Abstract:
A magnetic power connector and an electronic system using a magnetic power connector are disclosed, wherein a magnetic element of the magnetic power connector is magnetically attracted to a matching magnetic connector to ensure a stable contact. In addition, the electrical conductive path created between the contact elements does not pass through any elastic elements, thereby avoiding heating and improving the lifespan of the elements. Furthermore, sealing can be disposed in the gaps between the connector elements to make the connector waterproof. In addition, a trigger signal can be generated by establishing an electrical connection between a signal contact element and the conductive element in the magnetic power connector so as to achieve the purpose of identification or control, thereby avoiding the functional failure caused by the damage of the contact element of the matching magnetic connector.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    I. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a magnetic connector and in particular to a magnetic connector for electrically connecting an electrical relation to an electronic device. 
         [0003]    II. Descriptions of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    Please refer to patent document TW M451694 (referred as Prior Art 1 hereafter), wherein a connecting structure is disclosed. The connecting structure includes a metal cylinder, a spring and a metal pin. The metal cylinder comprises a cylindrical shell body and a space inside the shell body to accommodate the spring and the pin, wherein one end of the spring is in contact with the bottom base of the metal cylinder and the other end of the spring is in contact with the metal pin. 
         [0005]    In the prior art 1, a conductive path can be formed when the metal pin is in contact with the spring or the metal cylinder. However, when the metal pin is forced to move into the space inside the cylindrical shell body, the contact of the metal pin and the metal cylinder may not be stable due to the manufacturing tolerance of the metal pin. In addition, current flowing through the spring is not stable due to the length and deformation of the spring that causes rapid resistance changes in the spring, thereby affecting the signal transmission quality. In the long run, the lifespan of the spring is shortened by the heat generated by the current flowing in the spring. 
         [0006]    Please refer to patent document TW 1365574 (referred as Prior Art 2 hereafter) which discloses a cell connector. The cell connector comprises a case and a plurality of connection modules. The connection module includes comprises a pin, an electric conduction medium and a spring. A connecting end of the pin extends out of the case and the electric conduction medium comprises a plurality of elastic parts. The elastic parts are in direct contact with the pin continually for conducting current. One end of the spring extends into the space inside the pin and the other end of the spring is against the electric conduction medium. 
         [0007]    Although, in the Prior Art 2, the pin can maintain direct contact with the electric conduction medium to allow current to flow through the pin to the electric conduction medium without using the spring, because the spring is made of metal, the current will also flow through the spring to the electric conduction medium, which will shorten the lifespan of the spring due to the heat generated by the current flowing through the spring. 
         [0008]    Please refer to U.S. Pat. No. 7,311,526 (referred as Prior Art 3 hereafter) which discloses an identification circuitry inside an adapter. When the adapter is connected, the identification circuitry can identify the type of electronic device, or even a specific device for a particular purpose. The adapter is connected to an electronic device through a plug and a receptacle. When the user positions the plug against the receptacle, a signal path formed by the contacts allows the identification circuitry to send a signal to the internal circuits of the device for identifying the connection of the adapter and the electronic device or achieve other control purposes. 
         [0009]    In the prior art 3, a functional failure associated with the identification circuitry can occur when the contact of the plug or receptacle is damaged and the signal path cannot be formed. 
         [0010]    The present invention aims to resolve the issues mentioned above. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    One object of the present invention is to provide a magnetic power connector which can improve the lifetime of the contact elements. 
         [0012]    One object of the present invention is to provide a magnetic power connector which can reduce the impact of impulses to an electronic device. 
         [0013]    One object of the present invention is to provide a magnetic power connector which is waterproof. 
         [0014]    The present invention provides a magnetic power connector and an electronic system using a magnetic power connector assembly, which can achieve identification or control purposes by utilizing a single connector to avoid functional failure caused by damage to the contact elements of matching magnetic connector. 
         [0015]    The present invention discloses a magnetic power connector for electrically connecting to a matching magnetic connector between an electronic device and an electrical relation connectable to a power source, the matching magnetic connector comprising a second magnetic element and at least one contact element, wherein the magnetic power connector comprises: an insulation body, at least one movable contact element disposed in the insulation body and a first magnetic element; wherein the movable contact element comprises a conductive element, an insulation block, an elastic element and an elastic conductive element, wherein one end of the conductive element is coupled to the insulation block and the insulation block is pressed against the elastic element so as to move the conductive element inside the insulation body elastically, wherein one end of the elastic conductive element can be elastically against a peripheral side of the conductive element. 
         [0016]    When the magnetic power connector and the matching magnetic connector are connected, magnetic attraction between the first and second magnetic elements causes the movable contact element being pressed by the contact element to move towards the elastic element so as to form a conductive path through the contact element, the conductive element and the elastic conductive element, between the electronic device and the electrical relation. 
         [0017]    In addition, when there is a plurality of movable contact elements, at least one positive contact element and at least one negative contact element can be defined, and the negative contact element comes into contact with the contact element prior to the positive contact element when the magnetic power connector and the matching magnetic connector are connected, to ensure that impulses can be conducted to a ground by the negative contact element to lower the possibility of damaging the electronic device due to the impulses. 
         [0018]    The magnetic power connector further comprises a shell covering the first magnetic element, and a sealing member disposed between the shell, the insulation body and the first magnetic element or between the insulation body and the movable contact element; the shell or the sealing member can also be disposed on the matching magnetic connector. 
         [0019]    The present invention also discloses an electronic system with a magnetic power connector assembly, wherein the electronic system comprises: an electronic device, a magnetic power connector, a matching magnetic connector, and an electrical relation, wherein electronic device has a case having a opening thereon, and wherein the magnetic power connector comprises an insulation body, at least one movable contact element disposed in the insulation body, and a first magnetic element, wherein the movable contact element comprises a conductive element, an insulation block, an elastic element and an elastic conductive element, wherein one end of the conductive element is coupled to the insulation block, and the insulation block is elastically pressed against the elastic element so as to move the conductive element in the insulation body elastically, wherein one end of the elastic conductive element can be elastically against a peripheral side surface of the conductive element; and wherein the matching magnetic connector is connectable to the magnetic power connector, the matching magnetic connector comprising a second magnetic element and at least one contact element; and wherein the electrical relation is connectable to a power source. 
         [0020]    In the above electronic system, the magnetic power connector and the matching magnetic connector are electrically connected between the electronic device and the electrical relation; and the magnetic power connector or the matching magnetic connector is disposed in the case, and the first or second magnetic element is exposed in the opening correspondingly, wherein when the magnetic power connector and the matching magnetic connector are connected, magnetic attraction between the first and second magnetic elements causes the movable contact element being pressed by the contact element to move towards the elastic element so as to form a conductive path through the contact element, the conductive element and the elastic conductive element, between the electronic device and the electrical relation. 
         [0021]    Further, a trigger signal can be generated by establishing an electrical connection between a signal contact element and the conductive element in the magnetic power connector so as to achieve the purpose of identification or control, wherein the movable contact element and the signal contact element are in a first electrical connection status when they are electrically connected, and the movable contact element and the signal contact element are in a second electrical connection status when they are electrically disconnected; the purpose of identification or control can be achieved simply by using the electrically connection relationships between the internal elements of magnetic power connector, to avoid the functional failure caused by the damage of the contact element of the matching magnetic connector. 
         [0022]    The present invention discloses an insulation block disposed on the movable contact element to insulate the conductive element and the elastic element. A conductive path can only be formed between the conductive element and the elastic conductive element, therefore avoiding heating and improving the lifespan of the contact element. In addition, the connector and the electronic device can be made waterproof by a sealing member disposed in the gaps of the connector. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0023]      FIG. 1  illustrates a three dimension view of a magnetic power connector of the first embodiment of present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 2  illustrates an exploded view of the magnetic power connector of the first embodiment of present invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 3  illustrates a section view of the magnetic power connector according to the first embodiment of present invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 4  illustrates a three dimension view of the matching magnetic connector according to the first embodiment of present invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 5  illustrates an exploded view of the matching magnetic connector according to the first embodiment of present invention. 
           [0028]      FIG. 6  illustrates the connecting status of the magnetic power connector and the matching magnetic connector according to the first embodiment of present invention. 
           [0029]      FIG. 7  illustrates three dimension view of the matching magnetic connector according to the second embodiment of present invention. 
           [0030]      FIG. 8  illustrates an exploded view of the matching magnetic connector according to the second embodiment of present invention. 
           [0031]      FIG. 9  illustrates a three dimension view of the matching magnetic connector assembled in a case according to the second embodiment of present invention. 
           [0032]      FIG. 10  illustrates the connecting status of the magnetic power connector and the matching magnetic connector according to the second embodiment of present invention. 
           [0033]      FIG. 11  illustrates three dimension view of the magnetic power connector according to the third embodiment of present invention. 
           [0034]      FIG. 12  illustrates an exploded view of the magnetic power connector according to the third embodiment of present invention. 
           [0035]      FIG. 13  illustrates a section view of the magnetic power connector according to the third embodiment of present invention. 
           [0036]      FIG. 14  illustrates the connecting status of the magnetic power connector and the matching magnetic connector according to the third embodiment of present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0037]      FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate the magnetic power connector of the first embodiment of present invention. In  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , a magnetic power connector  100  comprises: 
         [0038]    an insulation body  10  having at least one passage  11 . In the current embodiment, the insulation body  10  comprises a first insulation body  111  and a second insulation body  112 , the first insulation body  111  and the second insulation body  112  are assembled together and two passages  11  are formed therebetween. 
         [0039]    At least one movable contact element  20  is disposed in the passage  11 . In the current embodiment, two movable contact elements  20  are disposed respectively in the passages  11 . The movable contact elements  20  define a positive contact element  21  and a negative contact element  22 . Each of the positive contact element  21  and the negative contact element  22  respectively includes: a conductive element  211 ,  221 , an insulation block  212 ,  222 , an elastic element  213 ,  223  and an elastic conductive element  214 ,  224 . One end of the conductive element  211 ,  221  is coupled to the insulation block  212 ,  222 . The insulation block  212 ,  222  is elastically pushed by the elastic element  213 ,  223  so as to move the conductive element  211 ,  221  elastically inside the passages  11 . One end of the elastic conductive element  214 ,  224  is elastically against the peripheral side surface of the conductive element  211 , 221 ; the other end of the elastic conductive element  214 ,  224  extends outside the insulation body  10 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , in normal conditions, the elastic conductive element  214  of the positive contact element  21  is elastically against the insulation block  212  of the positive contact element  21 , wherein when the conductive element  211  of the positive contact element  21  is pressed to move towards the elastic element  213 , the elastic conductive element  214  of the positive contact element  21  will be in contact with the conductive element  211  of the positive contact element  21 ; and at the same time, the elastic conductive element  224  of the negative contact element  22  is permanently in contact with the conductive element  221  of the negative contact element  22 . 
         [0040]    A first magnetic element  30  disposed on the insulation body  10  covers the front end of the insulation body  10 , wherein the first magnetic element  30  includes an opening  31  corresponding to the passages  11  so that the conductive elements  211 , 221  are exposed in the opening  31 . 
         [0041]      FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5  illustrate a three dimension and exploded view of the matching magnetic connector according to the first embodiment of present invention. The matching magnetic connector  200  comprises: 
         [0042]    An insulation host  40  having at least one through hole  41 . In the current embodiment, the insulation host  40  is integrally formed and a plurality of through holes  41  is disposed on the center section of the insulation host  40 . 
         [0043]    At least one contact element  50  disposed in the through holes  41 . In the current embodiment, three contact elements  50  are disposed respectively in the through holes  41  and partially extended outside the insulation host  40 . 
         [0044]    A second magnetic element  60  is disposed on the insulation host  40 . In the current embodiment, the second magnetic element  60  integrally covers the peripheral side surface of the insulation host  40 , and the contact elements  50  partially extend outside the second magnetic element  60 . 
         [0045]    A shell  70  covers the exterior of the second magnetic element  60  and couples to the insulation host  40 . An opening  71  is disposed on the shell  70  for partially exposing the second magnetic element  60 , and the contact elements  50  extend outside the opening  71 . A first constrain part  72  of the shell  70  extrudes toward the contact elements  50  from the inside of the opening  71  of the shell  70 . The shape of the first magnetic element  30  matches the shape of the opening  71  of the shell  70 . In the current embodiment, the first constrain part  72  covers the contact elements  50 , and the first constrain part  72  can be disposed respectively on the outermost side of the periphery of the contact elements  50 . 
         [0046]    Please refer to  FIG. 6  in which a sealing member  80  is disposed between the shell  70 , the insulation host  40  and the second magnetic element  60 , or between the opening  41  and the contact element  50 . In the current embodiment, the sealing member  80  is waterproof glue. 
         [0047]    Please refer to  FIG. 4 . When operating a magnetic connector according to present invention, the matching magnetic connector  200  is brought close to the magnetic power connector  100  so that the magnetic attraction between the first magnetic element  30  and the second magnetic element  60  allows the matching magnetic connector  200  and the magnetic power connector  100  to be connected stably. Since the contact elements  50  extend out of the surface of the second magnetic element  60  and the first magnetic element  30  partially plug into the opening  71 , the first constrain part  72  can stop the first magnetic element  30  from colliding into the contact elements  50  laterally and thus preventing damage. After the matching magnetic connector  200  and the magnetic power connector  100  are connected, the contact elements  50  will press against the conductive elements  211 ,  221  to move them towards the elastic elements  213 ,  223  allowing the elastic conductive element  214  to electrically connect to the conductive element  211  of the positive contact element  21 . Conductive paths between the contact elements  50 , the positive contact element  21  and elastic conductive element  214  will be created as well. The insulation blocks  212 ,  222  insulate the conductive elements  211 ,  221  from the elastic elements  213 ,  223  and thus preventing the elastic elements  213 ,  223  from heating because current cannot flow through the elastic elements  213 ,  223 . In addition, as the elastic conductive element  224  of the negative contact element  22  is permanently against the conductive element  221 , the negative contact element  22  electrically connects to the contact element  50  prior to the positive contact element  21 . Therefore the negative contact elements  22  conduct impulses to the ground, so as to lower the possibility of damages due to the impulses. 
         [0048]    Please refer to  FIG. 6 , wherein the sealing member  80  is used to seal up the gaps between the shell  70 , the insulation host  40 , the second magnetic element  60 , or the gaps between the opening  41  and the contact element  50 . When the matching magnetic connector  200  is disposed in an electronic device  300  (as shown in  FIG. 10 ), the connector is made waterproof by preventing water from leaking into the electronic device  300  from the matching magnetic connector  200 . 
         [0049]    The movable contact elements  20  and the contact elements  50  can be permutable mutually, so the movable contact elements  20  are disposed in the matching magnetic connector  200 . The sealing member  80  is disposed between the shell  70 , the insulation body  10  and the first magnetic element  30 , or between the passages  11  and the movable contact elements  20  (not shown), so waterproof qualities can be also achieved as described. The structures of the magnetic power connector  100  and the matching magnetic connector  200  can be also permutable mutually, so the shell  70  is disposed on the first magnetic element  30 , partially exposing the first magnetic element  30  in the opening  71 , and the conductive elements  211 , 221  extend out of the surface of the first magnetic element  30 . While the second magnetic element  60  of the matching magnetic connector  200  partially inserts into the opening  71 , the first constrain parts  72  can stop the second magnetic element  60  from laterally colliding into the conductive element  211 ,  221  (not shown), all the structures equivalent to the above-mentioned structure are within the scope of present invention as well. 
         [0050]      FIGS. 7 and 8  illustrate three dimension and exploded views of the matching magnetic connector of the second embodiment of present invention. The second embodiment is almost the same as the first embodiment, and the major difference between them is that the matching magnetic connector  200  does not include a shell  70  in the second embodiment and can reduce the overall volume to meet the needs for lighter and thinner product. 
         [0051]      FIGS. 9 and 10  illustrate a three dimension view and the connecting status of the matching magnetic connector disposed in a case according to the second embodiment of present invention. The matching magnetic connector  200  is directly disposed in the electronic device  300  (laptop computer, handheld device, cell phone . . . , etc.). The electronic device  300  includes a case  301  having an opening  302 , and the second magnetic element  60  is correspondingly exposed in the opening  302 . the contact elements  50  partially extends out of the surface of the second magnetic element  60  and is disposed in the opening  302 . At least one second constrain part  303  extrudes toward the contact elements  50  from the internal sidewall of the opening  302 . The second constrain part  303  covers the contact elements  50 . In the second embodiment, when the magnetic power connector  100  and the matching magnetic connector  200  are coupled, the first magnetic element  30  is partially plugged into the opening  302 , while the second constrain part  303  can stop the first magnetic element  30  from collisding into the contact elements  50  laterally. 
         [0052]    Please note that the magnetic power connector  100  and the matching magnetic connector  200  can be permutable mutually. The magnetic power connector  100  can be directly disposed in the electronic device  300  (not shown) to achieve the described effects and purposes. 
         [0053]      FIG. 10  illustrates a schematic in which the magnetic power connector  100  and the matching magnetic connector  200  are electrically connected between an electronic device  300  and an electrical relation  400  (ex: a power adapter) to form an electronic system  500 . The electrical relation  400  can be connected to a power source (not shown). 
         [0054]      FIGS. 11 and 12  illustrate three dimension and exploded views according to the third embodiment of present invention. The third embodiment is almost the same as the first embodiment and the major difference between them is described as follows. In the third embodiment, an insulation portion  225  is disposed on the peripheral side surface of a conductive element  221  of the movable contact element  20  so that the conductive element  221  can define a conductive section  221 A and an insulation section  221 B. In the third embodiment, the insulation portion  225  is disposed on the conductive element  221  of the negative contact element  22 . The magnetic power connector  100  further includes a signal contact element  90  having one end pressing against the conductive element  221  of the negative contact element  22 . As shown in  FIG. 13 , under normal condition, the signal contact element  90  is in contact with conductive section  221 A, and one end of the elastic conductive element  224  is also in contact with the conductive section  221 A to form a conductive path between the elastic conductive element  224  and the signal contact element  90 . 
         [0055]      FIG. 14  illustrates the schematic of the third embodiment of present invention in which the connecting status of the magnetic power connector and the matching magnetic connector is shown. The electronic system  500  in the third embodiment is almost the sams as the electronic system described in other embodiments and the major difference between them is described as follows. The electronic system  500  in the third embodiment further includes two wireless control units  501 . The wireless control units  501  are electrically connected to the electronic device  300  and the electrical relation  400  respectively. The signal contact element  90  is electrically connected to one of the wireless control units  501 . When the magnetic power connector  100  and the matching magnetic connector  200  are coupled, the contact element  90  is in contact with the conductive element  221  so as to move the conductive element  221  towards the elastic element  222 . Then the signal contact element  90  will be in contact with the insulation section  221 B so as to break the conductive path from the signal contact element  90  to the elastic conductive element  224 , thereby creating a trigger signal to drive the wireless control units  501 . By means of the structure disclosed in the third embodiment of present invention, the effects of identification or control can be achieved through only the electrical connections of the internal elements of the magnetic power connector  100 , so as to avoid functional failures caused by the damage of the contact element  50  of the matching magnetic connector  200 . The wireless control units  501  can be communications protocol or other wireless transmission interfaces. In the third embodiment of present invention, the wireless control units  501  can be used to control the electrical relation  400  to supply the power from the magnetic power connector  100  and the matching magnetic connector  200  to the electronic device  300 , or can be used for other electrical controls.