ELECTRONIC MODULE, CONTROL MODULE, AND ELECTRONIC MODULE SET
First Claim
1. An electronic module comprising:
- a housing comprising a plurality of external faces, a first electrically-conductive toe, and a second electrically-conductive toe, each toe extending from a face to an adjacent face;
a first magnetic element arranged within the housing and proximal the first toe;
a second magnetic element arranged within the housing and proximal the second toe; and
a circuit arranged within the housing and electrically coupled to the first and second toes;
the magnetic elements configured to transiently retain a second electronic module against the housing in both stacked and adjacent configurations;
the first toe configured to communicate a portion of a power signal between the circuit and the second electronic module in either of the stacked and adjacent configurations; and
the magnetic elements configured to repel contact between at least one toe and at least one terminal of the second electronic module in an upside-down configuration.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
One variation of the invention is a electronic module comprising: a housing with external faces and electrically-conductive first, second, and third toes, each of which extends from one face to an adjacent face; first, second, and third magnetic elements arranged within the housing and proximal the first, second, and third toes, respectively; and a circuit arranged within the housing and electrically coupled to the toes. The circuit is operable between: a first mode when the first and second toes are in contact with a first terminal and a second terminal of a second electronic module, respectively; and a second mode when the second and the third toes are in contact with the second terminal and a third terminal of the second electronic module. The magnetic elements are configured to transiently retain the second electronic module against the housing, in both stacked and adjacent configurations, in the first and second modes.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. An electronic module comprising:
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a housing comprising a plurality of external faces, a first electrically-conductive toe, and a second electrically-conductive toe, each toe extending from a face to an adjacent face; a first magnetic element arranged within the housing and proximal the first toe; a second magnetic element arranged within the housing and proximal the second toe; and a circuit arranged within the housing and electrically coupled to the first and second toes; the magnetic elements configured to transiently retain a second electronic module against the housing in both stacked and adjacent configurations; the first toe configured to communicate a portion of a power signal between the circuit and the second electronic module in either of the stacked and adjacent configurations; and the magnetic elements configured to repel contact between at least one toe and at least one terminal of the second electronic module in an upside-down configuration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A control module for an electronic module, the control module comprising:
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a housing comprising a plurality of external faces, a first electrically-conductive toe, and a second electrically-conductive toe, each toe extending from a face to an adjacent face; a first magnetic element arranged within the housing and proximal the first toe; a second magnetic element arranged within the housing and proximal the second toe; and a processor electrically coupled to the first toe and second toes; the magnetic elements configured to transiently retain a second electronic module against the housing in both stacked and adjacent configurations; the first toe configured to communicate a portion of a power signal between the processor and the second electronic module in either of the stacked and adjacent configurations; the second toe configured to communicate a portion of an input signal from the second electronic module to the processor in either of the stacked and adjacent configurations; and the magnetic elements configured to repel contact between at least one toe and at least one terminal of the second electronic module in an upside-down configuration. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. An electronic module set comprising:
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a plurality of electronic modules, including a first electronic module and a second electronic module, each electronic module comprising; a housing comprising a plurality of external faces, a first electrically-conductive toe, and a second electrically-conductive toe, each toe extending from a face to an adjacent face; a first magnetic element arranged within the housing and proximal the first toe; and a second magnetic element arranged within the housing and proximal the second toe; the first electronic module further configured to accept a power source, the first toe thereof electrically coupled to a first terminal of the power source and the second toe thereof electrically coupled to a second terminal of the power source; the second electronic module further comprising a circuit electrically coupled to the first and second toes thereof, the first and second toes thereof configured to communicate power between the circuit and the first electronic module when at least two toes of the second electronic module are in contact with at least two toes of the first electronic module; the magnetic elements configured to transiently retain the first electronic module against the second electronic module in both stacked and adjacent configurations; and the magnetic elements configured to repel contact between at least one toe of the first electronic module and at least one toe of the second electronic module in an upside-down configuration. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification