Base unit with interchangeable interface for remote unit
First Claim
1. A base apparatus for use with remote units having differing engagement configurations, the base apparatus comprising:
- a base unit operative for functional interaction with plural remote units and having an engagement portion; and
an intermediate unit selectably attachable to the base unit and having a first portion configured for selective operative interrelation with the engagement portion of the base unit so as to establish a predetermined functional interaction with the base unit;
the intermediate unit having a second portion configured for receiving a complementary element of a predetermined remote unit, the second portion of the intermediate unit being operatively associated with the first portion of the intermediate unit so that a predetermined remote unit received in the second portion of the intermediate unit can establish said functional interaction with the base unit through the intermediate unit, whereby a different remote unit having an engagement element different from the predetermined remote unit may also be placed in functional interaction with the base unit by substituting a different intermediate unit having a second portion configured for functional interaction with the complementary element of the different remote unit.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A base station capable of receiving remote devices, such as cellular phones or PDAs, from different manufacturers or otherwise lacking a common footprint for connecting to a cradle. The base station includes a base unit and an intermediate unit connectable to the base unit to establish electrical interconnection for power and/or data. The intermediate unit is configured to accept the docking footprint of a particular remote device and to complete the electrical interconnection with the base unit through the intermediate unit. The base unit can interconnect with other remote units having different footprints, by substituting a different intermediate unit complementary to that different footprint.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. A base apparatus for use with remote units having differing engagement configurations, the base apparatus comprising:
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a base unit operative for functional interaction with plural remote units and having an engagement portion; and
an intermediate unit selectably attachable to the base unit and having a first portion configured for selective operative interrelation with the engagement portion of the base unit so as to establish a predetermined functional interaction with the base unit;
the intermediate unit having a second portion configured for receiving a complementary element of a predetermined remote unit, the second portion of the intermediate unit being operatively associated with the first portion of the intermediate unit so that a predetermined remote unit received in the second portion of the intermediate unit can establish said functional interaction with the base unit through the intermediate unit, whereby a different remote unit having an engagement element different from the predetermined remote unit may also be placed in functional interaction with the base unit by substituting a different intermediate unit having a second portion configured for functional interaction with the complementary element of the different remote unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. Apparatus for use with a base unit configured to receive and functionally interrelate with a complementary element of a particular remote unit, so that the base unit can receive and functionally interrelate with another remote unit having a different complementary element, the apparatus comprising:
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a first portion of an intermediate unit configured to emulate the complementary element of the particular remote unit so that the first portion is selectably receivable in operative interrelation with the base unit, in place of the particular remote unit for which the base unit is configured; and
a second portion of the intermediate unit configured for receiving and functionally interrelating with the different complementary element of the other remote unit so that the other remote unit is in operative interrelation with the second portion of the intermediate unit, whereby the other remote unit as received in the second portion of the intermediate unit is in functional interrelation with the base unit in place of the particular remote unit for which the base unit is configured. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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Specification