Adaptors for adapting an electronic device to a modular electronic device system
There is provided an adapter for adapting an electronic device to a modular electronic device system. The adapter generally has a housing having two lateral edges, a cavity between the lateral edges and being adapted to receive the electronic device, each of the two lateral edges of the housing having at least one magnetic coupler electrically connectable with at least one magnetic coupler of the modular electronic device system by magnetically engaging the at least one magnetic coupler of the adapter with the at least one magnetic coupler of the modular electronic device system, and an internal electric conductor network electrically connected to the magnetic couplers of the adapter and electrically connected to an internal connector which is electrically connectable to the electronic device when received in the cavity of the housing.
1. An adapter for adapting an electronic device to a modular electronic device system, wherein modular electronic devices of the modular electronic device system each have a housing with two lateral edges, the lateral edges having at least one magnetic coupler allowing any two of the modular electronic devices to couple to one another by engaging corresponding ones of the magnetic couplers with one another, the adapter comprising:
a housing having two lateral edges, a cavity between the lateral edges of the housing and being adapted to receive the electronic device, at least one of the two lateral edges of the housing having at least one magnetic coupler coupleable with the magnetic couplers of the modular electronic device system;
an internal connector being electrically connectable to the electronic device when received in the cavity of the housing; and
an auxiliary adapter connected to the internal connector, the auxiliary adapter being configured to adapt communication between the electronic device and at least another one of said modular electronic devices of the modular electronic device system, the adapter adapting communication between the electronic device and the other modular electronic device by way of wireless communication, the auxiliary adapter including a data adapter electrically connected to the internal connector and a wireless transceiver electrically connected to the data adapter, the data adapter being configured to adapt a data signal between the internal connector and the wireless transceiver.
2. The adapter of claim 1 wherein the wireless transceiver includes at least one antenna provided along at least one of the two lateral edges of the housing, the at least one antenna being configured to communicate with another antenna in the other modular electronic device when the adapter and the other modular electronic device are coupled to one another.
3. An adapter for adapting an electronic device to a modular electronic device system, wherein modular electronic devices of the modular electronic device system each have a housing with two lateral edges, the lateral edges having at least one magnetic coupler allowing any two of the modular electronic devices to couple to one another by engaging corresponding ones of the magnetic couplers with one another, the adapter comprising:
a housing having two lateral edges, a cavity between the lateral edges of the housing and being adapted to receive the electronic device, at least one of the two lateral edges of the housing having at least one magnetic coupler coupleable with the magnetic couplers of the modular electronic device system;
an internal connector being electrically connectable to the electronic device when received in the cavity of the housing; and
an auxiliary adapter connected to the internal connector, the auxiliary adapter being configured to adapt communication between the electronic device and at least another one of said modular electronic devices of the modular electronic device system, the auxiliary adapter including a power adapter electrically connected to the internal connector and configured to route power between the electronic device and the other modular electronic device of the modular electronic device system.
4. The adapter of claim 3 wherein the auxiliary adapter includes an internal electrical conductor network inside the housing and connected between the power adapter and at least one electrical connector of the adapter, the other modular electronic device being connectable to the at least one electrical connector of the adapter.
5. The adapter of claim 4 wherein the at least one electrical connector of the adapter corresponds to the at least one magnetic coupler of the adapter.
6. The adapter of claim 3 wherein the auxiliary adapter includes a wireless power transceiver electrically connected to the power adapter for wirelessly power transfer between the power adapter and at least one electrical connector of the adapter.
7. An adapter comprising:
a housing having two lateral edges, a cavity between the lateral edges of the housing and being adapted to receive an electronic device, at least one of the two lateral edges of the housing having at least one magnetic coupler coupleable with at least one magnetic coupler of a modular electronic device;
an internal connector being electrically connectable to the electronic device when received in the cavity of the housing; and
an auxiliary adapter connected to the internal connector, the auxiliary adapter being configured to adapt communication between the electronic device and the modular electronic device, the adapter adapting communication between the electronic device and the modular electronic device by way of wireless communication, the auxiliary adapter including a data adapter electrically connected to the internal connector and a wireless transceiver electrically connected to the data adapter, the data adapter being configured to adapt a data signal between the internal connector and the wireless transceiver.
8. The adapter of claim 7 wherein the wireless transceiver includes at least one antenna provided along at least one of the two lateral edges of the housing, the at least one antenna being configured to communicate with another antenna in the modular electronic device when the adapter and the modular electronic device are coupled to one another.
9. An adapter comprising:
a housing having two lateral edges, a cavity between the lateral edges of the housing and being adapted to receive an electronic device, at least one of the two lateral edges of the housing having at least one magnetic coupler coupleable with at least one magnetic coupler of a modular electronic device;
an internal connector being electrically connectable to the electronic device when received in the cavity of the housing; and
an auxiliary adapter connected to the internal connector, the auxiliary adapter being configured to adapt communication between the electronic device and the modular electronic device, the auxiliary adapter including a power adapter electrically connected to the internal connector and configured to route power between the electronic device and the modular electronic device of the modular electronic device system.
10. The adapter of claim 9 wherein the auxiliary adapter includes an internal electrical conductor network inside the housing and connected between the power adapter and at least one electrical connector of the adapter, the modular electronic device being connectable to the at least one electrical connector of the adapter.
11. The adapter of claim 10 wherein the at least one electrical connector of the adapter corresponds to the at least one magnetic coupler of the adapter.
12. The adapter of claim 9 wherein the auxiliary adapter includes a wireless power transceiver electrically connected to the power adapter for wirelessly power transfer between the power adapter and at least one electrical connector of the adapter.