Magnetic connector for electronic device

• US 8,087,939 B2
• Filed: 02/15/2011
• Issued: 01/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Rohrbach, Matthew Dean, Doutt, Mark Edward, Andre, Bartley K., Lim, Kanye, DiFonzo, John C., Gery, Jean-Marc
• Primary Examiner(s): Paumen, Gary F.
• Application Number:
  US13/028,195
• Publication Number:
  US 20110136351A1
• Time in Patent Office: 322 Days
• Field of Search: 439 38- 40
• 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 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 first connector comprising:

a first plurality of electrical contacts, the first plurality of electrical contacts to mate with a second plurality of electrical contacts when the first connector couples to a second connector, wherein the first plurality of electrical contacts consisting of a central contact to convey a signal, two contacts to convey a power supply, one contact on each side of the central contact, and two contacts to provide a return path, one contact on each side of the central contact, wherein when the first connector couples to the second connector, the first and second plurality of electrical contacts define a corresponding plurality of electrical paths; and

a magnetic element, the magnetic element to mate with a plurality of magnets in the second connector that 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 magnetic element of the first connector from one of the plurality of magnets in the second connector to another one of the plurality of magnets in the second connector.

2. The first connector of claim 1 wherein the first plurality of contacts are located substantially along a line.

3. The first connector of claim 1 wherein the signal conveys information used to determine a type of device coupled to the first connector.

4. The first connector of claim 1 wherein the magnetic element of the first connector comprises an attraction plate made of ferromagnetic material.

5. The first connector of claim 1 wherein the magnetic element of the first connector comprises an attraction plate made of permanent magnet.

6. The first connector of claim 4 wherein the attraction plate comprises one or more openings for passage of the first plurality of electrical contacts.

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

8. The first connector 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 first connector 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 first connector of claim 1 wherein the first connector comprises a plug attached to a cable.

11. The first connector of claim 1 wherein the magnetic element forms a first alignment mechanism and the second 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.

12. The first connector of claim 1 wherein the first connector and the second connector include two axes of symmetry and mate together in at least two orientations along one of the two axes of symmetry.

13. The first connector of claim 1 further comprising:

the second connector comprising;

the 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.

14. A first connector comprising:

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; and

a fixed magnetic element, the fixed magnetic element to mate with a plurality of magnets in the second connector that 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 fixed magnetic element of the first connector from one of the plurality of magnets in the second connector to another one of the plurality of magnets in the second connector,

wherein the fixed magnetic element surrounds the plurality of moveable contacts and a recessed face, such that a raised portion on the second connector fits within the fixed magnetic element when the first connector is mated with the second connector.

15. The first connector of claim 14 wherein the fixed 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, wherein the plurality of movable first contacts and the plurality of second contacts form a plurality of electrical paths whether the first connector and the second connector are mated in the first position or the second position.

16. The first connector of claim 15 wherein the plurality of electrical paths comprises at least one electrical power path and at least one signal path.

17. The first connector of claim 16 wherein the at least one signal path conveys a signal that is used to determine a type of device coupled to the first connector.

18. The first connector of claim 14 wherein the fixed magnetic element comprises an attraction plate made of ferromagnetic material.

19. The first connector of claim 14 wherein the first connector can break free from the second connector when pulled away from each other by a non-axial force.

20. The first connector of claim 14 further comprising:

the second connector comprising;

the 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.