Programmable magnetic connectors

• US 8,963,666 B2
• Filed: 07/21/2011
• Issued: 02/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Bilbrey, Brett, Pance, Aleksandar, Arnold, Peter, Simon, David I., Lee, Jean, Hillman, Michael D., Tice, Gregory L., Iyer, Vijay, Spare, Bradley
• Primary Examiner(s): Rojas, Bernard
• Application Number:
  US13/188,436
• Publication Number:
  US 20120021619A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,314 Days
• Field of Search: 335285-295, 439 38- 39
• US Class Current: 335/285
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6205 Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/641 by indicating incorrect coupling; by indicating correct or full engagement

Abstract

Connectors and methods of coupling electronic devices and cables are provided. In one embodiment, a connector has a first coded magnet on a first surface of a first device. The first coded magnet has at least two different polarity regions on the first surface. A second coded magnet on a second surface of a second device is also provided. The second coded magnet is configured to provide identifying information regarding the device on which it is located.

Claims

1. A connector, comprising:

a first coded magnet on a first surface of a first device, the first coded magnet having at least two different polarity regions on the first surface, wherein the first coded magnet comprises at least one electromagnet and a dynamically programmable force curve of the first coded magnet is changed by applying electricity to the electromagnet; and

a second coded magnet on a second surface of a second device;

wherein the second coded magnet is configured to provide identifying information regarding the device on which it is located, and wherein the first device comprises a controller in communication with the first coded magnet and the controller is configured to read the arrangement of the first coded magnet and identify the second device.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the second coded magnet is dynamic and is configured to arrange itself to compliment the first coded magnet so that the device of the second coded magnet is identifiable by the device of first coded magnet.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the first surface is a portion of a cable.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the first device comprises one or more configurable conductors.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the one or more configurable conductors comprises one or more pins configured to extend or retract from the first device based on a determination of the identity of the second device.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein the one or more configurable conductors remain obscured by the first device until the first device identifies the second device.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the first magnet is configurable to repulse the second magnet to decouple the first and second devices.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the first magnet is configurable to prevent coupling of the first and second device.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the second surface comprises a surface of a port of an electronic device.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein:

the second coded magnet comprises at least one electromagnet; and

a dynamically programmable force curve of the second coded magnet is changed by applying electricity to the electromagnet.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the second device comprises one or more configurable conductors configured to extend or retract within the port of the second device based on a determination of the identity of the first device.

12. The device claim 10, wherein:

the second coded magnet is configured to identify the first coded magnet; and

the port is configurable to receive the device of the first coded magnet.