Modular Links With Mechanical And Electrical Interfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Portable devices often lack the flexibility to easily add or modify features without requiring a new device, limiting user customization and functionality.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus comprising links with mechanical and electrical interfaces, allowing for modular configuration of circuitry and battery links, enabling customizable chains that can be configured as loops or strings, with each link having a unique identifier for communication and addressing, and supporting various types of circuitry and sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a portable device is configured with fixed features, then the device structure is simple and reliable, but the adaptability and versatility are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The portable device is divided into multiple independent links, each containing specific circuitry or functionality. These links can be individually selected, added, or removed from the chain, allowing the device to be customized without redesigning the entire system. The mechanical interface enables easy connection and disconnection of these segmented functional units.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal link interface that can accommodate various types of links with different functionalities (sensors, communication modules, power management, etc.). The standardized mechanical and electrical interfaces allow a single platform to support multiple functions through different link combinations, making the system multi-functional without increasing overall complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If additional features are added to a portable device, then the functionality is enhanced, but the device requires complete redesign and new manufacturing
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the device into standardized links with consistent mechanical and electrical interfaces, each link can be manufactured independently using the same production processes. Adding new functionality simply requires manufacturing new links with the existing interface specifications, rather than redesigning the entire device manufacturing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent maintains fixed interface parameters (mechanical dimensions, electrical pin configurations, communication protocols) while allowing variability in the functional parameters of each link. This enables manufacturing flexibility where only the functional components within links need to be customized, while the interface standards remain constant for easy manufacturing.
3Adaptability or versatility
If modular links with mechanical and electrical interfaces are implemented, then the adaptability and customization are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into modular links that can be independently configured. Each link contains its own circuitry and interfaces, allowing customization at the link level without affecting the overall system architecture. The segmentation enables simple addition or removal of links to achieve customization.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple functional elements (mechanical coupling, electrical connection, communication interface) are merged into a single integrated link structure. This consolidation reduces the number of separate components and interfaces that need to be managed, thereby reducing overall structural complexity while maintaining customization capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus can include links where each of the links includes a link-to-link mechanical interface and a link-to-link electrical interface, where the links include a circuitry link and a battery link, where the circuitry link is mechanically coupled to the battery link via at least one pair of link-to-link mechanical interfaces and where the circuitry link is electrically coupled to the battery link via at least one pair of link-to-link electrical interfaces.