Apple Inc.

Mathieu P Roy

Cesar Lozano Villarreal

Arun R Varma

Vikas K Sinha

Johnathan D Simeroth

Daniel J Coster

Mahmoud R Amini

Jean-Marc Gery

Rui Zhou

Peter A Dvorak

Ross C Heyman

Adam H Herzog

Christopher J Pawlowski

Balal Khan

Shayla A Schoensee

Michael J Reis

Patrick M DalCanto

Sharif S Chang

Matthew A Lashinsky

Cesar Villareal

Sinha Vikas

Power adapters having a small-form factor, can deliver a large amount of power, can charge multiple electronic devices, and can allocate power between the multiple electronic devices in an efficient manner. One example can provide power adapters having small form factor that can be achieved by including space-efficient structures. This example can have an enclosure with first openings for power prongs, a second opening for a first connector receptacle, and a third opening for a second connector receptacle. An alignment adapter can be electromagnetically located between the power prongs and the first connector receptacle and between the power prongs and the second connector receptacle. The alignment adapter can include a compensating feature to allow each of the power prongs to be aligned with corresponding first openings, the first connector receptacle to be aligned with the second opening, and the second connector receptacle to be aligned with the third opening.

Space-efficient structures for multi-port power adapters

A power adapter for powering portable electronic devices is disclosed. The modifications and enhancements to the power adapter can reduce or eliminate the need for adhesives, flexible circuitry, and/or wiring. The power adapter includes multiple guide rails used to guide a circuit board (carrying components) to electrical springs. The electrical springs provide not only an electrical coupling, but also a mechanical coupling. As a result, wiring and/or adhesives is not required. Additionally, a cap is secured to the enclosure through melting part of the cap by, for example, ultrasonic welding without causing damage to the circuit board, as welding location(s) is/are in locations away from the electrical springs and other sensitive components. The power adapter further includes a connector connected to the circuit board. During assembly, the circuit board can pivot in three dimensions during assembly to align the connector with the cap.

Power adapter for electronic devices

An enclosure for an electronic device includes a housing having wall defining a cavity that is configured to receive an electronic assembly therein. The wall includes a plurality of housing steps formed in an interior surface. A cap includes a side surface extending around a perimeter of the cap with a plurality of cap steps formed in the side surface. The cap is positioned at an entrance to the cavity such that the plurality of housing steps align with the plurality of cap steps and welded in place. Flash from the weld is captured in a flash trap so that no weld flash is visible on the exterior surface of the enclosure.

Ultrasonic weld joint with integral flash trap

An electrical power adapter has first and second prongs that are retractable and deployable. When the prongs are in the deployed position the adapter may be mated with a receptacle and when in the retracted position the adapter has a reduced physical size. A linkage couples the first prong to the second prongs such that the first and second prongs retract and deploy simultaneously. An actuation mechanism causes the prongs to have a first detent in the deployed position and a second detent in the retracted position.

Power adapter with retractable prongs

An electrical power adapter employs a magnetically coupled mechanism to retract and deploy prongs used to interface with an electrical receptacle. The magnetically coupled mechanism is linearly displaced by a user, converting the linear displacement to rotary motion, pivoting the retractable prongs between a deployed position and a retracted position. When the retractable prongs are in the deployed position the adapter may be mated with a receptacle and when in the retracted position the adapter has a reduced physical size.

Magnetic rotation actuator

Growing community of inventors

Sunnyvale, CA, United States of America

Mathieu P Roy