MAGNETIC CONNECTOR APPARATUS
A magnetic electrical connector is provided which has particular application to use in vehicles or aircraft to prevent damage due to passenger movement. The connector includes a socket having a housing with a front face, a plurality of conductor contact regions provided on the front face, and a magnet provided in the housing to physically retain a plug in connection with the socket in use.
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This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/337,117, entitled “Magnetic Connector Apparatus” and filed on Dec. 24, 2011, which claims priority to U.S. patent application No. 61/429,283, filed on Jan. 3, 2011, New Zealand Application No. 593,807, filed on Jun. 29, 2011, and New Zealand Application No. 590,246, filed on Dec. 24, 2010. These earlier applications are herein incorporated by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates to connector apparatus. The invention is directed particularly, but not solely, to connector apparatus for making electrical connection between a media source and media delivery equipment, for example, an audio signal connection between apparatus such as a headset and an audio signal source such as that provided by an in-flight entertainment system.
BACKGROUNDConventional connectors typically comprise a socket, and a plug which is received in the socket. For example, in an airline cabin, an in-flight entertainment system may provide media such as audio and video information to passenger seat locations, so that it is available to passengers. The video information is typically made available via a visual display unit located on the rear of a seat immediately in front of the passenger. Audio information is typically provided via a connector socket (sometimes referred to as a jack) which is provided adjacent to the seat, for example, being provided in the arm rest. The user is typically provided with a headset which has a plug which is received in the socket, so that the audio information is delivered to the headset.
A problem can occur when tension is applied the headset plug. If the tension is applied in a direction so as to pull the plug axially from the socket, then no damage will usually occur. However, if tension is supplied in a direction other than the axial direction, such as a perpendicular direction, then breakage may occur. This is because the plug typically includes one or more elongate pins which are received in the socket. Unless the plug pins are removed in an axial direction, then there is a risk that the plug pins can break. This is often a problem within aircraft cabins, since a headset, or headset cable, can frequently be moved unintentionally. One example is a situation in which a passenger forgets that the headset is still being worn and rises from his or her seat, causing the headset cable to violently pull the plug from the socket. Another example is when an object is being moved in the vicinity of the seat, for example, a pillow or food tray which may catch on the headset cable, causing the plug to be torn from the socket.
SUMMARYIt is an object of the present invention to provide an approved connector apparatus, or to at least provide connector apparatus which provides a useful alternative to known connector apparatus or systems.
In one aspect the invention provides an electrical connector socket comprising: a housing having a front face, a plurality of conductor contact regions provided on the front face, and a magnet provided in the housing to physically retain a plug in connection with the socket in use.
Preferably the conductor contact regions are substantially flush with the front face.
Preferably the conductor contact regions are formed from a layer of conductive material.
Preferably the conductor contact regions are adjacent to each other and in the same plane.
Preferably the socket includes a plug pin receiver.
Preferably the socket may be electrically connected to a plug via the conductor contact regions or via the plug pin receiver.
Preferably one or more of the conductor contact regions is a power contact region operable to make a power supply available to a plug.
Preferably the power contact region is operated to make power available to the plug once the plug has been connected to the socket.
Preferably the housing comprises an alignment contour to co-act with a contour of a plug to facilitate correct alignment of the plug with the socket.
Preferably the alignment contour comprises a plug pin receiver.
Preferably the conductor contact regions are provided in three rows.
Preferably the rows are parallel with each other, the contact regions in the first and third rows are substantially aligned and the contact regions of the second row are offset with respect to those of the first and third rows.
In another aspect, the invention provides connector apparatus comprising: a plug having a plurality of conductor contact regions for contacting conductors provided on a socket or receiver; and a magnetic means provided rearwardly of one or more of the contact regions to co-act with a magnetic means associated with the socket or receiver.
Preferably the magnetic means is provided such that in use at least one of the conductor regions is disposed between the magnetic means and the plug.
Preferably the contact regions are provided in a layer.
Preferably the contact regions are defined by one or more insulating layers.
Preferably the apparatus includes an alignment contour to facilitate correct alignment of the plug with a socket.
Preferably the alignment contour comprises a projection or recess for alignment with a corresponding projection or recess on the socket.
Preferably the projection or recess corresponds with a projection or recess on an existing audio jack.
In another aspect the invention provides connector apparatus comprising: a socket or receiver having plurality of conductor contact regions for contacting conductors provided on a plug; and magnetic means provided rearwardly of one or more of the contact regions to co-act with a magnetic means associated with a plug.
Preferably the magnetic means is provided as such that in use at least one of the conductor regions is disposed between the magnetic means and the socket.
Preferably the contact regions are provided in a layer.
Preferably the contact regions are defined by one or more insulating layers.
Alternatively one or more of the contact regions comprises a spring contact.
Preferably the apparatus includes an alignment contour to facilitate correct alignment of the socket with the plug.
Preferably the alignment contour comprises a projection or recess aligned with the corresponding projection or recess on the plug.
In a further aspect the invention provides connector apparatus comprising: a plug and/or a socket having a plurality of conductor contact regions, the contact regions being formed from a conductive layer provided on the housing of the plug or socket.
Preferably a physical dimension of the contact regions is defined using one or more insulating layers.
In a further aspect the invention provides connector apparatus comprising a socket including at least one electrode for providing a power supply to conductors or electrodes of a plug to be adapted for use with the socket, wherein the power supply is only made available to the electrodes once the plug is connected to the socket.
In yet a further aspect the invention provides connector apparatus comprising: a socket for receiving one or more pins of a plug adapted for connection with the socket, the socket also including a plurality of conductor contact regions for contacting conductors provided on the plug; and a magnetic means for co-acting with a magnetic means provided on a plug.
Preferably the conductor regions are electrically connected to appropriate pin receiving sockets on the socket assembly such that the socket may be operatively connected to equipment having either a plug with one or more pins, or a plug having a plurality of contact regions. In a further aspect the invention broadly provides connector apparatus comprising a plug having a magnet means and a plurality of contact regions, at least one of the contact regions comprising a spring contact.
Preferably the magnet means is provided rearwardly of the contact regions.
In another aspect the invention broadly provides a pin arrangement for a magnetic connector having three rows of electrical contact pins.
Preferably the rows are provided one above another.
Preferably the pins in the first and third rows are aligned, and the pins of the second row are offset with respect to those of the first and third rows.
In another aspect the invention broadly provides an electrical contact arrangement for a magnetic connector having three rows of electrical contact regions.
Preferably the rows are provided one above another.
Preferably the contact regions in the first and third rows are aligned, and the contact regions of the second row are offset with respect to those of the first and third rows.
In one embodiment the conductor contact regions are form on a printed circuit board. Preferably the printed circuit board is formed such that the contact regions protrude therefrom. Preferably the contact regions are flush with the housing face surrounding them.
In a further aspect the invention provides magnetic connector apparatus comprising a plug and a receiver to which the plugs may be connected, the plug and receiver being capable of alignment in only one orientation.
In a further aspect the invention provides connector apparatus comprising a socket, receiver or plug having an arrangement of contacts or contact regions substantially as shown in any one of
Further aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following description.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTSThose skilled in the art will appreciate that the words “socket” or “jack”, and “plug” are used for the purposes of convenience, since the connection apparatus and system described in this document comprises components which may not conform to the traditional definition of a socket, jack or plug. Instead, the terms “socket” and “jack” are used to refer generally to a connector component which is connected to a communication system or a media delivery device or system for example, and the term “plug” is used to refer to a connector component which is typically attached to a device used by a user, such as a headset for example.
Although the embodiments discussed below are referred in the context of audio delivery apparatus such as headsets and noise canceling headphones, the invention is not intended to be limited to that application. Therefore, it should be appreciated that the invention is applicable to connector apparatus in general, and includes within its scope connector apparatus for use in communication systems such as “SKYPE” headsets and/or mobile telephone connection devices and/or MP3 media delivery device charging interfaces or connectors amongst other various applications.
Referring to
Therefore, referring still to
Located behind face 4 of the plug (i.e. within the housing) is a magnetic means comprising one or more magnets 6 which are diagrammatically represented in
Referring now to
Turning now to
Alternatively, rather than the construction shown in
In one embodiment, the conductive layer 10 and the non-conductive layer 11 may be constructed as “decals” which are easily manufactured and attached to body 2 of a socket 1 during a manufacturing process.
Furthermore, the outer contour of the face 4, as defined by edge 5 may be used to ensure that a correct alignment is achieved between the socket 1 and an appropriate plug. Therefore, the plug (not shown) may include a recess which corresponds with edge 5 to ensure a correct alignment is achieved in use between the socket and the plug. Alternatively or additionally, other alignment contours may be used to ensure that not only is alignment between the socket and plug correct, but also that the orientation of the plug is correct relative to its socket.
Referring now to
Turning to
As can be seen, a plurality of conductor contact regions arranged in a group 43 is provided. These are shown in more detail in
A plug for use with the socket of
Turning to
In
A further embodiment of socket is shown in
The examples described above may be used in conjunction with an in-flight entertainment system the socket being provided in or adjacent to a passenger seat, and the plug being provided on a headset. The socket is intended to have a very long service life. Spring contacts which may be used with magnetic jacks by contrast have a limited lifetime. The plugs are part of headphones which are viewed by airline operators as a consumable device. Therefore where spring contacts are used they can be located on the plug to maximise the lifetime of the conductive surface of the socket.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the construction shown has the advantage that multiple contact areas are provided using the layer structure disclosed, so that maximum use is made of the available space and therefore the overall size of the connector and plug arrangement can be kept to a minimum. The magnetic connection is advantageously achieved a magnetic means provided rearwardly of the connector regions i.e. the connector regions in use become between the magnetic means provided in the socket and the plug. Furthermore, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the socket is provided which may still be used with “legacy” plug arrangements. Therefore, the socket supports a new magnetic plug, but also has the advantage it is functional with existing pin type plug constructions.
Claims
1. An electrical connector socket for selective electrical connection with a first plug and a second plug, the first and second plugs having different configurations, the electrical connector socket comprising:
- a housing having a first face;
- a plug pin receiver comprising an aperture extending rearwardly of the first face, the receiver being adapted to axially receive, and electrically connect to, a plug pin of the first plug and second plug; and
- a plurality of conductor contact regions provided on the housing to physically and electrically contact conductors of the second plug.
2. An electrical connector socket as claimed in claim 1 comprising a magnet provided in the housing to physically retain the second plug in connection with the socket in use.
3. An electrical connector socket as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one electrical connection of a plug pin to the plug pin receiver comprises functionality able to be provided by electrical contact between the conductor contact regions and the conductors of the second plug.
4. An electrical connector socket as claimed in claim 1 wherein the socket is configured to receive an audio plug.
5. An electrical connector socket as claimed in claim 1 wherein the socket has a shape adapted to align the first and/or second plug in use.
6. An electrical connector socket as claimed in claim 1 wherein the conductor contact regions are substantially flush with the first face.
7. An electrical connector socket as claimed in claim 1 wherein one or more of the conductor contact regions is a power contact region adapted to make a power supply available to the second plug.
8. An electrical connector socket as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first plug corresponds to an existing audio jack.
9. An electrical connector socket as claimed in claim 1 wherein the conductor contact regions are formed on a printed circuit board.
10. An electrical connector socket as claimed in claim 1 comprising a detector to detect correct connection of the second plug.
11. An electrical connector socket as claimed in claim 1 wherein the housing comprises one or more contours to align the first or second plug.
12. An electrical connector socket as claimed in claim 1 wherein the plug pin receiver is configured to electrically connect to stub pins of the second plug.
13. An audio connector comprising:
- a socket comprising a plug pin receiver and a plurality of conductor contact regions, the plug pin receiver comprising an aperture extending rearwardly of the first face; and
- one of a plurality of possible plugs adapted to engage with the socket, each plug comprising at least one plug pin to engage the plug pin receiver and at least one of the plugs comprising a plurality of conductors adapted to engage the conductor contact regions;
- wherein in use at least one of the plurality of possible plugs and the socket are electrically connected by at least one plug pin and at least one of the conductor contact regions.
14. An audio connector as claimed in claim 13 wherein the plug pin receiver is configured to electrically connect to stub pins of at least one of the possible plugs.
15. An audio connector as claimed in claim 13 comprising a magnet provided in the socket to physically retain the at least one of the plurality of possible plugs in connection with the socket in use.
16. An audio connector as claimed in claim 13 comprising a magnet provided in at least one of the plurality of possible plugs to physically retain the socket in a connection with the at least one of the plurality of possible plugs in use.
17. An audio connector as claimed in claim 13 wherein at least one of the plugs is configured to electrically connect to the socket with stub pins.
18. An electrical connector plug for an electrical connector socket, the electrical connector plug comprising:
- a housing having a first face;
- a plurality of conductor contacts provided on the housing to physically and electrically contact conductors on the electrical connector socket; and
- a plurality of plug pin stubs extending forwardly of the first face, the plug pin stubs arranged to align the electrical connector plug and the electrical connector socket and to make electrical contact with the electrical connector socket.
19. An electrical connector plug as claimed in claim 17 comprising a magnet provided in the housing to physically retain the electrical connector socket in connection with the electrical connector plug in use.
20. An electrical connector plug as claimed in claim 17 wherein the plug pin stubs are arranged to engage with a conventional socket.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 5, 2015
Publication Date: Jan 5, 2017
Applicant: PHITEK SYSTEMS LTD. (NEW MARKET)
Inventors: NIGEL GREIG (NEW MARKET), WILLIAM JAMES SIM (NEW MARKET), EDWARD SCHOLTEN (NEW MARKET), BRENDON DAVID MIDGLEY (NEW MARKET), ROY MOODY (NEW MARKET)
Application Number: 14/933,757