Magnetic connector for electronic device
First Claim
1. An electronic device comprising:
- a housing; and
a receptacle in the housing, the receptacle comprising;
a recess below a top surface of the housing, the recess having a bottom surface and a sidewall including a first side, the first side extending from the bottom surface to the top surface of the housing;
a plurality of contacts located in the recess, the plurality of contacts including contacts for power, ground, and a signal, the plurality of contacts in a line, the line parallel to the first side;
a first magnet; and
a second magnet.
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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.
196 Citations
23 Claims
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1. An electronic device comprising:
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a housing; and a receptacle in the housing, the receptacle comprising; a recess below a top surface of the housing, the recess having a bottom surface and a sidewall including a first side, the first side extending from the bottom surface to the top surface of the housing; a plurality of contacts located in the recess, the plurality of contacts including contacts for power, ground, and a signal, the plurality of contacts in a line, the line parallel to the first side; a first magnet; and a second magnet. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A connector system comprising:
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a first connector comprising; a recess, the recess having a bottom surface and a top edge, and a sidewall including a first side, the first side extending from the bottom surface to the top edge; a first plurality of contacts located in the recess, the first plurality of contacts including contacts for power, ground, and a signal, the first plurality of contacts in a line, the line parallel to the first side; and a first magnet; and a second connector comprising; a raised portion having a first edge; a second plurality of contacts located on the raised portion, the second plurality of contacts including contacts for power, ground, and the signal, the second plurality of contacts in a line, the line parallel to the first edge; and a second magnet, wherein the raised portion of the second connector is arranged to fit in the recess of the first connector, and wherein the first magnet and the second magnet are attracted to each other when the first connector and the second connector are mated. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A first connector comprising:
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a recessed portion having a longer first axis and a shorter second axis, the recessed portion further having a bottom surface and a sidewall orthogonal to the bottom surface and extending from the bottom surface to a top edge; three contacts located in the recessed portion, extending above the bottom surface of the recessed portion, and not extending above the top edge of the sidewall of the recessed portion, the three contacts including contacts to convey power and a return path, the three contacts arranged in a line along the first axis; and a first magnet, wherein the recessed portion and the three contacts are arranged such that the recessed portion and three contacts are symmetrical about the second axis. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A connector receptacle comprising:
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a bottom surface having two opposing straight sides and two opposing curved sides, the two opposing curved sides at a first end and a second end of the connector receptacle; a sidewall surrounding the bottom surface and orthogonal to the bottom surface and extending from the bottom surface to a top edge; three contacts, each extending above the bottom surface and not above the top edge of the sidewall, the three contacts including contacts to form power and ground paths and arranged in a straight line parallel to the two opposing straight sides of the bottom surface; and a first magnet. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification