Magnetic connector assembly

• US 9,385,471 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2015
• Issued: 07/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Foxconn Interconnect Technology Limited (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Foxconn Interconnect Technology Limited (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Zhu, Jian-Jun, Zhu, Qing-Man, Wu, Jerry
• Primary Examiner(s): Duverne, Jean F
• Application Number:
  US14/710,911
• Publication Number:
  US 20150333440A1
• Time in Patent Office: 419 Days
• Field of Search: 439/39
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6205 Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet

Abstract

An electrical connector assembly includes a first connector including a first magnetic element and a number of first contacts, and a second connector including a second magnetic element and a number of second contacts. The first magnetic element and the second magnetic element include a pair of opposite poles located at two ends thereof respectively along a direction perpendicular to a mating direction of the first magnetic element and the second magnetic element. When the first connector mates with the second connector, the poles of the corresponding ends of the first magnetic and the second magnetic element are opposite.

Claims

1. An electrical connector assembly comprising:

a first connector comprising a first magnetic element having a cavity, and a plurality of first contacts accommodated in the cavity of the first magnetic element; and

a second connector comprising a second magnetic element and a plurality of second contacts accommodated in the second magnetic element;

wherein the first magnetic element and the second magnetic element include a pair of opposite poles located at two ends thereof respectively along a direction perpendicular to a mating direction of the first magnetic element and the second magnetic element; and

wherein, when the first connector mates with the second connector, the poles of the corresponding ends of the first magnetic and the second magnetic element are opposite;

wherein the first contacts and the second contacts comprise a power contact, a grounding contact and a signal contact located between the power contact and the grounding contact respectively;

wherein the first connector and the second connector comprise a first spacer and a second spacer accommodated therein respectively;

wherein the first spacer and the second spacer comprise a main portion and a rear portion extending rearwardly from the main portion respectively;

wherein the first spacer and the second spacer define a plurality of grooves extending through the main portion and the rear portion and receiving corresponding first and second contacts respectively.

2. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein each first contact comprises a mating portion mating with the second connector electrically, a holding portion extending rearwardly from the mating portion, and a connecting portion extending rearwardly from the holding portion.

3. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the holding portion is thicker than the mating portion and the connecting portion.

4. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein each second contact comprises a holding portion, a mating portion bent forwardly from the holding portion and mating with the first connector, and a connecting portion bent rearwardly from the holding portion.

5. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a panel located at a front end of the second connector for protecting the second connector, the panel defining a port.

6. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first connector comprises a first metal shell assembled to the first magnetic element, the metal shell having an outer appearance matching that of the port.

7. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein the first connector comprises a printed circuit board connecting with the first contacts, a cable connecting with the printed circuit board electrically, and a cover assembled to a rear end of the first metal shell and a front end of the cable.

8. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second connector comprises a metal shell assembled to the second magnetic element.

9. An electrical connector assembly comprising:

a first connector and a second connector adapted to be mated with each other in a mating direction;

a plurality of first contacts disposed in the first connector;

a plurality of second contacts disposed in the second housing and adapted to be mated with the first contacts, respectively;

a first magnetic element located upon the first connector with a first coupling face; and

a second magnetic element located upon the second connector with a second coupling face adapted to be opposite to said first coupling face in said mating direction;

wherein

the first coupling face defines a first N pole area and a first S pole area, and the second coupling face defines a second N pole area and a second S pole area corresponding to said first N pole area and said first S pole area to assure only one orientation is allowed for coupling the first connector and the second connector together due to magnetic characters;

wherein disregarding the magnetic characters, a contour of the first connector and a contour of the second connector allows two orientations for coupling the first connector and the second connector together;

wherein said first coupling face defines a long side direction and a short side direction perpendicular to each other and both perpendicular to said mating direction, and said first N pole area and said first S pole area are opposite to each other in said long side direction;

said second coupling face is similar to said first coupling face with the second N pole area and the second S pole area opposite to each other in said long side direction.

10. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first magnetic element surrounds the first contacts, and the second magnetic element surrounds the second contacts.

11. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein the first contacts are retractable in the mating direction while the second contacts are immoveable.

12. A connector assembly comprising:

a first connector and a second connector adapted to be mated with each other in a mating direction;

the first connector defining a first mating port with a first magnetic element around the first mating port with a first coupling face thereon;

the second connector defining a second mating port with a second magnetic element around the second mating port with thereon a second coupling face adapted to be opposite to the first coupling face in the mating direction;

wherein

the first coupling face defines a first S pole area and a first N pole area, and the second coupling face defines a second S pole area and a second N pole area for assuring only one orientation between the first connector and the second connector during mating due to magnetic characters;

wherein the first mating port defines a long side direction and a short side direction, and said first S pole area and said first N pole area are arranged opposite to each other along said long side direction;

wherein disregarding the magnetic characters, the first mating port and the second mating port are configured to be mated with each other in two opposite orientations.