Portable computer with physical reconfiguration of display connection for stylus and keyboard entry

• US 5,241,303 A
• Filed: 12/26/1991
• Issued: 08/31/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dell USA LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell USA LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Groover, Robert III, O'Dell, J. Michael, Register, David S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Oberley, Alvin E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WU, XIAO MIN
• Application Number:
  US07/814,338
• Time in Patent Office: 614 Days
• Field of Search: 340/700, 340/706, 340/711, 340/712, 364/708, 178/18, 178/19, 361/390, 361/391, 361/392, 361/393
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1615 with several enclosures having relative motions, each enclosure supporting at least one I/O or computing function constructional details of portable telephones comprising a plurality of mechanically joined movable body parts H04M1/0206
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/162 changing, e.g. reversing, the face orientation of the screen with a two degrees of freedom mechanism, e.g. for folding into tablet PC like position or orienting towards the direction opposite to the user to show to a second user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1637 Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1654 the display being detachable, e.g. for remote use
• 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 1/1669 Detachable keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0231 Cordless keyboards

Abstract

A computer system which is reconfigurable to provide separate ergonomically advantageous positions for keyboard input and for stylus input. A primary system chassis contains a bay in its underside where a detachable keyboard can be stored. For one-hand stylus input, the keyboard is left in its bay while the display is mounted flat on top of the system chassis. For keyboard input, the keyboard is mounted on the system chassis, and the display is supported at an angle which makes it easily visible to a user typing on the keyboard.

Claims

1. A computer system, comprising:

a keyboard dimensioned for touch-typing;

a primary system chassis which contains a CPU, a power supply, a program memory, and at least one data communications interface;

said primary system chassis also being shaped to define a bay, in the exterior thereof, which is dimensioned to hold said keyboard removably but securely;

said primary system chassis having a top surface and first and second long edges in proximity to said top surface, and containing therein a first connector in proximity to said first long edge and a second connector in proximity to said second long edge, said CPU being operatively connected to send display signals to first connector and to said second connector;

a display module having therein a third connector which is complementary to said first connector and is also substantially complementary to said second connection, and also including display electronics which provide a visible display corresponding to signals written in through said connector, said display and said chassis alternatively positionable in a first alternative position in which said third connector is mated to said second connector, said display module is folded backward to exposed said visible display and said keyboard is mounted on said top surface and in a second alternative position in which said third connector is mated to said first connector and said keyboard is stored in said storage bay; and

stylus position-sensing electronics which are connected to sense the position of a user-operated stylus which may be in proximity to said visible display, and to provide electronic output to said CPU accordingly.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said stylus position-sensing electronics comprise a stylus which includes active electronic circuitry.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said stylus position-sensing electronics comprise a stylus which includes active electronic circuitry and wireless transceiver circuitry.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said chassis comprises a fourth connector, and said stylus position-sensing electronics comprise a stylus connected by a cable to said fourth connector.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said display and said chassis are alternatively positionable, in a third alternative position, in which said display module is mounted against said top surface of said chassis and said keyboard is stored in said storage bay.

6. A computer system, comprising:

a keyboard having more than 77 keys and dimensioned for touch-typing;

a primary system chassis which contains a CPU, a power supply, a program memory, and at least one data communications interface;

said primary system chassis also being shaped to define a bay, in the exterior thereof, which is dimensioned to hold said keyboard removably but securely with said keys inward;

said primary system chassis having a top surface and first and second long edges in proximity to said top surface, and containing therein a first connector in proximity to said first long edge and a second connector in proximity to said second long edge, said CPU being operatively connected to read and write to first connector and to said second connector;

a display module having therein a third connector which is complementary to said first connector and is also substantially complementary to said second connector, and also including display electronics which provide a visible display corresponding to signals written in through said connector, said display and said chassis alternatively positionable in a first alternative position in which said third connector is mated to said second connector, said display module is folded backward to expose said visible display and said keyboard is mounted on said top surface and in a second alternative position in which said third connector is mated to said first connector and said keyboard is stored in said storage bay; and

stylus position-sensing electronics which are connected to sense the position of a user-operated stylus which may be in proximity to said visible display, and to provide electronic output to said CPU accordingly.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said first connector provides insertion substantially normal to said top surface of said chassis, and said second connector also provides insertion substantially normal to said top surface of said chassis.

8. The system of claim 6, further comprising a stylus removably mounted to said chassis.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein said top surface of said chassis is shaped to include a recess therein, and said first connector is located inside said recess and provides insertion substantially parallel to said top surface of said chassis, and said second connector provides insertion substantially normal to said top surface of said chassis.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein said top surface of said chassis is shaped to include a lip near said first edge thereof, and said first connector is located inside said lip and provides insertion substantially parallel to said top surface of said chassis, and said second connector provides insertion substantially normal to said top surface of said chassis.

11. The system of claim 6, wherein said stylus position-sensing electronics comprise a stylus which includes active electronic circuitry.

12. The system of claim 6, wherein said stylus position-sensing electronics comprise a stylus which includes active electronic circuitry and wireless transceiver circuitry.

13. The system of claim 6, wherein said chassis comprises a fourth connector, and said stylus position-sensing electronics comprise a stylus connected by a cable to said fourth connector.

14. The system of claim 6, wherein said display and said chassis are alternatively positionable in a third alternative position in which said display module is mounted against said top surface of said chassis and said keyboard is stored in said storage bay.

15. A portable computer system chassis having front, back, top and bottom sides and a recess formed in said bottom side, comprising:

first and second I/O display module connectors located on said top side proximate said front and back sides, respectively, said I/O display module connectors adapted to alternatively communicate with a I/O display module depending upon a desired computer configuration; and

a first keyboard connector located on said top side proximate said front side, said keyboard connector adapted to communicate with a keyboard when said I/O display module communicates with said second I/O display module connector, said keyboard stowed within said recess when said I/O display module communicates with said first I/O display module connector to thereby allow said chassis to be alternatively configured to be part of a keyboard-entry computer or a display-entry computer.

16. The chassis as recited in claim 15 wherein said chassis can be alternatively configured to be part of a combined keyboard-entry/display-entry computer.