Pad Computer

• US 20070159466A1
• Filed: 04/05/2007
• Published: 07/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Pepper Computer Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Pepper Computer Incorporated
• Inventors: Heinen, Mary, McGowan, Patrick, Kawell, Leonard, Ball, Alan
• Application Number:
  US11/697,195
• Publication Number:
  US 20070159466A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/169
• 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 1/1662 Details related to the integrated keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3406 Control of illumination source illumination devices structurally associated with liquid crystal cells G02F1/1336

Abstract

A computer can include a high-resolution color display, built-in keypad, wireless LAN connection, hi-fidelity audio system, and a multi-gigabyte disk drive. The screen can be formed in a top face of a computer and a keypad can be a split on opposite sides of the screen. The computer can also have various other controls and features, including function keys, scroll wheel, game D-pad, stylus, and fingerprint reader. Speaker covers for built-in speakers can be provided in the top face.

Claims

1. A computer, comprising:

a microprocessor;

a multi-gigabyte hard disk drive;

a housing for enclosing the microprocessor and hard disk drive, the housing having a top face, a left side, and a right side, the top face being of unitary construction, wherein the left and right sides have a length, wherein the top face has a length that is greater than the length of the left and right sides, and wherein the housing is less than one inch thick;

a display screen formed in the top face, wherein the top face surrounds the display screen, the display screen positioned between the left and right sides to define a first region between the left side and the screen and the right side and the screen, the display screen having a landscape orientation and extending for most of the vertical dimension of the housing, the display screen comprising a touch screen;

a QWERTY keyboard having some of the QWERTY keys in the first region and some of the QWERTY keys in the second region;

a plurality of additional input devices, including;

function keys for volume control;

a menu button;

a joystick;

a microphone; and

a stylus having an associated stylus holder formed in the housing;

a plurality of networking devices, including a Bluetooth wireless radio chip and a Wifi PC card capable of providing 802.11 b connectivity;

a USB 2.0 port;

a flash memory card slot;

stereo speakers; and

a headphone jack.

2. The computer of claim 1, further comprising a fingerprint reader.

3. The computer of claim 1, further comprising a digital camera.

4. The computer of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises elastomeric plastic grips.

5. The computer of claim 1, further comprising an interface for a DVD drive.

6. The computer of claim 1, wherein the top face has an upper half and a lower half, and wherein the QWERTY keyboard is completely located in the upper half of the housing.

7. The computer of claim 1, further comprising a circular area within the top face and positioned between the QWERTY keys in one of the first and second regions, the circular area comprising a user input device.

8. The computer of claim 1, further comprising a fingerprint reader;

a digital camera;

elastomeric plastic grips;

an interface for a DVD drive; and

a circular area within the top face and positioned between the QWERTY keys in one of the first and second regions, the circular area comprising a user input device; and

further wherein the top face has an upper half and a lower half, and wherein the QWERTY keyboard is completely located in the upper half of the housing.

9. A computer, comprising:

a microprocessor;

a hard disk drive;

a housing for enclosing the microprocessor and hard disk drive, the housing having a top face, a left side, and a right side, the top face being of unitary construction;

a display screen formed in the top face and positioned between the left and right sides to define a first region between the left side and the screen and the right side and the screen;

a QWERTY keyboard having some of the QWERTY keys in the first region and some of the QWERTY keys in the second region;

a first circular area within the top face and positioned beneath the QWERTY keys in the first region, the first circular area comprising a first user input device; and

a second circular area within the top face and positioned beneath the QWERTY keys in the second region, second circular area comprising a second user input device.

10. The computer of claim 9, wherein the hard disk drive has a multi-gigabyte capacity.

11. The computer of claim 9, wherein the left and right sides have a length, wherein the top face has a length that is greater than the length of the left and right sides, and wherein the housing is less than one inch thick

12. The computer of claim 9, wherein the display screen has a landscape orientation, wherein the top face surrounds the display screen, and wherein the display screen extends for most of the vertical dimension of the housing.

13. The computer of claim 9, further including at least one of the following additional input devices:

function keys for volume control, a menu button, a joystick, a microphone, a fingerprint reader, and a stylus having an associated stylus holder formed in the housing.

14. The computer of claim 9, further including at least one of a Bluetooth wireless radio chip, a WiFi PC card, a USB 2.0 port, and a flash memory card slot.

15. The computer of claim 9, further including at least one of stereo speakers and a headphone jack.

16. The computer of claim 9, wherein the display screen comprises a touch screen.

17. The computer of claim 9, wherein the hard disk drive has a multi-gigabyte capacity;

wherein the left and right sides have a length, wherein the top face has a length that is greater than the length of the left and right sides, and wherein the housing is less than one inch thick;

wherein the display screen has a landscape orientation, and wherein the top face surrounds the display screen;

wherein the display screen extends for most of the vertical dimension of the housing;

further including the following additional input devices;

function keys for volume control, a menu button, a joystick, a microphone, a fingerprint reader, and a stylus having an associated stylus holder formed in the housing;

further including a Bluetooth wireless radio chip and a Wifi PC card;

further including a USB 2.0 port;

further including a flash memory card slot;

further including at least one of stereo speakers and a headphone jack; and

wherein the display screen comprises a touch screen.

18. A computer, comprising:

a microprocessor;

a hard disk drive;

a housing for enclosing the microprocessor and hard disk drive, the housing having a top face, a left side, and a right side, the top face being of unitary construction;

a display screen formed in the top face and positioned between the left and right sides to define a first region between the left side and the screen and the right side and the screen;

keys for user input in the first region;

keys for user input in the second region; and

movable user controls other than keys in the top face.

19. The computer of claim 18, wherein the keys for user input in the first and second regions comprise keys of a QWERTY keyboard.

20. The computer of claim 18, wherein the display screen extends for most of the vertical dimension of the housing.

21. The computer of claim 18, wherein the keys for user input in the first and second regions comprise keys of a QWERTY keyboard, and wherein the display screen extends for most of the vertical dimension of the housing.