Power and data connector

• US 8,596,881 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2011
• Issued: 12/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Umeno, Hiroo
• Primary Examiner(s): KIM, ELLEN E
• Application Number:
  US13/070,331
• Publication Number:
  US 20120148195A1
• Time in Patent Office: 986 Days
• Field of Search: 385 53- 59, 439/38
• US Class Current: 385/75
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3817 containing optical and electrical conductors cables including electrical and optical conductors H01B11/22; G02B6/3816 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3897 Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards G02B6/44528 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 11/22 Cables including at least one electrical conductor together with optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/30 End pieces held in contact by a magnet
• 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: H01R 13/629 Additional means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. aligning or guiding means, levers, gas pressure electrical locking indicators, manufacturing tolerances separate tools or apparatus H01R43/26
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/60 Contacts spaced along planar side wall transverse to longitudinal axis of engagement

Abstract

A power and data connector includes a symmetrical planar connection surface, a pair of symmetrical power interfaces, and one or more magnetic attractors. The planar connection surface is at a terminal end of a tapered extension that protrudes from a lip surface of the power and data connector.

Claims

1. A power and data connector, comprising:

a lip surface;

a tapered extension protruding from the lip surface;

a planar connection surface at a terminal end of the tapered extension, the planar connection surface being symmetrical about a first axis and symmetrical about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, the first axis and the second axis being perpendicular to a connection axis of the planar connection surface;

a first power interface on the planar connection surface, the first power interface aligned with the first axis and spaced a first distance away from the second axis;

a second power interface on the planar connection surface, the second power interface aligned with the first axis and spaced the first distance away from the second axis opposite the first power interface such that the first power interface and the second power interface are symmetrical about the second axis;

one or more magnetic attractors flush with or recessed behind the planar connection surface, the tapered extension, and/or the lip surface.

2. The power and data connector of claim 1, wherein the first power interface and the second power interface extend parallel to the connection axis past the planar connection surface and all other portions of the power and data connector.

3. The power and data connector of claim 1, wherein the first power interface is operatively connected to a connection assistant resiliently biasing the first power interface past the planar connection surface parallel to the connection axis.

4. The power and data connector of claim 1, wherein the first power interface includes an electrical conductor.

5. The power and data connector of claim 1, wherein the first power interface is configured to operatively couple with a complementary power interface of a power and data connector receptor such that electrical power is transferred between the first power interface and the complementary power interface.

6. The power and data connector of claim 1, wherein the first power interface and the second power interface are recessed into the planar connection surface parallel to the connection axis.

7. The power and data connector of claim 1, further comprising one or more optical interfaces on the planar connection surface.

8. The power and data connector of claim 7, wherein the one or more optical interfaces includes an optical interface aligned with the first axis and the second axis at a center of the planar connection surface.

9. The power and data connector of claim 7, wherein the one or more optical interfaces includes a first optical interface and a second optical interface, the first optical interface aligned with the first axis and spaced a second distance away from the second axis, the second optical interface aligned with the first axis and spaced the second distance away from the second axis opposite the first optical interface such that the first optical interface and the second optical interface are symmetrical about the second axis.

10. The power and data connector of claim 7, wherein each of the one or more optical interfaces includes an optical fiber connector.

11. The power and data connector of claim 7, wherein each of the one or more optical interfaces is operatively connected to a connection assistant resiliently biasing that optical interface past the planar connection surface parallel to the connection axis.

12. The power and data connector of claim 7, wherein each of the one or more optical interfaces is configured to operatively couple with a complementary optical interface of a power and data connector receptor such that optical signals are transferred between that optical interface and a complementary optical interface of a power and data connector receptor.

13. A power and data connector, comprising:

a lip surface;

a tapered extension protruding from the lip surface such that a cross-sectional area of the tapered extension decreases from the lip surface to a planar connection surface at a terminal end of the tapered extension, the planar connection surface being symmetrical about a first axis and symmetrical about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, the first axis and the second axis being perpendicular to a connection axis of the planar connection surface;

a first power interface on the planar connection surface, the first power interface aligned with the first axis and spaced a first distance away from the second axis;

a second power interface on the planar connection surface, the second power interface aligned with the first axis and spaced the first distance away from the second axis opposite the first power interface such that the first power interface and the second power interface are symmetrical about the second axis;

one or more optical interfaces on the planar connection surface; and

one or more magnetic attractors flush with or recessed behind the planar connection surface, the tapered extension, and/or the lip surface.

14. The power and data connector of claim 13, wherein the first power interface is configured to operatively couple with a complementary power interface of a power and data connector receptor such that electrical power is transferred between the first power interface and the complementary power interface.

15. The power and data connector of claim 13, wherein each of the one or more optical interfaces includes an optical fiber connector.

16. The power and data connector of claim 13, wherein each of the one or more optical interfaces is operatively connected to a connection assistant resiliently biasing that optical interface past the planar connection surface parallel to the connection axis.

17. The power and data connector of claim 13, wherein each of the one or more optical interfaces is configured to operatively couple with a complementary optical interface of a power and data connector receptor such that optical signals are transferred between that optical interface and a complementary optical interface of a power and data connector receptor.

18. An electronic device, comprising:

a housing; and

a plurality of power and data connector receptors located at different sites around the housing to selectively couple with one or more power and data connectors, each of the plurality of power and data connector receptors including;

a lip receptor surface;

a tapered opening receding from the lip receptor surface;

a planar receptor surface at a terminal end of the tapered opening, the receptor surface being symmetrical about a first axis and symmetrical about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis;

the first axis and the second axis being perpendicular to a connection axis of the power and data connector when the power and data connector is coupled to that power and data connector receptor;

a first power interface aligned with the first axis and spaced a first distance away from the second axis;

a second power interface aligned with the first axis and spaced the first distance away from the second axis opposite the first power interface such that the first power interface and the second power interface are symmetrical about the second axis; and

one or more magnetic attractors flush with or recessed behind the receptor surface.

19. The electronic device of claim 18, wherein the plurality of power and data connector receptors are operatively connected to one another such that power received via one power and data connector receptor is output via another power and data connector receptor.

20. The electronic device of claim 18, wherein the lip receptor surface is an uninterrupted portion of the housing of the electronic device.