US Patent Nr. 7,242,588 entitled Multifunction Modular Electronic Apparatus, containing 12 claims, was issued on July 10, 2007 to Sotirios Constantine Kitsopoulos. The complete patent specification may be obtained from the US Patent Office website http://www.uspto.gov/.

Brief Description (Main Claim)

A multifunction modular electronic apparatus for performing information technology and telecommunications functions comprising: a first module containing electronic means for performing a plurality of first information technology and telecommunications functions, including wireless communication, said first module having two parallel opposing main faces and two pairs of opposing end surfaces, whereby at least one of said end surfaces is a half-cylindrical surface; at least one other module containing second electronic means and having identical shape and physical dimensions as the first module for performing second functions identical, complementary, or supplementary to, or independent of, the functions performed by the first module including wireless communication; and hinging means for holding one half-cylindrical end surface of the first module into tight contact with a corresponding half-cylindrical end surface of the other module, with the respective cylindrical axes of said half-cylindrical surfaces parallel to each other for enabling the two modules to be mechanically coupled, to rotate without sliding relative to each other over a full range of 360 degrees around said axes while remaining stably mechanically coupled in any intermediate position over said range, and to be fully separated from each other.

Large Flexibility

The interoperability of any number of modules is achieved wirelessly, whether they are mechanically coupled or not (Claim 9), whether they are next to one another or continents apart (via the Internet).

The capability to combine any number of modules—mechanically coupled or detached while working together wirelessly—bestows enormous flexibility on the MMEA and allows a great variety of functions. Multiple symmetries provide even greater flexibility in positioning modules relative to one another for best satisfying users’ needs. This “mix and match” capability is especially useful for small portable equipment. Any number of modules can be mechanically coupled accordion fashion and stacked to minimize bulk and/or to form a powerful computing engine.

Modules of identical standard dimensions facilitate manufacturing. Such modularity affords easily reparable, replaceable, or updatable units as well as cost advantages. This straightforward mechanical design should result in smooth functioning, simplicity of form, and elegant appearance. An interesting business model might include open-source hardware, with specialized manufacturers providing modules relevant to their specialties.

Diverse Applications

The MMEA is applicable to a myriad of electronic apparatuses. Electronic/digital applications include notebook and tablet computers, CD/DVD players and burners, global positioning systems (GPS), digital cameras, personal digital assistants (PDA), cellular phones, satellite phones, projectors, electronic books, and electronic games, among others. Other modules might contain auxiliary equipment, such as solar panels, spare batteries, external memories (e.g. hard drives), additional displays, etc. Laboratory instruments such as oscilloscopes and wave generators; medical equipment, e.g. electrocardiographs (EKG) and electroencephalographs (EEG); industrial instrumentation; and military equipment are among additional applications.

Two identical display modules, coupled together and held as an open book, could afford a satisfyingly familiar reading experience. Turn them around by 90 degrees and the combination can be used as a notebook computer, with one of the displays serving as a virtual keyboard.

In the medical field, a cardiologist could carry his tablet computer module coupled to an EKG module, while a neurologist might carry hers coupled to an EEG module. A family physician could carry modules containing for example a sphygmomanometer and a digital thermometer. Assorted small medical items could be carried in a non-electronic module used simply as a container.

Inventor's Bio

Sotiris Kitsopoulos obtained a doctorate from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich, Switzerland. He taught electrical engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY, USA and worked at the IBM Research Laboratory Zurich and at Bell Laboratories. He holds 12 US patents.

Contact Information

Maurice de Picciotto, Esq.
Intellectual Property Attorney
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Chatham, New Jersey 07928, USA
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Double click this image to see the video of an animated three-dimensional virtual model with voice-over: