Connector mechanism

• US 7,637,747 B2
• Filed: 01/08/2007
• Issued: 12/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Polar Electro Oy
• Original Assignee: Polar Electro Oy
• Inventors: Bauer, Hans, Jaatinen, Jukka
• Primary Examiner(s): Paumen; Gary F.
• Application Number:
  US11/650,850
• Publication Number:
  US 20070177298A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,086 Days
• Field of Search: 439/39, 439/38, 607/60, 607/2, 600/561
• US Class Current: 439/39
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/227 Sensors with electrical connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0245 by using sensing means generating electric signals, i.e. ECG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/25 Bioelectric electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/28 for electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/30 End pieces held in contact by a magnet
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6205 Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet

Abstract

The invention relates to a connector mechanism, a connector, an electronic device, a garment and a physiological sensor. The connector mechanism comprises a first connector part, which includes a first electrically conductive layer and a first magnetic layer, and a second connector part, which includes a second electrically conductive layer and a second magnetic layer, the first and the second magnetic layers being configured to provide a mechanical coupling between the first connector part and the second connector part based on the mutual magnetic attraction between the first and the second magnetic layers, and the first electrically conductive layer and the second electrically conductive layer being configured to provide an electrical connection between the first connector part and the second connector part based on said mutual magnetic attraction.

Claims

1. A connector mechanism, comprising:

a first connector part coupled electrically and mechanically to a first electronic component, the first connector part including a first electrically conductive layer and a first magnetic layer; and

a second connector part coupled electrically and mechanically to a second electronic component, the second connector part including a second electrically conductive layer and a second magnetic layer,

the first and the second magnetic layers being configured to provide a mechanical coupling between the first connector part and the second connector part based on the mutual magnetic attraction between the first and the second magnetic layers, and the first and the second electrically conductive layers being configured to provide an electrical connection between the first and the second connector parts based on said mutual magnetic attraction, thereby connecting the first electronic component and the second electronic component electrically and mechanically, wherein the first electronic component is a physiological sensor of a performance measuring system for detecting a physiological signal in the user'"'"'s body, the second electronic component is a heart rate transmitter of the performance measuring system, wherein the heart rate transmitter is configured to establish a wireless link for transmitting information, wherein the first electrically conductive later is configured to transfer the physiological signal from the physiological sensor to the second electrically conductive layer and the second electrically conductive layer is configured to transfer the physiological signal to the heart rate transmitter;

or

wherein the first electronic component is a heart rate transmitter of a performance measuring system, wherein the heart rate transmitter is configured to establish a wireless link for transmitting information, wherein the second electronic component is a physiological sensor of a performance measuring system for detecting the physiological signal in the user'"'"'s body, wherein the second electrically conductive layer is configured to transfer the physiological signal from the physiological sensor to the first electrically conductive layer and the first electrically conductive layer is configured to transfer the physiological signal to the heart rate transmitter.

2. The connector mechanism of claim 1, wherein the first electrically conductive layer and the second electrically conductive layer are configured for being sandwiched between the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer.

3. The connector mechanism of claim 1, further comprising a positioning structure for mutual positioning of the first connector part and the second connector part.

4. The connector mechanism of claim 1, wherein the first electrical component is a heart rate sensor comprising an elastic frame part and electrodes integrated in the elastic frame part, the electrodes being configured to be in electric contact with the user'"'"'s thoracic area.

5. A connector comprising:

a first connector part coupled electrically and mechanically to a first electronic component, the first connector part including a first electrically conductive layer and a first magnetic layer, the first magnetic layer being configured to provide a mechanical coupling between the first connector part and a second connector part based on the mutual magnetic attraction between the first magnetic layer and the magnetic layer of the second connector part, the second connector part being coupled electrically and mechanically to a second electronic component,

the first electrically conductive layer being configured to provide an electrical connection between the first electrically conductive layer and an electrically conductive layer of the second connector part based on said mutual magnetic attraction, thereby connecting the first electronic component and the second electronic component electrically and mechanically, wherein the first electronic component is a physiological sensor of a performance measuring system for detecting a physiological signal in the user'"'"'s body, the second electronic component is a heart rate transmitter of the performance measuring system, wherein the heart rate transmitter is configured to establish a wireless link for transmitting information, wherein the first electrically conductive layer is configured to transfer the physiological signal from the physiological sensor to the second electrically conductive layer and the second electrically conductive layer is configured to transfer the physiological signal to the heart rate transmitter;

or

wherein the first electronic component is a heart rate transmitter of a performance measuring system, wherein the heart rate transmitter is configured to establish a wireless link for transmitting information, wherein the second electronic component is a physiological sensor of a performance measuring system for detecting the physiological signal in the user'"'"'s body, wherein the second electrically conductive layer is configured to transfer the physiological signal from the physiological sensor to the first electrically conductive layer and the first electrically conductive layer is configured to transfer the physiological signal to the heart rate transmitter.

6. The connector of claim 5, wherein the first electrically conductive layer is configured for being sandwiched between the first magnetic layer and the second connector part.

7. The connector of claim 5, further comprising a positioning structure for mutual positioning of the first connector part and the second connector part.

8. The connector of claim 5, wherein the first electrical component is a heart rate sensor comprising an elastic frame part and electrodes integrated in the elastic frame part, the electrodes being configured to be in electric contact with the user'"'"'s thoracic area.

9. An electronic device comprising:

a first electronic component, which includes a first electrically conductive layer and a first magnetic layer, the first electrically conductive layer being coupled electrically and mechanically to the first electronic component; and

a second electronic component, which includes a second electrically conductive layer and a second magnetic layer, the second electrically conductive layer being coupled electrically and mechanically to the second electronic component,

wherein the first and the second magnetic layers are configured to provide a mechanical coupling between the first electronic component and the second electronic component based on the mutual magnetic attraction between the first and the second magnetic layers; and

wherein the first and the second electrically conductive layers are configured to provide an electrical connection between the first connector part and the second connector part based on said mutual magnetic attraction, thereby connecting the first electronic component and the second electronic component electrically and mechanically, wherein the first electronic component is a physiological sensor of a performance measuring system for detecting a physiological signal in the user'"'"'s body, the second electronic component is a heart rate transmitter of the performance measuring system, wherein the heart rate transmitter is configured to establish a wireless link for transmitting information, wherein the first electrically conductive layer is configured to transfer the physiological signal from the physiological sensor to the second electrically conductive layer and the second electrically conductive layer is configured to transfer the physiological signal to the heart rate transmitter;

or

wherein the first electronic component is a heart rate transmitter of a performance measuring system, wherein the heart rate transmitter is configured to establish a wireless link for transmitting information, wherein the second electronic component is a physiological sensor of a performance measuring system for detecting the physiological signal in the user'"'"'s body, wherein the second electrically conductive layer is configured to transfer the physiological signal from the physiological sensor to the first electrically conductive layer and the first electrically conductive layer is configured to transfer the physiological signal to the heart rate transmitter.

10. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the first electrically conductive layer and the second electrically conductive layer are configured for being sandwiched between the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer.

11. The electronic device of claim 9, further comprising a positioning structure for mutual positioning of the first electronic component and the second electronic component.

12. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the first electrical component is a heart rate sensor comprising an elastic frame part and electrodes integrated in the elastic frame part, the electrodes being configured to be in electric contact with the user'"'"'s thoracic area.

13. An electronic device comprising:

a first electronic component, which includes a first electrically conductive layer and a first magnetic layer, the first electrically conductive layer being coupled electrically and mechanically to the first electronic component, the first magnetic layer being configured to provide a mechanical coupling between a first connector part and a second connector part of a second electronic component based on the mutual magnetic attraction between the first magnetic layer and the magnetic layer of the second connector part of the second electronic component, the second electrically conductive layer being coupled electrically and mechanically to the second electronic component,

wherein the first electrically conductive layer is configured to provide an electrical connection between the first electrically conductive layer and the electrically conductive layer of the second electronic component based on said mutual magnetic attraction, thereby connecting the first electronic component and the second electronic component electrically and mechanically, wherein the first electronic component is a physiological sensor of a performance measuring system for detecting a physiological signal in the user'"'"'s body, the second electronic component is a heart rate transmitter of the performance measuring system, wherein the heart rate transmitter is configured to establish a wireless link for transmitting information, wherein the first electrically conductive layer is configured to transfer the physiological signal from the physiological sensor to the second electrically conductive layer and the second electrically conductive layer is configured to transfer the physiological signal to the heart rate transmitter;

or

wherein the first electronic component is a heart rate transmitter of a performance measuring system, wherein the heart rate transmitter is configured to establish a wireless link for transmitting information, wherein the second electronic component is a physiological sensor of a performance measuring system for detecting the physiological signal in the user'"'"'s body, wherein the second electrically conductive layer is configured to transfer the physiological signal from the physiological sensor to the first electrically conductive layer and the first electrically conductive layer is configured to transfer the physiological signal to the heart rate transmitter.

14. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the first electrically conductive layer is configured for being sandwiched between the first magnetic layer and the second electronic device.

15. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the first electronic component includes a positioning structure for mutual positioning of the first electronic component and the second electronic component.

16. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the first electrical component is a heart rate sensor comprising an elastic frame part and electrodes integrated in the elastic frame part, the electrodes being configured to be in electric contact with the user'"'"'s thoracic area.

17. A garment comprising a connector for coupling the garment mechanically and electrically, the connector comprising:

a first connector part coupled electrically and mechanically to a first electronic component, the first connector part including a first electrically conductive layer and a first magnetic layer, the first magnetic layer being configured to provide a mechanical coupling between the first connector part and a second connector part based on the mutual magnetic attraction between the first magnetic layer and a magnetic layer of the second connector part, the second connector part being coupled electrically and mechanically to a second electronic component,

the first electrically conductive layer being configured to provide an electrical connection between the first electrically conductive layer and an electrically conductive layer of the second connector part based on said mutual magnetic attraction, thereby connecting the first electronic component and the second electronic component electrically and mechanically, wherein the first electronic component is a physiological sensor of a performance measuring system for detecting a physiological signal in the user'"'"'s body, the second electronic component is a heart rate transmitter of the performance measuring system, wherein the heart rate transmitter is configured to establish a wireless link for transmitting information, wherein the first electrically conductive layer is configured to transfer the physiological signal from the physiological sensor to the second electrically conductive layer and the second electrically conductive layer is configured to transfer the physiological signal to the heart rate transmitter;

or

wherein the first electronic component is a heart rate transmitter of a performance measuring system, wherein the heart rate transmitter is configured to establish a wireless link for transmitting information, wherein the second electronic component is a physiological sensor of a performance measuring system for detecting the physiological signal in the user'"'"'s body, wherein the second electrically conductive layer is configured to transfer the physiological signal from the physiological sensor to the first electrically conductive layer and the first electrically conductive layer is configured to transfer the physiological signal to the heart rate transmitter.

18. The garment of claim 17, wherein the first electrical component is a heart rate sensor comprising an elastic frame part and electrodes integrated in the elastic frame part, the electrodes being configured to be in electric contact with the user'"'"'s thoracic area.

19. A physiological sensor comprising a connector for coupling the physiological sensor mechanically and electrically, the connector comprising:

a first connector part coupled electrically and mechanically to a first electronic component, the first connector part including a first electrically conductive layer and a first magnetic layer, the first magnetic layer being configured to provide a mechanical coupling between the first connector part and a second connector part based on the mutual magnetic attraction between the first magnetic layer and a magnetic layer of the second connector part, the second connector part being coupled electrically and mechanically to a second electronic component,

the first electrically conductive layer being configured to provide an electrical connection between the first electrically conductive layer and an electrically conductive layer of the second connector part based on said mutual magnetic attraction, thereby connecting the first electronic component and the second electronic component electrically and mechanically, wherein the first electronic component is a physiological sensor of a performance measuring system for detecting a physiological signal in the user'"'"'s body, the second electronic component is a heart rate transmitter of the performance measuring system, wherein the heart rate transmitter is configured to establish a wireless link for transmitting information, wherein the first electrically conductive layer is configured to transfer the physiological signal from the physiological sensor to the second electrically conductive layer and the second electrically conductive layer is configured to transfer the physiological signal to the heart rate transmitter;

or

wherein the first electronic component is a heart rate transmitter of a performance measuring system, wherein the heart rate transmitter is configured to establish a wireless link for transmitting information, wherein the second electronic component is a physiological sensor of a performance measuring system for detecting the physiological signal in the user'"'"'s body, wherein the second electrically conductive layer is configured to transfer the physiological signal from the physiological sensor to the first electrically conductive layer and the first electrically conductive layer is configured to transfer the physiological signal to the heart rate transmitter.

20. The physiological sensor of claim 19, wherein the first electrical component is a heart rate sensor comprising an elastic frame part and electrodes integrated in the elastic frame part, the electrodes being configured to be in electric contact with the user'"'"'s thoracic area.