Combination laptop and pad computer

• US 6,366,935 B2
• Filed: 01/18/2001
• Issued: 04/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/1990
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: AST Research, Inc. (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Daly, John J., Hawkins, Jeff C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Malzahn, David H.
• Application Number:
  US09/765,181
• Publication Number:
  US 20010001859A1
• Time in Patent Office: 439 Days
• Field of Search: 708/100, 361/681, 345/169, D14/6, D18/7
• US Class Current: 708/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1615 with several enclosures having relative motions, each enclosure supporting at least one I/O or computing function constructional details of portable telephones comprising a plurality of mechanically joined movable body parts H04M1/0206
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1679 for locking or maintaining the movable parts of the enclosure in a fixed position, e.g. latching mechanism at the edge of the display in a laptop or for the screen protective cover of a PDA G06F1/1681 takes precedence

Abstract

A portable lightweight combination laptop and pad computer has a display mounted on a main housing for movement between a closed position and an open position. In the closed position, a keyboard is covered by the undersurface of the display and the display viewing surface remains visible so that the computer may be used in the pad mode with a conductive stylus for data and command entry. In the open position, the keyboard is exposed so that the computer may be used in a laptop or desk top mode, or in a combined mode including the pad mode. The display is mounted to the housing by a four bar hinge mechanism, and a pair of latches are provided approximately mid-way between the front and rear portions of the housing along the side margins to securely latch the display in the closed position for storage, transit or use in the pad mode. A removable power pack, which attaches to the rear of the housing, carries battery power and a charging circuit for supplying power to the computer elements contained within the housing.

Claims

1. A portable computer comprising:

a computer housing;

a keyboard carried by said computer housing;

a display device having an obverse viewing surface and a reverse surface; and

a mounting assembly that couples said display device to said computer housing, said mounting assembly including an integral, single-piece, member extending between said display device and said computer housing, said integral, single-piece, member having a first end portion connected to said computer housing in a substantially non-slidable manner and a second end portion connected to said display device, said display device being adjustable between a closed position in which the display device covers the keyboard with said reverse surface with the obverse viewing surface exposed and an open position in which the keyboard is uncovered and the display device is positioned rearwardly of the keyboard at a viewing angle with the obverse viewing surface positioned toward the keyboard.

2. The portable computer as defined in claim 1, further including a latch assembly for latching said display device to said computer housing.

3. The portable computer as defined in claim 2, wherein said computer housing has a front portion and a rear portion, and wherein said latch assembly is located approximately midway between said front portion and said rear portion.

4. The portable computer as defined in claim 3, wherein said computer housing has first and second side margins extending between said front portion and said rear portion, and wherein said latch assembly is located adjacent at least one of said first and second side margins.

5. The portable computer as defined in claim 4, wherein said latch assembly includes a retractable latch member and a slotted wall for retractably receiving said latch member.

6. The portable computer as defined in claim 5, wherein said latch member is carried by said display device and wherein said slotted wall is a portion of said computer housing.

7. The portable computer as defined in claim 4, wherein said latch assembly includes first and second retractable latch members and corresponding first and second slotted walls, said first latch member and said first side wall being located adjacent said first side margin, and said second latch member and said second side wall being located adjacent said second side margin.

8. The portable computer as defined in claim 1, wherein said computer housing has a front portion, a rear portion and first and second side margins extending therebetween, and wherein said portable computer further includes a mounting means for pivotally mounting said display device to said computer housing.

9. The portable computer as defined in claim 1, wherein said computer housing has a rear wall portion with a recess formed therein, and wherein said computer includes a power pack having a shape conformable with said recess for enabling removable attachment of said power pack to said computer housing.

10. The portable computer as defined in claim 9, wherein said power pack includes a receptacle area for accommodating a battery power source.

11. The portable computer as defined in claim 9, wherein said power pack includes a battery charging circuit.

12. The portable computer as defined in claim 1, wherein said display device includes a display operable in conjunction with a stylus.

13. The portable computer as defined in claim 12, wherein said stylus is electrically conductive.

14. The portable computer as defined in claim 12, wherein said display device further includes a mask region adjacent said viewing surface and a receptacle formed in said mask region to receive and hold said stylus.

15. The portable computer as defined in claim 1, wherein said computer housing includes means for mounting a stylus thereto.

16. The portable computer as defined in claim 1, wherein said computer housing includes support means for inclining said computer housing at an angle when said portable computer is placed on a support surface.

17. The portable computer as defined in claim 16, wherein said support means is integrally formed in the bottom wall of said computer housing.

18. The portable computer as defined in claim 1, wherein said display device is sized to cover substantially all of said computer housing when said display device is in the closed position.

19. The portable computer as defined in claim 1, further comprising clip means for removably securing a conductive stylus to at least one of the computer housing and the display device.