MOBILE COMPUTING DEVICE WITH MODULAR EXPANSION FEATURES
First Claim
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1. A modular computing device for motor vehicles, comprising:
- a housing mountable to a surface in the vehicle and having a plurality of module bays for accommodating user-removable plug-in electronic modules, the module bays providing electrical connections between the modules and a data bus;
a processor system coupled to the data bus;
an interface system for coupling user interface devices to the processor system via a communication link; and
a power supply system connectable to vehicle electrical power.
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Abstract
A mobile computing system for a motor vehicle includes a mobile computing device, which can be mounted in the trunk or other convenient location, and a suitable user interface system, such as a display screen, keyboard, etc., mounted in the vehicle cabin. The computing device can accommodate user-removable, plug-in electronic modules that perform specialized processing, communications, control or other specialized tasks relating in some way to the vehicle mission or purpose. The power supply can similarly be modular. For example, individual power supply modules can plug into power supply bays, each of which services a group of electronic modules.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A modular computing device for motor vehicles, comprising:
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a housing mountable to a surface in the vehicle and having a plurality of module bays for accommodating user-removable plug-in electronic modules, the module bays providing electrical connections between the modules and a data bus;
a processor system coupled to the data bus;
an interface system for coupling user interface devices to the processor system via a communication link; and
a power supply system connectable to vehicle electrical power. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for providing a vehicle with a mobile computing system, comprising the steps of:
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mounting a user interface system in a location in the vehicle immediately accessible to a driver;
mounting a computing device in a vehicle in a location remote from the computer user interface system and connected to the computer user interface system via a communication link, the computing device comprising a plurality of electronic module bays for accommodating user-removable plug-in electronic modules, the electronic module bays providing mechanical and electrical connections between the electronic modules and a data bus, the computing device further comprising a processor system coupled to the data bus, an interface system for coupling the computer user interface system to the processor system via a communication link, and a power supply system;
plugging an electronic module into an electronic module bay;
connecting the computer user interface system to the computing device; and
connecting the power computing device to vehicle electrical power. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for expanding a mobile computing device for motor vehicles to meet additional needs, the computing device comprising a controller system coupled to a backplane system having a plurality of bays for accommodating user-removable plug-in modules, the computing device coupled to a user interface system in an occupant compartment of the vehicle to enable features under control of the computing device to be used by a vehicle occupant, the method comprising:
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plugging a first module into a first bay; and
after using the vehicle with the first module, plugging a second module into a second bay. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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Specification