Power connector

• US 8,622,629 B1
• Filed: 09/23/2013
• Issued: 01/07/2014
• 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:
  US14/034,334
• Publication Number:
  US 20140024227A1
• Time in Patent Office: 106 Days
• Field of Search: 385 53- 60, 385/75, 385/78, 438/38
• 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 an extension that protrudes from a planar lip surface. The extension is configured to cooperate with one or more magnetic attractors of an electronic device to hold the power and data connector to the electronic device via magnetic force. A planar connection surface at a terminal end of the extension separately surrounds openings, through which power interfaces extend.

Claims

1. A power and data connector, comprising:

a planar lip surface;

an extension protruding from the planar lip surface and configured to cooperate with one or more corresponding magnetic attractors of an electronic device to hold the power and data connector to the electronic device via magnetic force;

a planar connection surface at a terminal end of the 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, the planar connection surface being defined by a first linear edge, a second linear edge, a first arced edge, and a second arced edge, the first and second linear edges being parallel to and equally and oppositely spaced from the first axis, and the first and second arced edges being equally and oppositely spaced from the second axis and extending between the first and second linear edges, the planar connection surface surrounding separate first and second openings equally spaced from the second axis;

a first power interface extending through the first opening, the first power interface aligned with the first axis and spaced a first distance away from the second axis; and

a second power interface extending through the second opening, 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.

2. The power and data connector of claim 1, where the extension includes a magnet.

3. The power and data connector of claim 2, where the extension includes a permanent magnet.

4. The power and data connector of claim 2, where the extension includes an electromagnet.

5. The power and data connector of claim 1, where the extension includes a magnetically attractable material.

6. The power and data connector of claim 1, where the extension is tapered.

7. The power and data connector of claim 1, where the first arced edge and the second arced edge include circular arcs.

8. The power and data connector of claim 1, where a portion of the planar connection surface is between the first and second openings.

9. The power and data connector of claim 1, where a portion of the planar connection surface is between the first power interface and the second power interface.

10. The power and data connector of claim 1, where at least a third opening is between the first and second openings.

11. The power and data connector of claim 1, where at least a third opening is between the first power interface and the second power interface.

12. The power and data connector of claim 1, further comprising, separate third, fourth, and fifth openings aligned with the first axis.

13. The power and data connector of claim 1, where a surface area of the planar lip surface is greater than a surface area of the planar connection surface.

14. The power and data connector of claim 1, where 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.

15. The power and data connector of claim 1, where the first power interface and the second power interface extend parallel to the connection axis and are recessed into the first and second openings behind the planar connection surface.

16. 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 toward the electronic device when the power and data connector is connected to the electronic device.

17. A power and data connector, comprising:

a planar lip surface;

an extension protruding from the planar lip surface and configured to cooperate with one or more corresponding magnetic attractors of an electronic device to hold the power and data connector to the electronic device via magnetic force;

a planar connection surface at a terminal end of the 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, the planar connection surface separately surrounding first and second intermediate openings aligned with the first axis and equally and oppositely spaced from the second axis, and first and second outer openings aligned with the first axis and equally and oppositely spaced from the second axis;

a first power interface extending through the first intermediate opening;

a second power interface extending through the second intermediate opening;

a first ground interface extending through the first outer opening; and

a second ground interface extending through the second outer opening.

18. The power and data connector of claim 17, where the extension includes a magnet.

19. The power and data connector of claim 17, where the extension includes a magnetically attractable material.

20. A power and data connector, comprising:

a planar lip surface;

an extension protruding from the planar lip surface and configured to cooperate with one or more corresponding magnetic attractors of an electronic device to hold the power and data connector to the electronic device via magnetic force;

a planar connection surface at a terminal end of the 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, the planar connection surface being defined by a first linear edge, a second linear edge, a first arced edge, and a second arced edge, the first and second linear edges being parallel to and equally and oppositely spaced from the first axis, and the first and second arced edges being equally and oppositely spaced from the second axis and extending between the first and second linear edges, the planar connection surface separately surrounding a center opening aligned with the first axis and the second axis, first and second intermediate openings aligned with the first axis and equally and oppositely spaced an intermediate distance from the second axis, and first and second outer openings aligned with the first axis and equally and oppositely spaced an outer distance, greater than the intermediate distance, from the second axis;

a first power interface extending through the first intermediate opening, the first power interface operatively connected to a first connection assistant resiliently biasing the first power interface toward the electronic device when the power and data connector is connected to the electronic device;

a second power interface extending through the second intermediate opening, the second power interface operatively connected to a second connection assistant resiliently biasing the second power interface toward the electronic device when the power and data connector is connected to the electronic device;

a first ground interface extending through the first outer opening, the first ground interface operatively connected to a third connection assistant resiliently biasing the first ground interface toward the electronic device when the power and data connector is connected to the electronic device;

a second ground interface extending through the second outer opening, the second ground interface operatively connected to a fourth connection assistant resiliently biasing the second ground interface toward the electronic device when the power and data connector is connected to the electronic device; and

a data interface extending through the center opening, the data interface operatively connected to a fifth connection assistant resiliently biasing the data interface toward the electronic device when the power and data connector is connected to the electronic device.