Floating pogo connectors for tablet computers of aircraft inflight entertainment systems and crew terminals
A first connector, for coupling to a second connector, including a support structure, a set of spring-biased pogo pins arranged in a linear configuration and configured to carry at least one of electrical signals and power, a resilient structure extending across a face of the support structure, and a first pair of magnetic couplers attached to the resilient structure on opposite sides of the set of spring-biased pogo pins is disclosed. The spring- biased pogo pins are each located in a corresponding passage in the support structure. The first pair of magnetic couplers are configured to mate with a corresponding second pair of magnetic couplers of the second connector and compress the resilient structure to bias the set of spring-biased pogo pins against a corresponding set of target contact pads of the second connector.
1 . A first connector for coupling to a second connector, comprising:
a support structure;
a set of spring-biased pogo pins arranged in a linear configuration and configured to carry at least one of electrical signals and power, the spring-biased pogo pins each located in a corresponding passage in the support structure,
a resilient structure extending across a face of the support structure; and
a first pair of magnetic couplers attached to the resilient structure on opposite sides of the set of spring-biased pogo pins;
wherein the first pair of magnetic couplers are configured to mate with a corresponding second pair of magnetic couplers of the second connector and compress the resilient structure to bias the set of spring-biased pogo pins against a corresponding set of target contact pads of the second connector, and
wherein the first pair of magnetic couplers are rigidly attached to the resilient structure and move relative to a housing of the first connector responsive to movement of the resilient structure.
2 . The first connector of claim 1 , wherein the first connector is an integrated part of a docking station, and the second connector is an integrated part of a first electronic device, the docking station electrically interconnects the set of spring-biased pogo pins to electronic circuits of a second electronic device.
3 . The first connector of claim 2 , wherein the first electronic device comprises a tablet computer and the second electronic device comprises an inflight entertainment system.
4 . The first connector of claim 1 , wherein a peripheral area of the resilient structure is clamped to the housing of the first connector.
5 . The first connector of claim 1 , wherein:
the first pair of magnetic couplers comprises a pair of magnetic posts that extend away from the resilient structure in a direction parallel to the set of spring-biased pogo pins; and
the second pair of magnetic couplers comprises a pair of magnetic sockets that receive the pair of magnetic posts,
while the pair of magnetic posts are fully received within the pair of magnetic sockets, the set of spring-biased pogo pins are maintained aligned with the corresponding set of target contact pads, and the resilient structure biases the set of spring-biased pogo pins against the corresponding set of target contact pads of the second connector.
6 . The first connector of claim 1 , wherein:
the first pair of magnetic couplers comprises a pair of magnetic sockets extend in a direction parallel to the set of spring-biased pogo pins, and are configured to receive a pair of magnetic posts of the second pair of magnetic couplers of the second connector; and
while the pair of magnetic posts are fully received within the pair of magnetic sockets, the set of spring-biased pogo pins are maintained aligned with the corresponding set of target contact pads, and the resilient structure biases the set of spring-biased pogo pins against the corresponding set of target contact pads of the second connector.
7 . The first connector of claim 1 , wherein:
the support structure is embedded at least partially within the resilient structure, and
the resilient structure holds the set of spring-biased pogo pins in an alignment extending toward the set of target contact pads while the first connector is coupled to the second connector.
8 . The first connector of claim 1 , wherein the resilient structure comprises at least one of:
an elastomer pad;
a leaf spring; and
a coil spring.
9 . A method of making a first connector for coupling to a second connector, the method comprising:
providing a support structure;
providing a set of spring-biased pogo pins arranged in a linear configuration and configured to carry at least one of electrical signals and power, the spring-biased pogo pins each located in a corresponding passage in the support structure,
forming a resilient structure extending across a face of the support structure; and
attaching a first pair of magnetic couplers to the resilient structure on opposite sides of the set of spring-biased pogo pins;
wherein the first pair of magnetic couplers are configured to mate with a corresponding second pair of magnetic couplers of the second connector and compress the resilient structure to bias the set of spring-biased pogo pins against a corresponding set of target contact pads of the second connector, and
wherein the first pair of magnetic couplers are rigidly attached to the resilient structure and move relative to a housing of the first connector responsive to movement of the resilient structure.
10 . The method of claim 9 , the method comprising:
injection molding the resilient structure at least partially on a back surface and side surfaces of the resilient structure.
11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein:
the first connector is an integrated part of a docking station, and the second connector is an integrated part of a first electronic device, the docking station electrically interconnects the set of spring-biased pogo pins to electronic circuits of a second electronic device.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the first electronic device comprises a tablet computer and the second electronic device comprises an inflight entertainment system.
13 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising clamping a peripheral area of the resilient structure to the housing of the first connector.
14 . The method of claim 9 , wherein:
the first pair of magnetic couplers comprises a pair of magnetic posts that extend away from the resilient structure in a direction parallel to the set of spring-biased pogo pins; and
the second pair of magnetic couplers comprises a pair of magnetic sockets that receive the pair of magnetic posts,
while the pair of magnetic posts are fully received within the pair of magnetic sockets, the set of spring-biased pogo pins are maintained aligned with the corresponding set of target contact pads, and the resilient structure biases the set of spring-biased pogo pins against the corresponding set of target contact pads of the second connector.
15 . The method of claim 9 , wherein:
the first pair of magnetic couplers comprises a pair of magnetic sockets extend in a direction parallel to the set of spring-biased pogo pins, and are configured to receive a pair of magnetic posts of the second pair of magnetic couplers of the second connector; and
while the pair of magnetic posts are fully received within the pair of magnetic sockets, the set of spring-biased pogo pins are maintained aligned with the corresponding set of target contact pads, and the resilient structure biases the set of spring-biased pogo pins against the corresponding set of target contact pads of the second connector.
16 . The method of claim 9 , wherein:
the support structure is embedded at least partially within the resilient structure, and
the resilient structure holds the set of spring-biased pogo pins in an alignment extending toward the set of target contact pads while the first connector is coupled to the second connector.
17 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the resilient structure comprises at least one of:
an elastomer pad;
a leaf spring; and
a coil spring.