Systems and methods for providing a dynamically modular processing unit

• US 7,764,506 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2006
• Issued: 07/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ATD Ventures, LLC
• Original Assignee: Jason A. Sullivan
• Inventors: Sullivan, Jason A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bui, Hung S
• Application Number:
  US11/483,956
• Publication Number:
  US 20090257179A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,478 Days
• Field of Search: 361/730, 361/752, 361/800, 361/790, 361/797
• US Class Current: 361/730
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/16 Constructional details or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1613 for portable computers cooling arrangements therefor G06F1/203; constructional details or arrangements for pocket calculators, electronic agendas or books G06F15/0216; constructional details of portable telephone sets: with several bodies H04M1/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• 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 1/18 Packaging or power distribution
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/181 Enclosures for portable computers G06F1/1613
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/20 Cooling means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1631 Panel PC, e.g. single housing hosting PC and display panel
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/5313 Means to assemble electrical device

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing a dynamically modular processing unit. A modular processing unit is provided as a platform that is lightweight, compact, and is configured to be selectively used alone or oriented with one or more additional processing units in an enterprise. In some implementations, a modular processing unit includes a non-peripheral based encasement, a cooling process (e.g., a thermodynamic convection cooling process, a forced air cooling process, and/or a liquid cooling process), an optimized circuit board configuration, optimized processing and memory ratios, and a dynamic back plane that provides increased flexibility and support to peripherals and applications. The modular processing unit is customizable and may be employed in association with all types of computer enterprises. The platform allows for a plethora of modifications that may be made with minimal impact to the dynamically modular unit, thereby enhancing the usefulness of the platform across all type of application.

Claims

1. A dynamic modular processing system, comprising:

a processing unit comprising;

a processor operably coupled to a circuit board;

a bus system interposedly connected to a coupling interface and the circuit board;

a first peripheral module interchangeably coupled to the coupling interface; and

a second peripheral module interchangeably coupled to the coupling interface following removal of the first peripheral module from the coupling interface, wherein the coupled first and second peripheral modules are operably connected to the processor via the coupling interface, the bus system, and the circuit board.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of peripheral modules each solely and interchangeably coupled to the coupling interface of the processing unit.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising an interchangeable back plane, wherein the coupling interface forms a portion of the interchangeable backplane.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second peripheral modules include at least one of:

(i) a mass storage device;

(ii) a peripheral input device;

(iii) a peripheral output device;

(iv) a network interface;

(v) a second processing unit;

(vi) a proprietary input connection;

(vii) a proprietary output connection; and

(viii) a proprietary device.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing unit is used in conjunction with a peripheral module selected from the group consisting of:

(i) a personal computer;

(ii) a notebook computer;

(iii) a personal digital assistant;

(iv) a handheld device;

(v) a workstation;

(vi) a minicomputer;

(vii) a mainframe;

(viii) a processor-based consumer device;

(ix) a smart device; and

(x) a control system.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the circuit board comprises a plurality of circuit boards.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising memory coupled to the bus and within the processing unit.

8. A method for providing a dynamic modular processing system, comprising:

providing a processing unit comprising;

a processor coupled to a circuit board;

a bus system; and

a coupling interface;

providing a first peripheral module that is interchangeably coupled to the coupling interface; and

providing a second peripheral module that is interchangeably coupled to the coupling interface following removal of the first peripheral module from the coupling interface, wherein the first and second peripheral modules are operably coupled to the processor via the coupling interface, the bus system, and the circuit board.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the optimized circuit board comprises a plurality of circuit boards.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the first and second peripheral modules include at least one of:

(i) a mass storage device;

(ii) a peripheral input device;

(iii) a peripheral output device;

(iv) a network interface;

(v) a second processing unit;

(vi) a proprietary input connection;

(vii) a proprietary output connection; and

(viii) a proprietary device.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the processing unit is coupled with a peripheral module selected from the group consisting of:

(i) a personal computer;

(ii) a notebook computer;

(iii) a personal digital assistant;

(iv) a handheld device;

(v) a workstation;

(vi) a minicomputer;

(vii) a mainframe;

(viii) a processor-based consumer device;

(ix) a smart device; and

(x) a control system.

12. A modular system, comprising:

a processing unit comprising;

a processor operably coupled to a circuit board;

a bus system interposedly connected to an externally accessible coupling interface and the circuit board; and

a peripheral device selectively coupled to the coupling interface of the processing unit, wherein the peripheral device is operably coupled to the processor via the coupling interface, the bus system, and the circuit board.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising a plurality of interchangeable peripheral devices that are selectively connected to the coupling interface.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the peripheral device comprises at least one of:

(i) a mass storage device;

(ii) a peripheral input device;

(iii) a peripheral output device;

(iv) a network interface;

(v) a second processing unit;

(vi) a proprietary input connection;

(vii) a proprietary output connection;

(viii) a proprietary device; and

(ix) a storage device.