Detachable securement of an accessory device to a handheld computer

• US 6,282,088 B1
• Filed: 07/07/2000
• Issued: 08/28/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Stowers, David C., Osborn, Neal A., Canova, Francis J., Urban, Alan, Francavilla, Madeleine L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEA EDMONDS, LISA S
• Application Number:
  US09/612,017
• Time in Patent Office: 417 Days
• Field of Search: 301/679-686, 312/223.1, 292/8, 292/30, 235/375, 235/462, 235/472.01, D14/100, D14/106, D14/107, D14/242
• US Class Current: 361/679.56
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0807 Sliding and hooked end
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0832 Push or pull rod

Abstract

Embodiments of this invention provide for coupling an accessory device to a back face of a handheld computer while electrically connecting to the handheld computer through a communications or output port. In one embodiment, the accessory device “piggy-backs” on the handheld computer so that the accessory device and handheld computer form a portable combination. An insertion coupling may be used to detachably secure the accessory device with the handheld computer. The insertion coupling used with embodiments of the invention is preferably a snap-in coupling having one or more biased members. The biased members may be contracted to engage an aperture on a back face of the handled computer. When released, the biased members secure the accessory device to the handheld computer.

Claims

1. A handheld computing assembly comprising:

a handheld computer including a front face having a touch-screen display, a back face, a pair of opposing lateral edges defining a width of the handheld computer, and a top edge and a bottom edge defining a length of the handheld computer;

an accessory device including a front surface, a pair of opposing lateral sides and a top edge and a bottom edge, the pair of opposing lateral sides defining a width of the accessory device, and the top edge and the bottom edge defining a length of the accessory device; and

a mechanical coupling fixed to extend from the front surface of the accessory device and to insert into the back face of the handheld computer to detachably secure the front surface of the accessory device against the back face of the handheld computer.

2. The handheld computing assembly of claim 1, further comprising a first connector on the accessory device that is separate from the mechanical coupling, and a second connector on the handheld computer, the first and second connector mating when the handheld computer is coupled to the accessory device.

3. The handheld computing assembly of claim 1, wherein the accessory device is a modem.

4. The handheld computing assembly of claim 1, wherein the accessory device is dimensioned so that the width of the accessory device is less than the width of the handheld computer.

5. The a handheld computing assembly of claim 1, wherein the accessory device is dimensioned so that the width of the accessory device is within 90% of the width of the handheld computer.

6. The handheld computing assembly of claim 5, wherein the width of the accessory device is 2.75 inches, and the width of the handheld computer is 3.0 inches.

7. The handheld computing assembly of claim 5, wherein the bottom edge of the accessory device extends beyond a perimeter equal to the dimensions of the handheld computer.

8. The handheld computing assembly of claim 1 wherein the accessory device is dimensioned so that at least two edges of the accessory device are contained within a perimeter equal to the dimensions of the handheld computer.

9. The handheld computing assembly of claim 1, wherein the accessory device includes a ledge that supports the bottom edge of the handheld computer.

10. The handheld computing assembly of claim 1, wherein the accessory device is a modem device.

11. The handheld computing assembly of claim 1, wherein the accessory device is either a universal serial port device or a modem communication device.

12. A handheld computer comprising:

a handheld computer including a front face having a touch-screen display, a back face, a pair of opposing lateral edges defining a width of the handheld computer, and a top edge and a bottom edge defining a length of the handheld computer;

an accessory device including a front surface, a pair of opposing lateral sides and a top edge and a bottom edge, the pair of opposing lateral sides defining a width of the accessory device, and the top edge and the bottom edge defining a length of the accessory device;

a mechanical coupling on the accessory device that inserts into the back face of the handheld computer to detachably secure the front surface of the accessory device against the back face of the handheld computer; and

wherein the mechanical coupling on the accessory device is spring-biased to insert into the back face of the handheld computer.

13. A handheld computer comprising:

a handheld computer including a front face having a touch-screen display, a back face, a pair of opposing lateral edges defining a width of the handheld computer, and a top edge and a bottom edge defining a length of the handheld computer;

an accessory device including a front surface, a pair of opposing lateral sides and a top edge and a bottom edge, the pair of opposing lateral sides defining a width of the accessory device, and the top edge and the bottom edge defining a length of the accessory device;

a mechanical coupling on the accessory device that inserts into the back face of the handheld computer to detachably secure the front surface of the accessory device against the back face of the handheld computer; and

wherein the mechanical coupling on the accessory device comprises;

a base secured to the front face of the accessory device; and

a first member extending from the base in a direction orthogonal to the front face and being slideable in a direction parallel to the front face, the first member being biased between an extended position and a contracted position, wherein the first member is adapted to be received in a slot of the back face of the handheld computer when in the contracted position.

14. The handheld computing assembly of claim 13, wherein the mechanical coupling on the accessory device further comprises:

a retainer engaged with an opening of the front face of the accessory device, the retainer being moveable between an extended position distal to the front face of the accessory device and a depressed position proximal to the front face of the accessory device, the retainer being engaged with the first member to allow the first member to release into the extended state when the retainer is moved into the depressed position.

15. The handheld computing assembly of claim 13, wherein the accessory device further comprises:

a distal surface on the retainer including a slit that retains the first member in the contracted state, and wherein the retainer and the first member are aligned so that upon the back face of the handheld computer depressing the retainer, the first member is engaged with an aperture on the back face of the handheld computer and then moved into the expanded state to secure the first member with the handheld computer.

16. The handheld computing assembly of claim 15, wherein the retainer of the accessory device is biased in the depressed position to move the distal surface towards the extended position.

17. The handheld computing assembly of claim 16, wherein a release member couples to the first member to move the first member between the contracted and expanded states.

18. The handheld computing assembly of claim 17, wherein the release member is an extension of the first member that is accessible from the back surface of the accessory device.

19. The handheld computing assembly of claim 13, wherein the first member includes an enlarged endpiece that is adapted to obstruct against an interior of the back face after the first member has been exposed to release into the expanded state within the handheld computer.

20. An accessory device for a handheld computer, the handheld computer including a front and a back, the front providing access to a touch-screen display, a pair of opposing lateral edges defining a width of the handheld computer, and a top edge and a bottom edge defining a length of the handheld computer, the handheld computer including an opening, the accessory device comprising:

a front surface and a back surface, a pair of opposing lateral sides and a top edge and a bottom edge, the pair of opposing lateral sides defining a width of the accessory device, and the top edge and the bottom edge defining a length of the accessory device, the front surface extending the length and width of the accessory device, the accessory device being dimensioned so as to insert at least partially into the opening of the handheld computer; and

a coupling positioned so as to mate with another coupling of the handheld computer by insertion of the portion of the accessory device including the front surface into the handheld computer to detachably secure the accessory device to extend from the back of the handheld computer;

wherein the coupling is positioned to detachably secure the accessory device to the handheld computer upon the accessory device being slideably inserted at least partially into the handheld computer.

21. A handheld computing assembly comprising:

a handheld computer including;

a processor programmable to operate a plurality of applications;

a first connector to extend communications from the processor of the handheld computer;

a housing having front, and a back opposing the front, the front of the housing providing access to a display, the back of the housing including an aperture and at least partially enclosing the first connector;

an accessory device including a first surface and a second surface, the first surface and second surface extending a length and a width of the accessory device, the accessory device being dimensioned to be slideably inserted at least partially into the housing of the handheld computer, a portion of the accessory device including a second connector that is matable with the first connector when the second connector is inserted into the aperture of the handheld computer to detachably secure the accessory device to the handheld computer, so that a portion of the accessory device that includes the back surface extends outward from the back of the housing of the handheld computer to enable the accessory device to be detached from the handheld computer.

22. The handheld computing assembly of claim 21, wherein the accessory device includes a modem.

23. A modem comprising for a handheld computer, the modem comprising:

a front surface and a back surface, a pair of opposing lateral sides and a top edge and a bottom edge, the pair of opposing lateral sides defining a width of the accessory device, and the top edge and the bottom edge defining a length of the accessory device; and

a mechanical coupling fixed to extend from the front surface and into a back face of the handheld computer to detachably secure the front surface of the accessory device with the back face of the handheld computer.

24. An accessory device for a handheld computer, the handheld computer including a front face having a display, a back face, a pair of opposing lateral edges defining a width of the handheld computer, and a top edge and a bottom edge defining a length of the handheld computer, wherein the accessory device comprises:

accessory device comprising;

a front surface and a back surface, a pair of opposing lateral sides and a top edge and a bottom edge, the pair of opposing lateral sides defining a width of the accessory device, and the top edge and the bottom edge defining a length of the accessory device;

one or more mechanical couplings for inserting into a back face of a handheld computer to detachably secure the front surface of the accessory device with the back face of the handheld computer;

at least two latch members that latch into the back face of the handheld computer.

25. The accessory device of claim 24, wherein the mechanical couplings include at least two latch members that latch into the back face of the handheld computers.

26. The accessory device of claim 24, wherein the latch members are moveable.