USB stacking devices and applications

• US 8,521,227 B2
• Filed: 04/10/2012
• Issued: 08/27/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Harris Technology LLC
• Original Assignee: Harris Technology LLC
• Inventors: Harris, Scott C.
• Primary Examiner(s): WEST, LEWIS G
• Application Number:
  US13/443,035
• Publication Number:
  US 20120196653A1
• Time in Patent Office: 504 Days
• Field of Search: 455/550.1, 455/556.1, 455/556.2, 455/557, 455/90.3, 455/41.2, 455/41.3, 455/66.1, 361/814
• US Class Current: 455/557
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0254 comprising one or a plurality of mechanically detachable modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7246 by connection of exchangeable housing parts

Abstract

A modular device formed with USB connectors. The USB can be used for connecting different kinds of devices, for example memories, user interfaces and the like. The USB devices can be piggybacked. In an embodiment, the USB devices can be located in a cavity formed inside the computer. Another embodiment forms a modular cellular telephone.

Claims

1. A modular portable telephone system, comprising:

a telephone module that is operable by a user to make and receive telephone calls over a wireless channel, said telephone module having a connection part;

a first module having a keyboard on said first module, allowing data to be entered into said telephone module using entries on said keyboard, said first module having a first connection part that mates with said connection part on said telephone module; and

a second module, having a first function of entering data into the telephone module without using any keyboard, said second module having a second connection part which mates with said connection part of said telephone module.

2. The system as in claim 1, wherein said second modules allows data to be entered only via voice-recognition and not via a keyboard.

3. The system as in claim 1, further comprising a third module which has a third connector that mates with a connection to said telephone module, and where said third module provides a second wireless capability that is not provided by said telephone module, where said second wireless capability allows communicating over a different wireless network than said telephone module.

4. The system as in claim 1, wherein said second module also has a third connector, and further comprising a third module which has a fourth connector that mates with said third connector, and where said second module provides a second wireless capability to said telephone module that is not provided by said telephone module without said third module where said second wireless capability allows communicating over a different wireless network than said telephone module.

5. The system as in claim 1, wherein said second module is smaller in size than said first module and wherein said modular telephone system is smaller in total size with said first module installed, than with said second module installed.

6. A method comprising:

at a first time, first connecting first and second peripheral devices to a portable communication device, said connecting including holding surfaces of said both said first and second peripheral devices to a housing of said portable communication device;

controlling said portable communication device to carry out communication using both said first and second peripheral devices connected at the same time with said first peripheral device controlling a first function, and said second peripheral device controlling a second function;

at a second time, different than said first time, second connecting a third peripheral device to said portable communication device in place of said second peripheral device, said second connecting including holding surfaces of said third peripheral device to said housing of said portable communication device;

at said second time, using said third peripheral device to allow a third function associated with communication, said third function being different than said first and second functions, wherein said first connecting and said second connecting all connect to a connector that is of the same type; and

at a third time, using said portable communication device with neither said first nor second peripheral devices to carry out said communication.

7. A method as in claim 6, wherein said connector is a USB connector.

8. A method as in claim 6, wherein said first peripheral device is a battery, and said second peripheral device is a user interface device.

9. The method as in claim 8, wherein said portable communication device has a first data entry device allowing data to be entered using a first entry technique, and said second peripheral device a first function of entering data using a different data entry format than said first entry technique.

10. A method of using a portable phone comprising:

at a first time, using said portable phone in a first configuration to make calls, where in said first configuration, said phone has a first smaller size, and does not have a keyboard attached and make calls without the keyboard attached;

at a second time, different than said first time, second connecting a first peripheral device which has a keyboard to said portable phone, and using said phone with said first peripheral device connected thereto, to allow using the keyboard to make calls using the portable phone, that is, wherein at said second time with said first peripheral device attached, said phone has a larger size than it does at said first time.

11. The method as in claim 10, where in said first configuration, said portable phone has a second peripheral device attached thereto, and does not have said first peripheral device attached thereto, and said first peripheral device does not have a keyboard.

12. The method as in claim 10, further comprising attaching a wireless peripheral device controlling communicating over a different wireless network than can be communicated without said wireless peripheral device.

13. The method as in claim 10, wherein said first peripheral device has outer surfaces which fit within inner surfaces within said portable phone.

14. The method as in claim 10, further comprising connecting another peripheral device into a piggyback connector on one of said peripheral devices, and further comprising controlling electronic communications between said another peripheral device and said portable phone.