Magnetic detachable electrical connections between circuits

• US 9,954,309 B2
• Filed: 07/20/2016
• Issued: 04/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Eid, Feras, Oster, Sasha N., Elsherbini, Adel A., Aleksov, Aleksandar, Swan, Johanna M., Baxi, Amit Sudhir, Mageshkumar, Vincent S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Moonhyeon, Hae
• Application Number:
  US15/215,531
• Publication Number:
  US 20180026393A1
• Time in Patent Office: 643 Days
• Field of Search: 439 38, 439 39
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/30 End pieces held in contact by a magnet
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6205 Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/627 Snap or like fastening
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/631 for engagement only

Abstract

Discussed generally herein are methods and devices including or providing a magnetic, detachable, conductive connector to provide an electrical and mechanical connection between parts. A device can include a first substrate, at least one electric component on or at least partially in a first surface of the first substrate, an adhesive on the first surface of the first substrate to temporarily attached the device to skin of a user, a contact pad electrically coupled to an electric component of the at least one electric component, the contact pad on or at least partially in a second surface of the substrate, the first surface opposite the second surface, and a conductive magnetic connector electrically and mechanically connected to the contact pad through a first conductive adhesive.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a substrate;

at least one electric component on or at least partially in a first surface of the substrate;

an adhesive on the first surface of the substrate to temporarily attached the device to skin of a user;

a plurality of contact pads electrically coupled to one or more electric components of the at least one electric component, the contact pad on or at least partially in a second surface of the substrate, the first surface opposite the second surface; and

a plurality of conductive magnets external to the substrate and electrically and mechanically connected to a respective contact pad of the plurality of contact pads through a conductive adhesive, wherein adjacent conductive magnets of the plurality of conductive magnets are polarized in opposite directions.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the conductive magnets includes a magnet with a conductive material, different from the magnet, on a surface of four sides of the magnet and in physical contact with the conductive adhesive.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising a fabric hook and loop fastener on the second surface, the fabric hook and loop fastener near a periphery of the substrate.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the fabric hook and loop fastener is conductive, and provides an electrical path to the at least one electric component.

5. The device of claim 1, further comprising a snap connector on the second surface, the snap connector near a periphery of the substrate.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the snap connector is conductive, and provides an electrical path to the at least one electric component.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the conductive magnets are bipolar magnets that vary polarity in a direction generally parallel to a surface of the contact pads.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the conductive magnets are bipolar magnets that vary polarity in a direction generally perpendicular to a surface of the contact pads.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the conductive adhesive includes one of solder and conductive epoxy.

10. The device of claim 2, wherein the conductive material includes a non-ferrous material.

11. A system comprising:

a first device comprising;

a first substrate;

at least one first electric component on or at least partially in a first surface of the first substrate;

a plurality of first contact pads electrically coupled to one or more electric components of the at least one first electric component, the plurality of first contact pads on or at least partially in a second surface of the first substrate, the first surface opposite the second surface; and

a plurality of first conductive magnets external to the first substrate and electrically and mechanically connected to respective first contact pads of the plurality of first contact pads through a first conductive adhesive, wherein adjacent magnets of the plurality of first conductive magnets are polarized in opposite directions; and

a second device comprising;

a second substrate;

at least one second electric component on or at least partially in a first surface of the second substrate;

a plurality of second contact pads electrically coupled to one or more electric components of the at least one second electric component, the plurality of second contact pads on or at least partially in a second surface of the second substrate, the first surface opposite the second surface; and

a plurality of second conductive magnets external to the second substrate and electrically and mechanically connected to respective second contact pads of the plurality of second contact pads through a second conductive adhesive, the plurality of second conductive magnets including a first polarity same as a respective first conductive magnet of the plurality of first conductive magnets such that when placed in proximity, the respective first conductive magnet and the second conductive magnet form an electrical and mechanical connection on a side perpendicular to a surface of the plurality of second contact pads, wherein adjacent magnets of the plurality of second conductive magnets are polarized in opposite directions.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of first conductive magnets includes a magnet with a conductive material on a surface of the magnet and electrically connected to the conductive adhesive.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the system further comprises one of (1) a conductive fabric hook and loop fastener on the second surface of the first substrate and a mating conductive fabric hook and loop fastener on the second surface of the second substrate and provides an electrical path between the at least one first and second electric components and (2) a conductive snap connector on the second surface of the first substrate and a mating conductive snap connector on the second surface of the second substrate and provides an electrical path between the at least one first and second electric components.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein one of (1) the first and second conductive magnetic connectors are bipolar magnetic connectors that vary polarity in a direction generally parallel to a surface of the first and second plurality of contact pads and (2) the first and second conductive magnetic connectors are bipolar magnetic connectors that vary polarity in a direction generally perpendicular to a surface of the first and second plurality of contact pads.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the conductive material includes one of solder and conductive epoxy.

16. A system comprising:

a first device comprising;

a first substrate;

at least one first electric component on or at least partially in a first surface of the first substrate, the first electric component configured to produce signals indicative of a biological parameter of a user wearing the system;

an adhesive on the first surface of the first substrate to temporarily attach the first device to skin of the user;

first electrical interconnect circuitry electrically connected to the at least one first electric component, the first electrical interconnect circuitry including conductive material in the first substrate;

a plurality of first contact pads electrically connected to one or more electric components of the at least one first electric component through the first electrical interconnect circuitry, the plurality of first contact pads on or at least partially in a second surface of the first substrate, the first surface opposite the second surface; and

a plurality of first conductive magnets electrically and mechanically connected to respective first contact pads of the plurality of first contact pads through a first conductive adhesive, wherein adjacent magnets of the plurality of first conductive magnets are polarized in opposite directions; and

a second device comprising;

a second substrate;

at least one second electric component on or at least partially in a first surface of the second substrate;

second electrical interconnect circuitry electrically connected to the at least one second electric component, the second electrical interconnect circuitry including conductive material in the second substrate;

a plurality of second contact pads electrically connected to one or more electric components of the at least one second electric component through the second electrical interconnect circuitry, the plurality of second contact pads on or at least partially in a second surface of the second substrate, the first surface opposite the second surface; and

a plurality of second conductive magnets electrically and mechanically connected to respective second contact pads through a second conductive adhesive, wherein adjacent magnets of the plurality of second conductive magnets are polarized in opposite directions, the plurality of second conductive magnets including a first polarity opposite respective first conductive magnets of the plurality of first conductive magnets such that when placed in proximity, the respective first conductive magnets and the second conductive magnets form an electrical and mechanical connection.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the first substrate includes a flexible, stretchable material and the second substrate is a rigid substrate.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the plurality of first conductive magnets include a magnet with a conductive material on a surface of the magnet and electrically connected to the conductive adhesive.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the system further comprises one of (1) a conductive fabric hook and loop fastener on the second surface of the first substrate and a mating conductive fabric hook and loop fastener on the second surface of the second substrate and provides an electrical path between the at least one first and second electric components and (2) a conductive snap connector on the second surface of the first substrate and a mating conductive snap connector on the second surface of the second substrate and provides an electrical path between the at least one first and second electric components.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein one of (1) the first and second conductive magnetic connectors are bipolar magnetic connectors that vary polarity in a direction generally parallel to a surface of the first and second plurality of contact pads and (2) the first and second conductive magnetic connectors are bipolar magnetic connectors that vary polarity in a direction generally perpendicular to a surface of the first and second plurality of contact pads.