System having two PC cards in a hinged carrying case with battery compartment within in the hinge section

• US 5,848,298 A
• Filed: 05/21/1997
• Issued: 12/08/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Matthews, Walter S., Gee, Homer T., Steere, Daniel C. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yuan, Chien
• Application Number:
  US08/861,097
• Time in Patent Office: 566 Days
• Field of Search: 235/280, 235/472, 235/486, 235/382, 235/492, 340/825.06, 364/705.02, 364/707, 364/708.1, 380/23, 395/893, 395/882, 395/892, 361/679, 361/680, 361/681, 361/683, 361/729
• US Class Current: 710/62
• 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 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1634 Integrated protective display lid, e.g. for touch-sensitive display in handheld computer

Abstract

A companion computer system for a host computer wherein the host computer includes an interface for electrically and mechanically interfacing to the companion computer. An example is a PCMCIA slot. The companion system includes a PC card with an interface which mates with the interface on the host. A bus is located on the PC card. A CPU is located on the PC card and connected to the bus. A display is located on the PC card and connected to the bus. An input device is located on the PC card and connected to the bus. A non-volatile memory module is located on the PC card and connected to the bus. A low power random access memory module is located on the PC card and connected to the bus. A power supply is located on the PC card and connected to the components of the PC card An operating system is located in the non-volatile memory.

Claims

1. A companion computer system on two or more PC cards wherein each of said two or more printed circuit cards (PC cards) includes an interface for electrically and mechanically connecting digital components, said comprising:

a first PC card conforming to said interface for electrically and mechanically connecting digital components;

a first bus located on said first PC card and electrically communicating with said interface;

a CPU located on said first PC card and connected to said first bus;

a display located on said first PC card and connected to said first bus;

an input device located on said first PC card and connected to said first bus;

a non-volatile memory module located on said first PC card and connected to said first bus;

a low power random access memory module located on said first PC card and connected to said first bus;

a power supply located on said first PC card and connected to the components of said PC card and supplying electrical energy thereto;

an operating system located in said non-volatile memory;

a second PC card conforming to said interface for electrically and mechanically connecting digital components;

a second bus located on said second PC card and electrically compatible with said first bus electrically communicating with said interface;

additional functional means on said second PC card and connected to said second bus;

a carrying case comprising;

a first bay for receiving said first PC card;

a second bay for receiving a second PC card;

hinge means for rotatably connecting said first and second bays, said hinge means forming a battery compartment for holding a battery that supplies power to at least one of said PC cards;

connector means located in said first and second bays for electrically connecting said first and second busses.

2. An apparatus comprising:

a first PC card having a first electrical connector and a first system bus connected thereto;

a second PC card having a second connector and a second system bus communicating connected thereto;

a case comprising;

a first bay for receiving said first PC card and including a third connector mating with said first connector;

a second bay for receiving a second PC card and including a fourth connector mating with said second connector, said third and fourth connectors being electrically interconnected; and

a hinge for rotatably connecting said first and second bays, said hinge forming a battery compartment for holding a battery that supplies power to at least one of said first or second PC cards.