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

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a housing including an exterior surface;

an electrical conductor supported by the housing and including an engagement portion adapted to engage a second electrical conductor of a device distinct from the apparatus; and

a first magnet and a second magnet supported by a pair of magnet apertures in a side surface of the housing, the first magnet and the second magnet are adapted to magnetically couple to a third magnet and a fourth magnet of the device distinct from the apparatus, respectively;

the housing defining a monolithically formed projection extending outwardly from the exterior surface of the housing and a receptacle, at least a portion of the electrical conductor extending from the housing in the same direction as the projection, the projection configured to be received within a receptacle of the device, the receptacle of the housing configured to receive therein a projection of the device; and

a circuit board having a first side surface, a second side surface opposite the first side surface, a first end surface and a second end surface opposite the first end surface, the first side surface and the second side surface each being different than both the first end surface and the second end surface, the housing coupled to the circuit board such that a side surface of the housing is substantially aligned with one of the first side surface and the second side surface of the circuit board, the side surface of the housing being disposed transverse to the exterior surface of the housing.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the receptacle includes a back wall defined by the housing, the back wall being disposed substantially parallel to the exterior surface of the housing.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein when the apparatus is coupled to the device, the engagement portion of the electrical conductor engages an electrical conductor of the device, and the first magnet and the second magnet of the apparatus are magnetically coupled to the first magnet and the second magnet of the device, respectively, such that the first magnet of the apparatus is substantially aligned with the first magnet of the device, and the second magnet of the apparatus is substantially aligned with the second magnet of the device.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the electrical conductor is one of three electrical conductors supported by the housing, the three electrical conductors disposed relative to each other in a linear row.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the electrical conductor is one of three electrical conductors supported by the housing, the three electrical conductors disposed between first magnet and the second magnet.

6. An apparatus, comprising:

a circuit board having a first side surface, a second side surface opposite the first side surface, a first end surface and a second end surface opposite the first end surface, the first side surface and the second side surface each being different than both the first end surface and the second end surface;

a first connector coupled to the circuit board, the first connector including a housing defining a first surface, the housing coupled to the circuit board such that a side surface of the housing is substantially aligned with one of the first side surface and the second side surface of the circuit board, the side surface of the housing being disposed transverse to the exterior surface of the housing;

an electrical conductor supported by the housing and including a coupling portion and an engagement portion, the coupling portion being adapted to engage and electrically communicate with the circuit board, the engagement portion configured to electrically engage an electrical conductor of a device distinct from the apparatus, the housing including a first projection and second projection, the first projection configured to be received within a receptacle defined by the device, the second projection extending from a second surface of the housing different than the first surface, the second projection being adapted to engage the circuit board to fixedly couple the housing to the circuit board.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the first projection extends from the first surface of the housing in a first direction, at least a portion of the electrical conductor extends from the housing in a second direction, the first direction being substantially the same direction as the second direction.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 , further comprising:

a magnet coupled to the housing, when the apparatus is coupled to the device, the engagement portion of the electrical conductor engages an electrical conductor of the device, and the magnet of the apparatus magnetically couples to a magnet of the device such that the magnet of the apparatus is substantially aligned with the magnet of the device.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the housing defines a receptacle that includes a back wall defined by the housing, the back wall being disposed substantially parallel to the first surface of the housing, the receptacle configured to receive therein a projection of the device.

10. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the electrical conductor is one of three electrical conductors supported by the housing, the three electrical conductors disposed relative to each other in a linear row.

11. The apparatus of claim 6 , further comprising:

a first magnet and a second magnet each coupled to the housing, the electrical conductor is one of three electrical conductors supported by the housing, the three electrical conductors disposed between first magnet and the second magnet.

12. An apparatus, comprising:

a circuit board having a first side surface, a second side surface opposite the first side surface, a first end surface and a second end surface opposite the first end surface, the first side surface and the second side surface each being different than both the first end surface and the second end surface;

a connector coupled to the circuit board, the connector including a housing defining an end surface, the housing fixedly coupled to the circuit board such that a side surface of the housing is substantially aligned with one of the first side surface and the second side surface of the circuit board, the side surface of the housing being disposed transverse to the exterior surface of the housing;

an electrical conductor coupled to the housing and including a coupling portion and an engagement portion, the coupling portion being adapted to engage and electrically communicate with the circuit board, the housing including a projection extending outwardly relative to the end surface of the housing, the engagement portion of the electrical conductor extending outwardly from the housing in the same direction as the projection;

a receptacle defined by the housing, the projection configured to be received within a receptacle of a device distinct from the apparatus and the receptacle configured to receive a projection of the device; and

a mounting member configured to couple the apparatus to a mounting board.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising:

a coupler coupled to the housing and configured to physically couple the housing to the device.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the coupler is a first magnet and the device includes a second magnet, the first magnet configured to magnetically engage the second magnet to couple to physically couple the housing to the device.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the electrical conductor is one of three electrical conductors coupled to the housing, the three electrical conductors disposed relative to each other in a linear row.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein:

the coupler is a first coupler, the apparatus includes a second coupler coupled to the housing and configured to couple the housing to the device, the conductor being positioned between the first coupler and the second coupler.