ELECTRICAL AND FIBER OPTIC CONNECTOR WITH MAGNETIC ELECTRICAL CONTACTS

• US 20140120746A1
• Filed: 10/24/2013
• Published: 05/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: John Tirelli, Rostislav Persion
• Original Assignee: John Tirelli, Rostislav Persion
• Inventors: Persion, Rostislav, Tirelli, John
• Application Number:
  US14/062,654
• Publication Number:
  US 20140120746A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/39
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3817 containing optical and electrical conductors cables including electrical and optical conductors H01B11/22; G02B6/3816 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3831 comprising a keying element on the plug or adapter, e.g. to forbid wrong connection keying element on the ferrule G02B6/3851; keying element for electrical coupling H01R13/64
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3886 Magnetic means to align ferrule ends
• 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

Abstract

An electrical and optical fiber connecter plug and receptacle relying on magnetic force from a conductive and magnetic material 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 but not limited to a portable mp3 player or other peripheral device, to a computer. The plug and receptacle include electrical contacts comprised of conductive magnetic material, which are arranged in such a way as to make it impossible to improperly attach the connectors due to magnetic polarity and the design of the male and female connector. The plug and receptacle will also include an optical fiber to transmit data.

Claims

1. A connector system for the transmission of data, the system comprising:

A first connector segment having an connection head, the connection head equipped with a first data transmission port, a portion of the connection head equipped with at least one magnetic surface element having a magnetic polarity;

A second connector segment having a connection head receiver, the connection head receiver equipped with a second data transmission port configured to couple to the first transmission port and the connection head receiver is equipped with at least one magnetic surface element of the opposite polarity as the magnetic element of the connection head.

2. The connector system of claim 1, wherein the connection head is conical in shape and configured to be inserted into the connection head receiver, the connection head receiver configured with a corresponding receiving portion.

3. The connector system of claim 2, wherein the data transmission port is configured to transmit data as pulsed light energy optical wavelengths.

4. The connector system of claim 2, data transmission port is configured to transmit data as pulsed light energy optical wavelengths and electrical signals.

5. The connector system of claim 1 wherein the surface of the connector head and the surface of the connection receiver are equipped with electrically conductive elements.

6. The connector system of claim 5 wherein electrically conductive elements are co-extensive with the magnetic elements.

7. The connector system of claim 6 wherein the connection head is further configured with a sensor activated switch that is activated upon sensing the contact.

8. The connector system of claim 7 wherein the sensor activated switch includes a current thresh-hold sensor and a deactivation switch.

9. The connector system of claim 7, wherein the sensor activated switch controls the flow of electrical current to the electrically conductive elements.

10. The connector system of claim 9, wherein the sensor deactivation switch is activated by current exceeding the preconfigured threshold.