Patent Publication Number: US-2009239392-A1

Title: Electronic Apparatus

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-076321, filed Mar. 24, 2008, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     The present invention relates to an electronic apparatus in which magnets are provided in both of a connector unit (receptacle) and a plug so that the connector unit and the plug being inserted into the connector unit attract each other. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     For example, a modem apparatus is connected to a portable personal computer main body by using a connection device of an RS-232C port, a second connector unit that is provided at the tip of an interface cable is fitted into a first connector unit that is provided in the personal computer main body. To make this connection, it is necessary to hold the personal computer main body with one hand and positions the second connector unit and pushes it into the first connector unit a little strongly with the other hand. This manipulation is cumbersome to the user. 
     In view of the above, connection devices have been proposed which facilitate the attachment and detachment and prevent a reverse connection (refer to JP-A-7-6817). In the connection device of JP-A-7-6817, a first connector unit that is formed with plural contacts and a second connector unit in which plural contacts are formed so as to correspond to the respective contacts of the first connector unit are connected to each other by the attractive forces acting between magnets. This connection device thus facilitates the attachment and detachment. 
     In the connection device of JP-A-7-6817, a reverse connection can be prevented because a DC plug of an AC adaptor and a DC-in connector are customized. However, this connection device has a problem that erroneous insertion of a plug cannot be prevented. More specifically, for example, the terminals of DC-in plugs are smaller than the openings of connectors that are compatible with RJ45 and RJ11 plugs and hence can be inserted into the openings of those connectors. Should a DC-in plug is inadvertently inserted into the opening of such a connector, the RJ45 or RJ11 connector may be destroyed. Furthermore, development of a connector which can prevent erroneous insertion of a plug and is low in cost is desired. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A general architecture that implements the various feature of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. The drawings and the associated descriptions are provided to illustrate embodiments of the invention and not to limit the scope of the invention. 
         FIG. 1  is an exemplary perspective view of an electronic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an exemplary front view of connector units. 
         FIG. 3  is an exemplary perspective view of an example plug to be inserted into a connector unit. 
         FIG. 4  is an exemplary perspective view of another example plug to be inserted into a connector unit. 
         FIG. 5  shows an attempt to insert a plug into a connector unit corresponding to it. 
         FIG. 6  shows another kind of attempt to insert a plug into a connector unit corresponding to it. 
         FIG. 7  shows an attempt to insert a plug into a connector unit not corresponding to it. 
         FIG. 8  shows another kind of attempt to insert a plug into a connector unit not corresponding to it. 
         FIG. 9  shows attempts to insert plugs into connector units. 
         FIG. 10  shows attempts to insert a plug into a connector unit. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Various embodiments according to the invention will be described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. In general, according to one embodiment of the invention, an electronic apparatus includes: a receptacle that is not compatible with a plug having a support magnet around a plug terminal; a magnet that is disposed so that one pole of the magnet is opposed to a certain pole of the support magnet when the plug is inserted in the receptacle, the certain pole having the same polarity as the one pole. According to another embodiment of the invention, an electronic apparatus includes: a first receptacle that is compatible with a first plug having a first support magnet around a first plug terminal; a second receptacle that is compatible with a second plug having a second support magnet around a second plug terminal; a first magnet that is disposed so that one pole of the first magnet is opposed to a certain pole of the first support magnet when the first plug is inserted in the first receptacle, the certain pole of the first support magnet having the different polarity as the one pole of the first magnet; and a second magnet that is disposed so that one pole of the second magnet is opposed to a certain pole of the second support magnet when the second plug is inserted in the second receptacle, the certain pole of the second support magnet having the different polarity as the one pole of the second magnet. According to another embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes: a receptacle that is compatible with a plug having a plurality of support magnets around a plug terminal; a plurality of magnets that are disposed so that each one pole of the magnets are opposed to each certain pole of the support magnets when the plug is inserted in the receptacle in a predetermined angle around an axis of the plug terminal, the each certain pole having the same polarity as the each one pole. 
     An electronic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings.  FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an electronic apparatus  1  according to the embodiment. The electronic apparatus  1  is a notebook PC (personal computer). Alternatively it may be a PDA (personal digital assistant), a cell phone, or the like. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the electronic apparatus  1  is equipped with keys  2  which are depressed when a user inputs an instruction, a display  3  for displaying a picture of a text, an image, or the like, a speaker  4  for outputting sound, and connector units  5 ,  5 A, and  5 B into which the plug of a connection cable or the like is to be inserted. The keys  2 , the display  3 , the speaker  4 , and the connector units  5 ,  5 A, and  5 B are exposed to the outside. 
     For example, a CPU (central processing unit)  11 , a RAM (random access memory), an HD (hard disk) drive, a ROM (read-only memory), a GPU, an audio codec, etc. are incorporated in the electronic apparatus  1  so as to be connected to each other via a bus. 
       FIG. 2  is a front view of the connector units  5  and  5 A of the electronic apparatus  1 . The connector unit  5  is equipped with a connector into which an RJ45 plug  6  or an RJ11 plug, for example, is to be inserted. The RJ45 connector serves for connection of a cable and, more specifically, is an 8-core modular connector for use in Ethernet (registered trademark) cables, ISDN lines, etc. The RJ11 connector is another connector and, more specifically, is a 6-core modular connector for use in general telephone lines etc. The RJ11 connector is similar in shape to the RJ45 connector and is one-size smaller than the latter. The connector unit  5 A is equipped with a connector into which a DC-in plug  6 A, for example, is to be inserted. 
     In the connector unit  5 , magnets  10 ,  10   a ,  10   b , and  10   c  are disposed around (e.g., at four positions (above, below, left, and right)) an opening into which the plug  6  is to be inserted. Likewise, in the connector unit  5 A, magnets  11 ,  11   a ,  11   b , and  11   c  are disposed around (e.g., at four positions (above, below, left, and right)) an opening into which the plug  6 A is to be inserted. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the RJ45 plug  6  to be inserted into the connector unit  5 . In the plug  6 , magnets  12 ,  12   a ,  12   b , and  12   c  are disposed around (e.g., at four positions (above, below, left, and right)) a terminal to be inserted into the connector unit  5 .  FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a DC-in plug  6 A to be inserted into the connector unit  5 A. In the plug  6 A, magnets  13 ,  13   a ,  13   b , and  13   c  are disposed around (e.g., at four positions (above, below, left, and right)) a terminal to be inserted into the connector unit  5 A. 
     The magnets  10 ,  10   a ,  10   b , and  10   c  of the connector unit  5  are disposed at such position as to be opposed to the magnets  12 ,  12   a ,  12   b , and  12   c  of the plug  6 , respectively, in such a manner that their exposed sides have such a polarity that each opposed pair of magnets attract each other when the plug  6  is inserted into the connector unit  5 . Likewise, the magnets  11 ,  11   a ,  11   b , and  11   c  of the connector unit  5 A are disposed at such positions as to be opposed to the magnets  13 ,  13   a ,  13   b , and  13   c  of the plug  6 A, respectively, in such a manner that their exposed sides have such a polarity that each opposed pair of magnets attract each other when the plug  6 A is inserted into the connector unit  5 A. 
     In  FIGS. 2-10 , the N-pole sides of magnets are indicated by white circles and the S-pole sides of magnets are indicated by black circles. For example, as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the N-pole sides of all of the magnets  10 ,  10   a ,  10   b , and  10   c  of the connector unit  5  and the S-pole sides of all of the magnets  12 ,  12   a ,  12   b , and  12   c  of the plug  6  are exposed. Therefore, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the plug  6  is inserted into the connector unit  5  smoothly because each opposed pair of magnets attract each other, that is, the magnets  10  and  12 , the magnets  10   a  and  12   a , the magnets  10   b  and  12   b , and the magnets  10   c  and  12   c  attract each other. 
     Likewise, as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the S-pole sides of all of the magnets  11 ,  11   a ,  11   b , and  11   c  of the connector unit  5 A and the N-pole sides of all of the magnets  13 ,  13   a ,  13   b , and  13   c  of the plug  6 A are exposed. Therefore, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the plug  6 A is inserted into the connector unit  5 A smoothly because each opposed pair of magnets attract each other, that is, the magnets  11  and  13 , the magnets  11   a  and  13   a , the magnets  11   b  and  13   b , and the magnets  11   c  and  13   c  attract each other. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the N-pole sides of all of the magnets  10 ,  10   a ,  10   b , and  10   c  of the connector unit  5  and the N-pole sides of all of the magnets  13 ,  13   a ,  13   b , and  13   c  of the plug  6 A are exposed. Therefore, as shown in  FIG. 7 , the plug  6 A cannot be inserted into the connector unit  5  because each opposed pair of magnets repel each other, that is, the magnets  10  and  13 , the magnets  10   a  and  13   a , the magnets  10   b  and  13   b , and the magnets  10   c  and  13   c  repel each other. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the S-pole sides of all of the magnets  11 ,  11   a ,  11   b , and  11   c  of the connector unit  5 A and the S-pole sides of all of the magnets  12 ,  12   a ,  12   b , and  12   c  of the plug  6  are exposed. Therefore, as shown in  FIG. 8 , the plug  6  cannot be inserted into the connector unit  5 A because each opposed pair of magnets repel each other, that is, the magnets  11  and  12 , the magnets  11   a  and  12   a , the magnets  11   b  and  12   b , and the magnets  11   c  and  12   c  repel each other. 
     As described above, in the electronic apparatus  1 , the magnets are disposed in the plugs  6  and  6 A and the connector units  5  and  5 A (into which the respective plugs  6  and  6 A are to be inserted) in such a manner that the exposed sides of the magnets of each plug are opposite in polarity to those of the corresponding connector unit. Therefore, a user can insert the plugs  6  and  6 A into the corresponding connector units  5  and  5 A smoothly. On the other hand, the exposed sides of the magnets disposed in one of the adjoining connector units  5  and  5 A are opposite in polarity to those of the magnets disposed in the other. This prevents an event that the plug  6  which is not compatible with the connector unit  5 A is erroneously inserted into the connector unit  5 A because of the repulsive forces acting between the magnets as well as an event that the plug  6 A which is not compatible with the connector unit  5  is erroneously inserted into the connector unit  5  because of the repulsive forces acting between the magnets. 
     In particular, the terminal of the DC-in plug is smaller than the openings of the connector units that are compatible with the RJ45 plug and the RJ11 plug, respectively, and hence can be inserted into the openings of those connector units. Therefore, should the DC-in plug is inadvertently inserted into the opening of one of those connector units, the connector unit (RJ45 or RJ11) may be destroyed. However, erroneous insertion of the plug  6 A (DC-in plug or the like) can be prevented because the exposed sides of the magnets of the connector unit  5  (RJ45, RJ11 or the like) and those of the plug  6 A have such polarities as to repel each other. 
     The polarities of the exposed sides of the magnets that are disposed in each of the connector sections  5 ,  5 A, and  5 B may be varied from one magnet to another. For example, as shown in  FIG. 9 , the connector unit  5 B is equipped with a connector into which a PC/2 plug is to be inserted. PC/2 is a mini-DIN standard with a 6-core connection port and prescribes connectors that are used for a keyboard, a mouse, etc. A device that can be connected to each PS/2 connector is determined in advance; a mouse cannot be used being connected to a keyboard-dedicated connector and a keyboard cannot be used being connected to a mouse-dedicated connector. 
     In the connector unit  5 A, magnets  14 ,  14   a , and  14   b  are disposed around (e.g., at three positions) the opening into which the plug  6 A is to be inserted. In the connector unit  5 B, magnets  15 ,  15   a , and  15   b  are disposed around (e.g., at three positions) the opening into which a plug  65  is to be inserted. 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , in the plug  6 A, magnets  16 ,  16   a , and  16   b  are disposed around (e.g., at three positions) the terminal to be inserted into the connector unit  5 A. In the plug  6 B, magnets  17 ,  17   a , and  17   b  are disposed around (e.g., at three positions) the terminal to be inserted into the connector unit  5 B. 
     The magnets  14 ,  14   a , and  14   b  of the connector unit  5 A are disposed in such a manner that the magnets  16 ,  16   a , and  16   b  of the plug  6 A are located so as to correspond to the respective magnets  14 ,  14   a , and  14   b  and the exposed sides of each opposed pair of magnets have such polarities as to attract each other when the plug  6 A is inserted into the connector unit  5 A. Likewise, the magnets  15 ,  15   a , and  15   b  of the connector unit  5 B are disposed in such a manner that the magnets  17 ,  17   a , and  17   b  of the plug  6 B are located so as to correspond to the respective magnets  15 ,  15   a , and  15   b  and the exposed sides of each opposed pair of magnets have such polarities as to attract each other when the plug  6 B is inserted into the connector unit  5 B. 
     For example, the exposed sides of the magnets  14 ,  14   a , and  14   b  of the connector unit  5 A have the S pole, S pole, and N pole, respectively, and the exposed sides of the magnets  16 ,  16   a , and  16   b  of the plug  6 A have the N pole, N pole, and S pole, respectively. In this case, as shown in  FIG. 9 , the plug  6 A is inserted into the connector unit  5 A smoothly because each opposed pair of magnets attract each other, that is, the magnets  14  and  16 , the magnets  14   a  and  16   a , and the magnets  14   b  and  16   b  attract each other. 
     Likewise, for example, the exposed sides of all of the magnets  15 ,  15   a , and  15   b  of the connector unit  5 B have the N pole and the exposed sides of all of the magnets  17 ,  17   a , and  17   b  of the plug  6 B have the N pole. In this case, as shown in  FIG. 9 , the plug  6 B is inserted into the connector unit  5 B smoothly because each opposed pair of magnets attract each other, that is, the magnets  15  and  17 , the magnets  15   a  and  17   a , and the magnets  15   b  and  17   b  attract each other. 
     On the other hand, as shown in  FIG. 9 , the plug  6 B cannot be inserted into the connector unit  5 A because the two opposed pairs of magnets, that is, the magnets  14  and  17  and the magnets  14   a  and  17   a  repel each other. 
     Likewise, as shown in  FIG. 9 , the plug  6 A cannot be inserted into the connector unit  5 B because the two opposed pairs of magnets, that is, the magnets  15  and  16  and the magnets  15   a  and  16   a  repel each other. 
     As described above, in the electronic apparatus  1 , the magnets are disposed in the plugs  6 A and  6 B and the connector units  5 A and  5 B (into which the plugs  6 A and  6 B are to be inserted) in such a manner that the exposed sides of each opposed pair of magnets of each corresponding set of a plug and a connector unit, that is, the plug  6 A and the connector unit  5 A or the plug  6 B and the connector unit  5 B, have opposite polarities. Therefore, a user can insert the plugs  6 A and  6 B into the respective connector units  5 A and  5 B smoothly. On the other hand, the polarities of the exposed sides of the magnets disposed in one of the adjoining connector units  5 A and  5 B are arranged differently than in the other of the adjoining connector units  5 A and  5 B. This prevents an event that the plug  6 B which is not compatible with the connector unit  5 A is erroneously inserted into the connector unit  5 A because of the repulsive forces acting between the magnets as well as an event that the plug  6 A which is not compatible with the connector unit  5 E is erroneously inserted into the connector unit  5 B because of the repulsive forces acting between the magnets. As a result, for example, where the plugs  6 A and  6 B are DC-in plugs of different output voltages, erroneous insertion of those plugs can be prevented by changing the arrangement of the polarities of the exposed sides of the magnets depending on the output voltage. 
     In particular, PS/2 plugs of a mouse and a keyboard, for example, are similar in shape and PS/2 connectors of a mouse and a keyboard, for example, are also similar in shape. Therefore, a user may be at a loss into which connector to insert a plug. However, since the polarities of the exposed sides of the magnets are arranged differently in plugs or connectors of a mouse, a keyboard, etc., a user can insert a plug into a connector smoothly by virtue of the attractive forces acting between the magnets only if they are a correct combination. 
     Where the plug  6 B is a PC/2 plug, for example, its orientation (in both of the top/bottom and the right/left directions) to be employed when it is inserted into a corresponding connector is predetermined. Therefore, the plug  6 B should be inserted being oriented so. 
     In the connector unit  5 A, the magnets  14 ,  14   a , and  14   b  are disposed around (e.g., at three positions) the opening into which the plug  6 A is to be inserted. And in the connector unit  5 B, the magnets  15 ,  15   a , and  15   b  are disposed around (e.g., at three positions) the opening into which the plug  6 B is to be inserted. 
     In the plug  6 A, the magnets  16 ,  16   a , and  16   b  are disposed around (e.g., at three positions) the terminal to be inserted into the connector unit  5 A. And in the plug  6 B, the magnets  17 ,  17   a , and  17   b  are disposed around (e.g., at three positions) the terminal to be inserted into the connector unit  5 B. 
     The magnets  14 ,  14   a , and  14   b  of the connector unit  5 A are disposed in such a manner that the magnets  16 ,  16   a , and  16   b  of the plug  6 A are located so as to correspond to the respective magnets  14 ,  14   a , and  14   b  and the exposed sides of each opposed pair of magnets have such polarities as to attract each other when the plug  6 A is inserted into the connector unit  5 A with a correct orientation. And the magnets  14 ,  14   a , and  14   b  of the connector unit  5 A are disposed in such a manner that the exposed sides of the magnets  14 ,  14   a , and  14   b  of the connector unit  5 A and those of the magnets  16 ,  16   a , and  16   b  of the plug  6 A have such polarities as not to attract each other when the plug  6 A is inserted into the connector unit  5 A with an erroneous orientation. 
     For example, the exposed sides of the magnets  14 ,  14   a , and  14   b  of the connector unit  5 A have the S pole, S pole, and N pole, respectively, and the exposed sides of the magnets  16 ,  16   a , and  16   b  of the plug  6 A have the N pole, N pole, and S pole, respectively. In this case, as shown in  FIG. 10 , the plug  6 A is inserted into the connector unit  5 A smoothly because each opposed pair of magnets attract each other, that is, the magnets  14  and  16 , the magnets  14   a  and  16   a , and the magnets  14   b  and  16   b  attract each other, as long as the plug  6 A is oriented correctly. 
     On the other hand, as shown in  FIG. 10 , if it is attempted to insert the plug  6 A into the connector unit  5 A with an erroneous orientation (e.g., upside down), the plug  6 A cannot be inserted into the connector unit  5 B because each of the three pairs of magnets that should be opposed to each other are not opposed to each other, that is, the magnets  14  and  16 , the magnets  14   a  and  16   a , and the magnets  14   b  and  16   b , are not opposed to each other (the magnets repel each other). 
     As described above, in the electronic apparatus  1 , the magnets  14 ,  14   a , and  14   b  of the connector  5 A and the magnets  16 ,  16   a , and  16   b  of the plug  6 A are disposed in such a manner that the exposed sides of each opposed pair of magnets have opposite polarities only when the plug  6 A is inserted with a correct orientation. Therefore, a user can insert the plug  6 A into the connector unit  5 A smoothly. When it is attempted to insert the plug  6 A into the connector unit  5 A with an erroneous orientation, the repulsive forces acting between the magnets prevent the insertion. 
     In the electronic apparatus according to the invention, magnets are provided in a connector unit and a plug to be inserted into the connector unit so that the connector unit and the plug attract each other when the latter is inserted into the former. Therefore, an electronic apparatus is provided which can be manufactured at a low cost and can prevent destruction of a connector due to insertion of a non-compatible plug because it incorporates connectors that allow insertion of only compatible plugs. 
     As described with reference to the embodiment, there is provided an electronic apparatus which is manufactured at a low cost and prevents destruction of a connector due to insertion of a non-compatible plug because it incorporates connectors that allows insertion of only compatible plugs.