US 12,349,275 B2 · Modular electronic building systems with magnetic interconnections and methods of using the same

Abstract

Electrical connectors, electrical modules, and systems are provided. In one aspect, an electrical connector includes a housing defining a side surface, an electrical conductor supported by the housing and including an engagement portion proximate the side surface of the housing. The engagement portion is adapted to engage another electrical conductor of another electrical connector. The connector also includes a magnet supported by the housing proximate the side surface of the housing, a projection extending from the side surface of the housing, and a receptacle defined in the side surface of the housing. In other aspects, an electrical module includes at least one of these electrical connectors. In further aspects, a system includes a plurality of these modules and the modules are selectively couplable together.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An educational apparatus, comprising:

a first circuit board comprising an input interface and an output interface;
a first magnetic connector mounted to the first circuit board;
and
a second magnetic connector mounted to the first circuit board such that an exterior end surface of the second magnetic connector is disposed substantially perpendicular to an exterior end surface of the first magnetic connector,
the first magnetic connector including at least one first conductor configured to engage a second conductor on a third magnetic connector coupled to a second circuit board, the second magnetic connector including at least one third conductor configured to engage a fourth conductor on a fourth magnetic connector coupled to a third circuit board.

2 more elements

An educational system, comprising:

a first circuit board comprising a first input interface and a first output interface;
a first magnetic connector including an exterior side surface and an exterior end surface different than the exterior side surface of the first magnetic connector, the first magnetic connector mounted to the first circuit board such that one of the first exterior side surface and the second exterior side surface of the first circuit board is substantially aligned in a same plane with the exterior side surface of the first magnetic connector, the first magnetic connector having a first conductor, a portion of the first conductor extending from the exterior end surface of the first magnetic connector;
a second circuit board comprising a first input interface and a first output interface;
and
a second magnetic connector having an exterior side surface and an exterior end surface different than the exterior side surface of the second magnetic connector, the second magnetic connector mounted to the second circuit board such that one of the first exterior side surface and the second exterior side surface of the second circuit board is substantially aligned in a same plane with the exterior side surface of the second magnetic connector, the second magnetic connector having a second conductor, a portion of the second conductor extending from the exterior end surface of the second magnetic connector.

2 more elements

An educational system, comprising:

a circuit board having a first end surface and a second end surface;
a first magnetic connector having a first housing fixedly coupled directly to the circuit board at a first end portion of the circuit board, the first end portion including the first end surface of the circuit board, the first magnetic connector having a first mounting portion and a second mounting portion, the first mounting portion configured to be removably coupled to a mounting board, the second mounting portion configured to be removably coupled to the mounting board;
and
a second magnetic connector having a second housing fixedly coupled directly to the circuit board at a second end portion of the circuit board, the second end portion including the second end surface of the circuit board, the second magnetic connector having a third mounting portion configured to be removably coupled to the mounting board and a fourth mounting portion configured to be removably coupled to the mounting board, the circuit board, the first magnetic connector and the second magnetic connector collectively having a length and configured to be collectively removably coupled to the mounting board such that (1) the first mounting portion and the second mounting member are each disposed at a first location along one of a length of the mounting board and (2) the third mounting portion and the fourth mounting portion are each disposed at a second location along the length of the mounting board, a distance between the first location and the second location substantially coinciding with the collective length of the circuit board, the first magnetic connector and the second magnetic connector.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

17/662,533Filed 9 May 2022 · continuation

Priority

26 Aug 2011

Published

US 2022/0377890 A124 Nov 2022

Granted

1 Jul 2025

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification20 codes

H05K 1/14
Details: structural association of two or more printed circuits
A63H 33/042
Building blocks, strips, or similar building parts: mechanical, electrical, optical, pneumatic or hydraulic arrangements; Motors
A63H 33/046
Building blocks, strips, or similar building parts: comprising magnetic interaction means, e.g. holding together by magnetic attraction
A63H 33/08
To be assembled without the use of additional elements: provided with complementary holes, grooves, or protuberances, e.g. dovetails

Family

Application61/527,860Us provisional application · filed 26 Aug 2011

Application13/593,891Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 24 Aug 2012

Application61/728,103Us provisional application · filed 19 Nov 2012

Application13/975,923Parent of this continuation · filed 26 Aug 2013

US 9,019,718 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 28 Apr 2015

Application15/463,510Parent of this continuation · filed 20 Mar 2017

US 9,597,607 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 21 Mar 2017

Application16/360,827Parent of this continuation · filed 21 Mar 2019

US 10,244,630 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 26 Mar 2019

US 2022/0377890 A1Pre-grant publication · published 24 Nov 2022

US 11,330,714 B2Parent of this continuation

Application13/975,923Parent of this continuation-in-part

US 2013/0050958 A1Published application

US 2013/0343025 A1Published application

US 2017/0196086 A1Published application

US 2019/0289716 A1Published application

US 12,349,275 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Modular electronic building systems with magnetic interconnections and methods of using the same

Life of this patent

Modular electronic building systems with magnetic interconnections and methods of using the same

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20