# US 9,437,967 B2 · Electromagnetic connector for an industrial control system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,437,967 B2 - Document ID: US9437967B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/959,888 - Filed: 2013-08-06 - Published: 2014-11-13 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-30 - Assignees: Bedrock Automation Platforms Inc. - Applicants: Bedrock Automation Platforms Inc. - Inventors: James G. Calvin; Michael Koran; Albert Rooyakkers - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9437967B2 ## CPC - H02J 50/80: involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices - H01F 38/14: Inductive couplings - H01R 13/6205: {Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet} - H02J 50/10: using inductive coupling - H04B 5/263: {Multiple coils at either side} - H04B 5/266: {One coil at each side, e.g. with primary and secondary coils} - H01F 2038/143: {for signals} - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - H01F: MAGNETS; INDUCTANCES; TRANSFORMERS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR MAGNETIC PROPERTIES - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS - H04B: TRANSMISSION ## Abstract An electromagnetic connector is disclosed that is configured to form a first magnetic circuit portion comprising multiple coils disposed about a first core member. The electromagnetic connector is configured to mate with a second electromagnetic connector that is configured to form a second magnetic circuit portion comprising a coil disposed about a second core member. When the electromagnetic connector is mated with the second electromagnetic connector, the first core member and the second core member are configured to couple the multiple coils of the electromagnetic connector to the coil of the second electromagnetic connector with a magnetic circuit formed from the first magnetic circuit portion and the second magnetic circuit portion. The magnetic circuit is configured to induce a signal in a first coil of the multiple coils and the coil of the second electromagnetic connector when a second coil of the multiple coils is energized. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electromagnetic connector configured to form a first magnetic circuit portion of a passive hub, the electromagnetic connector comprising: a first core member including at least one of a magnetic material, a ferromagnetic material, or a ferrimagnetic material; and a plurality of coils disposed about the first core member, each one of the plurality of coils configured to separately connect to a corresponding one of a plurality of electrical circuits, the electromagnetic connector configured to mate with a second electromagnetic connector, the second electromagnetic connector configured to form a second magnetic circuit portion, the second electromagnetic connector comprising a second core member and at least one coil disposed about the second core member, the first core member and the second core member configured to couple the plurality of coils to the at least one coil with a magnetic circuit formed from the first magnetic circuit portion and the second magnetic circuit portion when the electromagnetic connector is mated with the second electromagnetic connector, the magnetic circuit configured to induce a communications signal in a first coil of the plurality of coils and the at least one coil when a second coil of the plurality of coils is energized. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electromagnetic connector as recited in claim 1, wherein each one of the plurality of electrical circuits is fabricated on a single printed circuit board. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The electromagnetic connector as recited in claim 2, wherein the single printed circuit board is configured to support the first core member and the plurality of coils. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The electromagnetic connector as recited in claim 1, further comprising at least one layer of material disposed of the first core member for separating the first core member from the second core member when the electromagnetic connector is mated with the second electromagnetic connector. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The electromagnetic connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the first core member comprises an I-shaped core member. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The electromagnetic connector as recited in claim 5, wherein the I-shaped core member is configured to mate with a second I-shaped core member. ### Claim 7 A device comprising: a plurality of electrical circuits; and an electromagnetic connector configured to form a first magnetic circuit portion of a passive hub, the electromagnetic connector comprising a first core member and a plurality of coils disposed about the first core member, the first core member including at least one of a magnetic material, a ferromagnetic material, or a ferrimagnetic material, each one of the plurality of coils configured to separately connect to a corresponding one of the plurality of electrical circuits, the electromagnetic connector configured to mate with a second electromagnetic connector, the second electromagnetic connector configured to form a second magnetic circuit portion, the second electromagnetic connector comprising a second core member and at least one coil disposed about the second core member, the first core member and the second core member configured to couple the plurality of coils to the at least one coil with a magnetic circuit formed from the first magnetic circuit portion and the second magnetic circuit portion when the electromagnetic connector is mated with the second electromagnetic connector, the magnetic circuit configured to induce a communications signal in a first coil of the plurality of coils and the at least one coil when a second coil of the plurality of coils is energized. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The device as recited in claim 7, further comprising a printed circuit board, wherein each one of the plurality of electrical circuits is fabricated on the printed circuit board. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The device as recited in claim 8, wherein the printed circuit board is configured to support the first core member and the plurality of coils. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The device as recited in claim 7, wherein at least two electrical circuits of the plurality of electrical circuits are at least substantially identical. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The device as recited in claim 7, further comprising at least one layer of material disposed of at least one of the first core member or the second core member for separating the first core member from the second core member when the first electromagnetic connector is mated with the second electromagnetic connector. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The device as recited in claim 7, wherein at least one of the first core member or the second core member comprises an I-shaped core member. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The device as recited in claim 12, wherein at least the other one of the at least one of the first core member or the second core member comprises a second I-shaped core member configured to mate with the I-shaped core member. ### Claim 14 An industrial control system comprising: an industrial element comprising a plurality of electrical circuits and a first electromagnetic connector configured to form a first magnetic circuit portion, the first electromagnetic connector comprising a first core member and a plurality of coils disposed about the first core member, each one of the plurality of coils configured to separately connect to a corresponding one of the plurality of electrical circuits; a backplane comprising a second electromagnetic connector, the second electromagnetic connector configured to form a second magnetic circuit portion, the second electromagnetic connector comprising a second core member and at least one coil disposed about the second core member; and a passive hub formed by mating the first electromagnetic connector with the second electromagnetic connector, the first core member and the second core member configured to couple the plurality of coils to the at least one coil with a magnetic circuit formed from the first magnetic circuit portion and the second magnetic circuit portion when the first electromagnetic connector is mated with the second electromagnetic connector, the magnetic circuit configured to induce a signal in a first coil of the plurality of coils and the at least one coil when a second coil of the plurality of coils is energized. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The industrial control system as recited in claim 14, further comprising a printed circuit board, wherein each one of the plurality of electrical circuits is fabricated on the printed circuit board. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The industrial control system as recited in claim 15, wherein the printed circuit board is configured to support the first core member and the plurality of coils. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The industrial control system as recited in claim 14, wherein at least two electrical circuits of the plurality of electrical circuits are at least substantially identical. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The industrial control system as recited in claim 14, further comprising at least one layer of material disposed of at least one of the first core member or the second core member for separating the first core member from the second core member when the first electromagnetic connector is mated with the second electromagnetic connector. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The industrial control system as recited in claim 14, wherein at least one of the first core member or the second core member comprises an I-shaped core member. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The industrial control system as recited in claim 19, wherein at least the other one of the at least one of the first core member or the second core member comprises a second I-shaped core member configured to mate with the I-shaped core member.