Magnetic and Locking Cable Connectors

• US 20110136350A1
• Filed: 12/09/2010
• Published: 06/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Craig Palli, John Haddick, Ralph F. Osterhout
• Original Assignee: Craig Palli, John Haddick, Ralph F. Osterhout
• Inventors: Osterhout, Ralph F., Haddick, John, Palli, Craig
• Granted Patent: US 8,342,857 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/39
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/504 different pieces being moulded, cemented, welded, e.g. ultrasonic, or swaged together
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6205 Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6599 Dielectric material made conductive, e.g. plastic material coated with metal
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/665 with built-in electronic circuit H01R13/70, H01R13/719 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43635 HDMI
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49174 Assembling terminal to elongated conductor

Abstract

In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for a cable connector. The cable connector may have magnetic properties and/or a locking mechanism. The cable connector may be an HDMI connector and the cable may be an HDMI cable. Further, the connector may be plugged into the corresponding male/female connector port and be held in position by the magnetic properties associated with the connector and the port and/or by a lock lever mechanism. The magnetic array may be moved various distances in various directions. In addition, the connector and/or cable may include a processor, an integrated circuit, an indicator, an LED and/or a user interface.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a cable including a data transmission wire wherein the cable has a device connector end;

a device connector mechanically attached to the device connector end, the device connector having at least one pin electrically associated with the data transmission wire;

a magnetic element having a shape suitable for mating with a device side of the device connector, wherein a first side of the magnetic element is magnetically connected to a portion of the device connector and a second side is positioned to magnetically connect to a device, wherein the magnetic element is separable from the device connector.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the system comprises a High Definition Multimedia Interface cable.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the device connector is a HDMI connector.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the device connector includes a processor.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the device connector includes an integrated circuit.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein a processor provides status information.

6. The system of claim 34, wherein the processor performs signal equalization.

8. The system of claim 48, wherein the status information is provided by a display.

9. The system of claim 52, wherein the display includes at least a LED.

10. A device connector, comprising:

a device connector for a data cable, the device connector having a magnetic portion;

a magnetically attractive element with a shape adapted to mate with the device connector and magnetically connect to the magnetic portion; and

a double-sided adhesive element, wherein the double-sided adhesive element is adhered to the magnetically attractive element and positioned to adhere to a device.

11. A method of attaching a data cable to a device, comprising:

adhering a double-sided adhesive element to a magnetic element, leaving an exposed side of the magnetic element and an adherence side of the adhesive element;

magnetically attaching the exposed side of the magnetic element to a device connector of the data cable; and

pressing the device connector onto a data port of a device such that the adherence side adheres to at least one of the device and the data port.

12. The device connector of claim 200, wherein the data cable is a High Definition Multimedia Interface cable.

13. The device connector of claim 200, wherein the device connector is a HDMI connector.

14. The device connector of claim 200, further comprising, a processor.

15. The device connector of claim 594, wherein the processor provides status information.

16. The device connector of claim 200, further comprising, an integrated circuit.

17. The method of claim 203, wherein the data cable is a High Definition Multimedia Interface cable.

18. The method of claim 203, wherein the device connector is a HDMI connector.

19. The method of claim 203, wherein the device connector comprises an integrated processor.

20. The method of claim 203, wherein the device connector comprises an integrated circuit.