Modular electronic building systems with magnetic interconnections and methods of using the same

• US 9,019,718 B2
• Filed: 08/24/2012
• Issued: 04/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sphero Inc.
• Original Assignee: LittleBits Electronics Inc (Sphero Inc.)
• Inventors: Bdeir, Aya
• Primary Examiner(s): Bui, Hung S
• Application Number:
  US13/593,891
• Publication Number:
  US 20130050958A1
• Time in Patent Office: 977 Days
• Field of Search: 361/792, 361728-730, 361/807, 361/809, 361/810, 361/679.01, 361/688, 361/704, 361/707, 361/715, 361/716, 439/625, 439/626, 439/660, 439/701, 439/527, 439/535, 439/78, 439/79, 439/92, 439/108, 324/537, 324/756.01, 324/756.02
• US Class Current: 361/792
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/30 End pieces held in contact by a magnet
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6205 Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet

Abstract

Electrical connectors, electrical modules, and systems are provided. In one aspect, an electrical connector includes a housing defining a side surface, an electrical conductor supported by the housing and including an engagement portion proximate the side surface of the housing. The engagement portion is adapted to engage another electrical conductor of another electrical connector. The connector also includes a magnet supported by the housing proximate the side surface of the housing, a projection extending from the side surface of the housing, and a receptacle defined in the side surface of the housing. In other aspects, an electrical module includes at least one of these electrical connectors. In further aspects, a system includes a plurality of these modules and the modules are selectively couplable together.

Claims

1. An electrical connector, comprising:

a housing including a side surface;

an electrical conductor supported by the housing and including an engagement portion proximate the side surface of the housing, the engagement portion being adapted to engage an electrical conductor of a second electrical connector;

a magnet supported by the housing proximate the side surface of the housing, the magnet adapted to engage another magnet of the second electrical connector;

a projection extending from the side surface of the housing; and

a receptacle defined in the side surface of the housing,

the projection being adapted to insert into a second receptacle defined in the second electrical connector and the receptacle being adapted to receive a second projection on the second electrical connector,

the projection and the receptacle being shaped to inhibit substantial movement of the electrical connector and the second electrical connector relative to each other in at least one direction when the second projection is in the receptacle and the projection is in the second receptacle.

2. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the electrical conductor of the electrical connector is one of three electrical conductors supported by the housing.

3. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the magnet is a first magnet, the electrical connector further comprising a second magnet supported by the housing proximate the side surface of the housing.

4. The electrical connector of claim 3, wherein the electrical conductor of the electrical connector is positioned between the first magnet and the second magnet.

5. The electrical connector of claim 3, wherein the first magnet has a first polarity and the second magnet has a second polarity opposite the first polarity.

6. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the projection and the receptacle are adjacent one another.

7. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the electrical conductor of the electrical connector includes a coupling portion adapted to engage and electrically communicate with a circuit board associated with the electrical connector.

8. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a projection extending from a second surface of the housing different than the side surface, the projection extending from the second surface of the housing being adapted to engage a circuit board.

9. A system, comprising:

a plurality of electrical modules selectively couplable together to transmit electrical current from a first electrical module from the plurality of electrical modules to a second electrical module from the plurality of electrical modules, each electrical module from the plurality of electrical modules having at least one functionality associated therewith, and including a connector adapted to couple to a connector of another electrical module from the plurality of the electrical modules; and

a mounting board, the plurality of electrical modules being adapted to couple to the mounting board,

when the connectors are coupled together, the functionality of at least one electrical module from the plurality of electrical modules being dependent upon at least another one electrical module from the plurality of electrical modules.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the mounting board includes a plurality of receptacles defined therein adapted to receive a portion of the plurality of electrical modules for coupling the electrical modules to the mounting board.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the system is a first system, the plurality of receptacles are defined in a first surface of the mounting board, the mounting board has a second surface adapted to couple to a second system different than the first system.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the second system is a toy building block system.

13. A system comprising:

a plurality of electrical modules selectively couplable together to transmit electrical current from a first electrical module from the plurality of electrical modules to a second electrical module from the plurality of electrical modules, each module from the plurality of electrical modules having at least one functionality associated therewith, and including a connector adapted to couple to a connector of another electrical module from the plurality of electrical modules; and

a support member adapted to couple to two coupled together connectors of the plurality of electrical modules,

when the connectors are coupled together, the functionality of at least one electrical module from the plurality of electrical modules being dependent upon at least another one electrical module from the plurality of electrical modules.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the support member defines a plurality of receptacles therein adapted to receive a portion of each of the two coupled together connectors.

15. A system, comprising:

a plurality of electrical modules selectively couplable together to transmit electrical current from a first electrical module from the plurality of electrical modules to a second electrical module from the plurality of electrical modules, each electrical module from the plurality of electrical modules having at least one functionality associated therewith, and including a connector adapted to couple to a connector of another one of the electrical modules,

a first electrical module from the plurality of electrical modules being a power module, a second electrical module from the plurality of electrical modules is an input module, and a third electrical module from the plurality of electrical modules is an output module,

when the connectors are coupled together, the functionality of at least one electrical module from the plurality of electrical modules is dependent upon at least another electrical module from the plurality of electrical modules.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein functionality of the input module and functionality of the output module are dependent upon the power module providing power, and the functionality of the output module is dependent upon the input module.

17. A system comprising:

a plurality of electrical modules adapted to be selectively coupled to one another, wherein the plurality of electrical modules include at least a first electrical module and a second electrical module, the first electrical module including a first circuit board, and a first connector including a first housing, a first electrical conductor supported by the first housing and including a first coupling portion and a first engagement portion, wherein the first coupling portion is adapted to engage and electrically communicate with the first circuit board, a first magnet supported by the first housing, a first projection extending from the first housing, and a first receptacle defined in the first housing;

the second electrical module including a second circuit board, and a second connector including a second housing, a second electrical conductor supported by the second housing and including a second coupling portion and a second engagement portion, wherein the second coupling portion is adapted to engage and electrically communicate with the second circuit board, a second magnet supported by the second housing, a second projection extending from the second housing, and a second receptacle defined in the second housing;

wherein, with the first electrical module coupled to the second electrical module, the first magnet is magnetically coupled to the second magnet, the first engagement portion engages the second engagement portion, the first projection is at least partially positioned within the second receptacle, and the second projection is at least partially positioned within the first receptacle.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the plurality of electrical modules includes a third electrical module, the third electrical module including a third circuit board, and a third connector including a third housing, a third electrical conductor supported by the third housing and including a third coupling portion and a third engagement portion, wherein the third coupling portion is adapted to engage and electrically communicate with the third circuit board, a third magnet supported by the third housing, a third projection extending from the third housing, and a third receptacle defined in the third housing;

and wherein the second electrical module further includes a fourth connector including a fourth housing, a fourth electrical conductor supported by the fourth housing and including a fourth coupling portion and a fourth engagement portion, wherein the fourth coupling portion is adapted to engage and electrically communicate with the second circuit board, a fourth magnet supported by the fourth housing, a fourth projection extending from the fourth housing, and a fourth receptacle defined in the fourth housing; and

wherein the second electrical module is adapted to couple to both the first electrical module and the third electrical module, and wherein, with the second electrical module coupled to the third electrical module, the third magnet is magnetically coupled to the fourth magnet, the third engagement portion engages the fourth engagement portion, the third projection is at least partially positioned within the fourth receptacle, and the fourth projection is at least partially positioned within the third receptacle.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein operation of the third electrical module is dependent upon operation of the second electrical module.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the second electrical module has a first condition of operation and a second condition of operation, and wherein the third electrical module operates in a first manner when the second electrical module is in the first condition of operation and operates in a second manner when the second electrical module is in the second condition of operation.