Patent · US Expired

Plug-in module for portable computing device

US7050306B1 · kind B1 · utility

13Cited by
19References
8Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 1, 2000
Grant dateMay 23, 2006
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 4, 2021

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F1/1632
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A plug-in module adds functionality to a portable electronic device. The module includes a housing that is accepted by a housing port of the portable electronic device. The module includes at least one latch to secure the module to the electronic device. Each latch includes a first member, a second member, and a third member. The housing includes at least one receptacle corresponding to each latch. The receptacles are sized and positioned to accept a member of the latch and direct the latch to a groove located on the portable electronic device. Optionally, the latch includes a slip-resistant surface sized to accept a human finger or thumb. The module also preferably includes a hardware interface connector sized and positioned within the housing to engage a 120-pin hardware interface port on the portable electronic device when the module housing is positioned on the housing port of the portable electronic device. Receptacles of the electric connector have certain functionality corresponding to the pins on the port.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.