Magnetic connector
US7658613B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 16, 2007 |
| Grant date | Feb 9, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 3, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01R13/64
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A connector uses complimentary magnetic arrays and mating surfaces on its plug and receptacle to facilitate connection and disconnection of the connector. The plug includes a magnetic array wherein the polarity of the magnets facing the receptacle when the plug and receptacle are connected is selected such that they can only be mated with a complimentary magnetic array on the receptacle when the plug has a desired orientation with respect to the receptacle. The plug and receptacle also have mechanical mating surfaces on their circumference that are shaped such that the plug and the receptacle can only be connected with the desired orientation. The plug can be separated from the receptacle by rotating the plug with respect to the receptacle such that the mechanical mating surfaces break the magnetic connection between the complimentary magnetic arrays.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.