SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING A UNIVERSAL COMPUTING SYSTEM

• US 20120151098A1
• Filed: 06/06/2011
• Published: 06/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ATD Ventures, LLC
• Original Assignee: ATD Ventures, LLC
• Inventors: Sullivan, Jason A.
• Application Number:
  US13/154,325
• Publication Number:
  US 20120151098A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/13
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1607 Arrangements to support accessories mechanically attached to the display housing G06F1/1603, G06F1/1605 take precedence
• 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 1/1656 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 1/181 Enclosures for portable computers G06F1/1613
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/183 Internal mounting support structures, e.g. for printed circuit boards, internal connecting means for buses G06F13/409
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/20 Cooling means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1635 Stackable modules
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/14 Structural association of two or more printed circuits providing electric connection to or between printed circuits H05K1/11, H01R12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/047 Box-like arrangements of PCBs

Abstract

The present invention relates to systems and methods for providing a universal computing system. Implementations include a modular motherboard having two or more electronic circuit boards that are connected to form a motherboard. The two or more electronic circuit boards each include a security key structure on a connector for providing a keyed connector therebetween. Computing components may be provided on two of the major surfaces of the first electronic circuit board circuit board. Components are disclosed in which the computing system will not turn on unless the first printed circuit board is electrically connected to the second printed circuit board. A heat sink is disclosed that may be used in the universal computing system. A customizable encasement is disclosed. An expandable memory device is disclosed.

Claims

1. A modular motherboard comprising:

a first electronic circuit board performing a first function; and

a second electronic circuit board performing a second function, wherein the first and second boards are operably connected to provide an integrated logic board for a computer system.

2. The modular motherboard of claim 1, further comprising:

a third electronic circuit board performing a third function, wherein the third electronic circuit board operably connects to the first electronic circuit board.

3. The modular motherboard of claim 2, wherein the first, second, and third electronic circuit boards form a tri-board configuration.

4. The modular motherboard of claim 1, wherein the first and second functions include at least one of:

(i) electronic storage;

(ii) electronic memory;

(iii) processing capability; and

(iv) basic input output system.

5. The modular motherboard of claim 1, wherein the first electronic circuit board includes a first motherboard connector and the second electronic circuit board includes a second motherboard connector being operably connected to the first motherboard connector.

6. The modular processing unit of claim 5, wherein the first motherboard connector includes a first geometry comprising a first sub-geometry shaped to securely mate with the second motherboard connector and a second sub-geometry having a security key structure that discriminates against mating with a second motherboard connector not having a corresponding security key structure.

7. The modular processing unit of claim 6, wherein the second motherboard connector includes a second geometry comprising a third sub-geometry shaped to be securely mate with the first motherboard connector and a fourth sub-geometry shaped having a security key structure corresponding with the security key structure of the first motherboard connector.

8. The modular motherboard of claim 1, further comprising a heat sink, comprising:

a receiver having a plurality of receiving surfaces for interfacing with a plurality of heat-producing components, the receiver further having an adapter surface; and

a diffusing duct plate having an adapter surface for compatibly interfacing with the adapter surface of the receiver, the diffusing duct plate further having a diffusing duct surface.

9. The modular motherboard of claim 1, further comprising:

wherein the first electronic circuit board circuit board has a first major surface and an opposite second major surface;

a first computing component communicatively connected to the printed circuit board and disposed along the first major surface; and

a second computing component communicatively connected to the printed circuit board and disposed along the second major surface.

10. A modular computing device as recited in claim 9, wherein the first and second computing components comprise mass storage devices.

11. A modular computing device as recited in claim 10, wherein the first computing component comprises a solid state drive and the second computing component comprises a spinning magnetic media drive.

12. A modular computing device as recited in claim 9, further comprising a communicative connection providing communication between the first and second computing components and an external computing device, wherein the communicative connection comprises a port on the printed circuit board.

13. The modular motherboard of claim 1, wherein the second electronic circuit board has a central processing unit;

and the modular motherboard further comprising a dynamic backplane having a plurality of ports for electrically connecting a peripheral device to the modular motherboard.

14. The modular motherboard of claim 13, wherein the plurality of ports require a plurality of different logics to interface with the central processing unit, and wherein the computer will not turn on unless the first printed circuit board is electrically connected to the second printed circuit board, wherein the plurality of different logics required by the plurality of ports is disposed on a component selected from the first printed circuit board, the dynamic backplane, and combinations thereof.

15. The modular motherboard of claim 14, further comprising a security chip having a unique identifier, wherein the security chip prevents a component selected from unauthorized software, unauthorized hardware, and a combination thereof from fully functioning with the computer, wherein the computer will only function where both the first circuit board and the second circuit board each comprises the security chip.

16. The modular motherboard of claim 14, further comprising a means for requiring a password only after the computer is disconnected from and reconnected to a power source.

17. The modular motherboard of claim 1, further comprising a customizable encasement housing the first electronic circuit board and the second electronic circuit board, one or more of the components of the customizable encasement being decorated with a customized color, design, or logo, label, or text.

18. An expandable memory device, comprising:

a first peripheral memory component capable of storing digital information, the first peripheral memory component comprising;

a first electrical connector to physically and electrically connect the first peripheral memory component to a computer system; and

a second electrical connector to physically and electrically connect the first peripheral memory component to a second peripheral memory component, wherein the expandable memory device automatically repartitions its memory when the second peripheral memory component is electrically connected to or disconnected from the first peripheral memory component.

19. A computer system comprising:

a hardware device;

a software application stored on the hardware device;

a security feature that prevents the removal of the software application from the hardware device;

a communications interface for communicating input and output data for software application on a separate computer system.

20. The computer system of claim 19, the hardware having a processor, one or more memory devices, one or more storage devices, and one or more input/output (I/O) devices for running the software application.