Modular computer having configuration-specific performance characteristics

• US 5,768,100 A
• Filed: 03/01/1996
• Issued: 06/16/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Moore, Paul M., Perkins, Dean P., Barrus, Jeffrey C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Phillips, Michael W.
• Application Number:
  US08/609,290
• Time in Patent Office: 837 Days
• Field of Search: 364/708.1, 439/638, 361/686
• US Class Current: 361/679.41
• 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 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1635 Details related to the integration of battery packs and other power supplies such as fuel cells or integrated AC adapter
• 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

Abstract

A modular computer includes a portable computer providing a first set of performance characteristics, an expansion module couplable to the bottom surface of the portable computer to provide, in combination therewith, a second set of performance characteristics, and a docking module couplable to the portable computer through the expansion module to provide, in combination therewith, a third set of performance characteristics. A method of altering the features of a portable computer includes providing a portable computer having a first set of features, operatively coupling the portable computer to a transportable base wherein the coupling provides a second set of features, and operatively connecting the portable computer through the transportable base to a stationary base, wherein the connecting provides a third set of features.

Claims

1. Apparatus comprising:

a portable computer having a bottom exterior surface including a first coupling element, the portable computer providing a first set of performance characteristics;

an expansion base having a top exterior surface including a second coupling element and a rear exterior surface including a third coupling element, said expansion base being removably couplable to the bottom exterior surface of said portable computer such that the first coupling element and the second coupling element are operatively connected to provide, in combination with the portable computer, a second set of performance characteristics; and

a docking module removably couplable to the third coupling element of said expansion base when said portable computer is coupled to said expansion base to provide, in combination a third set of performance characteristics.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second set of performance characteristics include at least one characteristic selected from the group consisting of multimedia capabilities, enhanced sound production, increased memory capacity, faster computing speed, and extended battery capability.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said third set of performance characteristics include at least one characteristic selected from the group consisting of an enlarged keyboard, an enlarged monitor, a higher resolution monitor, an enlarged pointing device, an enlarged speaker, an enhanced fidelity speaker, a printer, a scanner, and network interface capabilities.

4. Apparatus comprising:

a portable computer having a bottom exterior surface including a first coupling surface;

a multimedia module having a top exterior surface including a second coupling surface and a rear surface including a third coupling surface, said multimedia module being removably couplable to the bottom exterior surface of said portable computer such that the first coupling surface of the portable computer and the second coupling surface of the multimedia module are operatively connected, and to provide multimedia capabilities thereto; and

a docking module removably couplable to the third coupling surface of said multimedia module when said portable computer is coupled to said multimedia module to provide desktop capabilities thereto.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said portable computer includes at least one component selected from the group consisting of an external disk drive, an internal disk drive, a pointing device interchangeable without tools, a battery, and a battery handle.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said multimedia module includes at least one component selected from the group consisting of a CD ROM drive, a speaker, a MIDI/game port, and a battery.

7. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said docking module includes at least one component selected from the group consisting of an alternating current (AC) power supply, a network interface card, a keyboard, a monitor, a pointing device, a printer, a scanner, a speaker, and an adaptor for reversibly adapting said docking module for coupling to said portable computer module singly or in combination with said multimedia module.

8. A method of altering the features of a portable computer, comprising:

providing a portable computer having a first set of features, the portable computer having a bottom exterior surface including a first coupling surface;

removably coupling said portable computer to an expansion base, wherein said coupling provides a second set of features, the expansion base having a top exterior surface including a second coupling surface and a rear surface including a third coupling surface, said expansion base being removably couplable to the bottom exterior surface of said portable computer such that the first coupling surface of the portable computer and the second coupling surface of the expansion base are operatively connected; and

removably connecting said portable computer to a docking module wherein said connecting provides a third set of features, the docking module removably couplable to the third coupling surface of said expansion base when said portable computer is coupled to said expansion base.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said second set of features include at least one feature selected from the group consisting of a CD ROM drive, a speaker, a MIDI/game port, and a battery.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein said third set of features include at least one feature selected from the group consisting of a network interface card, an alternating current (AC) power supply, a keyboard, a monitor, a pointing device, a printer, a scanner, a speaker, and an adaptor for reversibly adapting said stationary base for coupling to said portable computer singly or in combination with said transportable base.

11. A method of coupling a portable computer with a docking station, comprising:

interposing between a portable computer and a docking station an adaptor comprising an expansion connector slot and an expansion connector post, said slot and said post electrically interconnected and configured to operatively mate said portable computer and said docking station.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said adaptor is removably engageable with said docking station.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said slot and said post mate with an expansion connector post on said docking station and an expansion connector slot on said portable computer, respectively.

14. Apparatus comprising:

a portable computer having a bottom exterior surface including a downward facing coupling surface, the portable computer providing a first set of performance characteristics;

an expansion base having a top exterior surface including an upward facing coupling surface and a rear exterior surface including a rearward facing coupling surface, said expansion base being removably couplable to the bottom exterior surface of said portable computer such that the downward facing coupling surface of the portable computer and the upward facing coupling surface of the expansion base are operatively connected, said expansion base providing, in combination with the portable computer, a second set of performance characteristics, including at least one characteristic selected from the group consisting of multimedia capabilities, enhanced sound production, increased memory capacity, faster computer speed, and extended battery capability; and

a docking module removably couplable to the rearward facing coupling surface of said expansion base when said portable computer is coupled to said expansion base to provide a third set of characteristics, including at least one characteristic selected from the group consisting of an enlarged keyboard, an enlarged monitor, a high resolution monitor, an enlarged pointing device, an enlarged speaker, an enhanced fidelity speaker, a printer, a scanner, and network interface capabilities.

15. Apparatus comprising:

a portable computer having a bottom exterior surface including a downward facing coupling surface, wherein said portable computer module includes at least one component selected from the group consisting of an external disk drive, an internal disk drive, a pointing device interchangeable without tools, a battery, and a battery handle;

a multimedia module having a top exterior surface including an upward facing coupling surface and a rear exterior surface including a rearward facing coupling surface, said multimedia module being removably couplable to the bottom exterior surface of said portable computer such that the downward facing coupling surface of the portable computer and the upward facing coupling surface of the multimedia module are operatively connected to provide multimedia capabilities thereto, wherein said multimedia module includes at least one component selected from the group consisting of a CD ROM drive, a speaker, a MIDI/game port and a battery; and

a docking module removably couplable either directly to the rear coupling surface of said portable to the rearward facing coupling surface of said multimedia module when said portable computer is coupled to said multimedia module to provide desktop capabilities thereto, wherein the docking module includes at least one component selected from the group consisting of an alternating current (AC) power supply, a network interface card, a keyboard, a monitor, a pointing device, a printer, a scanner, a speaker, and an adaptor for reversibly adapting said docking module for coupling to said portable computer with said multimedia module.