2. Description of the Related Art Computers generally come in two forms, desktop and laptop. These forms have proven very successful and provide users with a variety of options in their working environment. A drawback to both forms is that as technology develops, these forms are not easily changed or upgraded to run currently available software.

Generally, a user may upgrade his computer, as for example by installing more random access memory (RAM) or a CD ROM drive or other peripheral device. However, the more complex the software or computing needs, the less likely that a RAM or peripheral upgrade will solve the user's problem. The user then faces a dilemma as to whether to replace the entire computer with a more powerful one (from a processing standpoint) or to upgrade the computer by replacing chips and drives and power supplies and the like in an effort to meet changing computing needs. Both alternatives are costly, with the replacement option leaving the user with an old computer for which he has no use, and the upgrade of individual components requiring substantial technical knowledge. In addition, in most cases, it is not the whole computer that needs upgrading but merely a processor, a disk drive or a power supply.

It is therefore desirable to provide the user with the ability to easily upgrade his computer without requiring technical expertise and/or incurring

significant expense, while also enabling him to replace and upgrade only that part of the computer that needs to be upgraded.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a modular computer that enables the user to upgrade, repair, and/or add on to an existing computer without requiring any special technical expertise.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a modular computer that enables the user to selectively upgrade parts of an existing computer.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a modular computer having electrical connectors held together magnetically or electromagnetically to permit the easy connection and removal of modules.

These and other objects are achieved in accordance with the present invention wherein a modular computer is provided. The modular computer comprises a hub module having a plurality of electrically interconnected connectors to which a plurality of peripheral components may be releasably connected.

These peripheral components include other modules, such as computer components operable and/or configured for processing, memory, input/output, networking, power management, and other computer functionality and operations. The central processing unit, BIOS and, optionally, other processing and memory chips and devices or components reside on a system module that is connected to the hub module and is somewhat analogous to a motherboard in a conventional computer. An input/output sub-module connects input/devices to the

hub module. Additional modules that may be connected to the modular computer include a disk device module, a hard disk module, a battery module, a floppy drive module, a combined display and keyboard module for a portable system, and a touch screen module. The hub module may also include one or more module slots to hold one or more of the various modules.

A magnetic and/or electromagnetic field may be used to maintain a releasable engagement and electrical connection between a connector on a first computer component, such as a peripheral component, and a corresponding connector on a second computer component, such as the hub module. This field may be created with magnets, one on each of the peripheral component and hub module, typically mounted substantially at least immediately adjacent the connectors. When a peripheral component is to be connected, the magnets must be arranged such that they face each other with opposite polarities and therefore attract and engage one another, when properly aligned, to cause the connector on the peripheral component to engage the corresponding connector on the hub module. When a peripheral component is to be disconnected, the magnets are adjusted or realigned such that they face each other with the same polarities and therefore disengage and repel one another. This magnetic mechanism for engaging and disengaging connectors enables the use of an electrical connector that has a plurality of electrical contacts which may be placed in electrically conductive communication with the corresponding connector by aligning the plurality of electrical contacts with a corresponding plurality of electrical contacts on the corresponding connector and placing and retaining the

two pluralities of electrical contacts in positioned abutment.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of the disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages, and specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to the drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated and described preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote similar elements throughout the several views: FIG. 1 is an exploded schematic block diagram of a modular computer according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the modular computer system of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a system module according to an embodiment of the invention; FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a combined display/keyboard module according to an embodiment of the invention; FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a touch screen module according to an embodiment of the present invention ; FIG. 6 is an exploded schematic block diagram depicting a first embodiment of an arrangement for electrically connecting a hub module to a generic module or sub-module wherein an electronic magnet is mounted adjacent the connector on the hub module;

FIG. 7 is an exploded schematic block diagram depicting a second embodiment of an arrangement for electrically connecting a hub module to a generic module or sub-module wherein a permanent magnet is mounted adjacent the connector on the hub module; FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the rectangular magnetic bar on the hub module connector of FIG. 7; and FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a mechanism for effecting pole-reversing rotation of the permanent magnetic bar of the embodiment of FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of a modular computer of the present invention implemented by the cooperative construction of a multiplicity of components. The modular computer system 100 of the invention can be configured to provide both general purpose computers having different configurations, such as a high performance stand-alone computer system, portable PC, or touch screen PC, and various other specialized or dedicated application systems such as a dedicated Web-server or Web access personal computer (PC), an entertainment PC, or a network node PC. FIG. 2 shows the modular computer system 100 of FIG. 1 as it appears after assembly.

The modular computer system 100 is constructed around a hub module 10 which serves as the hub for the modular computer and the host for all other operating modules of the modular computer system. Hub module 10 includes host I/O ports or connectors Cl-C8 for accommodating electrical and signal connections to other modules. For purposes of flexibility, it is desirable

for each connector to have a wide range of available connection pins, not all of which will necessarily be used for a particular module. One of ordinary skill will recognize that the type and configuration of these module interface connectors is nevertheless substantially a matter of design choice and may, for example be conventional serial, parallel, or universal serial bus (USB) ports, fiber optic connectors, or any other suitable type of connector or interface that may be implemented with a corresponding communication protocol for utilizing the functionality of an attached module. One currently-preferred novel type of connector that may be used for any of connectors Cl-C8 is described below with reference to FIGS. 6-9.

Hub module 10 further includes a plurality of several slots for releasably physically receiving and electrically connecting to a variety of external or separate devices or modules. A particular slot may optimally be dedicated to only accommodate a specific type of device in the slot. For example, as shown in FIG. 1 a PCMCIA slot 12 may accept any PCMCIA-compatible network or modem or other card, whereas a disk device slot 14 is configured to accept a disk device module 34, a hard drive (HD) slot 16 is configured to accept a hard drive module 36, and a battery/floppy drive slot 18 is configured to accept a battery or a floppy drive module 38. In this example, a disk device module 34 has a connector C5 that mates with a corresponding connector in disk device slot 14 in hub module 10, a hard drive module 36 has a connector C6 that mates with a corresponding connector in hard drive slot 16, and the battery/floppy drive module has two connectors C7 and C8 that mate with corresponding connectors in battery/floppy drive slot 18. Alternatively, or in

addition, a slot may be configured to selectively receive any of various types of modules to interface with other components of the computer. There should in any event be a sufficient number of slots to receive all modules that contain the necessary and any additional desired components for the computer system. The battery device receivable in slot 18 may be of any suitable known type and is preferably rechargeable to provide an uninterrupted supply of operating power to the system.

Connectors Cl, C2 and C3 provide an interface between hub module 10 and various system devices. A central console, which serves as the core of the modular computer system 100, can be formed by combining the hub module 10 with an I/O connector sub-module 20 and with a power supply sub-module 28 via connectors Cl and C3, respectively. In addition to connector Cl, I/O connector sub-module 20 has one or more I/O device connectors to connect to external input and output devices. These connectors may include by way of example parallel, serial, USB, mouse, keyboard, TV out, Audio out, Video out and game ports. For example, a liquid crystal display (LCD) screen or an LCD touch screen may be connected to I/O connector sub-module 20 with a LCD/Touch screen module connector C4a, and peripheral devices such as a printer, scanner or any other known peripheral device requiring an external interface with a computing system may be connected to I/O connector sub- module 20 with an I/O device connector C4b. The type and configuration of module interface connectors C4a and C4b is primarily a matter of design choice. The power supply sub-module 28 provides the necessary operating power to the entire system and to all of the components contained in the hub module 10 that make up the system 100 via connector C3 when the power supply sub-module 28

is connected to an external power source (not shown), such as an electrical outlet.

For enhanced modularity and to facilitate effective upgrades, hub module 10 need not integrally contain or carry a built-in microprocessor or, indeed, any other built-in chip or components. The main circuit chips and components for operating modular computer 100 are preferably instead located or placed on a detachable system module 24 that is implemented as a printed circuit board releasably connected to hub module 10 via a dedicated connector C2. Connector C2 thus serves as a host connector though which data passes between the system module 24 and other modules connected to the console.

FIG. 3 depicts by way of example a schematic block diagram of a system module 24 to which different chipsets may be mounted. Each of the chipsets generally includes chips and/or components for implementing and supporting the central processing unit (CPU) 40 and BIOS 44, and memory chips and/or memory sockets 46 therefor.

The chipset may further include a Disk On chip 42 which is a re-writable chip that generally functions like a hard disk and can have a range of capacities (e. g., 8MB, 16MB, 32MB). The Disk On chip 42 can be pre-loaded with operating software or any other suitable programs which aid in the operation of module computer system 100 and enable system 100 to function as a diskless terminal workstation (i. e., without modular hard disks, floppy disks, or other types of information storage media or disks). Other chips 48a-48d that may be mounted to system module 24 to enhance system operation include, by way of example, system chips, video chips, audio chips and I/O chips. System module 24 thus functions as a removable and easily interchangeable motherboard for the

system that enables a user to readily upgrade the computer's processing capabilities and functionality without requiring any technical knowledge on the user's part or requiring removal or interchange of the CPU from the motherboard of the computer, since an entire system module 24 may be easily detached from hub module 10 and replaced. When system module 24 is removed, the remaining components and assemblies can nevertheless remain connected to hub module 10.

As described above, hub module 10 includes a plurality of slots for detachably receiving various different modular components, including a PCMCIA slot 12 for receiving a PCMCIA module (not shown) into which PCMCIA-compatible cards may be inserted. Alternatively, in lieu of a slot 12 for receiving a PCMCIA module, hub module 10 may integrally include a slot 12 which itself defines one or dual PCMCIA slots built into the hub module, thereby eliminating the need for a separate PCMCIA module that itself contains the slots for receiving actual PCMCIA cards. In either case, PCMCIA cards inserted in the PCMCIA slot (s) are coupled to the I/O connectors sub-module 20 and system module 24 via hub module 10.

Hub module 10 may include a Disk Device module slot 14 for receiving a Disk Device module 34 which may be, for example, a CD ROM drive (read only or readable and writable), DVD drive, hard disk, or other like storage device. Disk Device module 34 has a connector C5 for physically connecting to and electrically interfacing the module 34 with the corresponding connector in slot 14 in hub module 10 when the Disk Device module is releasably inserted in slot 14. The hard drive module 36 similarly inserted in slot 16 can be or include any suitable known type of hard disk

drive, and includes a connector C6 that electrically connects module 36 to hub module 10 when hard drive module 36 is inserted in slot 16. The battery/floppy module 18 as shown has two connectors C7 and C8, either one or both of which are used depending on the type of module being inserted into the respective slot 18 in hub module 10. For example, a battery module 38 may only require the use of connector C7, while a floppy drive module may require the sole or additional use of connector C8. The type and usage of the connector will vary between respective modules. However, the hub module will be implemented with corresponding connectors so as to accommodate and enable operation of each respective module with the entire system.

FIG. 4 shows a side view of the modular computer system 100 having a combined LCD screen 52 and keyboard module 50 operatively connected to system 100 via connector C4a in the I/O connectors sub-module 20.

One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various other types of display screens 52 (e. g., LCD) and keyboard 50 modules may be operatively connected to system module 100, such as a screen not directly connected to the keyboard.

FIG. 5 illustrates an alternative embodiment in which the LCD screen 53 and keyboard 50 are replaced with one integrated touch screen module 54. Module 54 includes a connector C4a for electrically connecting to the corresponding connector C4a on I/O sub-module 20.

FIG. 6 illustrates in accordance with the invention a particular, currently preferred type of connector that may be used for any of connectors C1-C8, although connectors Cl-C8 on hub module 10 may alternatively be any type of connector. The particular connection illustrated by way of example is between hub

module 10 and any peripheral component such as module (or sub-module) M, which may for example be one of the modules 24,34,36,38. Connector 105 on hub module 10 possesses or carries or bears a first plurality of electrical contacts 106, and connector 107 similarly possesses or carries or bears a second plurality of electrical contacts 108. Rather than having a male pin on a first connector inserted into a female pin socket as is typically conventional, both sets of plural electrical contacts 106,108 possess substantially flat contact points that make electrical communication by bringing the sets of plural electrical contacts 106,108 into aligned contact abutment with each other in conjunction with a releasable means of retention or engagement to maintain the contacts in positions of abutment. One such retention means, which can advantageously be employed to maintain contact abutment of corresponding connectors of any type, generates a magnetic or electromagnetic field between hub module 10 and module M sufficient to suitably retain module M to hub module 10 as and when desired or necessary.

One means of generating such a magnetic field is illustrated in FIG. 6, wherein a permanent magnet bar 109 is mounted substantially adjacent the second set of plural electrical contacts 108 so as to extend behind contacts 108 and transversely beyond them. Similarly a magnet bar 111 is mounted substantially adjacent the first set of plural electrical contacts 106 so as to extend behind contacts 106 and transversely beyond them.

In FIG. 6, magnet bar 111 is an electromagnet which is only, or at least primarily, magnetized when a current is passed through it and the polar orientation of which can be changed or reversed as a function of the direction of current flow through the electrical

windings or other magnetizing components or parts of bar 111. To retain module M against hub module 10, current is passed through the coil (not shown) of magnet bar 111 in a direction that generates a polarity in magnet bar 111 that is oriented opposite to the polarity of permanent magnet bar 109 along the edge of bar 109 facing magnet bar 111, and connector 107 of module M is thereby pressed against corresponding connector 105 on hub module 10. For example, where the polarity of magnet bar 109 is positive (+) along the edge of magnet bar 109 facing connector 105, an opposing negative (-) polarity should be created or present in magnet bar 111 to hold the first and second sets of contacts 106 and 108 in abutment since opposite charges attract. When it is desired to disconnect module M from hub module 10, the direction of current flow generating the first polarity (negative, in this example) in magnet bar 111 is reversed so that magnet bar 111 is oriented to exert a magnetic field having the same polarity as that is opposingly exerted by magnet bar 109, so that magnet bars 109,111 repel each other. This will urge module M out of any slot in which it may be engaged while connected to hub module 10.

Additional smaller magnets 110 may also be disposed at each end of magnet bar 109 and additional smaller magnets 112 may likewise be disposed at each end of magnet bar 111. Magnets 110,112 are permanent magnets that are used create a relatively weak attractive magnetic force between hub module 10 and Module M to retain module M in position with or against hub module 10 at times when power is lost or disconnected, which will cause a loss of the magnetic force of magnet bar 111. Where module M is engaged in a slot on hub module 10, magnets 110,112 prevent module M

from falling off or out of the slot, such as slots 12, 14,16,18 in hub module 10, during a loss of power.

Appropriate shielding 114 may be provided between the magnets and the first and second sets of contacts 106 and 108, and/or between the magnetic and electronic components mounted on the module M, to prevent electromagnetic interference in signals that pass between connectors 105 and 107 or within Module M.

FIG. 7 illustrates another embodiment of the connection between hub module 10 and a generic module M.

In this embodiment, which is structurally and operationally similar to the embodiment of FIG. 6, a rotatable permanent magnet bar 111' (shown in perspective view in FIG. 8) is substituted for magnet bar 111 of the FIG. 1 embodiment. To engage module M against hub module 10, the magnet bar 111'is rotated to a position such that the polarity of magnet bar 111'on the side or edge of magnet bar 111'opposing or facing magnet bar 109 is of a polarity opposite to the polarity of the side or edge of magnet bar 109 that faces magnet bar 111', and connector 107 of module M is thereby pressed against corresponding connector 105 on hub module 10. Because a permanent magnet is used on hub module 10, module M will not readily disengage from hub module 10 when power is out or lost, and there is no need for magnets comparable to smaller magnets 110,112 in this embodiment--although they may be optionally added for additional retaining force.

A mechanism for switching or changing the orientation of the polarity of magnet bar 111'that faces magnet bar 109 is shown in FIG. 9. A gear wheel 118 having teeth 120 is mounted to magnet bar 111'.

Gear wheel 118 is coupled to a mechanical switch 122 having notches 124 on its bottom that engage teeth 120

on gear wheel 118. Selective movement of switch 122 in a direction that rotates gear wheel 118 causes the rotation of magnet bar 111'. Thus, when it desired to disengage module M from hub module 10, magnetic bar 111' is rotated so that the polarity of magnet bar 111'along the side or edge of magnet bar 111'that faces or opposes magnet bar 109 is reoriented to the same polarity as the polarity of the edge or side of magnet bar 109 that is facing magnet bar 111'. This will urge module M out of any slot in which it may be engaged while connected to hub module 10.

While there have shown and described and pointed out fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the devices illustrated, and in their operation, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same results are within the scope of the invention. Moreover, it should be recognized that structures and/or elements shown and/or described in connection with any disclosed form or embodiment of the invention may be incorporated in any other disclosed or described or suggested form or embodiment as a general matter of design choice.