NETWORKED PERSONAL AUDIOVISUAL DEVICE HAVING FLEXIBLE HOUSING

• US 20080068519A1
• Filed: 08/24/2007
• Published: 03/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Chumby Industries, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Chumby Industries, Inc.
• Inventors: Grand, Joseph, Maxwell, Duane, Huang, Andrew, Adler, Steven, Tomlin, Stephen, Steele, Kenneth
• Application Number:
  US11/845,021
• Publication Number:
  US 20080068519A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/838
• 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 1/1643 the display being associated to a digitizer, e.g. laptops that can be used as penpads details related to the relative motion of the display enclosure with respect to the body enclosure, e.g. to move between laptop and tablet PC configuration G06F1/1615
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/203 for portable computers, e.g. for laptops
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2129 Authenticate client device independently of the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces

Abstract

A portable information device including a frame structure is disclosed herein. The device includes communications circuitry and a core electronics unit supported by the frame structure. The core electronics unit includes memory in which are stored instructions for one or more computer programs received by the communications circuitry and executed by a processor. A user interface in electrical communication with the core electronics unit is disposed to receive user instructions pertinent to execution of the one or more computer programs. The device also includes a flexible housing attached to the frame structure, the flexible housing at least partially defining a compartment containing the core electronics unit.

Claims

1. A portable information device comprising:

a frame structure;

communications circuitry;

a core electronics unit supported by the frame structure, the core electronics unit including memory in which are stored instructions for one or more computer programs received by the communications circuitry and executed by a processor;

a user interface in electrical communication with the core electronics unit, the user interface receiving user instructions pertinent to execution of the one or more computer programs; and

a flexible housing attached to the frame structure, the flexible housing at least partially defining a compartment containing the core electronics unit.

2. The portable information device of claim 1 further including resilient fill material interposed between the core electronics unit and the flexible housing.

3. The portable information device of claim 1 wherein the core electronics unit includes a display for the user interface and a supporting frame surrounding a periphery of the display.

4. The portable information device of claim 3 wherein the supporting frame is press-fit into the frame structure.

5. The portable information device of claim 1 further including a sensor arrangement disposed within the compartment, the sensor arrangement being responsive to deformation of the flexible housing.

6. The portable information device of claim 5 further including a daughtercard assembly electrically connected to the core electronics unit, the squeeze sensor arrangement including one or more electronic components mounted upon the daughtercard assembly.

7. The portable information device of claim 1 wherein the frame structure is constructed from a flexible material to which the flexible housing is sewn.

8. The portable information device of claim 3 wherein the display defines at least a portion of a front side of the portable information device and a rigid plate defines at least a portion of a rear side of the portable information device opposed to the front side.

9. The portable information device of claim 8 further including a daughtercard assembly attached to the rigid plate, the daughtercard assembly being electrically connected to the core electronics unit.

10. The portable information device of claim 5 wherein the processor is configured to control execution of the one or more computer programs based upon signals generated by the sensor arrangement.

11. The portable information device of claim 5 wherein the one or more computer programs are executed by the processor in a defined sequence, the processor being configured to advance through at least a portion of the sequence based upon signals generated by the sensor arrangement.

12. The portable information device of claim 1 wherein the communications circuitry comprises a wireless transceiver.

13. A portable information device comprising:

a core electronics unit including a main circuit board and a display, the core electronics unit including memory in which are stored instructions for one or more computer programs executed by a processor;

a flexible housing structure at least partially defining a compartment containing the core electronics unit and an opening within which is positioned the display; and

a resilient fill material interposed between the core electronics unit and the flexible housing.

14. The portable information device of claim 13 wherein the flexible housing structure includes a flexible frame member and flexible material attached to the frame member.

15. The portable information device of claim 14 wherein the flexible material is sewn to the flexible frame member.

16. The portable information device of claim 13 further including a wireless transceiver, the one or more computer programs being received by the wireless transceiver.

17. The portable information device of claim 13 further including at least one sensor disposed within the compartment.

18. The portable information device of claim 17 wherein the at least one sensor is responsive to deformation of the flexible housing, the resilient fill material flexing at least one element of the sensor arrangement in response to the deformation.

19. The portable information device of claim 13 further including a daughtercard assembly electrically connected to the core electronics unit.

20. The portable information device of claim 19 wherein at least one sensor is connected to the daughtercard assembly.

21. A method for assembling a portable information device, the method comprising:

providing a first electronics sub-assembly;

securing the first electronics sub-assembly using a flexible frame; and

attaching a flexible housing to the flexible frame such that the flexible housing at least partially defines a compartment surrounding the first electronics sub-assembly.

22. The method of claim 21 further including:

providing a second electronics sub-assembly; and

flexibly connecting the first electronics sub-assembly and the second electronics sub-assembly.

23. The method of claim 22 further including:

attaching the second electronics sub-assembly to a rigid plate; and

attaching the rigid plate to the flexible housing.

24. The method of claim 21 wherein the attaching comprises sewing.

25. The method of claim 21 further including creating the flexible frame by bending a rubber-like material into a desired shape.

26. The method of claim 21 further including:

defining an opening in the flexible housing;

attaching a plastic lip to a periphery of the opening.

27. The method of claim 26 further including gluing the plastic lip to the first electronics sub-assembly.

28. The method of claim 21 further including placing thermally conductive fill material into the compartment.

29. The method of claim 21 further including:

attaching a display to the first electronics sub-assembly; and

placing thermally conductive material between the first electronics sub-assembly and the display such that heat is conducted from the first electronics sub-assembly to the display.

30. The method of claim 22 further including mounting a mechanical switch sensor on the second electronics sub-assembly.

31. The method of claim 21 further including attaching a bend-sensitive sensor to the flexible housing.

32. The method of claim 21 further including attaching a force sensor to the flexible housing.

33. The method of claim 21 further including attaching an accelerometer to the flexible housing.

34. A method for assembling a portable information device, the method comprising:

forming a plastic frame by bending a piece of plastic material into a desired shape;

attaching a first electronics sub-assembly to the plastic frame, the first electronics sub-assembly including a processor and a display; and

sewing a flexible material to the plastic frame.

35. The method of claim 34 further including:

providing a second electronics sub-assembly; and

flexibly connecting the first electronics sub-assembly and the second electronics sub-assembly.

36. The method of claim 35 further including:

attaching the second electronics sub-assembly to a rigid plate; and

attaching the rigid plate to the flexible housing.

37. The method of claim 34 wherein the plastic frame is shaped such that the sewing results in creation of a compartment at least partially defined by the flexible housing, the compartment containing the first electronics sub-assembly.

38. The method of claim 37 further including placing fill material within the compartment.