US Patent 7637746 Magnetic connector for mobile electronic devices

A magnetic connector for connecting various cables to a mobile electronic device includes a connector part in the mobile electronic device and a connector part attached to the cable. One of the connector parts includes a permanent magnet and the other connector part includes magnetic material or another magnet. The attractive magnetic force between the permanent magnet or the other magnet and the magnetic material keeps the connector parts into engagement. The magnets may themselves form the electrical contacts. The connector parts can also include magnetically operated switches.