Handheld computer configured for attachment with an external device

• US 6,356,443 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2000
• Issued: 03/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Jenks, Kenneth A., Hulick, Troy
• Primary Examiner(s): Donels, Jeffrey
• Application Number:
  US09/738,265
• Publication Number:
  US 20010014010A1
• Time in Patent Office: 453 Days
• Field of Search: 361/683, 361/686, 343/702, 343/720, 455/90, 455/575
• 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 1/1698 the I/O peripheral being a sending/receiving arrangement to establish a cordless communication link, e.g. radio or infrared link, integrated cellular phone details of antennas disposed inside a computer H01Q1/2266
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1632 Pen holder integrated in the computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1634 Integrated protective display lid, e.g. for touch-sensitive display in handheld computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus

Abstract

A handheld computer is provided including a housing and a device slot formed into the housing. The device slot is configured to receive an elongated member. The flex member includes an internal structure to allow the elongated member to bend, while supporting the elongated member from yielding.

Claims

1. A handheld computer comprising:

a housing having a front face and aback face, a top surface and a bottom surface defining a first axis, and a first side and a second lateral side defining a second axis;

a display accessible on the front face of the housing;

an antenna element retained on or within the housing, the antenna element being positioned relative to the first axis to be between the display and the top surface; and

a slot configured to receive an elongated member, the slot including an entrance recess formed on the first lateral side of the housing to receive an end of the elongated member, the entrance recess extending towards the bottom surface and positioned between the bottom surface and the antenna element along the first axis, and the slot including an elongated section extending from the entrance towards the bottom surface;

wherein the entrance is positioned a distance of between 6 mm to 12 mm from the top of the antenna element, the distance being measured along the first axis.

2. A handheld computer comprising:

a housing having a front face and a back face, a top surface and a bottom surface defining a first axis, and a first side and a second lateral side defining a second axis;

a display accessible on the front face of the housing;

an antenna element retained on or within the housing, the antenna element being positioned relative to the first axis to be between the display and the top surface; and

a slot configured to receive an elongated member, the slot including an entrance recessed into the housing to receive an end of the elongated member, the entrance extending towards the bottom surface and positioned between the bottom surface and the antenna element along the first axis;

wherein the slot is configured to receive the elongate element having a rectangular cross-section.

3. The handheld computer of claim 2, wherein the antenna element is a ceramic antenna chip.

4. The handheld computer of claim 2, wherein the entrance is recessed into a lateral side of the housing so that the end of the elongated member is inserted into the entrance while being oriented towards the bottom surface of the handheld computer, and while the elongated member is directed towards the lateral side of the housing.

5. The handheld computer of claim 4, wherein the entrance is a recess formed on the first lateral side of the housing, and the slot includes an elongated section extending from the entrance towards the bottom surface.

6. The handheld computer of claim 2, wherein the slot includes an exposed length formed into the housing.

7. The handheld computer of claim 6, wherein the exposed length is dimensioned to receive a body extending from the elongated member so as to extend the body away from the housing and the elongated member.

8. The handheld computer of claim 7, wherein the slot and the exposed length are configured to receive a T-shaped cross-section formed by the elongate member and the body extending therefrom.

9. The handheld computer of claim 2, further comprising a display driver housed within the housing and positioned adjacent to the display.

10. The handheld computer of claim 9, wherein the slot is formed into the housing on a first side of the display along the second axis, and wherein the display driver is positioned within the housing on a second side of the display along the second axis.

11. The handheld computer of claim 10, wherein the display is centrally positioned between the first lateral side and the second lateral side.

12. A handheld computer comprising:

a housing; and

a slot formed into the housing to receive an elongated member, an interior of the slot being shaped to enable the elongated member to bend and be supported from yielding when being inserted into the slot;

wherein the slot is shaped to include a plurality of discrete contact points that support the elongated member as the elongated member is inserted into the slot.

13. The handheld computer of claim 12, wherein the slot includes an enlarged entrance formed into the housing, and an elongated section that extends from the entrance.

14. The handheld computer of claim 13, wherein the enlarged entrance is a recess formed into the housing, and the elongated section extends from the recess so that a majority of the cross-section for the elongated section is formed within the housing.

15. The handheld computer of claim 14, wherein the shape of the housing includes a first contact point formed on the recess to contact the elongated member from a first direction directed away from the housing.

16. The handheld computer of claim 15, wherein the shape of the housing includes a second contact point formed on the elongated section.

17. The handheld computer of claim 16, wherein the second contact point is positioned on a surface of the elongated section to contact the elongated member from a second direction directed into the housing.

18. The handheld computer of claim 17, wherein the shape of the housing includes a third contact point formed on the elongated section.

19. The handheld computer of claim 18, wherein the shape of the housing is positioned on a surface of the elongated section to contact the elongated member from the third direction into the housing.

20. A handheld computer coupleable to an accessory device, the accessory device including a spine with a portion extending orthanormally therefrom, the handheld computer comprising:

a housing;

a slot formed at least partially within the housing and configured to receive and retain a T-shaped cross-section formed by the spine and the portion of the accessory device extending therefrom.

21. A handheld computer comprising:

a housing; and

a slot formed at least partially within the housing to receive a spine of an accessory device, the slot including an exposed section formed on a surface of the housing and extending at least a portion of a length of the slot, the slot being shaped so as to receive and retain the spine having a rectangular cross-section, and the exposed section receiving a portion of the accessory device extending from the spine when the spine is inserted into the slot.