Interchangeable modular arrangement of computer and accessory devices

• US 6,327,152 B1
• Filed: 11/19/1999
• Issued: 12/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Casio Manufacturing Corp. (Casio Computer Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Casio Computer Company Limited
• Inventors: Saye, Tony Pingfu
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaffin, Jeffrey
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vigushin, John B.
• Application Number:
  US09/444,268
• Time in Patent Office: 746 Days
• Field of Search: 361/730-733, 361/735, 361/729, 361/683-686, 439/928, 439/928.1, 340/572.8, 340/572.9, 429/97, 429/98, 429/100, 455/66, 455/90, 455/95, 455/128, 455/344, 455/346-349, 455/351, 455/575, 379/185, 379/325, 379/328-330, 379/428, 379/429, 379/433, 379/434, 379/440-442, 379/447, 379/450
• US Class Current: 361/732
• 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 2200/1635 Stackable modules
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0021 Side-by-side or stacked arrangements

Abstract

A structure wherein a hand held computer module can be conveniently and interchangeably coupled to accessory devices. The hand held computer module is detachably connected to a first accessory module by a first interlocking structure. The computer module includes the first interlock mechanism and the first accessory module includes the second interlock mechanism. The first and second interlock mechanisms are mated together to form a physical connection between the computer module and the first accessory module. The first accessory module also includes a third interlock mechanism which is similar to the first interlock mechanism. A second accessory module has a fourth interlock mechanism which is similar to the second interlock mechanism. The first accessory module can be detachably connected to a second accessory module by means of a second interlocking structure which includes the third and fourth interlock mechanisms. Alternatively, the third accessory module can be connected to the computer module using the first and fourth interlock mechanisms.

Claims

1. An arrangement of interconnected modules comprising:

a portable hand held computer module having a first side and a second side, said second side including a first electrical contact; and

a portable hand held communication module having a first side and a second side, said communication module being detachably coupled to said computer module by a first interlocking structure, said first interlocking structure including a first interlock mechanism on said second side of said computer module and a second interlock mechanism on said first side of said communication module, said first and second interlock mechanisms mating with each other to form a physical connection between said computer module and said communication module, said communication module further including a third interlock mechanism, said third interlock mechanism being similar to said first interlock mechanism,

said communication module being capable of receiving and transmitting information signals to and from said arrangement of modules, said information signals capable of being operated on by said computer module, said first side of said communication module including a second electrical contact, said first and second electrical contacts coupling by a movement of said second side of said computer module parallel to said first side of said communication module.

2. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein said communication module comprises a second electrical contact, said first and said second electrical contacts being in contact.

3. The arrangement of claim 1, further comprising a portable hand held first accessory module detachably connected to said communication module by a second interlocking structure, said second interlocking structure comprising said third interlock mechanism and a fourth interlock mechanism on said first accessory module, said third and fourth interlock mechanisms mating with each other to form a physical connection between said communication module and said first accessory module, said fourth interlock mechanism being similar to said second interlock mechanism, said first accessory module being selected from the group consisting of a battery module, a cell phone, a local area network access device, a personal area network device, a pager, and a global positioning device.

4. The arrangement of claim 3, wherein said communication module and said first accessory module are similar in length and width to said computer module.

5. The arrangement of claim 3, wherein said communication module includes a third electrical contact and said first accessory module includes a fourth electrical contact, wherein said third electrical contact and said fourth electrical contact are coupled when said third and fourth interlock mechanisms mate.

6. The structure of claim 3, wherein the structure of interconnected modules has a total dimension of approximately 30 mm by 86 mm by 54 mm.

7. The arrangement of claim 3, wherein said communication module comprises a second electrical contact on said first side and a third electrical contact on said second side, said second and third electrical contacts being permanently connected together via a first conduction path;

and said first accessory module comprises a fourth electrical contact, said first and second electrical contacts being detachably in contact with each other and said third and fourth electrical contacts being detachably in contact with each other such that said first, second, third, and fourth contacts and said first conduction path together form a bus.

8. The arrangement of claim 7, wherein one of said communication module and first accessory module comprises a battery module and said bus is for carrying power from said battery module to said computer module.

9. The arrangement of claim 8, wherein said bus is for carrying power from said battery module to the other of said communication module and said first accessory module.

10. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein said first interlock mechanism comprises a slot.

11. The arrangement of claim 10, wherein said second interlock mechanism comprises a foot.

12. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein a length of said computer module is approximately 86 mm and a width of said computer module is approximately 54 mm.

13. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein said computer module comprises a display.

14. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein said first interlock mechanism and said second interlock mechanism comprise a snap-type fitting.

15. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein said first interlock mechanism and said second interlock mechanism comprise magnets.

16. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein said communication module comprises receiver circuitry and transmitter circuitry.

17. An arrangement of interconnected modules comprising:

a portable hand held computer module having a first side and a second side, said second side including a first electrical contact;

a portable hand held communication module having a first side and a second side, said communication module being detachably coupled to said computer module by a first interlocking structure, said first interlocking structure including a first interlock mechanism on said second side of said computer module and a second interlock mechanism on said first side of said communication module, said first and second interlock mechanisms mating with each other to form a physical connection between said computer module and said communication module, said communication module further including a third interlock mechanism, said third interlock mechanism being similar to said first interlock mechanism, said communication module being capable of receiving and transmitting information signals to and from said arrangement of modules, said information signals capable of being operated on by said computer module; and

a portable hand held first accessory module detachably connected to said communication module by a second interlocking structure, said second interlocking structure comprising said third interlock mechanism and a fourth interlock mechanism on said first accessory module, said third and fourth interlock mechanisms mating with each other to form a physical connection between said communication module and said first accessory module, said fourth interlock mechanism being similar to said second interlock mechanism, said first accessory module being selected from the group consisting of a battery module, a cell phone, a local area network access device, a personal area network device, a pager, and a global positioning device,

said fourth interlock mechanism including a rail and said third interlock mechanism including a groove, said groove is inserted under said rail and is secured under said rail.

18. An arrangement of interconnected modules comprising:

a portable hand held computer module having a first side and a second side, said second side including a first electrical contact; and

a portable hand held first accessory module having a first side and a second side, said first accessory module being detachably coupled to said computer module by a first interlocking structure, said first interlocking structure including a first interlock mechanism on said second side of said computer module and a second interlock mechanism on said first side of said first accessory module, said first and second interlock mechanisms mating with each other to form a physical connection between said computer module and said first accessory module, said first accessory module further including a third interlock mechanism, said third interlock mechanism being similar to said first interlock mechanism,

said first accessory module being selected from the group consisting of a battery module, a cell phone, a local area network access device, personal area network device, a pager, and a global positioning device,

said first interlock mechanism comprising a slot, said second interlock mechanism comprising a foot,

wherein said slot includes a narrow section and a wide section, said foot is T-shaped and a top of said foot is wider than said narrow section and narrower than said wide section.

19. The arrangement of claim 18 wherein said foot is inserted into said wide section and is secured under said narrow section.

20. An arrangement of interconnected modules comprising:

a portable hand held computer module having a first side and a second side, said second side including a first electrical contact; and

a portable hand held communication module having a first side and a second side, said communication module being detachably coupled to said computer module by a first interlocking structure, said first interlocking structure including a first interlock mechanism on said second side of said computer module and a second interlock mechanism on said first side of said communication module, said first and second interlock mechanisms mating with each other to form a physical connection between said computer module and said communication module, said communication module further including a third interlock mechanism, said third interlock mechanism being similar to said first interlock mechanism,

said communication module being capable of receiving and transmitting information signals to and from said arrangement of modules, said information signals capable of being operated on by said computer module,

said first interlock mechanism comprises a groove.

21. The arrangement of claim 20 wherein said second interlock mechanism comprises a rail.

22. The arrangement of claim 21 wherein said groove is inserted under said rail and is secured under said rail.

23. An arrangement of interconnected modules comprising:

a portable hand held computer module having a first side and a second side, said second side including a first electrical contact; and

a portable hand held first accessory module having a first side and a second side, said first accessory module being detachably coupled to said computer module by a first interlocking structure, said first interlocking structure including a first interlock mechanism on said second side of said computer module and a second interlock mechanism on said first side of said first accessory module, said first and second interlock mechanisms mating with each other to form a physical connection between said computer module and said first accessory module, said first accessory module further including a third interlock mechanism, said third interlock mechanism being similar to said first interlock mechanism,

said first accessory module being selected from the group consisting of a battery module, a cell phone, a local area network access device, personal area network device, a pager, and a global positioning device,

wherein said first side of said first accessory module includes a second electrical contact, said first and second electrical contacts coupling by a movement of said second side of said computer module parallel to said first side of said first accessory module.

24. A structure of interconnected modules comprising:

a hand held computer module;

a first hand held accessory module; and

a second hand held accessory module,

said computer module, said first accessory module, and said second accessory module being coupled to allow a voltage supply and data signals to be passed between each module, said structure of interconnected modules being hand held, said first accessory module being capable of receiving and transmitting said data signals to an external device, and said computer module being capable of performing an operation on said information signal,

wherein the computer module comprises conducting portions on at least one side and wherein said first accessory module and said second accessory module further comprise conducting portions on at least two sides,

wherein said computer module comprises slots on at least one side,

wherein said first accessory module and said second accessory module comprise feet on at least one side and slots on an opposite side of each of said first and said second accessory modules, said feet for attaching to slots of other accessory modules, and for attaching to said slots on said at least one side of said computer module,

wherein the feet of the first accessory module are fastenable to the slots of the computer module to allow a signal to pass between the conducting portion of the computer module and the conducting portion of the first accessory module, and wherein the feet of the second accessory module are fastenable to the slots of the first accessory module to allow a signal to pass between the conducting portion of the first accessory module and the conducting portion of the second accessory module,

wherein the slots include a narrow section and a wide section wherein the feet are T-shaped and the top of the feet is wider than the narrow section and narrower than the wide section.

25. The structure of claim 24 wherein the feet insert into the wide sections and are secured under the narrow sections so that the computer, first, and second modules establish the secure connection.

26. A structure of interconnected modules comprising:

a hand held computer module;

a first hand held accessory module; and

a second hand held accessory module,

said computer module, said first accessory module, and said second accessory module being coupled to allow a signal to be passed between each module, said structure of interconnected modules being hand held,

wherein the computer module comprises signal conducting portions on at least one side and wherein said first accessory module and said second accessory module further comprise signal conducting portions on at least two sides,

wherein said computer module comprises slots on at least one side,

wherein said first accessory module and said second accessory module comprise feet on at least one side and slots on an opposite side of each of said first and said second accessory modules, said feet for attaching to slots of other accessory modules, and for attaching to said slots on said at least one side of said computer module,

wherein the feet of the first accessory module are fastenable to the slots of the computer module to allow a signal to pass between the signal conducting portion of the computer module and the signal conducting portion of the first accessory module, and wherein the feet of the second accessory module are fastenable to the slots of the first accessory module to allow a signal to pass between the signal conducting portion of the first accessory module and the signal conducting portion of the second accessory module,

wherein the slots include a narrow section and a wide section wherein the feet are T-shaped and the top of the feet is wider than the narrow section and narrower than the wide section.

27. The structure of claim 26, wherein the feet insert into the wide sections and are secured under the narrow sections so that the computer, first, and second modules establish the secure connection.