Electromagnetic connections for dynamically mating and un-mating a wired head-mounted display
An apparatus for electrically connecting electronic devices includes a first connector including an electromagnet. The apparatus also includes a second connector that includes a magnetic element and is detachably coupleable to the first connector. The electromagnet is energizeable to selectively couple and decouple the first and second connectors. The apparatus further includes a force transducer coupleable to the electromagnet to measure a coupling force between the first and second connector and transmit a signal based on the coupling force, and a controller coupleable to the force transducer to receive the signal from the force transducer. The controller is coupleable to a power source to control the electromagnet.
1. An apparatus for electrically connecting electronic devices, comprising:
a first connector including an electromagnet;
a second connector, which includes a magnetic element and is detachably coupleable to the first connector, wherein the electromagnet of the first connector is energizeable to selectively couple or decouple the first and second connectors;
a force transducer coupleable to the electromagnet to measure a coupling force between the first and second connectors and transmit a signal based on the coupling force; and
a controller coupleable to the force transducer to:
receive the signal from the force transducer; and
control supply of current from a power source to the electromagnet, wherein the controller reduces the supply of current to the electromagnet when the signal indicates the coupling force is below a predetermined threshold.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the magnetic element of the second connector is selected from the group consisting of an electromagnet, a permanent magnet, and a ferromagnetic material.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the electromagnet comprises:
a core comprising a ferromagnetic material; and
an electrically conductive coil coupleable to the power source, the power source to supply a current to energize the electromagnet.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the first connector is disposed on and electrically coupled to a housing of a headset of a virtual-reality system;
the second connector is communicatively coupleable to a computer through a cable adapted to transmit data from the computer; and
the headset is communicatively coupleable to the computer to receive the data when the electromagnet is energized.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the power source is to receive power from AC mains.
6. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the power source comprises a battery disposed in the housing of the headset, the battery to supply a current to energize the electromagnet.
7. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein:
the headset further comprises a user-input key communicatively coupleable to the controller; and
the controller is to increase the supply of current to the electromagnet to increase the coupling force between the first and second connectors based on a user input to the user-input key.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the controller is adapted to terminate the supply of current to the electromagnet to decouple the first and second connectors based on a user input to the user-input key.
9. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein:
the first connector is disposed on and electrically coupled to a housing of a headset of the virtual-reality system;
the second connector is communicatively coupleable to a computer through a cable adapted to transmit data from the computer; and
the headset is communicatively coupleable to the computer to receive the data when the electromagnet is energized.
10. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein:
the first connector is communicatively coupleable to a computer through a cable adapted to transmit data from the computer;
the second connector is disposed on and electrically coupled to a housing of a headset of the virtual-reality system; and
the headset is communicatively coupleable to the computer to receive the data when the electromagnet is energized.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the first connector is communicatively coupleable to a computer through a cable adapted to transmit data from the computer;
the second connector is disposed on and electrically coupled to a housing of a headset of a virtual-reality system; and
the headset is communicatively coupleable to the computer to receive the data when the electromagnet is energized.
12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller is adapted to dynamically adjust the coupling force between the first connector and the second connector based on the signal received from the transducer.
13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller is adapted to terminate the supply of current to the electromagnet to decouple the first and second connectors when the signal received from the force transducer indicates that the coupling force is below the predetermined threshold.
14. An apparatus for electrically connecting electronic devices, comprising:
a first connector including a first magnet;
a second connector, which includes a second magnet and is detachably coupleable to the first magnet, wherein at least one of the first magnet and the second magnet is an electromagnet that is energizeable to selectively couple and decouple the first and second connectors;
a force transducer coupleable to at least one of the first and second magnets to measure a coupling force between the first and second connectors and transmit a signal based on the coupling force;
a power source to supply a current to the at least one of the first and second magnets that is energizeable; and
a controller coupleable to the force transducer to:
receive the signal from the force transducer; and
control supply of current from a power source to the electromagnet, wherein the controller reduces the supply of current to the electromagnet when the signal indicates the coupling force is below a predetermined threshold.
15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the electromagnet comprises:
a core comprising a ferromagnetic material; and
an electrically conductive coil coupleable to a power source, the power source to supply a current to energize the electromagnet.
16. A method of dynamically adjusting a coupling force of two connectors, the method comprising:
providing a first connector with an electromagnet, wherein the electromagnet is energizeable to selectively couple or decouple the first connector and a second connector;
coupling the electromagnet to a force transducer;
providing the second connector with a magnetic element that is detachably coupleable to the first connector;
supplying, by a power supply, a current to the electromagnet to energize the electromagnet and selectively couple or decouple the electromagnet with the magnetic element;
determining, by the force transducer, a coupling force between the first and second connectors due to coupling of the electromagnet with the magnetic element;
transmitting, by the force transducer, a signal associated with the coupling force between the first and second connectors;
receiving, by a controller, the signal associated with the coupling force; and
controlling, by the controller, the current supplied from a power source to the electromagnet to reduce the supply of current to the electromagnet when the signal indicates the coupling force is below a predetermined threshold.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the controlling further comprises terminating the supply of current to the electromagnet to decouple the first and second connectors.
18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the magnetic element is selected from the group consisting of an electromagnet, a permanent magnet, and a ferromagnetic material.