Interconnection system for network modules

1. A network module releasably connectable to any one of a plurality of similarly configured network modules, the network module comprising:

a housing;

at least two male connectors connected to a first portion of the housing and spaced apart from each other, each male connector including:

a body portion having a substantially planar front face;

at least one flange extending beyond the body portion; and

a sloped camming surface coupled to the flange and having a variable distance from the front face; and

a plurality of first electrical contacts; and

a female connector and an alignment mechanism connected to a second portion of the housing and spaced apart from each other, the female connector having a plurality of second electrical contacts, the plurality of first and second contacts being configured for power transmission to and from the network module.

2. The network module of claim 1 wherein the at least two male connectors are aligned along a mounting axis.

3. The network module of claim 1 wherein each male connector has a pair of flanges disposed substantially opposite one another and extending radially from the body portion.

4. The network module of claim 3 wherein each of the pair of flanges has a sloped camming surface coupled thereto and the flanges are radially symmetric and in an inverted orientation relative to each other.

5. The network module of claim 1 wherein the body portion of each male connector is substantially circular.

6. The network module of claim 1 wherein the camming surface is integrally connected to the at least one flange.

7. The network module of claim 1 , further comprising a substantially flat friction pad at an end of the camming surface.

8. The network module of claim 1 wherein the plurality of first electrical contacts include at least two power contacts and at least one serial data contact.

9. The network module of claim 1 wherein each connector is connectable to a Harris AN/PRC-152 radio battery pack.

10. The network module of claim 1 wherein the female connector comprises:

a substantially planar back face coupled to the second portion of the housing;

a front opening adjacent to the back face and sized to releasably receive a connector corresponding to one of the male connectors; and

a plurality of second electrical contacts operatively coupled to the plurality of first electrical contacts for transmission of power and data therethrough.

11. The network module of claim 1 wherein the at least two male connectors are spaced apart by a first distance, and wherein the female connector and the alignment mechanism are spaced apart from each other by a second distance substantially corresponding to the first distance.

12. The network module of claim 1 wherein the female connector has a sealing mechanism configured to form a seal between the female connector and a mating male connector of a second network module.

13. A plurality of communication network modules operably and releasably connectable to each other, comprising:

first and second network modules, each comprising

a housing;

at least two male connectors connected to a first portion of the housing and spaced apart from each other, each male connector including:

a body portion having a substantially planar front face;

at least one flange extending beyond the body portion; and

a sloped camming surface coupled to the flange and having a variable distance from the front face; and

a plurality of first electrical contacts; and

a female connector and an alignment mechanism connected to a second portion of the housing and spaced apart from each other, the female connector having a plurality of second electrical contacts, the plurality of first and second electrical contacts being configured for power and data transmission to and from the network module;

wherein the male connectors of the first network module are rotationally and releasably engagable with the female connector and alignment mechanism of the second network module and with the plurality of first electrical contacts of the first network module operatively engaging the plurality of second electrical contacts of the second network module to provide a mechanical and electrical interconnection between the first and second network modules; and

wherein the male connectors of the second network module are rotationally and releasably engagable with the female connector and alignment mechanism of the first network module and with the plurality of first electrical contacts of the second network module operatively engaging the plurality of second electrical contacts of the first network module to provide a mechanical and electrical interconnection between the first and second network modules.

14. The plurality of communication network modules of claim 13 wherein the male connectors of the first network are movable as a unit in an arcuate path relative to the female connector and alignment mechanism of the second network module and between disengaged, intermediate, and fully engaged positions, with a first one of the male connectors of the first network module being positionable in the female connector of the second network module and in alignment with an axis of rotation extending through the female connector of the second network module, and wherein the sloped camming surface of the first male connector of the first network module causing lateral movement of the first male connector of the first network module along the axis of rotation as the male connectors move between the intermediate and fully engaged positions.

15. The plurality of communication network modules of claim 13 wherein each male connector has a pair of flanges disposed substantially opposite one another and extending radially from the body portion.

16. The plurality of communication network modules of claim 13 wherein the plurality of first electrical contacts include at least two power contacts and at least one serial data contact.

17. The plurality of communication network modules of claim 13 , further comprising a power pack module releasably connectable to at least one of the first or second network modules.

18. The plurality of communication network modules of claim 13 , further comprising a power pack module releasably connectable to at least one of the male connectors of the first network module, wherein the power pack provides power to the first network module through the at least one of the male connectors of the first network module, and wherein the female connector of the first network module is connected one of the male connectors of the second network module to provide the power from the first network module to the second network module.

19. The plurality of communication network modules of claim 13 wherein each female connector has a sealing mechanism configured to form a seal between the female connector and a mating male connector to which the female connector connects when in the fully engaged position.

20. A communication network module having an interconnection system, comprising:

a first module having a first flanged connector and a second flanged connector; and

a second module having a receiving connector and an alignment slot, such that the receiving connector is configured to receive the first module's first flanged connector and the alignment slot is configured to receive the first module's second flanged connector by:

alignment of the first flanged connector with the receiving connector;

bringing together of the first flanged connector and the receiving connector; and

rotation of the modules relative to each other, to cause:

rotational engagement of the first flanged connector with the receiving connector, and

translational engagement of the second flanged connector with the alignment slot.

21. The communication network module of claim 20 wherein the first flanged connector and the receiving connector further include electrical contacts, such that the contacts transmit electrical power and data between the modules.

22. The communication network module of claim 20 wherein at least two modules each have a first flanged connector and a second flanged connector, and wherein the modules are connected to each other in a series, and wherein each flanged connector is further configured to accept a rechargeable battery pack, such that if one flanged connector of one module is attached to a rechargeable battery pack, the connectors transmit electrical power to each module in the connected series of modules.