Microgrid apparatus with central area containing plural processors communicating via respective wireless connection point or bi-directional bus with module in docking bays defined by radial arms

• US 8,738,832 B1
• Filed: 11/18/2010
• Issued: 05/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Oakenfull, Ian Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): KIM, KENNETH S
• Application Number:
  US12/949,059
• Time in Patent Office: 1,286 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 710/305
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/382 using universal interface adapter

Abstract

A micro grid apparatus and a method for forming the micro grid apparatus. A selected complex shape is placed on a circuit board. At least two irregular shaped modules are selected. Each selected irregular shaped module is inserted into a respective docking bay of the complex shape to form the micro grid apparatus on the circuit board. The micro grid apparatus includes a central area and at least three radial arms connected to the central area. The radial arms are external to and integral with the central area. Each radial arm extends radially outward from the central area. Each pair of adjacent radial arms defines a docking bay. The central area includes at least two processors that are linked together wirelessly or by direct electrical connection. The at least two processors are linked wirelessly or by direct electrical connection to each inserted irregular shaped module.

Claims

1. A micro grid apparatus, comprising a central area and at least three radial arms connected to the central area,

wherein the radial arms are external to and integral with the central area,

wherein each radial arm extends radially outward from the central area,

wherein each pair of adjacent radial arms defines a docking bay,

wherein each irregular shaped module of a plurality of irregular shaped modules is inserted into a respective docking bay of the defined docking bays,

wherein the central area comprises a plurality of processors that are linked together wirelessly or by direct electrical connection, and

wherein each processor of the plurality of processors is linked wirelessly at a respective wireless connection point or by a respective bi-directional bus to each inserted irregular shaped module.

2. The micro grid apparatus of claim 1, wherein each processor of the plurality of processors has its own operating system.

3. The micro grid apparatus of claim 2, wherein a unique processor of the plurality of processors has a unique operating system that differs from the operating system of each of the other processors of the plurality of processors.

4. The micro grid apparatus of claim 3, wherein the unique processor governs all other processors of the plurality of processors.

5. The micro grid apparatus of claim 1, wherein the central area has a shape of a polygon whose number of sides is twice the number of radial arms.

6. The micro grid apparatus of claim 1,

wherein the central area includes a radial center,

wherein each radial arm has an outer curved edge disposed at a constant radial distance from the radial center, and

wherein the outer curved edges of the radial arms collectively define a shape of a circle centered at the radial center.

7. The micro grid apparatus of claim 6, wherein the radial arms are uniformly distributed in azimuthal angle about the radial center, and wherein the polygon is a regular polygon.

8. The micro grid apparatus of claim 6, wherein the radial arms are uniformly distributed in azimuthal angle about the radial center, and wherein the polygon is not a regular polygon.

9. The micro grid apparatus of claim 1, wherein the modules of the plurality of irregular shaped modules are interchangeable with respect to being inserted into the respective docking bays.

10. The micro grid apparatus of claim 1, wherein no connection pins are connected to either or both of a top surface and a bottom surfaces of the central area.

11. The micro grid apparatus of claim 10, wherein connection pins are connected to a bottom surface of at least one radial arm of the defined radial arms and not to a top surface any radial arm of the defined radial arms.

12. The micro grid apparatus of claim 1, wherein the inserted irregular shaped modules are inserted into the respective docking bays by a latching mechanism.

13. A method for forming a micro grid apparatus, said method comprising:

selecting a complex shape;

place the selected complex shape on a circuit board;

selecting a plurality of irregular shaped modules;

inserting each irregular shaped module of the selected plurality of irregular shaped modules into a respective docking bay of the complex shape to form the micro grid apparatus on the circuit board,

wherein the micro grid apparatus comprises a central area and at least three radial arms connected to the central area,

wherein the radial arms are external to and integral with the central area,

wherein each radial arm extends radially outward from the central area,

wherein each pair of adjacent radial arms defines a docking bay,

wherein the central area comprises a plurality of processors that are linked together wirelessly or by direct electrical connection, and

wherein each processor of the plurality of processors is linked wirelessly at a respective wireless connection point or by a respective bi-directional bus to each inserted irregular shaped module.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein each processor of the plurality of processors has its own operating system.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein a unique processor of the plurality of processors has a unique operating system that differs from the operating system of each of the other processors of the plurality of processors.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the unique processor governs all other processors of the plurality of processors.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the central area has a shape of a polygon whose number of sides is twice the number of radial arms.

18. The method of claim 13,

wherein the central area includes a radial center,

wherein each radial arm has an outer curved edge disposed at a constant radial distance from the radial center, and

wherein the outer curved edges of the radial arms collectively define a shape of a circle centered at the radial center.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the radial arms are uniformly distributed in azimuthal angle about the radial center, and wherein the polygon is a regular polygon.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the radial arms are uniformly distributed in azimuthal angle about the radial center, and wherein the polygon is not a regular polygon.

21. The method of claim 13, wherein the modules of the plurality of irregular shaped modules are interchangeable with respect to being inserted into the respective docking bays.

22. The method of claim 13, wherein no connection pins are connected to either or both of a top surface and a bottom surfaces of the central area.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein connection pins are connected to a bottom surface of at least one radial arm of the defined radial arms and not to a top surface any radial arm of the defined radial arms.

24. The method of claim 13, wherein the inserted irregular shaped modules are inserted into the respective docking bays by a latching mechanism.