# US 11,050,187 B2 · Electrical connection system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,050,187 B2 - Document ID: US11050187B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/308,978 - Filed: 2017-06-12 - Published: 2019-10-10 - Granted: 2021-06-29 - Earliest claimed: 2016-06-13 - Assignees: Gulplug - Applicants: Gulplug - Inventors: Ronan Troufflard; Amandine Bray; Vianney Poiron; Bruno Chazel - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11050187B2 ## CPC - H01R 13/6205: {Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet} - B60L 53/16: Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles - B60L 53/31: Charging columns specially adapted for electric vehicles - B60L 53/35: Means for automatic or assisted adjustment of the relative position of charging devices and vehicles - H01R 13/631: for engagement only - H02J 7/751: {concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries} - H01R 2201/26: for vehicles - Y02T 10/70: Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries - Y02T 10/7072: Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors - Y02T 90/12: Electric charging stations - Y02T 90/14: Plug-in electric vehicles - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS - B60L: PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of electrical propulsion units or of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion in vehicles B60K1/00, B60K6/20; arrangements or mounting of electrical gearing in vehicles B60K17/12, B60K17/14; preventing wheel slip by reducing power in rail vehicles B61C15/08; dynamo-electric machines H02K; control or regulation of electric motors H02P); SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (electric coupling devices combined with mechanical couplings of vehicles B60D1/64; electric heating for vehicles B60H1/00); ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL (control or regulation of electric motors H02P); MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract An electrical connector includes an outer envelope with a mechanical or magnetic guide and a first connector integrated therein. The first connector comprises a front face on the envelope, a first electrical connection unit, and a magnetic device that attracts a second connector to cause its abutment against the front face. The magnetic device electrically connects the first and second electrical connection units to a second electrical connection unit of the second connector. The guide, which is around the front face, guides the second connector toward the first connector to ensure magnetic joining of the first and second connectors. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus comprising an electrical connector, said electrical connector comprising a guide, an outer envelope, and a first connector integrated into said outer envelope, wherein said first connector comprises a front face, a first electrical connection unit, and a magnetic device, wherein said front face is on said outer envelope, wherein said first electrical connection unit is configured to connect to an electrical supply circuit, wherein said magnetic device magnetically attracts a second connector, wherein, as a result of said magnetic attraction, said second connector adheres against said front face of said first connector, wherein said magnetic device electrically connects said first electrical connection unit to a second electrical connection unit of said second connector, wherein said guide is integrated into said outer envelope, said guide being arranged around said front face, wherein said guide ensures guiding of said second connector toward said first connector to ensure magnetic joining of said first and second connectors, wherein said guide comprises a magnetic guide that comprises a magnetic-field source. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said guide comprises a guide surface that extends said front face radially outward. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said guide surface is concave, wherein said guide surface forms a receptacle, and wherein said first connector is integrated into a base of said receptacle. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said magnetic field source comprises an electromagnetic coil and wherein said outer envelope accommodates said electromagnetic coil. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said magnetic-field source comprises annular coils that are concentric with said first connector and wherein said apparatus further comprises a controller for controlling said annular coils. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said controller is configured to execute a control sequence that comprises successive steps of activation of said annular coils. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a movable arm that supports said magnetic-field source, wherein said outer envelope accommodates said movable arm. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said outer envelope comprises magnetic plastic. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a first part and a second part, wherein said electrical connector is a first electrical connector that is a constituent of said first part, wherein said first electrical connector is configured to connect to a source of electrical power, wherein said second part comprises a second electrical connector that is configured to connect to a load for consuming power provided by said source of electric power, and wherein said magnetic device attracts said second connector to electrically connect said first and second electrical connectors. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said first part is placed on the ground. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said first part is integrated into the ground. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a support to raise one of said first and second parts relative to the ground. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising rails that cooperate with said wheels. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising electrical conductors, wherein said rails accommodate said conductors. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said first part comprises a controller and a detector connected to said controller for guiding said first part in movement towards an electric vehicle. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a support that causes one of said first and second parts to be raised and then lowered relative to the ground. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said outer envelope comprises an outer surface that defines an inner volume. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said guide surrounds said front face. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said guide comprises a permanent magnet and wherein said outer envelope accommodates said permanent magnet. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said outer envelope surrounds said first connector and extends beyond said first connector's front face. ### Claim 21 An apparatus comprising an electrical connector, said electrical connector comprising a guide, an outer envelope, and a first connector integrated into said outer envelope, wherein said first connector comprises a front face, a first electrical connection unit, and a magnetic device, wherein said front face is on said outer envelope, wherein said first electrical connection unit is configured to connect to an electrical supply circuit, wherein said magnetic device magnetically attracts a second connector, wherein, as a result of said magnetic attraction, said second connector adheres against said front face of said first connector, wherein said magnetic device electrically connects said first electrical connection unit to a second electrical connection unit of said second connector, wherein said guide is integrated into said outer envelope, said guide being arranged around said front face, wherein said guide ensures guiding of said second connector toward said first connector to ensure magnetic joining of said first and second connectors, and wherein said guide is selected from the group consisting of a mechanical guide and a magnetic guide, wherein said outer envelope forms a guide surface of said guide, said guide surface being distinct from said front face, and wherein said guide surface has a surface area larger than that of said front face of said first connector and extends away from said front face.