Patent ID: 7706136
Filing Date: 2010-04-27
Classification: H05K

Abstract:
1. A system that facilitates expanding upon an existing universal serial bus (USB), comprising: a base component that includes a USB host to provide connectivity to at least one device; an expansion module that physically connects in a vertical position to a backside of the base component without an intervening USB cable, the expansion module provides a replication of the USB host and allows an additional device to connect to the replicated USB host, wherein the expansion module is stackable with one or more additional expansion modules via at least one snap-foot without intervening USB cables; and a key mechanism that is adjustable to physically prevents stacking an additional expansion module to a last expansion module in the stack when power draw from the stack is within a threshold range, wherein the keying mechanism is a connector that is turned to an orientation that prevents stacking the additional expansion module.