Portable computer with separable screen

• US 6,028,764 A
• Filed: 03/10/1999
• Issued: 02/22/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Silvester, Kelan C., Richardson, John W., Shimoda, Marion H., Baweja, Gunjeet
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEA EDMONDS, LISA S
• Application Number:
  US09/265,650
• Time in Patent Office: 349 Days
• Field of Search: 361/681-686, 248/917-923, 345/905, 345/169, 345/168, 345/903, 364/708.1
• US Class Current: 361/679.29
• 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 1/1654 the display being detachable, e.g. for remote use
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1681 Details related solely to hinges hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1683 for the transmission of signal or power between the different housings, e.g. details of wired or wireless communication, passage of cabling
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/147 using display panels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/006 Details of the interface to the display terminal specific for a display terminal using a CRT G09G1/167; using a flat panel G09G3/2096; circuits for interfacing with colour displays G09G5/04
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/917 Video display screen support
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/918 Ancillary device support associated with a video display screen

Abstract

A portable computer includes a display screen which is detachably connected to the remainder of the computer. When the screen is detached, communication may continue between the screen and the housing using one of a plurality of techniques, including infrared communications, radio frequency communications, or an extensible cable link. In this way, a display screen may be positioned at a more convenient location, for example for viewing by a plurality of viewers.

Claims

1. A portable computer comprising:

a housing, said housing having a processor;

a display screen connected to said housing by a hinge;

a detachable connector for physically connecting said display screen to said housing so that said display screen can be detached from said housing by the user;

a wireless communication adapter on said screen and said housing to enable wireless communications between said screen and said housing; and

a releasable cable connection between said display screen and said housing, said cable connection being automatically releasable when said screen is detached.

2. The computer of claim 1 wherein said display screen and said housing are adapted to communicate using infrared signals.

3. The computer of claim 1 wherein said housing and said display screen communicate using radio frequency signals.