Modular electronics system with interfacing interchangeable components

1. A cylindrical electronic component stack, comprising:

a disc shaped base module having an inbound alternating current (AC) power supply, at least one outbound female AC power receptor electrically connected to the AC power supply and disposed on a substantially circumferential surface of the base module, an AC/DC power converter electrically connected to the AC power supply, at least one charging port electrically connected to the AC/DC power converter and disposed on the substantially circumferential surface of the base module, a base electrical interface junction disposed on a top surface of the base module proximate a cylindrical axis, and a base mechanical coupling disposed on the top surface of the base module between the base electrical interface junction and the circumferential surface;

a first disc shaped module having a first bottom electrical interface junction disposed on a bottom surface of the first module proximate the cylindrical axis and configured for electrical connectivity with the base electrical interface junction, a first bottom mechanical coupling disposed on the bottom surface of the first module between the first bottom electrical interface junction and the circumferential surface and configured for mechanical engagement with the base mechanical coupling, and a first top electrical interface junction disposed on a top surface of the first module proximate the cylindrical axis; and

a second disc shaped module having a second bottom electrical interface junction disposed on a bottom surface of the second module proximate the cylindrical axis and configured for electrical connectivity with the first top electrical interface junction, a second bottom mechanical coupling disposed on the bottom surface of the second module between the second bottom electrical interface junction and the circumferential surface and configured for mechanical engagement with the first top mechanical coupling, and a second top electrical interface junction disposed on a top surface of the second module proximate the cylindrical axis;

wherein:

the base mechanical coupling, the first bottom mechanical coupling, the first top mechanical coupling, and the second bottom mechanical coupling are configured to limit relative lateral and rotational movement among the base module, the first module, and the second module;

the base electrical interface junction is connected to the AC power supply and the AC/DC power converter;

the base electrical interface function, the first bottom electrical interface junction, the first top electrical interface junction, and the second bottom electrical interface junction are configured to simultaneously distribute high voltage AC power, low voltage DC power, and data among the base module, the first disc shaped module, and the second disc shaped module;

the base electrical interface junction and the first top electrical interface junction each comprise a disc shaped convex conductive protrusion extending above the top surface of its associated module; and

the first bottom electrical interface junction and the second bottom electrical interface junction each comprise a disc shaped concave conductive recess extending into the bottom surface of its associated module, the recess being configured to receive a mating protrusion upon stacking adjacent modules together.

2. The component stack of claim 1 , wherein the base electrical interface junction junctions, the first bottom electrical interface junction, the first top electrical interface junction, the second bottom electrical interface junction, and the second top electrical interface junction each comprise a high voltage channel, a low voltage channel, and a data channel.

3. The component stack of claim 1 , wherein:

the base mechanical coupling and the first top mechanical coupling each comprise a self-aligning fastener configured to releasably engage the first bottom mechanical coupling and the second bottom mechanical coupling, respectively.

4. The component stack of claim 3 , wherein the self-aligning fastener comprises a keyway.

5. The component stack of claim 1 , wherein one of the first and second modules comprises a lamp configured to emit light radially outward along its circumferential surface.

6. The component stack of claim 1 , wherein one of the first and second modules comprises a battery.

7. The component stack of claim 1 , wherein:

the base module further comprises a wireless network router capable of providing WiFi communication to at least the first module; and

the first module comprises one of a facility monitor, facility controller, home appliance, audio speaker, lighting device, banking interface, social media interface, inbound DC charging port, outbound DC charging port, USB port, inbound data port, outbound data port, and business interface.

8. The component stack of claim 1 , further comprising a third disc shaped module having a third bottom electrical interface junction disposed on a bottom surface of the third module proximate the cylindrical axis and configured for electrical connectivity with the second top electrical interface junction, and a third bottom mechanical coupling disposed on the bottom surface of the third module and configured for mechanical engagement with the second top mechanical coupling.

9. The component stack of claim 8 , wherein:

the second top mechanical coupling and the third bottom mechanical coupling are configured to limit relative lateral and rotational movement between the second and third modules; and

the second top electrical interface junction is configured to communicate high voltage AC power, low voltage DC power, and data to the third module via the third bottom electrical interface junction.

10. A method of assembling electronic modules into an integrated stack, comprising the steps of:

providing base module having an inbound alternating current (AC) power supply, an AC/DC power converter electrically connected to the AC power supply, a base electrical interface junction disposed on a top surface of the base module, and a base mechanical coupling disposed on the top surface of the base module, the base mechanical coupling being spaced apart from the base electrical interface junction;

providing a first module having a first bottom electrical interface junction disposed on a bottom surface of the first module and configured for electrical connectivity with the base electrical interface junction, a first bottom mechanical coupling spaced apart from the first bottom electrical interface junction on the bottom surface of the first module and configured for mechanical engagement with the base mechanical coupling, and a first top electrical interface junction disposed on a top surface of the first module;

providing a second module having a second bottom electrical interface junction disposed on a bottom surface of the second module and configured for electrical connectivity with the first top electrical interface junction, and a second bottom mechanical coupling spaced apart from the second bottom electrical interface junction on the bottom surface of the second module and configured for mechanical engagement with the first top mechanical coupling;

connecting the base mechanical coupling with the first bottom mechanical coupling, and connecting the first top mechanical coupling with the second bottom mechanical coupling; and

connecting the base electrical interface junction with the first bottom electrical interface junction, and connecting the first top electrical interface junction with the second bottom electrical interface junction to thereby facilitate the simultaneous distribution of high voltage AC power, low voltage DC power, and data among the base module, the first module, and the second module;

wherein:

the base electrical interface junction and the first top electrical interface junction each comprise a disc shaped convex conductive protrusion extending above the top surface of its associated module; and

the first bottom electrical interface junction and the second bottom electrical interface junction each comprise a disc shaped concave conductive recess extending into the bottom surface of its associated module, the recess being configured to receive a mating protrusion upon stacking adjacent modules together.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein connecting adjacent electrical interface junctions comprises manual alignment facilitated by substantially self-aligning electrical interface junctions.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein:

adjacent electrical interface junctions comprise an electrically conductive protrusion and a corresponding electrically conductive depression; and

manually aligning adjacent electrical interface junctions comprises guiding a protrusion into a mating depression.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein connecting adjacent mechanical couplings comprises manual alignment guided by substantially self-aligning releasable fasteners.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein:

adjacent mechanical couplings comprise at least one of a magnet, a keyed mechanical fastener, or a combination of both; and manually aligning adjacent mechanical couplings comprises guiding adjacent mechanical couplings into mutual registration.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the electrical interface junctions each comprise respective electrically isolated high voltage AC power, low voltage DC power, and data channels.

16. The method of claim 10 , wherein:

the base module further comprises a wireless network router;

one of the first and second modules comprises a lamp configured for circumferential light emission; and

one of the first and second modules comprises a battery.

17. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

providing a third module having a third bottom electrical interface junction disposed on a bottom surface of the third module and configured for electrical connectivity with a second top electrical interface junction disposed on a top surface of the second module, a third bottom mechanical coupling spaced apart from the third bottom electrical interface junction on the bottom surface of the third module and configured for mechanical engagement with a second top mechanical coupling junction spaced apart from the second top electrical interface junction on the top surface of the second module.