Connector system with data communication system using induction and method
First Claim
1. An audio electrical connector to provide both electrically conductive connection of audio signals and inductive connection of signals for a portable electronic device, comprisinga plurality of electrically conductive members configured to provide electrically conductive connection of audio signals to or from other respective electrically conductive members,an inductive electrical member configured to provide inductive coupling of signals with another inductive electrical member,a housing, andwherein the housing supports the electrically conductive members in linearly spaced apart relation along an axis such that the electrically conductive members are in electrically separated relation with respect to each other along the axis, and the housing supports the inductive electrical member in positional relation so as not to interfere with the electrically conductive members, andwherein the electrically conductive members and the inductive electrical member are configured to be positioned with respect to a further electrical connector, which has a housing and electrically conductive and inductive coupling portions positioned with respect to such further electrical connector housing along a further axis, for electrically conductive connection and inductive coupling, respectively, to such electrically conductive and inductive coupling portions when the housing and such further electrical connector housing are in position with respect to each other with the axis and further axis in generally congruent relation.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electrical connector provides both electrically conductive connection and inductive connection, and includes at least one electrically conductive member adapted to provide electrically conductive connection to another electrically conductive member, an inductive electrical member adapted to provide inductive coupling with another inductive electrical member, and wherein the at least one electrically conductive member and the inductive electrical member being held in positional relation to each other to be positioned with respect to a further electrical connector for electrically conductive connection and inductive coupling with respect thereto. A method of connecting electrical signals uses a pair of electrical connectors, each having an electrically conductive connection portion and an inductive connection portion to provide for both electrically conductive connection and inductive coupling between the electrical connectors.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. An audio electrical connector to provide both electrically conductive connection of audio signals and inductive connection of signals for a portable electronic device, comprising
a plurality of electrically conductive members configured to provide electrically conductive connection of audio signals to or from other respective electrically conductive members, an inductive electrical member configured to provide inductive coupling of signals with another inductive electrical member, a housing, and wherein the housing supports the electrically conductive members in linearly spaced apart relation along an axis such that the electrically conductive members are in electrically separated relation with respect to each other along the axis, and the housing supports the inductive electrical member in positional relation so as not to interfere with the electrically conductive members, and wherein the electrically conductive members and the inductive electrical member are configured to be positioned with respect to a further electrical connector, which has a housing and electrically conductive and inductive coupling portions positioned with respect to such further electrical connector housing along a further axis, for electrically conductive connection and inductive coupling, respectively, to such electrically conductive and inductive coupling portions when the housing and such further electrical connector housing are in position with respect to each other with the axis and further axis in generally congruent relation.
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7. A connection system for signals, comprising
a housing, an electrically conductive connector configured to connect electrical signals by electrical conduction, the electrically conductive connector including a plurality of electrically conductive terminals that are spaced apart along an axis in electrically separate relation, and an inductive electrical connector configured to connect signals via induction substantially independently of the electrically conductive connector, and both the electrically conductive connector and the inductive connector being supported with respect to the housing and in substantially fixed relation to each other to make connection by electrical conduction and by inductive coupling to another device having an electrically conductive portion with other electrically conductive terminals spaced along another axis and an inductive coupling portion.
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15. A method of connecting electrical signals, comprising using a pair of electrical connectors, each having an electrically conductive connection portion with a plurality of terminals linearly spaced apart in electrically separated relation along an axis and an inductive coupling portion, inserting at least a part of one electrical connector into at least a part of the other electrical connector to position the electrically conductive portions of the pair of electrical connectors in engagement and respective inductive coupling portions of the pair of electrical connectors in proximity for inductive coupling therebetween to obtain both electrically conductive connection and inductive coupling between the electrical connectors.
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16. An electrical connector to provide both electrically conductive connection and inductive connection, comprising
a plurality of electrically conductive members in linearly spaced-apart relation to each other along a linear axis and configured to provide electrically conductive connection of signals to other electrically conductive members of another electrical connector, an inductive electrical member configured to provide inductive coupling of signals with another inductive electrical member, the inductive electrical member positioned to circumscribe the axis, a housing, and wherein the plurality of electrically conductive members and the inductive electrical member are held in positional relation to each other and with respect to the housing and are configured to be positioned with respect to the further electrical connector, which has a housing and electrically conductive and inductive coupling portions positioned with respect to such further electrical connector housing, for electrically conductive connection and inductive coupling, respectively, to such electrically conductive and inductive coupling portions when the housing and such further electrical connector housing are in position with respect to each other.
Specification