Electronically-enabled encasement for a handheld computer

• US 6,356,442 B1
• Filed: 05/16/2000
• Issued: 03/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Lunsford, E. Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DUONG, HUNG V
• Application Number:
  US09/573,451
• Time in Patent Office: 665 Days
• Field of Search: 361/686, 361/680-683, 361/725-727, 361/741, 361/756, D 6/396, D 6/397, D14/100, D14/114, 312/223.2, 312/223.6, 345/179, 345/173
• US Class Current: 361/679.56
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1632 Pen holder integrated in the computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1633 Protecting arrangement for the entire housing of the computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1634 Integrated protective display lid, e.g. for touch-sensitive display in handheld computer

Abstract

An electronically-enabled encasement for a handheld computer is provided. The encasement includes an encasement portion configured to cover at least a portion of the handheld computer, including a front surface of the handheld computer providing access to a display; a spine engageable with an accessory slot of the handheld computer to detachably couple the encasement with the handheld computer; a connector to electronically connect the encasement to the handheld computer; and at least one electronic component embedded in the encasement portion. The encasement may also include a wireless communication port such a radio frequency transmitter or an IR transceiver.

Claims

1. An electronically-enabled encasement for a handheld computer, the encasement comprising:

an encasement portion configured to cover at least a portion of the handheld computer, including a front surface of the handheld computer providing access to a display;

a spine engageable with an accessory slot of the handheld computer to couple the encasement with the handheld computer and to detach the encasement from the handheld computer; and

at least one electronic component embedded in the encasement portion so as to be external to the handheld computer when the spine is engaged with the accessory slot of the handheld computer.

2. The encasement of claim 1, wherein the spine is slideably engageable with an accessory slot of the handheld computer, the encasement portion being dimensioned to encase the handheld computer when the spine is engaged to the handheld computer.

3. The encasement of claim 1, wherein the component includes a connector capable of mating with a serial connector of the handheld computer to allow communication between the electronic component and the handheld computer.

4. The encasement of claim 1, wherein the encasement portion comprises a front portion that is extendable over the display surface of the handheld computer, and a back portion that is extendable over the back surface of the handheld computer.

5. The encasement of claim 1, wherein the electronic component is selected from the group consisting of wireless modem, voice recorder, digital camera, keyboard, cell phone, solar cell, rechargeable battery, GPS system, recharger, memory, connector for multi-media cards, memory stick, accessory cartridge, compact flash card and phone card.

6. The encasement of claim 1, further comprising one or more batteries.

7. The encasement of claim 1, wherein the encasement includes a radio frequency communication component.

8. The encasement of claim 1, wherein the component includes a memory that can be accessed by the handheld computer.

9. The encasement of claim 3, wherein the connector is selected from the group consisting of a wiping-style connector, a pogo-style connector and a dual style connector.

10. The encasement of claim 3, further comprising circuitry in the encasement that connects the connector to the electronic component of the handheld computer.

11. The encasement of claim 4, further comprising a joint to movably couple the front portion to the back portion.

12. The encasement of claim 4, wherein the joint is formed from a flexible material.

13. The encasement of claim 4, wherein the electronic component is embedded in the front portion of the encasement portion.

14. The encasement of claim 7, wherein the radio frequency communication component is adapted to operate in a Bluetooth medium.

15. The encasement of claim 7, further comprising an RF antenna.

16. The encasement of claim 8, wherein the memory stores information for the handheld computer.

17. The encasement of claim 12, wherein the flexible material enables the front portion to wrap around and allow the exterior surface of the front portion to contact an exterior surface of the back portion.

18. The encasement of claim 13, wherein the encasement further comprises a connector that is embedded in the back portion of the encasement and is capable of mating with a serial connector of the handheld computer to extend communication of the handheld computer to the electronic component.

19. The encasement of claim 17, wherein the joint is a wrap-around hinge that enables the front portion to wrap around the back portion.

20. The encasement of claim 18, further comprising a second connector accessible from an exterior surface of the back portion of the encasement, the second connector being position to mate with another connector of an accessory device while the first connector is mated with the serial connector of the handheld computer.

21. The encasement of claim 20, wherein the second connector enables the handheld computer to synchronize with another computer when the encasement is coupled to the handheld computer.

22. The encasement of claim 21, further comprising a processor embedded in the encasement, the processor being capable of executing synchronization functions.

23. An electronically-enabled encasement for a handheld computer, the encasement comprising:

an encasement portion configured to cover at least a portion of the handheld computer, including a front surface of the handheld computer providing access to a display, the encasement portion comprising a front portion that is extendable over the display surface of the handheld computer, and a back portion that is extendable over the back surface of the handheld computer;

a spine engageable with an accessory slot of the handheld computer to detachably couple the encasement with the handheld computer; and

at least one electronic component embedded in the front portion of the encasement portion;

a connector that is embedded in the back portion of the encasement and is capable of mating with a serial connector of the handheld computer to extend communications from the handheld computer to the electrical component; and

a locking mechanism, the locking mechanism coupling the back portion of the encasement portion with the handheld computer to secure stable mating between the connector in the encasement and the serial connector of the handheld computer.

24. An electronically-enabled encasement for a handheld computer, the encasement comprising:

an encasement portion configured to cover at least a portion of the handheld computer, including a front surface of the handheld computer providing access to a display, the encasement portion comprising a front portion that is extendable over the display surface of the handheld computer, and a back portion that is extendable over the back surface of the handheld computer;

a spine engageable with an accessory slot of the handheld computer to detachably couple the encasement with the handheld computer;

at least one electronic component embedded in the encasement portion; and

a mechanical coupling that enables the front portion and the back portion to be retained in a closed position.

25. The encasement of claim 24, wherein the mechanical coupling, is a male velcro element positioned on the front or the back portion and a female velcro element positioned on the other of the front and the back portions.

26. An electronically-enabled encasement for a handheld computer, the encasement comprising:

an encasement portion configured to cover at least a portion of the handheld computer, including a front surface of the handheld computer providing access to a display and a back surface;

a spine engageable with an accessory slot of the handheld computer to couple the encasement with the handheld computer;

a radio frequency mechanism integrated into the encasement portion; and

an electrical coupling positioned on a surface of the encasement portion to electrically couple the radio frequency mechanism and the handheld computer when the spine is engaged with the accessory slot;

wherein the spine is engageable with the accessory slot to detach the encasement from the handheld computer so that the radio frequency mechanism is electrically decoupled from the handheld computer.

27. The encasement of claim 26, further including an RF antenna embedded in the encasement portion.

28. An electronically-enabled encasement for a handheld computer, the encasement comprising:

an encasement portion configured to cover at least a portion of the handheld computer;

a communication port on the encasement that extends communications through another communication port of the handheld computer to the handheld computer; and

a cable embedded in the encasement that connects the communication port on the encasement to the communication port on the handheld computer.

29. The encasement of claim 28, further comprising a coupling engageable with the handheld computer to detachably couple the encasement with the handheld computer.

30. The encasement of claim 28, wherein the second communication port is a serial connector, and wherein the first communication port is a connector configured to mate with the serial connector of the handheld computer to extend communication to the handheld computer.

31. The encasement of claim 29, wherein the encasement portion comprises a front portion that extends over the display surface of the handheld computer, and a back portion that extends over the back surface of the handheld computer.

32. The encasement of claim 28, wherein the first communication port is an infrared port or a radio frequency port.

33. The encasement of claim 28, further comprising at least one electronic component embedded in the encasement portion.

34. The encasement of claim 29, wherein the coupling includes a spine, the spine being engageable with an accessory slot of the handheld computer to detachable couple the encasement to the handheld computer.

35. The encasement of claim 29, wherein the coupling snugly fits the handheld computer with the encasement.

36. The encasement of claim 31, further comprising a joint to moveably couple the front portion to the back portion.

37. The encasement of claim 33, wherein the electronic component is selected from the group consisting of wireless modem, voice recorder, digital camera, keyboard, cell phone, solar cell, rechargeable battery, GPS system, battery recharger, memory, connector for multi-media cards, memory stick, accessory cartridge, compact flash card and phone card.

38. The encasement of claim 33, wherein the first communication port is a first serial connector, and wherein the second communication port is a second serial port.