# US 10,483,688 B2 · Magnetically activated latch mechanism > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,483,688 B2 - Document ID: US10483688B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/987,864 - Filed: 2018-05-23 - Published: 2018-12-27 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2017-06-14 - Assignees: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC - Applicants: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC - Inventors: Kurt David Wrisley; Akash Atul Shah; Christopher Alan Schafer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10483688B2 ## CPC - H01R 13/6205: {Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet} - H01R 11/30: End pieces held in contact by a magnet - H01R 13/24: resilient; resiliently-mounted - H01R 13/6271: {Latching means integral with the housing (H01R13/6276, H01R13/6277, H01R13/6278 take precedence)} - H01R 13/6273: {comprising two latching arms} - H01R 13/64: Means for preventing incorrect coupling - H01R 13/665: {with built-in electronic circuit (H01R13/70, H01R13/719 take precedence)} - H01R 24/60: Contacts spaced along planar side wall transverse to longitudinal axis of engagement - H01R 2107/00: Four or more poles - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS ## Abstract A magnetic receptacle is described. The receptacle includes an electronic connector having an engagement feature on one or more sides of the electronic connector. The engagement feature is configured to engage a latching feature on a magnetic protrusion. The receptacle includes one or more receptacle magnets positioned adjacent the magnetic receptacle configured to deactivate the latching feature on the magnetic protrusion. In one implementation, a magnetic plug is described. The plug includes a plug tip. The plug includes one or more latching features. The plug includes one or more plug magnets positioned adjacent the plug tip. The one or more plug magnets are configured to cooperate with one or more receptacle magnets to transition the one or more latching features between an engaged state and a disengaged state. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A magnetic receptacle, comprising: an electronic connector having an engagement feature on one or more sides of the electronic connector, the engagement feature configured to engage a latching feature on a magnetic protrusion; and one or more receptacle magnets positioned adjacent the magnetic receptacle configured to laterally move the latching feature on the magnetic protrusion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The magnetic receptacle of claim 1, further comprising two engagement features on the electronic connector. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The magnetic receptacle of claim 1, wherein the one or more receptacle magnets includes a first receptacle magnet on a first side of the electronic connector and a second receptacle magnet on a second side of the electronic connector. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The magnetic receptacle of claim 1, the one or more receptacle magnets each generating a force of greater than an opposing force applied by a plug. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The magnetic receptacle of claim 1, the one or more receptacle magnets each generating a force of greater than 2.0 Newtons. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The magnetic receptacle of claim 1, further comprising one or more latching features with the magnetic receptacle. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The magnetic receptacle of claim 1, the one or more receptacle magnets positioned a distance from the electronic connector. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The magnetic receptacle of claim 7, the distance between the one or more receptacle magnets and the electronic connector being less than 5.0 millimeters. ### Claim 9 A magnetic plug, comprising: a plug tip; one or more latching features; and one or more plug magnets positioned adjacent the plug tip, the one or more plug magnets configured to cooperate with one or more receptacle magnets to laterally move the one or more latching features between an engaged state and a disengaged state. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The magnetic plug of claim 9, wherein the one or more latching features includes a first latching feature and a second latching feature. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The magnetic plug of claim 9, wherein the one or more plug magnets includes a first plug magnet on a first side of the plug tip and a second plug magnet on a second side of the plug tip. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The magnetic plug of claim 9, the one or more plug magnets each generating a force of greater than 2.0 Newtons. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The magnetic plug of claim 9, wherein the one or more latching features are biased toward the engaged state. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The magnetic plug of claim 9, further comprising a latching feature actuator connected to the one or more plug magnets and to the one or more latching features. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The magnetic plug of claim 14, wherein the latching feature actuator is directly connected to the one or more plug magnets. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The magnetic plug of claim 14, wherein the latching feature actuator includes one or more springs to bias the one or more latching features toward the engaged state. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The magnetic plug of claim 14, wherein the latching feature actuator includes one or more pivots to pivot the one or more latching features between the engaged state and the disengaged state. ### Claim 18 (depends on 9) The magnetic plug of claim 9, the one or more plug magnets positioned a distance from the one or more latching features. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The magnetic plug of claim 18, the distance between the one or more plug magnets and the one or more latching features being less than 5.0 millimeters. ### Claim 20 A system, comprising: a magnetic receptacle including: an electronic connector having an engagement feature on one or more sides of the electronic connector; and one or more receptacle magnets positioned adjacent the magnetic receptacle; a magnetic plug including: a plug tip; one or more latching features; and one or more plug magnets positioned adjacent the plug tip, the one or more plug magnets configured to cooperate with the one or more receptacle magnets to laterally move the one or more latching features on the magnetic plug between a friction state and a free state.