Electrical connectors – With magnet – To urge mating connectors together
Reexamination Certificate
2002-05-31
2004-05-18
Nguyen, Khiem (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
With magnet
To urge mating connectors together
Reexamination Certificate
active
06736646
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an electromagnetic induction-type connector in which two members are brought into proximity to each other so as to feed electric power or a signal from one of the two members to the other by mutual induction.
One well-known electromagnetic induction-type connector of this kind is used for supplying electric power between two members such as a car body and a door of an automobile. More specifically, a first connector
4
of an electromagnetic induction-type connector is provided at a boarding port
3
in a car body
2
of an automobile
1
, as shown in
FIGS. 37 and 38
. A second connector
6
of the electromagnetic induction-type connector is mounted on a door
5
for opening and closing the boarding port
3
.
The first connector
4
is provided with a guide mechanism
9
including a recess
7
and a moving base
8
, and a primary core
10
is supported by this guide mechanism
9
so as to slide (in directions of opening and closing of the door
5
). Coil springs
11
and
11
are provided between the bottom of the recess
7
and the moving base
8
. An annular permanent magnet
12
is mounted on that side of the moving base
8
on which the primary core
10
is mounted.
The primary core
10
includes a disk portion
13
, fixedly secured to the moving base
8
, and a cylindrical portion
14
formed on and projecting from a central portion of the disk portion
13
. A primary coil
15
, comprising a winding of a wire, is wound around the cylindrical portion
14
.
The second connector
6
includes a secondary core
18
having a cylindrical wall
16
and a bottom wall
17
. A secondary coil
19
is provided on an inner surface of the cylindrical wall
16
, and this secondary coil
19
has an internal space for receiving the cylindrical portion
14
of the primary core
10
and the primary coil
15
. A permanent magnet
20
, similar to the permanent magnet
12
of the first connector
4
, is provided at the second connector
6
, and is disposed around an open end or edge of the cylindrical wall
16
in closely-spaced relation thereto.
In the above construction, when the door
5
is closed relative to the car body
2
, the primary core
10
and the secondary core
18
are abutted against each other. The permanent magnets
12
and
20
attract each other, and the primary core
10
and the secondary core
18
are brought into close proximity to each other, and are coupled or joined together. As a result, mutual induction is produced between the primary coil
15
and the secondary coil
19
, so that electric power begins to be supplied from the car body
2
to the door
5
.
In the above conventional technique, there was not provided any mechanism for absorbing a misregistration, and therefore when there was a misregistration between the car body
2
and the door
5
(for example, a misregistration due to the improper installation of the door
5
or an aging change), there was a fear that the coupling between the primary core
10
and the secondary core
18
was adversely affected. And besides, there was a fear that the primary core
10
and the secondary core
18
impinged on each other, and were damaged.
Further, in the above conventional technique, when the primary core
10
and the secondary core
18
impinged on each other for some reason upon closing of the door
5
relative to the car body
2
, there was a fear that these cores were damaged. And besides, there was not provided any waterproof structure, and therefore there was a fear that water intruded into the car body
2
.
Further, in the above conventional technique, when the primary core
10
and the secondary core
18
impinged on each other for some reason upon closing of the door
5
relative to the car body
2
, there was a fear that these cores were damaged.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention has been made under the above circumstances, and an object of the invention is to provide an electromagnetic induction-type connector in which a misregistration is absorbed so as to positively achieve the coupling and also to prevent damage.
Another object of the invention is to provide an electromagnetic induction-type connector in which damage due to impingement is prevented. Another object is to provide an electromagnetic induction-type connector which prevents the intrusion of water.
Another object of the invention is to provide an electromagnetic induction-type connector in which damage due to impingement is prevented.
In order to solve the aforesaid object, the invention is characterized by having the following arrangement.
(1) An electromagnetic induction-type connector comprising:
a first connector on a first member which includes a first core member, and a first fitting portion; and
a second connector on a second member adapted to be brought into proximity to the first member, which includes a second core member for producing an induction electromotive force in cooperation with the first coil member, and a second fitting portion, for positioning the second connector with respect to the first connector, fitted to the first fitting portion when the second connector is brought into proximity of the first member,
wherein electric power or a signal is transmitted between the first connector and the second connector by mutual induction effect when the second member is brought into proximity to the first member.
(2) The electromagnetic induction-type connector according to (1), wherein a plurality of the first fitting portions and a plurality of the second fitting portions are provided at the first and second connectors, respectively.
(3) The electromagnetic induction-type connector according to (2), wherein the plurality of first fitting portions are disposed at opposite sides of the first core member in such a manner that the first core member is interposed between the plurality of first fitting portions, and the plurality of second fitting portions are disposed at opposite sides of the second core member in such a manner that the second core member is interposed between the plurality of second fitting portions.
(4) The electromagnetic induction-type connector according to (1), wherein a shock-absorbing resilient member which can be resiliently deformed when the first fitting portion is fitted to the second fitting portion is provided at at least one of the first fitting portion and the second fitting portion.
(5) The electromagnetic induction-type connector according to (1), wherein the first fitting portion is a recess and the second fitting portion is a projection to be inserted into the recess.
(6) The electromagnetic induction-type connector according to (5), wherein the recess includes a first tapering surface and the projection includes a second tapering surface slidable along the first tapering surface.
(7) The electromagnetic induction-type connector according to (1), wherein a shock-absorbing resilient member which can be resiliently deformed when the first fitting portion is fitted to the second fitting portion is provided at one of the first and second coil members.
(8) The electromagnetic induction-type connector according to (1), wherein one of the first and second connectors includes an elastic member for allowing the first or second core member of the one of the first and second connectors to retract upon contact between the first and second connectors.
(9) The electromagnetic induction-type connector according to (1), wherein the first core member includes a primary core and a primary coil, and the second core member includes a secondary core and a secondary coil.
(10) An electromagnetic induction-type connector comprising:
a first connector on a first member;
a second connector on a second member adapted to be brought into proximity to the first member for producing an induction electromotive force in cooperation with the first connector when the first member is brought into proximity of the second member; and
a shock-absorbing resilient member, which can be resiliently deformed upon a contact between the first and second connectors, provided at one of
Kojima Naoya
Suzuki Yasuhiro
Takahashi Hideo
Nguyen Khiem
Sughrue & Mion, PLLC
Yazaki -Corporation
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