Planar electrical connector for an electronic device
First Claim
1. An electronic device, comprising:
- an overall exterior including an upper portion and a base portion having an extended sidewall surrounding an interior space, the upper portion and the base portion being moveable between a joined position and a separated position;
electronic components coupled to the upper portion and contained at least in part within the interior space of the base portion, the electronic components including a first electrical connector configured to supply power and/or data to the electronic components and/or to output data signals from the electronic components when the first electrical connector is connected to an external power and/or data connector;
the base portion including a first opening corresponding to a position and size of the first electrical connector of the electronic components, wherein when the upper portion and the base portion are in the joined position, the first connector is exposed from the first opening to enable the first electrical connector to couple electrically with the external power and/or data connector provided to the electronic device.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
This application is directed to an electronic device having an overall exterior and electronic components contained therein. The electronic components includes a first electrical connector configured to supply power and/or data to the electronic components and/or to output data signals from the electronic components when the first electrical connector is connected to an external power and/or data connector. The first electrical connector includes first electrical contacts configured in a pattern that is substantially co-planar with a base surface of the electronic components. A base portion of the overall exterior includes a first opening corresponding to a position and size of the first electrical connector in the base surface of the electronic components. The first opening enables the first electrical contacts of the first electrical connector to couple electrically with corresponding electrical contacts of the external power and/or data connector provided at a second surface external to the electronic device.
32 Citations
25 Claims
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1. An electronic device, comprising:
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an overall exterior including an upper portion and a base portion having an extended sidewall surrounding an interior space, the upper portion and the base portion being moveable between a joined position and a separated position; electronic components coupled to the upper portion and contained at least in part within the interior space of the base portion, the electronic components including a first electrical connector configured to supply power and/or data to the electronic components and/or to output data signals from the electronic components when the first electrical connector is connected to an external power and/or data connector; the base portion including a first opening corresponding to a position and size of the first electrical connector of the electronic components, wherein when the upper portion and the base portion are in the joined position, the first connector is exposed from the first opening to enable the first electrical connector to couple electrically with the external power and/or data connector provided to the electronic device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 21, 22)
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14. An electronic system, comprising:
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a housing system; first electronic components contained within the housing system, the first electronic components possessing a first set of capabilities; the first electronic components including an external power and/or data connector, the external power and/or data connector being configured at a first surface of the housing and possessing a predefined shape, size and arrangement of a plurality of second electrical contacts; the first surface of the housing system including a coupling area including the plurality of second electrical contacts; and the external power and/or data connector being configured to electrically connect at the coupling area to a first electrical connector provided at an electronic device, the first electrical connector including a plurality of first electrical contacts that correspond to the predefined shape, size and arrangement of the second electrical contacts of the external power and/or data connector, such that when the electronic device is coupled to the housing system, the electronic device is able to interact with the first set of capabilities of the housing system in accordance with a second set of capabilities of the electronic device; wherein the electronic device includes an upper portion that is separable from a base portion, and when the base portion is joined in the electronic device, the first electrical connector is exposed from an opening of the base portion to enable the first electrical connector to couple electrically with the external power and/or data connector provided to the electronic device; and wherein the base portion has an extended sidewall surrounding an interior space, and the first electrical components are contained at least in part within the interior space of the base portion. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An electronic device, comprising:
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an electronics portion and an exterior surface projecting above part of the electronics portion with a power/data connector that is positioned at a bottom of the electronics portion, the power/data connector being configured to couple to a compatible power/data connector configured at a second surface that is separate from the electronic device; wherein the exterior surface includes an upper portion and a base portion that are moveable between a joined position and separated position, and when the upper portion and the base portion are in the joined position, the power/data connector is exposed from an opening of the base portion to enable the power/data connector to couple to the compatible power/data connector; and wherein the base portion has an extended sidewall surrounding an interior space, and the electronics portion is contained at least in part within the interior space of the base portion. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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23. An electronic device, comprising:
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an overall exterior including an upper portion and a base portion, the upper portion and the base portion being moveable between a joined position and a separated position; electronic components coupled to the upper portion and contained within the overall exterior, the electronic components including a first electrical connector configured to supply power and/or data to the electronic components and/or to output data signals from the electronic components when the first electrical connector is connected to an external power and/or data connector; the base portion including a first opening corresponding to a position and size of the first electrical connector of the electronic components, wherein when the upper portion and the base portion are in the joined position, the first connector is exposed from the first opening to enable the first electrical connector to couple electrically with the external power and/or data connector provided to the electronic device; wherein the upper portion and the base portion are separable, and wherein the upper portion is coupled to the electronic components, forming a coupled upper portion, thereby enabling replacement of the base portion with different compatible base portions, each of the different compatible base portions including a second opening corresponding to the position and size of the first electrical connector. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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Specification