Digital assistant system having a host computer with a docking bay and a moveable heat sink for cooling a docked module
First Claim
1. A personal digital assistant system, comprising:
- a micro personal digital assistant module having an enclosure, a microcontroller within the enclosure for performing digital operations, a memory means connected to the microcontroller by a memory bus structure, a power supply coupled to power-using elements, a display on a surface of the enclosure, input apparatus connected to the microcontroller for providing commands and data, and a host interface system including a host interface bus connected to the microcontroller and to a first portion of a host interface connecter at a surface of the enclosure; and
a modular computer having a plurality of module bays configured in a common plane and opening to at least one edge of the modular computer with at least one module bay configured to dock the micro personal digital assistant and establish digital communication between the micro personal digital assistant over the host interface bus;
wherein the modular computer comprises one or more movable elements configured as a heat sink and positionable to contact one of the micro personal digital assistants docked in one of the module bays, for withdrawing excess heat energy from the micro personal digital assistant.
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Abstract
A personal digital assistant module with a local CPU, memory, and I/O interface has a host interface comprising a bus connected to the local CPU and a connector at a surface of the personal digital assistant for interfacing to a bus connector of a host general-purpose computer, providing direct bus communication between the personal digital assistant and the host general-purpose computer. In an embodiment, the personal digital assistant also has a means for storing a security code.
The personal digital assistant according to the invention forms a host/satellite combination with a host computer having a docking bay, wherein upon docking a docking protocol controls access by the host to memory of the personal digital assistant based on one or more passwords provided by a user to the host. In another embodiment the personal digital assistant also has an expansion port connected to the local CPU, and expansion peripheral devices may be connected and operated through the expansion port.
In one embodiment, a personal digital assistant module and a computer having docking bays is provided also having movable heat sink structures for contacting and cooling docked modules.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A personal digital assistant system, comprising:
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a micro personal digital assistant module having an enclosure, a microcontroller within the enclosure for performing digital operations, a memory means connected to the microcontroller by a memory bus structure, a power supply coupled to power-using elements, a display on a surface of the enclosure, input apparatus connected to the microcontroller for providing commands and data, and a host interface system including a host interface bus connected to the microcontroller and to a first portion of a host interface connecter at a surface of the enclosure; and a modular computer having a plurality of module bays configured in a common plane and opening to at least one edge of the modular computer with at least one module bay configured to dock the micro personal digital assistant and establish digital communication between the micro personal digital assistant over the host interface bus; wherein the modular computer comprises one or more movable elements configured as a heat sink and positionable to contact one of the micro personal digital assistants docked in one of the module bays, for withdrawing excess heat energy from the micro personal digital assistant. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification