Compact personal digital assistant having in-built printer

• US 20060216094A1
• Filed: 05/30/2006
• Published: 09/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia, King, Tobin Allen
• Granted Patent: US 7,465,109 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 400/88
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 11/706 using a cutting tool mounted on a reciprocating carrier
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 15/044 Cassettes or cartridges containing continuous copy material, tape, for setting into printing devices
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/01 Ink jet
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/16 Production of nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/16552 using cleaning fluids
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17513 Inner structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1752 Mounting within the printer
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17546 electronically
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17553 Outer structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/023 with reduced dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/13 Cases or covers
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/38 Drives, motors, controls or automatic cut-off devices for the entire printing mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/36 for portability , i.e. hand-held printers or laptop printers B41J3/4075 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/44 Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms having dual functions or combined with, or coupled to, apparatus performing other functions
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/445 Printers integrated in other types of apparatus, e.g. printers integrated in cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/46 Printing mechanisms combined with apparatus providing a visual indication
• 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 1/1696 the I/O peripheral being a printing or scanning device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/202 Air convective hinge
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/00 Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data , e.g. computer output printersprinting or plotting combined with another operation, e.g. with conveying, G06K17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2215/0082 : Architecture adapted for a particular function

Abstract

A hand held personal digital assistant is provided having body and display sections interconnected via a hinge section, a pagewidth inkjet printhead disposed in the body section, and a supply of print media disposed in the hinge section. By disposing the print media supply in the hinge, a fully functional in-built printer is provided whilst making the personal digital assistance compact.

Claims

1. A hand held personal digital assistant comprising:

body and display sections interconnected via a hinge section;

a pagewidth inkjet printhead disposed in the body section; and

a supply of print media disposed in the hinge section.

2. A personal digital assistant according to claim 1, further comprising a releasable cover through which the supply of print media is removable.

3. A personal digital assistant according to claim 1, further comprising a supply of ink disposed in the hinge section.

4. A personal digital assistant according to claim 3, further comprising a releasable cover through which the supply of ink is removable.

5. A personal digital assistant according to claim 1, wherein the supply of print media is incorporated in a cartridge which is removably engageable with the hinge section.

6. A personal digital assistant according to claim 5, wherein the cartridge incorporates a supply of ink.

7. A personal digital assistant according to claim 6, further comprising a releasable cover through which the cartridge is removable engageable with the hinge section.

8. A personal digital assistant according to claim 1, further comprising an information storage device disposed in the body section.

9. A personal digital assistant according to claim 8, further comprising a user interface at least partially disposed in the body section for allowing a user to:

selectively retrieve and display information from the storage device on the display;

print the information using the printhead; and

enter and store new information in the storage device.

10. A personal digital assistant according to claim 9, wherein the user interface is at least partially disposed in the display section and incorporates a touch screen.