Electromagnetic connector for electronic device

• US 7,641,477 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2008
• Issued: 01/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Gery, Jean-Marc, Andre, Bartley K., DiFonzo, John C., Lim, Kanye, Doutt, Mark Edward, Rohrbach, Matthew Dean
• Primary Examiner(s): Paumen; Gary F.
• Application Number:
  US12/045,704
• Publication Number:
  US 20080280461A1
• Time in Patent Office: 665 Days
• Field of Search: 439/39, 439/38, 439/36
• US Class Current: 439/39
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6205 Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/641 by indicating incorrect coupling; by indicating correct or full engagement

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.

Claims

1. A connector comprising:

a first contact;

an electromagnet positioned on the connector, wherein the electromagnet is energizable to produce magnetic attraction; and

control circuitry coupled to the electromagnet, the control circuitry detecting a first control signal and controlling energization of the electromagnet based on the first control signal, wherein the first control signal indicates a charged condition of a battery associated with an electronic device, and wherein the control circuitry causes the electromagnet to be de-energized in response to receiving the first control signal.

2. The connector of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry further detects a second control signal, the second control signal providing an identification of the electronic device.

3. The connector of claim 1 further comprising fault detection circuitry coupled to the electromagnet to de-energize the electromagnet when a fault condition is detected.

4. The connector of claim 3, wherein the fault condition is selected from the group consisting of an over-current and an over-temperature.

5. The connector of claim 1 further comprising a switch element coupled to the electromagnet to control energization of the electromagnet, wherein the switch element comprises a touch switch actuatable by a user.

6. The connector of claim 1, wherein the electromagnet is energizable to produce magnetic attraction with a magnetic element in a second connector and substantially maintain contact between the first contact and a second contact of the second connector in an electrically conductive relationship.

7. The connector of claim 6, wherein the first contact and the second contact form a signal path.

8. The connector of claim 1, wherein the first contact is one of a plurality of movable first contacts to make electrically conductive paths with a plurality of second contacts in a second connector when the first connector is mated with the second connector, each of the movable first contacts biased by one of a plurality of first springs.

9. The connector of claim 1, wherein the connector is a plug.

10. The connector of claim 1, wherein the connector is a receptacle.

11. A connector comprising:

at least one first contact;

an electromagnet positioned on the connector, wherein the electromagnet is energizable to produce magnetic attraction; and

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 an electronic device, and wherein the control circuitry causes the electromagnet to be energized in response to receiving the control signal.

12. The connector of claim 11 further comprising fault detection circuitry coupled to the electromagnet to de-energize the electromagnet when a fault condition is detected, wherein the fault condition is selected from the group consisting of an over-current and an over-temperature.

13. The connector of claim 11 further comprising a switch element coupled to the electromagnet to control energization of the electromagnet, wherein the switch element comprises a touch switch actuatable by a user.

14. The connector of claim 11, wherein the electromagnet is energizable to produce magnetic attraction with a magnetic element in a second connector and substantially maintain contact between the at least one first contact and a second contact of the second connector in an electrically conductive relationship.

15. The connector of claim 14, wherein the first contact and the second contact form a signal path.

16. A connector comprising:

at least one first contact;

an electromagnet positioned on the connector; and

a fault detection circuit coupled to the electromagnet to control energization of the electromagnet and to de-energize the electromagnet when a fault condition is detected,

wherein the electromagnet is energizable to produce magnetic attraction with a magnetic element in a second connector and substantially maintain contact between the first contact and a second contact of the second connector in an electrically conductive relationship.

17. The connector of claim 16, wherein the fault condition is an over-current.

18. The connector of claim 16, wherein the fault condition is an over-temperature.

19. The connector of claim 16, wherein the at least one first contact is one of a plurality of movable first contacts to make electrically conductive paths with a plurality of second contacts in the second connector when the first connector is mated with the second connector, each of the movable first contacts biased by one of a plurality of first springs.