ELECTRONIC DEVICE INCLUDING A CONNECTOR RECEPTACLE HAVING A ROTATIONALLY SYMMETRIC CONTACT PLANE
An electronic device includes an electronic device housing and a connector receptacle coupled to the electronic device housing for power and/or data connection. The connector receptacle includes a connector pin and a magnetic ground return in coaxial arrangement with the connector pin. An inner wall of the magnetic ground return is radially opposed to and spaced apart from an outer wall of the connector pin by an annular gap.
The present systems, devices, and methods generally relate to magnetic connectors and particularly relate to magnetic connectors for a wearable ring.
BACKGROUNDElectronic devices are commonplace throughout most of the world today. Advancements in integrated circuit technology have enabled the development of electronic devices that are sufficiently small and lightweight to be carried by the user. Such portable electronic devices may include on-board power supplies (such as batteries or other power storage systems) and may be wireless (i.e., designed to operate without any wire connections to other non-portable electronic systems). However, a small and lightweight electronic device may still be considered portable even if it includes a wire connection to a non-portable electronic system. For example, a microphone may be considered a portable electronic device whether it is operated wirelessly or through a wire connection.
The convenience afforded by the portability of electronic devices has fostered a huge industry. Smartphones, audio players, laptop computers, tablet computers, and ebook readers are all examples of portable electronic devices. However, the convenience of being able to carry a portable electronic device has also introduced the inconvenience of having one's hand(s) encumbered by the device itself. This problem is addressed by making an electronic device not only portable, but wearable.
A wearable electronic device is any portable electronic device that a user can carry without physically grasping, clutching, or otherwise holding onto the device with their hands. For example, a wearable electronic device may be attached or coupled to the user by a strap or straps, a band or bands, a clip or clips, an adhesive, a pin and clasp, an article of clothing, tension or elastic support, an interference fit, an ergonomic form, and the like. Examples of wearable electronic devices include digital wristwatches, electronic armbands, electronic rings, electronic ankle-bracelets or “anklets”, head-mounted electronic display units, hearing aids, and so on.
Because they are worn on the body of the user, visible to others, and generally present for long periods of time, form factor (i.e., size, geometry, and appearance) is a major design consideration in wearable electronic devices.
SUMMARYAn electronic device includes an electronic device housing and a connector receptacle coupled to the electronic device housing for power and/or data connection. The connector receptacle includes a connector pin that is electrically conductive. The connector pin has a first pin face on a contact plane, a second pin face that is in opposing relation to the first pin face, and an outer wall that extends between the first pin face and the second pin face. The connector receptacle further includes a magnetic ground return that is electrically conductive. The magnetic ground return is in coaxial arrangement with the connector pin. The magnetic ground return has a first ground return face, a second ground return face that is in opposing relation to the first ground return face, and an inner wall that extends between the first ground return face and the second ground return face. The inner wall of the magnetic ground return is radially opposed to and spaced apart from the outer wall of the connector pin by an annular gap.
In at least one example of the electronic device, the first pin face has a circular geometry at the contact plane, the first ground return face has an annular geometry at the contact plane, and the circular geometry of the first pin face and the annular geometry of the first ground return face are concentric.
In at least one example of the electronic device, the connector receptacle is rotationally symmetric at the contact plane.
In at least one example, the electronic device further includes an electrical insulator disposed in the annular gap between the connector pin and the magnetic ground return. The insulator may be a conformable material conformably engaging both the inner wall of the magnetic ground return and the outer wall of the connector pin.
In at least one example of the electronic device, the magnetic ground return may be comprised of ferromagnetic material or is a magnet.
In at least one example of the electronic device, the electronic device housing has an inner surface defining a cavity. The connector receptacle is physically coupled to the electronic device housing such that the front pin face and the first ground return face are proximate the inner surface and exposed to the cavity.
In at least one example of the electronic device, the electronic device housing has a ring shape. The electronic device housing carries at least one user input device. The at least one user input device may be a joystick.
In at least one example, the electronic device may further include a connection board having first and second contact pads that are electrically conductive. The connector pin may be electrically coupled to the first contact pad, and the magnetic ground return may be electrically coupled to the second contact pad. The connection board may be a flexible connection board that is conformable to a shape of the electronic device housing. The connector pin and magnetic ground return may be physically coupled to the connection board by a pressure sensitive adhesive with electrical conductivity. The first and second contact pads may be copper pads.
The foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary of the invention and are intended to provide an overview or framework for understanding the nature of the invention as it is claimed. The accompanying drawings are included to provide further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute part of this specification. The drawings illustrate various embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles and operation of the invention.
In the drawings, identical reference numbers identify similar elements or acts. The sizes and relative positions of elements in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the shapes of various elements and angles are not necessarily drawn to scale, and some of these elements are arbitrarily enlarged and positioned to improve drawing legibility. Further, the particular shapes of the elements as drawn are not necessarily intended to convey any information regarding the actual shape of the particular elements and have been solely selected for ease of recognition in the drawing.
In the following description, certain specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of various disclosed implementations and embodiments. However, one skilled in the relevant art will recognize that implementations and embodiments may be practiced without one or more of these specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances, well-known structures associated with portable electronic devices and head-worn devices, have not been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring descriptions of the implementations or embodiments.
Unless the context requires otherwise, throughout the specification and claims which follow, the word “comprise” and variations thereof, such as, “comprises” and “comprising” are to be construed in an open, inclusive sense, that is as “including, but not limited to.”
Reference throughout this specification to “one implementation” or “an implementation” or to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more implementations or one or more embodiments.
As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. It should also be noted that the term “or” is generally employed in its broadest sense, that is as meaning “and/or” unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.
The headings and Abstract of the Disclosure provided herein are for convenience only and do not interpret the scope or meaning of the implementations or embodiments.
In the embodiment shown in
Outer surface 103 and inner surface 104 generally have a similar shape such that body 102 is generally annular in shape and at least a portion of body 102 has a consistent thickness. In some embodiments, body 102 may have a corner portion 107. In some embodiments, corner portion 107 may provide support to body 102 about a finger as a user applies force to outer surface 103 of body 102. In some embodiments, corner portion 107 may provide additional space between outer surface 103 and inner surface 104 to house the internal electronic components of device 100. Body 102 may be made of any suitable durable material, e.g., a polymer material, a ceramic material, a blend thereof, or other known material for housing electrical components in an electronic device.
Electronic device 100 may include input devices for the electronic device 100 to receive inputs from a user. For example,
Referring to
Magnetic ground return 116 has a front ground return face 116a at front receptacle end 110a of connector receptacle 110, a back ground return face 116b at back receptacle end 110b of connector receptacle 110, and an inner wall 117 (in
Magnetic ground return 116 forms a portion of a ground path of the connection system. Ground return 116 may be a magnet to attract a magnetic surface of the connector insert, or may be a ferromagnetic material to be attracted to a magnet of the connector insert, to facilitate coupling of connector receptacle 110 to the connector insert. To avoid shunting the resulting magnetic field, ground return 116 may be formed of a relatively low conductivity material, e.g., relatively low conductivity material compared to the material of the connector pin 112. Also, in order to maintain a strong magnetic field between ground return 116 and a magnetic sleeve of the connector insert, ground return 116 may be made relatively thin. To compensate for ground return 116 being formed of a thin, low-conductivity material, ground return 116 may be made relatively wide. This provides a larger surface to form a magnetic latch between magnetic ground return 116 and a magnetic sleeve of the connector insert while providing an adequate ground return path. In one example, ground return 116 may be a ferromagnetic material, such as low carbon steel (1010), titanium copper, silver alloy, stainless or other steel, or other appropriate material. In another example, ground return 116 may be a magnet made of, for example, a low carbon steel, a magnetic stainless steel, a ferromagnetic material, or other appropriate material.
Inner wall 117 of ground return 116 is radially opposed to and spaced apart from outer wall 115 of connector pin 112 by an annular gap 118. An insulator 114 is disposed in annular gap 118 to electrically isolate connector pin 112 from ground return 116. Insulator 114 is generally an electrically non-conductive material to electrically insulate connector pin 112 from ground return 116. In one example, insulator 114 may be a conformable material, such as plastic, and may be press-fitted between connector pin 112 and ground return 116 such that insulator 114 engages both inner wall 117 and outer wall 115. In another example, the insulator 114 may be air, i.e., connector pin 112 is isolated from magnetic ground return 116 by an air gap.
In one implementation, connector receptacle 110 is rotationally symmetric (or radially symmetric). In general, this means that at a contact plane 164 (in
Referring to
Power contact 412 and spring housing 452 are disposed within a central opening 458 of a magnetic sleeve 416. Magnetic sleeve 416 may be made of an electrically conductive material, such as described above for the magnetic ground return 116 (in
In one implementation, at a contact plane 464 of connector insert 410 including magnetic sleeve front face 416a, connector insert 410 may be described as rotationally (or radially) symmetric. In general, rotational symmetry on contact plane 464 includes magnetic sleeve 416 with an annular geometry at contact plane 464 and power contact 412 with a circular geometry at contact plane 464, where the annular and circular geometries are concentric. In general, rotational symmetry may also mean that power contact 412 is coaxial with magnetic sleeve 416, i.e., power contact 412 and magnetic sleeve 416 share a common axial axis 413 (in
In other implementations, connector receptacle 410 (in
Insulator 614 and magnetic sleeve 616 are coaxial, i.e., share a common axial axis 613. The opening 618 in insulator 614, which constrains power contact 612, is also coaxial with magnetic sleeve 616. At a contact plane 664 of connector insert 610 including a front magnetic sleeve face 616a of magnetic sleeve (and proximate front end 614a of insulator 614), connector insert 610 may be described as rotationally (or radially) symmetric. In general, rotational symmetry on contact plane 664 includes magnetic sleeve 616 with an annular geometry and power contact 412 centrally located within this annular geometry.
Referring to
Referring to
Insulator 614 is mounted to a front side of vertical support 628. An outer sleeve 636 is also mounted to a front side of vertical support 228. Outer sleeve 636 circumscribes insulator 614 and is coaxial with insulator 614. Magnetic sleeve 616 is arranged in an annular space 640 (in
This application incorporates by reference the teachings of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/608,385 (“Magnetic Connector for a Wearable Ring”) filed on 20 Dec. 2017, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/734792 (“Charger Case for Wearable Electronics”) filed on 21 Sep. 2018, in their entirety.
The above description of illustrated embodiments, including what is described in the Abstract of the disclosure, is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the precise forms disclosed. Although specific embodiments and examples are described herein for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure, as will be recognized by those skilled in the relevant art. The teachings provided herein of the various embodiments can be applied to other portable and/or wearable electronic devices, not necessarily the exemplary wearable electronic devices generally described above.
Claims
1. An electronic device, comprising:
- an electronic device housing; and
- a connector receptacle coupled to the electronic device housing for power and/or data connection, the connector receptacle comprising: a connector pin that is electrically conductive, the connector pin having a first pin face on a contact plane, a second pin face in opposing relation to the first pin face, and an outer wall that extends between the first pin face and the second pin face; and a magnetic ground return that is electrically conductive, the magnetic ground return in coaxial arrangement with the connector pin, the magnetic ground return having a first ground return face, a second ground return face in opposing relation to the first ground return face, and an inner wall that extends between the first ground return face and the second ground return face, the inner wall of the magnetic ground return radially opposed to and spaced apart from the outer wall of the connector pin by an annular gap.
2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first pin face has a circular geometry at the contact plane, wherein the first ground return face has an annular geometry at the contact plane, and wherein the circular geometry of the first pin face and the annular geometry of the first ground return face are concentric.
3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the connector receptacle is rotationally symmetric at the contact plane.
4. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising an electrical insulator disposed in the annular gap between the connector pin and the magnetic ground return.
5. The electronic device of claim 4, wherein the insulator is a conformable material conformably engaging both the inner wall of the magnetic ground return and the outer wall of the connector pin.
6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the magnetic ground return comprises a ferromagnetic material or is a magnet.
7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the electronic device housing has an inner surface defining a cavity, and wherein the connector receptacle is physically coupled to the electronic device housing such that the front pin face and the first ground return face are proximate the inner surface and exposed to the cavity.
8. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the electronic device housing has a ring shape.
9. The electronic device of claim 8, further comprising at least one user input device carried by the electronic device housing.
10. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the at least one user input device is a joystick.
11. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising a connection board having first and second contact pads that are electrically conductive, wherein the connector pin is electrically coupled to the first contact pad, and wherein the magnetic ground return is electrically coupled to the second contact pad.
12. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the connection board is a flexible connection board that is conformable to a shape of the electronic device housing.
13. The electronic device of claim 11, further comprising a pressure sensitive adhesive with electrical conductivity physically coupling the connector pin and the magnetic ground return to the connection board.
14. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the first and second contact pads are copper pads.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 11, 2018
Publication Date: Jun 20, 2019
Inventor: Jaehong Choi (Kitchener)
Application Number: 16/216,528