Portable computer for infrared data communication

• US 6,327,141 B2
• Filed: 10/16/1998
• Issued: 12/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hanger Solutions, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Jao-Wook
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chang, Yean-Hsi
• Application Number:
  US09/173,561
• Publication Number:
  US 20010013077A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,145 Days
• Field of Search: 359/109, 359/152, 359/154, 359/180, 359/189, 345/158, 345/156, 235/487, 235/486, 235/492, 235/375, 235/441, 361/679, 361/681, 361/683
• US Class Current: 361/679.26
• 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

Abstract

A portable computer with infrared data communication capabilities is disclosed. The computer has an infrared transceiver capable of enlarging the data sending/receiving angle and reliably performing radio data communication with another electronic appliance. The computer also has a selection circuit capable of activating all light elements during a data sending operation or selecting one active light receiving element from a plurality of light receiving elements during a data receiving operation, thus performing a reliable infrared data communication. In the computer, an opening is formed on an outside edge of the display body. Both an infrared data sending unit, consisting of at least one light element, and an infrared data receiving unit, consisting of at least one light receiving element, are commonly carried on a circuit board set in the opening of the display body.

Claims

1. A computer apparatus with infrared data communication capabilities, comprising:

a computer device having a housing, an exterior of said housing forming an aperture of a predetermined size on an outer edge of said housing;

a first circuit board being installed in said housing;

a second circuit board being installed in the aperture and being electrically coupled to said first circuit board;

an infrared data sending unit including a plurality of light sending elements positioned adjacent to a first location to form a first grouping of elements, said data sending unit being installed on said second circuit board and being oriented to be directed toward the aperture when said second circuit board is mounted in the aperture;

an infrared data receiving unit including a plurality of light receiving elements positioned outside of and away from said first grouping of elements and positioned adjacent to a second location spaced apart from the first location, said data receiving unit being installed on said second circuit board and being oriented to be directed toward the aperture when said second circuit board is mounted in the aperture;

a window unit being mounted at the aperture and enclosing the aperture, said window unit allowing infrared light to pass through said window unit; and

a selection unit selecting one light receiving element from among said plurality of light receiving elements during a data receiving operation of said computer apparatus, said one selected light receiving unit receiving the data, and said selection unit activating all of said light sending elements during a data sending operation of said computer apparatus, all of said activated light sending elements sending the data;

said infrared data sending unit further comprising;

a first light sending element unit including a first set of light sending elements, said first set of light sending elements being regularly arranged around a first center on said second circuit board to be spaced out at regular intervals with mounting points on said second circuit board being spaced apart from said first center at equal distances, said first set of light sending elements being among said plurality of light sending elements; and

a second light sending element unit including a second set of light sending elements, said second set of light sending elements being regularly arranged around a second center on said second circuit board to be spaced out at regular intervals with mounting points on said second circuit board being spaced apart from said second center at equal distances, said second center being spaced apart from said first center, and said second set of light sending elements being among said plurality of light sending elements.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said infrared data receiving unit further comprises:

a first light receiving element unit including a first set of light receiving elements, said first set of light receiving elements being arranged around a third center on said second circuit board with mounting points on said second circuit board being spaced apart from said third center at equal distances, said first set of light receiving elements being among said plurality of light receiving elements; and

a second light receiving element unit including a second set of light receiving elements, said second set of light receiving elements being arranged around a fourth center on said second circuit board with mounting points on said second circuit board being spaced apart from said fourth center at equal distances, said fourth center being spaced apart from said third center by a distance, and said second set of light receiving elements being among said plurality of light receiving elements.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, said first set of light sending elements corresponding to at least four light sending elements, said second set of light sending elements corresponding to at least four light sending elements, said first set of light receiving elements corresponding to at least two light receiving elements, and said second set of light receiving elements corresponding to at least one light receiving element.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said second circuit board is installed in the aperture to be parallel to said outside edge of said housing.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said infrared data sending unit and said infrared data receiving unit are included in one multipurpose unit.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said plurality of light sending elements are selected from dual in-line pin types of light sending elements.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said plurality of light receiving elements are selected from surface mount types of light receiving elements.

8. A computer apparatus with infrared data communication capabilities, comprising:

a computer device having a housing, an exterior of said housing forming an aperture of a predetermined size on an outer edge of said housing;

a first circuit board being installed in said housing;

a second circuit board being installed in the aperture and being electrically coupled to said first circuit board;

an infrared data sending unit including a plurality of light sending elements positioned adjacent to a first location to form a first grouping of elements, said data sending unit being installed on said second circuit board and being oriented to be directed toward the aperture when said second circuit board is mounted in the aperture;

an infrared data receiving unit including a plurality of light receiving elements positioned outside of and away from said first grouping of elements and positioned adjacent to a second location spaced apart from the first location, said data receiving unit being installed on said second circuit board and being oriented to be directed toward the aperture when said second circuit board is mounted in the aperture;

a window unit being mounted at the aperture and enclosing the aperture, said window unit allowing infrared light to pass through said window unit; and

a selection unit selecting one light receiving element from among said plurality of light receiving elements during a data receiving operation of said computer apparatus, said one selected light receiving unit receiving the data, and said selection unit activating all of said light sending elements during a data sending operation of said computer apparatus, all of said activated light sending elements sending the data;

said infrared data receiving unit further comprising;

a first light receiving element unit including a first set of light receiving elements, said first set of light receiving elements being arranged around a third center on said second circuit board with mounting points on said second circuit board being spaced apart from said third center at equal distances, said first set of light receiving elements being among said plurality of light receiving elements; and

a second light receiving element unit including a second set of light receiving elements, said second set of light receiving elements being arranged around a fourth center on said second circuit board with mounting points on said second circuit board being spaced apart from said fourth center at equal distances, said fourth center being spaced apart from said third center by a distance, and said second set of light receiving elements being among said plurality of light receiving elements.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said second circuit board is installed in the aperture to be parallel to said outside edge of said video display.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said plurality of light sending elements are selected from dual in-line pin types of light sending elements.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said plurality of light receiving elements are selected from surface mount types of light receiving elements.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said infrared data sending unit and said infrared data receiving unit are included in one multipurpose unit.