Patent Application
20130040470
The number and types of electronic devices available to consumers have increased tremendously the past few years, and this increase shows no signs of abating. Devices such as portable computing devices, tablet, desktop, and all-in-one computers, cell, smart, and media phones, storage devices, portable media players, navigation systems, monitors and other devices have become ubiquitous.
These devices often receive power and share data using various cables. These cables may have connector inserts, or plugs, on each end. The connector inserts may plug into connector receptacles on electronic devices, thereby forming one or more conductive paths for signals and power.
These connector inserts and connector receptacles may be magnetic. That is, a magnetic insert may be magnetically attracted to a magnet receptacle, and the two may be held in place in at least one direction by the magnetic attraction.
Conventional magnetic connectors have been fairly large in size. But the devices they connect to have often become much thinner, that is, they have a reduced height. This, in turn, leads to a desire for a thinner connector. But when a conventional connector is made thinner, it may not have sufficient holding power to maintain a connection between a connector insert and a connector receptacle.
Also, these connectors may be connected and disconnected thousands of times during a device's lifetime. This may cause a cable to become disconnected from a plug, or it may lead to other mechanical failure. For example, a shell or other housing may become detached from other parts of a plug or connector insert.
Thus, what is needed are magnetic connector systems having a durable and reliable construction and a reduced height while maintaining sufficient holding strength.
Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention provide magnetic connector systems having a durable and reliable construction and a reduced height while maintaining sufficient holding strength.
An illustrative embodiment of the present invention provides a connector insert having a robust and durable construction. This connector insert may include a crimping piece crimped over an end of a cable. The crimping piece may include fingers in a direction of a length of the cable that attach to a printed circuit board. The crimping piece may further include protrusions that extend at right angles from the fingers. These protrusions may be fixed to the back of an attraction plate. These features may form a secure, robust connection between a cable and an attraction plate.
This connector insert may also include retention clips on sides of an attraction plate. These retention clips may retract when a shell is slid over the attraction plate, and may relax when they reach a cutout in the shell. This may fix the shell in place relative to the attraction plate in a reliable, easily manufactured manner.
This connector insert may also have a light-emitting diode attached to a printed circuit board. The connector may further include a light pipe attached to the printed circuit board, and the light pipe may be angled to pass above the light-emitting diode, and further angled to pass light to an opening in the shell.
Another illustrative embodiment of the present invention may provide a connector insert having a reduced height. To maintain sufficient magnetic holding strength with the reduced height, the connector insert may be made wider. This may, in turn, increase a surface area of an attraction plate, thereby increasing connector insert holding strength.
Another illustrative embodiment of the present invention may provide a connector receptacle. This connector receptacle may have a pleasing appearance from a front. Specifically, a front of a housing forming a mesa may be oversized, and the housing may be slid into an opening in a label, such that a seam between the housing and label may not be visible to a user.
Another illustrative embodiment of the present invention may provide a connector receptacle having a magnetically conductive label. This magnetically conductive label may increase the holding power of magnets behind the label. The label may be attached to a shield that has a lower magnetic conductivity. To reduce lost flux, the overlap between the label and the shield may be reduced by cutting out a portion of the label.
Another illustrative embodiment of the present invention may provide a connector system where a connector insert may be “blind mated” to a connector receptacle. That is, the connector insert and connector receptacle may be configured such that when the connector insert is brought into close proximity to the connector receptacle in approximately a correct orientation, the magnetic attraction between the connector insert and the connector receptacle is such that the connector insert may be pulled into contact with the connector receptacle. As part of this blind mating, the physical features of the connector insert and the connector receptacle may be such that they do not pose an obstacle to the formation of this connection. This may provide an easy way for a user to make a connection of a cable to a device. Specifically, the user merely brings the connector insert in approximately a correct orientation and into proximity of the connector receptacle. From there, the magnetic attraction between the connector insert and the connector receptacle brings them into contact. Also, the physical features are such that there may be no obstacles to the formation of the connection.
Various embodiments of the present invention may incorporate one or more of these and the other features described herein. A better understanding of the nature and advantages of the present invention may be gained by reference to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.
The illustrated magnetic connector system may include connector insert 110 and connector receptacle 120. Connector receptacle 120 may be located in enclosure 130, which may be an enclosure for a portable computing device, tablet, desktop, or all-in-one computer, cell, smart, or media phone, storage device, portable media player, navigation system, monitor or other device.
Connector insert 110 and connector receptacle 120 may be magnetic connectors. That is, connector insert 110 may be held in place relative to connector receptacle 120 in at least one direction by a magnetic force. For example, one or both of connector insert 110 and connector receptacle 120 may include one or more magnets, or magnetic elements or structures. These magnets may attract other magnets or magnetic structures in the other. For example, connector receptacle 120 may include one or more magnets which are attracted to an attraction plate in connector insert 110. In a specific embodiment of the present invention, connector receptacle 120 includes four magnets arranged to have alternating or opposing polarities which are attracted to an attraction plate made of a ferromagnetic material in connector insert 110. In another specific embodiment of the present invention, connector receptacle 120 may include three magnets arranged to have alternating polarities. In still other embodiments of the present invention, connector receptacle 120 may include one, two, or more than four magnets.
This magnetic connector system may be used to convey power, data, or other voltages or types of signals or information. In a specific embodiment of the present invention, the magnetic connector system conveys power to a device housed by device enclosure 130. In this embodiment, connector insert 110 may be connected to a power adapter via cable 112. This power adapter may receive power from a wall outlet, vehicle charger, or other power source. Connector insert 110 may also include circuitry for communicating with the power adapter. Examples of this may be found in co-pending U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/482,195, titled TIME-DOMAIN MULTIPLEXING OF POWER AND DATA, which is incorporated by reference. Connector insert 110 may further include circuitry for determining whether a valid connection to a connector receptacle has been made, and may provide an indication of such a connection using light-emitting diode opening 114.
Connector insert 110 may be held in place in a Y direction relative to connector receptacle 120 using magnetic force. Connector insert 110 may align in X and Z directions relative to connector receptacle 120 through physical features on connector insert 110, connector receptacle 120, and device enclosure 130. These physical features are arranged such that connector insert 110 is not physically bound to connector receptacle 120. This allows connector insert 110 to be removed by a non-axial force, that is, forces in directions other than those in the Y direction may remove connector insert 110. An attraction plate on connector insert 110 may have an outside edge designed to fit in an opening in enclosure 130. The attraction plate on connector insert 110 may have an opening designed to accept a mesa on connector receptacle 120. Contacts on connector insert 110 may be arranged to mate with contacts on connector receptacle 120 to form electrical pathways. These features are shown in various figures below.
Again, many electronic devices, such as portable media players, portable media devices, and laptop, netbook, and tablet computers are becoming thinner. That is, their height is being reduced. Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention may provide magnetic connector systems having a reduced height. Unfortunately, this reduced height may make it easier for connector insert 110 to be inadvertently disconnected from connector receptacle 120.
Specifically, as described above, connector insert 110 may be held in place relative to connector receptacle 120 in a Y direction using magnetic force. Since the thickness of connector insert 110 is reduced in a Z direction, a small force in this direction may dislodge connector insert 110. That is, due to the reduced thickness, the moment arm in the Z direction needed to disconnect the connector insert from the connector receptacle is reduced. Accordingly, a surface area of an attraction plate in connector insert 110 may be made correspondingly large. This, in turn, may increase the holding strength of the connector insert. An example is shown in the following figure.
Again, connector insert 110 may be relatively thin, that is, it may have a reduced height in the Z direction. To increase the magnetic hold between connector insert 110 and connector receptacle 120, front surface area 212 of attraction plate 210 may be increased. For example, this may be done by making connector insert 110 wider. By making connector insert 110 wider, front surface area 212 of attraction plate 210 is increased, thereby increasing the holding power of connector insert 110.
Again, connector insert 110 may be inserted and disconnected several thousand times during the lifetime of a device. Therefore, it may be desirable that connector insert 110 be robust and durable. Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention employ several features to increase robustness and durability. For example, the physical connections between a cable and an attraction plate, and a shell and the attraction plate, may be enhanced. Examples are shown in the following figures.
Retention clips 320 may be located on sides of attraction plate 310. Retention clips 320 may be used to secure shell 380 relative to attraction plate 310. Specifically, shell 380 may slide over attraction plate 310, pushing retention clips 320 against attraction plate 310. When edge 323 reaches cutout, groove, or slot portion 382 of shell 380, retention clip 320 may snap back, thereby holding shell 380 in place.
Housing 330 may be formed of a non-conducting or insulating material. Contacts 335 may be located in passages 332 in housing 330. Contacts 335 may attach to circuit board 340 at contacts 343. Circuit board 340 may include one or more LEDs 342. Light from LEDs 342 may be guided by light pipe 345 to opening 384 in shell 380.
Braiding in cable 360 may be pulled back and held in place by crimp piece 350. Crimp piece 350 may include wings or protrusions 352. Wings 352 may be spot-welded or otherwise fixed to a back of attraction plate 310 to hold cable 360 in place relative to attraction plate 310. Strain relief 370 may protect cable 360. Shell 380 may be placed over these components and part of attraction plate 310.
Shell 380 may provide a surface that may be manipulated by a user during insertion and extraction of connector insert 110. Shell 380 may be plastic, brushed aluminum, or other material. Shell 380 may include openings 382 on one or both sides. These openings may be filled with epoxy or other clear or colored material to prevent debris from entering opening 382.
A connector insert according to an embodiment of the present invention may be assembled in various ways. In a specific embodiment of the present invention, contacts 335 may be inserted into housing 330. Contacts 335 may then be attached to printed circuit board 340. Crimp piece 352 may be used to crimp cable 350. The resulting cable may be attached to printed circuit board 340. Specifically, fingers 342 may be soldered or otherwise fixed to printed circuit board 340. This assembly may be inserted in attraction plate 310. Crimp piece wings 352 may be fixed to a back of attraction plate 310. Strain relief 370 may be slid over cable 360 and wings 352. Light pipe 345 may be attached to printed circuit board 340. Retention clips 320 may be attached to attraction plate 310. Shell 380 may slide over attraction plate 310 until retaining clips 320 lock in place in notch 382.
Again, retention clips 320 may be attached to attraction plate 310. Shell 380 may slide over this assembly, thereby pressing retention clips 320 flat against the sides of attraction plate 310. A notch or cutout in shell 380 may allow retention clips 320 to snap back, thereby holding shell 380 in place relative to attraction plate 310. An example is shown in the following figure.
In order to reduce the size of a connector insert according to an embodiment of the present invention, it may be desirable to limit the tolerance of the location of the contacts relative to a front surface of attraction plate. This, in turn, allows shorter contacts to be used, and may therefore reduce the length of a connector insert. An example is shown in the following figure.
Connector receptacle 120 may include one or more magnets 1240. For example, connector receptacle 120 may include four, fewer than four, or more than four magnets 1240. Magnets 1240 may be covered by label 1210. Label 1210 may be made of ferromagnetic steel or other magnetically conductive material. Label 1210 may attach to shield 1260. Shield 1260 may be formed of non-magnetically conductive steel. In a specific embodiment of the present invention, label 1210 may be low-carbon steel, such as 10-10 steel. This may be plated with nickel, and then plated with platinum nickel.
Label 1210 may attach at tabs 1214 defined by cutout 1212 in shield 1260. Cutout 1212 may reduce the overlap between label 1210 and shield 1260 in order to reduce magnetic losses. Contacts 1230 may be arranged on a mesa formed by housing 1220. Housing 1220 may attach to housing 1270. Housing 1270 may have openings for contacts 1250. The mesa may have sloped edges to provide a non-binding fit when inserted inside opening 260 in attraction plate 210 of connector insert 110.
Label 1210 may be formed of a ferromagnetic material or other magnetically conductive material. This may increase the magnetic attraction of magnets 1240. To reduce wasted magnetic flux, label 1210 may be notched by cutout 1212. More information on labels, and other labels that may be used for or instead of label 1210, may be found in co-pending U.S. provisional application No. 61/522,620, titled LABEL FOR MAGNETIC CONNECTOR, filed Aug. 11, 2011, which is incorporated by reference. Magnets 1240 may be arranged in an alternating South-North configuration such that magnetic field lines originating in one magnet may terminate in an adjoining magnet.
Connector receptacle 120A may include one or more magnets 1640. For example, connector receptacle 120A may include three, fewer than three, or more than three magnets. These magnets may be covered by label 1610. Label 1610 may be made of ferromagnetic steel or other magnetically conductive material. Label 1610 may attach to shield 1660 at points 1614, by laser or spot welding, or other appropriate method. Shield 1660 may be formed of non-magnetically conductive steel. In a specific embodiment of the present invention, label 1610 may be low-carbon steel, such as 10-10 steel. This may be plated with nickel, and then plated with platinum nickel.
Contacts 1630 may be arranged on a mesa formed by housing 1620. The mesa may have sloped edges to provide a non-binding fit when inserted inside opening 260 in attraction plate 210 of connector insert 110. Tabs 1679 on a second housing may fit in openings on a top of shield 1660 to provide mechanical support.
Label 1610 may be formed of a ferromagnetic material or other magnetically conductive material. This may increase the magnetic attraction of magnets 1640. More information on labels, and other labels that may be used for or instead of label 1610, may be found in co-pending U.S. provisional application No. 61/522,620, titled LABEL FOR MAGNETIC CONNECTOR, filed Aug. 11, 2011, which is incorporated by reference. The three magnets 1640 may be arranged in an alternating South-North-South, or North-South-North configuration such that magnetic field lines originating in one magnet may terminate in an adjoining magnet. The middle magnet in magnets 1640 may include a passage for housing 1620 to pass through.
Again, embodiments of the present invention may provide a connector system where a connector insert may be “blind mated” to a connector receptacle. That is, the connector insert and connector receptacle may be configured such that when the connector insert is brought into close proximity to the connector receptacle in approximately a correct orientation, the magnetic attraction between the connector insert and the connector receptacle is such that the connector insert may be pulled into contact with the connector receptacle.
This may provide an easy way for a user to make a connection of a cable to a device. Specifically, the user may simply bring the connector insert in approximately a correct orientation and into proximity of the connector receptacle. From there, the magnetic attraction between the connector insert and the connector receptacle may bring them into contact.
To facilitate this blind mating, the physical features on the connector insert and connector receptacle may be such that there may be no obstacles to the formation of the connection. For example, opening 260 on attraction plate 210 of connector insert 110 may be such that it readily accepts mesa 1220 or mesa 1620 on connector receptacles. Similarly, attraction plate 210 of connector insert 110 may be such that it readily fits in an opening in device 130.
As before, this connector insert may be relatively thin. That is, it may have a reduced height. To compensate for this, that is, to increase magnetic attraction between this connector insert and a corresponding connector receptacle, an area of the front surface of attraction plate 1910 may be increased. For example, this may be done by making the connector insert wider. By making the connector insert wider, the area of the front surface of attraction plate 1910 may be increased, which may increase the holding power of the connector insert.
Again, these connector inserts may be inserted and disconnected several thousand times during the lifetime of the device. Therefore, it may be desirable that this connector insert be robust and durable. Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention may employ several features to increase robustness and durability. For example, the physical connections between cable 1930 and attraction plate 1910, as well as shell 1920 and attraction plate 1910, may be enhanced. Examples are shown in the following figures.
Retention clips 2020 may be located on sides of attraction plate 1910. Retention clips 2020 may be used to secure shell 2080 relative to attraction plate 2010. Specifically, retention clips 2020 may be biased away from attraction plate 2010. Shell 2080 may slide over attraction plate 2010, pushing retention clips 2020 against attraction plate 2010. When edge 2023 reaches a cutout (not shown) inside of shell 2080, retention clip 2020 may snapback, thereby holding shall 2080 in place.
Housing 2030 may be formed of a non-connecting or insulating material. Contacts 2035 may be located in passages in housing 2030. Contacts 2035 may attach to circuit board 2040. Circuit board 2040 may include one or more LEDs 2042. Light emitted from LEDs 2042 may pass through light pipes or diffuser 2860 to opening 2084 in shell 2080. Braiding 2062 in cable 2060 may be pulled back and held in place by crimp piece 2050. Crimp piece 2050 may include wings or protrusions 2052. Wings 2052 may be spot or laser welded, soldered, or otherwise fixed, to a back of attraction plate 2010 to hold cable 2060 in place relative to attraction plate 2010. Strain relief 2070 may protect cable 2060. Shell 2080 may be placed over these components and at least part of attraction plate 2010.
Shell 2080 may provide a surface that may be manipulated by a user during insertion and extraction of the connector insert. Shell 2080 may the plastic, brushed aluminum, or other material. Shell 2080 may include openings 2084 on one or more sides. These openings may be filled with epoxy or other clear or colored material to prevent debris from entering opening 2084. Again, connector inserts according to embodiments of the present invention may be assembled in various ways. A specific example is shown in the following figures.
Printed circuit board 2040 may include ground contacts 2047 and power contact 2048. Ground contact 2047 and power contact 2048 may be spot or laser welded, soldered, or otherwise fixed, to crimping piece 2050 and conductor 2026, respectively, as is shown below.
The above description of embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form described, and many modifications and variations are possible in light of the teaching above. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Thus, it will be appreciated that the invention is intended to cover all modifications and equivalents within the scope of the following claims.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Nos. 61/522,625, filed Aug. 11, 2011, and 61/599,921, filed Feb. 16, 2012, which are incorporated by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61522625 | Aug 2011 | US | |
| 61599921 | Feb 2012 | US |
