Combined notepad and notebook computer

• US 5,375,076 A
• Filed: 09/10/1993
• Issued: 12/20/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.), R. T. Vanderbilt Company, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Blackwell, Sam D., Granzow, Drew D., Moore, Earl W., Tracy, Mark S., Felcman, Chris F., Condra, Neil L., Mundt, Kevin W., Goodrich, D. Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): Mai, Tan V.
• Application Number:
  US08/119,865
• Time in Patent Office: 466 Days
• Field of Search: 364/708.1, 361/680, 361/681, 361/683
• US Class Current: 361/679.17
• 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 1/166 related to integrated arrangements for adjusting the position of the main body with respect to the supporting surface, e.g. legs for adjusting the tilt angle
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1669 Detachable keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1632 Pen holder integrated in the computer

Abstract

A computer systems which combines the capabilities of both notepad and notebook computers. The main housing includes an liquid crystal display display with a digitizer input to be used as the display in all modes and the input device when used with a stylus in notepad mode. Also located in the main housing are a floppy disk drive, a hard disk drive, an optional modem unit, batteries, and the electronics of the computer. The main housing contains a recessed portion for receiving a detachable keyboard. The keyboard includes a pivoting, mating extension which is received in the recess so that the keyboard is retained in the recess during storage conditions and in some cases of use, where the housing acts as a partial keyboard support to allow angling of the keyboard. The keyboard contains pivoting legs so that the keyboard can be used remotely from the main housing and yet be angled. The main housing contains a pivoting portion which can operate as a stand when the computer is being operated with the keyboard, so that the display is properly angled for viewing by the user. The pivoting portion can also be pivoted to a position generally parallel with the main housing, but having a portion extending past the housing to act as a handle.

Claims

1. A combined notebook and notepad computer comprising:

a main housing having a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape and having a rectangular opening;

a display located inside said main housing and behind said main housing opening so that said display is visible and accessible;

an electronic circuit board located inside said main housing and containing the electronic circuitry of the computer, said display coupled to said circuit board;

batteries located inside said main housing and connected to said electronic circuit board to provide power for the computer;

a removable keyboard;

means for pivotably connecting said main housing and said removable keyboard, wherein said means for pivotably connecting is adapted to allow said keyboard to be located in a first position over said main housing in a position overlaying said display and to be pivoted to a second position wherein said keyboard is in a position extending from said main housing at an angle; and

a pivotable stand connected to said main housing, wherein in a first position said stand is parallel with said main housing and the computer is used as a notepad computer and in a second position said stand is angled from said main housing to act as a prop for supporting said main housing when said main housing is placed in a generally standing orientation for use as a notebook computer.

2. The computer of claim 1, wherein said display further includes digitizing means to allow detection of location and motion of a stylus.

3. The computer of claim 1, wherein said means for pivotably connecting includes a recess in said main housing and an extension on said keyboard, and keyboard extension mating with said main housing recess and said keyboard extension pivotable between a first position and a second position corresponding to said first and second positions of said keyboard and wherein when said stand is in said second position, said keyboard extension is in said second position and said keyboard is mated with said main housing recess, said keyboard is at an angle comfortable for typing.

4. The computer of claim 1, wherein in a third position said stand is parallel with said main housing and a portion of said stand projects past said main housing to form a handle for carrying the computer.

5. The computer of claim 4, wherein said stand is pivotable from said first to said second to said third positions and all points between and said stand includes means for restraining said stand at any of said points.

6. The computer of claim 1, wherein said keyboard further includes a pivotable leg, said leg pivotable to at least two positions, a first position being generally aligned with said keyboard for storage purposes and a second position generally projecting from said keyboard, so that when said keyboard is placed on a horizontal surface, said leg places said keyboard at a first angle comfortable for typing.

7. The computer of claim 6, wherein said keyboard has two such pivotable legs.

8. The computer of claim 7, wherein said keyboard legs have a third position generally projecting from said keyboard at an angle different from said second position, so that when said keyboard is placed on a horizontal surface, said legs place said keyboard at a second angle comfortable for typing.

9. The computer of claim 1, further comprising:

a hard disk drive located inside said main housing and connected to said electronic circuitry.

10. The computer of claim 9, further comprising:

a floppy disk drive located inside said main housing and connected to said electronic circuitry,

wherein said main housing further includes an opening aligned with said floppy disk drive to allow insertion of floppy disks into said floppy disk drive.

11. The computer of claim 9, further comprising:

a modem located inside said main housing and connected to said electronic circuitry, wherein said main housing further includes an opening aligned with said modem to allow connection of modular telephone lines to said modem.

12. The computer of claim 1, wherein said means for pivotably connecting includes two tabs connected to said main housing, each having a pin projecting therefrom, and wherein said keyboard includes mating elements for mating with said tab projecting pins.

13. The computer of claim 12, wherein said main housing includes a recess adjacent each of said tabs and wherein said tabs are pivotably connected to said main housing so that said tabs are pivotable into said recesses.

14. The computer of claim 12, wherein said keyboard mating elements are removably connectable to said projecting pins.

15. The computer of claim 1, wherein said removable keyboard includes a stylus holder pivotably connected to provide a closed position and an open position and wherein said stylus holder includes a recess accessible for receiving the stylus when in the open position and inaccessible in the closed position.

16. The computer of claim 15, wherein said stylus holder recess is of a length to receive only a portion of the stylus.

17. The computer of claim 1, wherein said main housing includes a stylus holder pivotably connected to provide a closed position and an open position and wherein said stylus holder includes a recess accessible for receiving the stylus when in the open position and inaccessible in the closed position.

18. The computer of claim 17, wherein said stylus holder recess is of a length and size to receive the entire stylus.

19. The computer of claim 1, wherein said keyboard includes a cable for connection to said electronic circuit board, wherein said electronic circuit board includes a connection for receiving said cable from said keyboard, and wherein said keyboard further includes a recess for receiving and storing said cable and a pivotable cover over said recess.

20. The computer of claim 19, wherein said pivotable cover is located on the bottom surface of said keyboard at the rear of said keyboard and pivots in a forwardly direction.

21. The computer of claim 20, wherein said cover is sized to form a leg for said keyboard when pivoted in the forward direction, so that when said keyboard is placed on a horizontal surface, said cover places said keyboard at an angle comfortable for typing.