Magnetic connector for electronic device
First Claim
1. A connector insert comprising:
- a plurality of contacts arranged at least substantially in a line; and
a magnetic element, wherein the magnetic element is a raised attraction plate having an outer edge and an inner edge, the inner edge at least partially around at least one of the plurality of contacts,wherein the magnetic element is formed around the plurality of contacts and the plurality of contacts includes a center contact, 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.
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A connector insert comprising:
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a plurality of contacts arranged at least substantially in a line; and a magnetic element, wherein the magnetic element is a raised attraction plate having an outer edge and an inner edge, the inner edge at least partially around at least one of the plurality of contacts, wherein the magnetic element is formed around the plurality of contacts and the plurality of contacts includes a center contact, 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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A connector insert comprising:
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a plurality of first contacts to make a plurality of electrical paths with a plurality of second contacts in a connector receptacle when the connector insert is mated with the connector receptacle; and an attraction plate to be magnetically attracted to a plurality of magnets in the connector receptacle such that the connector insert is held in a first direction to the connector receptacle when the connector insert is mated with the connector receptacle, wherein the attraction plate includes an opening for at least one of the plurality of first contacts and an outer edge formed to fit in a recess in the connector receptacle such that the first plurality of contacts are mechanically aligned with the second plurality of contacts in a second direction and a third direction when the connector insert is mated with the connector receptacle. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A connector insert comprising:
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a plurality of at least three contacts arranged at least substantially in a line; and a raised attraction plate having an outer edge and an inner edge, the inner edge at least partially around at least one of the plurality of contacts, wherein each of the plurality of contacts is biased by one of a corresponding plurality of first springs. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification