TERMINAL CONNECTING SYSTEM

• US 20140170864A1
• Filed: 12/02/2013
• Published: 06/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: HWANG, Sunlyeong
• Granted Patent: US 9,088,098 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/38
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/24 resilient; resiliently-mounted
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/2421 using coil springs
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6205 Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/633 for disengagement only in combination with safety switch H01R13/7132
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/635 by mechanical pressure, e.g. spring force
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/16 for telephony

Abstract

An electronic device is provided comprising a connection interface including a connection portion; and a fastening portion comprising a plate that is configured to: (i) be substantially flush with a surface of the electronic device when the connection interface and a connector are not mated, and (ii) extend or recede from the surface of the electronic device when the connection interface and the connector are mated.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a connecting interface including a connection portion; and

a fastening portion comprising a plate that is configured to;

(i) be substantially flush with a surface of the electronic device when the connection interface and a connector are not mated, and (ii) extend or recede from the surface of the electronic device when the connection interface and the connector are mated.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the fastening portion further comprises a receiving portion for receiving the plate, and an elastic member disposed between a surface of the receiving portion and a surface of the plate.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the fastening portion further comprises a shaft coupled to the plate and a plate driver configured to actuate the shaft.

4. The electronic device of claim 3, wherein the plate driver comprises at least one of an electromagnet and a motor, a sensor, and an electronic circuitry for driving at least one of the electromagnet or the motor based on a signal from the sensor.

5. The electronic device of claim 3, wherein the plate driver further comprises:

at least one of an electromagnet and a motor coupled to the shaft; and

an electronic circuitry configured to detect whether the connector is being mated with the connection interface and cause at least one of the electromagnet and the motor to actuate the shaft in a predetermined direction when it is determined that the connector is being mated with the connection interface.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the movable plate is made from one of a metal material, a magnetized or magnetic material, and a rubber material.

7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the plate is configured to return to a state in which the plate is substantially flush with the surface of the electronic device after the connector is separated from the connecting interface.

8. A connector, comprising:

a connection portion; and

a fastening portion comprising a plate configured to extend or recede from a surface of the connector when the connector is mated with a connection interface.

9. The connector of claim 8, wherein the fastening portion further comprises:

a receiving portion configured to receive the plate; and

an elastic member disposed between a surface of the receiving portion and a surface of the plate,

wherein the elastic member is configured to restore the plate to a state in which the plate is substantially flush with the surface of the connector after the connector is disconnected from a connection interface.

10. The connector of claim 8, wherein the fastening portion further comprises:

a receiving portion configured to receive the plate; and

a plate driver configured to move the plate in or out of the receiving portion.

11. The connector of claim 8, wherein the plate is made of at least one of a magnetized or magnetic material and a metal material.

12. A connecting system for use in an electronic device, comprising:

a connection interface comprising a first plate;

a connector for mating with the connection interface, comprising a second plate configured to protrude or extend from a surface of the connector;

wherein the first plate is configured to;

(i) be substantially flush with a surface of the electronic device when the connector and the connection interface are not mated, and (ii) extend or recede from the surface of the electronic device during a mating of the connection interface with the connector.

13. The connecting system of claim 12, wherein:

the connection interface comprises a receiving portion for receiving the first plate and an elastic member disposed between a surface of the receiving portion and a surface of the first plate; and

the second plate comprises a magnet, so that the first plate is extended or receded during the mating of the connection interface with the connector by a magnetic force of the magnet.

14. The connecting system of claim 12, wherein:

the connection interface comprises a first receiving portion for receiving the first plate, a shaft coupled to the first plate, and a plate driver configured to actuate the shaft in a first direction when the connector is from a first type and actuate the shaft in a second direction when the connector is from a second type; and

the connector comprises a second receiving portion configured to receive the second plate and an elastic member disposed between a surface of the second receiving portion and a surface of the second plate.

15. A method of operating a terminal, the method comprising:

detecting a contact between a connection interface of the terminal and a connector; and

responsive to detecting the contact, moving a first plate that is substantially flush with a terminal case surface to extend or recede from the terminal case surface.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

detecting that the connector and the connection interface have become separated; and

restoring the first plate to a state in which the first plate is substantially flush with the terminal case surface.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein detecting the contact between the connection interface of the terminal and the connector comprises sensing a magnetic field of the connector.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the contact between the connection interface of the terminal and the connector is detected based on a signal received from a terminal connection portion of the connection interface.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising inserting a second plate that is part of the connector into a terminal receiving portion of the connection interface of the terminal to establish a contact between the first plate and the second plate.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the first plate is made of one of a metal material, magnetized or magnetic material, and rubber material.