Computer system including a function-expanding pad and a function-expanding pad connecting unit

• US 20040080899A1
• Filed: 10/29/2002
• Published: 04/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Yamazaki, Kazuhiko, Karidis, John Peter, Takahashi, Tomoyuki, Hill, David Wayne
• Application Number:
  US10/282,865
• Publication Number:
  US 20040080899A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/680
• 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 1/1624 with sliding enclosures, e.g. sliding keyboard or display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1662 Details related to the integrated keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1671 Special purpose buttons or auxiliary keyboards, e.g. retractable mini keypads, keypads or buttons that remain accessible at closed laptop G06F1/1666 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1692 the I/O peripheral being a secondary touch screen used as control interface, e.g. virtual buttons or sliders

Abstract

A notebook PC is provided with an expansive ten-key pad as a function-expanding pad which can be set to or removed from an accepting portion formed adjacently to a keyboard of a body portion. The notebook PC is also provided with a PDA cradle pad as a function-expanding pad which can be set to or removed from a tray to be taken out from a side portion of the PC. The expansive ten-key pad and the PDA cradle pad are provided with a connection terminal common to the body portion and moreover, a common connection terminal is provided in the accepting portion and the tray. It is possible to change the setting positions of the expansive ten-key pad and the PDA cradle pad which are function-expanding pads in accordance with a user'"'"'s desires. It is also possible to utilize other funciton-expanding pads with the accepting portions to provide many other types of functions on the PC.

Claims

1. ) A computer system including a housing to or from which a plurality of function-expanding pads can be set or removed,

wherein said housing comprises:

an input portion provided with keys for inputting characters;

a mounting portion capable of removably mounting the function-expanding pads adjacently to the input portion; and

a tray to be taken out from the housing and capable of removably mounting the function-expanding pads.

2. ) The computer system according to claim 1, wherein said tray has an interface connected with the function-expanding pads set in the tray to transceive signals.

3. ) The computer system according to claim 1, wherein the mounting portion and the tray can flexibly mount a plurality of types of function-expanding pads having a common connective portion.

4. ) A computer system whose functions are expanded by connecting with function-expanding pads, comprising:

a plurality of mounting portions capable of mounting the function-expanding pads constituted by input devices for inputting data to a system; and

a connective portion set to each of the mounting portions to make it possible to transfer data to and from a system by mounting the function-expanding pads.

5. ) The computer system according to claim 4,

wherein at least one of the mounting portions is a tray to be taken out from the computer system so that it can be used, and

the tray can be housed in the computer system while mounting the function-expanding pads.

6. ) The computer system according to claim 4, wherein at least one of the mounting portions is set to a position facing a user when the computer system is operated.

7. ) A computer system having a housing portion capable of connecting function-expanding pads, comprising:

a function-expanding-pad tray protruding from a side portion of the housing portion in a transverse direction and capable of housing the function-expanding pads; and

an interface for transferring data to and from the function-expanding pads at contact faces with the function-expanding pads mounted in the tray,

wherein the tray can be housed in the housing portion while mounting the function-expanding pads.

8. ) The computer system according to claim 7, wherein

the interface is connected by a USB.

9. ) A computer system provided with a mouse, comprising:

a housing provided with a system;

a tray which can be taken out from the housing;

a mouse to be housed in the tray; and

a signal-transmitting portion for transmitting a signal generated by the mouse taken out of the tray to the system.

10. ) The computer system according to claim 9,

wherein said signal-transmitting portion is a cord for connecting the tray with the mouse, and

the tray is provided with a cord-housing portion for housing the cord.

11. ) A computer system whose functions can be expanded by connecting function-expanding pads, comprising:

a housing provided with a system; and

a function-expanding-pad-connecting unit housed in the housing to connect with the system,

wherein the function-expanding-pad-connecting unit includes;

a tray for removably mounting the function-expanding pads; and

a case for holding the tray so that the tray can be taken out from the housing.

12. ) The computer system according to claim 11, wherein the function-expanding-pad-connecting unit can be housed in the case while the tray mounts the function-expanding pads.

13. ) A function-expanding pad constituted so that it can be connected with a computer system and capable of expanding functions of the computer system, comprising:

a body portion which can be mounted on a mounting portion set to the computer system and a tray set to the computer system so that the tray can be taken out; and

a connective portion formed on the mounting portion or a face contacting the tray to transmit a signal that can be input to the computer system.

14. ) The function-expanding pad according to claim 13, wherein the function-expanding pad functions as an expansive ten-key pad, a PDA cradle pad, a mouse cradle, or a touch-panel pad.

15. ) A mouse cradle which can be connected to a computer system, comprising:

a housing portion for housing a mouse;

a cord extending from the mouse; and

a reel for winding the cord around the reel.

16. ) The mouse cradle according to claim 15, wherein the mouse housed in the housing portion can be housed in the computer system.

17. ) A function-expanding-pad-connecting unit housed in a body portion of a computer system to connect with function-expanding pads, comprising:

a tray capable of removably mounting the function-expanding pads; and

a case for holding the tray so as to be taken out.

18. ) The function-expanding-pad-connecting unit according to claim 17,

wherein said computer system is a notebook computer system, and

the function-expanding pads are housed in a side portion of the body portion of the notebook computer system.