# US 12,001,366 B2 · Interchangeable computing nodes > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,001,366 B2 - Document ID: US12001366B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/665,250 - Filed: 2022-02-04 - Published: 2022-08-04 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2021-02-04 - Assignees: Harman Becker Automotive Systems GmbH - Applicants: Harman Becker Automotive Systems GmbH - Inventors: Krunoslav Orcic; Günther Kraft; Jibin Yuan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12001366B2 ## CPC - G06F 13/4022: {using switching circuits, e.g. switching matrix, connection or expansion network (G06F13/4009 takes precedence)} - G06F 13/385: {for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices} - G06F 13/4068: {Electrical coupling} - G06F 13/409: {Mechanical coupling (back panels H05K7/1438)} - G06F 2213/0038: System on Chip - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract An in-vehicle control device a mainboard with at least one connection exposed at a first panel of a housing. One or more connectors in a second panel of the housing are interconnected with the mainboard and accessible from outside the housing for connecting the mainboard to a vehicle system. A mounting frame cooperates with the housing at the first panel of the housing exposing the connection to the mainboard, and at least one interchangeable node, computing node and/or connectivity node, is detachably connected to the mounting frame. The at least one interchangeable node has a connector for connecting to the mainboard, and at least one System-on-a-Chip (SoC) having scalable performance capabilities, or a high-performance antenna. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An in-vehicle control device, comprising: a housing; a mainboard in the housing, the mainboard has at least one connection accessible at a first panel of the housing; one or more connectors in a second panel of the housing, the one or more connectors are interconnected with the mainboard and accessible from outside the housing for connecting the mainboard to a vehicle system; a mounting frame detachably connected to the housing at the first panel, wherein when detached, exposes the at least one connection to the mainboard; and at least one interchangeable computing node detachably connected to the mounting frame, the at least one interchangeable computing node has a connector for connecting to the mainboard at the at least one connection at the first panel, the interchangeable computing node has scalable performance capabilities defined by at least one System-on-a-Chip (SoC) or a high-performance antenna. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the interchangeable computing node has two SoCs on a single monolithic module attached to the mounting frame. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2, wherein the two SoCs on the interchangeable computing node are symmetrically adjacent each other. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the high-performance antenna is an antenna for at least one of WiFi and Bluetooth. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the mounting frame accommodates a heatsink attached to a backside of the mounting frame. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The device of claim 5, wherein the housing further comprises a vented opening and the heatsink further comprises a plurality of fins arranged on the mounting frame to face inside the housing in a path of the vented opening in the housing. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The device of claim 6, wherein the housing further comprises a fan. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the mounting frame accommodates two interchangeable computing nodes and each interchangeable computing node further comprises: one or more SoCs; and a plurality of connectors for mating with the at least one connection exposed on the mainboard. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The device of claim 8, wherein each of the interchangeable computing nodes further comprises, in addition to the one or more SoCs, a managing microprocessor, the managing microprocessor has a generic compute module control interface and a generic application programming interface that are independent of control signals of the SoC to manage the interchangeable computing node control and diagnosis. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The device of claim 8, wherein the at least one connection exposed on the mainboard further comprises a modifiable connector capable of integrating multiple types of connectors in the plurality of connectors on the at least one interchangeable computing node. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The device of claim 10, wherein the modifiable connector on the mainboard further comprises exchangeable pins. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one interchangeable computing node further comprises, in addition to the at least one SoC, a managing microprocessor, the managing microprocessor has a generic compute module control interface and a generic application programming interface that are independent of control signals of the SoC to manage the at least one interchangeable computing node control and diagnosis. ### Claim 13 An in-vehicle control device, comprising: a housing; a mainboard in the housing, the mainboard has a connection accessible at a first panel of the housing; a mounting frame detachably connected to the housing at the first panel and wherein when detached, exposes the connection; at least one interchangeable computing node detachably connected to the mounting frame, the at least one interchangeable computing node has scalable performance capabilities further comprises: a connector for connecting to the mainboard connection accessible at the first panel; at least one System-on-a-Chip (SoC); or a high-performance antenna; and at least one connector for connecting the SoC or high-performance antenna to a vehicle system. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the at least one connector for connecting to a vehicle system is on a second panel of the housing. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the at least one interchangeable computing node has two SoCs on a single monolithic module attached to the mounting frame. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The device as claimed in claim 13, wherein each of the at least one interchangeable computing node further comprises, in addition to the one or more SoCs, a managing microprocessor, the managing microprocessor has a generic compute module control interface and a generic application programming interface that are independent of control signals of the SoC to manage the interchangeable computing node control and diagnosis. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The device of claim 13, wherein the mainboard connection accessible at the first panel of the housing further comprises, a modifiable connector capable of integrating multiple types of connectors on the at least one interchangeable computing node for connecting to a vehicle system. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The device of claim 17, wherein the modifiable connector on the mainboard further comprises exchangeable pins. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The device of claim 13, wherein the high-performance antenna is an antenna for at least one of WiFi and Bluetooth.