Inductive charging interface with magnetic retention for electronic devices and accessories

• US 9,614,378 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2014
• Issued: 04/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Golko, Albert J., Jol, Eric S., Bosscher, Nathan P., Moyer, Todd K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fureman, Jared
• Assistant Examiner(s): Perez Borroto, Alfonso
• Application Number:
  US14/500,543
• Publication Number:
  US 20150091388A1
• Time in Patent Office: 918 Days
• Field of Search: 307104
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 2007/208 combined with permanent magnets
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/206 Electromagnets for lifting, handling or transporting of magnetic pieces or material electromagnets for guidance of vehicles, workpieces B65G21/2009; for magnetic suspension or levitation H02N15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6205 Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/70 involving the reduction of electric, magnetic or electromagnetic leakage fields
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction

Abstract

An inductive charging interface with magnetic retention can be used for charging electronic devices and accessories. For example, a magnetic core of an inductive charging configuration may be divided into two magnetic elements, one element can be housed within a receptacle or receiving connector of housing of an electric device and the other element can be housed within a plug or transmission connector. The poles of the two elements of the magnetic core may create a magnetic field to retain the plug connector in an aligned, mated position with the receptacle connector of the electronic device in addition to directing magnetic flux to flow in a circular path around and between the two elements of the magnetic core, thereby inducing a current for charging the internal battery of a device.

Claims

1. A plug connector supporting inductive charging, the plug connector comprising:

a permanent magnet generating a magnetic field that attracts a corresponding receptacle connector of an electronic device;

a wire wound around a magnetically permeable material to form an inductive transmission coil, the magnetically permeable material being in abutting contact with the permanent magnet such that the permanent magnet and the magnetically permeable material form a portion of a magnetic flux flow path when electrical current is applied to the wire.

2. The plug connector of claim 1, wherein the permanent magnet is a first permanent magnet and the plug connector further comprises a second permanent magnet, the first permanent magnet located at a first distal tip of the magnetically permeable material, the second permanent magnet located at a second distal tip of the magnetically permeable material, the magnetically permeable material extending between the first and second permanent magnets.

3. The plug connector of claim 2, wherein the magnetic flux flow path is a circular magnetic flux flow path when the plug connector is mated with the corresponding receptacle connector.

4. The plug connector of claim 1, wherein the permanent magnet is a first permanent magnet and the plug connector further comprises second and third permanent magnets, the first permanent magnet located at a first distal tip of the magnetically permeable material, the second permanent magnet located at a second distal tip of the magnetically permeable material and the third permanent magnet located at a third distal tip of the magnetically permeable material.

5. The plug connector of claim 4, wherein the plug connector forms first and second circular magnetic flux flow paths when mated with the corresponding receptacle connector.

6. The plug connector of claim 1, further comprising:

an electrical connection coupled to the inductive transmission coil and configured to apply the current to the inductive transmission coil to induce a current in an inductive receiving coil of the corresponding receptacle connector.

7. The plug connector of claim 1, further comprising:

a magnetically permeable window adjacent to the permanent magnet, the magnetically permeable window forming a portion of an exterior surface of the plug connector, the magnetically permeable window configured to allow magnetic flux to flow to and from the corresponding receptacle connector when the corresponding receptacle connector is mated with the plug connector.

8. An electronic device that supports inductive charging, the electronic device comprising:

a receptacle connector having a mating surface configured to mate with a corresponding plug connector, the receptacle connector comprising;

a permanent magnet generating a magnetic field that is configured to attract a corresponding plug connector and orients and aligns the corresponding plug connector with the receptacle connector;

a magnetically permeable material in abutting contact with the permanent magnet; and

a wire wound around the magnetically permeable material to form an inductive receiving coil

wherein the permanent magnet and the magnetically permeable material form a portion of a magnetic flux flow path that is configured to receive magnetic flux from the receptacle connector.

9. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the permanent magnet is a first permanent magnet and the plug connector further comprises a second permanent magnet, the first permanent magnet located at a first distal tip of the magnetic permeable material, the second permanent magnet located at a second distal tip of the magnetically permeable material, the magnetically permeable material extending between the first and second permanent magnets.

10. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the magnetic flux flow path is a circular magnetic flux flow path when the corresponding plug connector is mated with the receptacle connector.

11. The electronic device of claim 8, further comprising:

a mating surface located adjacent to the magnetically permeable material, which forms a portion of an exterior surface of the electronic device and is configured to allow magnetic flux to flow to and from the corresponding plug connector when the corresponding plug connector is mated with the receptacle connector.

12. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the mating surface is located at a recessed section of an external surface of the electronic device.

13. The electronic device of claim 8, further comprising a battery configured to receive electrical current from the inductive receiving coil.

14. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the inductive receiving coil is formed in the shape of a half-toroid, and wherein the half-toroid includes curvatures extending in one or more planes.

15. A plug connector supporting inductive charging, the plug connector comprising:

a housing having a mating end configured to mate with a corresponding receptacle connector, the housing comprising;

first and second permanent magnets that cooperate to generate a magnetic field that attracts a corresponding receptacle connector of an electronic device and orients and aligns the plug connector therewith;

a magnetically permeable material that extends between the first and second permanent magnets;

an inductive transmission coil wound around the magnetically permeable material, wherein; and

an electrical connection coupled to the inductive transmission coil and configured to apply a current to the inductive transmission coil to induce a current in an inductive receiving coil of the corresponding connector;

wherein the first and second permanent magnets and the magnetically permeable material form a portion of a magnetic flux flow path when the electrical connection applies a current to the inductive transmission coil.

16. The plug connector of claim 15, wherein the magnetic flux flow path is a circular magnetic flux flow path when the plug connector is mated with the corresponding receptacle connector.

17. The plug connector of claim 15, wherein the mating end includes one or more magnetically permeable windows adjacent to the first and second permanent magnets.

18. The plug connector of claim 15, wherein a polarity of the first permanent magnet is oriented in a first direction and a polarity of the second permanent magnet is oriented in a second direction opposite the first direction.

19. The plug connector of claim 15, wherein the magnetic field maintains physical contact between the plug connector and the corresponding receptacle connector without the assistance of an interference fit between the plug connector and the corresponding receptacle connector.

20. The plug connector of claim 15, further comprising a cable coupled to the housing.