Portable computer having deformation function

• US 6,353,535 B1
• Filed: 02/16/1999
• Issued: 03/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: HTC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Yoshida, Yuta
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEA EDMONDS, LISA S
• Application Number:
  US09/250,437
• Time in Patent Office: 1,113 Days
• Field of Search: 361/680, 361/683, 361/684, 361/685, 361/686, 361/728, 361/708.1, 312/205, 312/223.1
• US Class Current: 361/679.41
• 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 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• 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: G11B 31/00 Arrangements for the associated working of recording or reproducing apparatus with related apparatus with cameras or projectors G03B31/00 ; recording/reproducing of music for electrophonic musical instruments G10H1/0033; automatic arrangements for answering calls or for recording messages for absent subscribers H04M1/64; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with dictation recording and playback systems H04M11/10; connection of TV recorder with other related apparatus, e.g. TV camera or receiver, in which the TV signal is significantly involved H04N, e.g. H04N23/00, H04N5/765; combination of radio or TV with other apparatus, e.g. with vehicles H05K11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/128 of the plurality of recording/reproducing devices, e.g. disk drives, onto a chassis

Abstract

A portable computer has a first housing portion having a main body and a second housing portion which is reconfigurable. In the first configuration, the second housing portion is flat and in the second configuration, the second housing portion forms a receptacle for temporarily accommodating one or more option units such as CD-ROM drives or floppy disk drives.

Claims

1. A portable computer to which an option unit can be attached, comprising:

a first housing portion having a main body; and

a second housing portion, which is reconfigurable and connected to said first housing portion,

wherein, in a first configuration, said second housing portion is flat,

wherein, in a second configuration, said second housing portion forms a receptacle for temporarily accommodating at least one option unit,

wherein said at least one option unit is temporarily inserted in said receptacle and temporarily connects directly to said receptacle, and

wherein said second housing portion comprises a first plate and a second plate which are rotatably coupled to each other through a hinge to form said receptacle.

2. A portable computer according to claim 1, wherein in said second configuration, said first plate is kept perpendicular to a bottom portion of said main body and said second plate is kept parallel to a bottom portion of said main body.

3. A portable computer according to claim 2, wherein said first plate has a connector fixed thereon for temporarily connecting to each option unit.

4. A portable computer according to claim 2, wherein said second housing portion further comprises a supporting member fixed on said second plate, wherein, in said second configuration, said supporting member supports said second plate.

5. A portable computer according to claim 4, wherein in said second configuration, said supporting member raises straight up with respect to said second plate to come into contact with said bottom portion of said main body, and

wherein, in said first configuration, said supporting member falls.

6. A portable computer according to claim 1, wherein in said second configuration, said personal computer is operable and utilizes said at least one option unit.

7. A portable computer to which an option unit can be attached, comprising:

a first housing portion having a main body; and

a second housing portion, which is reconfigurable and connected to said first housing portion,

wherein, in a first configuration, said second housing portion is flat,

wherein, in a second configuration, said second housing portion forms a receptacle for temporarily accommodating at least one option unit,

wherein said at least one option unit is temporarily inserted in said receptacle and temporarily connects directly to said receptacle,

wherein said second housing portion comprises a first plate and a second plate which are rotatably coupled to each other through a hinge to form said receptacle,

wherein in said second configuration, said first and second plates are perpendicular to each other, and

wherein in said first configuration, said first and second plates are coplanar.

8. A portable computer according to claim 7, wherein said first plate has a connector fixed thereon for temporarily connecting to each option unit.

9. A portable computer according to claim 8, wherein said second housing portion further comprises a supporting member fixed on said second plate, wherein, in said second configuration, said supporting member supports said second plate.

10. A portable computer according to claim 9, wherein in said second configuration, said supporting member raises straight up with respect to said second plate to come into contact with said bottom portion of said main body, and

wherein, in said first configuration, said supporting member falls.

11. A portable computer to which an option unit can be attached, comprising:

a first housing portion having a main body; and

a second housing portion, which is reconfigurable and connected to said first housing portion,

wherein, in a first configuration, said second housing portion is flat,

wherein, in a second configuration, said second housing portion forms a receptacle for temporarily accommodating at least one option unit,

wherein said at least one option unit is temporarily inserted in said receptacle and temporarily connects directly to said receptacle,

wherein said option unit comprises one of a floppy disk drive unit, a CD-ROM drive unit, a battery pack, a hard disk drive unit and a DVD-ROM drive unit.

12. An option unit for use in a portable computer, said option unit comprising:

one of a floppy disk drive unit, a CD-ROM drive unit, a battery pack, a hard disk drive unit and a DVD-ROM drive unit,

wherein said portable computer comprises;

a first housing portion having a main body; and

a second housing portion, which is reconfigurable and connected to said first housing portion,

wherein, in a first configuration, said second housing portion is flat,

wherein, in a second configuration, said second housing portion forms a receptacle for temporarily accommodating at least one option unit, and

wherein said at least one option unit is temporarily inserted in said receptacle and temporarily connects directly to said receptacle.