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US 12,626,848 B2Granted
Magnetic latching connector with electric unlatch
AssigneeTestron Corporation
InventorsJohn Paul Boudreaux, Brandon Dombrowski
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A connector system includes a connector base, a connector head, a latch, and a solenoid. The connector base and the connector head may be coupled together to establish an electrical connection therebetween. The connector base and connector head may be latched and unlatched using a combination of a magnet and the solenoid. The magnet facilitates latching and the solenoid facilitates unlatching of the connector head from the connector base.
Claims18
An electrical connector assembly comprising:
- a first electrical connector portion;
- a second electrical connector portion configured to be selectively coupled to the first electrical connector portion to establish an electrical connection therebetween;
- a latch pivotably coupled to the first electrical connector portion at a pivot point, wherein the first electrical connector portion and the second electrical connector portion are in a locked state when the latch is pivotably positioned to engage at least a portion of the second electrical connector portion, and wherein the first electrical connector portion and the second electrical connector portion are in an unlocked state when the latch is pivotably positioned not to engage the portion of the second electrical connector portion;
- a magnet coupled to the first electrical connector portion, wherein the magnet is configured to magnetically engage the latch to cause the latch to maintain a first position;
- and
- a solenoid configured to, in response to receiving an electrical control signal, actuate the latch by overcoming the magnetic attraction applied on the latch by the magnet to cause the first electrical connector portion and the second electrical connector portion to be in the unlocked state,
- wherein the latch includes a latch pivot axis arranged at the pivot point, wherein the latch includes a first longitudinal portion on a first side of the latch pivot axis and a second longitudinal portion on a second side of the latch pivot axis opposite the first side, and wherein the magnet is aligned with and configured to attract the first longitudinal portion of the latch towards the first position to maintain the lock state and the solenoid is configured to engage with the second longitudinal portion of the latch so as to actuate the latch away from the first position to allow the unlocked state.
4 more elements
An electrical connector system comprising:
- a first electrical connector portion;
- a second electrical connector portion;
- a latch configured to lockably join together the first electrical connector portion and the second electrical connector portion to complete an electric circuit therebetween;
- a magnet configured to magnetically secure the latch in a predefined position;
- and
- a solenoid configured to, in response to receiving an electrical control signal, actuate the latch to overcome magnetic force of the magnet to cause the first electrical connector portion to uncouple from the second electrical connector portion
- wherein the latch is pivotably coupled to a pivot point of the first electrical connector portion and configured to pivot relative thereto;
- and
- wherein the latch includes a latch pivot axis arranged at the pivot point, wherein the latch includes a first longitudinal portion on a first side of the latch pivot axis and a second longitudinal portion on a second side of the latch pivot axis opposite the first side, and wherein the magnet is aligned with and configured to attract the first portion of the latch towards the predefined position to maintain the locked state and the solenoid is aligned with and configured to engage the second portion to move the latch away from the predefined position to allow the unlocked state.
6 more elements
An electrical connector assembly comprising:
- a first electrical connector portion;
- a second electrical connector portion configured to be selectively coupled to the first electrical connector portion to establish an electrical connection therebetween, wherein the first electrical connector portion and the second electrical connector portion are in a locked state when coupled together and in an unlocked state when not coupled together;
- a latch configured to lockably join together the first electrical connector portion and the second electrical connector portion;
- a magnet coupled to the first electrical connector portion, wherein the magnet is configured to apply magnetic attraction to the latch to cause the first electrical connector portion and the second electrical connector portion to maintain the locked state;
- and
- a solenoid configured to, in response to receiving an electrical control signal, cause force to be applied to overcome the magnetic attraction applied by the magnet so as to actuate the latch to cause the first electrical connector portion and the second electrical connector portion to be in the unlocked state,
- wherein the latch is pivotable about a latch pivot axis on the first connector portion, and wherein the magnet is arranged offset from the latch pivot axis along a longitudinal extent of the latch on a first side of the latch, and the solenoid is arranged offset from the latch pivot axis along the longitudinal extent of the latch on a second side of the latch pivot axis opposite the first side.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.