MODULAR COMPUTING DEVICE

• US 20080259551A1
• Filed: 04/20/2007
• Published: 10/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: GOTIVE as
• Original Assignee: GOTIVE as
• Inventors: Gavenda, Ivan, Sameliak, Viliam
• Application Number:
  US11/738,230
• Publication Number:
  US 20080259551A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/684
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/16 Constructional details or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1613 for portable computers cooling arrangements therefor G06F1/203; constructional details or arrangements for pocket calculators, electronic agendas or books G06F15/0216; constructional details of portable telephone sets: with several bodies H04M1/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1633 Protecting arrangement for the entire housing of the computer

Abstract

A core computing device including a body housing a processor, the body defining a plurality of couplings for receiving a plurality of modules along a plurality of sides thereof, the body defining tabs extending from corners of a periphery of the body for mechanically interfacing with the modules. The functionality of the device can be dynamically configured and extended by attaching various modules, where particular combinations of modules may also be paired to achieve particular results.

Claims

1. A modular computing device kit, comprising:

a core having a body housing a processor, the body defining a plurality of couplings for receiving a plurality of modules along a plurality of sides thereof, and

at least one module configured for removable receipt by the coupling, the module, when received by the core, conforming to a perimeter of the core to define a form factor of the modular computing device.

2. The modular computing device kit of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of interchangeable modules.

3. The modular computing device kit of claim 1, wherein the body further houses a memory, an input interface, and a display.

4. The module computing device kit of claim 3, wherein the display has a width:

height ratio of 16;

9.

5. The modular computing device kit of claim 1, wherein the at least one module includes a global system for mobile communication (GSM) module, a general packet radio service (GPRS) module, an enhanced data GSM environment (EDGE) module, a wireless network interface module, a BLUETOOTH®

module, a near field communications (NFC) module, an infrared (IR) transmitter, and IR receiver, a speaker, a keyboard, a user input module, a port replicator, a battery, a bar code reader, a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag reader, a smart card reader, a compact flash card reader, a magnetic stripe reader, a fingerprint reader, a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver, a printer, an imager or scanner, a camera, a security access module (SAM), or a subscriber interface module (SIM).

6. The modular computing device kit of claim 1, wherein the coupling is a universal serial bus (USB) connection coupling, an inter-integrated circuit (I²C) connection coupling, a serial connection coupling, a parallel connection coupling, a Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) card slot coupling, a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) connection coupling, a small computer system interface (SCSI) connection coupling, or a PS/2 connection.

7. The modular computing device kit of claim 1, wherein, when the at least one module is received by the core, the form factor of the modular computer device is rectangular, square-shaped, round-shaped, polygonal, or has a combination of one or more straight sides and one or more curved sides.

8. The modular computing device kit of claim 1, wherein, when the at least one module is received by the core, a watertight or airtight seal is created between the at least one module and the core.

9. The modular computing device kit of claim 1, wherein the body includes at least four sides.

10. A core computing device, comprising:

a body housing a processor, the body defining a plurality of couplings for receiving a plurality of modules along a plurality of sides thereof, the body defining tabs extending from corners of a periphery of the body for mechanically interfacing with the modules.

14. An adapter for interfacing a core computing device and a plurality of modules, comprising:

a body configured for receiving the core computing device of claim 10 and a plurality of the modules of claim 11.

11. A module, comprising:

a body housing electronics, the body defining a groove for receipt of a side of a core computing device and having a coupling positioned on the body within the groove for electrically contacting the core computing device, the body including pins extending from first and second ends of the body for mechanically interfacing with tabs extending from corners of a periphery of the core computing device.

12. The module of claim 11, wherein the pins are spring-loaded pins.

13. A frame for interfacing a core computing device and a plurality of modules, comprising:

a body defining a cavity for receiving the core computing device, the body including a coupling positioned on the body within the cavity for electrically contacting the core computing device, the body defining a plurality of couplings for receiving a plurality of modules along a plurality of sides thereof, the body defining tabs extending from corners of a periphery of the body for mechanically interfacing with the modules.

15. A method of reconfiguring a computing device, comprising:

exchanging modules attached to a core of the computing device to change the functionality of the computing device, the modules, when attached to the core, conforming to a perimeter of the core to define a form factor of the computing device.

16. A docking station comprising:

a body housing electronics, the body defining a groove for receipt of a slide of a core computing device and having a coupling positioned on the body within the groove for electrically contacting the core computing device, the body including pins extending from first and second ends of the body for mechanically interfacing with tabs extending from corners of a periphery of the core computing device, and the electronics enabling a wireline connection of peripheral devices.