Magnetic connector for electronic device

• US 7,645,143 B2
• Filed: 03/24/2009
• Issued: 01/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: DiFonzo, John C., Andre, Bartley K., Lim, Kanye, Doutt, Mark Edward, Rohrbach, Matthew Dean, Gery, Jean-Marc
• Primary Examiner(s): Paumen; Gary F.
• Application Number:
  US12/410,457
• Publication Number:
  US 20090181556A1
• Time in Patent Office: 294 Days
• Field of Search: 439/39, 439/218, 439/217, 439/700, 439/38
• US Class Current: 439/39
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1633 Constructional details or arrangements of portable computers not specific to the type of enclosures covered by groups G06F1/1615 - G06F1/1626
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/18 Packaging or power distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/24 resilient; resiliently-mounted
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6205 Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

An electrical plug and receptacle relying on magnetic force 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 or both of the plug and receptacle can be a magnet, which is preferably a permanent rare earth magnet although electromagnets may also be used. The magnetic element on the plug or receptacle that does not include a magnet is composed of ferromagnetic material. When the plug and receptacle are brought into proximity, the magnetic attraction between the magnet and its complement, whether another magnet or a ferromagnetic material, maintains the contacts in an electrically conductive relationship.

Claims

1. A magnetic connector system comprising:

a first connector comprising;

a first plurality of pins comprising at least a first power supply pin to convey a first power supply, a second power supply pin to convey a second power supply, and a signal pin to convey a signal; and

a first magnetic element to magnetically attract a second magnetic element in a second connector, the first and second magnetic elements comprising an attraction plate and a plurality of magnets, where the plurality of magnets are proximally located and arranged in opposing polarities with respect to each other so that when the first connector is brought in close proximity to the second connector, magnetic field lines travel through the attraction plate from one of the plurality of magnets to another one of the plurality of magnets.

2. The magnetic connector system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of magnets are located in the first connector.

3. The magnetic connector system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of magnets are located in the second connector.

4. The magnetic connector system of claim 1 wherein the signal conveys information used to determine a type of device coupled to the second connector.

5. The magnetic connector system of claim 1 wherein the attraction plate is a permanent magnet.

6. The magnetic connector system of claim 1 wherein the attraction plate is made of a ferromagnetic material.

7. The magnetic connector system of claim 1 wherein when the first connector couples to the second connector, the plurality of magnets and the magnetic element define an additional path.

8. The magnetic connector system of claim 1 wherein the magnetic attraction between the first connector and the second connector maintains both physical and electrical contact between the first connector and the second connector without requiring an interference fit.

9. The magnetic connector system of claim 8 wherein the first connector can break free from the second connector when pulled away from each other by a non-axial force.

10. The magnetic connector system of claim 1 wherein the first connector comprises a receptacle.

11. The magnetic connector system of claim 1 wherein the second connector comprises a receptacle.

12. The magnetic connector system of claim 1 wherein the second connector includes the attraction plate, where the attraction plate forms a first alignment mechanism and the first connector further includes a second alignment mechanism, wherein the first alignment mechanism and the second alignment mechanism align the first connector with the second connector when the first connector is positioned proximally to the second connector.

13. The magnetic connector system of claim 1 wherein the first connector and the second connector include two axes of symmetry and mate together along one of the two axes of symmetry.

14. A magnetic connector system comprising:

a first connector comprising;

a first plurality of pins to mate with a second plurality of pins when the first connector couples to a second connector, wherein when the first connector couples to the second connector, the first and second plurality of pins define a corresponding plurality of paths, wherein the plurality of paths comprises at least one electrical power path and at least one signal path to convey a signal; and

a plurality of magnets that are proximally located and arranged in opposing polarities with respect to each other so that when the second connector is brought in close proximity to the first connector, magnetic field lines travel through a magnetic element of the second connector from one of the plurality of magnets in the first connector to another one of the plurality of magnets in the first connector.

15. The magnetic connector system of claim 14 wherein the signal conveys information used to determine a type of device coupled to the second connector.

16. The magnetic connector system of claim 14 wherein the magnetic element of the second connector comprises an attraction plate made of ferromagnetic material.

17. The magnetic connector system of claim 14 wherein the magnetic element of the second connector comprises an attraction plate made of permanent magnet.

18. The magnetic connector system of claim 14 wherein when the first connector couples to the second connector, the plurality of magnets and the magnetic element define an additional path.

19. The magnetic connector system of claim 14 wherein the magnetic attraction between the first connector and the second connector maintains both physical and electrical contact between the first connector and the second connector without requiring an interference fit.

20. The magnetic connector system of claim 19 wherein the second connector can break free from the first connector when pulled away from the first connector by a non-axial force.

21. The magnetic connector system of claim 14 wherein the second connector comprises a plug attached to a cable.

22. A magnetic connector system comprising:

a first connector comprising;

a plurality of movable first contacts, each of the movable first contacts biased by one of a plurality of first springs, the plurality of moveable first contacts comprising at least a first power supply contact, a second power supply contact, and a signal contact; and

a first magnetic element to magnetically attract a second magnetic element in a second connector, the first and second magnetic elements comprising an attraction plate and a plurality of magnets, where the plurality of magnets are proximally located and arranged in opposing polarities with respect to each other so that when the first connector is brought in close proximity to the second connector, magnetic field lines travel through the attraction plate from one of the plurality of magnets to another one of the plurality of magnets.

23. The magnetic connector system of claim 22 wherein the attraction plate has an axis of symmetry such that the first connector can be mated with the second connector in a first position and a second position, wherein the plurality of movable first contacts and a plurality of second contacts in the second connector form a plurality of electrical paths whether the first connector and the second connector are mated in the first position or the second position.

24. The magnetic connector system of claim 23 wherein the at least one signal path conveys a signal that is used to determine a type of device coupled to the first connector.

25. The magnetic connector system of claim 22 wherein the first magnetic element comprises an attraction plate made of ferromagnetic material.

26. The magnetic connector system of claim 22 wherein the first connector can break free from the second connector when pulled away from the second connector by a non-axial force.

27. The magnetic connector system of claim 22 further comprising:

the second connector comprising;

a second plurality of contacts; and

the plurality of magnets, wherein the plurality of magnets are proximally located and arranged in opposing polarities with respect to each other.

28. A magnetic connector system comprising:

a first connector comprising;

a plurality of first pins including a first power supply pin to convey a first power supply, a second power supply pin to convey a second power supply, and a signal pin to convey a signal;

a first magnetic element to be magnetically attracted to a second magnetic element in a second connector such that the first connector is held in a first direction to the second connector when the first connector is mated with the second connector,

wherein the first magnetic element is formed to fit in a recess in the second connector such that the first connector is mechanically aligned with the second connector in a second direction and a third direction when the first connector is mated with the second connector.

29. The magnetic connector system of claim 28 wherein the signal pin conveys a signal that is used to determine a type of device coupled to the first connector.

30. The magnetic connector system of claim 28 wherein the first magnetic element has an axis of symmetry such that the first connector can be mated with the second connector in a first position and a second position.

31. The magnetic connector system of claim 28 wherein each of the plurality of first pins are biased by one of a plurality of first springs.

32. The magnetic connector system of claim 28 wherein the first magnetic element is an attraction plate made of ferromagnetic material.

33. The magnetic connector system of claim 28 wherein the first connector can break free from the second connector when pulled away from each other by a non-axial force.

34. The magnetic connector system of claim 28 further comprising:

the second connector comprising;

a second plurality of pins; and

the second magnetic element comprising a plurality of magnets, wherein the plurality of magnets are proximally located and arranged in opposing polarities with respect to each other.