Plug-in module for portable computing device
First Claim
1. A portable electronic device for use in servicing a vehicle, comprising:
- a handheld computing device for servicing the vehicle having a device housing and device electronic components;
a module having a module housing and module electronic components, wherein the module housing is constructed and arranged to directly couple with the device housing, and wherein the module electronic components communicate with the device electronic components when the module housing is directly coupled with the device housing; and
a cartridge having a cartridge housing and cartridge electronic components, wherein the cartridge housing is constructed and arranged to directly couple with the module housing, and wherein the cartridge electronic components communicate with the module electronic components and the device electronic components when the cartridge housing is directly coupled with the module housing and the module housing is directly coupled with the device housing;
wherein said module provides additional functionality to said handheld computing device; and
wherein said cartridge provides additional functionality to said module.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A plug-in module adds functionality to a portable electronic device. The module includes a housing that is accepted by a housing port of the portable electronic device. The module includes at least one latch to secure the module to the electronic device. Each latch includes a first member, a second member, and a third member. The housing includes at least one receptacle corresponding to each latch. The receptacles are sized and positioned to accept a member of the latch and direct the latch to a groove located on the portable electronic device. Optionally, the latch includes a slip-resistant surface sized to accept a human finger or thumb. The module also preferably includes a hardware interface connector sized and positioned within the housing to engage a 120-pin hardware interface port on the portable electronic device when the module housing is positioned on the housing port of the portable electronic device. Receptacles of the electric connector have certain functionality corresponding to the pins on the port.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A portable electronic device for use in servicing a vehicle, comprising:
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a handheld computing device for servicing the vehicle having a device housing and device electronic components; a module having a module housing and module electronic components, wherein the module housing is constructed and arranged to directly couple with the device housing, and wherein the module electronic components communicate with the device electronic components when the module housing is directly coupled with the device housing; and a cartridge having a cartridge housing and cartridge electronic components, wherein the cartridge housing is constructed and arranged to directly couple with the module housing, and wherein the cartridge electronic components communicate with the module electronic components and the device electronic components when the cartridge housing is directly coupled with the module housing and the module housing is directly coupled with the device housing; wherein said module provides additional functionality to said handheld computing device; and wherein said cartridge provides additional functionality to said module. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A means for servicing a vehicle using a portable electronic device, comprising:
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a means for handheld computing for servicing the vehicle having a housing means and an electronic means; a means for providing primary modular functionality having a housing means and an electronic means, wherein the housing means of the means for providing primary modular functionality is designed to directly couple with the housing means of the means for handheld computing, wherein the electronic means of the means for providing primary modular functionality communicates with the electronic means of the means for handheld computing when the housing means of the means for providing primary modular functionality is directly coupled with the housing means of the means for handheld computing; and a means for providing secondary modular functionality having a housing means and an electronic means, wherein the housing means of the means for providing secondary modular functionality is designed to directly couple with the housing means of the means for providing primary modular functionality, and wherein the electronic means of the means for providing secondary modular functionality communicates with the electronic means of the means for providing primary modular functionality and the electronic means of the means for handheld computing when the housing means of the means for providing secondary modular functionality is directly coupled with the housing means of the means for providing primary modular functionality and the means for providing primary modular functionality is directly coupled to the means for handheld computing; wherein the means for providing primary modular functionality provides additional functionality to the means for handheld computing; and wherein the means for providing secondary modular functionality provides additional functionality to the means for providing primary modular functionality. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification