Connection device for a modular computing system

• US 10,127,052 B2
• Filed: 04/15/2016
• Issued: 11/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Liu, Eric HC, Schooley, Stephen, Brune, Kevin D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Unelus, Ernest
• Application Number:
  US15/130,360
• Publication Number:
  US 20170300343A1
• Time in Patent Office: 942 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/16 Constructional details or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/102 where the programme performs an interfacing function, e.g. device driver G06F13/105 takes precedence; scheduling within device drivers G06F9/52; contention policies within device drivers G06F9/4881
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/385 for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4081 Live connection to bus, e.g. hot-plugging current or voltage limitation during live insertion H02H9/004
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4411 Configuring for operating with peripheral devices; Loading of device drivers
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0256 of interchangeable modules or receptacles therefor, e.g. cartridge mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/026 having standardized interfaces flash memory cards G06K19/077
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0282 Adapters for connecting cards having a first standard in receptacles having a second standard

Abstract

Systems and methods of controlling operation of a connection device associated with a modular computing system are disclosed. For instance, data indicative of a connection between a first connection device and a second connection device can be obtained. The first connection device can be associated with a modular computing device, and the second connection device can be associated with a modular component to be implemented within the modular computing device. Each connection device can include a plurality of connector elements. Data indicative of one or more configuration parameters of the second connection device can be obtained. An operating configuration of the first connection device can be determined based at least in part on the data indicative of the one or more configuration parameters. Operation of the first connection device can be controlled based at least in part on the operating configuration.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of controlling operation of a connection device associated with a modular computing system, the method comprising:

obtaining, by the one or more computing devices, data indicative of an establishment of a connection between a first connection device and a second connection device, the first connection device being associated with a modular computing device, the second connection device being associated with a first modular component to be implemented within the modular computing device, each connection device comprising a plurality of connector elements;

obtaining, by the one or more computing devices, data indicative of one or more configuration parameters associated with the second connection device;

determining, by the one or more computing devices, an operating configuration of the first connection device based at least in part on the data indicative of the one or more configuration parameters associated with the second connection device, wherein determining the operating configuration includes determining a first operating configuration of a connector element of the first connection device based on a configuration parameter associated with a corresponding connector element of the second connection device;

configuring the connector element of the first connection device to only communicate using a power signal type in response to the configuration parameter associated with the corresponding connector element of the second connection device;

obtaining, by the one or more computing devices, data indicative of an establishment of a connection between the first connection device and a third connection device, the third connection device being associated with a second modular component to be implemented within the modular computing device, the third connection device comprising a plurality of connector elements;

obtaining, by the one or more computing devices, data indicative of one or more configuration parameters associated with the third connection device;

wherein determining the operating configuration of the first connection device comprises determining a second operating configuration of the connector element of the first connection device based on a configuration parameter associated with a corresponding connector element of the third connection device; and

configuring the connector element of the first connection device to only communicate using a data signal type in response to the configuration parameter associated with the corresponding connector element of the third connection device.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein each connector element comprises an antenna element configured to communicate with an antenna element associated with a corresponding connector element of an additional connection device.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein each antenna element is configured to communicate using one or more wireless communication techniques, and wherein the antenna elements associated with the first connection device do not make physical contact with the corresponding antenna elements associated with the second connection device during the connection between the first connection device and the second connection device.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein each connector element comprises a plurality of connector pins, each connector pin configured to interface with a corresponding connector pin associated with a connector element of an additional connection device.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the data indicative of the establishment of the connection between the first connection device and the second connection device comprises data indicative of at least a subset of connector elements of the first connection device to which the second connection device is connected.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein the data indicative of the at least a subset of connector elements comprises an identifier associated with each connector element in the at least a subset.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein determining, by the one or more computing devices, an operating configuration of the first connection device comprises determining one or more tasks to be performed by at least a subset of connection elements of the first connection device.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein each connector element of the first connection device and the second connection device is individually configurable.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the connection between the first connection device and the second connection device comprises a physical connection.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein connecting the modular component to the modular computing device comprises positioning the modular component within a receptacle associated with a frame of the modular computing device, such that at least a portion of the first connection device makes physical contact with at least a portion of the second connection device.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein:

the first connection device includes a first antenna element; and

obtaining data indicative of one or more configuration parameters comprises receiving the data wirelessly using the first antenna element.

12. A modular computing device comprising:

a connection device comprising a plurality of connector elements, each connector element comprising an antenna element and at least one connector pin;

one or more control devices configured to control operation of the connection device by;

obtaining data indicative of an establishment of a connection between the connection device and a first mating connection device associated with a first modular component, the first mating connection device being associated with a first modular component to be implemented within the modular computing device;

obtaining data indicative of one or more configuration parameters associated with the first mating connection device;

determining an operating configuration of the connection device based at least in part on the data indicative of the one or more configuration parameters associated with the first mating connection device, wherein determining the operating configuration includes determining a first operating configuration of a connector element of the connection device based on a configuration parameter associated with a corresponding connector element of the first mating connection device;

configuring the connector element of the connection device to only communicate using a power signal type in response to the configuration parameter associated with the corresponding connector element of the first mating connection device;

obtaining, by the one or more computing devices, data indicative of an establishment of a connection between the connection device and a second mating connection device, the second mating connection device being associated with a second modular component to be implemented within the modular computing device, the second mating connection device comprising a plurality of connector elements;

obtaining, by the one or more computing devices, data indicative of one or more configuration parameters associated with the second mating connection device;

wherein determining the operating configuration of the connection device comprises determining a second operating configuration of the connector element of the connection device based on a configuration parameter associated with a corresponding connector element of the second mating connection device; and

configuring the connector element of the connection device to only communicate using a data signal type in response to the configuration parameter associated with the corresponding connector element of the second mating connection device.

13. The modular computing device of claim 12, wherein each antenna element is configured to wirelessly communicate with an antenna element associated with a corresponding connector element of the mating connection device, and wherein the antenna elements of the connection device do not make physical contact with the corresponding antenna elements of the mating connection device.

14. The modular computing device of claim 12, wherein the connection device further comprises a latching structure configured to facilitate a physical connection of the connection device and the mating connection device.

15. One or more tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media storing computer-readable instructions that when executed by one or more processors cause the one or more processors to perform operations, the operations comprising:

obtaining data indicative of an establishment of a connection between a first connection device and a second connection device, the first connection device being associated with a modular computing device, the second connection device being associated with a first modular component to be implemented within the modular computing device, each connection device comprising a plurality of connector elements;

obtaining data indicative of one or more configuration parameters associated with the second connection device;

determining an operating configuration of the first connection device based at least in part on the data indicative of the one or more configuration parameters associated with the second connection device, wherein determining the operating configuration includes determining a first operating configuration of a connector element of the first connection device based on a configuration parameter associated with a corresponding connector element of the second connection device;

configuring the connector element of the first connection device to only communicate using a data signal type having a first frequency in response to the configuration parameter associated with the corresponding connector element of the second connection device;

obtaining, by the one or more computing devices, data indicative of an establishment of a connection between the first connection device and a third connection device, the third connection device being associated with a second modular component to be implemented within the modular computing device, the third connection device comprising a plurality of connector elements;

obtaining, by the one or more computing devices, data indicative of one or more configuration parameters associated with the third connection device;

wherein determining the operating configuration of the first connection device comprises determining a second operating configuration of the connector element of the first connection device based on a configuration parameter associated with a corresponding connector element of the third connection device; and

configuring the connector element of the first connection device to only communicate using a data signal type having a second frequency in response to the configuration parameter associated with the corresponding connector element of the third connection device, the first frequency and the second frequency are different.