Modular electronic building systems with magnetic interconnections and methods of using the same

Abstract

Electrical connectors, electrical modules, and systems are provided. In one aspect, an electrical connector includes a housing defining a side surface, an electrical conductor supported by the housing and including an engagement portion proximate the side surface of the housing. The engagement portion is adapted to engage another electrical conductor of another electrical connector. The connector also includes a magnet supported by the housing proximate the side surface of the housing, a projection extending from the side surface of the housing, and a receptacle defined in the side surface of the housing. In other aspects, an electrical module includes at least one of these electrical connectors. In further aspects, a system includes a plurality of these modules and the modules are selectively couplable together.

1 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A system, comprising:
 a plurality of electronic building blocks selectively couplable together to transmit electrical current from a first electronic building block from the plurality of electronic building blocks to a second electronic building block from the plurality of electronic building blocks including a connector adapted to couple to a connector of another one of the electronic building blocks,   the first electronic building block from the plurality of electronic building blocks being a power electronic building block, the second electronic building block from the plurality of electronic building blocks being an input electronic building block, and a third electronic building block from the plurality of electronic building blocks being an output electronic building block,   each connector of each electronic building block from the plurality of electronic building blocks including (1) a housing, (2) at least three conductors, at least a portion of each of the at least three conductors extending outwardly from an outer surface of the housing, and (3) a magnet disposed to magnetically couple to a magnet of another connector of an electronic building block from the plurality of electronic building blocks,   when the first electronic building block is coupled to the second electronic building block and the third electronic building block is coupled to the second electronic building block, (1) the at least three conductors of a first connector of the first electronic building block directly engage a different one of the at least three conductors of a second connector of the second electronic building block, (2) a magnet of the first connector magnetically couples to a magnet of the second connector such that the magnet of the first connector is substantially aligned with the magnet of the second connector, and (3) a functionality of at least one electronic building block from the plurality of electronic building blocks is dependent upon at least another electronic building block from the plurality of electronic building blocks.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein, for each connector of each electronic building block from the plurality of electronic building blocks, the at least three conductors are disposed laterally to each other in a linear row. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the magnet of the second connector is a first magnet,   when the first electronic building block is coupled to the second electronic building block and the third electronic building block is coupled to the second electronic building block, the at least three conductors of a third connector of the third electronic building block engage a different one of the at least three conductors of a fourth connector of the second electronic building block, and a magnet of the third connector magnetically couples to a second magnet of the second connector such that the magnet of the third connector is substantially aligned with the second magnet of the second connector   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the magnet of each connector of each electronic building block from the plurality of electronic building blocks is a first magnet, each connector of each electronic building block from the plurality of electronic building blocks includes a second magnet disposed to magnetically couple to another magnet of another connector of an electronic building block from the plurality of electronic building blocks,   the at least three conductors of each electronic building block from the plurality of electronic building blocks disposed laterally between the first magnet and the second magnet.   
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the at least three conductors of the first electronic building block being male conductors that project outwardly from the first housing a first distance, the at least three conductors of the second electronic building block being female conductors that project outwardly from the second housing a second distance, the second distance being less than the first distance. 
     
     
         24 . A system, comprising:
 a plurality of electronic building blocks adapted to be selectively coupled to one another, the plurality of electronic building blocks including at least a first electronic building block and a second electronic building block,   the first electronic building block being an input module, the first electronic building block including a first circuit board, a first connector including a first housing, at least three electrical conductors coupled to the first housing, and a first magnet coupled to the first housing,   the second electronic building block being a power electronic building block, the second electronic building block including a second circuit board, a second connector including a second housing, at least three electrical conductors coupled to the second housing, and, a second magnet coupled to the second housing,   the at least three conductors of the first electronic building block being male conductors that project outwardly from the first housing a first distance, the at least three conductors of the second electronic building block being female conductors that project outwardly from the second housing a second distance, the second distance being less than the first distance,   the first electronic building block is coupled to the second electronic building block when the first magnet is magnetically coupled to the second magnet and the at least three electrical conductors of the first electronic building block engages a different one of the at least three electrical conductors of the second electronic building block.   
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the at least three conductors of the first electrical connector are disposed laterally to each other in a linear row, the at least three conductors of the second electrical connector are disposed laterally to each other in a linear row. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein:
 the first electronic building block includes a third magnet coupled to the first housing, the second electronic building block includes a fourth magnet coupled to the second housing,   the at least three conductors of first electronic building block disposed laterally between the first magnet and the third magnet,   the at least three conductors of second electronic building block disposed laterally between the second magnet and the fourth magnet.   
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein when the first electronic building block is coupled to the second electronic building block, the first magnet is magnetically coupled to the second magnet such that the first magnet is substantially aligned with the second magnet. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein:
 the first housing of the first electronic building block includes a monolithically formed projection and defines a receptacle, the projection extending outwardly from a side surface of the first housing and configured to be received within a receptacle of the another electronic building block from the plurality of electronic building blocks,   the receptacle of the first housing of the first electronic building block configured to receive therein a projection of the another electronic building block from the plurality of electronic building blocks.   
     
     
         29 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a circuit board;   a first connector mounted to a first end portion of the circuit board and including a first housing; and   a second connector mounted to a second end portion of the circuit board on an opposite end of the circuit board as the first end portion, the second connector including a second housing,   the first connector including at least three electrical conductors coupled to the first housing, the second connector including at least three electrical conductors coupled to the second housing,   the at least three conductors of the first connector being male conductors that project outwardly from an outer surface of the first housing a first distance, the at least three conductors of the second connector being female conductors that project outwardly from an outer surface of the second housing a second distance, the second distance being less than the first distance,   each of the at least three conductors of the first conductor configured to electrically engage a different one of at least three conductors of a third connector coupled to a second circuit board,   each of the at least three conductors of the second connector configured to electrically engage a different one of at least three conductors of a fourth connector coupled to a third circuit board.   
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the at least three conductors of the first connector are disposed laterally to each other in a linear row, the at least three conductors of the second connector are disposed laterally to each other in a linear row. 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein:
 the first connector includes a first magnet and a second magnet each coupled to the first housing,   the second connector includes a third magnet and a fourth magnet each coupled to the second housing,   each of the first magnet and the second magnet configured to magnetically engage a different magnet of the third connector, each of the third magnet and the fourth magnet configured to magnetically engage a different magnet of the fourth connector.   
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein:
 the first connector includes a first magnet and a second magnet each coupled to the first housing,   the second connector includes a third magnet and a fourth magnet each coupled to the second housing,   each of the first magnet and the second magnet configured to magnetically engage a different magnet of the third connector, each of the third magnet and the fourth magnet configured to magnetically engage a different magnet of the fourth connector,   the at least three conductors of the first connector disposed laterally between the first magnet and the second magnet,   the at least three conductors of second connector disposed laterally between the third magnet and the fourth magnet.   
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein:
 the first connector includes a first magnet coupled to the first housing, the second connector includes a second magnet coupled to the second housing,   the first magnet configured to magnetically engage a magnet of the third connector such that the first magnet is substantially aligned with the magnet of the third connector,   the second magnet configured to magnetically engage a magnet of the fourth connector such that the second magnet is substantially aligned with the magnet of the fourth connector.   
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the first housing of the first connector includes a monolithically formed projection and defines a receptacle, the projection extending outwardly from a side surface of the first housing and configured to be received within a receptacle of the third electrical connector, the receptacle of the first housing of the first connector configured to receive therein a projection of the third connector. 
     
     
         35 . An apparatus, comprising:
 an electronic building block including a circuit board;
 a housing fixedly coupled to the circuit board; 
 at least three electrical conductors coupled to the housing, each electrical conductor from the at least three electrical conductors including an engagement portion extending outwardly from an outer surface of the housing, the engagement portion of each electrical conductor from the at least three electrical conductors being adapted to engage a different electrical conductor of a device distinct from the electronic building block; 
 a magnet coupled to the housing disposed for magnetically coupling to a magnet of the device, 
   when the electronic building block is coupled to the device, the engagement portion of each electrical conductor from the at least three conductors engages a different conductor of at least three conductors of the device, and the magnet of the electronic building block magnetically couples to the magnet of the device such that the magnet of the electronic building block is substantially aligned with the magnet of the device.   
     
     
         36 . The electronic building block of  claim 35 , wherein the housing of the electronic building block includes a monolithically formed projection and defines a receptacle, the projection extending outwardly from a side surface of the housing and configured to be received within a receptacle of the device distinct from the electronic building block, the receptacle of the housing of the electronic building block configured to receive therein a projection of the device. 
     
     
         37 . The electronic building block of  claim 35 , wherein the housing of the electronic building block defines a receptacle configured to receive therein a projection of the device, the receptacle having a back wall defined by the housing. 
     
     
         38 . The electronic building block of  claim 35 , wherein the at least three conductors are disposed laterally to each other in a linear row.