The electromagnetic induction-type connector according to claim 15, wherein the elastic member is watertightly connected to the fixing member, and the elastic member includes a waterproof covering member which watertightly covers the first core member.

17. The electromagnetic induction-type connector according to claim 15, wherein a waterproof portion is provided on the first core member, and the elastic member is watertightly connected to the waterproof portion.