Magnetic connector
AssigneeCercacor Laboratories, Inc.
InventorsMassi Joe E. Kiani, Marcelo M. Lamego, Cristiano Dalvi, Hung The Vo
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A magnetic connector has a receptacle and a plug. The receptacle has an electromagnet comprising an inner core, an outer core, a coil disposed around the inner core and an air gap defined by the edges of the inner and outer cores. The plug has a plug core and an anchor defined by the plug core edge. The anchor is configured to insert into the air gap as a receptacle socket electrically connects with plug pins. The coil is energized and de-energized so as to assist in the insertion or removal of the anchor from within the air gap and the corresponding connection and disconnection of the socket and pins.
Claims11
A magnetic connector comprising:
- a first magnetic element;
- a second magnetic element;
- a first contact set housed proximate the first magnetic element;
- a second contact set housed proximate the second magnetic element;
- at least one of the magnetic elements responsive to a current input so as to alter a magnetic coupling between the magnetic elements;
- the magnetic coupling assists in at least one of making and breaking an electrical connection between the first contact set and the second contact set;
- wherein the first magnetic element comprises:
- a core of magnetically permeable material;
- a conductive coil having “N” turns disposed around at least a portion of the core;
- a plurality of coil leads in communications with a current source;
- an air gap defined within the core;
- and
- the current source having “r’ amps energizing the coil so as to generate an electromagnetic field within the air gap proportional to N times I.
A magnetic connector method for interconnecting an optical sensor and a physiological monitor, the magnetic connector having a monitor receptacle and a cable plug, the magnetic connector method comprising the steps of:
- defining a receptacle core and a plug core each comprising a magnetically permeable material;
- defining a plug core comprising a magnetically permeable material;
- housing receptacle contacts within the receptacle core;
- housing plug contacts within the plug core;
- interconnecting the receptacle core and the plug core so as to electrically connect the receptacle contacts and the plug contacts;
- and
- magnetically coupling the receptacle core and the plug core so as to maintain the interconnection;
- wherein the magnetically coupling further comprises disposing a coil around a first one of the receptacle and the plug cores so as to form an electromagnet;
- and
- wherein the magnetically coupling further comprises:
- disposing an air gap in the first one of the cores;
- and
- extending an anchor from a second one of the cores.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.