Magnetic connector apparatus

• US 9,197,010 B2
• Filed: 12/24/2011
• Issued: 11/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amphenol Phitek Limited (Amphenol Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Phitek Systems Limited (Amphenol Corporation)
• Inventors: Greig, Nigel, Sim, William James, Scholten, Edward, Midgley, Brendon David, Moody, Roy
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, THANH TAM T
• Application Number:
  US13/337,117
• Publication Number:
  US 20120315771A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,431 Days
• Field of Search: 439/38, 439/39, 439/950
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0624 Arrangements of electrical connectors, e.g. for earphone, internet or electric supply
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6205 Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/631 for engagement only
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6683 with built-in sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7037 making use of a magnetically operated switch
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2105/00 Three poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/58 Contacts spaced along longitudinal axis of engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 27/00 Coupling parts adapted for co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts for dissimilar contact members H01R13/35; supported only by co-operation with a counterpart H01R31/00; with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/90

Abstract

A magnetic electrical connector is provided which has particular application to use in vehicles or aircraft to prevent damage due to passenger movement. The connector includes a socket having a housing with a front face, a plurality of conductor contact regions provided on the front face, and a magnet provided in the housing to physically retain a plug in connection with the socket in use.

Claims

1. An electrical connector socket for alternatively electrical connecting with a first plug and a second plug, the first and second plugs having different conductor configurations, the electrical connector socket comprising:

a housing having a front face,

a plurality of conductor contact regions provided on the front face to physically and electrically contact conductors of the first plug in use, the conductor contact regions being formed from a layer of conductive material and being adjacent to each other and in the same plane;

a magnet provided in the housing to physically retain the first plug in connection with the socket in use; and

a plug pin receiver comprising an aperture extending rearwardly of the front face and being adapted to axially receive a plug pin of the second plug.

2. An electrical connector socket as claimed in claim 1 wherein the conductor contact regions are substantially flush with the front face.

3. An electrical connector socket as claimed in claim 1 wherein one or more of the conductor contact regions is a power contact region operable to make a power supply available to the first plug.

4. An electrical connector socket as claimed in claim 3 wherein the power contact region is operated to make power available to the first plug once the first plug has been connected to the socket.

5. An electrical connector socket as claimed in claim 1 wherein the conductor contact regions are provided in three rows.

6. An electrical connector socket as claimed in claim 5 wherein the rows are parallel with each other, the contact regions in the first and third rows are substantially aligned and the contact regions of the second row are offset with respect to those of the first and third rows.

7. An electrical connector as claimed in claim 1 comprising a plurality of plug pin receivers and wherein the plug pin receivers are provided peripherally of the conductor contact regions.

8. An electrical connector as claimed in claim 1 wherein the plug pin receiver comprises an audio jack.

9. An electrical connector as claimed in claim 1 comprising a plurality of plug pin receivers for axially receiving the second plug.

10. An electrical connector as claimed in claim 9 wherein the plug pin receivers comprise a noise cancelling headphone jack.

11. An electrical connector socket as claimed in claim 1 wherein the housing comprises an alignment contour to co-act with a contour of the first plug to facilitate correct alignment of the first plug with the socket.