Electromagnetic connector for electronic device
First Claim
1. An apparatus for electrically connecting an electronic device to an electrical relation, comprising:
- a first connector having at least one first contact electrically connected to the electronic device; and
a second connector positionable adjacent the first connector and having at least one second contact electrically connected to the electrical relation,wherein one of the connectors comprises a magnetic element positioned on the connector and the other connector comprises an electromagnet positioned on the connector, wherein the electromagnet is energizable to produce magnetic attraction with the magnetic element and substantially maintain the first and second contacts of the connectors in an electrically conductive relationship,wherein the apparatus further comprises control circuitry coupled to the electromagnet, the control circuitry detecting a control signal and controlling energization of the electromagnet based on the signal, wherein the control signal indicates a charged condition of a battery associated with the electronic device, and wherein the control circuitry causes the electromagnet to be de-energized in response to receiving the control signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electrical plug and receptacle relying on magnetic force from an electromagnet to maintain contact are disclosed. The plug and receptacle can be used as part of a power adapter for connecting an electronic device, such as a laptop computer, to a power supply. The plug includes electrical contacts, which are preferably biased toward corresponding contacts on the receptacle. The plug and receptacle each have a magnetic element. The magnetic element on one of the plug or receptacle can be a magnet or ferromagnetic material. The magnetic element on the other of the plug or receptacle is an electromagnet. When the plug and receptacle are brought into proximity, the magnetic attraction between the electromagnet magnet and its complement, whether another magnet or a ferromagnetic material, maintains the contacts in an electrically conductive relationship.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. An apparatus for electrically connecting an electronic device to an electrical relation, comprising:
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a first connector having at least one first contact electrically connected to the electronic device; and a second connector positionable adjacent the first connector and having at least one second contact electrically connected to the electrical relation, wherein one of the connectors comprises a magnetic element positioned on the connector and the other connector comprises an electromagnet positioned on the connector, wherein the electromagnet is energizable to produce magnetic attraction with the magnetic element and substantially maintain the first and second contacts of the connectors in an electrically conductive relationship, wherein the apparatus further comprises control circuitry coupled to the electromagnet, the control circuitry detecting a control signal and controlling energization of the electromagnet based on the signal, wherein the control signal indicates a charged condition of a battery associated with the electronic device, and wherein the control circuitry causes the electromagnet to be de-energized in response to receiving the control signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An apparatus for electrically connecting an electronic device to an electrical relation, comprising:
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a first connector having at least one first contact electrically connected to the electronic device; and a second connector positionable adjacent the first connector and having at least one second contact electrically connected to the electrical relation, wherein one of the connectors comprises a magnetic element positioned on the connector and the other connector comprises an electromagnet positioned on the connector, and wherein the electromagnet is energizable to produce magnetic attraction with the magnetic element and substantially maintain the first and second contacts of the connectors in an electrically conductive relationship, wherein the apparatus further comprises a control circuitry coupled to the electromagnet, the control circuitry detecting a control signal and controlling energization of the electromagnet based on the signal, wherein the control signal provides an identification of the electronic device, and wherein the control circuitry causes the electromagnet to be energized in response to receiving the control signal.
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14. An electronic device connectable to an electrical relation, comprising:
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a housing for internal electronics; a first connector connected to the relation, the first connector having at least one first contact electrically connected to the electrical relation; and a second connector connected to the device, the second connector having at least one second contact electrically connected to the internal electronics, wherein one of the connectors comprises a magnetic element positioned on the connector, and the other connector comprises an electromagnet positioned on the connector, wherein the electromagnet is energizable to produce magnetic attraction with the magnetic element and substantially maintain the first and second contacts of the connectors in an electrically conductive relationships, wherein the electronic device further comprises control circuitry coupled to the electromagnet, the control circuitry detecting a control signal and controlling energization of the electromagnet based on the signal, wherein the control signal indicates a charged condition of a battery associated with the electronic device, and wherein the control circuitry causes the electromagnet to be de-energized in response to receiving the control signal. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. An electronic device connectable to an electrical relation, comprising:
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a housing for internal electronics; a first connector connected to the relation, the first connector having at least one first contact electrically connected to the electrical relation, and a second connector connected to the device, the second connector having at least one second contact electrically connected to the internal electronics, wherein one of the connectors comprises a magnetic element positioned on the connector, wherein the other connector comprises an electromagnet positioned on the connector, and wherein the electromagnet is energizable to produce magnetic attraction with the magnetic element and substantially maintain the first and second contacts of the connectors in an electrically conductive relationship, wherein the electronic device further comprises control circuitry coupled to the electromagnet, the control circuitry detecting a control signal and controlling energization of the electromagnet based on the signal, wherein the control signal indicates a charged condition of a battery associated with the electronic device, wherein the control signal provides an identification of the electronic device, and wherein the control circuitry causes the electromagnet to be energized in response to receiving the control signal.
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Specification