Portable computer with interchangeable pointing device modules
First Claim
Patent Images
1. Electronic apparatus comprising:
- a screen on which a movable image may be displayed; and
a housing structure having an externally accessible connection portion operative to releasably and interchangeably support a selectively variable one of a plurality of different types of pointing device modules each operative by a user of said electronic apparatus to controllably reposition the image on said screen.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A notebook computer is provided with first and second different types of pointing device modules, representatively a pointing stick module and a touchpad module, that may be releasably and interchangeably installed on its base housing portion. Each module, when installed on the base housing, is automatically coupled to cursor control circuitry within the computer. Representatively, a convenient snap-in attachment structure is used to releasably connect each module to the computer base housing, and a removable computer component underlies and assists in supporting the removably installed pointing device module.
195 Citations
39 Claims
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1. Electronic apparatus comprising:
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a screen on which a movable image may be displayed; and a housing structure having an externally accessible connection portion operative to releasably and interchangeably support a selectively variable one of a plurality of different types of pointing device modules each operative by a user of said electronic apparatus to controllably reposition the image on said screen. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A portable computer comprising:
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a base housing; a lid housing pivotally secured to said base housing and having a screen thereon; cursor control circuitry; and an externally accessible connection structure associated with said base housing and operative to releasably and interchangeably support thereon, in an operatively coupled relationship with said cursor control circuitry, a selectively variable one of a plurality of different types of pointing device modules each operative by a user of said portable computer to controllably reposition said movable cursor on said screen. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A portable computer comprising:
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a base housing; a lid housing pivotally secured to said base housing and having a screen thereon; cursor control circuitry; connection structure associated with said base housing and operative to releasably and interchangeably support thereon, in an operatively coupled relationship with said cursor control circuitry, a selectively variable one of a plurality of different types of pointing device modules each operative by a user of said portable computer to controllably reposition said movable cursor on said screen; and a plurality of different types of pointing device modules interchangeably supportable by said connection structure, each of said pointing device modules having opposite outwardly projecting side portions, and said connection structure including a cutout area formed in an exterior wall portion of said base housing and having spaced apart opposite wall sections with parallel grooves formed therein and configured to removably receive the opposite side portions of the selected pointing device module. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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27. A portable computer comprising:
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a base housing; a lid housing pivotally secured to said base housing and having a screen thereon; cursor control circuitry; connection structure associated with said base housing and operative to releasably and interchangeably support thereon, in an operatively coupled relationship with said cursor control circuitry, a selectively variable one of a plurality of different types of pointing device modules each operative by a user of said portable computer to controllably reposition said movable cursor on said screen; and a plurality of different types of pointing device modules interchangeably supportable by said connection structure, one of said pointing device modules having a touchpad structure and a closure plug thereon, and said base housing having a top side wall within which said closure plug is received when said one of said pointing device modules operatively connected to said base housing.
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28. A pointing device module releasably attachable to the base housing of a portable computer, comprising:
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a body portion having a side surface and an opposite pair of side edges; a pair of mounting pins projecting outwardly from said side edges; a pair of resiliently supported retractable detent members projecting outwardly from said opposite side edge in a spaced relationship with said mounting pins; and an electrical connector carried on said side surface. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A method of constructing a portable computer comprising the steps of:
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providing a screen on which a movable image may be displayed; positioning the screen on a housing structure having an externally accessible connection portion operative to releasably and interchangeably support a selectively variable one of a plurality of different types of pointing device modules each operative by a user of said portable computer to controllably reposition the image on said screen; providing a plurality of different types of pointing device modules; and using said externally accessible connection portion to releasably secure a selected one of said plurality of different types of pointing device modules to said housing structure. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35)
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36. A method of constructing a portable computer comprising the steps of:
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providing a screen on which a movable image may be displayed; positioning the screen on a housing structure having a connection portion operative to releasably and interchangeably support a selectively variable one of a plurality of different types of pointing device modules each operative by a user of said portable computer to controllably reposition the image on said screen, said connection portion including a cutout area formed in an exterior wall section of said housing structure; providing a plurality of different types of pointing device modules; and using said connection portion to releasably secure a selected one of said plurality of different types of pointing device modules to said housing structure, said using step including the step of inserting the selected pointing device module into said cutout area, said cutout area having a spaced pair of wall areas therein, and said using step further including the steps of; tilting the selected pointing device module in a first direction before inserting it into said cutout area, and tilting the selected pointing device module in a second direction opposite said first direction after inserting the selected pointing device module into said cutout area to responsively cause the inserted pointing device module to removably latch into place within said cutout area. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39)
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Specification