Computing device with removable power module

• US 10,345,876 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2017
• Issued: 07/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Daly, Gregory M., Grassi, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hoa C
• Assistant Examiner(s): DePew, Keith
• Application Number:
  US15/443,909
• Publication Number:
  US 20180107259A1
• Time in Patent Office: 862 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/203 for portable computers, e.g. for laptops
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C

Abstract

Computing device manufacturers are often driven to minimize power supply capabilities supplied with a device to that required to operate the device. The disclosed computing devices include a system chassis and a removable power module. The removable power module includes a power supply that rectifies received AC power to a quantity of DC power sufficient to operate both the removable power module and the system chassis. The removable power module may also include a performance enhancing component that may be used to upgrade the performance of the device. As each removable power module includes the power supply for the entire device, the power supply within each removable power module may be tailored to provide the power necessary to operate both the removable power module and the system chassis.

Claims

1. A computing device comprising:

a system chassis including a module dock and a base system board including a processor to provide computing functionality to the computing device; and

a removable power module including;

an external power connector to receive AC power into the removable module;

a power supply to rectify the received AC power to DC power to operate the removable power module and the system chassis;

a selective power connector to the base system board via the module dock; and

a power module board incorporating a performance enhancing component to enhance the computing functionality of the base system board.

2. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the power supply is sized to satisfy a total power requirement of the system chassis and the removable power module.

3. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the module dock is to removably receive the removable power module.

4. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the computing performance enhancing component includes one or more of a CPU, GPU, memory, and data storage.

5. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the base system board and the power module board share one or both of a common virtual addressing space and a common programming model.

6. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the removable power module further includes a selective data connector between the base system board and the power module board via the module dock.

7. The computing device of claim 6, further comprising:

a switch to trigger connection of the data connector between the base system board and the power module board responsive to proximity of the removable power module to the module dock.

8. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the removable power module includes a switch to trigger connection of the rectified DC power to the module dock responsive to proximity of the removable power module to the module dock.

9. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the system chassis includes a system thermal solution.

10. The computing device of claim 9, wherein the removable power module includes a module thermal solution that operates one of:

dependent upon the system thermal solution, independent of the system thermal solution, and complementary with the system thermal solution.

11. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the computing device is a gaming console.

12. A method of powering a computing device, the method comprising:

docking a removable power module within a module dock of a system chassis;

receiving AC power from an external power connector to the removable power module;

rectifying the AC power to DC power within the removable power module;

transferring DC power from the removable power module to the system chassis via a selective power connector to a base system board including a processor to provide computing functionality to the computing device within the system chassis; and

establishing a data connection between the base system board and a power module board incorporating a performance enhancing component to enhance the computing functionality of the base system board via the module dock.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the docking operation includes:

removing an initial power module from the module dock of the computing device; and

selecting the removable power module from a selection of available removable power modules.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein prior to the transferring operation, the method further comprises:

detecting that the removable power module is successfully docked within the module dock; and

powering the selective power connector responsive to the detecting operation.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the docking operation includes connecting the selective power connector to the base system board via the module dock.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

returning the removable power module to a manufacturer of the modular computing device in exchange for a credit against future purchases from the manufacturer.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

returning the removable power module to a manufacturer of the modular computing device in exchange for a credit against the purchase of another removable power module from the manufacturer.

18. A computing device comprising:

a system chassis including a module dock and a base system board including a processor to provide computing functionality to the computing device; and

a removable power module including;

an external power connector to receive AC power into the removable power module;

a power supply to rectify the received AC power to DC power to operate the removable power module and the system chassis;

a selective power connector to the base system board via the module dock;

a power module board incorporating a performance enhancing component to enhance the computing functionality of the base system board; and

a selective data connector between the base system board and the power module board via the module dock.