The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 05, 2017
Filed:
Mar. 03, 2016
Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA (US);
Nathan P. Bosscher, Campbell, CA (US);
Eric S. Jol, San Jose, CA (US);
Albert J. Golko, Saratoga, CA (US);
Jeffrey J. Terlizzi, San Francisco, CA (US);
Jahan C. Minoo, San Jose, CA (US);
Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA (US);
Abstract
A stackable connector interface with magnetic retention for electronic devices and accessories can allow power and data to be transferred between one or more stacked connectors. Each interconnected stackable connector includes one or more magnetic elements, which magnetic elements have poles arranged to facilitate mating with other stackable connectors. The magnetic elements provide a magnetic retention force that holds mated connectors in contact with each other. In some embodiments, the connectors include connection detection circuitry for determining whether the connectors are mated with other connectors, thereby allowing the connectors to prevent live contacts from being exposed at an unmated surface of the connectors. In some embodiments, routing circuitry is included to determine how signals should be transferred between the interconnected stackable connectors and/or corresponding devices.