External Wireless Converter for Legacy Device Connectivity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Many existing devices, both analog and digital, lack wireless capabilities and often do not have USB ports, making it difficult to add wireless connectivity without replacing the device.
Innovation Solution
An external wireless device converter that includes a button with a gear assembly and motor, a wireless processor, and a power source, allowing users to activate wireless capabilities in devices without USB connections by using cellular data for communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If an external wireless converter is added to a device without a USB port, then wireless capability is provided, but the device requires a physical connection interface that it does not possess
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a physical attachment mechanism (magnetic, mechanical, or adhesive) as an intermediary to connect the wireless converter to devices without USB ports. This intermediary interface layer enables wireless functionality while accommodating the absence of standard USB connectivity on the host device.
2Adaptability or versatility
If existing analog devices are replaced with newer digital devices, then wireless capabilities may be improved, but device replacement is required and existing devices are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges wireless functionality into an external attachment that can be applied to existing analog devices, combining the old device with new wireless technology rather than replacing the entire device. This allows legacy devices to gain wireless capabilities while retaining their core functionality.
3Ease of operation
If a button mechanism with motor and gear assembly is used to identify or configure a button, then button functionality is enhanced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the button mechanism into separate functional components: the button interface, the gear assembly for mechanical movement, and the motor for actuation. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and simplifies the overall design by distributing complexity across modular elements.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the invention include a converter device having at least the following: a housing including a button with a motor and a gear assembly, a wireless processor, an internal battery, and an attachment element to attach the housing to a host device. The button may be programmable to control the host device. In addition, the wireless processor is preconfigured with a specific identifier (e.g., SIM) to a mobile network or a user's mobile device so that upon activating the host device, the converter may be connected to the mobile network or the user's mobile device without any additional configurations.