A modular wireless communications system (edge device, etc.) that includes a base unit having a base unit processor and one or more additional units that each include a processor, in which the base unit processor is configured with processor-executable software instructions to determine whether the base unit has been combined with the one or more additional units to create a combined unit and/or whether one or more of the additional units have been detached from the combined unit. The processor may automatically perform an edge reconfiguration interrogation and enumeration (ERIE) operation in response to determining that the base unit has been combined with the one or more additional units to create the combined unit or in response to determining that one or more of the additional units have been detached from the combined unit.

Modular computing device techniques are described. In one or more implementations, a computing device includes a display modular component including a housing, a display device physically and communicatively coupled to the housing via a hinge, and one or more display hardware elements disposed within the housing that are configured to output a display for display by the display device. The computing device also includes a computing modular component including a housing that is physically and communicatively coupled to the display modular component, a processing system disposed within the housing, and memory disposed within the housing. The processing system is configured to execute instructions stored by the processing system to generate a user interface for display by the display device of the display modular component.

The programmable logic controller is a PLC-like controller having an elongate box-shaped main unit, a truncated, box-shaped expansion module, and a cable that couples the main unit to the expansion module. The main unit is a CPU adapter prepared specially to receive an open source microcontroller board, which carries out the instructions of the control process. It performs the basic arithmetical, logical, and input/output operations of the process, and communicates with outside devices. The expansion module expands the unit with a programmable logic controller programmed using open source software according to the process and requirements with a multiple arrangements of digital and analog inputs and outputs, as well as Special Function Modules (GSM, Ethernet, MPI, Thermocouple, etc.).

A data storage device fixing structure includes a mounting frame, a resisting member, and a limiting member. The resisting member is movably arranged on the mounting frame and configured to resist a data storage device. The resisting member includes a resisting portion. The limiting member is provided on the resisting member and provided with a fixing portion. The fixing portion extends into the data storage device located in the mounting frame to fixedly mount the data storage device. When the limiting member is moved, the fixing portion is separated from the data storage device, the resisting member is pulled, and the resisting portion drives the data storage device to move.

A modular computing unit 1 of a generally flat configuration has a housing (10) presenting external facets (10a, 10b), on each of which there is a respective set (11) of external electrical power and signal connectors (12) and physical coupling elements (13). The housing (10) is of generally hexagonal shape, the facets (10a, 10b) being arranged around the circumference of the hexagon. Facets (10a) are inclined upwardly at an angle and alternate with facets (10b) that are inclined downwardly at the same angle. The connector sets (11) are disposed on the facets (10a, 10b) in consistent positions and in a regular array around the housing (10). The physical coupling elements (13) are disposed within or alongside the connector sets (11). Any number of modular computing elements (1) may readily be connected to one another in various different 2D and 3D configurations, with power and signal connections via the connector sets (11).

A computing device is made up of a number of watertight, interengaging, modular computing units immersed in a tank (4) of pure water (41). Each of the computing units has a housing, a data processor within the housing and at least one external electrical power connector connected to the data processor and provided on the housing. Each housing presents a plurality of facets, with external electrical power connectors arranged on different facets of the housing, for the transfer of electrical power with adjacent modular computing units. Each external electrical power connector is of platinum or plated with platinum; and the water (41) has an electrical conductivity of 5×10.sup.−3 S/m or less. The computing units interengage to form ball shapes, defining square holes 14a in the faces of the balls to allow water (41) to pass through the system by convection flow.

Disclosed herein is a modular computing device that provides a user options to upgrade an existing computing device as improved expansion units become available without rendering the underlying base unit obsolete. The base unit of the modular computing device receives high-voltage AC power and one or more power supplies within the base unit converts the AC power to low-voltage DC power that is consumed within the base unit. An AC power transfer unit transfers AC power from the base unit to an expansion unit installed within an expansion dock of the base unit. One or more power supplies within the expansion unit convert the received AC power to low-voltage DC power that is consumed within the expansion unit.

An electronic device power supply system includes a plurality of electronic devices and an external power supply. The plurality of electronic devices includes a master device and a plurality of slave devices coupleable to the master device one by one. Each electronic device has a power node. The master device includes a power module capable of supplying power for one of the slave devices coupled to the master device and next slave device via the power point. When each slave device is coupled, the slave device sends local rated power to the master device. The power module stops supplying power to a last coupled slave device when the rated power of the last coupled slave devices is over the surplus power of the master device, and the external power supply is switched on to supply power for the last coupled slave device.

An electronic device power supply system includes a plurality of electronic devices and an external power supply. The plurality of electronic devices includes a master device and a plurality of slave devices coupleable to the master device one by one. Each electronic device has a power node. The master device includes a power module capable of supplying power for one of the slave devices coupled to the master device and next slave device via the power point. When each slave device is coupled, the slave device sends local rated power to the master device. The power module stops suppling power to a last coupled slave device when the rated power of the last coupled slave devices is over the surplus power of the master device, and the external power supply is coupled to the last coupled slave device.

A modular, expandable, and flexible computer system device is provided. The computer system device comprising a multiple number of individual modules interconnected physically via ‘back plane’ means with each module independently processing and executing specified computer functions utilizing internal or shared resources. Electrical power distribution and data communications are positioned between modules with the electrical power distribution and data communications internal to the base unit module.