Modular accessory unit

Abstract

A modular accessory system includes a base, a power interface attached to the base, and a communication interface attached to the base. The base is connectable to a base of an additional modular accessory system. The power interface is to provide power to or receive power from the additional modular accessory system responsive to the modular accessory system switching from a first mode to a second mode. The communication interface is to communicate with the additional modular accessory system responsive to the modular accessory system switching from the first mode to the second mode.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A modular accessory system comprising:
 a base connectable to a base of an additional modular accessory system;   a power interface attached to the base, the power interface to provide power to or receive power from the additional modular accessory system responsive to the modular accessory system switching from a first mode to a second mode; and   a communication interface attached to the base, the communication interface to communicate with the additional modular accessory system responsive to the modular accessory system switching from the first mode to the second mode.   
     
     
         2 . The modular accessory system of  claim 1 , wherein the power interface is not to provide power to or receive power from the additional modular accessory system responsive to the modular accessory system switching from the second mode to the first mode,
 and wherein the communication interface is not to communicate with the additional modular accessory system responsive to the modular accessory system switching from the second mode to the first mode.   
     
     
         3 . The modular accessory system of  claim 2 , wherein the modular accessory system is to switch from the first mode to the second mode responsive to connection of the base to the base of the additional modular accessory system,
 and wherein the modular accessory system is to switch from the second mode to the first mode responsive to disconnection of the base from the base of the additional modular accessory system.   
     
     
         4 . The modular accessory system of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 mechanical and electrical mechanisms of the base to connect to corresponding mechanical and electrical mechanisms of the base of the additional modular accessory system.   
     
     
         5 . The modular accessory system of  claim 4 , wherein electrical mechanisms of the base comprise wired electrical mechanisms of the power interface. 
     
     
         6 . The modular accessory system of  claim 4 , wherein electrical mechanisms of the base comprise wired electrical mechanisms of the communication interface. 
     
     
         7 . The modular accessory system of  claim 6 , wherein the wired electrical mechanisms comprise USB, VGA, or HDMI wired connections. 
     
     
         8 . The modular accessory system of  claim 4 , wherein electrical mechanisms of the base comprise wireless electrical mechanisms of the communication interface. 
     
     
         9 . The modular accessory system of  claim 8 , wherein the wireless electrical mechanisms of the communication interface comprise NFC, Bluetooth, or Wi-Fi wireless connections. 
     
     
         10 . The modular accessory system of  claim 2 , wherein in the first mode the modular accessory system operates independently of the additional modular accessory system,
 and wherein in the second mode the modular accessory system operates collectively with the additional modular accessory system.   
     
     
         11 . The modular accessory system of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a display to function with a display of the additional modular accessory system as a single display responsive to the modular accessory system switching from the first mode to the second mode.   
     
     
         12 . The modular accessory system of  claim 11 , wherein the display is to function as a separate display independent of the display of the different modular accessory system responsive to the modular accessory system switching from the second mode to the first mode. 
     
     
         13 . The modular accessory system of  claim 12 , wherein the display is switchable between a first display mode in which the display is bent at a viewing angle or is curved and a second display mode in which the display is not bent or is linear and not curved. 
     
     
         14 . The modular accessory system of  claim 13 , wherein the modular accessory system switches from the first mode to the second mode responsive to the display switching from the first display mode to the second display mode,
 and wherein the modular accessory system switches from the second mode to the first mode responsive to the display switching from the second display mode to the first display mode.   
     
     
         15 . A method comprising:
 responsive to a first modular accessory system switching from a first mode to a second mode, providing power from a power interface of the first modular accessory system to a power interface of the second modular accessory system, or receiving power by the power interface of the first modular accessory system from the power interface of the second modular accessory system; and   responsive to the first modular accessory system switching from the first mode to the second mode, communicating by the first modular accessory system with the second modular accessory system.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 responsive to the first modular accessory system switching from the second mode to the first mode, no longer providing power from a power interface of the first modular accessory system to a power interface of the second modular accessory system, or no longer receiving power by the power interface of the first modular accessory system from the power interface of the second modular accessory system; and   responsive to the first modular accessory system switching from the second mode to the first mode, no longer communicating by the first modular accessory system with the second modular accessory system.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 responsive to connection of a base of the first modular accessory system to a base of the second modular accessory system, switching the first modular accessory system from the first mode to the second mode; and   responsive to disconnection of the base of the first modular accessory system from the base of the second modular accessory system, switching the first modular accessory system from the second mode to the first mode.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 in the first mode, operating the first modular accessory system independently of the second modular accessory system; and   in the second mode, operating the first modular accessory system collectively with the second modular accessory system.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 in the first mode, operating a display of the first modular accessory system to function with a display of the second modular accessory system; and   in the second mode, operating the display of the first modular accessory system as a separate display independent of the display of the different modular accessory system.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 responsive to switching the display of the first modular accessory system from a first display mode in which the display is bent at a viewing angle or is curved to a second display mode in which the display is not bent or is linear and not curved, switching first modular accessory system from the first mode to the second mode; and   responsive to switching the display of the first modular accessory system from the first mode to the second mode, switching the display from the second mode to the first mode.