Electronic module, control module, and electronic module set

• US 8,873,239 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2012
• Issued: 10/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Octo23 Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Octo23 Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: McRae, Jordan Jerome, Frayne, Shawn Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Phillips, Forrest M
• Application Number:
  US13/407,413
• Publication Number:
  US 20120218211A1
• Time in Patent Office: 973 Days
• Field of Search: 361/728
• US Class Current: 361/728
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/005 Mechanical details of housing or structure aiming to accommodate the power transfer means, e.g. mechanical integration of coils, antennas or transducers into emitting or receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/402 the two or more transmitting or the two or more receiving devices being integrated in the same unit, e.g. power mats with several coils or antennas with several sub-antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/70 involving the reduction of electric, magnetic or electromagnetic leakage fields
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 with light sensitive cells

Abstract

One variation of the invention is a electronic module comprising: a housing with external faces and electrically-conductive first, second, and third toes, each of which extends from one face to an adjacent face; first, second, and third magnetic elements arranged within the housing and proximal the first, second, and third toes, respectively; and a circuit arranged within the housing and electrically coupled to the toes. The circuit is operable between: a first mode when the first and second toes are in contact with a first terminal and a second terminal of a second electronic module, respectively; and a second mode when the second and the third toes are in contact with the second terminal and a third terminal of the second electronic module. The magnetic elements are configured to transiently retain the second electronic module against the housing, in both stacked and adjacent configurations, in the first and second modes.

Claims

1. An electronic module comprising:

a housing comprising a plurality of external faces, a first electrically-conductive toe, a second electrically-conductive toe, and a third electrically-conductive toe, each toe extending from a external face to an adjacent external face of the housing;

a first magnetic element arranged within the housing and proximal the first toe;

a second magnetic element arranged within the housing and proximal the second toe;

a third magnetic element arranged within the housing and proximal the third toe;

a circuit arranged within the housing, electrically coupled to the first toe, to the second toe, and to the third toe, the circuit operable between a first mode and second mode, the circuit operable in the first mode when the first toe is in contact with a first terminal of a second electronic module and the second toe is in contact with a second terminal of the second electronic module, the circuit operable in the second mode when the second toe is in contact with the second terminal of the second electronic module and the third toe is in contact with a third terminal of the second electronic module the circuit communicating a first voltage potential across the first toe and the second toe in the first mode and communicating a second voltage potential across the second toe and the third toe in the second mode, the second voltage potential different from the first voltage potential;

the magnetic elements configured to transiently retain a second electronic module against the housing in both stacked and adjacent configurations;

the first toe configured to communicate a portion of a power signal between the circuit and the second electronic module in either of the stacked and adjacent configurations; and

the magnetic elements configured to repel contact between at least one toe and at least one terminal of the second electronic module in an upside-down configuration.

2. The electronic module of claim 1, wherein the magnetic elements are further configured to transiently retain the second electronic module against the housing in an out-of-plane configuration, and wherein the first toe is further configured to communicate a power signal between the circuit and the second electronic module in the out-of-plane configuration.

3. The electronic module of claim 1, wherein the first toe is further configured to substantially simultaneously communicate a DC power signal and a digital signal between the circuit and the second electronic module.

4. The electronic module of claim 1, wherein the first toe extends to a third adjacent face and defines a corner of the housing.

5. The electronic module of claim 1, wherein one face of the housing defines a removable cover configured to provide access to a portion of the circuit.

6. The electronic module of claim 1, wherein the faces of the housing comprise substantially electrically non-conductive material.

7. The electronic module of claim 1, wherein the first toe and the first magnetic element are physically coextensive.

8. The electronic module of claim 1, wherein the housing is configured to contain a power source comprising a photovoltaic cell.

9. The electronic module of claim 1, wherein the housing is configured to contain a power source comprising a battery including a first and second terminal, wherein the first terminal of the battery is coupled to the first toe and the second terminal of the battery is coupled to the second toe.

10. The electronic module of claim 9, wherein the first and second magnetic elements and the first and second toes cooperate to charge the battery in the presence of an alternating electromagnetic field proximal the housing.

11. The electronic module of claim 1, wherein the circuit comprises a first portion including a first LED configured to light in a first color in the first mode, and wherein the circuit comprises a second portion including a second LED configured to light in a second color in the second mode.

12. The electronic module of claim 1, further comprising a data port coupled to the circuit and accessible through a face.