Portable computer with integrated PDA I/O docking cradle

• US 20030041206A1
• Filed: 07/16/2001
• Published: 02/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Dickie, James P.
• Granted Patent: US 6,798,647 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/303
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203

Abstract

A computing system comprising a personal digital assistant (PDA) and a portable computer with an integrated PDA docking cradle to dock the PDA is disclosed.

Claims

1. A computing system comprising:

a personal digital assistant (PDA); and

a portable computer with an integrated PDA docking cradle to dock the PDA.

2. A computing system as recited in claim 1, wherein the portable computer comprises a keyboard and a palm rest adjacent to the keyboard, the PDA docking cradle being integrated into the palm rest.

3. A computing system as recited in claim 2, wherein the PDA, when docked in the PDA docking cradle, forms part of the palm rest.

4. A computing system as recited in claim 1, wherein the PDA comprises an input mechanism that is exposed when docked in the PDA docking cradle.

5. A computing system as recited in claim 1, wherein the PDA docking cradle comprises an interface to facilitate data communication with the PDA when the PDA is docked.

6. A computing system as recited in claim 1, wherein the PDA docking cradle supplies power to the PDA when the PDA is docked.

7. A computing system as recited in claim 1, wherein the PDA docking cradle comprises an electrical coupling to connect with the PDA when the PDA is docked, the electrical coupling facilitating data communication and supplying power to the PDA.

8. A computing system as recited in claim 1, wherein the portable computer comprises a movable platform movably mounted within the docking cradle to close the docking cradle when the PDA is not docked.

9. A computing system as recited in claim 1, wherein the portable computer comprises a first display and a second display separate from the first display, the second display being used to display information generated by at least one of the PDA or the portable computer.

10. A computing system as recited in claim 9, wherein the portable computer has a body and the first display is operably mounted on the body to move between an open position and a closed position, the second display being mounted externally of the portable computer such that the second display is viewable when the first display is in the closed position.

11. A computing system as recited in claim 9, wherein the portable computer further comprises one or more buttons positioned proximally to the second display, the buttons being used to respond to the information displayed on the second display.

12. A computing system comprising:

a handheld computing device; and

a portable computer with an integrated docking cradle to physically mount the handheld computing device and to facilitate data communication between the handheld computing device and the portable computer.

13. A computing system as recited in claim 12, wherein the portable computer comprises a keyboard and the docking cradle resides adjacent to the keyboard.

14. A computing system as recited in claim 12, wherein the handheld computing device comprises an input mechanism that is exposed when the handheld computing device is docked in the docking cradle.

15. A computing system as recited in claim 12, wherein the docking cradle supplies power to the handheld computing device.

16. A computing system as recited in claim 12, wherein the handheld computing device comprises a personal digital assistant.

17. A computing system as recited in claim 12, wherein the portable computer comprises a movable platform movably mounted within the docking cradle to close the docking cradle when the handheld computing device is undocked.

18. A computing system as recited in claim 12, wherein the portable computer comprises a first display and a second display separate from the first display, the second display being used to display information generated by at least one of the handheld computing device or the portable computer.

19. A computing system as recited in claim 18, wherein the portable computer has a body and the first display is operably mounted on the body to move between an open position and a closed position, the second display being mounted externally of the portable computer such that the second display is viewable when the first display is in the closed position.

20. A computing system as recited in claim 18, wherein the portable computer further comprises one or more buttons positioned proximally to the second display, the buttons being used to respond to the information displayed on the second display.

21. A portable computer, comprising:

a processor and memory;

a keyboard;

a palm rest adjacent to the keyboard; and

a docking cradle integrated into the palm rest to dock a handheld computing device.

22. A portable computer as recited in claim 21, wherein the docking cradle facilitates data communication with the handheld computing device.

23. A portable computer as recited in claim 21, wherein the docking cradle supplies power to the handheld computing device.

24. A portable computer as recited in claim 21, further comprising a movable platform movably mounted within the docking cradle to close the docking cradle and form part of the palm rest when the handheld computing device is not present.

25. A portable computer as recited in claim 21, further comprising a primary display and a status display separate from the primary display, the status display being used to display information generated by at least one of the handheld computing device or the portable computer.

26. A portable computer as recited in claim 25, further comprising one or more buttons positioned proximally to the status display, the buttons being used to respond to the information displayed on the status display.

27. A portable computer, comprising:

a housing;

a processor and memory mounted within the housing; and

a docking cradle integrated into the housing to dock a handheld computing device and to interface the handheld computing device with the processor.

28. A portable computer as recited in claim 27, wherein the docking cradle facilitates data communication with the handheld computing device.

29. A portable computer as recited in claim 27, wherein the docking cradle supplies power to the handheld computing device.

30. A portable computer as recited in claim 27, further comprising a keyboard, the docking cradle residing adjacent to the keyboard.

31. A portable computer as recited in claim 27, further comprising a movable platform movably mounted within the docking cradle to close the docking cradle when the handheld computing device is not present.

32. A portable computer as recited in claim 27, further comprising a primary display and a status display separate from the primary display, the status display being used to display information generated by the handheld computing device.

33. A portable computer as recited in claim 32, further comprising one or more buttons positioned proximally to the status display, the buttons being used to respond to the information displayed on the status display.

34. A portable computer as recited in claim 27, further comprising:

a primary display operably mounted on the housing to move between an open position and a closed position;

a status display separate from the primary display, the status display being mounted externally of the housing such that the status display is viewable when the primary display is in the closed position.

35. A portable computer as recited in claim 34, further comprising one or more buttons positioned proximally to the status display.

36. A method comprising:

generating information at a handheld computing device while the handheld computing device is docked with a computer;

transferring the information to the computer; and

displaying the information at the computer.

37. A method comprising:

detecting when a handheld computing device is docked into a docking cradle that coupled to a portable computer, the portable computer having a primary display and a status display separate from the primary display;

receiving information generated by the handheld computing device; and

displaying the information on the status display.

38. A method as recited in claim 37, further comprising detecting activation of dedicated buttons proximal to the status display that are used to respond to information depicted on the status display.

39. One or more computer-readable media having computer-readable instructions thereon which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:

detect when a handheld computing device is docked into a docking cradle coupled to a portable computer, the portable computer having a primary display and a status display separate from the primary display;

receive information generated by the handheld computing device; and

display the information on the status display.

40. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 39, further comprising computer-readable instructions thereon which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to detect activation of dedicated buttons proximal to the status display that are used to respond to information depicted on the status display.