Patent Application
20160143163
The application pertains to electrical devices which support, and can receive, optional function providing modules. More particularly the application pertains to such devices which include access ports for various types of modules, and wherein the respective device receives an alert signal in connection with adding, removing or changing modules.
Many electronic products or units include optional, function providing, modules such as, GSM modules, 4G modules and the like all without limitation. These modules need to be easy to install or replace in the respective product by the end user or customer service engineers.
Plug and play type functionality with energized products may not be supported when these optional modules need to be plugged in or removed from the respective product. Instead, a signal is needed to notify the product, or, system to backup data or carry out other house-keeping activities. To implement this function it is known to add a switch with a cable or carried on a PCB. When an access door is opened or closed, a signal will be communicated to the product, or, system.
While disclosed embodiments can take many different forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown in the drawings and will be described herein in detail with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles thereof as well as the best mode of practicing same, and is not intended to limit the application or claims to the specific embodiment illustrated.
In one aspect hereof, a magnet, or, magnetic element can be added to an access door of an electronic product or unit. A magnetically responsive proximity switch, for example, one with a Hall effect sensor, can be mounted on a printed circuit board of an optional function extending module. The added magnet, in combination with the switch, generate a signal when the magnetic cover is opened or closed.
A secondary function of the magnet is to support or fix the door cover in place. The magnetic door cover can be easily opened, closed, removed or assembled by end user. A sheet metal clip carried in the product can retain the magnetic cover in a closed position.
The magnetic element can included one or more magnets embedded in a resin or plastic material. The element can have an elongated shape, and be long enough to extend across multiple switches. It will also be understood that a variety of proximity switches could be used without departing from the spirit and scope hereof. These include, without limitation, capacitive, optical or acousticly actuated switches.
Product 10 can implement a set of functions as would be understood by those of skill in the art. To supplement or expand on such functionality, slots 20, 22 are defined in housing 12 to receive optional, replacable modules such as modules 30, 32.
The modules 30, 32 can include control circuitry as would be understood by those of skill in the art, to carry out a predetermined function, as well as a proximity switch, such as 30a, 32a. Each of the switches 30a, 32a is carried on a respective printed circuit board 30b, 32b. The pairs of slots and modules, such as 20, 22 and 30, 32 can have common form factors so that a given module could be inserted into either slot if desired.
A metal clip 24 is located between slots 20, 22 to retain a door 26, see
In another embodiment, instead of carrying the switches, such as 30a, 32a on the respective modules, such as 30, 32 they can be carried on a printed circuit, or mother board, 12a as illustrated in
The embedded magnet 28 is elongated with a length long enough to simultaneously overlay both of the magnetic proximity switches 30a, 32a when the door 26 is closed. This in turn causes both of the switches 30a, 32a to exhibit a first state.
When the door 26 is opened, both of the switches 30a, 32a exhibit a second, door open state. Signals indicative of the door closed state and the door open state can be coupled to control circuits 18 to provide condition indicating feedback to the product 10.
In
From the foregoing, it will be observed that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope hereof. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific apparatus illustrated herein is intended or should be inferred. It is, of course, intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims. Further, logic flows depicted in the figures do not require the particular order shown, or sequential order, to achieve desirable results. Other steps may be provided, or steps may be eliminated, from the described flows, and other components may be add to, or removed from the described embodiments.
