Electromagnetic connector for electronic device
First Claim
1. A connector comprising:
- a first contact;
an electromagnet positioned on the connector; and
a switch and a proximity sensor coupled to the electromagnet to control the energization of the electromagnet,wherein the electromagnet is energizable to produce magnetic attraction with a magnetic element in a second connector and substantially maintain contact between the first contact and a second contact of the second connector in an electrically conductive relationship, andwherein when the switch is activated, the electromagnet is energized at a first level, and when the connector and the second connector are being mated, the proximity sensor causes the electromagnet to be energized at a second level, the second level higher than the first level.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electrical plug and receptacle relying on magnetic force from an electromagnet to maintain contact are disclosed. The plug and receptacle can be used as part of a power adapter for connecting an electronic device, such as a laptop computer, to a power supply. The plug includes electrical contacts, which are preferably biased toward corresponding contacts on the receptacle. The plug and receptacle each have a magnetic element. The magnetic element on one of the plug or receptacle can be a magnet or ferromagnetic material. The magnetic element on the other of the plug or receptacle is an electromagnet. When the plug and receptacle are brought into proximity, the magnetic attraction between the electromagnet magnet and its complement, whether another magnet or a ferromagnetic material, maintains the contacts in an electrically conductive relationship.
150 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A connector comprising:
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a first contact; an electromagnet positioned on the connector; and a switch and a proximity sensor coupled to the electromagnet to control the energization of the electromagnet, wherein the electromagnet is energizable to produce magnetic attraction with a magnetic element in a second connector and substantially maintain contact between the first contact and a second contact of the second connector in an electrically conductive relationship, and wherein when the switch is activated, the electromagnet is energized at a first level, and when the connector and the second connector are being mated, the proximity sensor causes the electromagnet to be energized at a second level, the second level higher than the first level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A connector comprising:
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a first contact; an electromagnet positioned on the connector; a magnet positioned on the connector; and a proximity sensor coupled to the electromagnet to control energization of the electromagnet, wherein the electromagnet is energizable to produce magnetic attraction with a magnetic element in a second connector and substantially maintain contact between the first contact and a second contact of the second connector in an electrically conductive relationship, and when the connector and the second connector are moved into proximity to each other, the proximity sensor causes the electromagnet to be energized to magnetically attract the second connector. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A connector comprising:
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a first contact; an electromagnet positioned on the connector; a magnet positioned on the connector; and a proximity sensor coupled to the electromagnet to control energization of the electromagnet, wherein the electromagnet is energizable to produce magnetic attraction with a magnetic element in a second connector, and when the connector and the second connector are moved into proximity to each other, the proximity sensor causes the electromagnet to be energized to magnetically attract the second connector, wherein after the connector and the second connector are mated, and then after a first event, the electromagnet is de-energized and the magnet maintains the connector and the second connector in a mated position. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification