Connector assembly

• US 9,130,317 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2014
• Issued: 09/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: C.C.P. Contact Probes Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: C.C.P. Contact Probes Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Chen, Wei-Chu, Wang, Hsin-Chieh, Shen, Yuan-Hsiang, Liu, Hsiao-Wei, Cheng, Yu-Min, Su, Yen-Ching, Yu, Huei-Che, Tsai, Bor-Chen
• Primary Examiner(s): GUSHI, ROSS N
• Application Number:
  US14/162,722
• Publication Number:
  US 20150017831A1
• Time in Patent Office: 593 Days
• Field of Search: 439/700, 439/824
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 13/6683 with built-in sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7037 making use of a magnetically operated switch

Abstract

A connector assembly includes a first connector and a second connector. The first connector is coupled to a first electronic device, and the second connector is coupled to a second electronic device and detachably mated with the first connector. The first connector includes a first housing and a magnetic member. The magnetic member is installed inside the first housing and for generating magnetic field. The second connector includes a second housing and a magnetic sensor disposed in the second housing. The magnetic sensor senses the magnetic field generated by the magnetic member when the second connector is mated with the first connector, so as to drive the second electronic device to power the first electronic device.

Claims

1. A connector assembly, comprising:

a first connector coupled to a first electronic device, comprising;

a first housing; and

a magnetic member installed inside the first housing and for generating magnetic field; and

a second connector coupled to a second electronic device and detachably mated with the first connector, the second connector comprising;

a second housing; and

a magnetic sensor disposed in the second housing, the magnetic sensor sensing the magnetic field generated by the magnetic member when the second connector mates with the first connector, so as to drive the second electronic device to power the first electronic device

a control unit coupled to the magnetic sensor, the control unit controlling the second electronic device to power the first electronic device when the magnetic sensor senses the magnetic field generated by the magnetic member, wherein the control unit is a circuit board connected to the second housing.

2. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the magnetic sensor is a Hall sensor.

3. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the first connector further comprises a first shell member covering the first housing, and the second connector further comprises:

a second shell member covering the second housing, the magnetic member attracting the second shell member, such that the second connector mates with the first connector, wherein the first shell member abuts against the second shell member when the second connector mates with the first connector, such that the first shell member is electrically connected to the second shell member.

4. The connector assembly of claim 3, wherein a containing space, an assembly opening, a mating opening are formed on the first shell member, the mating opening and the assembly opening respectively communicate with the containing space, the first housing is installed inside the containing space via the assembly opening, and the second connector is detachably mated with the first connector via the mating opening.

5. The connector assembly of claim 4, wherein at least one fixing post is further formed on the first shell member, at least one fixing hole is formed on the first housing in a position corresponding to the at least one fixing post, and the at least one fixing post is for inserting into the at least one fixing hole on the first housing in a tight fit manner when the first housing is installed inside the containing space via the assembly opening, so as to fix the first housing inside the containing space.

6. The connector assembly of claim 3, wherein the second shell member is made of magnetic material.

7. The connector assembly of claim 3, wherein at least one shell fixing lug is formed on the first shell member for fixing the first shell member inside the first electronic device.

8. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one housing fixing lug is formed on the first housing for fixing the first housing inside the first electronic device.

9. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the first connector further comprises a first contact set fixed inside the first housing, each of the first contacts has a contacting surface, a normal of the contacting surface is not parallel to a mating direction, and the second connector further comprises:

a second contact set fixed inside the second housing, an end of each of the second contacts contacting the contacting surface of the corresponding first contact and sliding along the contacting surface from a first contact position to a second contact position when the second connector mates with the first connector along the mating direction.

10. The connector assembly of claim 9, wherein the contacting surface is an inclined surface, and the normal of the inclined surface is not parallel to the mating direction.

11. The connector assembly of claim 9, wherein the contacting surface is a flat surface, and the first contact set is fixed inside the first housing and oriented by the normal of the flat surface not parallel to the mating direction.

12. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the magnetic sensor is disposed inside the second housing and located in a position where magnetic line of force of the magnetic member passes.

13. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the first electronic device is a portable electronic device, and the second electronic device is a cable or a docking base.

14. A connector assembly, comprising:

a first connector coupled to a first electronic device, comprising;

a first housing;

a first contact set fixed inside the first housing, each of the first contacts has a contacting surface; and

a first shell member covering the first housing; and

a second connector coupled to a second electronic device and detachably mated with the first connector along a mating direction, a normal of the contacting surface being not parallel to the mating direction, the second connector comprising;

a second housing;

a second contact set fixed inside the second housing, an end of each of the second contacts contacting the contacting surface of the corresponding first contact and sliding along the contacting surface from a first contact position to a second contact position when the second connector mates with the first connector along the mating direction; and

a second shell member covering the second housing, the magnetic member attracting the second shell member, such that the second connector mates with the first connector, wherein the first shell member abuts against the second shell member when the second connector mates with the first connector, such that the first shell member is electrically connected to the second shell member.

15. The connector assembly of claim 14, wherein the contacting surface is an inclined surface, and the normal of the inclined surface is not parallel to the mating direction.

16. The connector assembly of claim 14, wherein the contacting surface is a flat surface, and the first contact set is fixed inside the first housing and oriented by the normal of the flat surface not parallel to the mating direction.

17. The connector assembly of claim 14, wherein each of the second contacts comprises:

a sleeve fixed inside the second housing;

a contact pin slidably disposed inside the sleeve; and

a resilient member disposed inside the sleeve and abutting against the contact pin, the resilient member driving the contact pin to contact the contacting surface of the corresponding first contact.