Non-mating connector

• US 9,197,292 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2013
• Issued: 11/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NMC S.A.
• Original Assignee: NMC S.A.
• Inventors: Benjestorf, Josjua S.
• Primary Examiner(s): ZARROLI, MICHAEL C
• Application Number:
  US14/064,116
• Publication Number:
  US 20140120747A1
• Time in Patent Office: 759 Days
• Field of Search: 439/950, 336/107
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/22 Capacitive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/266 One coil at each side, e.g. with primary and secondary coils

Abstract

Disclosed is the technology to create connectors based solely on capacitive or inductive coupling that are impervious to ambient moisture giving rise to the idea of waterproof connectors and ultimately to waterproof consumer electronics. NMCs use no conductive tracks for ohmic contacts. The present invention is a waterproof version of a connector conforming to the USB 3.0 standard, which is visually and mechanically similar to current popular USB connectors.

Claims

1. A connector comprising two mechanically coupled electromagnetic energy carriers, a male carrier and a female carrier wherein each said carrier is electrically connected to an electric circuit and wherein at least one of said circuits comprises a consumer electrical or electronic product and wherein, when said carriers are coupled to form said connector, said product interacts with said other circuit in conformity with an existing electrical connector standard and further comprising a housing enclosing each carrier wherein said housing substantially eliminates penetration of moisture into each respective electrical connection to an electric circuit and wherein at least one of said housings further comprises an insulating layer substantially blocking direct current conduction to said other housing, wherein;

said male carrier further comprises a male receptacle and a male transfer element and

said female carrier further comprises a female receptacle and a female transfer element

each said transfer element is a dielectric element formed of high-k dielectric and wherein said carriers further comprise a sliding pair of plates engageable to form a capacitor and wherein said connector housing insulating layer is made from a material such as PPC (polypropylene carbonate) or polytetrafluoroethylene, further comprising

a male metallic plate

a male ohmic contact

a male magnet and wherein

the male ohmic contact is electrically connected to the male metallic plate and one of the edges of the metallic plate is connected to one of said circuits, a circuit A

a female metallic plate

a female ohmic contact

a female magnet and wherein

the female ohmic contact is electrically connected to the female plate and one of the edges of the metallic plate is connected to the other of said circuits, a circuit B; and

said capacitor formed is of the parallel plate type.

2. The connector according to claim 1 wherein said coupling further comprises

an inductive power connector and wherein said sliding pair of plates further comprises a high-k dielectric pair engageable to form a parallel plate capacitor.

3. The connector of claim 2 wherein:

the male ohmic contact is electrically connected to the male-plate and one of the edges of the metallic plate is connected to the circuit A

the female ohmic contact is electrically connected to the female-plate and one of the edges of the metallic plate is connected to the circuit B.

4. The connector of claim 3 wherein, in the engaged disposition, said metallic plates are separated by a layer of electrical insulation formed of a viscous polymer photoresist and

said two high-k dielectrics are in physical contact.

5. The connector of claim 1 wherein said capacitor is a high-k dielectric.

6. The connector of claim 2 wherein said sliding pair of plates further comprises a pair of metallic plates on glass substrates wherein each metallic plate is connected to one of said circuits and wherein said dielectric elements are mounted on said substrates distally to said metallic plates.

7. The connector of claim 6 wherein each said dielectric element is a high-k dielectric element.

8. The connector of claim 7 wherein said high-k dielectric element is formed of a viscous polymer photoresist.

9. The connector of claim 8 wherein said viscous polymer photoresist is SU-8 and said USB standard is USB 3.0.

10. The connector of claim 9 wherein said connector housing insulating layer is made from a material such as PPC (polypropylene carbonate).

11. The connector of claim 8 wherein the capacitance range is between 0.1 nF and 100 nF.

12. A connector comprising two mechanically coupled electromagnetic energy carriers, a male carrier and a female carrier wherein each said carrier is electrically connected to an electric circuit and wherein at least one of said circuits comprises a consumer electrical or electronic product and wherein, when said carriers are coupled to form said connector, said product interacts with said other circuit in conformity with an existing electrical connector standard and further comprising a housing enclosing each carrier wherein said housing substantially eliminates penetration of moisture into each respective electrical connection to an electric circuit and wherein at least one of said housings further comprises an insulating layer substantially blocking direct current conduction to said other housing, wherein;

said male carrier further comprises a male receptacle and a male transfer element and

said female carrier further comprises a female receptacle and a female transfer element.

wherein said each transfer element is a dielectric element and wherein said male transfer element further comprises at least one surface brought into low-loss electrical contact and locking in place when coupled with said female transfer element, wherein;

each said male carrier and female carrier further comprises a coil

two ohmic contacts are physically connected to each coil, one contact for each end of each coil; and

when both coils are brought into proximity, a mated pair is formed between the male and female receptacles conforming to said electrical standard, further comprising

an inductive connector having sufficient turns for signal transfer and wherein

said carriers further comprises a sliding pair of plates having dielectric elements engageable to form a parallel plate capacitor

said electrical connector standard is a USB standard; and

the male and female coils are separated by a small space of housing molding that exists on both receptacles.

13. A connector comprising two mechanically coupled electromagnetic energy carriers, a male carrier and a female carrier wherein each said carrier is electrically connected to an electric circuit and wherein at least one of said circuits comprises a consumer electrical or electronic product and wherein, when said carriers are coupled to form said connector, said product interacts with said other circuit in conformity with an existing electrical connector standard and further comprising a housing enclosing each carrier wherein said housing substantially eliminates penetration of moisture into each respective electrical connection to an electric circuit and wherein at least one of said housings further comprises an insulating layer substantially blocking direct current conduction to said other housing, wherein;

said male carrier further comprises a male receptacle and a male transfer element and

said female carrier further comprises a female receptacle and a female transfer element,

wherein said each transfer element is a dielectric element and wherein said male transfer element further comprises at least one surface brought into low-loss electrical contact and locking in place when coupled with said female transfer element. wherein;

each said male carrier and female carrier further comprises a coil

two ohmic contacts are physically connected to each coil, one contact for each end of each coil; and

when both coils are brought into proximity, a mated pair is formed between the male and female receptacles conforming to said electrical standard, further comprising at least one surface brought into low-loss electrical contact and locking in place when coupled with said female transfer element and wherein said connector housing insulating layer is made from a material such as PPC (polypropylene carbonate).

14. The connector according to claim 13 wherein each said male carrier and female carrier comprises a coil and wherein each said coil further comprises sufficient turns for signal transfer.

15. A connector comprising two mechanically coupled electromagnetic energy carriers, a male carrier and a female carrier wherein each said carrier is electrically connected to an electric circuit and wherein at least one of said circuits comprises a consumer electrical or electronic product and wherein, when said carriers are coupled to form said connector, said product interacts with said other circuit in conformity with an existing electrical connector standard and further comprising a housing enclosing each carrier wherein said housing substantially eliminates penetration of moisture into each respective electrical connection to an electric circuit and wherein at least one of said housings further comprises an insulating layer substantially blocking direct current conduction to said other housing, wherein;

said male carrier further comprises a male receptacle and a male transfer element and

said female carrier further comprises a female receptacle and a female transfer element,

wherein said each transfer element is a dielectric element and wherein said male transfer element further comprises at least one surface brought into low-loss electrical contact and locking in place when coupled with said female transfer element. wherein;

each said male carrier and female carrier further comprises a coil

two ohmic contacts are physically connected to each coil, one contact for each end of each coil; and

when both coils are brought into proximity, a mated pair is formed between the male and female receptacles conforming to said electrical standard, wherein the female connector is an electrical wall socket.

16. A connector comprising male and female metal plates made from very thin, highly conductive metal such as copper or gold and attached to each metallic plate is a trace of two mechanically coupled electromagnetic energy carriers, a male carrier and a female carrier and wherein

each said carrier is electrically connected to an electric circuit and wherein at least one of said circuits comprises a consumer electrical or electronic product and

when said carriers are coupled to form said connector, said product interacts with said other circuit in conformity with an existing electrical connector standard and further comprising;

a housing enclosing each said carrier wherein said housing substantially eliminates penetration of moisture into each respective electrical connection to an electric circuit and wherein at least one of said housings further comprises;

an insulating layer substantially blocking direct current conduction to said other housing.

a male receptacle

a male high-k dielectric

a female receptacle

a female high-k dielectric

said industrial connector standard is a USB standard.

each said male carrier and female carrier further comprises a coil

two female ohmic contacts physically connected to the female-coil, one contact for each end of the coil

said coils are brought into proximity when a mated pair is formed between the male and female Receptacles.

said male ohmic contacts are physically connected to the male coil, one contact for each end of the coil.

an inductive connector having sufficient turns for signal transfer and wherein said mechanically coupled electromagnetic energy carriers further comprise a sliding pair of plates having dielectric elements engageable to form a parallel plate capacitor

wherein said sliding pair of plates further comprises a pair of metallic plates on glass substrates wherein each metallic plate is connected to one of said circuits and wherein said dielectric elements are mounted on said substrates distally to said metallic plates and wherein

said high-k dielectric element Is formed of a viscous polymer photoresist

said viscous polymer photoresist is SU-8 and said USB standard is USB 3.0

said connector housing insulating layer is made from a material such as PPC (polypropylene carbonate).

17. The connector of claim 16 wherein the glass slide substrate is sonicated in DI water followed by a rinse in Acetone and Isopropanol and coated with 1:

15 cyclopentanone before being baked at 115°

C. for 10 minutes over a hotplate covered with aluminum wrap, then mounted onto a carrier wafer where 7 μ

m of Cu is deposited onto the substrate in a CHA sputter, said substrate and deposited Cu then submerged in 30% H2O2 for 5-10 seconds and thoroughly rinsed with DI water and methanol or IPA followed by 2.5 μ

m of SU-8 being deposited over the Cu by spinning.