Laptop computer with integrated telephone

• US 6,035,214 A
• Filed: 02/24/1998
• Issued: 03/07/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Henderson, Donnie
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WASHINGTON, ERIKA ALISE
• Application Number:
  US09/028,820
• Time in Patent Office: 742 Days
• Field of Search: 455/556, 455/557, 455/74, 455/90, 455/575, 455/550, 379/100.01, 379/102.03, 379/433, 379/446, 379/447, 379/455, D14/138, D14/117.3, 345/901, 345/905, 361/679, 361/680, 361/681, 361/686
• US Class Current: 455/556.1
• 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 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/02 Constructional features of telephone sets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/725 Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/737 Characterised by transmission of electromagnetic waves other than radio waves, e.g. infrared waves
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 345/905 Display device with housing structure

Abstract

A laptop has an integrated telephone, in which the telephone and mouse unit are arranged in a manner that allows the mouse to be adjusted to either side of the laptop computer to accommodate either a left-handed or right-handed person. A telephone is tightly integrated into the body of a laptop PC creating a much more natural and ergonomic physical interface between the phone and the computer. The resulting device includes a mounting for the mouse module, allowing ease of use by both right-handed and left-handed users. The laptop computer includes a recessed storage area for the small telephone handset. The storage area is located in the area just below the keyboard, i.e., the area where the user'"'"'s wrists usually lie. The telephone handset and associated cable reside in the tray. The mouse module slides along a guide way in the tray, and can be positioned on either side of the guide tray/telephone handset storage tray. The benefits of the above tight integration of the laptop PC and the telephone are many. First, one'"'"'s laptop becomes one'"'"'s telephone console. Second, the resulting telephone has local user programmable processing and a large storage area. Furthermore, the telephone has a large high resolution display. Moreover, integrating an IP telephone into the laptop allows communication over the same network IP links that the laptop communicates over normally. Finally, this does not preclude the inclusion of a standard PSTN telephone in the laptop.

Claims

1. A integrated telephone and computer apparatus comprising:

a) a portable computer having a front edge, and two sides;

b) a telephone handset coupled to the portable computer;

c) a user point and click input module coupled to the computer;

d) a tray in which the user point and click input module and telephone handset are disposed, said tray being parallel to the front edge of the computer; and

e) a slidable connector mechanism coupling the user point and click input module to the computer, wherein the user point and click input module is moveable from a left side to the right side of the computer to accommodate a right- or a left-handed user, and the telephone handset is disposable in a space in the tray not occupied by the user point and click input module.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a glide control mechanism disposed in the tray and locking the user point and click input module in the tray and controlling a movement of the user point and click input module in the tray.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the glide control mechanism includes at least two supports maintaining the user point and click input module above the slidable connector mechanism in the tray, and the user point and click input module is movable above the slidable connector mechanism.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the at least two supports include two plastic feet having a height that exceeds a thickness of the slidable connector mechanism.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the two plastic feet are coated with a non-stick coating.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the non-stick coating includes one selected from the group consisting of silicon, polytetrafluoroethylene, graphite, and a solid lubricant.

7. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the glide control mechanism includes at least four support feet maintaining the user point and click input module above the slidable connector mechanism in the tray, and the user point and click input module is movable above the slidable connector mechanism.

8. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the glide control mechanism includes at least two reciprocating grooves in which the two supports slide as the user point and click input module is moved in the tray.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the two grooves are coated with a non-stick coating.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the non-stick coating includes one selected from the group consisting of silicon, polytetaatluoroethylene, graphite, and a solid lubricant.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the glide control mechanism includes two rails disposed in the tray between which rails the slidable connector mechanism is disposed.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the user point and click input module has two accommodating slits in which the two rails engage.

13. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the two rails are coated with a non-stick coating.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the non-stick coating includes one selected from the group consisting of silicon, polytetrafluoroethylene, graphite, and a solid lubricant.

15. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the two slits are coated with a non-stick coating.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the non-stick coating includes one selected from the group consisting of silicon, polytetrafluoroethylene, graphite, and a solid lubricant.

17. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the glide control mechanism includes at least one side guide that locks the user point and click input module in the tray and maintains the user point and click input module above the slidable connector mechanism as it moves.

18. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the glide control mechanism includes at least two side guides that lock the user point and click input module in the tray and maintain the user point and click input module above the slidable connector mechanism as it moves.

19. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the glide control mechanism includes at least one side guide that locks the user point and click input module in the tray and guides the user point and click input module while it moves above the slidable connector mechanism.

20. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the glide control mechanism includes at least two side guides that lock the user point and click input module in the tray and guide the user point and click input module while it moves above the slidable connector mechanism.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the at least two side guides include two spring-loaded roller bearings.

22. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the at least two side guides include two rails jutting from the sides of the tray.

23. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the at least two side guides further comprise at least two accommodating slits disposed in the sides of the user point and click input module.

24. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the two rails are coated with a non-stick coating.

25. The apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the non-stick coating includes one selected from the group consisting of silicon, polytetrafluoroethylene, graphite, and a solid lubricant.

26. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the slidable connector mechanism includes a printed circuit flex cable coupled to the user point and click input module.

27. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the slidable connector mechanism includes a coiled retractable wire.

28. The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the slidable connector mechanism includes a connector coupled to the printed circuit flex cable and disposed in a base of the tray.

29. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the user point and click input module comprises a touch mouse.

30. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the user point and click input module comprises a mini-trackball.

31. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the user point and click input module comprises a removable mouse.

32. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the telephone handset comprises a cordless telephone handset.

33. The apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the computer includes an infrared communications port and the cordless telephone handset includes an infrared communications port couplable to the infrared communications port on the computer.

34. The apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the computer includes an RF communications port and the cordless telephone handset includes an RF communications port couplable to the RF communications port on the computer.

35. The apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the cordless telephone handset includes a first electrical connection and the tray includes a second electrical connection, and the first electrical connection mates with the second electrical connection when the cordless telephone handset is placed in the tray.

36. The apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the tray includes two electrical connections disposed at either end of the tray, and the cordless telephone handset includes a first electrical connection that mates with either of the two electrical connections when the cordless telephone handset is placed in the tray.

37. The apparatus according to claim 32, further comprising a battery charger, wherein the cordless telephone handset includes a rechargeable battery and a first electrical connection, the tray includes a second electrical connection coupled to the battery charger, which second electrical connection mates with the first electrical connection when the cordless telephone handset is placed in the tray, and the battery charger charges the rechargeable battery in the cordless telephone handset when the first and second electrical connections are mated.

38. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the telephone handset includes a telephone cord coupling the telephone handset to the computer.

39. A computer and telephone apparatus comprising:

a) a laptop computer having a front edge and two sides;

b) a telephone handset coupled to the laptop computer;

c) a point and click coupled to the laptop computer;

d) a storage area in which the user point and click input module and telephone handset are disposed, said storage area being disposed perpendicular to the sides of the laptop computer; and

e) a slidable connector mechanism coupling the user point and click input module to the laptop computer, wherein the user point and click input module is moveable from a left side to the right side of the computer to accommodate a right- or a left-handed user, and the telephone handset is disposable in a space in the storage area not occupied by the user point and click input module.

40. The apparatus according to claim 39, wherein the telephone handset comprises a cellular telephone handset.

41. The apparatus according to claim 40, wherein the computer includes an infrared communications port and the cellular telephone handset includes an infrared communications port couplable to the infrared communications port on the computer.

42. The apparatus according to claim 40, wherein the computer includes an RF communications port and the cellular telephone handset includes an RF communications port couplable to the RF communications port on the computer.

43. The apparatus according to claim 40, wherein the cellular telephone handset includes a first electrical connection and the tray includes a second electrical connection, and the first electrical connection mates with the second electrical connection when the cellular telephone handset is placed in the tray.

44. The apparatus according to claim 40, wherein the tray includes two electrical connections disposed at either end of the tray, and the cellular telephone handset includes a first electrical connection that mates with either of the two electrical connections when the cellular telephone handset is placed in the tray.

45. The apparatus according to claim 40, further comprising a battery charger, wherein the cellular telephone handset includes a rechargeable battery and a first electrical connection, the tray includes a second electrical connection coupled to the battery charger, which second electrical connection mates with the first electrical connection when the cellular telephone handset is placed in the tray, and the battery charger charges the rechargeable battery in the cellular telephone handset when the first and second electrical connections are mated.

46. The apparatus according to claim 39, wherein the telephone handset includes a switch switching between a data mode and a voice mode.

47. The apparatus according to claim 46, further comprising a detector detecting whether the telephone handset is disposed in the tray and controlling a state of the switch based on the determination of whether the telephone handset is disposed in the tray.

48. An integrated computer and telephone device comprising:

a) a portable computer having a front edge, and two sides;

b) a telephone handset being coupled to the computer;

c) a user point and click input module being coupled to the computer;

d) a tray in which the user point and click input module and telephone handset are disposed, said tray being disposed parallel to the front edge of the computer; and

e) an infrared communications port coupling the user point and click input module to the computer, wherein the user point and click input module is moveable from a left side to the right side of the computer to accommodate a right- or a left-handed user, and the telephone handset is disposable in a space in the tray not occupied by the user point and click input module.

49. The device according to claim 48, wherein the user point and click input module includes a removable mouse.

50. An integrated computing and communication device comprising:

a) a portable computer having a front edge and two sides;

b) a telephone handset coupled to the computer;

c) user point and click input module for enabling a user to provide input to the computer, said user point and click input module being coupled to the computer and being movable from a right side of the device to a left side of the device;

d) receptacle means for the telephone handset and the user point and click input module, said receptacle being disposed parallel to the front edge of the computer; and

e) coupling means for coupling the user point and click input module to the computer, said coupling means providing coupling between the computer and the user point and click input module whether the user point and click input module is located on the right side of the device or the left side of the device, and the telephone handset is disposable in a space in the receptacle means not occupied by the user point and click input module.