Systems for enabling modular mobile electronic devices

• US 9,867,125 B2
• Filed: 08/19/2014
• Issued: 01/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Eremenko, Paul, Fishman, David, Newburg, Seth, Knaian, Ara, Bober, Marisa
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, PHUC H
• Application Number:
  US14/462,878
• Publication Number:
  US 20150289273A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,239 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/06 Two-wire systems
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/05 using capacitive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/15 Interconnection of switching modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0203 in the radio access network or backbone network of wireless communication networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A system for enabling a modular mobile electronic device including a module communication network enabling data transfer between modules of the modular mobile electronic device, a module power network enabling power transfer between modules of the modular mobile electronic device, a set of module interfaces removably and mechanically coupling modules of the modular mobile electronic device to the modular mobile electronic device, and a supervisory controller communicatively coupled to the module communication network and electrically coupled to the module power network.

Claims

1. A system for enabling a modular mobile electronic device comprising:

a module communication network enabling data transfer between modules of the modular mobile electronic device;

a module power network enabling power transfer between modules of the modular mobile electronic device, wherein the module power network comprises a power bus;

a set of module interfaces removably coupling modules of the modular mobile electronic device to the modular mobile electronic device; and

a supervisory controller communicatively coupled to the module communication network and electrically coupled to the module power network;

wherein the set of module interfaces electrically connects modules in parallel to the power bus, the set of module interfaces is connected to the power bus by a set of power management units, and power transfer through the set of module interfaces is controlled by the set of power management units;

wherein the set of power management units are controlled by the supervisory controller;

wherein the set of power management units control power transfer on the power bus according power states set by the supervisory controller;

wherein a first power state for a first module connected to the modular mobile electronic device includes a maximum power transfer level; and

wherein a first power management unit connected to the first module electrically isolates the first module from the module power bus upon detecting a power transfer level greater than the maximum power transfer level.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein data transfer between a first module and a second module on the module communication network is initiated by the first module and completed without using a host or an intermediate module.