Modular Mobile Device Segmentation for Weight Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mobile devices are heavy and bulky due to large-sized components and heavy batteries, limiting their portability and functionality.
Innovation Solution
A modular communication system comprising a lightweight control module that wirelessly communicates with a docking station module, where the control module uses short-range radio for data exchange and the docking station module uses long-range radio for cellular network communication, allowing the control module to leverage high-power components while minimizing its own power consumption and size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If existing mobile devices use large-sized components and heavy batteries to provide robust functionality, then the device can perform multiple functions including telephonic, messaging, and PIM applications, but the device becomes heavy and bulky, limiting portability
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile device is divided into two separate modules: a lightweight control module containing only essential components (processor, display, short-range radio) and a separate docking station module containing the heavy components (long-range radio, large battery, connector terminals). This segmentation allows the control module to be portable while the docking station provides robust functionality when docked.
Solution Approach 2:
The heavy and bulky components (long-range radio, large battery, connector terminals) are extracted from the control module and placed in a separate docking station module. This extraction eliminates the weight and bulk constraints on the control module while preserving full functionality through the docking station.
2Adaptability or versatility
If existing mobile devices use large-sized components and heavy batteries, then full functionality is achieved, but the device bulk increases, affecting portability
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into a compact control module for portability and a separate docking station for full functionality. The control module contains only essential components (processor, display, short-range radio) minimizing volume, while the docking station houses the bulkier components (long-range radio, large battery, connector terminals).
Solution Approach 2:
The bulky components are extracted from the control module and relocated to the docking station. This extraction reduces the control module volume to a portable size while the docking station provides full functionality when connected.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the control module uses high-power components for full functionality, then all communication capabilities are available, but power consumption and battery requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Communication capabilities are segmented into short-range radio in the control module (low power) and long-range radio in the docking station (high power). This segmentation allows the control module to operate with low power consumption for basic communication, while full communication capability is restored when docked with the high-power long-range radio.
Solution Approach 2:
The high-power long-range radio component is extracted from the control module and placed in the docking station. This extraction eliminates the need for the control module to carry heavy battery power requirements, as the high-power communication is only needed when docked.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables a sleek, miniaturized control module with full functionality, reducing weight and bulk, and allowing for seamless data exchange and cellular communication, while also providing a water-resistant design and efficient battery management.
Implementation Method 1
communicates with a portable docking station, which wirelessly communicates with the control device
Implementation Method 2
docking station module that communicates with a cellular network using a long range radio communication device
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The technology provides a mobile communication device (200) having separable components, including a control module (210) configured for only short-range wireless communication and a docking station module (220) configured for both long-range wireless communication and short-range wireless communication. The control module (210) includes a touch-sensitive display (506), a short-range wireless transceiver (504) and a processor (503) that electrically couples the touch-sensitive display (506) and the short-range wireless transceiver (504). The docking station module (220) includes a docking area that receives the control module (210), a docking short-range wireless transceiver (519) configured to communicate with the control module (210), a long-range wireless transceiver (520) that is configured to communicate with a long-range network (540) and a docking processor (510) that electrically couples the docking short-range wireless transceiver (519) and the long-range wireless transceiver (520). The technology provides a sleek light-weight control module (210) having full functionality of the docking station module (220).