Electronic device and connector fitting method

• US 8,198,861 B2
• Filed: 05/28/2007
• Issued: 06/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Innovations Ltd Hong Kong (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Kudou, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): RAMADAN, RAMY O
• Application Number:
  US12/303,142
• Publication Number:
  US 20090206800A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,842 Days
• Field of Search: 320/114, 320/160, 439/39, 439/40
• US Class Current: 320/114
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6205 Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/665 with built-in electronic circuit H01R13/70, H01R13/719 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/713 the switch being a safety switch
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0274 for an electrical connector module

Abstract

An electronic device (30) of the this invention includes an external device connecting connector (33) to be connected to a power supplying connector (40) of an external device (41) having a power supplying function, an electronic circuit (31) which performs predetermined operation upon reception of power supplied from the external device through the external device connecting connector, and an electromagnet (32) which is provided to the external device connecting connector and electrically connected between the external device connecting connector and the electronic circuit. The electromagnet generates a magnetic force when a power supply current supplied from the external device flows through it, and attracts a predetermined portion formed of a magnetic body of the power supplying connector, to maintain a fitting state between the external device connecting connector and the power supplying connector. Thus, the fitting state becomes reliable. When supply of the power supply current from the external device is stopped, the fitting state is canceled. Thus, the power supplying connector can be pulled out from the external device connecting connector readily, so that any damages can be prevented.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

an external device connecting connector which is connected to a power supplying connector of an external device having a power supplying function and receives power supplied from said external device;

an electronic circuit which performs predetermined operation upon reception of the power supplied from said external device through said external device connecting connector; and

an electromagnet which is provided to said external device connecting connector and electrically connected between said external device connecting connector and said electronic circuit, generates a magnetic force when a power supply current supplied from said external device flows therethrough, and attracts a predetermined portion formed of a magnetic body of said power supplying connector, to maintain a fitting state between said external device connecting connector and said power supplying connector,

wherein

said electronic circuit comprises a rechargeable battery and a charging circuit to charge said rechargeable battery, and

when said charging circuit receives power supplied from said external device through said external device connecting connector to charge said rechargeable battery, during a trickle charging period in which a voltage difference between a power supply and said rechargeable battery becomes smaller than a predetermined value, said charging circuit drives said electromagnet with a charging current having a current value corresponding to the voltage difference to gradually weaken the fitting state between said power supplying connector and said external device connecting connector.

3. An electronic device according to claim 1, wherein said electromagnet is provided to accompany said external device connecting connector.

4. An electronic device according to claim 1, wherein said electromagnet is arranged in the vicinity of said external device connecting connector.

5. An electronic device according to claim 1, wherein said electromagnet is arranged at a position on said external device connecting connector which opposes a predetermined portion formed of a magnetic body of said power supplying connector when said external device connecting connector and said power supplying connector are fitted with each other.

6. An electronic device according to claim 1, wherein said external device connecting connector comprises a magnetic case which fits with said power supplying connector, and

said electromagnet comprises a coil which is wound around said magnetic case and through which a power supply current supplied from said external device flows.

7. An electronic device according to claim 1, wherein said external device connecting connector is governed by a USB standard.

2. An electronic device comprising:

an external device connecting connector which is connected to a power supplying connector of an external device having a power supplying function and receives power supplied from said external device;

an electronic circuit which performs predetermined operation upon reception of the power supplied from said external device through said external device connecting connector; and

an electromagnet which is provided to said external device connecting connector and electrically connected between said external device connecting connector and said electronic circuit, generates a magnetic force when a power supply current supplied from said external device flows therethrough, and attracts a predetermined portion formed of a magnetic body of said power supplying connector, to maintain a fitting state between said external device connecting connector and said power supplying connector, wherein

said electronic circuit comprises a rechargeable battery and a charging circuit to charge said rechargeable battery,

said external device comprises a charging power supply unit having a power supplying function to charge said rechargeable battery, and

when said charging circuit receives power supplied from said charging power supply unit through said external device connecting connector to charge said rechargeable battery, during a quick charging period in which a voltage difference between a power supply and said rechargeable battery is not less than a predetermined value, said charging circuit drives said electromagnet with a charging current having a predetermined current value to maintain a constant fitting state between said power supplying connector and said external device connecting connector, during a trickle charging period in which the voltage difference becomes smaller than the predetermined value, said charging circuit drives said electromagnet with a charging current having a current value corresponding to the voltage difference to gradually weaken the fitting state between said power supplying connector and said external device connecting connector, and at charging end when the voltage difference disappears, said charging circuit stops supplying the charging current to cancel the fitting state.

8. A connector fitting method comprising:

the step of fitting a power supplying connector of an external device having a power supplying function to an external device connecting connector of an electronic device which receives power from the external device; and

the step of fitting the two connectors so that an electromagnet which is provided to the external device connecting connector and electrically connected between the external device connecting connector and an electronic circuit generates a magnetic force when a power supply current supplied from the external device flows to an electronic circuit of the external device, and attracts a predetermined portion formed of a magnetic body of the power supplying connector, thus maintaining a fitting state between the external device connecting connector and the power supplying connector,

wherein

said electronic circuit comprises a rechargeable battery and a charging circuit to charge said rechargeable battery, and

when said charging circuit receives power supplied from said external device through said external device connecting connector to charge said rechargeable battery, during a trickle charging period in which a voltage difference between a power supply and said rechargeable battery becomes smaller than a predetermined value, said charging circuit drives said electromagnet with a charging current having a current value corresponding to the voltage difference to gradually weaken the fitting state between said power supplying connector and said external device connecting connector.

9. A connector fitting method comprising:

the step of fitting a power supplying connector of an external device having a power supplying function to an external device connecting connector of an electronic device which receives power from the external device; and

the step of fitting the two connectors so that an electromagnet which is provided to the external device connecting connector and electrically connected between the external device connecting connector and an electronic circuit generates a magnetic force when a power supply current supplied from the external device flows to an electronic circuit of the external device, and attracts a predetermined portion formed of a magnetic body of the power supplying connector, thus maintaining a fitting state between the external device connecting connector and the power supplying connector,

wherein the step of maintaining comprises

the step of driving the electromagnet with a charging current having a predetermined current value, during a quick charging period in which a voltage difference between a power supply and the rechargeable battery of an electronic circuit is not less than a predetermined value, to maintain a constant fitting state between the power supplying connector and the external device connecting connector, and

the step of driving the electromagnet with a charging current having a current value corresponding to the voltage difference, during a trickle charging period in which the voltage difference becomes smaller than the predetermined value, to gradually weaken the fitting state between the power supplying connector and the external device connecting connector.

10. A connector fitting method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of stopping supplying the charging current to the electromagnet, at charging end when the voltage difference disappears, to cancel the fitting state.