Source: http://www.google.fr/patents/US9597607
Timestamp: 2018-01-20 01:52:49
Document Index: 426176508

Matched Legal Cases: ['Application No. 61', 'Application No. 61', 'Application No. 201330114691', 'Application No. 704976', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'Application No. 201380004224', 'Application No. 201380004224', 'Application No. 13831481']

Brevet US9597607 - Modular electronic building systems with magnetic interconnections and ... - Google Brevets
Electrical connectors, electrical modules, and systems are provided. In one aspect, an electrical connector includes a housing defining a side surface, an electrical conductor supported by the housing and including an engagement portion proximate the side surface of the housing. The engagement portion...http://www.google.fr/patents/US9597607?utm_source=gb-gplus-shareBrevet US9597607 - Modular electronic building systems with magnetic interconnections and methods of using the same
Numéro de publication US9597607 B2
Numéro de demande US 13/975,923
Autre référence de publication US20130343025, US20170196086
Numéro de publication 13975923, 975923, US 9597607 B2, US 9597607B2, US-B2-9597607, US9597607 B2, US9597607B2
Inventeurs Aya Bdeir
Cessionnaire d'origine Littlebits Electronics Inc.
Citations de brevets (439), Citations hors brevets (75), Référencé par (1), Classifications (17), Événements juridiques (1)
US 9597607 B2
a first circuit board having a first side surface, a second side surface opposite the first side surface, a first end surface and a second end surface opposite the first end surface, the first side surface and the second side surface each being different than both the first end surface and the second end surface, the first circuit board defining a width between the first side surface and the second side surface, the first circuit board defining a length between the first end surface and the second end surface;
a first connector mounted to the circuit board such that an exterior surface of the first connector is substantially aligned with one of the first side surface and the second side surface of the first circuit board; and
a second connector mounted to the circuit board such that an exterior surface of the second connector is substantially aligned with one of the first end surface and the second end surface of the first circuit board,
the first connector including at least one first conductor configured to engage a second conductor on a third connector coupled to a second circuit board, the second connector including at least one third conductor configured to engage a fourth conductor on a fourth connector coupled to a third circuit board.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first connector includes a first mounting portion configured to be received within a first opening from a plurality of openings defined in a mounting board and a second mounting portion configured to be received within a second opening from the plurality of openings defined in the mounting board, the second connector includes a first mounting portion configured to be received within a third opening from the plurality of openings defined in the mounting board and a second mounting portion configured to be received within a fourth opening from the plurality of openings defined in the mounting board.
a mounting board having a first side defining a plurality of openings and a second side including a plurality of projections,
the first connector and the second connector each configured to be removably coupled to the first side of the mounting board,
the second side of the mounting board configured to be removably coupled to at least one block having a projection and being from an interlocking block system.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first connector has a first height and includes a first mounting portion and a second mounting portion each configured to be received within a different opening defined in a mounting board, the apparatus further comprising:
a first adapter configured to be coupled to a bottom surface of the first mounting portion; and
a second adapter configured to be coupled to a bottom surface of the second mounting portion,
the first connector having a second height when the first adapter and the second adapter are coupled to the first connector, the second height being greater than the first height.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second connector includes a first mounting portion and a second mounting portion, the apparatus further comprising:
the second circuit board,
the third connector mounted to the second circuit board such that an exterior surface of the third connector is substantially aligned with an end surface of the second circuit board, the third connector of the second circuit board including a first mounting portion and a second mounting portion,
the first mounting portion of the second connector configured to be received within a first opening from a plurality of openings defined in a mounting board and the second mounting portion of the second electrical connector configured to be received within a second opening from the plurality of openings to removably couple the first circuit board to the mounting board,
the first mounting portion of the third connector mounted to the second circuit board configured to be received within the first opening and the second mounting portion of the third connector mounted to the second circuit board configured to be received within the second opening, to removably couple the second circuit board to the mounting board.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one first conductor of the first connector has an engagement portion configured to engage the second conductor on the third connector of the second circuit board, and has a coupling portion monolithically formed with the engagement portion.
the first connector is fixedly mounted to the first circuit board; and
the second connector is fixedly mounted to the first circuit board.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first circuit board has a top surface and a bottom surface, each of the top surface and the bottom surface being different than both the first side surface and the second side surface and both the first end surface and the second end surface.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first connector is mounted directly to the first circuit board, and the second connector is mounted directly to the first circuit board.
a first circuit board having a length, a first exterior side surface along the length and a second exterior side surface along the length on an opposite side of the first circuit board;
a first connector including an exterior side surface and an exterior end surface different than the exterior side surface of the first connector, the first connector mounted to the first circuit board such that one of the first exterior side surface and the second exterior side surface of the first circuit board is substantially aligned in a same plane with the exterior side surface of the first connector, the first connector having a first conductor disposed on the exterior end surface of the first connector;
a second circuit board having a length, a first exterior side surface along the length and a second exterior side surface along the length on an opposite side of the second circuit board; and
a second connector having an exterior side surface and an exterior end surface different than the exterior side surface of the second connector, the second connector mounted to the second circuit board such that one of the first exterior side surface and the second exterior side surface of the second circuit board is substantially aligned in a same plane with the exterior side surface of the second connector, the second connector having a second conductor disposed on the exterior end surface of the second connector and configured to engage the first conductor on the first connector.
11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the exterior end surface of the first connector and the exterior end surface of the second connector each include a first elongate portion extending in a vertical direction and a second elongate portion extending in a horizontal direction, the first elongate portion of the first connector configured to contact the first elongate portion of the second connector, the second elongate portion of the first connector configured to contact the second elongate portion of the second connector when the first connector is coupled to the second connector.
13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first connector includes a first mounting portion configured to be received within a first opening from a plurality of openings defined in a mounting board and a second mounting portion configured to be received within a second opening from the plurality of openings defined in the mounting board to removably couple the first circuit board to the mounting board,
the second connector includes a first mounting portion configured to be received within the first opening in the mounting board and a second mounting portion configured to be received within the second opening in the mounting board to removably couple the second circuit board to the mounting board.
14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first connector has a first height and includes a first mounting portion and a second mounting portion each configured to be received within a different opening defined in a mounting board, the apparatus further comprising:
the first connector includes a first mounting portion configured to be received within a first opening defined in a support member and a second mounting portion configured to be received within a second opening defined in the support member,
the second connector includes a first mounting portion configured to be received within the first opening of the support member and a second mounting portion configured to be received within the second opening of the support member, the support member configured to maintain the first connector coupled to the second connector.
the second connector is fixedly mounted to the second circuit board.
a first circuit board having a first end surface and a second end surface, a first side surface and a second side surface, each of the first side surface and the second side surface being different than both the first end surface and the second end surface, the first circuit board having a length defined between the first end surface and the second end surface and a width defined between the first side surface and the second side surface;
a first connector having a first housing, the first housing fixedly mounted to the circuit board adjacent the first end surface of the first circuit board; and
a second connector having a second housing separate from the first housing, the second housing fixedly mounted to the first circuit board adjacent the second end surface of the first circuit board,
the first connector including at least one first conductor, a portion of the at least one first conductor extending outwardly from an exterior surface of the first housing and configured to contact a second conductor on a third connector coupled to a second circuit board,
the first connector includes a first mounting portion configured to couple the first connector to a mounting board and a second mounting portion configured to couple the first connector to the mounting board, the second connector includes a first mounting portion configured to couple the second connector to the mounting board and a second mounting portion configured to couple the second connector to the mounting board.
18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the second connector includes a third conductor configured to engage a fourth conductor on a fourth connector coupled to a third circuit board.
a circuit board having a top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface, a first end surface and a second end surface opposite the first end surface, the top surface and the bottom surface each being different than and excluding each of the first end surface and the second end surface;
a first connector having a first housing, a first mounting portion and a second mounting portion, the first housing fixedly mounted to the circuit board adjacent the first end surface of the circuit board such that the first mounting portion and the second mounting portion each extend below the bottom surface of the circuit board, the first mounting portion and the second mounting portion each configured to be coupled to a mounting board; and
a second connector having a second housing, a third mounting portion and a fourth mounting portion, the second housing fixedly mounted to the circuit board adjacent the second end surface of the circuit board such that the third mounting portion and the fourth mounting portion each extend below the bottom surface of the circuit board, the third mounting portion and the fourth mounting portion each configured to be coupled to the mounting board.
at least one electrical component disposed on a top surface of the first circuit board and between the first connector and the second connector such that the electrical component is visibly and physically accessible to a user.
21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the first mounting portion and the second mounting portion of the first connector complimentarily mate with a first portion of the mounting board and a second portion of the mounting board, respectively, the third mounting portion and the fourth mounting portion of the second connector complimentarily mate with a third portion of the mounting board and a fourth portion of the mounting board, respectively.
22. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the first circuit board has a first side surface and a second side surface, each of the first side surface and the second side surface being different than both the first end surface and the second end surface,
the first mounting portion of the first connector is disposed at a first corner of the first circuit board between the first side surface and the first end surface of the first circuit board, the second mounting portion disposed at a second corner of the first circuit board between the second side surface and the first end surface of the first circuit board,
the third mounting portion disposed at a third corner of the first circuit board between the first side surface and the second end surface of the first circuit board, and the fourth mounting portion disposed at a fourth corner of the first circuit board between the second side surface and the second end surface of the first circuit board.
23. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the first circuit board has a first side surface and a second side surface, each of the first side surface and the second side surface being different than both the first end surface and the second end surface,
the first circuit board has a first cut-out portion at a first corner between the first side surface and the first end surface of the first circuit board, a second cut-out portion at a second corner between the second side surface and the first end surface of the first circuit board, a third cut-out portion at a third corner between the first side surface and the second end surface of the first circuit board, and a fourth cut-out portion at a fourth corner between the second side surface and the second end surface of the first circuit board,
the first mounting portion disposed at least partially within the first cut-out portion, the second mounting portion disposed at least partially within the second cut-out portion, the third mounting portion disposed at least partially within the third cut-out portion, and the fourth mounting portion disposed at least partially within the fourth cut-out portion.
a first circuit board having a first end surface and a second end surface, a first side surface and a second side surface, each of the first side surface and the second side surface being different than both the first end surface and the second end surface;
a first connector having a first housing mounted to the first circuit board adjacent the first end surface of the first circuit board; and
a second connector having a second housing separate from the first housing, the second housing mounted to the first circuit board adjacent the second end surface of the first circuit board,
the first connector including at least one first conductor, a portion of the at least one first conductor extending from an exterior surface of the first housing and configured to contact a second conductor on a third connector mounted to a second circuit board,
the first connector includes a first mounting portion configured to removably couple the first connector to a mounting board and a second mounting portion configured to removably couple the first connector to the mounting board, the second connector includes a first mounting portion configured to removably couple the second connector to the mounting board and a second mounting portion configured to removably couple the second connector to the mounting board,
the first mounting portion and the second mounting portion of the first connector each configured to removably couple the first connector to the mounting board such that the first connector spans across three mounting sections of the mounting board with the first mounting portion engaged with a first mounting section of the mounting board, the second mounting portion engaged with a second mounting section of the mounting board, and a third mounting section of the mounting board being disposed between the first mounting section and the second mounting section and not contacting the first connector.
25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the first mounting portion and the second mounting portion of the first connector complimentarily mate with a first portion of the mounting board and a second portion of the mounting board, respectively, the first mounting portion and the second mounting portion of the second connector complimentarily mate with a third portion of the mounting board and a fourth portion of the mounting board, respectively.
26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the first housing is fixedly mounted to the first circuit board and the second housing is fixedly mounted to the first circuit board.
27. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the first mounting portion of the first connector is disposed at a first corner of the first circuit board between the first side surface and the first end surface of the first circuit board, and the second mounting portion of the first connector is disposed at a second corner of the first circuit board between the second side surface and the first end surface of the first circuit board,
the first mounting portion of the second connector is disposed at a third corner of the first circuit board between the first side surface and the second end surface of the first circuit board, and the second mounting portion of the second connector is disposed at a fourth corner of the first circuit board between the second side surface and the second end surface of the first circuit board.
28. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the first circuit board defines a first cut-out portion at the first corner, a second cut-out portion at the second corner, a third cut-out portion at the third corner, and a fourth cut-out portion at the fourth corner,
the first mounting portion of the first connector disposed at least partially within the first cut-out portion, the second mounting portion of the first connector disposed at least partially within the second cut-out portion, the first mounting portion of the second connector disposed at least partially within the third cut-out portion, and the second mounting portion of the second connector disposed at least partially within the fourth cut-out portion.
29. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the first mounting portion and the second mounting portion of the second connector are each configured to removably couple the second connector to the mounting board such that the second connector spans across three mounting sections of the mounting board different than the three mounting sections of the mounting board to which the first connector spans.
the first connector including at least one first conductor, a portion of the at least one first conductor extending from an exterior of the first housing and configured to engage a second conductor on a third connector coupled to a second circuit board,
the first connector including a first mounting portion disposed at a first corner of the first circuit board between the first side surface and the first end surface of the first circuit board, and a second mounting portion disposed at a second corner of the first circuit board between the second side surface and the first end surface of the first circuit board, the first mounting portion and the second mounting portion each configured to couple the first connector to a mounting board,
the second connector including a third mounting portion disposed at a third corner of the first circuit board between the first side surface and the second end surface of the first circuit board, and a fourth mounting portion disposed at a fourth corner of the first circuit board between the second side surface and the second end surface of the first circuit board, the third mounting portion and the fourth mounting portion each configured to couple the first connector to the mounting board.
31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the first circuit board defines a first cut-out portion at the first corner, a second cut-out portion at the second corner, a third cut-out portion at the third corner, and a fourth cut-out portion at the fourth corner,
32. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the first mounting portion and second mounting portion of the first connector are configured to removably couple the first connector to the mounting board such that the first connector spans across three mounting sections of the mounting board,
the third mounting portion and fourth mounting portion of the second connector are configured to removably couple the second connector to the mounting board such that the second connector spans across three mounting sections of the mounting board different than the three mounting sections of the mounting board to which the first connector spans.
33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the first mounting portion and the second mounting portion of the first connector complimentarily mate with a first portion of the mounting board and a second portion of the mounting board, respectively, the third mounting portion and the fourth mounting portion of the second connector complimentarily mate with a third portion of the mounting board and a fourth portion of the mounting board, respectively.
This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/728,103, entitled “Modular Electronic Building Systems with Magnetic Interconnections and Methods of Using the Same,” filed Nov. 19, 2012, and is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/593,891, entitled “Modular Electronic Building Systems with Magnetic Interconnections and Methods of Using the Same,” filed Aug. 24, 2012, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/527,860, filed Aug. 26, 2011, each of the disclosures of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
The following references provide background information and are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety: Ayah Bdeir, (2009), Electronics as material: littleBits, In Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Tangible and Embedded Interaction (TEI '09), ACM, New York, N.Y., USA, 39-400, DOI=10.1145/1517664.1517743, at http://doi.acm.org/10.1145/1517664.1517743; and Ayah Bdeir and Ted Ullrich, (2010), Electronics as material: littleBits, In Proceedings of the fifth international conference on Tangible, embedded, and embodied interaction (TEI '11), ACM, New York, N.Y., USA, 341-344, DOI=10.1145/1935701.1935781, at http://doi.acm.org/10.1145/1935701.1935781.
All blocks may be designed with space constraints in mind and may be kept at the minimum size possible in order to make the blocks easily integrable with other materials such as, for example, cardboard, plastic, pipe cleaners, etc. The blocks are user friendly in their look as well as their size, and make playing and prototyping with them attractive to children and adults alike regardless of the goal.
FIG. 7 is an exemplary; configuration of four modules;
FIG. 24 is a top perspective view of an exemplary mounting board coupled to an exemplary configuration of toy building blocks;
FIG. 25 is a bottom perspective view of the mounting board and exemplary toy building blocks shown in FIG. 24;
FIGS. 26A-26D are each a schematic illustration of a top view of a different embodiment of a module; and
FIGS. 27A-27B are each a schematic illustration of a top view of a different embodiment of a module.
In FIGS. 3 and 4, an exemplary tact switch module 34A is shown in the middle between a wall power module 34B and a Light Emitting Diode (LED) module 34C. The male connector 38A on the tact switch module 34A is attracted to the female connector 38B on the wall power module 34B via the magnetic connectors described in detail below. The same manner of coupling applies to the tact switch module 34A and the LED module 34C, which contains a dip package LED component 50 coupled (e.g., soldered) to the PCB 46C. When the magnetic connectors in the three illustrated modules 34 couple together as in FIG. 4, and the user pushes down the tact switch 42 of the switch module 34A, the circuit is completed and the LED 50 illuminates. The power module 34B has a power adapter connector 54 that delivers DC voltage to the power module 34B. The pre-integrated circuitry in the power module 34B then drops down the voltage to a required voltage such as, for example, 5 Volts in the present example. Note that if the tact switch module 34A is removed from between the two other modules, the LED module 34C will be attracted to the power module 34B and LED 50 will remain illuminated at all times. In the above mentioned scenario, there is one power block (the wall power), one input block (the switch) and one output block (the LED). It should be understood that the exemplary blocks 34 may be replaced by other blocks 34 having other functionality. For example, the LED block 34C may be replaced by a buzzer block and, when the button is pressed, the buzzer makes an audible sound. Hundreds of other combinations are possible with different blocks having different functionality all forming different circuits, with immediate response of the elements, and without any need for programming, soldering or circuit assembly.
Yet another example of programming behavior in the electronic building system 30 through controls is shown in FIG. 9. Again, the user is able to program behavior of the circuit by manipulating physical elements and without any code writing. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, a 9 Volt battery 114 is shown and is part of the power module 341, which is connected to a temperature sensor module 34J including a threshold component, followed by an audio module 34K. In this example, the temperature sensor module 34J may be more advanced than a traditional sensor module. The block 34J features a potentiometer 118 that may be adjusted to set a temperature threshold. If the temperature detected by a temperature sensor 122 is above the set temperature threshold, the module 34J outputs a high reading. This is an example of integrating logic with the simpler analog blocks in order to enable complex circuit configurations. In this example, an output of a high reading from the temperature sensor module 34J will cause the audio module 34K to activate and a speaker 126 to play a pre-recorded message associated with a high reading. For instance, this exemplary circuit could be used by a person wishing to have an alarm to turn on the Air Conditioning. When the temperature exceeds a pre-set threshold temperature, the audio module 34K could play back a message “time to turn on the AC!” Also, the audio module 34K may instead be replaced with a fan module, which may activate upon receiving a high temperature reading signal from the temperature sensor module 34J.
Referring now to FIGS. 19-21, each module 34X and 34Y is illustrated and each includes a pair of connectors 152 and a circuit board 156 appropriate to the desired functionality of the module. The module can include the appropriate electrical components to perform the desired functionality of the module. Each connector 152 includes a housing 160 comprised of two portions 160′, 160″ (see FIG. 21) coupled together, a pair of magnets 164, and a plurality of electrical conductors 168. The two portions of the housing 160 may be coupled together in a variety of manners such as, for example, heat staking, ultrasonic welding, adhesion, press-fit, friction-fit, interference-fit, snap fit or other positive locking manner, etc, and may be made of a variety of different materials such as, for example, plastic (e.g., ABS plastic), or other nonconductive materials. A first portion 160′ of the housing defines a cavity 172 for receiving the second portion 160″ of the housing therein. The cavity 172 is complementarily shaped to the second portion 160″ to ensure a top surface 176 of the second portion 160″ is substantially flush with a top surface 180 of the first portion 160′ (see FIGS. 20 and 21) and a side surface 184 of the second portion 160″ is flush with a side surface 188 of the first portion 160′ when the two portions 160′, 160″ are coupled together.
The housing 160 also defines a receptacle 232 in a side surface thereof and includes a projection 236 extending from the side surface and positioned adjacent the receptacle 232. Such a receptacle 232 and projection 236 are included in each connector housing 160 and assist with proper alignment and coupling together of modules 34. The receptacle 232 is shaped complementary to a shape of the projection 236 such that when a projection 236 is received in the receptacle 232 the projection 236 substantially fills the receptacle 232. When coupling two modules 34 together, such as modules 34X and 34Y, the connectors 152 are aligned with the projection 236 on each connector 152 substantially aligned with the receptacle 232 on the other connector 152, and the modules 34X and 34Y are moved together until the magnetic force of the four magnets 164 on the two connectors 152 is sufficient to pull the connectors 152 together, thereby causing the projections 236 to insert into the receptacles 232. Upon connection, the projections 236 and receptacles 232 of the connectors 152 cooperate to inhibit substantial lateral and vertical movement of the modules 34X and 34Y relative to one another.
With continued reference to FIGS. 19-21, the first portion 160′ of the housing includes a pair of mounting members 240 extending downward there from and adapted to engage complementarily shaped receptacles 244 defined in the mounting board 148 (see FIG. 18). The mounting members 240 and the receptacles 244 are configured to provide adequate support to the modules 34 when mounted on the mounting board 148. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the mounting members 240 have a shape comprised of a quarter of a circle and the receptacles 244 on the mounting board 148 are circular in shape (see, e.g., FIG. 19 regarding mounting members 240). When two connectors 152 on adjacent modules 34 are coupled together, the two mounting members 240 on the two connectors 152 form a semicircle that may friction fit into the receptacles 244 in the mounting board 148. The circuit board 156 can have various lengths and widths configured to provide appropriate spacing between the modules 34 and the mounting board 148. For example, as shown in FIG. 18, the circuit board 156 included in module 34Y has a length such that with the connectors 152 disposed on each end of the circuit board 156, the mounting members 240 on one end of the circuit board 156 are disposed within receptacles 244 that are spaced four receptacles away from the receptacles 244 in which the mounting members 240 on the opposite end of the circuit board 156 are disposed. Said another way, there are three receptacles 244 between connectors 152 on the opposite ends of the circuit board 156 of module 34Y. In another example, the circuit board 156 included in module 34X shown in FIG. 18, has a length that is longer than a length of the circuit board of module 34Y. For module 34X, the connectors 152 disposed on each end of the circuit board 156 are disposed in receptacles 244 that are spaced five receptacles away from the receptacles 244 in which the mounting members 240 on the opposite end of the circuit board 156 of module 34X are disposed. In this example, there are four receptacles 244 between the connector 152 on the opposite ends of the circuit board 156 of module 34Y. Thus, the circuit board 156 can be provided with various lengths, while also accommodating appropriate spacing between receptacles 244 on the mounting board 148.
In addition, when two connectors 152 are coupled together as shown in FIG. 19, an outer edge surface 157 of the circuit board 156 can be disposed substantially flush with an outer surface 151 of the connectors 152. Alternatively, the outer edge surface of the circuit board can be disposed inward or outward of the outer surface of the connectors. In other words, in such alternatives, the outer edge surface is not flush with the outer surface of the connectors.
With continued reference to FIGS. 19-21, the electrical conductors 168 have a spring characteristic that allows for movement of the conductors 168 as a result of forces applied thereto. This spring characteristic that facilitates movement of the conductors 168 helps maintain contact with electrical conductors 168 on an adjacent module 34 coupled to the present module 34 during manipulation of the modules 34. Such manipulation may result in forces applied to the modules 34 causing movement of the modules 34 relative to one another. In some embodiments, the electrical conductors 168 on adjacent modules can have different lengths such that the electrical conductors 168 extend from the housing 160 at varying distances. For example, the electrical conductors 168 shown in FIG. 19 have a length that is greater than a length of the electrical conductors 168 shown in FIG. 20. In such embodiments, a connector 152 having electrical conductors 168 such as those in FIG. 19 can be coupled to a connector 152 having electrical conductors 168 such as those shown in FIG. 20, and the corresponding electrical conductors 168 can exert a spring-force (or bias-force) on each other to substantially maintain the positioning of the coupled sets of electrical conductors 168 while the two connectors 152 are coupled together. In other words, as described above for previous embodiments, a connector 152 can be a male connector or a female connector that can be matingly coupled together with the other type of connector (e.g., a female connector or a male connector, respectively). In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, each electrical conductor 168 includes an engagement portion 248 (see FIG. 21) positioned within a respective electrical conductor aperture 200, a coupling portion 252 extending downward and adapted to engage and electrically communicate with the circuit board 156, and a middle portion 256 (see FIG. 21) extending between the engagement portion 248 and the coupling portion 252. The engagement portion 248 is adapted to engage an electrical conductor 168 of an adjacent module 34 coupled to the present module 34. Due to the electrical conductor 168 being made of a conductive material, the electrical current travels through the electrical conductor 168 of the present module 34 to its circuit board 156. Each electrical conductor 168 includes an enlarged portion 260 (see FIG. 21) positioned between ends of the conductor 168 that fits into a respective conductor slot 204. The enlarged portion 260 has a complementary shape to the conductor slot 204 to provide vertical and horizontal support to the electrical conductor 168 when the housing 160 is assembled. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the enlarged portion 260 includes a tapered portion 264 (see FIG. 21) that complements the tapered surfaces 220 of the conductor slot 204.
Referring now to FIGS. 22 and 23, a support member 268 is coupled to two coupled together modules 34 to provide additional support to the coupled modules 34. In some exemplary embodiments, the support member 268 is used instead of the mounting board 148 to provide modules 34 with additional support. In other exemplary embodiments, the support member 268 may be configured to allow both the support member 268 and the mounting board 148 to provide support to two coupled together modules 34. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the support member 268 includes a pair of receptacles 280 defined in a top surface 276 thereof for receiving mounting members 240 of coupled together modules 34. The receptacles 280 in the support members 268 are similarly sized, shaped and spaced apart as the receptacles 244 in the mounting board 148. The support member 268 also has a height H that, when two modules 34 are coupled to each other and to the support member 268, a top surface 276 of the support member 268 is substantially flush with and mates or engages with a bottom surface 288 of the housing 160. Also in the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the support member 268 includes a width W1 that is substantially similar to a width W2 of two coupled together connectors 152 and a length L1 that is substantially similar to a length L2 of the two coupled together modules 34. Alternatively, the support member 268 may have configurations different than the illustrated exemplary embodiment as long as the support member 268 provides support to coupled together modules 34. When multiple modules 34 in a system 30 are coupled together, a support member 268 may be coupled to each pair of coupled together connectors 152 in the system 30. Thus, the system 30 may include any number of support members 268 therein and be within the intended spirit and scope of the present invention.
The exemplary systems 30 disclosed herein are adapted to cooperate with other types of systems to bring the functionality and features of the exemplary systems 30 to the other types of systems. The exemplary systems 30 may cooperate with any type of other system and be within the intended spirit and scope of the present invention. With reference to FIGS. 24 and 25, an exemplary mounting board 148 of an exemplary system 30 of the present invention is shown cooperating with a toy building block system 292 such as, for example, a LEGO® building block system 292. The illustrated exemplary systems are not intended to be limiting, but, rather, are for exemplary and demonstrative purposes. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the mounting board 148 is configured to cooperate with the exemplary LEGO® building block system 292 and, in particular, is configured to couple to a LEGO® building block system 292. A first side 296 of the mounting board 148 (e.g., a top side) includes the plurality of receptacles 244 appropriately spaced for receiving connectors 152 of modules 34. A second side 298 of the mounting board 148 (e.g., a bottom side) includes a plurality of projections 300 having cavities 304 defined therein that are appropriately spaced from one another to facilitate coupling to the LEGO® building block system 292. As indicated above, the systems 30 of the present invention may couple to any type of other systems and, accordingly, the second side 298 of the mounting board 148 may be configured in any manner to accommodate any type of other system to which the mounting board 148 is intended to couple.
It should be understood that the structures, features, functionality, and other characteristics of the various exemplary embodiments of the systems disclosed herein and illustrated in FIGS. 1-25 may be combined with each other in any manner and in any combination and all such manners and combinations are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, an adapter(s) or foot member can be included to adjust the height of a connector such that different connector embodiments can be coupled to a common circuit board or different circuit board/connector combinations can be coupled together. For example, an adapter can be coupled to a bottom portion of the connector 38A (see FIG. 5) to increase a length or height of the connector 38A such that the connector 38A can be coupled to a circuit board 156 along with a connector 152. In another example, an adapter can be coupled to a bottom portion of the connector 38M (see FIG. 12) to increase a length or height of the connector 38M relative to a circuit board such that the connector 38M can be coupled to a different circuit board 156 having a connector 152. Such adapters can be, for example, adhesively coupled to a bottom portion of the connector 38A or connector 38M. In some embodiments, the adapter can include a mounting member or portion similar to the mounting members 240 described above, such that the adapter can engage complementarily shaped receptacles (e.g., receptacles 244 described above) defined in a mounting board (e.g., mounting board 148 shown in FIG. 18).
Although embodiments of modules 34 are shown and described as having a connector (e.g., connectors 38 and 152) coupled to one end or two opposite ends or edges of a circuit board (e.g., circuit boards 46 and 156), in other embodiments, a module 34 can include connectors coupled to more than two ends or edges of a circuit board. For example, FIGS. 26A-26D are each a schematic illustration of a top view of a module including a circuit board and one or more connectors. The modules of FIGS. 26A-26D can include various different embodiments of a connector and/or circuit board as described herein.
FIG. 26A illustrates a module 334A including a circuit board 356A, and one connector 352A coupled to a single edge or end portion of the circuit board 356A. FIG. 26B illustrates a module 334B including a circuit board 356B, and two connectors 352B coupled to a single edge or end portion of the circuit board 356B. FIG. 26C illustrates a module 334C including a circuit board 356C, and three connectors 352C coupled to three different edges or end portions of the circuit board 356C. FIG. 26D illustrates a module 334D including a circuit board 356D, and four connectors 352D coupled to four different edges or end portions of the circuit board 356D.
FIGS. 27A and 27B are schematic illustrations of embodiments of a module showing side edges of a circuit board in relation to a side edge or surface of a connector. FIG. 27A illustrates a module 434A having a circuit board 456A and two connectors 452A coupled to the circuit board 456A. In this embodiment, when the connectors 452A are coupled to the circuit board 456A, side edges 457A of the circuit board 456A are disposed inward of side edges or surfaces 451A of the connectors 452A. Although not shown, in other embodiments, the side edges of a circuit board can be disposed outward of side edges or surfaces of the connectors. FIG. 27B illustrates a module 434B having a circuit board 456B and two connectors 452B coupled to the circuit board 456B. In this embodiment, when the connectors 452B are coupled to the circuit board 456B, side edges 457B of the circuit board 456B are disposed substantially flush with side edges or surfaces 451B of the connectors 452B.
As described above in the many examples of modules and systems, numerous modules may be coupled together to achieve various functionalities of the systems. Modules may be coupled in a cascading manner in which the inclusion of one module in the system may affect the functionality of downstream modules in a first manner and inclusion of a different module in the system may affect the function of downstream modules in another manner different than the first manner That is, modules coupled together in a system may have dependencies upon one another to affect functionality thereof and of the entire system. A simple example to demonstrate this concept, but is not intended to be limiting, comprises a system include three modules: A power module, a button module, and an LED module. The button module and the LED module are dependent on the power module, and the LED module is dependent on the button module. To demonstrate the dependency of the button module and the LED module on the power module considering the following: If the power module is not providing any power, then neither the button module nor the LED module can operate in their intended manner. Similarly, to demonstrate the dependency of the LED module on the button module, if the button is not depressed or otherwise activated to close the circuit, the LED module will not be illuminated, and if the button is depressed, the LED module will be illuminated. In other words, cascading modules in a system affect operation and functionality of downstream modules.
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Classification internationale H01R13/62, H01R9/24, A63H33/04, H01R12/71, H05K1/14
Classification coopérative A63H33/26, A63H33/042, H05K1/14, H05K1/18, H01R12/732, G09B23/186, H05K1/0213, G09B19/0053, H01R9/2466, H01R13/6205, H01R12/718, A63H33/046
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:BDEIR, AYA;REEL/FRAME:034557/0283