Configurable communications module with replaceable network access device

• US 10,084,498 B2
• Filed: 09/13/2016
• Issued: 09/25/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Kotzer, Igal, Riess, Eilon
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Duc M
• Application Number:
  US15/263,571
• Publication Number:
  US 20170077976A1
• Time in Patent Office: 742 Days
• Field of Search: 4554261, 4554262, 4555691, 4555692, 4555561, 455557, 4555521
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/02 for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0042 characterised by mounting means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0288 Apparatus made of several modules independently mounted
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3818 Arrangements for facilitating insertion or removal of identification devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3822 specially adapted for use in vehicles H04B1/3827 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A system for providing telematics is provided that includes a communications unit having host circuitry coupled by an interface to at least one removable communications card, the interface includes a break line that enables disconnection of the at least one removable communications card from the host circuitry.

Claims

1. A system for providing wireless communications and telematics, comprising:

a communications unit having circuitry configured to provide wireless communications using a cellular communications protocol, a short-range wireless communications protocol, or both, the circuitry is implemented on a unitary printed circuit board having a host circuitry portion coupled by an interface portion to a network access device portion, the interface portion includes a break line that enables the network access device portion of the unitary printed circuit board to be disconnected from the host circuitry portion of the unitary printed circuit board, and the interface portion directly connects the host circuitry portion and the network access device portion without use of connectors, wherein the break line includes perforations, scoring, grooves, or a combination thereof that are disposed along the unitary printed circuit board in order to facilitate disconnection of the network access device portion from the host circuitry portion.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface portion includes a first portion extending from the host circuitry portion and a second portion extending from the network access device portion, and wherein the break line is disposed along an intersection of the first and second portion of the interface.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the first portion of the interface forms a male connector when separated from the second portion at the break line.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the male connector of the first portion of the interface is configured to receive a female connector of a network access device.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein network access device portion and the network access device are modems.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the network access device portion is detachable from the host circuitry along the break line of the interface portion.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface portion physically and communicatively couples the host circuitry portion to the network access device portion.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface portion is configured to sever the connection between the host circuitry portion and the network access device portion at the break line of the interface.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the host circuitry portion and the network access device portion are physically and communicatively disconnected from one another when the network access device portion is detached from the host circuitry portion at the break line.

10. A communications device configured to provide wireless communications, comprising:

a host communications board physically and communicatively coupled to a first network access device, the host communications board configured to provide cellular communications and the first network access device configured to provide short-range wireless communications, wherein the host communications board and the first network access device are implemented on a unitary printed circuit board allowing a direct connection between the host communications board and the first network access device without use of connectors; and

a slot configured to receive an upgraded network access device, wherein upon detection of the upgraded network access device within the slot, the host communications board is configured to automatically communicatively detach from the first network access device and communicatively couple to the upgraded network access device.

11. The communications device of claim 10, wherein the unitary printed circuit board includes an interface that enables physical and communicative detachment of the first network access device from the host communications board.

12. The communications device of claim 10, wherein the interface includes a first portion extending from the host communications board and a second portion extending from the first network access device, and wherein the interface includes a break line disposed along an intersection of the first and second portion.

13. The communications device of claim 12, wherein the host communications board and the first network access device are physically and communicatively disconnected from one another when the first network access device is detached from the host communications board at the break line.

14. The communications device of claim 12, wherein the break line in the interface is formed by one of, or a combination of, perforations, scoring, and grooves.

15. The communications device of claim 12, wherein the first portion of the interface is male connector configured to receive a female portion of the upgraded network access device.

16. The communications device of claim 10, wherein the host communications board is configured to detect and communicatively couple to the upgraded network access device through an interface in the slot, which has a mating arrangement with an interface on the upgraded network access device.

17. The communications device of claim 10, wherein the host communications board is configured to engage with a spring connector attached to the upgraded network access device.

18. The communications device of claim 17, wherein the host communications board is configured to disable the connection to the first network access device when the spring connector of the upgraded network access device engages with contacts on the host communications board.

19. The communications device of claim 10, wherein the first and upgraded network access devices are modems.