Magnetic connector for mobile electronic devices

• US 7,467,948 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2006
• Issued: 12/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Lindberg, Phillip, Shirgaonkar, Sameer, Bjorninen, Kati
• Primary Examiner(s): Prasad; Chandrika
• Application Number:
  US11/450,563
• Publication Number:
  US 20070287302A1
• Time in Patent Office: 929 Days
• Field of Search: 439/38, 439/39, 439/40, 439/505, 439/519, 361/733
• US Class Current: 439/38
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6205 Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/70 with built-in switch
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7037 making use of a magnetically operated switch
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/16 for telephony

Abstract

A magnetic connector for connecting various cables to a mobile electronic device includes a connector part in the mobile electronic device and a connector part attached to the cable. One of the connector parts includes a permanent magnet and the other connector part includes magnetic material or another magnet. The attractive magnetic force between the permanent magnet or the other magnet and the magnetic material keeps the connector parts into engagement. The magnets may themselves form the electrical contacts. The connector parts can also include magnetically operated switches.

Claims

1. A connector for electrically and mechanically connecting a cable to a mobile electronic device comprising a first connector part disposed at the end of the cable and a second connector part disposed at the mobile electric device, wherein at least one of said first and said second connector parts includes a magnet that is magnetically attracted to magnetic material disposed on the other of the at least one of said first and said second connector parts such that the magnetic force generated between the magnet and the magnetic material or between the two magnets is utilized for bringing the first connector part and the second connector part into engagement with each other thereby establishing an electrical connection between the cable and the mobile electrical device, and wherein the electrical connection is established by the magnet touching on the magnetic material.

2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the second connector part includes a magnetically activated switch that assumes one condition when the first connector part is connected to the second connector part and another position when the first connector part is not connected to the second connector part.

3. The connector according to claim 2, wherein an electrical connection between the electronic device and the cable can only be established in the position that the magnetically activated switch assumes when the first connector part is connected to the second connector part.

4. The connector according to claim 1, wherein said second connector part can connect to a third connector part and when said second and/or said third connector part include a magnet that is magnetically attractive to magnetic material disposed on the other connector part.

5. The connector according to claim 4, wherein a first electric routing is established when said second connector part is connected to said first connector part and wherein a second electric routing different from the first electric routing is established when said second connector part is connected to set third connector part.

6. The connector according to claim 5, wherein said different routing is established by a magnetic switch connected to said second connector part and said magnetic switch assuming the first position when said first connector part is connected to said second connector part and said magnetic switch assuming a second position when said second connector part is connected to set third connector part.

7. The connector according to claim 1 wherein the first connector part is connected to a housing of a mobile electronic device.

8. The connector according to claim 1 further comprising:

a third connector part arranged on said first connector part; and

a fourth connector part on said second connector part;

wherein said first connector part is arranged to attract said second connector part and to repulse said fourth connector part, and wherein said third connector part is arranged to attract said fourth connector part and to repulse said second connector part.

9. The connector according to claim 7, wherein said mobile electronic device is a mobile phone.

10. The connector according to claim 7, wherein said mobile electronic device is a battery charger.

11. The connector according to claim 10, further comprising a cable, wherein one end of the cable is coupled to said charger and the other end of said cable is attached to said connector part.

12. The connector according to claim 1 wherein the first connector part and/or the second connector part is connected to an electrical conductor of a cable.