Magnetic Connector Power Supply Blocking Circuit

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Solution Overview

Problem

Magnetic connectors often experience erroneous connections before stabilization, leading to potential device damage or malfunction, and existing over-current limiting circuits are ineffective in such situations.

Innovation Solution

A magnetic connector module with a power supply blocking circuit, featuring pattern electrodes and pin terminals with concentric circle shapes and embedded magnets, where power is only supplied when the ground and signal terminals are electrically short-circuited, and data outputs are stopped if voltage exceeds a predetermined level, preventing power and data flow during erroneous connections.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a magnetic connector is used to enable free detachment and rotation of the electronic device, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to erroneous connections before stabilization

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefree detachment and rotationVSAvoidconnection stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by establishing the short-circuit connection between the ground terminal and signal terminal before power supply is activated. The power supply blocking circuit pre-configures the blocking state and only releases power after detecting the stable short-circuit condition, ensuring connection stability is verified before operational use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses an intermediary mechanism (the power supply blocking circuit) that mediates between the magnetic connector's mechanical connection and the electrical power supply. This intermediary detects the connection status and controls power flow, resolving the conflict between mechanical ease of operation and electrical reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If power supply is continuously provided to ensure uninterrupted operation, then the productivity is improved, but the object-affected harmful factors increase due to potential damage from erroneous connections

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuninterrupted operationVSAvoiddevice damage from erroneous connection
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The power supply blocking circuit serves as an intermediary that intelligently controls power flow based on connection status. It maintains productivity by enabling continuous operation once connected, while simultaneously protecting against harmful factors by blocking power during erroneous transient connections, thus resolving the contradiction between uninterrupted operation and damage prevention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Instantly restricts power supply and prevents data output during erroneous connections, thereby preventing device damage or malfunction, ensuring stable and safe connection establishment.

Implementation Method 1

the pattern electrode part magnets and the pin terminal part magnets are magnetically coupled to each other to allow the pattern electrodes and the plurality of pin terminals to contact each other

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic coupling: Magnetism

Data Source

PatentEP2770586B1Magnetic connector module having power supply blocking circuit
Publication Date: 2016.09.14 SPS CO LTD
  • EP2770586B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2770586B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2770586B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Provided is a magnetic connector module including: a pattern electrode part module 100; and a pin terminal part module 200, wherein the pattern electrode part module includes pattern electrodes 111 to 114 having a concentric circle shape, pattern electrode part magnets, and a pattern electrode part connector, wherein the pin terminal part module includes a plurality of pin terminals 211 to 215, pin terminal part magnets, and a pin terminal part connector wherein the plurality of pin terminals include a power terminal VCC (211), a ground power terminal GND (214), and a signal terminal S (215), wherein an electrode contacting the ground power terminal GND and an electrode contacting the signal terminal S among the pattern electrodes are electrically short-circuited, and wherein the pin terminal part module includes the power supply blocking circuit allowing power supply to the power terminal VCC only in a state in which the ground power terminal GND and the signal terminal S are electrically short-circuited.