Apple patent is for magnetic connector for electronic devices
Posted by Dennis Sellers 
Dec 26, 2007 at 10:59am
Apple has been granted a patent (number 7311526) for a magnetic connector for an electronic device by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. It generally relates to a magnetic connector for an electronic device and more particularly relates to a magnetic connector for a power adapter connecting a laptop computer to a power supply (such as those on recent MacBooks and MacBook Pros).
Here’s Apple’s summary of the invention: “A magnetic connector that relies on magnetic force for maintaining contact is disclosed. The magnetic connector includes a plug and a receptacle. In one embodiment, 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 transformer connectable to a power supply. The plug includes a plurality of electrical pins, which are preferably biased towards a corresponding plurality of contacts positioned on the receptacle. The plug and receptacle each have a magnetic element. The magnetic element on one or both of the plug and receptacle can be a magnet, which is preferably a permanent rare earth magnet although electromagnets may also be used. A ferromagnetic element can be used for the magnetic element on the plug or receptacle that does not include a magnet. When the plug and receptacle are brought into proximity, the magnetic attraction between the magnet and its complement, whether another magnet or a ferromagnetic material, magnetically couples the plug and the receptacle and maintains the pins and contacts in an electrically conductive relationship. The magnetic connector allows the plug to break away from the receptacle if the plug or receptacle is inadvertently moved (with sufficient force) while still connected. ”
The inventors are Matthew Dean Rohrbach, Mark Edward Doutt, Bartley K. Andre, Kanye Lim, John C. DiFonzo and Jean-Marc Gery. The graphic below shows a power adapter having a power connection.
Leave a comment ⇒
Please post the article topic & comment in our forums. No registration required.
Article Information
Comment on this Article Print this Article Email this Article Digg This
Contributor
Dennis Sellers
Dennis has been a newspaper editor/reporter (seven years) and teacher (seven years). He has over 4,000 magazine, newspaper and online articles to his credit. He has also covered the Mac and tech industries for over a decade for such online publications as MacCentral, MacMinute and now MacsimumNews.
