Magnetic connector for electronic device

• US 8,435,042 B2
• Filed: 03/16/2012
• Issued: 05/07/2013
• 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:
  US13/421,863
• Publication Number:
  US 20120178271A1
• Time in Patent Office: 417 Days
• Field of Search: 439/700, 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 connector insert comprising:

a plurality of movable first contacts to make electrically conductive paths with a plurality of second contacts in a second connector when the connector insert is mated with the second connector, each of the movable first contacts biased by a corresponding one of a plurality of first springs; and

a magnetic element, the magnetic element made of ferromagnetic material to mate with a magnet in the second connector,

wherein the magnetic element is formed around the plurality of movable contacts and the plurality of movable contacts are recessed relative to the magnetic element, such that a raised portion on the second connector fits within the magnetic element when the connector insert is mated with the second connector.

2. The connector insert of claim 1 wherein the magnetic element has an axis of symmetry such that the connector insert 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 the electrically conductive paths whether the connector insert and the second connector are mated in the first position or the second position.

3. The connector insert of claim 2 wherein the electrically conductive paths comprise at least one electrical power path and at least one signal path.

4. The connector insert of claim 1 wherein the connector insert can break free from the second connector when pulled away from the second connector by a non-axial force.

5. A connector receptacle comprising:

a plurality of first contacts to make electrically conductive paths with a plurality of second contacts in a second connector when the connector receptacle is mated with the second connector; and

a magnet below the plurality of first contacts to mate with a magnetic element on the second connector,

wherein the plurality of first contacts are located on a raised portion, such that the raised portion on the second connector fits within the magnetic element of the second connector when the connector receptacle is mated with the second connector.

6. The connector receptacle of claim 5 wherein the connector receptacle has an axis of symmetry such that the connector receptacle 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 the electrically conductive paths whether the connector receptacle and the second connector are mated in the first position or the second position.

7. The connector receptacle of claim 5 wherein the second connector can break free from the connector receptacle when pulled away from the connector receptacle by a non-axial force.

8. A method of forming electrically conductive paths, the method comprising:

bringing a connector insert into close proximity to a connector receptacle such that a plurality of movable first contacts in the connector insert form the electrically conductive paths with contacts in the connector receptacle, a raised portion on the connector receptacle fits in a magnetic element surrounding the plurality of movable first contacts on the connector insert, and a magnet in the connector receptacle is attracted to the magnetic element of the connector insert, the magnetic element made of a ferromagnetic material.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein each of the plurality of movable first contacts are biased by a corresponding one of a plurality of first springs.

10. A connector insert comprising:

a plurality of first contacts including a first power supply contact to convey a first power supply and a second power supply contact to convey a second power supply;

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

wherein the first magnetic element is formed around a first recess, the first recess to accept a raised portion on the second connector, the plurality of first contacts located in the first recess, the first magnetic element further formed to fit in a second recess in the second connector, such that the connector insert is mechanically aligned with the second connector in a second direction and a third direction when the connector insert is mated with the second connector.

11. The connector insert of claim 10 wherein the first magnetic element has an axis of symmetry such that the connector insert can be mated with the second connector in a first position and a second position.

12. The connector insert of claim 10 wherein the connector insert can break free from the second connector when pulled away from each other by a non-axial force.

13. The connector insert of claim 10 wherein the plurality of electrical paths comprises at least one electrical power path and at least one signal path.

14. The connector insert of claim 10 wherein each of the first contacts are biased by a corresponding one of a plurality of first springs.

15. A connector receptacle comprising:

a first plurality of contacts to make a plurality of electrical paths with a second plurality of contacts in a second connector when the connector receptacle is mated with the second connector;

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

wherein a first recess in the connector receptacle is formed to accept the second magnetic element of the second connector, and the first plurality of contacts are formed on a raised portion, the raised portion to fit in a second recess formed by the second magnetic element of the second conductor, such that the second connector is mechanically aligned with the connector receptacle in a second direction and a third direction when the connector receptacle is mated with the second connector.

16. The connector receptacle of claim 15 wherein the first recess has an axis of symmetry such that the connector receptacle can be mated with the second connector in a first position and a second position.

17. The connector receptacle of claim 15 wherein the second connector can break free from the connector receptacle when pulled away from each other by a non-axial force.

18. A method of forming a plurality of electrical paths, the method comprising:

mating a connector insert with a connector receptacle such that a plurality of contacts in the connector insert form a plurality of electrical paths with a plurality of contacts in the connector receptacle; and

such that a first magnetic element of the connector insert is magnetically attracted to a second magnetic element in the connector receptacle such that the connector insert is held in a first direction to the connector receptacle; and

such that the first magnetic element fits in a first recess in the second connector, a raised portion on the connector receptacle fits in a second recess formed by the first magnetic element, and the plurality of contacts in the connector insert are mechanically aligned with the plurality of contacts in the connector receptacle in a second direction and a third direction.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the plurality of contacts in the connector insert are movable and each biased by a spring.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the connector insert can break free from the connector receptacle when pulled away from each other by a non-axial force.