Electromagnetic connector for electronic device
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
H01R-013/60
H01R-013/00
출원번호
US-0235873
(2005-09-26)
등록번호
US-7351066
(2008-04-01)
발명자
/ 주소
DiFonzo,John C.
Andre,Bartley K.
Lim,Kanye
Rohrbach,Matthew Dean
Doutt,Mark Edward
Gery,Jean Marc
출원인 / 주소
Apple Computer, Inc.
대리인 / 주소
Townsend and Townsend and Crew LLP
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
154인용 특허 :
34
초록▼
An electrical plug and receptacle relying on magnetic force from an electromagnet 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 a laptop computer, to a power supply. The plug includes electrical contacts
An electrical plug and receptacle relying on magnetic force from an electromagnet 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 a laptop computer, to a power supply. The plug includes electrical contacts, which are preferably biased toward corresponding contacts on the receptacle. The plug and receptacle each have a magnetic element. The magnetic element on one of the plug or receptacle can be a magnet or ferromagnetic material. The magnetic element on the other of the plug or receptacle is an electromagnet. When the plug and receptacle are brought into proximity, the magnetic attraction between the electromagnet magnet and its complement, whether another magnet or a ferromagnetic material, maintains the contacts in an electrically conductive relationship.
대표청구항▼
What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus for electrically connecting an electronic device to an electrical relation, comprising: a first connector having at least one first contact electrically connected to the electronic device; and a second connector positionable adjacent the first connector and havin
What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus for electrically connecting an electronic device to an electrical relation, comprising: a first connector having at least one first contact electrically connected to the electronic device; and a second connector positionable adjacent the first connector and having at least one second contact electrically connected to the electrical relation, wherein one of the connectors comprises a magnetic element positioned on the connector and the other connector comprises an electromagnet positioned on the connector, wherein the electromagnet is energizable to produce magnetic attraction with the magnetic element and substantially maintain the first and second contacts of the connectors in an electrically conductive relationship, wherein the apparatus further comprises control circuitry coupled to the electromagnet, the control circuitry detecting a control signal and controlling energization of the electromagnet based on the signal, wherein the control signal indicates a charged condition of a battery associated with the electronic device, and wherein the control circuitry causes the electromagnet to be de-energized in response to receiving the control signal. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second connectors each comprise a corresponding element to align the first and second connectors in one orientation. 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the magnetic element comprises a permanent magnet, ferromagnetic material, or another electromagnet. 4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a switch element coupled to the electromagnet to control energization of the electromagnet. 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the switch element comprises a mechanical switch actuatable by a user of the apparatus. 6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the switch element comprises a touch switch actuatable by a user of the apparatus. 7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a motion sensor coupled to the electromagnet to control energization of the electromagnet. 8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a proximity sensor coupled to the electromagnet and controlling energization of the electromagnet. 9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a detector coupled to the electromagnet, the detector detecting a condition and controlling energization of the electromagnet in response to the detected condition. 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein in response to the detected condition, the detector causes the electromagnet to be de-energized. 11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein in response to the detected condition, the detector causes the electromagnet to be energized with a reverse polarity. 12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the condition includes a fault between the electronic device and the electrical connection, and wherein the detector includes a fault detector. 13. An apparatus for electrically connecting an electronic device to an electrical relation, comprising: a first connector having at least one first contact electrically connected to the electronic device; and a second connector positionable adjacent the first connector and having at least one second contact electrically connected to the electrical relation, wherein one of the connectors comprises a magnetic element positioned on the connector and the other connector comprises an electromagnet positioned on the connector, and wherein the electromagnet is energizable to produce magnetic attraction with the magnetic element and substantially maintain the first and second contacts of the connectors in an electrically conductive relationship, wherein the apparatus further comprises a control circuitry coupled to the electromagnet, the control circuitry detecting a control signal and controlling energization of the electromagnet based on the signal, wherein the control signal provides an identification of the electronic device, and wherein the control circuitry causes the electromagnet to be energized in response to receiving the control signal. 14. An electronic device connectable to an electrical relation, comprising: a housing for internal electronics; a first connector connected to the relation, the first connector having at least one first contact electrically connected to the electrical relation; and a second connector connected to the device, the second connector having at least one second contact electrically connected to the internal electronics, wherein one of the connectors comprises a magnetic element positioned on the connector, and the other connector comprises an electromagnet positioned on the connector, wherein the electromagnet is energizable to produce magnetic attraction with the magnetic element and substantially maintain the first and second contacts of the connectors in an electrically conductive relationships, wherein the electronic device further comprises control circuitry coupled to the electromagnet, the control circuitry detecting a control signal and controlling energization of the electromagnet based on the signal, wherein the control signal indicates a charged condition of a battery associated with the electronic device, and wherein the control circuitry causes the electromagnet to be de-energized in response to receiving the control signal. 15. The electronic device of claim 14, further comprising a transformer connectable to the first connector and connectable to the relation. 16. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the first connector comprises a plug attached to the transformer by a cable. 17. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein the second connector comprises a receptacle attached to the housing of the electronic device. 18. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the magnetic element comprises a permanent magnet, ferromagnetic material, or another electromagnet. 19. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the electromagnet comprises a ferromagnetic core wrapped with a coil, the coil connectable to a power supply. 20. The electronic device of claim 19, wherein the power supply is selected from the group consisting of: a battery of the electronic device, a transformer, the electronic relation, and a battery independent of the electronic device. 21. The electronic device of claim 14, further comprising a switch element coupled to the electromagnet to control energization of the electromagnet. 22. The electronic device of claim 21, wherein the switch element comprises a mechanical switch actuatable by a user of the apparatus. 23. The electronic device of claim 21, wherein the switch element comprises a touch switch actuatable by a user of the apparatus. 24. The electronic device of claim 14, further comprising a motion sensor coupled to the electromagnet to control energization of the electromagnet. 25. The electronic device of claim 14, further comprising a proximity sensor coupled to the electromagnet to control energization of the electromagnet. 26. The electronic device of claim 14, further comprising a detector coupled to the electromagnet, the detector detecting a condition and controlling energization of the electromagnet in response to the detected condition. 27. The electronic device of claim 26, wherein in response to the detected condition, the detector causes the electromagnet to be de-energized. 28. The electronic device of claim 26, wherein in response to the detected condition, the detector causes the electromagnet to be energized with a reverse polarity. 29. The electronic device of claim 26, wherein the condition includes a fault between the electronic device and the electrical connection, and wherein the detector includes a fault detector. 30. An electronic device connectable to an electrical relation, comprising: a housing for internal electronics; a first connector connected to the relation, the first connector having at least one first contact electrically connected to the electrical relation, and a second connector connected to the device, the second connector having at least one second contact electrically connected to the internal electronics, wherein one of the connectors comprises a magnetic element positioned on the connector, wherein the other connector comprises an electromagnet positioned on the connector, and wherein the electromagnet is energizable to produce magnetic attraction with the magnetic element and substantially maintain the first and second contacts of the connectors in an electrically conductive relationship, wherein the electronic device further comprises control circuitry coupled to the electromagnet, the control circuitry detecting a control signal and controlling energization of the electromagnet based on the signal, wherein the control signal indicates a charged condition of a battery associated with the electronic device, wherein the control signal provides an identification of the electronic device, and wherein the control circuitry causes the electromagnet to be energized in response to receiving the control signal.
연구과제 타임라인
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
이 특허에 인용된 특허 (34)
John W. Ladd, Apparatus for establishing an electrical connection with a wafer to facilitate wafer-level burn-in and methods.
Robert George Emberty ; Craig Alan Garrett ; Craig Anthony Klein, System and method requiring zero insertion force and positive retention of removable storage media in a data storage subsystem.
Berner, Jr., William E.; Shum, Albert; Case, Charles W.; Schrock, Allan M.; Niegowski, James A.; Rauchholz, William F., Athletic or other performance sensing systems.
Berner, Jr., William E.; Shum, Albert; Case, Charles W.; Schrock, Allan M.; Niegowski, James A.; Rauchholz, William F., Athletic or other performance sensing systems.
Robinette, Christopher A.; Moll-Carrillo, Hector; Capozzi, Matt; Hoffman, Michael T.; Lakovic, Tomislav, Athletic or other performance sensing systems.
Gao, Zheng; Pong, Joshua J.; Ligtenberg, Chris; Andre, Bartley K.; Hamel, Bradley J.; DiFonzo, John; Narajowski, Dave; Springer, Greg; Monsef, Eric; Kim, Min Chul, Connector insert having a cable crimp portion with protrusions and a receptacle having a label in the front.
Gao, Zheng; Pong, Josh; Ligtenberg, Chris; Andre, Bartley K.; Hamel, Bradley J.; DiFonzo, John C.; Narajowski, Dave; Springer, Greg; Monsef, Eric; Kim, Min Chul, Connector insert having a cable crimp portion with protrusions and a receptacle having label in the front.
Hashiguchi, Osamu, Connector pair including a connector having a face portion and a magnetic portion connectable with a mating connector having a mating face portion and a mating magnetic portion.
Chatterjee, Monique; Odell, Daniel L.; Manzanedo, Carlos; Murzanski, Chris A.; Shiff, Victor E.; Selph, William J.; French, David L., Electrical connection between devices.
Chatterjee, Monique; Odell, Daniel L.; Murzanski, Chris A.; Manzanedo, Carlos; Shiff, Victor E.; Selph, William J.; French, David L., Electrical connection between devices.
Kockx, Franciscus Nicolaas; Harvey, Severin Luc Ramses; Dermisek-Van De Langenberg, Alexandra Petronella Maria; Treur, Pascal Ronald, Magnetic connector assembly.
Rohrbach, Matthew Dean; Doutt, Mark Edward; Andre, Bartley K.; Lim, Kanye; DiFonzo, John C.; Gery, Jean-Marc, Magnetic connector for electronic device.
Rohrbach, Matthew Dean; Doutt, Mark Edward; Andre, Bartley K.; Lim, Kanye; DiFonzo, John C.; Gery, Jean-Marc, Magnetic connector for electronic device.
Rohrbach, Matthew Dean; Doutt, Mark Edward; Andre, Bartley K.; Lim, Kanye; DiFonzo, John C.; Gery, Jean-Marc, Magnetic connector for electronic device.
Rohrbach, Matthew Dean; Doutt, Mark Edward; Andre, Bartley K.; Lim, Kanye; DiFonzo, John C.; Gery, Jean-Marc, Magnetic connector for electronic device.
Rohrbach, Matthew Dean; Doutt, Mark Edward; Andre, Bartley K.; Lim, Kanye; DiFonzo, John C.; Gery, Jean-Marc, Magnetic connector for electronic device.
Rohrbach, Matthew Dean; Doutt, Mark Edward; Andre, Bartley K.; Lim, Kanye; DiFonzo, John C.; Gery, Jean-Marc, Magnetic connector for electronic device.
Rohrbach, Matthew Dean; Doutt, Mark Edward; Andre, Bartley K.; Lim, Kanye; DiFonzo, John C.; Gery, Jean-Marc, Magnetic connector for electronic device.
Rohrbach, Matthew Dean; Doutt, Mark Edward; Andre, Bartley K.; Lim, Kanye; DiFonzo, John C.; Gery, Jean-Marc, Magnetic connector for electronic device.
Bonner, Brett Bracewell; Jones, Titus Arthur; Grosse, Richard; Hicks, Raymond Lee; Parigoris, Ronald John; Hartman, Benjamin Todd; Gutschow, Wayne Alan; Jahshan, John Henry, Modular shelving systems, magnetic electrical connectors, conductor assemblies, and mounting inserts.
Fullerton, Larry W.; Zimmerman, Jacob S.; Evans, Robert S.; Machado, David P.; Morgan, Jason N.; Roberts, Mark D., System and method for tailoring polarity transitions of magnetic structures.
Fullerton, Larry W.; Roberts, Mark D.; Swift, Wesley; Zimmerman, Jacob S.; Evans, R. Scott, System for detaching a magnetic structure from a ferromagnetic material.
Capozzi, Matt; Hoffman, Michael T.; Lakovic, Tomislav; Moll-Carrillo, Hector; Robinette, Christopher A., Wearable device assembly having athletic functionality.
※ AI-Helper는 부적절한 답변을 할 수 있습니다.