CONFIGURABLE COMMUNICATIONS MODULE WITH REPLACEABLE NETWORK ACCESS DEVICE

• US 20170077976A1
• Filed: 09/13/2016
• Published: 03/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: KOTZER, IGAL, RIESS, EILON
• Granted Patent: US 10,084,498 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/02 for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0042 characterised by mounting means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0288 Apparatus made of several modules independently mounted
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3818 Arrangements for facilitating insertion or removal of identification devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3822 specially adapted for use in vehicles H04B1/3827 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A system for providing telematics is provided that includes a communications unit having host circuitry coupled by an interface to at least one removable communications card, the interface includes a break line that enables disconnection of the at least one removable communications card from the host circuitry.

Claims

1. A system for providing telematics, comprising:

a communications unit having host circuitry coupled by an interface to at least one removable communications card, the interface includes a break line that enables disconnection of the at least one removable communications card from the host circuitry.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface includes a first portion extending from the host circuitry and a second portion extending from the at least one removable communications card, and wherein the break line is disposed along an intersection of the first and second portion.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one removable communications card is detachable from the host circuitry along the break line of the interface.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface physically and communicatively couples the host circuitry to the at least one removable communications card.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface is configured to sever the connection between the host circuitry and the at least one removable communications card at the break line of the interface.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the host circuitry and the at least one removable communications card are physically and communicatively disconnected from one another when the at least one removable communications card is detached from the host circuitry at the break line.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein the break line in the interface is formed by one of, or a combination of, perforations, scoring, and grooves.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the interface forms a male connector when separated from the second portion at the break line.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the male connector of the first portion of the interface is configured to receive a female connector of a second communications card.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein at least one removable communications card and the second communications card are modems.

11. A communications device, comprising:

a host communications board coupled to a first network access device, wherein the host communications board is configured to communicatively detach from the network access device and communicatively couple to a second network access device.

12. The communications device of claim 11, wherein the host communications board includes an interface that enables physical and communicative detachment of the first network access device from the host communications board.

13. The communications device of claim 11, wherein the interface includes a first portion extending from the host communications board and a second portion extending from the first network access device, and wherein the interface includes a break line disposed along an intersection of the first and second portion.

14. The communications device of claim 13, wherein the host communications board and the first network access device are physically and communicatively disconnected from one another when the first network access device is detached from the host communications board at the break line.

15. The communications device of claim 13, wherein the break line in the interface is formed by one of, or a combination of, perforations, scoring, and grooves

16. The communications device of claim 13, wherein the first portion of the interface is male connector configured to receive a female portion of the second network access device.

17. The communications device of claim 11, further including a slot configured to receive the second network access device, and wherein the host communications board is configured to communicatively couple to the second network access device through an interface in the slot, which has a mating arrangement with an interface on the second network access device.

18. The communications device of claim 11, further including a slot configured to receive the second network access device, and wherein the host communications board is configured to engage with a spring connector attached the second network access device.

19. The communications device of claim 18, wherein the host communications board is configured to disable the connection to the first network access device when the spring connector of the second network access device engages with contacts on the host communications board.

20. The communications device of claim 11, wherein the first and second network access devices are modems.