US-12626848-B2 - Magnetic latching connector with electric unlatch

US12626848B2US 12626848 B2US12626848 B2US 12626848B2US-12626848-B2

Abstract

A connector system includes a connector base, a connector head, a latch, and a solenoid. The connector base and the connector head may be coupled together to establish an electrical connection therebetween. The connector base and connector head may be latched and unlatched using a combination of a magnet and the solenoid. The magnet facilitates latching and the solenoid facilitates unlatching of the connector head from the connector base.

Inventors

John Paul Boudreaux
Brandon Dombrowski

Assignees

Testron Corporation

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20230630

Claims (18)

1 . An electrical connector assembly comprising: a first electrical connector portion; a second electrical connector portion configured to be selectively coupled to the first electrical connector portion to establish an electrical connection therebetween; a latch pivotably coupled to the first electrical connector portion at a pivot point, wherein the first electrical connector portion and the second electrical connector portion are in a locked state when the latch is pivotably positioned to engage at least a portion of the second electrical connector portion, and wherein the first electrical connector portion and the second electrical connector portion are in an unlocked state when the latch is pivotably positioned not to engage the portion of the second electrical connector portion; a magnet coupled to the first electrical connector portion, wherein the magnet is configured to magnetically engage the latch to cause the latch to maintain a first position; and a solenoid configured to, in response to receiving an electrical control signal, actuate the latch by overcoming the magnetic attraction applied on the latch by the magnet to cause the first electrical connector portion and the second electrical connector portion to be in the unlocked state, wherein the latch includes a latch pivot axis arranged at the pivot point, wherein the latch includes a first longitudinal portion on a first side of the latch pivot axis and a second longitudinal portion on a second side of the latch pivot axis opposite the first side, and wherein the magnet is aligned with and configured to attract the first longitudinal portion of the latch towards the first position to maintain the lock state and the solenoid is configured to engage with the second longitudinal portion of the latch so as to actuate the latch away from the first position to allow the unlocked state.
2 . The electrical connector assembly of claim 1 further comprising a first enclosure configured to house the first electrical connector portion and a second enclosure configured to house the second electrical connector portion.
3 . The electrical connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the magnet is disposed within the first electrical connector portion.
4 . The electrical connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the solenoid is an electrically actuated solenoid.
5 . The electrical connector system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the first and second connector portions includes a recess formed in a top surface of the at least one of the first and second connector portions, and wherein at least a portion of the latch is arranged within the recess when the latch is in the locked state.
6 . The electrical connector system of claim 5 , wherein, in the locked state, the an outer surface of the latch is flush with the top surface of at least one of the first and second connector portions.
7 . The electrical connector system of claim 1 , wherein the latch is arranged on an outer side of the first electrical connector portion.
8 . The electrical connector system of claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the latch extends from a first terminal end of the latch to the latch pivot axis and the second portion of the latch extends from a second terminal end of the latch opposite the first terminal end to the latch pivot axis, wherein the magnet contacts the first portion in the locked state, wherein the solenoid is arranged adjacent to the second portion of the latch so as to engage with the second portion of the latch so as to actuate the latch, and wherein actuation of the latch via the solenoid moves the first portion out of contact with the magnet.
9 . The electrical connector system of claim 8 , wherein the solenoid is arranged on an outer side of the first electrical connector portion.
10 . An electrical connector system comprising: a first electrical connector portion; a second electrical connector portion; a latch configured to lockably join together the first electrical connector portion and the second electrical connector portion to complete an electric circuit therebetween; a magnet configured to magnetically secure the latch in a predefined position; and a solenoid configured to, in response to receiving an electrical control signal, actuate the latch to overcome magnetic force of the magnet to cause the first electrical connector portion to uncouple from the second electrical connector portion wherein the latch is pivotably coupled to a pivot point of the first electrical connector portion and configured to pivot relative thereto; and wherein the latch includes a latch pivot axis arranged at the pivot point, wherein the latch includes a first longitudinal portion on a first side of the latch pivot axis and a second longitudinal portion on a second side of the latch pivot axis opposite the first side, and wherein the magnet is aligned with and configured to attract the first portion of the latch towards the predefined position to maintain the locked state and the solenoid is aligned with and configured to engage the second portion to move the latch away from the predefined position to allow the unlocked state.
11 . The electrical connector system of claim 10 , wherein the magnet is disposed within the first electrical connector portion.
12 . The electrical connector system of claim 10 , wherein the magnet is selected from a list including a neodymium magnet, a samarium cobalt magnet, an alnico magnet, or a ferrite magnet.
13 . An electrical connector assembly comprising: a first electrical connector portion; a second electrical connector portion configured to be selectively coupled to the first electrical connector portion to establish an electrical connection therebetween, wherein the first electrical connector portion and the second electrical connector portion are in a locked state when coupled together and in an unlocked state when not coupled together; a latch configured to lockably join together the first electrical connector portion and the second electrical connector portion; a magnet coupled to the first electrical connector portion, wherein the magnet is configured to apply magnetic attraction to the latch to cause the first electrical connector portion and the second electrical connector portion to maintain the locked state; and a solenoid configured to, in response to receiving an electrical control signal, cause force to be applied to overcome the magnetic attraction applied by the magnet so as to actuate the latch to cause the first electrical connector portion and the second electrical connector portion to be in the unlocked state, wherein the latch is pivotable about a latch pivot axis on the first connector portion, and wherein the magnet is arranged offset from the latch pivot axis along a longitudinal extent of the latch on a first side of the latch, and the solenoid is arranged offset from the latch pivot axis along the longitudinal extent of the latch on a second side of the latch pivot axis opposite the first side.
14 . The electrical connector assembly of claim 13 wherein the magnet is configured to magnetically engage the latch to cause the latch to maintain a predefined position.
15 . The electrical connector assembly of claim 14 , wherein the first electrical connector portion and the second electrical connector portion are in the locked state when the latch is in a latched position and is pivotably positioned to engage at least a portion of the second electrical connector portion, and wherein the first electrical connector portion and the second electrical connector portion are in the unlocked state when the latch is in an unlatched position and is pivotably positioned not to engage the portion of the second electrical connector portion.
16 . The electrical connector assembly of claim 14 , wherein the solenoid is configured to, in response to receiving an electrical control signal, actuate the latch to overcome magnetic force of the magnet to cause the first electrical connector portion to uncouple from the second electrical connector portion.
17 . The electrical connector assembly of claim 13 , wherein the magnet includes one of a neodymium magnet, a samarium cobalt magnet, an alnico magnet, or a ferrite magnet.
18 . The electrical connector assembly of claim 13 , wherein the magnet is disposed within the first electrical connector portion.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This non-provisional application claims the benefit and priority, under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) and any other applicable laws or statutes, to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/359,054 filed Jul. 7, 2022, the entire disclosure of which is hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure generally relates to systems and methods for electrical connectors. BACKGROUND Over the past several decades, the number of electrical components used in automobiles, and other on-road and off-road vehicles such as pick-up trucks, commercial vans and trucks, semi-trucks, motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, and sports utility vehicles (collectively “motor vehicles”) has increased dramatically. Electrical components are used in motor vehicles for a variety of reasons, including but not limited to, monitoring, improving and/or controlling vehicle performance, emissions, safety and creates comforts to the occupants of the motor vehicles. Considerable time, resources, and energy have been expended to develop power distribution components that meet the varied needs and complexities of the motor vehicle market; however, conventional power distribution components suffer from a variety of shortcomings. Motor vehicles are challenging electrical environments for both the electrical components and the connector assemblies due to a number of conditions, including but not limited to, space constraints that make initial installation difficult, harsh operating conditions, large ambient temperature ranges, prolonged vibration, heat loads, and longevity, all of which can lead to component and/or connector failure. For example, incorrectly installed connectors, which typically occur in the assembly plant, and dislodged connectors, which typically occur in the field, are two significant failure modes for the electrical components and motor vehicles. Each of these failure modes leads to significant repair and warranty costs. In light of these challenging electrical environments, considerable time, money, and energy have been expended to find power distribution components that meet the needs of the markets. SUMMARY An electrical connector assembly includes a first electrical connector portion, a second electrical connector portion, a latch, a magnet, and a solenoid. The second electrical connector portion is configured to be selectively coupled to the first electrical connector portion to establish an electrical connection therebetween. The latch is pivotably coupled to the first electrical connector portion at a pivot point. The first electrical connector portion and the second electrical connector portion are in a locked state when the latch is pivotably positioned to engage at least a portion of the second electrical connector portion. When the latch is pivotably positioned to engage at least a portion of the second electrical connector portion, the latch is in a latched position. When the latch is pivotably positioned to not engage at least a portion of the second electrical connector portion, the latch is in an unlatched position. The first electrical connector portion and the second electrical connector portion are in an unlocked state when the latch is pivotably positioned not to engage at least a portion of the second electrical connector portion. The magnet is coupled to the first electrical connector portion and is configured to magnetically engage the latch to cause the latch to maintain a predefined position. The solenoid is configured to, in response to receiving an electrical control signal, actuate the latch by overcoming the magnetic attraction applied on the latch by the magnet to cause the first electrical connector portion and the second electrical connector portion to be in the unlocked state. In some embodiments, the assembly further includes a first enclosure configured to house the first electrical connector portion and a second enclosure configured to house the second electrical connector portion. The second electrical connection portion can include a multi-pin electrical connector. The multi-pin electrical connector can be one of an on-board diagnostics (OBD) electrical connector, a vehicle seat sub-assembly electrical connector, a vehicle door sub-assembly electrical connector, an electrical connector for a motor, or an electrical connector for a sensor. In some embodiments, the magnet is disposed within the first electrical connector portion. The solenoid can be an electrically actuated solenoid. The latch can be a metal lever. The magnet can be one of a neodymium magnet, a samarium cobalt magnet, an alnico magnet, or a ferrite magnet. An electrical connector system includes a first electrical connector portion, a second electrical connector portion, a latch, a magnet, and a solenoid. The latch is configured to lockably join together the first electrical connector portion and the second electrical connector portion to complete an ele