Patent ID: 7878863

Claim:
An audio electrical connector to provide both electrically conductive connection of audio signals and inductive connection of signals for a portable electronic device, comprising a plurality of electrically conductive members configured to provide electrically conductive connection of audio signals to or from other respective electrically conductive members, an inductive electrical member configured to provide inductive coupling of signals with another inductive electrical member, a housing, and wherein the housing supports the electrically conductive members in linearly spaced apart relation along an axis such that the electrically conductive members are in electrically separated relation with respect to each other along the axis, and the housing supports the inductive electrical member in positional relation so as not to interfere with the electrically conductive members, and wherein the electrically conductive members and the inductive electrical member are configured to be positioned with respect to a further electrical connector, which has a housing and electrically conductive and inductive coupling portions positioned with respect to such further electrical connector housing along a further axis, for electrically conductive connection and inductive coupling, respectively, to such electrically conductive and inductive coupling portions when the housing and such further electrical connector housing are in position with respect to each other with the axis and further axis in generally congruent relation.