Device connector including magnet

• US 9,130,291 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2012
• Issued: 09/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Poh, Kian Teck, Lee, Chee How, Tan, Jing Kai
• Primary Examiner(s): Hammond, Briggitte R
• Application Number:
  US13/598,123
• Publication Number:
  US 20140065846A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,105 Days
• Field of Search: 439 38- 40
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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

In one implementation a device connector includes a first electronic device magnet, second electronic device magnet, and third electronic device magnet to connect to a power supply. The power supply magnet can be oriented to the opposite pole of one of the electronic device magnets.

Claims

1. An electronic system comprising:

an electronic device including a device connector;

a first electronic device magnet, second electronic device magnet, and third electronic device magnet to connect the device connector to a power supply including a power supply connector by attracting one of the first electronic device magnet, the second electronic device magnet, or the third electronic device magnet by a power supply magnet in the power supply connector;

wherein the power supply magnet is oriented to the opposite pole of one of the first electronic device magnet, second electronic device magnets, and third electronic device magnet,

wherein the orientation of the first, second and third electronic device magnets represents a power draw associated with the electronic device.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a first, second and third mounting location in the power supply connector, wherein the power supply magnet is in one of the first, second and third mounting locations.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the first, second and third mounting locations in the power supply connector align with the first electronic device magnet, second electronic device magnet and the third electronic device magnet.

4. The system of claim 2, further comprising a second power supply magnet and a third power supply magnet.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first, second and third electronic device magnet conduct an electrical signal between the electronic device and the power supply.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first, second and third electronic device magnet are on an outer surface of the electronic device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first second and third electronic device magnets are linear.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a second power supply magnet.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising a third power supply magnet.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising an electronic device electrical contact to receive power from the power supply.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a power supply electrical contact to supply power to the electronic device electrical contact.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein a force of the first and second electronic device magnets is different.

13. A method of coupling a power supply to an electronic device comprising:

coupling a power supply connector of a power supply to a device connector of an electronic device, the device connector having a first electronic device magnet, second electronic device magnet, and third electronic device magnet, the power supply connector having a power supply magnet; and

receiving power from a contact on the electronic device if none of the first, second and third electronic device magnets repel the power supply magnet,

wherein the orientation of the first, second and third electronic device magnets represents a power draw of the electronic device.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

attracting, with one of the first, second or third electronic device magnet on the device connector of the electronic device, the power supply magnet.

15. An electronic system comprising:

an electronic device including a device connector, the device connector including two or more electronic device magnets, each electronic device magnet having a pole oriented toward the exterior of the electronic device, wherein at least one pole oriented toward the exterior of the electronic device is different from at least one other pole oriented toward the exterior of the electronic device;

a power supply including a power supply connector to connect to the device connector, wherein the power supply connector includes a first power supply magnet having a pole oriented to attract at least one electronic device magnet of the device connector if the power supply rating is compatible with the electronic device.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the two or more electronic device magnets includes a first electronic device magnet, a second electronic device magnet and a third electronic device magnet.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the power supply connector further comprises a second power supply magnet.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the power supply connector further comprises a third power supply magnet.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein an orientation of the two or more electronic device magnets represents a power draw of the electronic device.