Magnetic, self-retracting, auto-aligning electrical connector

• US 9,160,102 B1
• Filed: 12/31/2012
• Issued: 10/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Emc IP Holding Company LLC (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: EMC Corporation (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Morgan, Dale T., O'Donnell, Sean P., Zorrilla De Los Santos, Jeremy, Kielbasa, Matthew
• Primary Examiner(s): Duverne, Jean F
• Application Number:
  US13/731,520
• Time in Patent Office: 1,016 Days
• Field of Search: 439 39- 40, 439/585, 439/578
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/58 Contacts spaced along longitudinal axis of engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/16 for manufacturing contact members, e.g. by punching and by bending

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus, a system, and a method of manufacturer for a magnetic, self-retracting, auto-aligning electrical connector. The apparatus includes a first conductor and a first magnet configured to magnetically couple with a second magnet, wherein magnetic coupling causes a change in a magnetic field of a magnetically coupled combination of the first magnet and the second magnet and wherein the change in the magnetic field causes electrical coupling of the first conductor and a second conductor. The system includes a first connector comprising a first magnet and a first conductor and a second connector comprising a second magnet and a second conductor, wherein magnetic coupling causes a change in a magnetic field of a magnetically coupled combination of the first magnet and the second magnet and wherein the change in the magnetic field causes electrical coupling of the first conductor and the second conductor.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a first conductor comprising; and

a first magnet configured to magnetically couple with a second magnet, wherein magnetic coupling of the first magnet and the second magnet causes a change in a magnetic field of a magnetically coupled combination of the first magnet and the second magnet and wherein the change in the magnetic field of the magnetically coupled combination of the first magnet and the second magnet causes electrical coupling of the first conductor and a second conductor;

wherein magnetic attraction between the first magnet and the third magnet maintains the third magnet in a retracted position relative to a first magnetic coupling surface of the first magnet at times the first magnet and the second magnet are not magnetically coupled; and

wherein the first conductor comprises a third magnet having a polarity orientation opposite the polarity orientation of the first magnet.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first conductor and the first magnet are disposed coaxially.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the first conductor is disposed coaxially at a diameter greater than the diameter or the first magnet.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the first magnet comprises a plurality of first magnets arranged radially with the first conductor.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the first magnet is a ring magnet disposed coaxially circumferentially around the first conductor.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein magnetic attraction between the third magnet and the combination of the first magnet and the second magnet maintains the third magnet in an extended position relative to the retracted position at times the first magnet and the second magnet are magnetically coupled.

7. The apparatus of claim 1

wherein the second conductor is disposed in a position recessed from a second magnetic coupling surface of the second magnet;

and

wherein magnetic attraction between the third magnet and the combination of the first magnet and the second magnet maintains the third magnet in an extended position relative to the first magnetic coupling surface at times the first magnet and the second magnet are magnetically coupled.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a housing enabling a bounded range of motion of the third magnet, wherein the bounded range of motion comprises a first bound maintaining a center of the third magnet along its axis in a first position of having a first state of magnetic disequilibrium relative to the first magnet at times the first magnet and the second magnet are not magnetically coupled.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the bounded range of motion further comprises a second bound maintaining the center of the third magnet along its axis in a second position having a second state of magnetic disequilibrium relative a center of the magnetically coupled combination of the first magnet and the second magnet along its axis at times the first magnet and the second magnet are magnetically coupled.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein magnetic coupling of the first magnet and the second magnet further causes automatic alignment of the first conductor and the second conductor.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a spring enabling automatic alignment of the first magnet and the second magnet.

12. The apparatus of claim 11

wherein the spring is electrically coupled to the first magnet;

and

wherein combination of the spring and the first magnet comprises a third conductor.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first magnet comprises a third conductor.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus is configured to mechanically couple with a connector, wherein a first force required to magnetically uncouple the first magnet and the second magnet is less than a second force required to mechanically uncouple the apparatus connector and the connector.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the combination of the apparatus and the connector enables transmission of power through rail holes of a chassis to provide power to a lighting element of a chassis bezel.

16. A method of manufacture comprising:

providing a first conductor; and

providing a first magnet configured to magnetically couple with a second magnet, wherein magnetic coupling of the first magnet and the second magnet causes a change in a magnetic field of a magnetically coupled combination of the first magnet and the second magnet and wherein the change in the magnetic field of the magnetically coupled combination of the first magnet and the second magnet causes electrical coupling of the first conductor and a second conductor;

wherein magnetic attraction between the first magnet and the third magnet maintains the third magnet in a retracted position relative to a first magnetic coupling surface of the first magnet at times the first magnet and the second magnet are not magnetically coupled; and

wherein the first conductor comprises a third magnet having a polarity orientation opposite the polarity orientation of the first magnet.

17. A system comprising:

a first connector comprising a first magnet and a first conductor; and

a second connector comprising a second magnet and a second conductor;

wherein magnetic coupling of the first connector and the second connector causes a change in a magnetic field of a magnetically coupled combination of the first magnet and the second magnet and wherein the change in the magnetic field of the magnetically coupled combination of the first magnet and the second magnet causes electrical coupling of the first conductor and the second conductor;

wherein magnetic attraction between the first magnet and the third magnet maintains the third magnet in a retracted position relative to a first magnetic coupling surface of the first magnet at times the first magnet and the second magnet are not magnetically coupled; and

wherein the first conductor comprises a third magnet having a polarity orientation opposite the polarity orientation of the first magnet.