Portable computer

• US 4,497,036 A
• Filed: 04/12/1983
• Issued: 01/29/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microoffice Systems Technology
• Original Assignee: Microoffice Systems Technology
• Inventors: Dunn, James P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaw, Gareth D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mills, John G.
• Application Number:
  US06/484,319
• Time in Patent Office: 658 Days
• Field of Search: 364/200 MS File, 364/900 MS File, 364/708, 364/710
• US Class Current: 361/679.09
• 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 1/1677 for detecting open or closed state or particular intermediate positions assumed by movable parts of the enclosure, e.g. detection of display lid position with respect to main body in a laptop, detection of opening of the cover of battery compartment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1679 for locking or maintaining the movable parts of the enclosure in a fixed position, e.g. latching mechanism at the edge of the display in a laptop or for the screen protective cover of a PDA G06F1/1681 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/0216 Constructional details or arrangements

Abstract

In the disclosed portable computer, a keyboard with keys for entering at least a full alphabet and ten digits is coupled to a computer system that includes a central processing unit which is in turn coupled to a display arrangement with a liquid crystal display. The entire computer is mounted in a case composed of a base and a cover hinged to the base. The base houses the computer system and the keyboard, and exposes the keyboard for operation by a user when the cover is open, while the cover houses the display arrangement and exposes the liquid crystal display on its inner surface. The cover is hinged at the edge of the base and, when closed, covers substantially the entire upper surface of the base.

Claims

1. A computer, comprising:

a central processing unit;

a keyboard coupled to said central processing unit and including a plurality of entry keys for entering a full alphabet and ten digits;

a display arrangement coupled to said central processing unit and including a liquid crystal display;

a case having a base with an upper surface and an edge, and a cover hinged to said base at the edge and having an inner surface facing said base when closed and exposed to a viewer when opened;

said base housing said central processing unit and said keyboard and exposing said keyboard for operation by a user when the cover is open and said cover housing said display and exposing said display on the inner surface when open and covering the entire upper surface when said case having an opening for forming a cartridge receiving chamber and having a connector connectable to circuitry in a cartridge and connected to said central processing unit.

2. A computer as in claim 1, wherein the opening and the chamber are in said base.

3. A computer as in claim 2, wherein the opening is in the upper surface of the base and said chamber is sufficiently deep so that a cartridge when connected with the connector allows closure of the cover against the base.

4. A computer as in claim 1, wherein the opening is on the upper surface of the base and said base includes an additional opening on the upper surface forming an additional cartridge receiving chamber, said additional chamber having a connector connectable for circuitry in a cartridge and connectable to the central processing unit, said connectors being located at surfaces of the chambers most remote from the upper surface, said chambers being sufficiently deep to allow circuitry of the cartridges to be connected to said connector while the cover covers the base.

5. A computer as in claim 4, wherein said base includes a plurality of sides and said cover includes a plurality of walls projecting from the edge of the surface facing the keyboard, said walls being arranged to cover a plurality of the sides of the base when the cover is closed.

6. A computer as in claims 2 and 4, wherein said base includes a plurality of sides and said cover includes a plurality of walls projecting from the edge of the surface facing the keyboard, said walls being arranged to cover a plurality of the sides of the base when the cover is closed.

7. A computer as in claim 1, wherein said central processing unit includes a switch and other portions of the central processing unit, said switch being arranged for electrically disabling said other portions of the central processing unit as well as said liquid crystal display and said keyboard, said switch being mounted in said base and including activating means in the path of said cover when said cover is closed so that said cover places said switch in a disabling position.

8. A computer as in claim 7, wherein said base includes a plurality of sides and said cover includes a plurality of walls projecting from the edge of the surface facing the keyboard, said walls being arranged to cover a plurality of sides when the cover is closed, said activating means being arranged for responding to one of said sides in the path of one of said walls.

9. A computer as in claim 2, 4, or 5, wherein said base includes a plurality of sides and said cover includes a plurality of walls projecting from the edge of the surface facing the keyboard, said walls being arranged to cover a plurality of sides when the cover is closed, said activating means being arranged for responding to one of said sides in the path of one of said walls.

10. A computer as in claim 1, wherein said base includes bearings upstanding from the upper surface at the end of said surface and said cover includes bearings on the inner surface facing said base at the end of the surface closest to said base, and wherein hinge pins articulatably connect the bearings with said hinge with the bearings on said base so as to hinge the cover relative to the base.

11. A computer as in claim 10, wherein said bearings are arranged to make the cover infinitely adjustable, said bearings on said cover or said base form a sufficiently tight friction fit with the bearings on the other of said base and said cover or with the hinge pins to cause said cover to assume an open position corresponding to the position in which a person using the computer last moved the cover.

12. A computer as in claim 9, wherein at least one of said bearings includes a stop for limiting the opening movement of said cover.

13. A computer as in claim 10, wherein at least one of said bearings includes a stop for limiting the opening movement of said cover.

14. A computer as in claim 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, or 12, wherein at least one of said bearings includes a stop for limiting the opening movement of said cover.

15. A computer as in claim 1, wherein a plurality of said keys are arranged as function keys for entering commands into said central processing unit to perform special functions, said function keys each being designated witn a predetermined symbol, said cover being designated with the symbols of said function keys at locations along an edge of said display, the functions to be entered by said function keys being variable on the basis of entry of other information to said central processing unit, said central processing unit being arranged for causing said display to list the functions being entered by the function keys at locations on the display adjacent the particular symbol corresponding to the symbol designated on a particular function key.

16. A computer as in claim 15, wherein said keys are aligned in rows, said function keys being located in the row closest to the cover when the cover is open.

17. A computer as in claim 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, or 16, wherein said keys are aligned in rows, said function keys being located in the row closest to the cover when the cover is open.

18. A computer as in claim 1, further comprising a cartridge having a shell and semiconductor circuitry within said shell, said cartridge being connectable and disconnectable from said central processing unit, said semiconductor circuitry including read-write memory operable in a read-write mode and a data retention mode, said memories being arranged for receiving energy from said central processing unit, and a battery in said shell for supplying energy to said memories sufficient to keep the memories in the data retention mode in the absence of energy from said central processing unit.

19. A computer as in claim 18, wherein said read-write memories are static memories.

20. A computer as in claim 19, wherein said memories are CMOS memories.

21. A computer as in claim 18, further comprising a second cartridge having a shell and a semiconductor circuit and connectable and disconnectable from said central processing unit.

22. A computer as in claim 21, wherein said second cartridge includes a CMOS static read-write memory operable in a read-write mode and data retention mode, the circuitry of said second memory being arranged to receive energy from said central processing unit in the read-write mode, said second cartridge including a battery in the shell for maintaining the circuitry in a data retention mode when the entry from the central processing unit is reduced below a predetermined value.

23. A computer as in claim 18, wherein said cartridge includes a diode in series with said battery for blocking voltage from said central processing unit to said battery.

24. A computer as in claim 22, wherein each of said cartridges includes a diode in series with each of said batteries for blocking flow of current from said central processing unit to said batteries.

25. A computer as in claim 18, wherein said base has an opening in the upper surface for forming a cartridge receiving chamber, said chamber having a cartridge connector connectable to the circuitry in said cartridge and connected to said central processing unit.

26. A computer as in claim 21, wherein the upper surface of the base includes a plurality of openings forming a plurality of cartridge receiving chambers, said chambers each having a connector connectable to the circuitry in the cartridges and connected to the central processing unit, said connectors being located at surfaces of the chambers most remote from the upper surface, said chambers being sufficiently deep to allow the circuitry cartridges to be connected to said connector while the cover covers the base.

27. A computer as in claim 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, and 21, wherein said second cartridge includes a CMOS static read-write memory operable in a read-write mode and data retention mode, the circuitry of said second memory being arranged to receive energy from said central processing unit in the read-write mode, said second cartridge including a battery in the shell for maintaining the circuitry in a data retention mode when the entry from the central processing unit is reduced below a predetermined value.

28. A computer as in claim 1, wherein said keyboard includes alphanumeric keys and a space key and said space key is six alphanumeric keys wide.

29. A computer as in claim 28, wherein said keyboard includes cursor keys adjacent and aligned with said space key.

32. A computer as in claim 1, wherein said base forms a battery chamber having a pair of connectors connected to said central processing unit, said display arrangement, and said keyboard, said battery chamber being arranged for receiving a battery and said connectors being arranged for coupling to the battery.

30. A computer keyboard, comprising a plurality of alphanumeric keys and a spacer key, said space key being six alphanumeric keys wide.

31. A computer keyboard as in claim 36, further including cursor keys adjacent and aligned with said space key.