Vertical modular computing device

• US 10,120,422 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2016
• Issued: 11/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo PC International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Godfrey, Cyan, Truong, Cuong Huy, Ent, Ali Kathryn, Perelli, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hoa C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Depew, Keith
• Application Number:
  US15/019,749
• Publication Number:
  US 20170227997A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,001 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/182 with special features, e.g. for use in industrial environments; grounding or shielding against radio frequency interference [RFI] or electromagnetical interference [EMI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/183 Internal mounting support structures, e.g. for printed circuit boards, internal connecting means for buses G06F13/409
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0021 Side-by-side or stacked arrangements

Abstract

One embodiment provides a system, including: a base module housing comprising a top, a bottom, and at least one lateral edge comprising a top side and a bottom side, the base module housing comprising: a processor; a memory device operatively coupled to the processor; and at least one connector, disposed at the top side of the base module housing, for facilitating electrical connections; and a cap module housing comprising a top, a bottom, at least one lateral edge comprising a top side and a bottom side, the cap module housing comprising: at least one receiver, disposed at the bottom side of the cap module housing, for receiving at least one connector; wherein the base module housing and cap module housing are vertically connectable using at least one latch mechanism; wherein at least a portion of the at least one latch mechanism is disposed at the top side of the base module housing; and wherein at least a portion of the at least one latch mechanism is disposed at the bottom side of the cap module housing. Other aspects are described and claimed.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a base module housing comprising a top side, a bottom side, and at least one lateral edge comprising a top portion and a bottom portion, the base module housing comprising;

a processor;

a memory device operatively coupled to the processor; and

at least one connector, integral to and disposed at the top side of the base module housing, for facilitating electrical connections; and

a cap module housing comprising a top side, a bottom side, at least one lateral edge comprising a top portion and a bottom portion, the cap module housing comprising;

at least one receiver, integral to and disposed at the bottom side of the cap module housing, for receiving the at least one connector;

wherein the base module housing and cap module housing are vertically connectable using at least one latch mechanism;

wherein at least a portion of the at least one latch mechanism is disposed at the top side of the base module housing;

wherein at least a portion of the at least one latch mechanism is disposed at the bottom portion of at least one lateral edge of the cap module housing and comprises an attachment element and wherein the attachment element rotates about an axis of rotation and when operated moves perpendicularly to at least one lateral edge of the module housing.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one receiver comprises at least one electrical connection.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the cap module housing comprises at least one indentation for carrying.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the cap module housing comprises an energy transfer device disposed on the top side of the cap module housing.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the base module housing further comprises at least one recess for receiving feet protrusions of a second module and wherein the at least one recess is disposed on the top side of the module housing.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the cap module housing further comprises at least one foot protrusion disposed on the bottom side of the cap module housing.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one additional module housing comprising a top side, a bottom side, at least one lateral edge comprising a top portion and a bottom portion;

wherein the at least one additional module housing comprises at least one latch mechanism; and

wherein at least a portion of the at least one latch mechanism is disposed at the top side of the additional module housing and wherein at least another portion of the at least one latch mechanism is disposed at the bottom portion of at least one lateral edge of the additional module housing.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the at least one additional module housing comprises at least one connector for facilitating electrical connections, wherein the at least one connector is disposed at the top side of the additional module housing;

and

at least one receiver, disposed at the bottom side of the additional module housing, for receiving at least one electrical connection.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the at least one additional module housing comprises at least one recess, disposed on the top side of the additional module housing, for receiving a foot protrusion of another module and further comprises at least one foot protrusion disposed on the bottom side of the at least one additional module housing.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the at least one additional module housing is selected from the group consisting of:

a graphics module housing, a battery module housing, a display device module housing, a peripheral device module, and a storage module housing.

11. The system of claim 1,

wherein the at least a portion of the at least one latch mechanism disposed at the top side of the base module housing comprises a latch mechanism receiver for coupling to the attachment element when the latch mechanism is engaged.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the attachment mechanism comprises a receiving portion;

and

wherein the at least a portion of the at least one latch mechanism disposed at the top side of the base module housing comprises a tab element that when operated is slidably engaged with the receiving portion.

13. A device, comprising:

a module housing comprising a top side, a bottom side, and at least one lateral edge comprising a top portion and a bottom portion;

at least one connector, integral to and disposed at the top side the module housing, for facilitating electrical connections; and

at least another connector, integral to and disposed at the bottom side of the module housing, for facilitating electrical connections;

wherein the module housing is connectable to another module housing using at least one latch mechanism;

wherein at least a portion of the latch mechanism is disposed at the bottom portion of at least one lateral edge of the module housing and comprises an attachment element that rotates about an axis of rotation and when operated moves perpendicularly to at least one lateral edge of the module housing; and

wherein at least another portion of the latch mechanism is disposed at the top side of the module housing.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the module housing further comprises at least one recess for receiving a foot protrusion of a second module, wherein the at least one recess is disposed on the top side of the module housing.

15. The device of claim 13, wherein the module housing further comprises at least one foot protrusion disposed on the bottom side of the module housing.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the at least latch mechanism comprises the at least one foot protrusion.

17. The device of claim 13, wherein the at least one connector comprises a protrusion comprising pins for receiving a connector comprising sockets of a second module, wherein the protrusion is disposed on the top side of the module housing.

18. The device of claim 17, further comprising a recess, disposed on the bottom side of the module housing, comprising sockets for receiving a connector comprising pins of a second module.

19. The device of claim 13, wherein the at least another portion of the latch mechanism comprises a receiver for coupling to the attachment element when the latch mechanism is engaged.

20. A device, comprising:

a module housing comprising a top side, a bottom side, and at least one lateral edge comprising a top portion and a bottom portion; and

at least one connector, integral to and disposed at the top side of the module housing, for facilitating electrical connections;

wherein the module housing is connectable to another module housing using at least one latch mechanism;

wherein at least a portion of the latch mechanism is disposed at the top side of the module housing; and

wherein at least another portion of the latch mechanism is disposed at the bottom portion of at least one lateral edge of the module housing and comprises an attachment element that rotates about an axis of rotation and when operated moves perpendicularly to at least one lateral edge of the module housing.

21. The device of claim 20, wherein the module housing further comprises at least one recess for receiving feet protrusions of a second module, wherein the at least one recess is disposed on the top side of the module housing.