ELECTRONIC DEVICE

• US 20160302320A1
• Filed: 02/16/2016
• Published: 10/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: KIM, Dong-Sung, PARK, Cha-Hoon, CHO, Kang-Seok, JOO, Sung-Geun, KIM, Sung-Hun, LEE, Kwang-Yong, JIN, Sung-Yun, KIM, Hae-Soo
• Granted Patent: US 9,710,024 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1698 the I/O peripheral being a sending/receiving arrangement to establish a cordless communication link, e.g. radio or infrared link, integrated cellular phone details of antennas disposed inside a computer H01Q1/2266
• 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 2200/1635 Stackable modules

Abstract

An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a main unit including a first top surface, a first bottom surface opposite to the first top surface, and a first side surface configured to connect the first top surface and the first bottom surface, and at least one module unit including a second top surface, a second bottom surface opposite to the second top surface, and a second side surface configured to connect the second top surface and the second bottom surface. The module unit may be configured to couple to and uncouple from the main unit or another module unit in a state where one of the second top surface, the second bottom surface, and the second side surface faces one of the first top surface, the first bottom surface, and the first side surface. When the module unit is coupled to the main unit, the module unit may be electrically connected with the main unit.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a main unit including a first top surface, a first bottom surface opposite to the first top surface, and a first side surface configured to connect the first top surface and the first bottom surface; and

at least one module unit including a second top surface, a second bottom surface opposite to the second top surface, and a second side surface configured to connect the second top surface and the second bottom surface,

wherein the module unit is configured to couple to and uncouple from the main unit or another module unit in a state where one of the second top surface, the second bottom surface, and the second side surface faces one of the first top surface, the first bottom surface, and the first side surface, and

wherein, when the module unit is coupled to the main unit, the module unit is electrically connected with the main unit.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein each of the main unit and the module unit comprises a cylindrical shape in which each of the first and second side surfaces is formed in a curved surface.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the module unit is coupled to the main unit to form a cylindrical shape by being rotated in a state where the second top surface or the second bottom surface faces and is in contact with the first bottom surface or the first top surface.

4. The electronic device of claim 3, further comprising:

first connection terminals provided on the first top surface or the first bottom surface; and

second connection terminals provided on the second top surface or the second bottom surface,

wherein the second connection terminals are connected with the first connection terminals, respectively, in a state where the module unit is coupled with the main unit.

5. The electronic device of claim 4, wherein the first connection terminals and the second connection terminals are respectively arranged along a rotating direction of the module unit.

6. The electronic device of claim 5, wherein regions, in which the first connection terminals and the second connection terminals are arranged, respectively, are formed to be inclined in relation to the rotating direction of the module unit, and

wherein, when the module unit is rotated in a direction of coupling the module unit with the main unit, the regions are moved closer to each other.

7. The electronic device of claim 5, wherein one of the second connection terminals is connected to one of the first connection terminals at a first angular point in the rotating direction of coupling the module unit to the main unit, and

wherein the remaining second connection terminals are connected with the remaining first connection terminals, respectively, between the first angular point and a second angular point in a direction opposite to the rotating direction of coupling the module unit to the main unit.

8. The electronic device of claim 4, wherein the first connection terminals and the second connection terminals are arranged along a direction from a center of one of the first top surface, the first bottom surface, the second top surface, and the second bottom surface toward the first side surface or the second side surface.

9. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein one of the second connection terminals is connected to one of the first connection terminals at a first angular point in the rotating direction of coupling the module unit to the main unit, and

wherein the remaining second connection terminals are connected with the remaining first connection terminals, respectively, between the first angular point and a second angular point in a direction opposite to the rotating direction of coupling the module unit to the main unit.

10. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein when the module unit is rotated with respect to the main unit to leave from the first angular point, the one of the second connection terminals leaves from the first connection terminal so that the connection is released.

11. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising:

connector members arranged along one direction on the first side surface.

12. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein each of the connector members includes at least one of a universal serial bus (USB) connector, a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI) connector, an ear jack, a power connector, or a storage medium socket.

13. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the main unit includes a cylindrical housing with one opened end, and a cover member coupled to the opened end of the housing to provide the first bottom surface, and

wherein one of the module units is coupled to face the cover member.

14. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the main unit further comprises at least one circuit board fixed to the cover member, and connector members disposed on the circuit board.

15. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the module unit coupled to the main unit or the other module unit exchanges data with the main unit or the other module unit through a wireless communication.

16. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein each of the module unit includes:

a connection channel configured to wirelessly communicate with the main unit; and

a transmission channel configured to relay a wireless communication between the main unit and the other module unit.

17. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein the transmission channel includes a hole formed through the module unit.