Modular expandable mobile navigation device

• US 7,634,606 B2
• Filed: 03/16/2007
• Issued: 12/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Bailey, Thomas A., Welsh, Rick D., Couckuyt, Jeffrey D., Kimchi, Gur
• Primary Examiner(s): Rinehart; Mark
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zaman; Faisal M
• Application Number:
  US11/687,172
• Publication Number:
  US 20080228982A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,005 Days
• Field of Search: 710/303, 710/304, 700/66
• US Class Current: 710/303
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/35 Constructional details or hardware or software details of the signal processing chain
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0254 comprising one or a plurality of mechanically detachable modules

Abstract

An expandable system for mobile navigation facilitates a modular implementation of structural units to add desired functionality to a base navigation device. The system is embodied as a handheld mobile navigation device in one arrangement, including a base unit housing containing circuitry for determining a geographic location of the navigation device and a module unit housing containing circuitry for delivering additional functional activity. In particular, the base unit housing includes a primary interface for interconnecting with a secondary interface of the module unit housing, to enable signals generated or handled by a circuitry component of the module unit to be relayed to the circuitry of the base unit housing. Additionally, the module unit housing is configured to be releasably attached directly with the base unit housing upon the primary interface and secondary interface interconnecting with one another, to form the mobile navigation device as a physically connected package.

Claims

1. A handheld modular mobile navigation device, comprising:

a base unit housing including a bus, a processing component coupled with the bus for determining a geographic location of the navigation device, a display screen coupled with the bus for presenting information related to the determined geographic location, a power supply coupled with the bus, a receiver coupled with the bus for capturing signals utilized by the processing component in making the geographic location determination, and a pair of opposed side regions, each of the pair of opposed side regions having a primary connector coupled with the bus, a flange configured to interface with a recess of a module unit housing, and a channel extending upwardly from a lower region of the base unit housing, the channel being generally parallel to a front surface and a back surface of the base unit housing and configured to accept a rail of a module unit housing; and

a pair of module unit housings configured for releasable attachment directly with the base unit housing, each module unit housing having a rail extending upwardly from a lower region of the module unit housing, a front face that, when attached to the base unit housing via the rail being accepted into a channel of the base unit housing, is flush with the front surface of the base unit, each module unit housing having a recess for accepting the flange of the base unit housing, and each module unit housing including a mating secondary connector for interconnecting with a primary connector of at least one of the opposed side regions of the base unit housing and a circuitry component coupled with the secondary connector for performing a dedicated function resulting in associated signals being relayed through the secondary connector to the primary connector and onto the bus of the base unit housing when the module unit housing is releasably attached directly with the base housing unit.

2. The mobile navigation device of claim 1, wherein the circuitry component of the module unit housing is at least one of a directional pad, a camera, a receiver, a wireless modem, a media slot and a connection port.

3. The mobile navigation device of claim 2, wherein the circuitry component enables a wireless Internet connection for the device.

4. The mobile navigation device of claim 1, wherein the receiver of the base unit housing comprises a GPS receiver.

5. The mobile navigation device of claim 1, wherein one of the primary connector of the base unit housing and the secondary connector of the module unit housing is a male-type electrical connector configured to be received within the other one of the primary connector and the secondary connector in the form of a female-type electrical connector.

6. A handheld expandable system for providing mobile navigation, comprising:

a base processing and display unit formed with a bus, a processing component coupled with the bus for determining a geographic location of the system, a display screen coupled with the bus for presenting information related to the determined geographic location, a power supply coupled with the bus, a receiver coupled with the bus for capturing signals utilized by the processing component in making the geographic location determination, and a pair of opposed side regions, each of the pair of opposed side regions having a protruding flange configured to interface with a recess of a module unit, within which is at least one primary connector coupled with the bus, and each of the pair of opposed side regions having a channel extending upwardly from a lower region of the base unit housing, the channel being generally parallel to a front surface and a back surface of the base housing unit and configured to accept a rail of a module unit housing; and

a pair of module units, each module unit being configured for releasable attachment with the base processing and display unit to present a monolithic body with a center of mass skewed towards the module unit, each module unit housing having a front face that, when attached to the base unit housing, is flush with the front surface of the base unit, and each module unit being formed with;

a rail extending upwardly from a lower region of the module unit,

a recess for accepting a flange of the base unit housing,

a secondary connector mateable with one of the at least one primary connector to electrically couple the respective module unit to the base processing and display unit, and

a circuitry component coupled with the secondary connector, wherein the circuitry component performs a dedicated function resulting in associated signals being relayed through the secondary connector to one of the at least one primary connector and onto the bus when the secondary connector mates with the respective primary connector.

7. The expandable system of claim 6, wherein the circuitry component of the at least one module unit is at least one of a directional pad, a camera, a receiver, a wireless modem, a media slot and a connection port.

8. The expandable system of claim 7, wherein the circuitry component enables a wireless Internet connection for the system.

9. The expandable system of claim 6, wherein the receiver of the base processing and display unit comprises a GPS receiver.

10. The expandable system of claim 6, wherein one of at least one primary connector of the base processing and display unit and the secondary connector of the at least one module unit is a male-type electrical connector configured to be received within the other one of the respective primary connector and the respective secondary connector in the form of a female-type electrical connector.

11. A method of expanding the functionality of a mobile navigation system, comprising:

providing a base processing and display unit formed with a bus, a processing component coupled with the bus for determining a geographic location of the navigation device, a display screen coupled with the bus for displaying information related to the determined geographic location, a power supply coupled with the bus, a receiver coupled with the bus for capturing signals utilized by the processing component in making the geographic location determination, and a pair of opposed side regions, each of the pair of opposed side regions having a primary connector coupled with the bus, a flange configured to interface with a recess of a module unit housing, and a channel extending upwardly from a lower region of the base unit housing, the channel being generally parallel to a front surface and a back surface of the base housing unit and configured to accept a rail of a module unit;

releasably attaching a module unit formed with a front face, a rail extending upwardly from a lower region of the module unit, a recess for accepting the flange of the base unit housing, a secondary connector and a circuitry component directly to the base processing and display unit, such that the front face of the module unit is flush with the front surface of the base unit, the secondary connector mates with and electrically connects to the primary connector and the combined base processing and display unit and attached module unit form a monolithic body, wherein the circuitry component is coupled with the secondary connector; and

engaging, by the base processing and display unit, the circuitry component to perform a dedicated function resulting in associated signals being relayed through the secondary connector to the primary connector and onto the bus of the base processing and display unit, wherein the dedicated function is at least sometimes a function other than determining a geographic location of the navigation device.