Customizable wireless device having stackable modules

• US 6,477,357 B1
• Filed: 03/24/2000
• Issued: 11/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cook, Charles I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Thanh Cong
• Assistant Examiner(s): Harry, Andrew T
• Application Number:
  US09/534,793
• Time in Patent Office: 956 Days
• Field of Search: 455/90, 455/128, 379/357.01, 379/356.01, 379/357.02, 379/357.05, 361/814
• US Class Current: 455/90.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3833 Hand-held transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0202 Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0254 comprising one or a plurality of mechanically detachable modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A wireless device such as a wireless telephone includes stackable modules. Each of the modules provides an independent wireless device function. Each of the modules stacks onto and connects to at least one of the other modules. Each of the modules includes a communications contact connected to a communications contact of at least one of the other modules. Each of the modules also includes a power bus contact connected to a power bus contact of at least one of the other modules. The modules include a memory module, a flash memory module, a read only memory (ROM) module, a random access memory (RAM) module, a central processing unit (CPU) module, a display module, a keypad module, a transceiver module, a battery module, a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver module, and the like. Each of the modules includes keying patterns to ensure that the modules are connected together in a proper order.

Claims

1. A wireless device comprising:

a plurality of stackable modules each providing an independent wireless device function, wherein each module has the same generally rectangular cross-sectional shape, wherein the rectangular cross-sectional shape of each module includes a keying pattern, wherein the keying pattern of each module corresponds to the keying pattern of the other modules which are to be stacked adjacent to the module in a stack, wherein the modules are stacked upon one another in a proper stacking order defined by the keying patterns with each module being connected to adjacent modules in the stack.

2. The wireless device of claim 1 wherein:

each module includes a communications contact for communicating with the other modules, wherein the communications contact of each module is connected to the communications contact of the adjacent modules in the stack.

3. The wireless device of claim 1 wherein:

each module includes a power bus contact for transferring power with the other modules, wherein the power bus contact of each module is connected to the power bus contact of the adjacent modules in the stack.

4. The wireless device of claim 1 wherein:

the modules include a memory module.

5. The wireless device of claim 4 wherein:

the memory module is a flash memory module.

6. The wireless device of claim 1 wherein:

the modules include a read only memory (ROM) module.

7. The wireless device of claim 1 wherein:

the modules include a random access memory (RAM) module.

8. The wireless device of claim 1 wherein:

the modules include a central processing unit (CPU) module.

9. The wireless device of claim 1 wherein:

the modules include a display module.

10. The wireless device of claim 1 wherein:

the modules include a keypad module.

11. The wireless device of claim 1 wherein:

the modules include a transceiver module.

12. The wireless device of claim 1 wherein:

the modules include a battery module.

13. The wireless device of claim 1 wherein:

the modules includes a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver module.

14. The device of claim 1 wherein:

the wireless device is a wireless telephone.

15. A method of making a wireless device, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of stackable modules each providing an independent wireless device function and each having the same generally rectangular cross-sectional shape;

forming a keying pattern on the rectangular cross-sectional shape of each module such that the keying pattern of each module corresponds to the keying pattern of the other modules which are to be stacked adjacent to the module in a stack; and

stacking the modules upon one another in a proper stacking order defined by the keying patterns with each module being connected to adjacent modules in the stack.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein:

each module includes a communications contact for communicating with the other modules, wherein stacking the modules upon one another includes connecting the communications contact of each module to the communications contact of the adjacent modules.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein:

each module includes a power bus contact for transferring power with the other modules, wherein stacking the modules upon one another includes connecting the power bus contact of each module to the power bus contact of the adjacent modules.